■ Transit funding increase for cleaner el trains PAGE 6
FREE Vol. 40 No. 22
June 3, 2026 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com
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Locals push for Illinois House bill on reparations Bill could give $500 a month of guaranteed income to eligible Illinoisians
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Honey Pot marks 25 years of Black culture Through performance, the group highlights creativity, resilience, and community
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
West Siders are speaking in support of a new Illinois House Bill that could give guaranteed income of $500 a month to eligible state residents. Already successful in Chicago, this guaranteed income would serve as a form of reparations — financial compensation for the descendants of those enslaved in the U.S. “It’s not just a handout, it’s a hand up,” said Deon Hodrick, an Austin resident and research intern with Equity and Transformation Chicago. EAT was created in 2018 by and for people who’ve been incarcerated, and to create equity for those who face everyday barriers after incarceration. On Saturday, EAT co-hosted a people’s assembly with Movement for Black Lives at Alt Space Chicago, 5645 W. Lake St. The goal was to educate locals about House Bill 4443 and guaranteed income. Filed in January by Rep. La Shawn Ford, House Bill 4443 would create the Illinois Future Fund to provide qualifying Illinois residents — those who
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Runway of Change disability fashion show
By HECTOR CERVANTES Contributing Reporter
TONEE CUDI/MOVEMENT FOR BLACK LIVES
Locals at Alt Space Chicago, 5645 W. Lake St., learn more about reparations through House Bill 4443 on Saturday. live in a community disproportionately affected by economic disinvestment and cannabis criminalization, and who receive SNAP benefits— with a $500 a month cash payment. This guaranteed income would be funded by dispensary taxes that go into the Cannabis Regulation Fund. In addition
to administrative expenses, the Cannabis Regulation Fund subsidizes Restore Reinvest Renew grants given to Illinois communities impacted by high rates of incarceration, economic disinvestment and violence. Hodrick himself is a testament to the See REPARATIONS on page 8
As Honey Pot Performance marks its 25th anniversary, the West Side arts organization is reflecting on a quarter-century of using performance, storytelling and public humanities projects to preserve Black cultural history and foster community. What began in 2001 as a small collective of artists and friends has grown into a cultural institution whose work spans archival initiatives, neighborhood programming and performances rooted in Afro-feminist and Black diasporic traditions. Meida Teresa McNeal is the artistic and managing director of Honey Pot Performance and has spent over two decades producing a wide range of creative projects as both a solo artist and in collaboration with the company. “Honey Pot Performance uses performance as a tool to build collectivity and as a fellowship. See HONEY POT on page 4