Several elected officials, whose districts are on the West Side, collectively said limited employment opportunities, youth violence and dismal high schools are issues greatly affecting their constituents.
Several elected officials, whose districts are on the West Side, collectively said limited employment opportunities, youth violence and dismal high schools are issues greatly affecting their constituents.
“We don’t have enough jobs conducive to our people (like construction) coming this way,” said Alderman Ed Smith (28th). “That’s why I am working on bring a major grocery store to my ward that will be here hopefully by April. This way residents can get jobs as cashiers, stock boys and other positions for which they are qualified for.”
Fellow Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) agreed that better employment opportunities are critical to a better quality of life for West Side residents.
“Everything centers around jobs. Without it, there is not much a person can do,” he said. “I am using TIF (Tax Increment Financing districts) to spur economic development in my ward.”
According to the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the statewide unemployment rate peaked to 11.1 percent in December, up 0.2 percent from November.
Morgan Stanley economist Jeri Thomas said the unemployment rate in the Black community is much higher, including on the West Side
“You cannot keep blaming the economy for high unemployment especially when we’re talking about Black communities,” she told the Defender. “Some of this stems from low economic development in the area and a lack of education and training opportunities for minorities.”
Education is a big concern for Smith, who said too many teenagers are dropping out of high school, and end up selling drugs because they cannot get a job.
“I get so tired of seeing these kids stand on the corner using and selling drugs because they do not have the training or academic skill set to get a job,” Smith said. “Chicago Public Schools need to do a better job improving all schools. A kid who lives down the street from Manley High School should be able to get the same quality education that kids at Whitney Young get.”
Having a new high school built in the Austin community on the West Side is something Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th) supports.
“I am a strong supporter for the development of a new high school in Austin. The youth of the community need a state-of-the art facility where they can learn 21st century skills to successfully compete in the employment market of the future,” he said.
Indeed, trying to create more jobs is no easy task regardless what side of town you represent, he added.
“Jobs – that’s what the people of Chicago want and desperately need. The experts cite the national and statewide unemployment rate (as one reason for no jobs), but the daily experiences I have trying to assist people in my ward in finding jobs tells me that in neighborhoods like Austin, the rate of unemployment is more than double that.”
U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis, D-7th, said with so many ex-offenders being released it is critical that more training programs be developed.
“For many ex-offenders going back to a traditional school may not be appealing to them. But learning a trade that they may have developed while incarcerated would be of interest to them,” he said.
State Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-8th, who is running unopposed for reelection, has a Feb. 2 town hall meeting scheduled in his district to discuss ways to improve life on the West Side. He previously held a town hall meeting Dec. 8 and said the faltering housing crisis was among the top concerns for residents.
“Foreclosure is also a big problem on the West Side. There are beginning to be more vacate houses than occupied and that’s not good because vacate properties breed crime and depreciate the neighborhood,” he said.%u205E