Political

Presidential Debate Expectations & Reflections

Posted on by Michelle M. Ryan / 2 Comments
Joe Biden said Donald Trump had the morals of an alley cat, which ruffled the fur of some animal advocates. Photo: Thomas K./Pexels

President Joe Biden’s biggest responsibility was to convince voters he has the capacity to serve another four years while Donald Trump needed to control his demeanor. Both needed to show Americans who is the better candidate and age is against both of them. Rumors abounded before the debate about how the candidates were preparing, especially Biden.

Biden’s gait has always been a concern but his facial appearance was startling. He looked like a cross between a deer in headlights and a wax figure. I thought it was a Botox overdose but cannot confirm, plus too much makeup. Efforts to minimize his age (81) seem to have backfired. Botox can take effect within a few days and “its active ingredient freezes facial muscles to keep you from contracting them,” confirms Healthline.com, which could explain the wild-eyed look and open mouth.

Trump’s appearance looked pretty much the same throughout recent years. While often seen with a scowling face, and not surprisingly, his mouth was very frowned this time. I imagined Trump having an electronic device attached underneath his suit that could deliver shocks from his advisors if he stepped out of line. However, he contained any sarcasm he may have felt toward many of his opponent’s blunders.

Most importantly, cognitive dysfunction has been a concern for Biden’s party and constituency. It’s not something you can hide very well. If he is indeed in early stages of dementia, he could be fine during one presentation, then falter the next. This could explain a difference in Biden’s performance the next day in South Carolina. However, he used a teleprompter at that rally, according to Politico.com. There’s a major difference in reading something compared to formulating a coherent thought and expressing it.

Troubling Signs and Decisions

On February 8 of this year, I was excited to watch an ABC documentary on the Titan submersible’s fatal dive to the Titanic. It was interrupted by Biden giving a speech in defense of a report by a special counsel looking into classified documents in his home. The report stated, “Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” Furthermore, it would be difficult to convince a jury that he was guilty of a felony that “requires a mental state of willfulness,” according to the New York Times.

As Biden was defending his mental state during that speech, he confused the names of the presidents of Mexico and Egypt. I was unclear of what border he was talking about and he was confused about a rosary from his son, as well as what cemetery his son was buried in. He slurred words and didn’t finish sentences. This was surprising but I don’t normally watch Biden’s speeches because of his poor delivery. He often comes across as yelling at the audience. The Republicans had been warning about Biden’s mental state for a long time but I dismissed it as antagonism.

A troubling decision by the Democrats was to not offer any other candidates besides Biden for the 2024 election. They knew his age was already a concern, however, the Democrats are much more unified. (Until recently.) The Republicans offered a slew of candidates. Trump supporters had a close match with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who shared many of his ideals. DeSantis is only 45-years-old with none of the legal baggage of Trump. And he’s polite. But the People spoke and Trump won the nomination.

The last time Trump won the nomination, much of the American population, as well as some Republicans, rejected him. This could actually be considered a threat to our democracy because the United States is a republic. The two main parties put forth candidates, plus there are a few third parties. They are narrowed down by VOTERS in the primary election. When people reject a candidate that the majority elected, the whole process of our system is undermined. Worse yet, when politicians reject a chosen candidate for their own party, they are no longer representing the choice of the majority of the People they represent.

A case in point was during the 2016 Republican primary. Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio took a beating from Trump in the debates. Voters chose Trump. Both losing candidates later endorsed Trump for the sake of their party. Cruz released a statement to the Texas Tribune, “Last year, I promised to support the Republican nominee. And I intend to keep my word.” Rubio stated, “While I respect that voters chose him as the GOP nominee, I have consistently rejected his offensive rhetoric and behavior. I disagree with him on many things, but I disagree with his opponent [Hillary Clinton] on virtually everything. I wish we had better choices for President,” according to Politico.com.

Bill Clinton (& other former presidents) could be considered to have morals of an alley cat, except the cats are innocent. Photo: Dimitris Vetsikas/Pixabay

The Aftermath

Anyway, inflation and immigration were the top two interests of Americans but were overshadowed by Biden’s performance.  Surprisingly, the media actually reported negatively about Biden’s performance sparking talk of a replacement. An indirect message the media won’t admit is that Trump did well in the debate. Everyone knows that everything said will be fact-checked and it’s not realistic to expect a politician to never lie, including by omission or embellishing their own record.

The recent interview with Biden and ABC News anchor, George Stephanopoulos, did not seem to quell the concerns of Democrats despite Biden’s better delivery and appearance. Both Biden and Trump have each had a term. One of the things we need to ask ourselves is if we (and the world) are in a better place now or four years ago?

Uncategorized

White America Created a Monster

Posted on by Michelle M. Ryan / 4 Comments
An Angel pin from the (now defunct) Nicole Brown Charitable Foundation. Photo: Michelle Ryan

It’s been said that we shouldn’t speak ill of the dead, perhaps because the deceased no longer have a chance to defend themselves. According to philosopher Matthew Beard, of The Ethics Centre, the saying actually stems from centuries’ old beliefs in the afterlife. “In Aristotle’s time, degrading the legacy of a deceased person was thought to devalue the life that person had lived, and, in doing so, degrade the quality of their afterlife,” as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, the oldest and one of Australia’s most influential papers, founded in 1831.

I never agreed with this sentiment and the recent death of O.J. Simpson is a good example of why. After his acquittal, I was hoping that somewhere along a golf course, a storm would brew. In an instant, a bolt of lightning would hit the ground, travel up his metal golf club and strike him dead. Even if he had rubber gloves that fit, I was hoping for an electrocution. Like God’s version of an outdated death penalty. But no.

As the media reports of Simpson’s death continued, a flood of bad emotions and memories was stirred up leaving a dismal feeling that lingered for days. Worse yet, Netflix was streaming a five-part documentary, “30 for 30: O.J. Made in America,” which I, of course, had to watch (and based this article). It starts off with promise, red flags begin to surface that lead to horror, tension and anger overflow, but there is redemption.

