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Chicago
Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
1:17pm
Fri May 17

Report: Chicago Homeowners Lost $3.1 Billion In Wealth Last Year, Communities Of Color Hit The Hardest

The city of Chicago lost more than $3.1 billion in wealth, or about $2,900 per household, in 2012 as a result of the foreclosure crisis, according to a new report from the Alliance for a Just Society.

And more than $192 billion in homeowner wealth was lost nationally last year, the new analysis shows.

Communities of color in Chicago saw more foreclosures and lost wealth per household compared to other communities.

In 2012, the average Chicago household in zip codes with the highest concentration of people of color lost $3,700 in wealth, the “Wasted Wealth” (PDF) report found.

In comparison, the average wealth lost in segregated white communities was about $1,300 per household.

“Seeing this loss of wealth per household is profound," said the Rev. Marilyn Pagán-Banks, president of IIRON, which also worked on the release of the report. "People of color in Chicago, whose majority equity holdings remain in real estate, have been particularly affected by the crisis.” 

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Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
4:56pm
Thu May 16

Chicago Public Schools' Turnaround Plan Called Into Question By Parents, Education Activists

Parents and members of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) stormed the steps outside the Academy of Urban School Leadership’s (AUSL) office Thursday and raised concerns over the Chicago Public Schools’ (CPS) plan to turnaround six schools at the end of the academic year.

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PI Original
by Ellyn Fortino
7:19pm
Wed May 15

Federal Lawsuits Filed Against CPS Closings As Chicago Clergy Holds 'Pray-In' For Public Schools (VIDEO)

Two class action lawsuits looking to put a stop to the Chicago Public Schools' plan to shutter 53 elementary schools at the end of the academic year were filed in federal court today. 

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
4:46pm
Tue May 14

Workers, Aldermen Want Emanuel To Push Controversial O'Hare Contractor To Recognize Janitors' Desire For SEIU Representation (VIDEO) (UPDATED)

After more than 70 percent of O’Hare’s recently hired janitors voted in favor of SEIU* Local 1 union representation, a small group of workers gathered with supporting aldermen at City Hall Tuesday to urge Mayor Rahm Emanuel to push the contractor to recognize the union.

“In a climate where everybody is trying to figure out how to squeeze the bottom line, the only way to protect workers is to have union representation,” said Ald. Ricardo Munoz (22nd) in an interview with Progress Illinois.

Munoz said contractors, such as the O’Hare janitors’ employer, United Maintenance, Inc., are “squeezing wages.”

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Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
3:15pm
Tue May 14

Restoration Of Early Childhood Education Funding Is A Must, Say Community Groups & Parents (VIDEO)

Chicago-based community groups, parents and advocates for the state's most vulnerable children called on Illinois lawmakers to restore $25 million in funding for early childhood education at a gathering in Pilsen Tuesday morning.

About 100 parents and members of eight local community organizations, such as the Latino Policy Forum, Gads Hill Center and El Hogar del Niño, among others, plan to travel to Springfield Wednesday for a subject matter hearing on education funding cuts.

Gov. Pat Quinn's budget for fiscal year 2013 slashed $25 million from the Preschool for All program, which provides assistance for Illinois' most at-risk children.

“We believe that the state is going through a tough time financially, but the balance in the budget cannot be done on the back[s] of poor children," said Maricela Garcia, CEO of the Gads Hill Center. "The message tomorrow is going to be that we need to see the restoration of $25 million that [was] cut [from] the Early Childhood Education Block Grant last year." 

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