Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

47th WARD INCUMBENT: EUGENE SCHULTER
2007-02-21

This article shared 5972 times since Wed Feb 21, 2007
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email


What got 47th Ward Alderman Eugene Schulter involved in politics back in the 1970s was an urge to stop the Chicago Transit Authority from tearing down the Ravenswood line in his beloved community. Schulter, then in his 20's, became one of the youngest people ever elected to City Council.

Today, the alderman says that he still has that energy and care for his community. Still on the stop of his agenda is keeping the CTA in line and putting the ward first. In recent years, he has helped revitalize Lincoln Square—bringing an ever-growing arts community into the area; creating affordable housing for seniors and long-time residents of the area; and looking out for residents by trying to maintain the diversity of the ward, despite gentrification and how much the area has changed since he first stepped foot into office.

Windy City Times spoke with Schulter about his accomplishments, goals and ideas.

Windy City Times: What do you feel are your major accomplishments within the ward this part term?

Eugene Schulter: There are a lot of issues that we worked on. The top priority, of course, is education. I work with my principals, and we have quarterly meetings with our principals. The purpose of these meetings is to really work on issues involving our schools, and I have a dedicated staff member that works with the principals and teachers in our ward, so that the principals are not left out there hanging by themselves. It's a really important thing—making sure our schools get the attention they need. At the last meeting, we discussed how we can get the young people of our ward excited about our recycling program that will begin in August.

Our ward was selected as one of those seven wards, and that didn't happen by chance, either. It was something we worked really, really hard to get the city to include the 47th Ward. … We made sure we were included, because we are the number-one ward in terms of the Blue Bag program that currently is in effect. I always thought that really was a bad program. People didn't believe they were actually getting their materials into the recycling circuit. As a result of that, we formed a committee on the environment about four months ago, although we've always been working on environmental issues. One of the recommendations of that group was to work with our principals and teachers. We now have people who are parties of that committee from the local community, as well as the sanitation and environmental departments.

That was just one thing we really focused in on, but we have really got millions of dollars spent in our local schools in terms of refurbishing and rehabilitating them [ as well as ] helping with new programs at our grammar schools and high schools. That is our top priority, because we really have to keep the families in the city of Chicago, and there's not a better way than to make sure your program with education is number one.

…We have single moms [ and ] gay and lesbian couples in our schools. They all share the same kind of interest in making sure the young people are also getting the best that they possibly can get.

The next issue we are very proud of is gentrification. [ It's ] really moving forward in this region, and the most vulnerable population is the seniors. I negotiated with the Advocate health care system to donate $20 million worth of land to me at Irving and Western. One building [ for affordable senior housing ] is already occupied, and the second building is nearing completion. Those are two rental buildings. We are addressing the needs of the diverse income levels of seniors in our community. … We're very proud of being able to take a leadership role in making sure this goal is accomplished.

The next big item is the fact that we need to expand park space in the ward. What we did was battle the developers in the area around Lincoln High School. We have an area called Clark Park, a small park by the Chicago River. We had 10 acres being held by the United Parcel Service. … I was able to use TIF [ tax-increment funding ] dollars from the 47th Ward to buy the land. We said 'no' to more condos and 'yes' to more green space in the ward. This will be a major expansion of Clark Park for everyone to enjoy.

We also have developed, over the last four years, affordable housing set aside for all people within our ward. We request that developers put aside 10 percent of 10 units. They have to set aside 10 percent of their units for long-term renters of our ward. These units are beautiful, and will give long-term renters the opportunity—the schoolteachers and the social workers of the world—to own in our ward.

WCT: That way, you can maintain the diversity of your community.

ES: Exactly. And, of course, we continue to work on controlling the development of the ward. A number of years ago, we down-zoned all of our side streets and some of the major streets in our ward, so some of the residents have the ultimate say in terms of what is going on in their own neighborhoods. That is a very important legacy in terms of the power of the people of the 47th Ward.

