Beyond Today news

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June 11, 2006

1. Call to action: Rally for Public Art Program at 5:30 today. Of interest to all artists and friends.

2. Neighborhood Farmer's Markets open this week. details and links as well as why this matters for global warming.

3. Environment Illinois petition for funding for Open Spaces

4. The Beyond Today community is invited to March with the Friends of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center in the Puerto Rican Peoples Day Parade.

5. The City That Works - For Whom? June 14: Crossroads Event

6. STOP THE CTA'S RACIST SERVICE CUTS; STOP GLOBAL WARMING!!

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1. Call to action: Rally for Public Art Program at 5:30 today. Of interest to all artists and friends. (Invitation and information from Paul Klein)

Art Ordinance Rally Update

5:30 PM Monday at the Picasso Sculpture in Daley Plaza.

Rally for Artists’ Rights.

More information can be found here: http://www.artletter.com/html/artletter_06_06_07.html

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2. Neighborhood Farmer's Markets open this week. details and links as well as why you should care.

 

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3. Environment Illinois petition for funding for Open Spaces

With summer approaching and the weather improving daily, many of us look forward to spending time in the great outdoors. Unfortunately, if you live in Illinois, you'll likely have to travel farther to find them than citizens in neighboring states.

That's because Illinois ranks last among Midwest states in the acquisition of land for parks, recreation, and habitat areas. Although such open lands are crucial--for recreation, hunting, clean water, species diversity, and overall healthy lifestyles--Illinois has consistently neglected them.

With the legislature in the throes of the budget-writing process, we're advocating for full funding for two long-neglected programs that provide habitat for endangered species, preserve wetlands, and create parks and playgrounds.

Please ask your legislator to support full funding for Illinois's neglected land conservation programs. Then ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.

To take action, click on the link below or copy and paste it into your web browser:
https://www.environmentillinois.org/action/preservation/fullfunding?id4=ES

BACKGROUND

Illinois ranks in the bottom third among all states in open lands spending, and last among Midwest states. During its peak year of investment, Illinois spent $2.67 per resident annually on open spaces. In contrast, Ohio spent $4.36, Minnesota spent $5.76 and Wisconsin spent $9.80. Funding in Illinois has since dropped by 80 percent.

Our state's history of neglect of open spaces has had real impact: We've lost more than 90 percent of Illinois's wetlands and 99.99 percent of its original prairie. Nearly 450 threatened and endangered species live within state boundaries.

We need to act now to conserve open spaces before it's too late. Real estate prices in Illinois's rural farmland rose 68 percent from 2000 to 2006. Acting now is especially important in collar counties such as Kendall, the nation's third fastest growing county.

Illinois already has programs to acquire, restore, and conserve parks and natural area, including: The Opens Spaces Land Acquisition and Development Fund (OSLAD), which provides matching funds to local governments for parks, playgrounds and recreation areas; the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund (NAAF), which protects wetlands, habitat for endangered species, and other vulnerable areas of ecological importance.

Since June 1st, the Legislature has been working overtime to resolve the state budget, but the proposal currently on the table would once again divert funds away from these important programs.

Environment Illinois is working with a coalition of conservation organizations to urge the General Assembly to fully fund OSLAD and NAAF. With reliable funding, Illinois can build parks and acquire ecologically sensitive lands before the cost becomes prohibitive or the opportunities disappear.

Please ask your legislator to support full funding for Illinois's neglected land conservation programs. Then ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.

To take action, click on the link below or copy and paste it into your web browser:
https://www.environmentillinois.org/action/preservation/fullfunding?id4=ES

Sincerely,

Rebecca D. Stanfield
Environment Illinois State Director RebeccaS@environmentillinois.org http://www.environmentillinois.org

P.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail with your family and friends.

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4. The Beyond Today community is invited to March with the Friends of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center in the Puerto Rican Peoples Day Parade.

Join us! Saturday June 16th at 2:00 PM for the annual PUERTO RICAN PEOPLES DAY PARADE. The parade will begin
at the corners of Division and Western and march through the Puerto Rican neighborhood of West Town. Floats, music,
and politics!
March with the Friends of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center

You are invited to join us on a tour of the Puerto Rican community on SATURDAY JUNE 23 from 11:00 to 2:00 pm. Learn more about the
Puerto Rican neighborhood of Chicago. We will meet at 2459 W. Division (Division Street Business Development Association and walk
the neighborhood, stopping at different community institutions where presentations will be made. We will end up at the Puerto Rican Cultural
Center for delicious vegetarian Puerto Rican food. ($5.00 donation - no one turned away). Sponsored by Friends of the Puerto
Rican Cultural Center.

Call: 773-278-6706 for more information.

