DevCorp North's Disingenuous Name Change

There's been a minor fuss over the "name change" of the notorious DevCorp North in East Rogers Park. They want everyone to know that they are now "Rogers Park Business Alliance," but the fact is that their Entity Name is still "DevCorp North," as listed with the Illinois Secretary of State. The reason given for the "name change" is weird. DevCorp's July 30 press release states that their new name "allows" them "to build on past successes and focus on strengthening business and building community in Chicago's most diverse neighborhood." Huh? Why would a name change be required for that? You can see the full press release here. In addition, the fact that public-money-sucking DevCorp has employed an advertising agency to help get the word out about the name change raises more questions. The most obvious question: How much is DevCorp/RPBA spending for a simple task that any of the dullards in their own office could have done? That July 30 press release was sent as an attachment by Mark Farina (email mfarina@a5inc.com) of Chicago ad agency a5 Group, Inc. at 1 N. LaSalle Street in Chicago. I sent an email to Mark Farina on Sunday, August 2, in which I asked him the following questions: Dear Mr. Farina: A few questions, please: What is a5inc? Did DevCorp North simply change its name, or is this part of a restructuring of the corporation? Why did DevCorp North - a name well known in Rogers Park already - feel the need to change its name? (The statement by Board president Tommy FitzGibbon, as appears on the website page http://www.rogers-park.com/2009/07/devcorp-north-changes-name-to-rogers-park-business-alliance.html, does not address any of these questions.) Does the name change mean that DevCorp / RPBA has or will cease any business conducted outside of Rogers Park (e.g., in Wrigleyville)? The IL Sec. of State shows that the Entity Name is STILL "DevCorp North" (File Number 53052711), and that "Rogers Park Business Alliance" is merely the Assumed Name. Why was the Entity Name NOT changed as well? Inasmuch as the actual Entity Name is STILL "DevCorp North," is the announcement of a "name change" to "better reflect" the community not somewhat disingenuous? READ MORE ABOUT DEVCORP HERE... Leave a Comment... See Our Online Store Chicago News Bench RSS Feed We're on Twitter...

Rogers Park Has No "Chamber of Commerce"

Rogers Park has no "chamber of commerce?" DevCorp North, a dark and mysterious organization that fears sunlight, is erroneously referred to by Chi-Town Daily News as "DevCorp North (Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce),RP's 'chamber of commerce'," but that not accurate. Either Chi-Town DN misunderstood DevCorp's Courtney Owen, or Owen misrepresented DevCorp North to writer Tasneem Nomanbhai. Owen is listed as a "Commercial District Planner" on DevCorp's website. DevCorp North files as a 501(c)(3), "A religious, educational, charitable, scientific or literary organization." They do not file as a 501(c)6, which "is specifically reserved to Chamber of Commerce organizations, real estate boards, trade boards, and other types of business leagues. They are characterized by a common business interest, which the organization typically promotes." In other words, DevCorp North is NOT a "chamber of commerce." DevCorp works with local businesses, true. However, DevCorp North does not even refer to itself as a "Chamber of Commerce" for Rogers Park. (DevCorp was known as the "Howard/Paulina Development Corporation until Nov. 12, 1993.) One of DevCorp's main activities is making is more difficult for small businesses to operate in Rogers Park. DevCorp operative Rene Camargo, for example, bullies small merchants into putting up pretty awnings. Other than that, DevCorp has had little positive effect on the business community of Rogers Park. In fact, their offices on W. Howard Street are sandwiched into a blighted strip of a blighted street in a blighted neighborhood. There have been two entities in the recent past that called themselves "Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce," and both were involuntarily dissolved by the Illinois Secretary of State (see pictures here for details; click to enlarge). Local talk show wannabe Avy Meyers erroneously listed Elizabeth Vitell as the "Executive Director, Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce," but that's wrong. Ms. Vitell is actually the executive director of the Rogers Park Community Council (RPCC). The RPCC's mission statement says that it exists to "improve the quality of life in Rogers Park through social, civic, and educational initiatives that foster health and welfare, urban renewal and conservation, law enforcement and community organization." While those are worthy goals, they are not a "chamber of commerce," nor does RPCC describe itself as such. Meyers gave his 79 regular viewer the false impression that Rogers Park has a chamber of commerce. RELATED: IRC 501(c)(6) Organizations (pdf) Public Charity - Exemption Application Is DevCorp North Finished Under Gordon? (Emphasis on the comments there) 24/7 North of Howard Watchers: Rogers Park Garden Group Rogers Park Crime "Much Worse" than Edgewater, According to Ex-Edgewater Chamber of Commerce Director CNB RSS Feed

