U.S. Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García (D-4th)
Society failed Melissa, Chuy says
Calls for more gov’t funds to fight violence
From staff reports
Hours after police announced the arrest of two suspects in the slaying of 8-year-old Melissa Ortega, U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th) issued the following statement.
“Since the tragic death of Melissa Ortega, we have seen the resilience and strength of Little Village. A community wrapped its arms around a mother experiencing the greatest pain, losing a child. No parent should have to live through the horror of losing a child. In the past week, I heard anger and outrage in the voices of my neighbors, calling for change. I echo their call for justice and accountability.
U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th)
“Today, we learned that the police have two suspects in custody. I applaud the swiftness of the investigation and urge for the same level of attention for so many unsolved cases like Melissa’s. Their apprehension will never bring Melissa back to her family, but it provides some relief to a grieving community.
“Melissa’s tragic death is a reminder of how we have failed our youth and find ourselves at a moral crossroads – it is unfathomable to see children killing children. We must dismantle the system of organized crime that preys on our children and our communities while our neighborhoods are starved for resources. I have lived in Little Village for more than five decades and can attest to the invaluable efforts led by faith-based leaders, organizations, parents, and youth to bring an end to violence, but that alone is not enough.
“This tragedy is a call to action: we demand substantive, targeted investments in our city and in suffering communities across the country to combat the epidemic of violence. From access to affordable housing, jobs, and mental health care, to greater investment in violence prevention, youth workforce development, and education, it will take more than our little village to raise a child – our Chicagoland community, the state of Illinois, and the full force of our federal government must take responsibility.”
1 Comment
Local News
Icy spill yielded plenty of good will
Spread the loveBy Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 Here is a giant shout out to our first responders in the community. On Jan. 9, when a sheet of ice descended on Chicago, I was walking the dog. Walking around Peck School was great.…
It’s a busy January in Gage Park
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Neighborhood correspondent at large Greetings, Gage Parkers! I’m pleased to be filling in this week for Karen Sala. It’s fun for me to report on Gage Park, the neighborhood where I lived for the first 26 years of my life. There’s always something happening in this big, exciting part of…
You can bank on good service here
Spread the loveBy Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 In this world of corporate takeovers, it is kind of hard to feel safe in the hands of big business. First, we have to supply some of our personal information to the automated system. Then there’s…
A heavenly sound
Spread the love In what is arguably the most ornate and beautiful house of worship on the Southwest Side—St. Joseph Church in Back of the Yards–the Polonijna Orkiestra Chicago played liturgical music selections last Sunday. Founded in 2011, the orchestra is designed to teach young musicians Polish music and culture. St. Joseph parishioner Konrad Pawelek…
Crime images spark outrage in Gage Park
Spread the loveRobbed at gunpoint in his own garage By Tim Hadac Home-security camera images of a 48-year-old Gage Park man being robbed at gunpoint in his own garage outraged a number of Southwest Siders this week. Images showed the man driving his car down the alley in the 5500 block of South Richmond at…
College Report: McAuley grad Swiatek plays hero for St. Francis
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Hannah Swiatek comes off the bench for the University of St. Francis and is averaging 3.1 points per game. But when called on for the biggest shot of her college career, the 5-foot-8 junior guard from Oak Lawn delivered. Swiatek scored the winning basket in a wild 99-97…
Stagg’s Laila Barakat and McAuley’s Bella Finnegan hit 1K career points; Richards’ Kortz gets 300th win
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Look what Laila Barakat started. The Stagg senior basketball star hit a milestone when she scored her 1,000th career point against Richards on Jan. 8. That was the first of three notable career accomplishments achieved the following week. It was followed by Mother McAuley senior Bella Finnegan scoring…
Tax exemptions will be automatic, Kaegi says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports In response to the ongoing pandemic, the Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s office will continue the automatic renewal of the Senior Freeze, Veterans with Disabilities and Persons with Disabilities Exemptions. The Homeowner and Senior Exemptions will continue to auto-renew every year. If a homeowner received any of these five exemptions…
