Three of Chicago's five mayoral contenders participated in a youth-led candidate forum Wednesday evening focused on issues that affect the lives of young people of color in the city. Progress Illinois was there for the event.
Aldermanic candidates for the 31st Ward, including incumbent Ald. Ray Suarez (31st), debated Wednesday night and discussed their platforms for next month's municipal election.
Those challenging Suarez, who was first elected alderman of the Northwest Side ward in 1991, include lawyer and professor Sean Starr, former reporter Milagros Santiago and Irma Cornier, a community outreach coordinator at NewLife 316.
More than 50 residents of the ward, which includes portions of the Belmont Cragin, Portage Park, Hermosa and Logan Square neighborhoods, attended the debate hosted by the Belmont-Cragin United community organization.
Gov. Pat Quinn's $36.8 billion spending blueprint for fiscal year 2015 contains some notable proposals that did not receive much attention last week after the governor's budget address.
An audit released Tuesday states that a program meant to address violence in Chicago and Cook County was "hastily implemented" and, as a result, did not touch some of the highest-crime communities in the area.
Aldermanic candidates for the 31st Ward, including incumbent 