Big Belly Trash Can Chokes to Death

Sometimes, low-tech is better. Big Belly trash cans prove this point. They are solar powered trash cans that compact the garbage put inside of them. Big Belly brags that this allows a reduction in needed trash pickups. Of course, Big Bellys also guarantee a 100% increase in mechanical maintenance over the traditional, plain ol' garbage can. You can bet that it will cost more to maintain these things than it will to pound out a dent in a regular can. Not only that, but how "green" do you think it is to manufacture one of these high-tech monstrosities as compared to a regular plastic or metal trash can? This is not the first time we've seen a Big Belly break down. The Bench took a photo of a choking Big Belly on the same corner in May, 2008. We told you this would happen, but of course, anybody could have told you so. Sooner or later, every machine breaks down.

Hypocritical Energy Efficiency Workshop Tonight (bring an old pair of shoes)

Hypocrisy knows no bounds in Rogers Park. An email blast from Chicago's 49th Ward Alderplaya Joe Moore urges us to attend a meeting tonight do learn about "energy efficiency." (You might want to bring an old pair of shoes, if you know what I mean.) Joe Moore claims to be very "green." He's environmentally hip and oh-so-sensitive to the environment. So much so, you see, that he usually drives the two short blocks from his large, energy-inefficient house on Fargo to his dumpy ward office at Jarvis and N. Greenview. (It's okay, you see, because that little two-block drive leaves a tiny little carbon footprint. After all, it's not like he's driving all the way downtown, right?) Oh, and there's the good folks at DevCorp North, Moore's puppets, who claim to be oh-so-sensitive to the environment, too. That's why their staff drives a big freeking Ford F250 pickup truck, which has gets between 10.5 - 11 MPG in town and 12.5 - 14 MPG on the highway. (It's okay, though, because that's better than, say, 3 to 6 miles to the gallon.) Here is the full text of Greenie Joe Moore's email: Free Energy Efficiency Workshop Tonight Dear Neighbor, The 49th Ward Green Corps is pleased to join with the Edgewater Community Council in supporting Loyola University's "Building a Sustainable Community Series" which kicks off tonight with a workshop on energy efficiency. Please join us: Building a Sustainable Community.pdf (395 KB) Tuesday, December 16, 7:00 to 8:30 PM, at Loyola University Chicago/ Simpson Multi-Purpose Room, 6333 N. Winthrop, at the corner of Winthrop and Sheridan. Energy Efficiency, part of Loyola University Chicago's Building a Sustainable Community Series in partnership with Edgewater Community Council and 49th Ward Green Corps Gain insight from Loyola and community-based experts on how to save energy. This is the kick-off of a planned four-part Building a Sustainable Community monthly series that will continue through March. For details, contact Loyola Community Relations at 773-508-7450 or email at communityrelations@luc.edu. We appreciate Loyola University's work in supporting and linking Chicago's North Lakefront communities in our environmental efforts. Mark your calendars now for the upcoming workshops on January 17, February 17 and March 21. Please also plan to join in our Earth Day Celebration on April 25. If you are interested in learning more about the 49th Ward Green Corps, please contact BarbaraMoore@ward49.com. Very truly yours, Joe Moore Visit the website of the 49th Ward Click here to be removed from our email list RELATED READING: 31000 scientists reject 'global warming' agenda Ecofascism / Fascist Ideology: The Green Wing of the Nazi Party ... Hitler Was Greedy: - Reason Magazine Were the Nazis radical environmentalists?

Unique and Beautiful: Garden Group Calendars Now Available

GET YOUR ROGERS PARK GARDEN GROUP (RPGG) CALENDAR & NOTE CARDS THIS SUNDAY! Rogers Park Holiday Shoppers' Bazaar Sunday, November 16, 11 am - 5 pm High Ridge YMCA, 2424 W. Touhy Ave. RPGG 2009 calendars and note cards will be available for sale at the Rogers Park Holiday Shoppers' Bazaar this Sunday at the High Ridge YMCA from 11 am until 5 pm. (Please visit the RPGG's web site.) Shop for holiday gifts locally and in support of neighborhood not for profit organizations including the American Friends Service Committee, Bright Endeavors, the Earnfare Artists of Devcorp North, the Enterprising Kitchen, Greenheart, Malia Designs, Rangi Mingi Gallery, the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society, Search Development Center, and Thresholds. These organizations and others will be selling great gift items from olive oil, candles, drawings, and natural soap and spa products to women's bags and accessories, jewelry, and artwork. We did a fair bit of holiday shopping at this lovely event last year. RPGG calendars are $20 each; note cards are $10 for a packet of 8 cards and envelopes. Both the calendar and note cards feature Rogers Park gardens and landscapes, beautifully photographed by our own Martha Meyer, whose photographs can viewed here. Quantities are limited so get them while they last!

