The 2019 Chicago mayoral election is drawing closer, and one of the leading topics that stands in front of the Chicago voters is the two candidates’ stance around rent control in Chicago apartments.
Earlier in February, state lawmakers introduced a billHB2192which would repeal the ban, create six, elected, regional rent control boards across the state, and provide benefits to both landlords and renters.
While we keep close eye on what our two Mayoral candidates have to say about it, ONE Northside, Jane Adams Senior Caucus, and other community Organizations in our area are rallying together to ‘ask Governor Pritzker to use his political capital to move HB2192 in Springfield, bringing much-needed statewide rent control implementation to the 51% of rent-burdened households across Illinois.’ To this end, an action, Rent Control is PAST DUE - Housing Day of Action has been organized on April 1st at the Thompson Center. Our own Susan Armstrong is be one of the leaders for this action, and I join her in inviting you to participate if you can, or support us with your vote and prayers.
ONE Northside is also seeking help to send a delegation of 40 leaders to Washington DC for a Peoples’ Action Convention in April. To support this work, a fund-raiser is planned for Wednesday, April 10th from 6-9 pm at the Fat Cat, 4840 N. Broadway. To support the fund-raiser click here.
In denominational news, many of you had asked, ‘what can we do now?’ to express our dissent. There is an effort to create a task-force to explore a New Methodist Expression. I will have the document available for us to look at on Sunday. If you feel, you wish to support it, write your name on the document. I know some of us wish to move faster than this, but the task is bigger than imagined and a lot is at stake. A learned person once said, “there is not much time, so let us work slowly.”
Let us move slowly, but certainly towards building a church that truly expresses the kin-dom of God on earth, by bring the church where the love of God is lived out and the welcome of Jesus is proclaimed! And remember, I am always your partner in justice!