A Step Back in Time

One bad memory involved a phone conversation with a hair client I’ll call Andy. His car was stolen from a gas station when he went inside leaving his keys in the ignition. His briefcase and all his work papers were also stolen as they laid on the seat. The perpetrator was not caught but Andy was certain a black guy did it. He said Nicole Brown got exactly what she deserved for marrying a black man. He went on to say that all black men beat women. I totally argued both statements. He began insulting me for the neighborhood I lived in, which was majority black. We both hung up on each other.

Years later, Andy showed up at my house on a motorcycle. He had entered a 12-step program and apologized for what he said years earlier. He has since passed away but that awful conversation, post-verdict, is etched in my mind. The experience was minor compared to the raw painful emotion that unfolded in the courtroom, as well as across the country, as Simpson was found not guilty.

Worthy Trial Notes

Lead prosecutor, Marcia Clark, was interviewed in the documentary and warned fellow prosecutor, Christopher Darden, not to have Simpson try on the glove. Darden said if he didn’t, the defense team would, courtesy of F. Lee Bailey.

Defense attorney, Johnnie L. Cochran Jr., objected that Clark was wearing a tiny gold angel pin on her lapel, similar to those worn by Nicole Brown’s family. Clark said it was “A show of support for the victim’s family. The jury could not see the detail and wouldn’t know what it signifies.” Judge Lance Ito ordered her to not wear it in court again, according to The Washington Post.

An honorable mention is Ron Shipp, a retired police officer for Los Angeles, and friend to Simpson and Nicole. He volunteered to testify for the prosecution after seeing the “horrific” photos of the slain victims. Upon the witness stand, he was ripped to shreds because of a past problem with alcohol. Shipp taught domestic violence classes, so Nicole confided in him. 911 calls were played for the jury as Simpson was shouting while breaking into her house and the terror could be heard in Nicole’s voice.

The prosecution felt they ended up with a “bad lot of jurors” because a six-month commitment would have been a financial hardship for professionals. “The socioeconomic scale was low and the jurors were not as open to DNA or other scientific evidence.” The jury got to visit Simpson’s house, which initially had many pictures of white people. The defense team took them down and replaced with pictures of black people from Cochran’s office “to try to make him blacker.” Simpson didn’t even know the people in the pictures.

A few jurors were interviewed and it was a 90% decision the verdict was payback for Rodney King. According to civil rights activist, Danny Bakewell, the celebrating afterward was 400 years of payback for injustice to blacks. “Now you know how it feels,” he said. It only took 3 ½ hours to reach the verdict after 267 days of jury duty and jurors wanted to go home. Unfortunately, no black women on the jury were sympathetic toward Nicole. They harbored resentment that a famous athlete didn’t marry within his community, however, “the antagonism was toward Nicole, not Simpson.”

Reflections

The black community is very forgiving toward each other. During an interview when asked why he wasn’t participating in civil rights activism, Simpson stated, “I’m not black, I’m O.J.” During the infamous Bronco chase, one of his friends said if O.J. was black, he would have been on the ground, handcuffed and thrown in jail. However, he was exalted to ‘celebrity,’ transcending race and color. Authorities watching the chase on TV said it “was not a somber event, it was an L.A. party.”

The Hertz rental commercials featured cheering white people catapulted Simpson onto a pedestal. All the white adulation only enabled Simpson to a sense of entitlement. I knew of blatant racists who glorified certain black celebrities and they were the first ones to move out of a neighborhood when blacks moved in.

The disturbing documentary showed gruesome photos of the murder scene. It was common knowledge that Nicole was nearly decapitated. But think about what is involved with that.  According to the autopsy report, both sets of jugular veins and both carotid arteries on each side; her trachea, epiglottis, thyroid membrane, pharynx, larynx, tendons, ligaments, and muscles were all severed. The attack was so severe, the knife cut into one of her vertebrae. Meanwhile, their kids were sleeping upstairs. Especially haunting was the massive amount of blood that just flowed out of Nicole’s body down the stairs and sidewalk. Her life source would later be washed away like it was just a mess that needed to be cleaned up.

Ron Goldman tragically was in the wrong place at the wrong time. One jugular vein was cut with stab wounds to the chest, abdomen, and thigh. He had dreams and plans to open a restaurant. Goldman’s family found a floor plan, a menu, and names of people for artwork he planned for the wall. Such a devastating loss of life took place on June 12, 1994. Interestingly, in 2008, Simpson was sentenced to 33 years in prison on a burglary charge, which equaled the $33 million awarded in the civil case that the Brown and Goldman families never received.

A Tribute

Pokeweed Plant, June 2024, multiplied since 1994 and not yet in bloom. Photo: Michelle Ryan

A final memory of the violent attack involved a mysterious plant that grew in our yard that fateful summer. It had a thick burgundy center stem with tropical leaves and was about 6’ tall. Neither my mom nor I knew what it was but decided to let it grow. One day I came home from work and found the mysterious plant had been hacked to the ground. I was upset and exclaimed to my mom, “WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PLANT?! IT LOOKS LIKE O.J. SIMPSON WAS HERE!” She said a neighbor told her it was a weed, so she cut it down. It was sad.

To my joyous surprise, the following year the plant grew back and was allowed to reach its full potential. Another neighbor identified it as Pokeweed. The robins love the berries it grows and it’s good for wildlife only. I named the plant “Nicole.” To this day, it’s here. I think of Nicole Brown when I see it emerge every year.

Calumet Park Chronicles

Too Big for a Small Town

Posted on by Michelle M. Ryan / 4 Comments
Labrador Retrievers are one of the most common dog breeds used by police agencies in the United States. Photo by Mohann/Pixabay

We’ve all heard helicopters flying overhead and probably don’t give them much thought. Think again. Last year, the village of Calumet Park was the focus of a large-scale investigation including the ATF, FBI, state police, local police, NBC and ABC News helicopters, and a search dog. After all the TV news reports, a friend sent me an email with “Cal-Park makes the big time!”

