A group of LGBT activists is demanding that the Northalsted Business Alliance fund neighborhood youth services at the same level it has funded private police this year.
Representatives from Gay Liberation Network, Gender JUST and Join the Impact-Chicago, showed up at I.D. Inc., to confront Anthony Almaguer, I.D. business owner and treasurer of the Northalsted Business Alliance, Aug. 19.
They say the alliance let them down when they put $50,000 towards hiring private security for the neighborhood instead of funding youth programs. Activists told Almaguer that if matching funds were not put towards such programs, they would launch a protest campaign against the alliance.
"The problem isn't too many social services," said Andy Thayer, a veteran activist with Gay Liberation Network. "We need more social services."
Thayer said that the money should have been put towards keeping Center on Halsted open later so that youth had a place to go after dark.
Almaguer said the alliance does want to work with youth but that problems in the neighborhood are threatening small-business owners. He said several businesses have been robbed and vandalized and that news reports suggesting that crime is on the rise in Lakeview have deterred shoppers in an already bad economy.
"I wish there was an easier answer, but there isn't," he told activists. "It's not just the news that's happening. It's what's happening with our businesses."
Gender JUST has previously challenged the alliance. Last fall, the group surprised Andrew T. Knecht, then president of the alliance, at his chiropractic office. The two groups had been in meetings since, but activists said the meetings did not produce desired results.
The latest action however, marks a new union between three of Chicago's largest direct-action LGBT organizations. Gay Liberation Network, Gender JUST and Join the Impact have historically pursued different causes, sometimes in opposition to each other.
Representatives from the groups said from now on, they would work together on securing more funds for LGBT youth programs.
"It will only grow from here hopefully," said Andrés Gallegos of Gender JUST.
Almaguer said the alliance is open to working with young people on the issues at hand.