#Mayor Richard Daley

[davidblaska]

If you're going to Chicago

Be sure to wear a flower helmet over your hair! Let’s get it out into the open: Republicans are hoping Chicago next week August 19-22 resembles war-torn Bakhmut. So, we suspect, do the news media despite their romance with Kamala/Walz. Ratings conquer all! It does appear that the Democrat(ic) national convention will be besieged by the pro-Hamas wing of their party. Tens of thousands of U.S.…

[gusty-wind]

Imma going to tell my kids this was Drag Queen Story Hour Michelle Obama is a MAN: “Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States, was born Michael LaVaughn Robinson in Chicago, Illinois on January 17th, 1964. He was the second son born to Fraser Robinson III, a well known cocaine dealer and union thug for Crime Lord/Mayor Richard J. Daley, and Marian Shields Robinson, a transient street prostitute who was diagnosed with the HIV virus in 1998.

He was a popular high school athlete and in 1982, he accepted a scholarship to play middle linebacker for the Oregon State Beavers. After finishing a respectable rookie season with 88 tackles and 7.5 sacks, he suddenly dropped out of the school. Fellow teammates observed that Robinson could regularly be heard lamenting over how he is a “woman trapped inside a man’s body”, and on January 13th, 1983, he underwent sex reassignment surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. To hide the shame of his new identity, Michael left Oregon State to attend Princeton University under his new legal name, “Michelle Robinson”. Years later, he met Barry Obama Jr. a Kenyan immigrant who later became aware of “Michelle’s” true identity. They subsequently married and adopted two children.” https://imgflip.com/i/8ctjfs

[stephenjaymorrisblog]

How Will All This End?

Stephen Jay Morris

5/4/2024

©Scientific Morality

            Ever hear of the expression, “a self-fulfilling prophecy?” What does that mean?  You can convince yourself that something negative will happen in the future; you can convince yourself by repeating it repeatedly. Does it usually happen? Well, if you believe in a supernatural belief system, you can make something happen by chanting for it. If you believe in logic, there’s a 50-50 chance that something you predict may happen by coincidence.

            I know, I know—in the past I promised not to make any predictions. But America in the year 2024, is too juicy to pass up. Let’s just say, I’m only theorizing. Is that Kosher? OK! Let’s get to it.

            Many self-created prophets want that Nostradamus statue on their living room mantel, above the fireplace. But most predictions fall flat on their face. What is America’s number one concern as it is shoved down our collective throats? The presidential election in November 2024. Let’s see. Before the primaries, both political parties declared their candidates for president.

That didn’t happen in 1968. The Democrats had three candidates running for president. RFK, Eugene McCarthy, and Hubert Humphrey. So did the Republican Party. Nelson Rockefeller, Ronny Reagan, and Dick Nixon. (Can you believe that Dick Nixon beat Ronny Reagan?) So, this not like 1968 at all.

Second of all, will there be riots at the Democratic convention in Chicago this summer? Same as in 1968—yes. Will there be any trouble? Not really. In 1968, there were dozens of protest groups, from the Civil Rights movement to the Black Panther Party. Also, from SDS to the Yippies. The City government consisted of Blue Dog Democrats. What are Blue Dog Democrats? Right wing Democrats. Yeah, there was such a thing! After all, Rockefeller was a Liberal Republican. The Mayor, Richard J. Daley, was a Red Neck conservative, and he loved the police force and the military.  Now, in 2024, the Chicago city council are mostly left-of-center Democrats. Nothing will happen on the streets of Chicago because the Liberals will negotiate with the protest leaders. And make deals with them. Unless police provocateurs or Israeli agents start some shit. But I highly doubt it.

            So, what about the Republican Convention? In 1968, they had theirs in Miami Beach Florida. It’s funny; the Democrats had theirs at the same place in ‘72. There were riots there. Looking back, the so-called media always focused on the Democratic Convention. They loved it when the Left fought Liberals. People forget when the Republicans had a riot near their convention in ’68, Blacks rioted at Liberty City and the media blacked it out. (Pun intended.) In 1970, when White students at Kent State got shot, it was front page news. However, when Black students got shot by cops at Jackson State, that appeared on page 18 in the newspaper. So, when the GOP have their convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin this year, the media will downplay any demonstrations. If you still think the media is liberal, maybe you should go to your primary care provider and get tested for early-stage dementia.

            Now, between Biden and Trump, who will win? Biden is senile and Trump is demented. A lot can happen before November. Biden could drop out of the race for an elderly illness. Or he could die of natural causes. Keep your eye on Kamala Harris. She might be our first female president. If Biden does survive, he will lose the race.

            What about Trump? He could win, but he’d be very ineffectual sitting in a prison cell. Keep your eye on his vice-presidential choice. They might be our next president if Trump wins. It cracks me up how some of his sycophant followers portray him as some type of superhero. He must wear a girdle to keep that fat belly from falling on his dick! His arteries are so clogged with junk food, he might have a massive heart attack while sitting in the prison cafeteria. Plus, he has obvious signs of dementia; just listen to how he talks. I love how supporters of both candidates deny that their candidate has any illness. If Trump survives, he will barely win. The outcome may depend on which candidate dies first.