Morse Avenue Is Dangerous

Morse Avenue remains a dangerous place, despite the lies told by 49th Ward Alderman Joe "the Squid" Moore and his accomplices at DevCorp North. Crime is NOT down in Rogers Park, Chicago. One of the most dangerous areas of Rogers Park is the stretch W. Morse Avenue between N. Sheridan Road on the east and N. Clark Street to the west. Shooting, drug sales, public defecation and urination, gang fights, robberies. That's what you need to look out for on W. Morse Avenue. Many hope that the addition of the Morse Theatre will help reduce the crime on Morse. It might, but don't hold your breath. The Morse Theatre itself was the target of arsonists recently, and nearly every night you can buy narcotics or sex in the alley along its western wall. Small shops are regularly the vicitms of shoplifitng and robbery. Nevertheless, DevCorp North's Kimberly Bares insists that Morse Avenue is great, and that all the goods and services we've hoped for are now available there. Sure, if all you've hoped for is a Dollar Store and crack sales. RELATED: Businesses Leaving Rogers Park "Raw" Video of Mural Ceremony Morse Avenue Streetscape? Huh? Where? When? Flashback: Morse Theatre Attacked Continuously by Moore Operative

Flashback: Morse Theatre Clears Initial Hurdles

The Morse Theatre will have its first show on October 9, 2008. Winard Harper will perform at the newly finished venue. Let's flash back 22 months, when partners Andy and Devin McGhee went before the community and presented their grand plans. The Bench immediately gave it a good notice (many months before any of the big local media), and has faithfully supported it from day one. Congratulations to The Morse Theatre, proceeding in spite of hateful attacks by some local bloggers (see "Flashback: Morse Theatre Attacked Continuously by Moore Operative"), initial obstruction or lack of action by some local politicians, and a recent arson attack.

FLASHBACK: November 2, 2006
Century Public House & Morse Theatre gets good reception from neighbors

Floor plans shown below
Good reception from neighbors
A new restaurant/music venue will occupy the space that formerly housed Cobblers on Morse Avenue (1328 West Morse Avenue, the old Cobblers Mall next to JB Alberto's Pizza). The meeting last night (Nov. 1) was well attended by approximately 80 people. The Century Public House & Morse Theatre was discussed in detail. The meeting was moderated by 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore. This sounds like a wonderful project, and the enthusiasm was palpable. No negative comments were heard, but two in the audience asked about parking and deliveries.

The floor plans
Everyone was interested in the floor plans for the proposed Century Public House & Morse Theatre, discussed in a public meeting on Wednesday, November 1. The developers said they would have them up on their web site in February, 2007 - but I've got 'em right here for you. (Click to see larger images; these are big images and may take a few moments to load. This is necessary to see the detail in the images.)

RELATED:
Work begins on Century Public House in Rogers Park
History and future of a theater in Rogers Park
Century Public House & Morse Theatre gets good reception from neighbors
Congregation Beth Israel Anshe Yanova remembered
Demolition on Cobbler's Mall to start this week

FLASHBACK: July 30, 2007
Morse Theatre Jumps Last Hurdle

Andy McGhee was covered in dust, and he was smiling. The dust mask was hanging below his chin, his khaki colored t-shirt a lighter shade of pale because of the dust covering it and his arms. That was today at 12:30 p.m., July 30, 2007.

Remember this day, this week. It may not seem so now, but years from now people will speak of what is happening at 1330 Morse Avenue as one of the turning points in the revitalization of East Rogers Park.

The "last hurdle," as he put it, was passed and the construction will start this week. Andy, who with his partner and son Devin will build The Morse Theatre and Century Public House restaurant, was doing some last minute inspection of the cavernous space in what was formerly Cobbler's Mall at 1330 Morse Avenue.

There is much anticipation for this big project in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood. Morse Avenue has been depressed for a couple of decades now, with little or no help at times from the alderman's office - or any other source.

Residents of Rogers Park who remember still wax nostalgic about the days when Morse Avenue was lined with restaurants, delis, clothing stores. Over the past two decades, businesses left en masse and gangs took over the street. Some progress has been made in pushing back the gangs, but it was not until a couple of years ago, when the City of Chicago put a blue light camera at the corner of Morse and Glenwood (near the CTA's Morse Red Line station), that criminal activity lessened on the street. And it is still far from gone.

