* Ukonga Worries About the Community

by Julie Segraves

On January 20, a 49th Ward “Meet the Candidate” event was held at DCI Furniture Imports at 6954 N. Glenwood. Today’s candidate was Jim Ginderske, one of three candidates challenging Joe Moore (49th) for the Aldermanic seat.

Events such as these are generally held so that community residents can meet the candidates in a relaxed atmosphere and discuss their views of the community’s issues and get feedback from candidates about their plans to handle them.

Joseph Ukonga, co-owner of the store and immigrant from Nigeria, said he was approached by Ginderske’s staff and asked if he would like to host the event. Ukonga agreed. The Ginderske campaign handled the flyers for the event and Ukonga and the Ginderske camp both provided refreshments. Ukonga said that providing refreshments for guests is a tradition in his country.

He said he agreed because it was an opportunity for people to see his store but also for the politicians to showcase their interest in the community and their plans for the future.

Ukonga is unique in Rogers Park. He said it was fitting that he should host the event because he “was the first” in several things.

“We were the first to remove the barricades (burglar bars) on our windows, we have over 40,000 watts of bulbs to light our business at night. It is as light as day.”

They also maintain strict cleanliness in front of their business. “I have seen people drop a snack bag on the ground, then look around and pick it up without being told.”

He believes this is because if you treat your property with respect, others will respect it. He told me he has no problems with the gangs because he treats them with respect. They also see what he has done to his business and they respect that. He has good relations with them and they have complimented him on his store. He said if you treat people with respect “they take their issues elsewhere.”

Ukonga worries about the community. As a resident, he says “drive down Clark Street from Devon to Evanston. It is dirty in Chicago. When you arrive in Evanston everything is different. You begin to see signs of civilization. The “el” station at Morse is filthy. In Evanston it is spotless” He believes this has to do with ward leadership.

After today’s event, it has made him want to sponsor the other candidates so both he, and the community, can get to know them. He plans to send invitations to all of them and offer his store as a location to hold their event.

He wants to make the business community in Rogers Park grow and thrive. But he said that many owners “live in the suburbs. They collect their money from their businesses and they go home and spend it elsewhere. Then they leave the community to deal with the problems their businesses cause,” referring to the many liquor stores on Clark and Morse which result in empty bottles laying on the streets and sidewalks.

He would like to see them take some of the money they make and reinvest it in the community like installing lighting which he has done. He said “if you come to my business at night no one will jump you. It is too bright. The devil likes the dark, and evil likes the dark.”

He would also like to get several owners together to hire someone to clean the street, he said, “It would be better for the business and the community, and we would be providing employment.”

He will be sending out the invitations next week and hopes that the candidates will take advantage of his offer. He said that this way they would get to meet the people and the people, and the candidates would get to see his store. “Word of mouth advertising is a powerful thing.”