NOTEBOOK

By: Elsie Sy-Niebar

 

*Neck and neck Chicago Mayoral Race starring incumbent Mayor Rahm Emanuel vs. Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia! Go out and Vote on
April 7!
* Garcia gets endorsements from African American power brokers: the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Cong. Danny Davis!
*Mayor Rahm Emanuel, is apologetic on his TV commercial,; braves the freezing temperatures, greeting and shaking hands with voters

“It is time to take this city in a new direction,” said Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, about his vision for “Chicago for all Chicagoans” in his run for Mayor of Chicago. The April 7 Runoff Election is one very historic elections for “CHICAGO, the City that Works.” First time when two candidates are running neck and neck and first time with a Latino American candidate: Jesus “Chuy” Garcia!

Indeed, the four-year leadership of incumbent Mayor Rahm Emanuel has its focus in his networking with the moneyed class with almost zero Transparency of his presence in Chicago’s Neighborhoods. True, the Mayor had “succeeded” in inviting businesses to Chicago which “created more job opportunities.“ Is this what Mr. David Orr means when he said, ‘“pay to play” politics that benefits the few downtown at the expense of the neighborhoods”?

The April 7 “Exciting Runoff” keeps Mayor Emanuel busy, and for the first time, in his four years as Mayor – he goes out and braves the freezing Chicago temperature to greet and shake hands with people on the L stations, on the streets, anywhere! He even apologizes for “rubbing the people the wrong way,” for “talking to them instead of listening” and admitting “I know I am not always right.”

Meanwhile, his opponent, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia keeps building his Block of supporters from diverse groups.

A Public Servant for 30 Years: Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, 58, is no stranger to public service not only in politics, but in real life. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia has spent the past 30 years in public service as Chicago Alderman, Cook County Commissioner, and Illinois State Senator. Chicagoans citywide who trust his honesty and vision for a city that works for everyone are his assets vs. the millions of dollars which Mayor Rahm has in his political war chest.

Unlike Rahm, who some voters call “Mayor for one percent,” Chuy is known for his longtime commitment to community organizing, thus bringing the government to the people and for the people. To reduce violence, as a mayor, he will hire 1,000 new police officers, and provide support for public schools.

Early life in capsule: Garcia was born in Durango, a picturesque village at the edge of the Sierra Madre in Mexico. His father was a farm laborer who worked the fields of California, Kansas, and Texas under the US Government’s World War II-era bracero program. He sent much of his earnings home to support his family. When Garcia was 10 years old, they gained permanent residency status and moved to Chicago, settling in the Pilsen/Little Village area where he still lives. Garcia later became a US Citizen.

His interest in politics started while attending St. Rita High School, inspired by the speeches of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr, and United Farm Workers Union leader, Cesar Chavez. Garcia enrolled in the University of Illinois-Chicago and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in urban planning. While attending university, he worked as a paralegal assisting immigrants and people with low incomes. ***

Rev. Jesse Jackson, Congressman Danny Davis, and Black Ministers endorse Jesus “Chuy” Garcia for Chicago Mayor: March 9 was a very significant day for Chuy Garcia when Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Leonard DeVille and other ministers endorsed his mayoral candidacy! Winning the support of the African American trust was Chuy’s “First Victory”

“Our agenda is a very positive one and a very focused one: We’re about neighborhood reconstruction,” Rev. Jackson said, with a crowd of African-American supporters, including a group of ministers. Jackson continued: “Chuy Garcia has a consistent track record of service. We trust him and believe that he will assume the burden of responsibility to work with us to reconstruct where we live. This is not about President Obama and me,” Jackson said. “It’s about Chuy and Rahm Emanuel,” Rev. Jackson concluded.

Another “bright light” shone upon Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s mayoral candidacy when no less than U.S. Rep. Danny Davis announced his endorsement for Chuy for Mayor last Sunday, at the Greater St. John Bible Church on the city’s West Side. After Rep. Davis’ announcement, Garcia hosted a meet-and-greet with West Siders at MacArthur’s Restaurant.

To political activists and Concerned Chicagoans: Garcia’s winning the African American Votes is the Key to his victory at the April 7 Runoff elections. If you are a VOTER, PLEASE GO OUT AND VOTE! Let’s make History. VOTE FOR CHUY GARCIA. FOR MAYOR of CHICAGO. Our kind of Town! ***

6,508 same-sex couples married in Cook County as of February 2015: One year after same-sex marriage was approved in Illinois, 6,508 same-sex couples were married in Cook County. This report was released by Cook County Clerk David Orr last Feb. 18. “As we mark the one-year anniversary of marriage equality in Cook County, we celebrate more than the historic day I began issuing licenses to same-sex couples,” Orr said. “We also celebrate every day that loving couples have been able to share in this most basic right, a right that was denied to so many for too long.”