The saga started in Homewood at the Jewel/Osco store where an armored truck was robbed of $1.1 million at gunpoint. There was an Apple AirTag tracking device, valued at $29.00, in one of the money bins that led law enforcement right to a house in Cal-Park. The last census shows the little village has a population of about 6,755 with an average annual income of $55,700.00.

A video of the bust surfaced on social media showing all of the above-mentioned agencies with officers all over the place. Neighbors were outside watching. Cars were being towed. The house, garage and yard were all searched. At one point, a medium-sized white dog that reminded me of Downton Abbey’s Lord Grantham’s beloved and devoted Isis, joined the search inside. The dog was stark naked. No bullet-proof vest. However, enough agents had already secured the scene, so the dog was safe.

(Despite the white appearance, Lord Grantham’s dog was a yellow lab. According to SnowyPinesWhiteLabs.com, there is no such thing as a white lab. They are cream-colored and “essentially the paler version of your classic yellow lab. In fact, the American Kennel Club recognizes white labs as yellow labs.”)

A friend of mine who has a fantasy, I repeat, a FANTASY, of armored truck heists offered the first criticism I heard about the busted heist. Apparently, they should have high-tailed it out of there and headed to Mexico. Not home. Both suspects in this case had residences in Chicago, so their connection to Cal-Park is not known to the general public. Nor do we know what else was part of their plan.

This reminded me of the 2012 prison break at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Chicago, where two inmates tied together bed sheets and dental floss, squeezed through a window, and scaled down 17 stories on a cold winter night.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the escapees hailed a taxi a few blocks away but separated. One was found three days later hiding in an apartment a few doors down from his childhood home. He later described the escape at his NEW sentencing, as a mystical event of “dropping seventeen stories, and lived to tell, having survived by the grace of God.”

The other went home to visit mom in the suburbs and was found 18 days later sleeping in a boiler room of an apartment complex in a neighboring village. The prison break was quite impressive and exciting as everyone was waiting for a news update. However, it seemed that a plan was lacking.

So anyway, back to the heist – the tracking device stirred much interest. First, knowing how far the device can track would determine how far and where to flee. “An AirTag can be tracked miles away, or even in a different country, provided it is within Bluetooth range of an Apple device on the ‘Find My Network.’ There are close to a billion devices on the Find My Network, so it’s highly likely that an AirTag will come into contact with one and update its location in the Find My App,” according to Screenrant.com. “However, this is unlikely to be the case in a remote location, such as in the wilderness or an unpopulated area.”

An Apple AirTag measures 1.26 inches in diameter and 0.31 inches thick. Courtesy of Amazon.com

The AirTag is used frequently by travelers who want to safeguard their luggage. However, law enforcement would have more sophisticated tracking measures. Pegasus Technologies   boasts that another tracker, “the TracPac system is the ONLY cash tracking device that can be completely hidden between just two bills of currency. It is flexible and can even be folded in half. It’s hidden inside a larger stack of cash within a cash drawer or safe. Upon the theft of the cash, the TracPac automatically activates and begins transmitting its tracking signal.”

I wondered if such tracking devices that rely on Bluetooth, radio frequency, or GPS have replaced dye packs (and how they work). I found reports as recent as 2023 where dye packs are still used by banks. The American Society of Trace Evidence Examiners explains, “The dye packs are simulated stacks of currency which contain embedded electronics and chemical components which, when activated, emit a stream of red dye and tear gas designed to mark the currency, clothing and other objects in contact with the robber as well as to encourage the abandonment of the money. The dye packs are activated electronically once the robber exits the bank.” (An online search for “Exploding Dye Pack” shows some funny videos.)

So apparently, high-tailing it to Mexico or wherever is no guarantee of eluding authorities. If people rob banks because they want to live a life of luxury, you can’t hide in the wilderness like the Unabomber. You’d want to be out there buying lots of expensive stuff and somewhere along the way, a trace of your trail will likely be found. Personally, I wouldn’t be able to handle something like this. The anxiety level would be over the top just attempting the robbery. But it wouldn’t stop there. How would you live where you have to keep looking over your shoulder?

The Cal-Park heist prompted me to watch 1996’s, Set It Off, about four young women in such dire straits, they decide to rob a bank. Queen Latifah was too gung-ho and mocked Jada Pinkett, who wanted a Plan B. While Pinkett was on the wrong track for participating, she was on the right track for a backup plan. It was a good movie and shows what can go wrong. Let’s not forget what happened to Bonnie and Clyde. It’s much better to leave this a fantasy.  A final thought – the two men who escaped from the Chicago prison were both initially serving time for bank robberies.

Calumet Park Chronicles

The (Not So) Great Calumet Park Fire

Posted on by Michelle M. Ryan / 4 Comments
Despite the message, they are open 24/7. Photo by Michelle Ryan.

It was a nice Sunday afternoon in late September and warm enough to hang laundry outside. I was in the kitchen making chili and noticed the neighbors across the alley had company. They were standing in the street and on the sidewalk talking. A short time later, they were pointing upward north. I hoped they didn’t see a raccoon on a roof. Or maybe they were looking at the American Bald Eagle that lives in the cemetery across the street. Was it a bird? A plane? A raccoon?

Then there was a loud bang. A man said, “There goes another one!” Then the neighbors started walking down by me and some went down my block while the man stayed on the corner. I heard several more bangs and went out and asked him what was going on. He said a garage was on fire. I said, “Another one?” He was well aware of the one I was referring to.

(It had only been a little over a week ago. I was outside and smelled something burning very close. I checked my garage inside and behind and saw nothing anywhere. It wasn’t until a couple days later during a walk that I saw a garage burned down a mere block away. There was a burned-up car inside and the garage across the alley was all peeled.)

Back to that sad Sunday. A neighbor, “Sherylee,” from across the street came out and asked me if I heard all that noise from inside my house and I said yes. We could see large black clouds of smoke spewing upward. It was a very bad feeling.

A traffic jam quickly ensued on the street right outside my house as one of the main thoroughfares just a block away was all blocked off because of the fire. Drivers were annoyed and one would not move over causing another driver to crash into a curb.

