SAVE NORTH LAWNDALE! EMINENT DOMAIN STRUGGLE CONTINUES

FOLLOWUP: ADDED 3/2/08 - VIDEO: The Rape of Lawndale UPDATED 2/19/08: EMINENT DOMAIN PROTEST AT MAYOR DALEY'S OFFICE Help Save North Lawndale! Tuesday, February 19 - the Community Development Commission (CDC) of Chicago will hold a public hearing on the proposed Ogden-Pulaski Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Plan. This plan would allow the city to seize hundreds of homes and businesses in the close-knit, historically African American community of North Lawndale to build new residential and retail development. As you know, eminent domain is for public use - things like roads and schools - NOT to transfer property to wealthy developers. It is vital that we let the CDC know that we oppose this proposal. Before the hearing, the Lawndale Alliance will hold a press conference to express their disapproval of the plan. We encourage you to show your support for the North Lawndale community by attending the press conference and testifying at the hearing that you oppose eminent domain for private gain. Here are the details: NORTH LAWNDALE UNDER SIEGE Tuesday, February 19, 2008 Press Conference @ 11am 5th Floor, Chicago City Hall (Outside of the Mayor's office) CDC Public Hearing @ 1pm 2nd Floor, City Hall If you need a ride, buses will be leaving United Baptist Church (4242 West Roosevelt) at 10am. Boarding will begin at 9:45am, and the buses should return by 3:30pm. If you have any questions, please contact Valerie Leonard at 773-521-3137 or Joe Ann Bradley at 773-542-1133. Best, Christina Walsh Castle Coalition Coordinator Institute for Justice 901 N. Glebe Road, Suite 900 Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 682-9320 www.ij.org www.castlecoalition.org P.S. HELP THE CASTLE COALITION RING IN THE NEW YEAR! Forward this message to your friends. If you recruit five new members, you'll be entered in a drawing to win one of 10 prizes from our Freedom Market (http://fmarket.ij.org/! They can join here: http://www.castlecoalition.org/join/. Be sure that they enter your name next to "referred by" on the second registration page.