Then Andy and Devin McGhee, longtime residents of Rogers Park, decided to do an unlikely project in an unlikely neighborhood on an unlikely street. A major music venue with a restaurant, a completely private-sector endeavor.

Critics scoffed. The short-sighted always do. But the project has gotten the blessings of City Hall, the 49th Ward alderman stayed out of the way (but will undoubtedly take credit for bringing it to Rogers Park), and in about one year a number of local residents will be employed by the McGhees.

Local businesses on Morse Avenue will benefit, too, as people from outside of Rogers Park come in to enjoy a show at The Morse Theatre. Many of them will opt to grab a gyro across the street at Morse Gyros, or a slice of pizza at JB Alberto's next door, before or after a show.
People from outside of Rogers Park will come into a neighborhood that has a bad reputation citywide, and perhaps some of them will say, "Hey, this isn't so bad," and see the beautiful lakefront and maybe decide to check out another food and music venue in the neighborhood - and bring themselves and their spending cash back another time. They will, some of them, hear about Duke's on Glenwood, and down a few beers after a show there.

In other words, The Morse Theatre and the Century Public House will do a lot for Rogers Park. It will probably do more within its first year of being open for the revitalization of this bruised but beautiful neighborhood than the current alderman, DevCorp North, any SSA or public works project has been able to do in the past 16 years.

RELATED:

http://www.themorse.com/The McGhee Factor
CENTURY THEATRE GETS CONSTRUCTION PERMIT
Congregation Beth Israel Anshe Yanova remembered
Work begins on Century Public House in Rogers Park
History and future of a theater in Rogers Park
Century Public House & Morse Theatre gets good reception from neighbors

Alderman's Pal, Wisconsin Plates, No City Stickers

Culture of corruption, albeit on a dinky scale. One of 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore's chief operatives doesn't respect the vehicle registration rules of either the City of Chicago or the State of Illinois.

Jim Ginderske (left), who ran against Moore in the 2007 aldermanic race, is now one of Moore's key allies. Both men are working hard for Barack Obama. (Both men are "Democrats," although true Democrats would tell you otherwise.)
 
There are more examples of this in the 49th Ward: Rene Camargo (right), operative for DevCorp North, harasses struggling merchants by telling them what color to paint their ceilings, but Camargo has no Chicago city stickers on his vehicle.

Camargo tells people that he lives in Rogers Park, but has Evanston city stickers on his car. Either he's a carpetbagger from Evanston telling Chicago businesses what to do - with the implied authority of Moore behind him - or he lives in Chicago but is in violation of Chicago law just as Ginderske seems to be.

RELATED: Joe Moore Political Operative Shuns City Sticker

Expanded "Miles of Murals" Project in Rogers Park

CHICAGO - An expanded "Miles of Murals" project in the Rogers Park neighborhood is underway. The project should have begun a year ago, but miscommunication between SSA#24, DevCorp North and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) caused a delay. "We're happy to announce that the old 'Mile of Murals' is now the 'Miles of Murals'," said a member of the SSA. She asked to remain anonymous. "The expanded project will involve the construction of miles of new walls, all of which will be covered by magnificent art." Additionally, the horrible day-glo mural on the Morse Avenue CTA overpass has been replaced with a more tasteful reproduction of an ancient Roman mural. "The ancient Romans were magnificent," commented the SSA member, "I don't care what Jesse Jackson says about Western Civilization. Good is good, no matter who did it. All that 'hey hey ho ho Western Civ has got to go' is bullcrap."

Celebrating Our Diverse Diversity

At Joe Moore's web site, now in Spanish! Soup boy Terry Feingold finally has his Gold Un Pear catering site in Swedish. DevCorp? Their new Russian language site rocks.

DevCorp's Huge Gas Guzzler

"DevCorp North members work to protect the environment," says the headline on page one of the Summer 2008 DevCorp Journal.

"At DevCorp North, we try to be as green as possible considering the circumstances."

Uh huh. How's the mileage on DevCorp North's shiny new Ford F250 pickup truck? (Hint: The mileage is probably UNDER 15 mpg, which is horrible by any standard. This is no "green machine.")

Kind of hypocritical for DevCorp to tell you and me that we should be green, and that they themselves "work to protect by environment." Will Alderman Moore tell them to trade the fuel guzzler in for a solar powered vehicle? Hmmm? For more information about the Ford F250, check out the pissed-off customer remarks here...

