BY AMY WOOTENFuneral director Martin Cooney hopes to figuratively bury longtime incumbent alderman Eugene Schulter in the 47th Ward race.
The 20-year resident of the ward and funeral director of the North Side's Cooney Funeral Home told Windy City Times he was inspired by Mayor Daley's call for Chicagoans to step up and challenge politicians in order to create change. Having to overcome a challenge to his petitions, the going hasn't exactly been easy. After all, Schulter has been the alderman of this North Side ward for as long as many can remember. But he heard fellow residents' complaints, and felt he should step up to the plate since no one else has.
Among the concerns Cooney has is the ever-changing infrastructure of the ward, which the candidate said brings overcrowding, parking problems and safety concerns.
Windy City Times chatted with Cooney about where he stands and what he wants to see accomplished in his community.
Windy City Times: Could you tell me a little bit about how you think your background would aid you if elected as alderman?
Martin Cooney: I know how to deal with the public, and that's what this job is all about. It's all about respect. It's all about paying attention. It's all about committing yourself to the people of the ward, and not only the ward, but the whole city. You got to look at the whole, big picture. Everyone deserves to be heard. It's very difficult to listen to everybody, because everybody has [ his or her ] own agenda, but you have to think about everybody, not just yourself.
WCT: That's very true, and you deal with that on a near-daily basis, as it is.
MC: I deal with this on a daily basis with people [ who ] are under a lot of stress and emotion and their frame of mind is not the same frame of mind that a normal person would be when you have a loss. So, you have to be very careful, and you have to put the other people first, and that's why I think I can do this job very easily. That's not just one on one. People know what they want, and you have to be able to at least try to give people what they want—that is, if you can do it. Sometimes you just can't satisfy people.
WCT: How long have you been a resident of the ward, and were you involved in the community in any other kinds of ways?
MC: I help out at St. Benedict's with the homeless every Thanksgiving. I've been doing that for over 10 years. I donated, starting in 1986; I was a chairman of the St. Patrick's Day Festival at the Irish American Heritage Center, and I was a co-chairman of the Taste of Ireland, which is a two-day summer fest. It doesn't sound like much, but when you are the person trying to get this together, and you're dealing with 60 or 80 volunteers, it's neverending. It's not just two days; it's basically about four months of work.
WCT: As someone who runs a business, although it's not in the ward, how do you think that would help you with businesses if elected?
MC: Well, I [ run ] a small business and I think the small-business [ owners ] are the ones who actually work the hardest. They have everything invested into their business. They are working 12- and 14-hour days, and when they have a day off, that's all the think about is their business. So, they are all looking for help, too—ways to help them succeed. You have to be able to work with the small-business community, not just the big-business community.
WCT: True. It's important to keep those independent and small businesses around.
MC: The mom and pops! They are all leaving and closing down. … Everyone is going to CVS and Walgreens. That doesn't help that small business man.
WCT: So, why run? I saw on your Web site that you took the mayor's call for people to step up if they want change, and go for it. Are there any specific issues or concerns over what you think needs to be addressed, or hasn't been addressed over the years?
MC: The current alderman stated a couple of years ago that he wants to bring Lincoln Park into the 47th Ward. Well, to tell you the truth, he's the only person, along with these big builders, who wants Lincoln Park. The residents over there don't want it. This neighborhood was planned out a long, long time ago. And if you go into all these different neighborhoods, each one is different. … I know what's going on in the ward.
I know there are a lot of people who live in this ward who don't like what's going on, but no one would come forward and do anything about it. They all complain. Everybody has his own issue; they all have their own agendas. Not one of them is willing to stand up and run against this guy. I'm an undertaker; I'm a funeral director. I'm not a politician. But I know a lot of people in the ward because I bury them and take care of those people. They come to me now for help at the worst time in their lives, and I'm there to help them. Why can't I, Marty Cooney, do it at the best time in their lives?
There are groups of people over there that have a lot of good ideas, and they come forward—and they become successful. When they become successful, the current alderman slaps his name on it. And when he has something to say, like, 'That's not the way you're supposed to do it,' he gets divisive and he kinds of breaks up the little committee that's running the thing. He doesn't give any credit to anybody; he takes the credit. People don't like that, so they back away. That's not a community.
…It's just unfortunate. People want to help out, but that just makes it that much more difficult to step up. That's why I did it. I don't need to do this. This is certainly not fun. It's hard work.
I just feel that he's [ Eugene Schulter ] lost his way. Things have changed for him. It's not the community any more. He doesn't care about the people. He cares about his own inner circle, and that's it.
WCT: Do you think in most communities, then, that after a while, you need some fresh blood to take over?
MC: Yes, change is good. Change is constant. You can't stop change.
WCT: I know the ward does have a fairly large gay and lesbian community. Do you support gay rights?
MC: Sure I do. I don't have any problem with the gay community at all. They are no different from anybody else. They pay taxes, they live here, [ and ] they cut their grass, don't they? They pay rent and own houses.
WCT: So, the LGBT community could count on your to help them move forward and advance their rights?
MC: Of course, 100 percent, as well as anybody else in the community. I don't have any doubts that I wouldn't be able to work with anybody, as long as it's good for the ward. I would never single out anybody. Everyone is the same. Everyone wants lower taxes, everyone wants to live in peace and not feel threatened.
WCT: Another major citywide issue would be HIV/AIDS. Would you support increased funding for HIV prevention?
MC: Yes, I would. A lot of it is knowledge, and that has to be stressed. The ward needs to get out how to prevent it.
… [ The funding's ] all got to be used wisely. There's a lot of ways to everything. … I've gone to HIV fundraisers before. It's a great time—the way people help each other. It's good that they are raising funds for HIV and awareness.
WCT: Are there any other ward-specific or city-wide issues that you'd like to see addressed that are a concern to you?
MC: Parking, parking, parking. The density is incredible—the congestion on Western Avenue, Irving Park Road [ and ] Lincoln Avenue. Where are they putting these cars?
I'd like to see more foot patrols and police, too, to keep us safer. The crime that goes on over in the 44th Ward is rampant. I certainly don't want that. … That's that element of bringing Lincoln Park into the Ravenswood area. It's going to bring [ crime ] . That's what happens when you have that many people over there.
We used to have two hospitals in the ward, and now we have none. I'd like to see an emergency unit put back in the Ravenswood facility. People now have to go to Swedish Covenant or Illinois Masonic. Nothing is being done or said about it, until now. You are going to hear what his plans are, but he hasn't done anything in six years. Since it's election time, he'll have a thousand ideas.
That, and the infrastructure. He's got these new houses going up where the cable and wire company used to be. It's got to be about 60 or 80 houses going up. Those kids have got to go somewhere, and it's going to be a massive test for the Chicago public schools and Catholic schools. If anything were to happen to those kids, we don't have an emergency room.
See www.cooneyforalderman.com for more information.