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5. The City That Works - For Whom? June 14: Crossroads Event

Join Crossroads Fund on Thursday, June 14th as we present:

The City That Works - For Whom?

Corruption in local and state politics has been a fact that grassroots organizers have always had to confront and negotiate - especially in Chicago. In this dialogue, Alejandra Ibañez, Executive Director of Pilsen Alliance, Dick Simpson, Professor of Political Science at UIC and former Chicago Alderman, and Alysia Tate, Editor and Publisher of the Chicago Reporter, will lead a discussion about the importance of grassroots activism in response to corrupt systems and in building equitable communities.
What are some effective strategies for making change within corrupt systems? And, what are the hopeful signs - what issues are being impacted by social justice activism? The panel will be moderated by special guest Jean Hardisty, co-founder of Crossroads Fund and founder of Political Research Associates, a progressive think tank devoted to supporting movements for a more just and inclusive democratic society.

Opening up the discussion as respondents are:

Jenny Arwade, Organizer, Albany Park Neighborhood Council
Tuyet Le, Executive Director, Asian American Institute
Ken Snyder, Executive Director, Grassroots Collaborative
Deborah Strickland, Director, Developing Communities Project
Joseph Strickland, Founder and CEO of MAGIC

Join us!
Thursday, June 14, 2007, 6 to 8 p.m.
at Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Avenue, Second Floor, Congress Lounge

This event is free and open to the public.

* Make sure to stop by the lobby before or after the program, to enjoy the exhibit "25 Years Supporting Social Change Organizing," a special collection of materials commemorating the 25th Anniversary of Crossroads Fund.

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email: info@crossroadsfund.org
web: http://www.crossroadsfund.org
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Please forward widely!

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6. STOP THE CTA'S RACIST SERVICE CUTS; STOP GLOBAL WARMING!!

Hello all,

I invite everyone to attend tonight's Transit Future Press Conference and Public Meeting about CTA's contingency service cuts and fare increases.

STOP THE CTA'S RACIST SERVICE CUTS; STOP GLOBAL WARMING!!
When: Mon, June 11, 6:00pm
Where: UIC, 750 S. Halsted
Student Center East, Room 302
This is the last day to submit written comment on this issue.
Bring your statement, banners, signs, noisemakers, costumes, and your voice!

On Wednesday, June 13 the CTA will vote on whether or not to:
Raise fares to $3.25 on rail during rush hour,
Cut 63 bus lines, and
Cut the Purple and Yellow Lines
Attack union worker pension guarantees.

If Springfield does not come through with the needed $97 million to meet CTA's shortfall. There has been no clear explanation of how cutting the lines will save any money. Meanwhile, there are at least three facts being ignored by CTA officials:

1) The Pink Line costs $10 million extra per year. Instead of cutting established rail lines like the Cermak Blue Line, Yellow Skokie Swift, and the Evanston Purple Line, the CTA could save $5-10 million per year by reducing or eliminating its experimental Pink Line and restoring 54/Cermak Blue Line service.

2) Doing the math. Calling their bluff. With 1.6 million average weekday rides, the CTA could close it's $97 million budget gap with a mere 24 cents increase per ride or less.

3) Chicago has the money! The Feds have the money! Even a 24 cents increase is unacceptable. CTA has been silent on the need for greater City and Federal funds toward public transit. Cities like New York, LA, and San Francisco spend $10s or $100s of millions on their transit systems. Chicago spends only $3 million per year! Also, until 1997 the Federal Government used to give Chicago $75-100 million in operating funds. Now they give nothing for operations. There is TIF money. There is Skyway money. There is money for an oil war. Why not for public transit?

Let's tell the CTA, the Mayor, our Alderman, our State and Federal officials and the International Olympic Committee that Chicago wants Money for human need, not for gentrification, war, and corporate greed!

Other important info:

Wed, June 13, 9:00 am at CTA Headquarters, 567 W. Lake
10:00am at City Council Meeting,
City Hall, 121 N. Lasalle

Email the CTA with your comments at: ctahelp@transitchicago.com
Board Secretary Greg Longhini: (312) 681-5022 glonghini@transitchicago.com
President Ron Huberman: (312) 681-5000 rhuberman@transitchicago.com
Chairman Carole Brown: (312) 681-5031 cbrown@transitchicago.com
http://ctachair.blogspot.com

Michael Pitula
Community Organizer – Public Transit
Organizador Comunitario - Tránsportes Públicos
LVEJO -Little Village Environmental Justice Organization
La Organización de Justicia Ambiental de la Villita
2856 S. Millard Ave.
Chicago, IL 60623
Phone/ Teléfono: (773) 762-6991
Fax: (773) 762-6993
Email: publictransit@lvejo.org
Web: http://www.lvejo.org