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AUSTINWEEKLY news ■
Vol. 33 No. 41
Oak Park Housing Center picks West Sider as new director,
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October 9, 2019
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austinweeklynews.com
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Also serving Garfield Park
@AustinWeeklyChi
PAGE 14
Commander Cato promoted, page 9
@AustinWeeklyNews
Mt. Sinai workers authorize strike SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Sinai Health System continue negotiations hoping to avoid action of ‘last resort’ By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter
Roughly 400 nursing assistants, patient care technicians, dietary workers, therapists, drivers who transport patients and food service workers, among other service workers employed by Sinai Health System and represented by Service Employees International Union Healthcare Illinois are prepared to go on strike if they can’t reach an agreement with the hospital system. Around 97 percent of the workers — who represent a significant portion of service employees at Mt. Sinai Hospital, 1500 S. Fairfield Ave, and Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, 1401 S. California Ave. — voted to authorize the union to call a strike, SEIU officials said Oct. 2. The employees’ contract expired in June. With the strike authorization set, the union will now be able to give a strike notice to Sinai Health System, which owns both hospitals. Under the federal law, the union must notify the employer of a strike at least 10 days ahead of time. SEIU Healthcare Illinois spokesperson James Muhammad said that the union still hopes to avoid a strike, so hasn’t set a date for doing so. Muhammad said that the employees want See SINAI WORKERS on page 7
BOB MEAD/Mead Communications
ON YOUR MARK: Runners take off at the start of the Austin 5K on Sept. 28. The annual race drew more than 500 participants, despite wet weather.
Hundreds turn out in rainy weather for Austin 5K Maxwell Crawford and Lacey Fournier were top finishers
By KRYSTIN WILLIAMS AustinTalks
Neither rain nor chilly weather could damper enthusiasm at last this year’s Austin POWER 5K run/walk, held Sept. 28 in Austin. More than 500 people participated in the event, the fifth annual held to celebrate and show pride in the community. This year, the focus was also on raising awareness, especially among black males, about the importance of staying healthy.
Before runners and walkers kicked off at 8:30 a.m., at the corner of Chicago and Mayfield, Rev. Cy Fields, senior pastor of New Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in East Garfield Park, and his mother thanked the crowd for turning out and encouraged them to take care of their health. This year’s race was dedicated to the memory of their brother and son, Decon Ywain Fields, a well-known DJ at WVON, who died of a heart attack earlier this year at the age of 56. The first-place male finisher was Max-
well Crawford, 21, with a time of 19:12, while Lacey Fournier, 39, was the firstplace female finisher, with a time of 22:24. Crawford said he enjoyed the day. “Even though this was my first time participating, I have always been involved in track and field. It was a great event to be a part of,” he said. Among the first group of finishers after Crawford and Fournier were state Rep. La Shawn Ford and Peter Sagal, host of
State Farm Mutual Automobile • Insurance Company State Farm Indemnity Company • Bloomington, IL • statefarm.com® Larry and his staff are licensed and together have over 75 years of State Farm experience.
See AUSTIN 5K on page 8
Larry Williams,Agent 5932 W. Lake Street Chicago, 60644 (773) 379-9010 larry.williams.b0bk@statefarm.com