Citizen Suburban Times Weekly 11-13-2019

Citizen Week of Nov. 13, 2019

| Vol. 3 | No. 14 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

POLITISCOPE

Homicide is declining around the world – but why?

PAGE 2

NEWS

State Legislators Push for Funding To Reopen Closed South Suburban Medical Center PAGE 4

Jennifer Soto (pictured) recently became the first Hillcrest Highschool student to receive a 5, the highest possible score, on the Advanced Placement Art & Design Exam. Photo Credit: Provided by Jamilah Adebesin-Mason

NEWS

Job Seekers Hired On-the-Spot at Congresswoman Kelly’s 7th Annual Hiring Event PAGE 4

EIGHT SOUTH SUBURBAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PASS ADVANCED PLACEMENT ART & DESIGN EXAM Eight students from Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills recently found out that they passed the Advanced Placement (AP) Art & Design exam. The exam scores students from one to five with five being the highest score and three being the minimum for passing. One student, Jennifer Soto, became the first student in Hillcrest High School history to receive a five on the exam. SEE PAGE 2

|

|

|

advertising@citizennewspapergroup.com thechicagocitizen@thechicagocitiz www.facebook.com/durrell.garth.9 www.citizennewspapergroup.com

2 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

COMMUNITY

Eight South Suburban High School Students Pass Advanced Placement Art & Design Exam Continued from page 1

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Eight students from Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills recently found out that they passed the Advanced Placement (AP) Art & Design exam. The exam scores students from one to five with five being the highest score and three being the minimum for passing. One student, Jennifer Soto, became the first student in Hillcrest High School history to receive a five on the exam.

“I’ve been teaching AP Art & Design for the past nine years and the AP Art & Design exam is part of the College Board college

entrance exams that high school students can take. If they pass the AP Art & Design exam with a score of three to five, then they’re able to earn college credit,” said Jamilah Adebesin-Mason, fine arts teacher at Hillcrest High School. “Basically, they are being tested on college-level material that they are being taught in the classroom and it gets the students ready for college-level work.”

Students prepare for the exam all year by building up a portfolio of their best work to submit to be graded. Adebesin-Mason said that she recommends certain students take the exam who have been committed to advancing their art skills during their time in high school

and those who she thinks are uniquely talented and interested in pursuing art in college.

“I usually handpick the students and I specifically pick kids who have done at least three years worth of art because at that point, a lot of students have built up their technique or sometimes there are some kids who just have raw talent and I pick them because I know that they’ll be able to contribute something great to that exam,” said Adebesin-Mason. “For the entire school year, the students work on building up their portfolio in a specific way where they are showing growth in something that they’re studying.” Adebesin-Mason described Soto as being one of

her students with “raw artistic talent.”

“The whole thing is just beyond me and it’s an incredible feeling. I graduated from Hillcrest High School and to be able to come back to the school and help students to achieve something of this magnitude is huge for me. A lot of times it can be like pulling teeth to get my students to actually take the exam,” said Adebesin-Mason.

“I tell them that it’s not even about the score, it’s about the process of building up their own artwork and going through the struggle. There is a lot of pain that goes into getting this work done, both emotional and physical, but when they get it done and they have all the artwork with them, it changes them as a person.”

POLITISCOPE

Homicide is declining around the world – but why?

BY MATEUS RENNO SANTOS AND ALEXANDER TESTA

Americans are currently living in one of the lowest crime periods ever – and so are many people in the rest of the world.

Following decades of increasing crime during the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, U.S. homicide rates declined by almost 40% throughout the 1990s, and have remained low since.

Most explanations of this extraordinary decline in violence put forth by politicians and early academic research focus on events and domestic policies exclusive to the United States.

However, emerging studies are providing evidence that this crime decline is not unique to the U.S., but rather occurring across most of the world.

A global decline in violence suggests that criminal justice policies of individual countries may have less impact on the decline in homicide than worldwide events or trends.

In our new study, published on Oct. 9, we make the case for another possible explanation: The population of countries around the world is getting older.

A global homicide decline Most of the world has experienced a parallel reduction in homicide over the previous three decades.

In fact, the homicide patterns observed across countries spread throughout the world are strikingly similar over time. Despite having unique cultures, criminal justice policies and systems of governance, countries in North America, Eu-

Mateus Renno Santos

Alexander Testa

rope, Asia and Oceania have seen homicide reduce by similar magnitudes over similar time periods.

Between 1990 and 2015, in both North America and Western Europe, the number of homicide victims per 100,000 people declined by 46%, while Asia saw a reduction of 38% and Oceania of 22%.