Another driver crashed into a curb as she turned the corner. She stopped and yelled out her window, “I keep telling them they can’t store that sh*# in the garage!” (Rumors had abounded that the bangs were fireworks.) However, it did not sound like fireworks to me. The bangs were too far apart and a different tone. It sounded more like construction equipment doing a demo.

Sherylee also commented on the other recent fire a block away. She said she was going to walk over to the fire. I asked if I could go with and she waited for me to lock up the house. I had been cooking ground turkey over the stove and had to make sure the burner was off. After locking everything up, my slight OCD kicked in and made me unlock the door and go check it again. I didn’t want the fire department to have to come by me too.

Okay, finally out the door. As we headed down the block, I started getting choked up and felt my pulse racing as the black smoke continued spewing into the sky. Adrenaline was starting to release, which is hard to recover from. Many neighbors were out on their porches. A lady in the middle of the block was on her porch and stated she feels like she’s having an anxiety attack. She wasn’t the only one.

We reached the end of the block and could only go a half-block further east before the police made everyone back off as they put up police tape. The explosions were attracting more people and the police didn’t know how many more explosions there’d be. One elderly lady in the crowd had to be helped to an ambulance where an EMT took her blood pressure. It was a traumatic scene and the crowd was uneasy as it spoke of feared arson.

The initial fire spread to the garage next door. Whatever was in the backyard was also on fire and it was getting closer to the house. Houses and garages in this neighborhood are very close to each other. Possibly transformers exploded as the fire spread to the power lines.

Six blocks were closed off along the main thoroughfare, which was lined up with fire trucks. I saw fire trucks from, of course, Calumet Park, Chicago, Blue Island, Alsip, Posen, Phoenix, Merrionette Park, and Crestwood. A neighbor from four blocks away who heard the commotion headed out and saw fire trucks from Palos Heights and Chicago Heights at his end.

I told Sherylee I was going home. She offered to walk me home and I said no because she planned on staying longer. I called her later when I realized I had no Comcast. This included a land line, internet, and TV. She said there was no power on her side of the block until about 5:00 p.m. That wasn’t bad considering the damage. My service was restored the following night. It was difficult to sleep and everything felt unsettled. It took several days before I even felt halfway normal.

Later that week, a friend and I drove down the alley of the fire. Along with two garages burned completely down, there was damage to one garage to the south, and three garages across the alley to the east. The damage to the surrounding garages included melted walls, soffits, and fascia.     

The properties with both garages burned completely down also had damage to their houses. One house to the south and two houses to the north also suffered damage including items in their backyards, like wooden fences and one large completely charred basketball hoop. Large garbage cans in the alley were melted.

Numerous small propane tanks about this size at scene of fire. Photo courtesy of Menards.

A total of eight properties were damaged in this fire. According to FireMapChicago.net, propane tanks were involved in this fire, hence the explosions. (However, the CAUSE of the fire was not mentioned.) The evidence of the numerous propane tanks laid there for weeks afterward where one of the garages once stood. They were small in size and the type commonly used for camping or portable stoves, lanterns, heaters and outdoor appliances. The propane tanks were an obvious accelerant leading to so many other neighbors being affected by this fire.

Hopefully the village of Calumet Park will issue some safety guidelines regarding propane tanks in their next village newsletter after this widespread fire. According to Ferrellgas.com, even if your propane tank isn’t full, “propane tanks should always be stored outdoors in well-ventilated areas. Storing propane tanks in garages or sheds is discouraged because if a valve isn’t fully closed, vapors could escape and concentrate indoors. A flat, level, outdoor area that is out of direct sunlight is the ideal location. Be mindful of other flammable materials on your property and take care to store propane at least 10 feet away from those items. Disconnect the tank when finished using. Ensure the gas valve is in the OFF position when storing.”

20 lb. propane tank commonly used for BBQs. Photo courtesy of Menards.

Additionally, “propane tanks should never be stored in off-site storage units, which aren’t designed to allow enough ventilation for chemicals or flammable materials. Overwinter your tank under your grill’s cover to ensure adequate ventilation and protection from snow and ice.”

The sorry thing about this is we can’t control what others do. No one really thinks that how a neighbor stores such items, can affect your property as well. Hopefully this is a wake-up call to inventory your stuff and do what you can to ensure your own safety.

ChicagoLand/Political

Aftermath of the Chicago Mayoral Election

Posted on by Michelle M. Ryan / 4 Comments
Do old-school ideals just represent nostalgia now?/Pfuderi, Pixabay

As I recently sat at the traffic light at 119th & Ashland, a red and white “Willie Wilson for Mayor” sign was still displayed on the bridge over the I-57 from Round One. It was not in a place where I could easily snatch it as a souvenir. The election was over and a resounding question was “Did Paul Vallas lose it or did Brandon Johnson win it?” Although certainly not a landslide, the final numbers of 49 to 51% respectively, Johnson won it. I wondered about the old-school ideals of Vallas versus a progressive movement by Johnson.

Public safety was the number one issue of the campaign as residents, businesses, visitors, etc., were all affected by crime. Old-school ideals of Vallas were only dashed dreams now. His comprehensive plan to slow the exodus of police included a normal schedule for them, promote from within under rank and file, add another police academy, restore beat integrity, and return to community-based policing. I wondered about Vallas’s claim that many retired police officers would come back to fill vacancies. Why would they want to come back when they actually made it to retirement?

Vallas said that 26% of vacancies of the Magnificent Mile were because neither customers nor workers wanted to come, especially on public transportation because of crime. A perfect example was on April 15th when hundreds of young people took over the downtown area by attacking people, jumping on cars, damaging property, blocking traffic, and a couple people were shot. The incident made national news. One witness who helped a tourist couple who were beaten and robbed said the police drove right past them as she flagged them down.

Only 15 people were arrested as we saw police standing by. The police seemed to have no plan. Perhaps they just didn’t want to get involved. If they get involved, they could get hurt.  If they have to arrest people, it could escalate. If they get forceful, they could get sued. They’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t. News reports stated some officers said to expect more of this behavior because of Johnson’s win. Regardless of the election outcome, police still need to fulfill their mission.

