West Side moms camp outside vacant bank, fast during the Fourth of July weekend to ‘pray against violence’ – Chicago Sun-Times*

Jackie Guider, 57, said there is a sense of hopelessness people feel, and many have become desensitized to the shootings. The bleakness that hangs over Austin, she said, stems from the exodus of resources that date back decades. “It seems that everything that would help raise a child’s sense of value has been stripped from our community. I can drive up Chicago Avenue and past Austin, and there are beautiful parks, and everything is so accessible and right there. It’s hard to tell a child they need to respect their community when there is nothing in the community for them.”
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DixonSyder
4 years ago

Nothing ever survives in the infested areas, nothing. Build something nice and it will be destroyed. Public housing units destroyed, U235 houses destroyed, Section 8 rentals destroyed. Open a store, shoplifting, employee robberies, vandalism etc will far outpace any profit expected to be generated and closure is next. Gotta blame somebody because those “folks” aren’t the problem!

debtsor
4 years ago

This middle aged, almost elderly woman says she grew up in Austin and watched it go to crap.

Hmmm……so you lived there, and let it go to crap.

That’s how it usually goes.

DixonSyder
4 years ago
Reply to  debtsor

Generational welfare in action

debtsor
4 years ago
Reply to  DixonSyder

The lack of self-reflection of the Austin community is disturbing. They collectively raised a generation of criminals and drug dealers and let the entire neighborhood sink into a generational economic depression….and then are like “oh it’s not as good as it once was!” Well of course its not because the current residents of Austin wrecked it. Don’t give me that crap about how Oak Park used to be racist 60 years ago because these days it’s the second most anti-racist town in Illinois. Do something – shop local, pick up the garage in a vacant lot, parent your children, parent… Read more »

Last edited 4 years ago by debtsor
The Paraclete
4 years ago

Hmmm, does she even know where she is? Chicago ave. runs east and west. Drive past Austin and you’re in Oak Park! Two big municipal pools, lots of parks too. It’s not Chicago! I grew up in this area, lots of big beautiful homes. Many three stores homes, some with ballrooms on the third floor! Now it’s a ghetto! Where beautiful lawns and gardens grew is now hard pan covered in chip bags. Yup, there were grocery stores and I do remember the bowling alley, it was a dump back in the 60’s. A good place for grade school age… Read more »

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