Public housing's island (Obama's proving grounds)

Chicago Tribune ^ | 10 Oct 08 | Jason Grotto, Laurie Cohen and Sara Olkon

[Drew68]

For all the talk of weaving public housing residents into the fabric of the city, the Chicago Housing Authority's ambitious Plan for Transformation includes this inconvenient fact:

When the plan is complete, nearly 1 of every 10 of those families will live more than 100 blocks south of the Loop, tucked amid landfills, industrial parks and a sewage treatment plant.

Mayor Richard Daley declared eight years ago that Chicago would end "the failed policies of the past." Yet a Tribune investigation found that the city has pumped hundreds of millions of federal tax dollars into housing complexes that preserve the very policies the plan was meant to reverse.

The largest is the Altgeld-Murray Homes, a sprawling 190-acre development built on the Far South Side for black factory workers during World War II. At that development alone, the CHA plans to spend $451 million rehabbing 1,998 barracks-style apartments, with politically connected Walsh Construction doing much of the work.

Altgeld sits in one of the city's most isolated areas. The nearest supermarket is miles away. Only one bus route serves the development. And it backs up to the Little Calumet River in an area once known as "The Toxic Doughnut" because of a long history of environmental problems.

Crime is another challenge. Open drug markets thrive at Altgeld, and shootings occur frequently enough to keep residents on edge.

[Drew68]

A wall honors deceased residents of Altgeld-Murray Homes on the exterior of the on-
site liquor store. Deanna Baker, a student at Hyde Park Academy and resident of
Altgeld-Murray Homes, stands at the wall. Crime is an issue in the community; open
drug markets thrive and shootings occur frequently enough to keep residents on
edge. (Tribune photo by E. Jason Wambsgans / September 22, 2008)

Didn't see this posted. What I found most interesting were the comments left at the Tribune site. Here on FR, we preach to the choir. However, on a more "neutral" site such as the Tribune, the comments also seem to reflect opinions posted here with many posters asking if this example of leadership in Chicago will be what we can expect nationally should Obama win.

[Drew68]

Tried to post this yesterday when FR was having problems. Now I see it posted so I’ll go ahead and bump it.