Thank You, DevCorp and Ald. Moore

Thanks to Alderman Moore and DevCorp for putting on the Clark Street Festival. While The Bench is often critical of both, credit goes where credit is due. As I wrote last year, DevCorp excels at putting on street festivals (this and the upcoming Glenwood Arts Fest in August). So, kudos to DevCorp for another Clark Street Festival, and to Alderman Moore's office for the support needed for such a great event. The following is from Alderman Moore via email blast: Join your neighbors and me for a day of food, fun and music at the 3rd Annual Celebrate Clark Street Festival, this Sunday, July 13th, from 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. I am proud to co-sponsor this year's festival, which will take place on Clark Street, between Morse Avenue and Estes Avenue (6900 to 7100 North Clark). Admission is FREE! Area restaurants will be serving up food from around the world, and our local merchants will be selling their wares. There will be activities for kids and live music from two stages! My Satellite Service Office will be up and running taking city service requests at the festival, so stop by and say "hello" to my staff and me! Following....is a music schedule for the two main stages. Celebrate Clark Street Music Schedule 1:00 - Seneke - North Stage 1:30 - Sangre Michoacana - South Stage 2:30 - Hector Silveira -North Stage 3:00 - Chicago Samba - South Stage 4:00 - Indika Reggae Band - North Stage 4:30 - Occidental Brothers- South Stage 5:30 - Som Brasil - North Stage 6:00 - Sangre Michoacana - South Stage 7:00 - Azul de Noche - North Stage 7:30 - Chicago Afrobeat Project - South Stage 8:30 - Fandanguero - North Stage 9:00 - Los Vicios de Papa - South Stage

Heartland Liquor License Modified (Why No Public Meeting???)

Item #2 in the June 25 email blast from Sandi Price, DevCorp North's managing director, is a notice that Heartland Cafe will again be serving liquor on its patio. They were fined $3,000 last fall for serving on the patio, which was not included in their license. But what's the deal? If Heartland Cafe is again serving on the patio, it means that they are (a) continuing to violate their liquor license, or (b) their liquor license was modified to include the patio. If it's (b), then we'd like to know why there was no public meeting to consider that liquor license modification! (If you gag a little bit after reading Katy Hogan's hyperbolic text, you're to be forgiven.) From: Sandi Price [mailto:sprice@devcorpnorth.org] Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 11:16 AM To: sprice@devcorpnorth.org Subject: Rogers Park Happenings The HEARTLAND CAFE, at the corner of Lunt & Glenwood in the heart of Rogers Park, is ONCE AGAIN, as it had for many years, SERVING ALCOHOL along with its consistently "Good Wholesome Food for the Mind & Body", on their gorgeous, flowering Outdoor Patio space; an outdoor cafe without peer for its grace and beauty. Yours in serving the 'hood since 1976, Kathleen & Michael, Heartland Cafe Co- Founders, Owners and Neighbors 7000 N. Glenwood, Chicago 773 465 8005 www.heartlandcafe.com Sandi Price Managing Director DevCorp North (773) 508-5885 www.rogers-park.com (By the way, notice Katy's claim that Heartland Cafe's serves "consistently" good food. Really? The service is consistently slow, the kitchen help is consistently underpaid and not allowed to join a union, and a common complaint about the place is inconsistent quality of the food!)

Jimminy Seltzer at DevCorpLand

I'm hearing that Jimminy Ginderske has taken to hanging out at Morseland's DevCorp Retreat and Tavern lately. Guess he figures it's safe now that the blogger were told to go to hell by ReMorseland management. I'll bet Jimmy's three-seltzer waters per night habit makes the bartenders happy. He drinks no liquor. He clean and sober these days, a nice change from his sordid past. But what's a five percent tip from Jimminy for a seltzer water to the bartender? Less than the 30-to-100 percent tips I used to leave on vodka martinis, I'm sure.

Farmer Joe Moore, 49th Cornfield

49th Ward Alderjackass Joe Moore would celebrate a one-year anniversary this week - if he was lucid enough to know about it. Joe Moore is a lazy, uncaring, incompetent douche bag. Proof? The one-year old pile of gravel on W. Morse Avenue. A pile of gravel has been sitting undisturbed next to a CTA bus stop in the 1300 block of W. Morse Avenue. It is a hazardous obstacle for the elderly, disabled, and many drug-hazy denizens of the ward. For one full year, members of DevCorp North and of Special Service Area #24 have looked at, walk past and completely ignored this unsightly pile. DevCorp employs slave-wage prison-release workers to sweep up the sidewalks, and for a full year they have carefully shoveled snow around, and swept up litter around, the pile - without disturbing it. DevCorp, the SSA and Moore have been so proud of the garrish mural on the CTA overpass (visible in the backgroud of the photos here) that they are completely blind to the fact that the mural is not magic. The mural does not make Morse Avenue better. Picking up gravel piles is the kind of thing that makes any street better. The mural is bit like lipstick on Joe Moore's staffer Anne Sullivan; the lipstick might be a nice shade, but it does not hide the hideous disaster under it.

