I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for sharing with me one of the most enjoyable journeys of my life. While we are all disappointed with the outcome of the Feb. 27 election, we can take heart in the many things we have accomplished along the way:
First, your support and the efforts you made to get out and vote helped to force a runoff and give the community a second chance to unseat the incumbent, Joe Moore.
Second, we were able to bring two very important issues – the unacceptable condition of our neighborhood schools and the need to create an aggressive and thoughtful plan for retail development – to the forefront of the community in an honest and meaningful way.
The performance of our neighborhood school children, as reflected in their scores on standardized tests, is deeply troubling. It speaks to the need to get help inside our school buildings to teachers and administrators so they can more effectively do their jobs. It speaks to the need to educate parents of the importance of their roles in their children’s educations. Our future as a community – as a place that attracts good jobs, promotes safe streets and creates a stable and active residential population – will be unlimited if we can get about the business of fixing our schools.
And I thank you for the opportunity to discuss business development in an honest and open way. We owe it to ourselves to create the sort of full-service neighborhood that accommodates the needs of our residents and keeps our tax dollars here in the city where they can benefit all of us.
Unfortunately, it was the threat of openly discussing economic development that inspired Mr. Moore and 49th Ward Committeeman David Fagus to launch a successful negative campaign against me that misrepresented my Democratic Party allegiance, and ultimately cost me significant support. That we were not able to counter this effectively is my only regret.
In the meantime, I ask that you support Don Gordon in his runoff with Mr. Moore. Our community has suffered as a result of 16 years of indifferent and unimaginative leadership. Hundreds of jobs and dozens of businesses have fled Rogers Park. Shootings take place in broad daylight. Too many children roam the streets because there are too few outlets for constructive activities. Our community cannot be the place we imagine until we make a change.
Let’s continue to work for the things we set out to accomplish. Thank you all so much for your time and support.
Sincerely,
7 comments:
THANK YOU, CHRIS!
A class act.
Thanks,Chris! You are an asset to the community and we hope we always have you.
Thanks Chris. We all welcome any input you can give in the upcoming run-off. You are a gentleman and a class act.
Chris I think those of us that have lived here long enough are able to tune out most of the B.S. of Joe and company and not not give it much credence.
The reason why I didn't vote for you is I didn't know you before this election despite your so called community involvement and yet I was very familiar with both Jim and Don and their involvement.
Better the devil you know than the one you don't.
Yes. Thanks to Chris. His campaign is still having positive effects on the community. Now, the most positive effect would be for Don Gordon to win in the runoff!
Yes let's band together to make a change. People ask "What do get with Mr. Gorden" Though there is a level of the unknow here, change should be good, if not then we can vote for a change in the next election.
What is known for fact,is that Joe Moore has not made the 49th ward better, 16yrs and nothing much to show for his work!!
Yes vote for Don Gorden!!
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