The steepest reductions typically occurred in the safest regions of the world. For example, homicide rates fell further in Asia and Western Europe, which already had the lowest levels of homicide.

There are two major exceptions to the trend: Africa, where quality data are lacking, and Latin America, a region marked by historically higher levels. In fact, since 1990, Latin America has experienced a 9% increase in homicide rates.

enforcement officials have proposed several explanations for the dramatic reductions in crime during this period, including increased incarceration, receding drug markets, innovations in policing, improvements in the economy, increased immigration and the legalization of abortion.

Most of these explanations link the violence reduction to domestic policies of individual countries.

Of course, this type of research is challenging, as many countries do not collect reliable data on key variables. For example, long-term data on gun ownership, drug use, the influence of organized crime and the efficacy of courts and policing institutions are not available for most countries.

Possible causes Social scientists are not certain of the causes of this overall decline.

Policymakers, scientists and law

Age and the homicide decline We have a global explanation.

Between 1950 and 2019, the world median age has increased from 24 to 31 years. This graying population will pose many new www.citizennewspapergroup.com

challenges and possibly drag down economic growth.

Could an aging population be the driving force behind decreasing crime? This has been one of the hypothesized causes since the very early research about the homicide decline.

Research shows that crime participation peaks during adolescence and early adulthood, then declines as individuals progress through adulthood. It follows then that countries should have more violent crime when a greater proportion of their population are teenagers and young adults. Research also shows that older societies tend to be more orderly and more peaceful.

Our study We looked at homicide data from the World Health Organization and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as the United Nations data on the age composition of countries.

Accounting for features of countries such as percentage of males, economic inequality, economic development and how urban or rural a country is, we found that the percentage of a country’s population that is young – between 15 and 29 years old – has been a key predictor of homicide trends since 1960.

For the safest countries, a one percentage point increase in the percent of people aged 15 to 29 corresponds to an increase of 4.6% in the homicide rate.

In the United States, rising homicide rates during the 1960s

and 1970s paralleled a spike in the young population following the baby boom. An early homicide decline occurred in the 1980s, which follows a trend of a decreasing youth population as baby boomers aged into late adulthood. This early crime decline was interrupted in 1985 by the crack epidemic, and the corresponding escalation of violence. However, in 1992, as the crack epidemic waned, homicide trends resumed their decline alongside an aging population.

Aside from the United States, several other countries around the world also experienced steep homicide declines since the 1990s in parallel with an aging of their populations, such as Canada, Austria, Japan and Italy.

These countries share few commonalities in terms of their national cultures, domestic policies and approach to criminal justice. Japan, for example, has seen a steep aging of their population and a homicide decline, but with far less forceful criminal justice policies than those in the U.S. Our models suggest to us that age plays a large role in this pattern. Age was the only factor we looked at that consistently predicted homicide increases and declines over an extended period of time.

Mateus Renno Santos is an Assistant Professor of Criminology at University of South Florida. Alexander Testa is an Assistant Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

B:10” T:10” S:10”

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

|

3

A DREAM HOME

Whether you’re buying your first home or your next home, Associated Bank is dedicated to guiding you through all phases of homeownership. Our experienced professionals work with you and your situation to develop a solution that makes your dream a reality. So you can focus on the excitement of taking the next step.

Find out if you qualify for up to $4,000† in grants. Contact us today.

Visit AssociatedBank.com/Home or call 800-270-7721.

COURAGE LOOKS LIKE THIS Proof #:

3

Page #:

1

JOB #: 64001 Print Scale: None CLIENT CODE: ASBA01 Version: None CLIENT: Associated Bank Description: None Publication: Chi Defender / Chi Citizen Document Name: 64001_AB_Ad_FairLending_ Dream_MW_Chi_10x6.5_v3.indd

Bleed: None Trim: 10” x 6.5” Live: None Gutter: None Fold Type: None

Gun violence told through the voices of the Chicagoans who live it.

Noemi’s story:

wttw.com/firsthand

FIRSTHAND is a multiplatform initiative from WTTW, in partnership with The Trace.

FIRSTHAND: Gun Violence is presented, in part, by The Grainger Foundation, Allstate Insurance Company, The Chicago Community Trust, and the Marc and Jeanne Malnati Family Foundation.

Major support is also provided by Ann and Rich Carr, Lew Collens, Denny and Sandy Cummings, Jim and Kay Mabie, Sonia T. Marschak, and Rande and Cary McMillan. As of 10/21/19.