Mayor-elect  Johnson said that though he “does not condone the destructive activity that took place downtown [April 15], it was not constructive to demonize youth who have been starved of opportunities in their own communities.” Throughout the debates and interviews, Johnson was understanding about Black Lives Matter’s destructive actions. Regarding the George Floyd riots, he said looters were acting out of desperation.

Johnson refused three times in one forum to answer the question about his quoted statement of defunding the police. He emphasized prevention – invest in youth with jobs and mental health facilities.  His plan of having mental healthcare and social workers handle many police calls will allow them to deal with more violent crimes. During one debate, a moderator pointed out that nation-wide studies showed such workers were also at a shortage. Johnson admitted that healthcare professionals would not necessarily respond. Instead, everyday people who have experienced trauma would qualify.

The concept of “Treatment Not Trauma” regarding mental health responders instead of police is not new nation-wide but less so in Chicago. We will likely be hearing more about it once Johnson takes office. Many who hoped for Vallas to win with his public safety plan of more police may feel like depressed dinosaurs. The same can be said for Willie Wilson supporters who wanted the old-school approach. Wilson and other former mayoral candidate, Ald. Sophia King, both wanted to re-open mental health facilities and were pro-police, also endorsed Vallas.

Extinct Tyrannosaurus/Ignacio DG, Pixabay

Many undecided voters are swayed by endorsements when they like qualities and values of the endorser. The endorsements for Vallas by 27-year-old activist and former mayoral candidate, Ja’mal Green, and 76-year-old former Ald. Bobby Rush were unexpected. Green was expected to draw young voters while Rush was a controversial figure who could unite blacks with a white candidate.        

Race is always a factor in elections. Chicago is a diverse city and the candidate needs to represent all. An important factor with Vallas was he always had black people in his commercials, but more importantly, standing near him in gatherings. Hispanics seemed divided with Vallas getting former CPS Board President, Gery Chico’s support and Johnson getting Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s. I saw no Asians in commercials or gatherings for either candidate. Also missing was the infamous slogan “Let’s Go Brandon” as part of Johnson’s campaign.

Johnson claimed his vision was multi-generational and multi-cultural. All I saw around him were blacks. When Anjanette Young, the victim of a 2019 botched police raid, endorsed Johnson, he literally looked like he had stars in his eyes. Hopefully, he gets his head out of the clouds and his feet on the ground, as his dream has come true. Despite concerns about how beholden Johnson will be to the Teacher’s Union who put him in position, the People have spoken.

ChicagoLand/Political

Chicago Mayoral Election Also Affects Suburbs

Posted on by Michelle M. Ryan / 2 Comments
Photo by Walter Martin/Unsplash

The Chicago mayoral election is of interest (and should be) to many suburbs, especially those who are separated from the city by a mere street. We see and hear Chicago’s mayor almost daily through media and often grumble hoping for a change. A change is certainly on the way. Big city issues that can affect all of us include crime, taxes, parking, red-light and speed cameras, juveniles, and general expenses.

Going back over four years ago, a major concern for suburbs was when Mayor Rahm Emmanuel planned to raise water rates to suburbs that relied on city-supplied Lake Michigan water to help balance Chicago’s budget. A trickle-down effect was an understatement as suburban officials looked for other options and braced for a flood in water rate hikes.  This is only one example where the buck is passed to suburbs but they have no vote on the matter.

Currently, crime is the number one issue throughout the whole Chicago mayoral campaign.  Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson have very different opinions. It was national news in 2019 when suburban police chiefs issued a “vote of no confidence” against Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, especially regarding her strategy to de-criminalize non-violent crimes.

During a recent forum on Fox News Chicago, when asked about Foxx’s job performance, Vallas thinks she is not aggressive enough in keeping dangerous criminals off the streets, leading to repeat offenders. Johnson thinks she is a good leader with incredible integrity. His focus was on how many falsely imprisoned inmates she set free.

Photo by Bruno Guerrero/Unsplash

Living in one of those suburbs separated by one street, it was not uncommon to see Chicago police crossing jurisdictions. I was once caught in the middle of a high-speed police chase close to home. The Chicago police were pursuing suspects from an incident in the city that spread into my village. The suspects fled on foot and were shooting at police. The incident was on the news. However, I haven’t seen Chicago police in my area for several years. Mayor Lori Lightfoot took credit for overhauling and reforming police vehicle and foot pursuits, according to her website.

Vallas and Johnson also have very different approaches on solutions for public safety. Vallas wants to keep schools open on weekends, holidays and throughout the summer to keep juveniles off the streets and out of trouble. Johnson wants to invest in youth by training and employing to deter youth from a life of crime. Debates continue on restructuring the police department and either way, it comes down to money. Both candidates stated they would not add a financial burden to Chicagoans by raising property taxes. Where will the money come from?

Suburban commuters may already be contributing money (involuntarily), as Chicago issued “over 1 million parking tickets to drivers in the first six months of 2022,” according to the Illinois Policy Institute. Their investigation also found that Chicago’s speed cameras “have failed to deliver the promised safety improvements, and fatalities actually increased. The cameras did deliver a lot of cash: $36 million.” Red light cameras are another complaint and money source for Chicago affecting commuters.

Voluntary trips downtown may be curtailed because of crime but many suburbanites have to commute downtown for their jobs. Johnson’s $800 million business plan initially included a $40 million tax (a city surcharge) for suburbanites commuting to work via Metra. I remember that commercial prior to the runoff election and then never saw it again. According to Illinoispolicy.org, the idea caused a firestorm and Johnson no longer considered it, however, his website still shows $800 million.

Suburbanites who travel to the city on a regular basis are also likely helping with Chicago’s finances in other ways. Commuters who drive have to pay for parking, which is very expensive.  Workers are likely patronizing food establishments regularly and may shop in Chicago as well. Taxes are likely higher than in suburbs, plus the seven cents per bag unless you bring your own. Is it fair to charge us some kind of head tax or should Chicago be grateful we’re coming there and spending our money?