The 6,508 same-sex couples represent a diversity of race, geography, age, education and profession, as follows For example: 14% of the spouses reported being Hispanic, 13% were African- American, and 4% were Asian; At least one license was issued to a couple residing in 113 of 127 suburban Cook County municipalities; Spouses ranged in age from 17 to 93, with an average age of 42; More than 80% of the spouses reported either attending or graduating from college;Hundreds of occupations were reported, with the most popular being: teachers, doctors, lawyers, nurses and members of the U.S. military. About 66 percent of the licenses were issued to same-sex couples from Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Same-sex spouses have been as young as 17 and as old as 93. People 60 years old or older accounted for 1,214 of these newlyweds. ***

NaFFAA Illinois will Celebrate the International Women History Month on Sunday, March 29, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, to honor and induct new Women members of the “Circle of Empowered Women”. This year’s theme is:” CHALLENGE. ACTION. CHANGE.” First part of the celebration is a Forum/Symposium to l start at 4pm-6pm, followed by the formal reception and gala dinner. Special feature during dinner is a Fashion show collection by Victor Miller of “Fashion in Fashion. Dancing will cap the celebration. Donation is $40 per person. Proceeds will go to the program for poor Filipinos back home. For more information, please call Cynthia Flores, president at (312) 925-7812; Abbey Eusebio 847) 529-5558 and Rose Tibayan 312) 402-4616. ***

VICKY NEEDS OUR HELP: This tragic story of a Filipina in search of her “Canadian Dream” to support her parents back home landed her in a wheelchair and is now facing deportation by the Canadian government. Her story was relayed to this columnist by Lyla Gray, a goodhearted Filipina whose charitable heart is known by Filipino immigrants and workers in Canada.

According to Layla, Maria Victoria Venancio, 29, from Bulacan, came to Canada on a Temporary Working Visa. She got a job at McDonald’s and was about to start her promotion as Team Leader, when last June 2012, she was hit by a car while riding on her bicycle on her way to work. Vicky is suffering from spinal cord injuries and is confined in a wheelchair. Her employer did not provide her a benefit like disability insurance. Her fingers were badly damaged from the accident so she cannot even hold a phone. But she can communicate by text messages. Her phone no. is: (780)709-4735. She is now quadriplegic. These days, Vicky lives with friends, spending the last of the money from a court settlement after the accident and not costing taxpayers much. Vickis trying hard to get well so she can go back to work. However, she was shocked when lately, she got a deportation order when her work permit expired. She is appealing to the Canadian government on “Compassionate ground” to let her stay and get well so she can work again and pay taxes. Her case is now being studied by the Commons. Chris Bataluk is Vicky’s lawyer who works hard to gain “compassion from the Canadian government” for Vicky.

Lyla is appealing to Via Times’ readers who read this appeal to “ please donate any amount to Vicky directly to her bank account as follows: check by mail to Maria Venancio, Royal Bank of Canada, Edmonton, Bank Account No. 043495078324. Her mailing address is: Maria Victoria Venancio, Unit 20, 671 Silverberry Rd., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6T 0B7. Her email address is: vheck_12@yahoo.com Every $ counts.

Thank you. God bless us all. Lyla Gray” from Edmonton. Email: lylagray1019@hotmail.com

As a Family Man, Chuy Garcia stays close to his very supportive wife and daughter. Their two grown sons are not in photo.

DAVID ORR, COOK COUNTY CLERK: “JESUS ‘CHUY’ GARCIA is my STRONG CHOICE FOR MAYOR because: * CHUY GARCIA will lead Chicago away from Rahm’s ‘pay to play’ politics that benefits the few downtown at the expense of the neighborhoods. * CHUY’s 30 years of experience and his master’s degree in Urban Planning have equipped him with professional expertise to negotiate and cooperate with diverse interests – unlike Rahm whose bullying tactics led to a school strike and our bad ratings. * As Floor Leader for Cook County President Toni Perkwinkle, Chuy Garcia helped re-shape County government and restored financial integrity to Cook County.” *But don’t be fooled – because Chuy – a ‘regular guy’ does not mean he can’t be tough when necessary. Chicago needs a leader who can work with and listen to our diverse population. Chuy is not someone who thinks he can push people around!”(David Orr, Cook County Clerk)

(1st) Chuy Garcia speaking to a group of Asian and Arab American leaders. His wife Evelyn Chinea-Garcia is at the background with Juanita Salvador-Burris, a Filipino American community advocate.; (2nd) Chuy at a fundraising event speaking with Kristina Tendilla.

PAT MICHALSKI SUPPORTS GARCIA FOR MAYOR: Joining the celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year sponsored by South East Asia Center is Cook County Board President Toni Perkwinkle, standing (2nd) at back, at her right is d Denice Davis, former aldermanic candidate. Seated from left are Lauretta Christensen (Pat’s friend), columnist Elsie Sy-Niebar and Pat Michalski, a retired Public Servant who to these days, continues to get involved, like currently giving her full support to Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s run for Mayor. (ESNphoto)

Chuy with his wife and Theresa Mah, Garcia’s senior advisor on the campaign. A former college professor, Dr. Mah was a member of Governor Quinn’s senior staff and a longtime advocate and activist in the Asian American community. Theresa said: “I support Chuy Garcia because he is someone who truly cares about Everyday-Folks in Chicago and, as an immigrant himself, he understands the needs and experiences of immigrant communities.” Photo taken at the 2015 Asian American Lunar New Year Gala.

 

Diverse volunteers at work at Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s campaign office…