Marist wrestlers take Illini Classic crown; Shepard’s Damari Reed stays unbeaten
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent When Peter Marinopoulos was a freshman, he served as the Marist wrestling team’s manager when the RedHawks would travel to tournaments. Two years later, he is finishing tournaments on top of the podium. Marinopolous, ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 3A at 195 pounds by the Illinois…
Troop 1441 Scout earns Eagle rank
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A journey that began years ago for Adrian Ayala recently culminated in Boy Scouting’s highest honor. Ayala, a member of Boy Scout Troop 1441 (sponsored by the St. Mary Star of the Sea Holy Name Society) was honored at an Eagle ceremony at Duggan Hall on Jan. 13. The Eagle rank…
Neighbors
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again. The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…
Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall. Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…
Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…
Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending
By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…
Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Six fallen police officers were honored at an annual memorial service outside the State Capitol Thursday. The Illinois Police Officers Memorial occurs annually on the first Thursday of May to honor officers who died in the line of duty and to support their families. “No one…
Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions
By JERRY NOWICKI HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot. It’s a move that caused minority party…
After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to make…
Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air
Capitol News Illinois announced today it will produce the long-running “Illinois Lawmakers” program this spring, in partnership with longtime host and producer Jak Tichenor. “This new partnership is absolutely critical to providing Illinois residents with reliable, independent, in-depth, up to date coverage from the Illinois Capitol after many newspapers and broadcasters shuttered their Statehouse bureaus over…
Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated
By ANDREW ADAMS & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker, state election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign. The State Board…
Dear Southwest Regional Publishing,
I just submitted a post that was not posted.
So this is my 2nd attempt!
“America is not free unless ‘We The People’ can speak freely.”
Sorry Congressman Jesus Garcia,????????
Like you, I pray ???? for the families victimized by violence, and especially in Chicago, where I was born, where I lived, where I went to school, and more importantly, where I went to Church, and where I worked for a number of years.
However, your unwillingness
to stand against Kim Foxx, and her failed policies, of not being tough on crime, and not being a strong advocate of Law and Order, along with you not protecting our Borders against Illegal Immigration that has allowed Illegals to come into Our Country, cheating those who came into Our Country legally, well, sorry, you will win re-election to your Illinois Congressional District, but not because you are principled.
In Closing,
I pray that you change for the better.
I pray for all who work hard to become American Citizens,???????? who have come into the United States of America???????? legally, and honor our laws.
I was #BornLeftRaisedRight,
born in Marquette Park, actually Holy Cross Hospital, the son of a mom and dad, who raised my sisters and brothers to be Christians, to Live Fully, and Love Always.
My dad served in Korea, as a Sergeant, who blew up bridges, so that #WeThePeople???????? can Live Always, and Live Forsver,
I’m a spiritualist, not a secularist,
Congressman Garcia,????????
And I care less about being popular, and care more about being principled.
“Handouts in return for Democrat Socialist Votes don’t work for #USCitzens???????? and especially Our Middle Class who the Democrat Socialist Party have subjected to paying higher and higher taxes.
Sorry Congressman Garcia,????????
I cannot support your lack of support of Our Police in Chicago, almost all who serve and protect us.
I cannot support you advocating for the disastrous, and destructive policies
of Kim Foxx.
Sorry that a Republican like me, won’t run against you in 2022, and if a Republican runs against you, I will most likely support her or him, depending on what their platform and policies are that will protect our citizens so that “We The Prople” can feel safe in our schools, shopping centers, and in our streets.
In God WeTrust????????
And Love We Must????
With Sincere and Kind Regards,
Dr. Kenneth Joseph Yerkes????????
#DoctorY????
Former 2018
Write in Candidate
Citizen CNdidate????????
Illinois Congressional District 3
#IL03
“People and Principles Over Money and Power”
2022 Candidate
Illinois Representative
Illinois District 31
“YERKES For Illinois 31”