Dear Broadway Community,
As you know primary election day is fast approaching for us in Illinois. The first question on the ballot under referenda is to “Amend the Real Estate Transfer Tax.” In spite of the opposition, this week, the First District Appellate Court affirmed the validity of the question on the ballot.
As you may remember ONE Northside has been supporting this effort with the ‘Bring Chicago Home’ slogan inviting us to vote YES for a fair and sustainable plan to fund housing, care for the homeless, and ask wealthy real estate corporations to pay their fair share.
Friends, our community needs to address the matter of homelessness and unstable housing. And a coalition of experts has been working hard for five years to pass a fair and sustainable plan to fund housing for the ‘68,000 Chicagoans who live in shelters, on the streets, or doubled-up with family and friends.’ Voting YES for this question is an opportunity for us to ask the wealthy to pay their fair share and those funds will be dedicated to invest in housing. A YES VOTE on Ballot Question 1 is a vote to finally invest in our communities. Living in to our Lenten commitment, it gives us an opportunity to rise UP, advocate for a system that is fair and works for everybody- not only for the rich and the wealthy.
Another opportunity is for us to volunteer our time. We need Poll Watchers on Election day! So, if this matter touches your heart, please consider being a poll watcher by signing up here. There will be a virtual training for election day next Thursday, March 14th from 5 pm-6:30 for election day volunteers. You can also volunteer with ONE Northside to Canvass and Phone Bank.
And, of course we continue to contact our elected officials calling for a Ceasefire in Israel and Palestine. It only takes a few moments of our time and has the potential to save many lives!
Beloveds, let us continue to follow Jesus who always addressed the injustices, exorcised evil from communities and shared love with all people. Let us continue to commit ourselves to sharing the love of God with all people to the best of our ability, and become agents of hope in this world.
Beloveds, may we be blessed, and be a blessing to all we meet, and I look forward to seeing you all at church.