Cyan Yellow Black

Date: 8-8-2019 10:36 AM User Name: Hortsch, Marc Previous User: Greg InDesign Version: InDesign CC 2019 Notes: None

TEAM / APPROVE

† The Associated Bank PATH Program offers grant assistance of $4,000 to qualified borrowers for down payment and closing costs on first mortgage purchase and construction transactions. First-time homebuyers will need to complete a Homeownership Educational Program. Other offers may be available, consult your lender for details. Exclusions apply. Associated Bank reserves the right to discontinue the program at any time without notice. * The Leading Lender in the Midwest designation is based on information gathered from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data compiled annually by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The results of the data were obtained through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Mortgage Database (HMDA), June 2018.

Loan products are offered by Associated Bank, N.A., and are subject to credit approval and involve interest and other costs. Please ask about details on fees and terms and conditions for these products. Property insurance and flood insurance, if applicable, will be required on collateral. Member FDIC. (08/19) 14577

GCD: None AD: None CW: None AE: None PM: None PA: None

T:6.5”

S:6.5”

DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A DREAM.

4 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

NEWS

State Legislators Push for Funding To Reopen Closed South Suburban Medical Center

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

During a recent Appropriations-Human Services Committee hearing, members of the committee discussed new legislation that would provide funding to reopen the building that was home to MetroSouth Medical Center, 12935 S. Gregory St., in Blue Island and turn it into a free-standing emergency center.

If the legislation passes, the transformation of MetroSouth Medical Center, which recently closed after months of pushback from the community and local legislators, would be made possible through roughly $8 million in state funding.

“There is no plan for that building and that’s the point of starting this conversation.

This is just the start of a plan or a model to use but we have to start somewhere and we can’t just keep waiting to hear about the community impact from the next closure,” said State Rep. Robert Rita (D- Blue Island).

Representative Rita has been a fierce leader in the fight to keep MetroSouth Medical Center open and now that it has effectively stopped all services and been approved for closure by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, Rita is looking at how to reopen the building as a free-standing emergency room for the community.

“If you look at the whole Southland area, this

Darrell Garth President / Publisher Janice Garth Sales Manager/ General Manager CST Weekly, published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed in the Township of Bloom, (publishing 52 issues annually).

Written permission is required to reproduce contents in whole or part from the General manager or the publisher. CST Weekly does not assume the responsibility for nor are we able to return unsolicited marterials. Deadline for advertising is every Monday at noon.

For information on subscriptions or advertising call us at (773) 783-1251. Our office is located at 8741 S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

Editorial:

Send press releases, news tips, calendar listing etc. to: editorial@cstweekly.com

Advertising

advertising@cstweekly.com Classifieds call us at (773) 783-1251

State Representative Robert Rita (pictured right) recently spoke at an Appropriations-Human Services Committee hearing to discuss the importance of taking immediate action to transform the newly closed MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island into a free-standing emergency center.

Photo Credit: Provided by the Office of State Representative Robert Rita

is going to have a tremendous impact as we go forward and we have to think about who’s going to be next,” said Rita. “The answer is not to just keep throwing money at these hospitals to keep them standing up, we should be looking

at what services each hospital offers and how can they work together to share resources and create transfer agreements for the services they are providing in all these areas.”

Rita went on to say that if nothing is done

to unite the medical community in the Greater Southland Region, it will cause inequalities based on who has easier access to medical services.

“What’s going to happen is you’re going to have a major divide of the haves and havenots,” said Rita.

The Illinois legislation that is being considered would allow state funding that was already approved to be used for hospital transformation, through the state’s Hospital Assessment Program, to be used to transform the MetroSouth Medical Center building.

“These dollars were already allocated to this area for transformation, and this is transformation, and that’s my argument. We can always change this idea if there is a better plan or a better way of approaching this but I believe this is a pretty solid way of moving forward,” said Rita.

The bill is currently up for consideration by the Illinois senate and will soon undergo another vote. If the legislation passes in the Senate it will go on to be approved by Illinois Governor, J.B. Pritzker.

“We need to do something because otherwise, that building is just going to sit there until spring and by the time we get to May what is going to happen? I am asking that we move this forward and continue to move this forward,” said Rita.

Job Seekers Hired On-the-Spot at Congresswoman Kelly’s 7th Annual Hiring Event In October, several job seekers were surprised to walk away with jobs at Congresswoman Robin L. Kelly’s annual hiring event at the Lan-Oak Park District in Lansing, IL. “We’re thrilled to learn that employers hired some people immediately at the job fair,” said Kelly, who represents Illinois’ 2nd congressional district. “Every year, we’re impressed by the high caliber of hard-working people within the district attending the job fair. Obviously, employers saw their talent as well and did not hesitate to hire them,” she stated.