At one time in the 47th Ward, we had no arts organizations. Of course, we worked on getting the Old Town School of Folk Music to set up shop. It's a wonderful economic engine. It offers us mixed cultural events for the community to celebrate the diversity of our great city by offering a variety of concerts and famous folk and roots festival held each summer. Those are really important things. Of course, we also worked to get the little arts center by Montrose and Ravenswood into our ward as well, which is another wonderful resource for our community to go to. With these two major arts organizations, it helped to bring theater and other arts venues to the ward that we never had before, and it continues to build.

On the political front, we really worked hard to deal with the issue of the replacement of [ State ] Rep. Larry McKeon. I supported the heirs of that vacancy. I felt very strongly that we needed a candidate ultimately to replace Larry, so we got that accomplished as well.

WCT: It was amazing being [ at the slate-making meeting to determine McKeon's successor ] , because four of the six candidates were openly gay—which was historical.

ES: Absolutely. As chairman of that committee, I wanted to make sure everyone there presented their credentials. As you know, we were there until 1 a.m., which I don't believe has every happened in the history of Illinois. There were no smoke-filled rooms with people making decisions. It was very straight-forward. I thought the ultimate selection of Rep. Greg Harris was wonderful, because he'll work not only on lobbying on behalf of the gay and lesbian community, but also do an excellent job for the total community as a whole. I think he'll be a fine leader for the future of our community, as well.

Of course, I have always supported all of the gay initiatives, [ including ] more funding for AIDS research. I worked with Alderman Tom Tunney on the Center on Halsted, making sure we have the dollars to help that along. I was a big advocate for the Gay Games. Some of the venues were, of course, in the 47th Ward as well. Those are just some of the major things I can recall that we've been involved in. I'm really excited for the future.

One thing I didn't talk about is the Lincoln Square area of the ward, dealing with the infrastructure issues with streetscape; the planting of trees and putting new lighting in; and updating the Lincoln Square Mall, which is conducive to the small, entrepreneurial, independently-owned stores that I constantly work to get into the ward—with wonderful help with residents of our ward involved in our retail committee. It's something we work at all the time, because we really have encouraged our ward to be supportive of small, independently-owned stores. We've made many of our major streets into pedestrian-oriented streets as well, which reinforces this whole notion of coming into the community and being able to live here [ while ] not having to drive a car to get everywhere.

WCT: What are some issues close to your heart, if elected into office again, that you'd like to tackle next term?

ES: Education is still number one. Park space is also still very important. Also, schools and libraries are very important to us. We have to make sure with the recycling program, our war is a leader and a model for the rest of the city as how this should really occur. We also want to make sure that we still work and strive in terms of [ having ] additional stores to service the needs of the community. Affordable housing will still continue to be a high priority for us, in making sure we celebrate our diversity by encouraging people to own a piece of the rock here in our ward.

WCT: Are there any issues regarding the gay and lesbian community that you feel need to be addressed or might come up?

ES: I think funding for AIDS research is always a major issue. We still need to stamp this disease out and so we need to continue to look at ways to better fund this area, and I will continue to work on that in the City Council.

WCT: It's particularly important because federal funding just keeps decreasing.

ES: Oh, yes. That's why we have to get rid of George Bush and work with our new Congress to sensitize them [ as to ] why we need to make more funds available for this research. No question about it.

WCT: Is there anything else you'd like to add about what you want to get done?

ES: I'd say that the 47th Ward is a great place. The gay and lesbian community has always played a strong role in making our ward a great community through their investments in both business, as well as living here as proven by example that we can all live in harmony together, and that we should continue to do that. One of the things we're also going to be doing by working through Rep. Greg Harris is to reach out even more, to make sure everyone feels they are included in any process. Of course, I'm always willing to work with the gay and lesbian community in any way that I possibly can.

*****


This article shared 5972 times since Wed Feb 21, 2007
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Thailand parliament passes landmark marriage bill 2024-03-27
- On March 27, Thailand's parliament approved a marriage-equality bill by an overwhelmingly large margin—a landmark step that moves one of Asia's most liberal countries closer to legalizing same-sex unions, media ...


