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AUSTINWEEKLY news ■
Vol. 33 No. 10
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County Board votes to eliminate gang database,
March 6, 2019
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austinweeklynews.com
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Also serving Garfield Park
@AustinWeeklyChi
PAGE 8
@AustinWeeklyNews
New sculpture N lpt unveiled il in Austin, page 6
West Side aldermen coast to majority victories Sitting aldermen in 24th, 28th, 29th and 37th Wards won decisively on Feb. 26 By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
The Feb. 26 election may have been historic at the top of the ballot — with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and attorney Lori Lightfoot headed to an April 2 runoff that’s almost certain to bring the city its first African American female mayor — but down ballot, at least on the West Side, it was more of the same. All of the incumbent aldermen representing the four wards within this newspaper’s coverage area were spared from runoff races, some dominating their respective fields in a year when not one of their races went uncontested. In the 24th Ward, according to Chicago election data, Ald. Michael Scott captured 60 percent of the vote in a race that featured three challengers. Creative Scott (no relation) won 19 percent of the vote while Traci Treasure Johnson and Toriano A. Sazone took 15 percent and 6 percent, respectively. As of Feb. 27, one precinct was still outstanding. In addition, some See ELECTION RESULTS on page 5
Bugging out
ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
Ellis Strupp, 5, of Brookfield, and Eiley McPeak, 2, of Glen Ellyn, play with fake bugs on Saturday, March 2, during the Juicebox Concert series at the Garfield Park Conservatory. More photos on pages 3 and 9.
Austin building lands on ‘endangered list’ Austin’s Laramie State Bank among Preservation Chicago’s ‘7 Most Endangered Buildings’ of 2019 By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
One of Austin’s most iconic buildings is back in the news after landing on Preservation Chicago’s “7 Most Endangered Buildings” list for 2019 (which actually included 9 properties). The Laramie State Bank, 5200 W. Chicago
Ave., was built in 1929 and designated a Chicago Landmark by the City in 1995. But despite the distinction, the building “was foreclosed upon, has sat vacant for many years, and is suffering from considerable deferred maintenance,” according to the 93-page document that details the properties listed. Preservation Chicago, an advocacy organization that “protects and revitalizes Chi-
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cago’s irreplaceable architecture, neighborhoods and urban spaces,” according to its website— announced the list during a press conference on Feb. 27. In 2017, Austin attorney, business owner and resident James Bowers wrote in Austin Talks that the building was the equivalent See LARAMIE BUILDING on page 10
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