Macy’s on State St., Downtown Chicago, December, 2017. Photo by Michelle M. Ryan

Despite all the issues, there is no question that Chicago is rich in beauty. There are diverse cultures and all the tourist attractions the city offers – entertainment venues, restaurants, museums, Lake Michigan, parades, stores, landmarks, architecture, the Christkindl market, Santa Claus, just to name a few. Hopefully, we will all see an improvement in Chicago over the next four years.

This article was submitted to and published by The Lansing Journal in March, 2023.

ChicagoLand/Political

Chicago Mayoral Election: 7 Down, 2 to Go

Posted on by Michelle M. Ryan / 4 Comments
Chicago Skyline/Pixabay

Four years ago, when Lori Lightfoot ran against Toni Preckwinkle, both women stood to make history as the first black female mayor. Between the two, I favored Lightfoot based on her sensibility, fairness, and (seemingly) humility. With Lightfoot married to a white woman, it added a unifying effect of the gay community, plus racial harmony. What potential. It was thrilling enough that I enlisted a friend of mine to partake in an undercover caper of stealing one of her campaign signs for my suburban patio.

However, during Lightfoot’s reign, her potential quickly began to crumble. There was a major lack of humility with shouting, swearing, and insulting her colleagues. Lightfoot’s decision to exclude white reporters for her mid-term inauguration demonstrated racial division despite her reasoning about systemic racism. It did not seem logical to consider Lightfoot a racist, but I wondered if her wife had any influence over her to set her straight (no pun intended). The People spoke on election day and hopefully Lightfoot reflects and gets on the right foot herself. (Pun intended.)

Mayor Lightfoot’s bark was as bad as her bite. (Christel Sagniez/Pixabay)

It seemed that Jesus “Chuy” Garcia could be a natural bridge between black and white, however, his campaign seemed a bit lackluster and pundits claimed he entered the race too late. Personally, I thought Ald. Sophia King was like a breath of fresh air as the only other female candidate compared to Lightfoot, with sound plans. Ja’mal Green caused chuckles throughout one of the debates when he claimed the other candidates stole all his ideas and they were too old. Pundits predict he has a bright political future. Despite Ald. Roderick Sawyer and State Rep. Kam Buckner’s political ties, their connections didn’t surpass other candidates.

Why not Willie Wilson? A good commercial. All the candidates had plans on how to make Chicago safer and investing in youth, etc. The bigger question was “How are you going to pay for it?” Wilson is known for spending his own money and not about dumping a load on taxpayers. He wanted to run the government like a business and fire Lightfoot. She blasted him for the comment about letting police hunt criminals like rabbits. However, Wilson resonates with many. All of the defeated candidates still play a part in the election by their endorsements.

Willie Wilson’s comment about police chasing criminals like rabbits may have helped earn him a guest spot on Tucker Carlson’s show. (Julia Schwab/Pixabay)

The recent first mayoral runoff forum between Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson showed their different approaches on solutions for public safety, the number one issue throughout the whole campaign. The two candidates surprisingly have many opinions in common about many issues, however, their methods differ. Their campaign approaches, positive or negative, may also impact some voters after Lightfoot’s implosion.

Vallas wants to run a positive campaign but needs to defend himself promptly against attacks. On a recent episode of “Flannery Fired Up,” Johnson claimed that Vallas wants to remove black history from schools. Vallas explained that he expanded black history to be part of the school curriculum, not just one month. However, during a recent runoff forum, it was brought up twice by Johnson before Vallas finally defended himself. It’s unfortunate, but wise, that Vallas’s recent commercials are attacking Johnson, but we must remember that attack ads win over lots of voters.

Johnson’s continuous attacks on Vallas accusing him of being a Republican may backfire. Democrats in a blue state should not take that their home-court advantage for granted. There are many Republicans in Illinois that are looking for a hint of conservatism and a moderate Democrat is their likely choice. Moderate candidates show a willingness to work with the other side. Cooperation is what we need, not further division. Learn more about both candidates at paulvallas2023.com and brandonjohnsonforchicago.com.

Calumet Park Chronicles/ChicagoLand

The Not-so-Secret Playground

Posted on by Michelle M. Ryan / 4 Comments
Edward H. White School (1136 W. 122nd St.) smaller modern playground, January 2023/Michelle Ryan

It was a time when my friend, Sally, and I literally crossed a line that we didn’t know existed. It was one of those things that adults knew about but kids did not. Calumet Park is a small suburb, a little over a square mile, surrounded by Chicago on three sides – north, south, and east, with Blue Island on the west.

Sally and I lived on the northeast side of the village where most of the daily activity was west of us – schools, playgrounds, a recreation center, village hall, church, and stores. There was a public pool east of us. You had to buy a membership bond or something and that also allowed access to the recreation center. Neither of our families had a membership at the time. We used to hang out close to the house, however, once you knew how to ride a bike without training wheels, a whole new world opened up.

One summer day Sally and I ventured north on our bikes. Although just a few blocks away, it was uncharted territory for us. We came upon a playground and it was like we struck gold except there was a lot of silver. There was a swing-set with big poles for the frame, and long, thick, silver chains supporting the seat where you sat. It was glorious as Sally and I rode the swings, and there wasn’t another person in sight. It was like our own secret discovery.

As Sally and I peddled home, we couldn’t believe our good fortune. I was very proud of this discovery, as I thought I was really expanding my horizons. It wasn’t soon after that somehow, I foolishly hinted to my brother about the secret playground. I should have known better but I was too young to know about following gut instincts.

My brother was four years older and knew everything. He yelled something like, “If you went where I think you went, that was White school and you can’t go there! I better not find out you went there again!” It figured. I was often berated for my actions or choices of friends, etc. I don’t know why I thought this would be different. My heart sunk and my head hung low.

I don’t think I was the only one who let the cat out of the bag. Knowing our shared elation, Sally had sisters and they shared everything. Sally likely was also forbidden to return to the playground because neither one of us ever spoke of it again. We crossed the line. 123rd St. divided Calumet Park and Chicago. We were not yet versed on the unspoken racial divide.

