January 2007 Archives

46 Ward Aldermanic Debate
Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Candidates

James Cappleman--Democrat Challenger
Helen Shiller--Independent Incumbent

This event is hosted by:

League of Women Voters

Sponsored by:

Uptown Chicago Commission (UCC)
Organization of the NorthEast (ONE)

Co-sponsored by:

Uptown Neighborhood Council (UNC)
Lakeside Action Coalition (LAC)

When:

Wednesday, January 31

Where:

Disney Elementary Magnet School
4140 N. Marine Dr.

Time:

7-8:30 pm
Doors open at 6:45 pm

Free parking behind school.  Additional parking available for $6

Transcript of UNC protest on violent crime:

We're here today for a simple reason---we're fed up with an alderman who ignores the increased violent crime in our community--then PRETENDS she cares about the kids' safety one month before the election.

We're tired of the alderman who calls CAPS an elitist organization and refuses to send a representative from her office to CAPS and actively address residents' concerns.

We're disgusted by an alderman who never took a hard stand to address violent crime that shattered our neighborhood in 2006.

Crimes that included:

• Two murders
• Multiple gang-related shootings
• Two major drug ring busts

Where was your alderman? When kids were killing kids on our streets?

Where was your alderman? When the drug dealers were selling drugs at the Happy Wash Laundromat on Wilson in front of moms and their children?

Where was your alderman? When two young students from Brennaman Grade School were beaten up in broad daylight by teens from Maryville?

It's time for an alderman who doesn't use cops at campaign props.

Finally, listen to what one brave police officer had to say at a recent CAPS meeting--"If you want to get rid of crime in your community, get rid of your alderman!"

20 People to Watch in 2007
#7 James Cappleman, 54, community contender

"I've always been a grassroots activist," says Uptown resident James Cappleman. No kidding: The social worker's resume is about a mile long and includes co-founding a homeless shelter, receiving the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award, working with HIV service organizations and presiding over the Uptown Chicago Commission.

But his latest endeavor--running for alderman of the highly polarized 46th Ward--could lead to big changes in Uptown. That's because Cappleman is taking on Helen Shiller, the ward's alderman for the past 20 years.

Her supporters say she's a strong advocate for the poor, but critics say the neighborhood's high crime rate and large homeless population mean it's time for a change (check out www.whatthehelen.com for some of their complaints).

"This is a community that wants to have some say in how decisions are made," Cappleman says, "They feel left out.  There's a lot of anger."

Although Shiller has trounced challengers in the past, Cappleman feels confident.  "We're using the two areas where Shiller has always based a lot of her support: the poor and the gay community," he says." And here I am an advocate for the poor, and I'm an openly gay man."

On February 27, Cappleman and Shiller will face the fight of their political lives--and Uptown may never be the same.