The Beverly Review recently did an article about one of the candidates. I am reprinting it here. I will reprint all similar newspaper articles about stated aldermanic candidates.
by Caroline Connors
Phil Sherlock loves the 19th Ward, but he is concerned about its future.
While collecting signatures for his petition to get on the Feb. 22, 2011, ballot for the city’s aldermanic elections, Sherlock said he counted 72 vacant storefronts throughout Beverly, Morgan Park and Mt. Greenwood.
“I raised my kids here. Our families are invested in the community. But I’m worried about that investment,” Sherlock said.
He blames ineffective leadership for driving business out of the area, and he said creating new business in the commercial districts would be a top priority if he wins the election to become the next alderman of the 19th Ward.
“I would encourage new money and fix the process, from permits to inspections to licenses,” Sherlock said.
He would like to see the local establishment of chain stores such as Trader Joe’s, Corner Bakery and Pier I, but he also supports mom-and-pop merchants.
“I would like to see Western Avenue looking like Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Square instead of seeing loan stores and someone waving a sign advertising cash for gold,” Sherlock said. “I’d like to make 111th and Western a destination place.”
A member of Teamsters Local 700 and a 30-year employee of the city of Chicago, Sherlock is active in the labor movement but has never been part of the ward’s political organization, he said. His independence from “machine politics” is what sets him apart from the current ward leadership and will allow him to make the changes that are needed for the community, he said.
“I feel like it’s time for someone to stand up for real change. I will never be a rubber stamp for any mayor. Would [the other candidates] go toe to toe with Rahm Emmanuel?” Sherlock said. “I don’t owe anything to anyone; I don’t owe any favors. I will get down there and fight.”
In addition to rebuilding the commercial strips, Sherlock, the son and grandson of Chicago police officers, wants to increase police presence in the ward. He believes the city has shifted manpower away from the 19th Ward for placement in higher crime districts, a notion he finds unacceptable.
“Moms are apprehensive about letting their kids play out in front of the house,” Sherlock said. “We need to make our children and seniors safe. In New York City, there’s constant police presence, and it’s had a huge impact. If we have to cut back on other social services, then that’s what we do.”
Local education is another item on Sherlock’s candidacy agenda. He advocates changing the status of the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences from a magnet school to a neighborhood school to allow more Mt. Greenwood residents to attend, and he believes that tax increment financing money should be used to ease overcrowding in public schools.
“Instead of giving money to a developer to move a Walgreen’s 500 feet, why don’t we give TIF funds to Cassell School so that it can add on?” Sherlock said. “The economy has made it harder and harder for people to afford private education, and we need to respond to that.”
Sherlock said that he knocked on approximately 1,200 doors to collect signatures for his petition, and that 90 percent of the people he talked to are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the ward.
“People in Mt. Greenwood, Beverly and Morgan Park feel very neglected,” Sherlock said. “Money is being allocated for other projects and other neighborhoods, and they feel what we have is substandard. We deserve our fair share and equal tax dollar distribution for police, fire, schools, parks, sanitation and infrastructure.”
Sherlock said he believes in an open-door policy and is open to the creation of neighborhood events such as a Celtic Fest in Mt. Greenwood Park. He is running on a platform of community pride, he said.
“We love our churches, our schools and our sports teams,” Sherlock said. “Let’s reestablish the 19th Ward as a bastion of pride. Times have changed, and we have to change with them; we can’t be complacent. I believe in this neighborhood; I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t.”
A fundraiser for Sherlock’s campaign is planned for Dec. 7 at Franconello Restaurant, 10222 S. Western Ave. For more information, visit Sherlock’s Web site at philsherlock.com or e-mail him at nineteenthward@ gmail.com.
3 COMMENTS:
- Anonymous said...
- Maybe matt Oshea needs to stop cheking into the site 28 times in 4 days and just send you his plan and biography. ALSO what happened with this whole story about matt Oshea and his neighbor hitting the car a few years back and matt and neighbor covering this stuff up? this seems so unfair, how can a guy like this run for office, he basically committed insurance fraud and filed a false police report, two felonies. OSHEA = BAD GUY vote for ANNE!!!!
- 06 DECEMBER, 2010
- Anonymous said...
- Hey Murph, why do you keep screening all the postings on here, i guess this 19th ward site is really a schill
- 06 DECEMBER, 2010
- Anonymous said...
- It would be nice to see where they stand on the issues. I think it is a shame for all of the people running for office to pass up on this forum.
- 06 DECEMBER, 2010