DevCorp North operative Rene Camargo has often walked past, around or even over this pile of gravel on his way to harass a local merchant about the color of his ceiling paint. Camargo, a latent interior decorator, is more concerned with how pretty the inside of a store is than with how hazardous it is for customers to walk to the store. More concerned with pretty awnings adorning the storefronts, Camargo has missed the ugly pile of gravel. I believe the relevant analogy would be that of not being able to see the whole forest because one is obsessed with one tree at a time. Alderpantsload Joe Moore rarely comes to Morse Avenue, except to campaign for something. He may have driven past this pile a few times in the last 12 months on his way to his usual post-Cubs game boozefest at the Oasis, around the corner on Sheridan Road. If he did notice it, he didn't care enough to remember it. If he remembered it, he didn't care enough to pick up his phone and make a call downtown. That's what alderpantsloads are for - call downtown and get services for their ward. True. A farmer also spreads less manure than Joe Moore. RELATED: Joe Moore's PuddleScape Alderman Joe Moore's Pile Morse Avenue Obstacle Scape Shoddy 49th Ward Pile of Gravel Confuses DevCorp North Joe Moore's Pile of ... Thank You, Morse Theatre. (Shame on You, Alderman Moore) Hey Joe, You Missed a Spot

BLOGGER THREATENED IN 49TH WARD

It's getting rough for bloggers in Rogers Park, the nation's "fifth bloggiest" neighborhood (according to Outside.in). The local political elite are scary enough. Now, threats of violence are allegedly coming from construction workers. Between DevCorp North employees lying to local restaurant managers to Ald. Joe Moore's staffers denying all media access to meetings, to intimidating photographers at public events, the local powers in Chicago's 49th Ward have been ramping up their anti-democratic behavior. Now, however, it's gotten downright dangerous. While local bloggers here quickly develop a habit of looking over their shoulders, one blogger cannot be accused of paranoia for being more concerned for his safety than most. Craig Gernhardt, who operates the well-known "Broken Heart of Rogers Park" blog, has been challenging the local power elite for about five years now. He recently did a story about child labor being used at a building that is undergoing a major rehab at 1340 W. Morse Avenue (a former gang-infested complex). I saw those kids myself, under the age of 13 to be sure, hauling fiberglass and other materials with no protective clothing whatsoever. I know that Craig is not making this up. (See his story links, with video, below.) After he reported the story, he says he began to get threats from the construction crew. Today, Craig wrote this: Well, the third mark of intimidation came last night in the form of a comment on the blog from a person named Simon Baker. Here's what Simon sez. I HAVE THE CONNECTION THAT WILL HAVE YOU KNOCKED OFF THIS WORLD REAL QUICK. I KNOW WERE YOU LIVE WELL WE CAN SAY THIS WE ALL KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU AND WHILE YOU THINK YOURE THE WATCHER TRUST YOUR THE WATCHED.... Quite frankly, I take this as a death threat. Now, as my loyal long time readers know, it wouldn't be the first time I've been threatened or intimidated. Nonetheless, it still has me concerned. This threat from Simon was all in CAPS. He must be SERIOUS? Let us hope not. Read Craig's entire post here. Note to Craig: Forward all of that stuff to the FBI and the IL Atty General right now. (Don't bother with Alderman Moore's office. He'd just as soon see the bloggers dead.) And speaking of Joe Moore and his Liberal fans, why aren't they out there protesting the use of these little kids for hazardous work? RELATED: * Child Labor Used in Rogers Park Rehab * Child Labor Worksite Hi-jinx Reside on Morse (the development/rental company)

Edgewater Getting It Done!

They know how to do it over in Edgewater, one of Chicago's most vital neighborhoods. Unlike Rogers Park, its economically troubled neighbor immediately north, Edgewater has an alderman and private companies that readily and openly engage in promoting the neighborhood.

Not afraid of progress, Edgewater is rapidly pulling itself up by its boot straps with exciting new restaurants, cafes, retailers and more. Meanwhile, Rogers Park to the north is mired in political shadows, local power struggles, and much alleged corruption.

Come see for yourself next week by joining the "Dinner Crawl" (details below). (This should be of particular interest to folks who live in the Occupied 49th Ward of Rogers Park, who have been repeatedly lied to by Alderman Joe Moore and DevCorp North about promises of revitalizing Morse Avenue and Howard Street.)

