■ Studying dolphins opens Austin teens to science PAGE 5
FREE Vol. 37 No. 37
September 13, 2023 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com
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Aldi ld site’s’ plans l revealed, page 8
Congressional run for Melissa Conyears-Ervin in question Campaigning would be like running “with an anvil around her foot,” one analyst said. By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter
Accusations of ethics violations and misconduct could thwart Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin’s bid for U.S. Rep. Danny Davis’ (D-7) congressional seat before she even got started, political analysts said. Campaigning would be like running “with an anvil around her foot,” said Chicago political consultant Delmarie Cobb. “You’re starting out with an issue, a negative issue,” she explained. But “there are certain standards that you have to live up to when you become an elected official,” she said. “I always tell my clients that it’s not whether you did something right or wrong, it’s the perception of the right and wrong.” And Rep. Davis, 82, is a tough act to beat. “If you’re running to say that you’re better than an incumbent, and the incumbent hasn’t necessarily had any scandals, the only issue you’re running on is age, you got to prove that you’re going to be a better congressman than the one who is in the office,” Cobb said. See CONYEARS-ERVIN on page 9
PROVIDED/VIVERY IDEA LAB
In city pilot, groceries are delivered to the homes or kitchens of 100 people with disabilities who live in Austin.
Food delivery service for people with disabilities extended Austin residents will continue to get deliveries for 6 more months
By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Staff Reporter
A city program that delivers food to people with disabilities in Austin has been extended six more months.
The city pilot program, launched in February to improve food access for the 100 people facing food insecurity, was given funding by the Greater Chicago Food Depository. “We had sort of this consensus that
WS ! NEF H S A L
there was something in this model that was really working,” said Ashley Friend, managing director of Vivery Idea Lab, one of the city’s partners in See GROCERY on page 6
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