I had never heard of (Edward H.) White School before and in an ironic twist, I found out that White School was for black children. Perhaps if Sally and I had seen black children playing there, we may have known we were out of our territory. But it’s not like I’d never been to Chicago before. My grandmother and friends of my parents lived in Roseland. However, parents were always there.

White School Tennis Court w/basketball hoops & baseball field in back. Michelle Ryan

There used to be a department store, Goodman’s, at 119th and Halsted Street (west side). My mom didn’t drive, so she, my brother, and I would walk over there. I remember hot summers walking down Peoria and Green St., going northward and crossing railroad tracks. There was a lot of tall grass nearly the same height as me, with sounds of locusts buzzing and grasshoppers jumping by. The tall grass was on parkways between the sidewalk and streets of old abandoned factories. International Harvester had a large operation within a few blocks.

On a map this area is listed as West Pullman, which is usually affiliated with east of Halsted Street. The area had a lot of black people and it was the only time I saw them. There were no black children at Calumet Park schools then and there wasn’t much of an opportunity where we would mix with them. We lived so close to each other but in separate worlds. I wondered about them.  

Sometimes when my mom, brother, and I were on the way home from Goodman’s, I saw black children sitting on their porches. I wondered what were they like? What kinds of things did they do? What did they think of us walking by? But something else got my attention back then that has stayed with me. I saw an old white man sitting on a front porch with a couple of black men drinking beer. My dad drank beer so I was familiar with the brown bottles. I was impressed with this friendliness because I had never seen it before.

By the time I reached junior high, there were three black girls in my class. It wasn’t until high school that I learned about Martin Luther King and read his “I Have a Dream” speech. A review of the speech at Marshall.edu cites a favorite line “…little black boys and little black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers…” I eventually learned that blacks left the south and came north for better opportunities, however, I wasn’t really seeing that. The Great White Flight of Calumet Park was in full swing.

Frederick Douglass/National Geographic

Fast forward, I recently watched a (History network) documentary on Frederick Douglass. He lived on a plantation as a child until he was relocated and ASSIGNED a white mistress to serve. However, she taught him how to read and they practiced reading the Bible together. Unbeknownst to adults, white children were sharing homework and books with black children back then. It was an a-ha moment. The kids were after the same goal – learn to read. There was nothing wrong with that and should have been commended. But no. Once the adults found out, that was the end of it.  

Black and white kids wanted to learn to read and they both wanted to ride swings. Perhaps blacks found more opportunities for work in northern states, however, there was still segregation. As an adult, it is no secret that many feel the racial balance is shifting in another direction. There was, however, a recent sighting that I think would have made Martin Luther King happy. I was sitting at a stop light on Vermont & Western Avenue in Blue Island heading westbound. Two little girls, black and white, were holding hands, smiling and skipping down the sidewalk. I also smiled at their not-so-secret friendship. 

An image Martin Luther King would have liked. Artem Podrez/Pexels

 

ChicagoLand/Political

Green Prevails in Keeping Illinois Blue

Posted on by Michelle M. Ryan / 4 Comments
Is it really just about the money?/Pixabay

In Illinois, Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker won re-election rather quickly. He got what he wanted in the primary with opposing candidate, Darren Bailey, instead of Richard Irvin. From the start, Bailey seemed like a mismatch for Chicago. As a farmer and senator from a downstate rural area, he seemed too far south to connect with northern Illinois. However, he did call Chicago a hellhole, upon which many agreed, as crime is a major issue and political platform.

Political commercials are supposed to be considered a crockpot full of malarkey. Yet, many base their vote solely on them, as they are pervasive. Bailey had a doozy working against him. In an interview, he responded that in the event of a rape or incest, a woman could still not have an abortion. He later stated (prior to the election) that he would not be able to enforce such a mandate because the “majority” would overrule. That statement needed to get more publicity; however, it would not likely have made a difference in the outcome.

Richard Irvin, on the other hand, had at least one commercial that made him sparkle.  He emphasized that ALL Lives Matter. He served in the Gulf War, was a prosecuting attorney, was pro-police, etc. However, he was running as a Republican. A black Republican. Pritzker needed the black vote, which would likely be secured by eliminating Irvin. Meanwhile, Pritzker was holding the Trump Card. Bailey was endorsed by Donald Trump, which would make him ripe for the picking and would not include corn, soybeans, or wheat from his farm.

Wheat Field/Pixabay

At one point, Irvin announced a press conference. He had an agenda but every time he was asked if he voted for Trump, he would not answer the question. He went off on a rehearsed tangent, as if no one would notice he was avoiding the lightning rod. Next, I was looking forward to the debates and dang burn it, Irvin did it again. No direct answer when asked who he voted for, just another tangent. Another disappointment. Irvin and his advisors needed a better strategy, as the conference did not serve him well.

There was something else that stood out for me about Irvin. In one of Irvin’s sparkling commercials, he was walking in slow motion wearing a business suit and a big smile. A white woman was walking near him, also with a business suit and smile. I thought she was a colleague but it may have been his wife. I cannot confirm if she was in the commercial, but he is indeed married to a white woman who looks similar.

My concern was that Irvin would be branded as an Uncle Tom, like Justice Clarence Thomas, another Republican with a white wife. It is not a secret that many black women resent their men with white women because their fishing pond is smaller. WTTW reports “There are far more black women than there are black men in this country, and that’s been for some time. From age 16 and forward, black women start outnumbering black men. For whites, that doesn’t happen until age 32,” said Cheryl Judice, a sociologist and adjunct faculty member in Northwestern University’s School of Education and Public Policy.

Furthermore, Governing.com reports that “gender imbalance [among blacks] reflects a number of factors, primarily mass incarceration and high mortality, and it’s present in hundreds of communities across the country. Nationally, the Census Bureau counts 88 black male adults for every 100 black women, while the ratio for whites is a more equal 97 men for every 100 women.” (I hope black women expand their own pond and consider dating outside of their race.)