From the Edgewater Development Corporation's web site:

Fourteen local restaurants will be open for your enjoyment and many businesses will also join in on the fun. Taste the flavors, experience the theater, enjoy the shopping. Edgewater awaits you on Bryn Mawr & Broadway this June 26th.

Bryn Mawr, Edgewater's historic main street serves as the backdrop for this evening. Participating restaurants will offer samples from their menu for your dining enjoyment. You will also catch snippets of performing arts and great shopping destinations peppered amongst the food. It's a menu for a wonderful summer evening in historic Edgewater.

Date
From June 26, 2008 6:00 PM
Until June 26, 2008 8:30 PM

Location
Starting point is Bridgeview Bank
1058 W Bryn Mawr, Chicago, IL 60640

Info Line
773-506-4016
Website http://www.edgewaterdev.org/

Contact: Adam Burck
6044 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660
773-506-4016
info@edgewaterdev.org

Union Ankle Biters in the 49th Ward

Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood has hungered for years for a project that would revitalize the semi-blighted W. Morse Avenue. After years of unfulfilled promises of a Streetscape project from 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore, the Morse Theatre has given new hope to the neighborhood. In 2006, local resident Andrew McGhee announced his intentions to perform a gut rehab on a building that once housed a movie theater, then a synagogue, and a number of small merchants' stalls.

McGhee and his financiers have faithfully preserved the terra cotta front of the building. The new venture will have a 300-seat theater, featuring mainly live jazz and blues, but will have the ability to show cinema and video on a large screen. There will also be a 90-seat restaurant and bar. Without government handouts, with no real assistance from Alderman Moore or DevCorp, this single project will do more to put Morse Avenue on the path to revitalization than anything the local power elite have done.

And there's the rub. The local power elite - the alderman and his cronies, DevCorp, some of the Special Service Area #24 members, and the usual ankle biters - resent this success. It reminds us all of their ineptitude, and of the superiority of the private sector.

Joe Moore would be nowhere if not for heavy union support over the past 17 years. Today, with the magnificent Morse Theatre project about to open in a matter of weeks, there are those amongst Moore's power base that are so beside themselves that they instinctively turn to old and tired methods of harassment and character assassination. Carpenters Local Union No. 58 is one example of the ankle biters, and they are currently handing out flyers in front of the Morse Theatre project during the morning rush hour. Let's examine the text of the flyer with my notes in red italics:

UNION MAID
UNION MADE?

The Morse Theatre project, 1328 W. Morse Ave.

If you're going to picket something, know the correct spelling of it. It's "Theatre," not "Theater."

Invoking the names of past Folkies doesn't make it right.

No, it doesn't, but after saying that the flyer immediately invokes the names of past folkies [folk singers]. The author assumes that everyone knows what a "folkie" is, who the "Folkies" are, and what their significance is.

Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie dedicated their lives to organizing workers to ensure that hardworking people laboring for the bosses were treated fairly and benefited from their labor. They sang and fought to make this dream a reality. Today, as in the past the bosses get fat off of the sweat of the worker and Pete and Woody's work continues.

That was true back in the days of Pete and Woody. But, according to a
Congressional Research Service paper, "Union membership in the United States has declined significantly in recent decades. The number of union members peaked in 1979 at an estimated 21.0 million. In 2003, an estimated 15.8 million workers were union members. As a percent of employed workers, union membership peaked in 1954 at 28.3%. In 2003, 11.5% of employed workers were union members." [Source, PDF]

Why is union membership down so drastically from the days of Pete and Woody? Ironically, it is because of the great things that the labor unions did. Truly, we owe the past union leaders a debt of gratitude. But today's union leaders take their members' dues and often turn that money over to political campaigns that many members do not personally support. The union leaders are themselves fat cats. The poor schlubs on the picket line are not making out; they're probably just following orders. Employees around the country (indeed, around the world) see this behavior and say, "No, I'd rather not be in a union."

The Carpenters Union Local Union No. 58 labor dispute is doomed to fail. Why? Well, they're not singing! They need to get a chorus in front of the theater and serenade passersby about the horrible injustices going on inside. However, Local 58 might actually have another agenda here: They would actually like to audition to perform folk songs in the theater after it opens.

Boss Andrew McGhee, a principle at Morse Theater has stated that cuts had to be made and that it's the workers that must suffer.

It's "principal," not "principle." The poor education that the author suffered, probably from a unionized public school teacher, shows here. Furthermore, are we really expected to believe that Andy McGhee said that the workers "must suffer?"

Boss McGhee has hired Cordos Development which pay's its workers sub-standard wages and benefits to perform the carpentry labor on this project.

