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AUSTINWEEKLY news ■
West Side aldermen confront CPD over homicide clearance rate,
Vol. 33 No. 42
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October 16, 2019
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austinweeklynews.com
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Also serving Garfield Park
@AustinWeeklyChi
@AustinWeeklyNews
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Mapping M ppi Black Bl k Chicago, page 11
Nonprofits told to leave Austin high school Lease disputes with CPS cause exit By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
Three nonprofits that had been operating inside Austin College & Career Academy, 231 N. Pine, have received notices from Chicago Public Schools that they should vacate the premises in a move that could impact hundreds of low-income West Side residents who depend on their services. Representatives with Manufacturing Renaissance, the Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC for short) and Friends of the Children all confirmed their organizations are no longer operating at the high school after receiving notification from CPS in the last several months. Austin Weekly News reached out to CPS last week for comment, but the district has yet to respond. In 2017, JARC partnered with Austin Coming Together, Manufacturing Renaissance and CPS to launch a replica of its flagship Careers in Manufacturing Programs initiative at the Austin high school. Through the program, JARC provides “manufacturing job training and support services for low-income adults from the Austin neighborhood and surrounding communities,” according to its website. “This expansion to the Austin neighborhood will improve access to high quality skills training to community residents with barriers to employment in an underserved community,” Guy Loudon, JARC’s president, See NONPROFITS on page 2
Courtesy Novak Construction
By the hand expands
Someone signs a beam that will be used during the construction of a new $8 million, 30,000-square-foot addition to the 50,000-square-foot facility By The Hand Club For Kids opened in 2015 at 416 N. Laramie Ave. By The Hand officials said that the addition will allow both the nonprofit and the Moving Everest Charter School to serve more students.
West Side leaders worry as CTU strike deadline closes in
With park district employees also threatening strike, this year could be different from 2012 By MICHAEL ROMAIN & IGOR STUDENKOV Editor & Contributing Reporter
After working under an expired contract for more than three months and with negotiations between the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools still mired in stalemate, families across the city are bracing for the strong possibility of
empty classrooms come Thursday — the day CTU will go on strike if no contract agreement is reached. As the strike deadline loomed, community leaders across Austin expressed concern over the possibility of students being out of school. “I’m very hopeful that CPS and CTU will come to an agreement very soon, so that children won’t have any interruption in
their education process,” said Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th). “As talks continue, I hope they’re able to resolve any concerns and differences they have.” The two sides have spent the last few months going back-and-forth with various proposals and counterproposals.
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 STRIKE on page 7
Larry Williams,Agent 5932 W. Lake Street Chicago, 60644 (773) 379-9010 larry.williams.b0bk@statefarm.com