Anyway, Irvin became the “first African American mayor of Illinois’ second-largest city, Aurora, where only 8 percent of the population was black in 2017,” as reported by CBS News. In 2021, Irvin won a second term with over 55% of the vote where the black population was at 10.5%. Clearly, he seemed to be doing an acceptable job and presented a refreshing threat. Pritzker and his allies launched a full assault of attack ads against Irvin to keep Illinois blue.

“Pritzker spent roughly $3.3 million on anti-Irvin ads since Memorial Day for the June primary election, while the Democratic Governors Association spent $9.1 million since the first week of May,” according to records reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon. Later, Pritzker spent “more than $167 million to defeat Republican Darren Bailey by nearly 13 percentage points in November,” according to newly released state and federal campaign records, reported by the Chicago Tribune on January 18.

While writing and researching this article, frankly, I’m disgusted. I came up with possibilities where Irvin may not have appealed to blacks, and I don’t know if I’m wrong. If it’s all about the green paying for smear commercials, are we that gullible that we blindly go along and base our vote on them? Just because we are inundated with them doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do some work on our own. We need to do our own research. Of course, candidates will be flawed. Most of us have skeletons in our closets. We need to consider the good and bad of a candidate and how their values coincide with ours. It’s really up to us.    

Political

Red Wave Dissipated as it Passed the U.S.

Posted on by Michelle M. Ryan / 4 Comments
Bradley Hook/Pexels

So, imagine yourself standing there on a shoreline with a surfboard waiting for the much-touted big red wave to arrive. It was expected to surge in the evening of November 8, 2002, across the whole nation. You’re ready. As the hours pass, there is no big red wave. A small wave seems to have rolled on by, heading south-eastward. Enough time has passed for Republicans to study what happened. Looking back, many issues churned up the big red wave.

In the short time that Joe Biden took office in January, 2021, droves of migrants were illegally crossing the U.S. southern border. In April, 2021, the New York Times reported that over 170,000 migrants crossed the border and by October, more than 700,000 migrants were arrested. The majority were from Mexico followed by El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.  Furthermore, these migrants were from countries with high infection rates and were not being tested for Covid-19 unless they had obvious symptoms.

In April, 2021, Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton issued a press release that he filed a federal lawsuit against the Biden Administration stating that President Biden was “encouraging the spread of COVID-19 at the border by allowing illegal aliens, potentially infected with COVID, to gather in a congregated care setting.”  

Meanwhile, the first vaccines for Covid were authorized for Emergency Use Only, with full approval expected to be granted in December, 2021. However, given that a vaccine needs to go through proper testing that takes years, many people were hesitant. Others couldn’t get the vaccination fast enough and go back to a “normal life,” as if there was no pandemic.

When all Americans didn’t just dutifully take part in the experimental vaccine, Biden announced a vaccine mandate with a January, 2022, deadline. An upheaval among first responders, federal employees, and companies with more than 100 employees across the nation, led to mass resignations and lawsuits.

The Biden Administration also pressured the Food and Drug Administration to expedite full approval of the vaccine by August, 2021, failing to realize that only TIME was the true factor in safety and efficacy. When numerous healthcare professionals spoke out against the vaccines or spoke about other treatments, their posts and accounts were removed by social media. God forbid should there be dissenting opinions.

The United States was known for its freedom. The right to free speech was major. We no longer had it. This was no longer the land of the free. I sent a statement to a local newspaper on behalf of one of the “pioneers” of the mRNA technology who wanted all the facts about the vaccines to be published FIRST, so people could decide for themselves if they wanted to get the vaccine. My supporting statement was banned as well. If you didn’t go along with the Administration’s agenda, you were silenced. The Administration had become a dictatorship.

The red wave was cresting but wasn’t over. The next doozy came with the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in August, 2021. Although the withdrawal had been in progress for years, military experts interviewed were not pleased with the final handling of the situation. The scenes all over the news of Afghans crowding at the Kabul airport and trying to hang onto planes as they exited, were a disturbing memory.

Brad Bowman, a senior director with the military, told reporters, “The Pentagon should have made contingency plans to slow the Taliban’s advance and set up multiple evacuation points, especially ones NOT in the middle of Kabul.” USA Today confirmed there was “an apparent intelligence lapse with the primary focus on protecting U.S. troops over evacuating American citizens and Afghan allies, plus a lack of coordination with European allies, who felt betrayed by the speedy American exit.”

Sadly, veteran’s groups, refugee advocates and women’s rights organizations warned the White House of the threat by the Taliban. Democratic freedoms would be lost and Afghans who helped the U.S. military would be targeted and killed.

Furthermore, according to the Washington Free Beacon, the U.S. Department of State requires COVID tests before it allows foreign travelers to arrive in the United States, but it waived the requirement for over 100,000 who evacuated from Afghanistan because of the “extraordinary circumstances.” In November, 2021, as the Omicron variant was infecting many who were fully vaccinated, doubt over the vaccines was also spreading.

In February, 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, I felt that the U.S.’s mishandling of the Afghanistan situation sent a message that we were weak and fueled Vladimir Putin’s confidence. “In the first half of 2022, gas prices had surged by more than 50 percent, fueled in large part by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent surge in global oil prices,” according to Statista.com.

Next up, we have a quote from Politico.com, “The relentless spike in inflation has caused a steep drop in consumers’ confidence in the economy, sent President Joe Biden’s approval ratings tumbling and posed a major political threat to Democrats in the November congressional elections.” The last time inflation was this high was 1981.

It seems like Biden has been in office an awfully long time (pun intended). You would think that after all this, the Republican Party would have won both the House and Senate, and were expected to do so in a major sweep. They should have been a shoo-in. But then – the other shoe dropped – the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June, 2022. Once that happened, I knew the red wave would BEGIN to dissipate, as the Republicans remained overly confident. But I wasn’t expecting such a fizzle.

Florida, on the other hand, indeed experienced a red wave with Ron DeSantis and other Republicans, and not because it is considered a peninsula. Whatever they did, they did it right. Literally right. Has all the in-fighting among Republicans made them their own worst enemy? Will DeSantis jump on a surfboard of his own and ride the red wave while it’s here? Can he cause a red wave to spread north and west across the U.S.? Perhaps.