Dang, more fallout from that unionized public school education. There should not be an apostrophe in "pays."

It is in recognition of the spirit of these bygone folkies that the Carpenters Union informs you the public that workers at this job site are not getting paid the area standard wages and benefits.

Perhaps the union would care to inform us what the "area standard wages and benefits" are for carpenters. But they don't, of course. Additionally, when will Local 58 - and other unions - picket the Heartland Café for not paying its kitchen workers the "area standard wages and benefits?" Where are the pickets and protesters who should be in front of 1340 W. Morse Avenue, where non-union child labor was recently used for hazardous work? (See related story.)

Boss McGhee… Boss Cordos…
"Which side are you on?"

Let's turn that question around and ask Local 58 members how much they are being paid to hand out flyers. How many people are employed by - not represented by, EMPLOYED BY - Local 58?

Carpenters Local Union No. 58 is currently engaged in a labor dispute with Cordos Development over the payment of sub-standard wages and benefits. We seek only to inform the public.

This, of course, is a lie. They seek only to bully their way into the job site, which, ironically, already employs union labor.

RELATED:
The Morse Theatre
Illinois Carpenters Union Funneled More than $82,000 to Hirono During 2002 Gubernatorial Campaign
The Chicago Rebellion
Rhymes With Right - Union Membership Down
Union membership still in rapid decline - National - theage.com.au

Unions and Hypocrisy in the 49th Ward

You ever wonder why unions rarely picket pals of Alderman Moore? It's true. Oh, there has been a half-assed, token presence at the intersection of N. Greenview and W. Morse now and then, where Joe Moore's buddy and zoning committee member Rich Aronson's erection is going up.

This morning, there were carpenters handing out flyers in front of The Morse Theatre at W. Morse and N. Wayne. Seems the carpenters are pissed off that they aren't working on the theater's construction, and are falsely claiming that the project is non-union.

Why, then, are the unions not handing out flyers in front of Aronson's project, which is non-union? Answer: The Joe Moore protection.

Why are no unions picketing in front of the loathsome Heartland Cafe, which for years has employed guest workers who get very low pay? An attempt several years ago to unionize Heartland, owned by Michael James and Katy Hogan, was smashed by ownership. James and Hogan claim to be "progressives." Answer: The Joe Moore connection.

Why are no unions picketing against any number of non-union construction projects in the 49th Ward? Why no picketing in front of non-union employers?

Answer: Because The Morse Theatre is getting ready to open in two to three months, and the Wobblies will be damned if a successful business - done completely without government grants, without any real contribution of effort from the alderman, or from DevCorp, or from the SSA#24, or any of the other local socialist cabals - will make a go of it.

Note to "Boss" McGhee: Joe Moore and his Gang ain't your friends. You know damned well that Moore and his ilk are ultimately in cahoots with the guys picketing your project. You know damned well who supports Joe Moore, and those guys don't support you. Joe Moore hasn't lost track of that fact. As the union flyers ask, "Which side are you on?"

RELATED: * Union Picket @ Morse Theatre

Rogers Park Gossip!

Who's the guy that made a power play to take away Katy Hogan's dictatorship of the Glenwood Arts Festival? Hint: His name is Jim Ginderske, and there are rumblings of dissatisfaction from participants. (More on this later!) Who were the two people having sex on the Windform Sculpture around 11:30 last night, where Pratt Avenue ends at Loyola Park? (I don't know, but she was a big fat woman in a red mumu, sitting on the dude's lap bouncing up and down. They scooted off minutes after I called out, "Nice night, eh?" They drove away in a dark two-door Kia. Let's hope the seats were vinyl.) Why did Alderman Joe Moore lie about the Howard CTA Station being finished? It's not, in fact a CTA film crew today told The Bench that it won't be finished "until next year." Hmmph, but that didn't stop Joe from inviting people on his web site to "Join CTA President Ron Huberman and me as we cut the ribbon for the new station tomorrow (Saturday, June 14th)." What will Joe do when the "new station" is actually completed in 2009? Another ribbon cutting? And what's "new" about it? It's been there for many, many decades. It's not "new," it's being fixed up. Imagine painting your house, adding new awnings, and declaring that you have a "new" house. Who owns that unmowed empty lot at 1940 W. Morse Avenue? Why, it's Robin Langer, "partner" of DevCorp North Empress Kimberly Bares! Robin told me personally last week that she's asking a cool $350,000 for it. May I suggest that the entire strip of W. Morse Avenue, between Clark and Ridge, be designated for historic preservation? All for now! Keep sending your hot tips to The Bench!