“We have a very good track record of employers hiring job seekers from my previous hiring events, but this is the first time we’ve had immediate hires,” Kelly noted. “It’s always a pleasure to connect my constituents with quality employers representing a wide range of industries.”

The annual event, in its 7th year, featured more than 60 companies and agencies with active job

In October, several job seekers walked away with jobs at Congresswoman Robin L. Kelly’s annual hiring event at the Lan-Oak Park District in Lansing, IL.

openings, including FedEx Ground, Nucor Steel, BMO Harris Bank, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Prior to the Hiring Event, Conwww.citizennewspapergroup.com

gresswoman Kelly hosted a free Job Readiness Boot Camp in Calumet City, where instructors from the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership taught job-seekers interview skills, how to prepare a resume and

strategies to successfully navigate hiring events.

Congresswoman Kelly hosts a Hiring Event every year in October and an annual Youth Job Fair and Resource Expo each April.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

|

5

NEWS

Affordable DIY Projects to Transform Your Home StatePoint - Transformative home renovations don’t need to be complicated, nor do they need to cost an arm and a leg. There are plenty of affordable DIY projects you can do in a weekend to add beauty to your home’s indoor and outdoor spaces. Here are a few to consider: • Instant Ambiance: Most often associated with party decor, string lighting hung above back patios and decks can be used to create everyday ambiance. As for how to string the lights, the possibilities are endless. You may prefer taut, clean lines, slack zig-zags or concentric circles. Just be sure to use weatherproof lighting designed to withstand the elements.

• Stone Patio: A drab concrete patio, pool deck, garage floor or walkway can be an eyesore.

Whether your concrete is older and looking stressed, shedding its latest coat of paint, slippery, stained -- or new, but just gray and lifeless, there’s a very easy way to spruce things up that doesn’t require replacing the materials or involving a contractor. With a pre-mixed, factory-tinted stone coating system, such as the patent-pending SpreadStone Decorative Concrete Resurfacing Kit, just about anyone can add authentic stone character to any concrete floor or wall. It not only boosts aesthetics, but also adds traction for safer walking surfaces. The

There are plenty of affordable DIY projects you can do in a weekend to add beauty to your home’s indoor and outdoor spaces.

real stone coating performs well in all climates, standing up to water, snow, salt, UV exposure and extreme cold and heat.

“The best part? Application is fast and simple and you don’t need to be an artist to achieve great results,” says renovation expert, James Carey, co-host of “On the House,” a national home

improvement show.

• Mount Shelving: Installing floating shelves onto otherwise bare walls adds coziness to living spaces while creating smart storage. The lightweight, easy-to-install Ambrosia Maple Rustic Mantel Shelf from Ornamental Mouldings & Millwork is a good choice, as it can be used as

www.citizennewspapergroup.com

either a stand-alone floating shelf or fireplace mantel, and can be left as-is or stained to complement other elements in the room.

• Stone Countertops: Have you always wanted real stone countertops but didn’t want to spend thousands on a complete remodel? You can now roll a new stone surface over any existing countertop made of laminate, cultured marble, concrete, wood, tile and other solid surface with the high-performance SpreadStone Mineral Select Countertop Refinishing Kit from Daich Coatings.

Available in 10 colors, all of which feature mineral accents and highlights found in natural mined rock, the proprietary stone technology gives an elegant, environmentally-friendly facelift to surfaces in kitchens, bathrooms and other home interiors.

“If you can use a roller and paintbrush, you can create a new stone surface using this product,” says Peter Daich, president of Daich Coatings.

“It’s an affordable, simple alternative to putting in a new stone slab and looks just as great.”

Unfortunately, there are many homeowners who avoid desired renovations, assuming that in order to make a true impact, they’ll need a huge budget and a lot of time. The truth is that there are transformative DIY updates you can execute affordably in just one weekend.

6 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

|

7

8 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Nov. 13, 2019

DIVERSITY IN CLINICAL TRIALS BRINGS NEW TREATMENTS TO EVERYONE. Participation in clinical trials not only helps patients gain access to new medical therapies but also advances knowledge about how treatments work safely and effectively in the diverse communities represented in those clinical trials. Visit medicalheroes.org to learn more.

A sincere thank you to everyone who participates in clinical research from the following sponsors: