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Mt. Sinai makes push to hire more Black and Brown doctors
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FREE Vol. 35 No. 42
October 20, 2021
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Also serving Garfield Park
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austinweeklynews.com
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SSpecial i l section i INSIDE
West Side intersection could get more walkable Streetscape improvements coming to Harrison and Homan will be based on recommendations from a community plan By PASCAL SABINO Block Club Chicago
A tricky intersection often avoided by West Side pedestrians will soon be upgraded with better street infrastructure and public art to make the crossing safer and more walkable. The improvements are thanks to years of community-led work planning ways to make North Lawndale safer and more welcoming for pedestrians. The need to improve the streetscape at the troubled intersection was identified by the WALK-H project, a local effort to make the Homan Square neighborhood of Lawndale more walkable. Improvements may include a ground mural designed to slow traffic, curb extensions and crosswalks aimed making the intersection safer for pedestrians. The WALK-H initiative began in 2019 as a walkability study intended to get to the bottom of why many residents don’t feel comfortable walking through the neighborhood. Improving walkability has been a key goal of the transportation committee of the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council, a neighborhood See INTERSECTION on page 3
Keeping the legacy alive
PAUL GOYETTE/Contributor
Black Panther Party Cub Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. (shown speaking in the black jacket) and Mother Akua Njeri (show seated to his right) during Friday’s dedication outside of the Hampton House in Maywood. Congressman Danny K. Davis (shown left in gray suit) was also in attendance. Read more on page 11.
West Garfield Park Aldi closes permanently The store at 3835 W. Madison St. was one of just two grocery stores located in the West Garfield Park community
By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter
The only Aldi grocery store location in West Garfield Park has closed, leaving the community with only one grocery store — the Save-A-Lot location at 420 S. Pulaski Rd. The Aldi store was located at 3835 W. Madison St., at the east end of the Madi-
son/Pulaski commercial corridor. The exact timing of the closing is unclear. Reports of the store’s closing started appearing on social media on Oct. 9 and by Oct. 11, the store’s sign was gone and workers could be seen removing shelves and other furniture from the building. Aldi didn’t respond to calls and emails seeking comment, but a Google search for
the store at 3835 W. Madison St. returns a search result showing that the store is permanently closed. Attempts to reach 28th Ward Ald. Jason Ervin, whose district includes the store, were unsuccessful. The grocery store chain still has four locations in or near the West Side, and West Garfield Park still has a handful of See ALDI on page 12