Gay News

Kara Swisher talks truth, power in tech at Chicago Humanities event 2024-03-25
- Lesbian author, award-winning journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher spoke about truth and power in the tech industry through the lens of her most recent book, Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, March 21 at First ...


Gay News

Wyoming is latest state to ban gender-affirming care for minors 2024-03-24
- On March 22, Wyoming became the latest state to prohibit gender-affirming care for minors, The Hill noted. In doing so, it joined 23 other states that passed laws restricting or banning the treatment. Legislators in both ...


Gay News

Chicago alder proposes renaming street after Obama 2024-03-22
- Openly gay Black Chicago Ald. Lamont Robinson has proposed renaming Columbus Drive after former U.S. President and city resident Barack Obama, media outlets noted. The street stretches through the Loop from East Grand Avenue to DuSable ...


Gay News

Congressional Equality Caucus on FY24 bills passing the house 2024-03-22
--From a press release - WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), released the following statement after the House successfully passed the final funding bills for Fiscal Year ...


Gay News

WORLD Uganda items, HIV report, Mandela, Liechtenstein, foreign minister weds 2024-03-21
- It turned out that U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Senior LGBTQI+ Coordinator Jay Gilliam traveled to Uganda on Feb. 19-27, per The Washington Blade. He visited the capital of Kampala and the nearby city of ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Va. marriage bill, AARP, online counseling, Idaho items, late activist 2024-03-21
- Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed bills protecting same-sex marriages at a state level, surprising some, WRIC reported. The bills—passed out of both chambers along mostly party lines—will require clerks ...


Gay News

LGBTQ+ candidates Marcelino Garcia, Precious Brady Davis win primary elections to keep MWRD seats 2024-03-21
- Marcelino Garcia and Precious Brady-Davis, the two openly LGBTQ+ incumbents in the race to keep their seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), won their primary elections and will move on to the general this ...


Gay News

Small LGBTQ+ candidate pool nevertheless scores some important victories March 19 2024-03-20
- Relatively few openly LGBTQ+ candidates were running in the March 19 Illinois Primary Election. But there were some significant contests in play at the local, state and federal levels. Openly gay Ald. Ray Lopez (15th Ward) ...


Gay News

Gay Irish prime minister to step down 2024-03-20
- In a surprise move, openly gay Irish Prime Minister (or Taoiseach) Leo Varadkar has announced his resignation, citing "personal and political, but mainly political reasons," according to CNN. Varadkar said he felt he was no longer ...


Gay News

Chicago's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council sets a new course 2024-03-18
- Chicago's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council held its first meeting of the calendar year on Feb. 28 at City Hall in the Loop under the leadership of the recently appointed chair Jin-Soo Huh. The LGBTQ+ Advisory Council is ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Missouri measure, HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, judge, Texas schools 2024-03-15
- In Missouri, a newly proposed law could charge teachers and counselors with a felony and require them to register as sex offenders if they're found guilty of supporting transgender students who are socially transitioning, CNN noted. ...


Gay News

PASSAGES: Former Chicago Commission on Human Relations chair Clarence Wood 2024-03-13
- LGBTQ ally and former Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR) Chair and Commissioner Clarence N. Wood died March 5. He was 83. Wood was born April 14, 1940, in Alabama. While primarily raised in Alabama, Wood ...


Gay News

Longtime LGBTQ+-rights activist David Mixner dies at 77 2024-03-12
- On March 11, longtime LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS activist David Mixner—known for working on Bill Clinton's presidential campaign but then splitting from him over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT)—died at age 77, The Advocate reported. ...


Gay News

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund remembers co-founder David Mixner 2024-03-12
--From a press release - Today, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund President & CEO Mayor Annise Parker released the following statement on the passing of LGBTQ+ civil rights activist and LGBTQ+ Victory Fund co-founder David Mixner: "Today, we lost David Mixner, a founding ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.