            Now, about this talk over losing our democracy. We never had it! For decades, the Chuds have claimed that we are a Constitutional Republic. The Liberals say we are a Liberal Democracy. Who’s right? Who cares?! This two-party system will always be a two-party system. If we were a true Democracy, we would have 17 political parties—just like Israel. But no, we have this fake rivalry between left and right. “Democrats are for the working man.” No, they’re not. “The Republicans are for individualism and Jesus.” Really?

So, as for this ultimatum of either we elect Biden or we get fascism versus if you vote for Trump, you’ll be raptured and float up to heaven…Fuck off, please! Nothing is going to happen in November. Even if Trump is elected, America will survive. If Biden wins, America will survive.

It’s time for a new constitution! It’s time for a one world anarchy!

Whatever!

[granvarones]

The universe and our ancestors have a way of delivering messages that we need to hear, read, and witness. That’s why I find myself offering countless flowers in tribute to Daniel Sotomayor. His legacy in Chicago serves as a powerful reminder that the impact of the AIDS Crisis extended far beyond the coastal epicenters of New York City and San Francisco.

I went back to Victor Salvo’s essay titled “Daniel Sotomayor: Chicago, Illinois August 30, 1958 – February 5, 1992,” which is part of the Art AIDS America Chicago exhibition book. This exhibition documents the impact of HIV/AIDS on the national art space. I’ll give you all the cliff notes to this essay, which continues to inspire my own political advocacy work.

Daniel Sotomayor was not only the first openly gay and nationally recognized political cartoonist but also a co-founder of the Chicago Chapter of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP). Growing up in the Humboldt Park Neighborhood in Chicago, Daniel’s heritage was a mix of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent. In the four years following his HIV diagnosis in 1987, Daniel passionately fought against the despair of the AIDS crisis until his passing on February 5, 1992.

He shouldered the responsibility of challenging not just the political establishment but also the church, his employers, fellow HIV/AIDS activists, and even friends. By 1991, Daniel had produced 147 political cartoons that addressed both current events and personal struggles. His commitment to truth-telling not only stirred controversy but also laid the foundation for the legacy we honor today.

Despite facing termination from Gay Chicago Magazine and later Windy City Times due to his outspoken activism, Daniel prioritized urgent action amid the ticking clock of HIV and the community’s mounting death toll. His life’s work stands as a testament to what political accountability should entail for leaders entrusted with our protection.

Daniel’s activism was bold. He participated in protests against the Chicago Transit Authority’s refusal to display safe sex messaging and was part of national AIDS actions demanding equal healthcare. His confrontation with then-Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley at the Impact Gala in 1991, where he held a banner demanding truth about AIDS, exemplifies his unwavering courage.

As I reflect on Daniel’s life, I am reminded of the ongoing struggle for justice in today’s crises, like the Overdose Crisis. The slow response of political leaders to adopt proven harm reduction strategies echoes past battles fought during the AIDS crisis.

Every day, I carry the heartbreak and the resilience of figures like Daniel, whose battles have paved the way for our opportunities today. Daniel’s legacy teaches us to keep fighting in dark times. As an advocate, I draw strength from the wisdom of AIDS activism, maintaining optimism in the face of political disappointment, with the belief that our perseverance will bring hope to newer generations.

Written by Aces Lira. Aces Lira was a 2019 Gran Varones Digital Arts Fellow. Currently he serves as a project manager focusing on legislative, policy, and administrative advocacy responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Illinois. Working closely with the Getting to Zero IL initiative, he focuses on the efforts to increase access to HIV prevention and treatment services and supports, including implementation of Rapid Start interventions across the state. As a social worker by training, Aces has direct service experience in education, child welfare, and migrant aid which informs his policy advocacy work.

[goldendiie]

sitting in an archive right now doing research for my thesis. in the aftermath of the 1968 democratic national convention riots, a striking amount of people from arizona sent letters and newspaper clippings to the office of chicago mayor richard daley thanking him for actions undertaken by police during the riots.

so, obviously, im going to use this in americana.

[rabbitcruiser]

Millennium Parkconsidered Chicago's first and most ambitious early 21st-century architectural project, was opened to the public by Mayor Richard M. Daley on July 16, 2004.

[mrskennedy]

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis chats with Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, Robert Strauss, former American ambassador to Russia, and his wife Helen Strauss backstage at the 1976 Democratic National Convention held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

[lboogie1906]

Attorney Valerie Jarrett (November 14, 1956) senior advisor to President Barack Obama, was born in Chicago. Illinois attorney, businesswoman, and community leader known for her role as one of the three campaign co-chairs of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. She served as co-chairperson of the Obama-Biden transition project.

She was born in Iran. Her father, Dr. James Bowman, was the director of a hospital for children in Shiraz. Her great-grandfather, Robert Robinson Taylor, was the first Black person to earn a degree from MIT. Her grandfather, Robert Taylor, was the first African American to head the Chicago Housing Authority.

Her family lived in England but returned to the US in the early 1960s. She traveled and lived abroad. As a teenager, she spent summers visiting Ghana, Nigeria, and Egypt.

She began her college career at Stanford University, earning a BA in Psychology. She earned her JD from the University of Michigan. She married the late William Rober Jarret (1983-88). They had one child.

She entered Chicago politics working for Harold Washington. She was deputy chief of staff to Mayor Richard Daley, Jr. She met Barack and Michelle Obama.

She served as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. She chaired the Chicago Transit Board. She served as a chair of the Chicago Stock Exchange. She has worked for The Habitat Company. She is president of the firm. She advised Obama as he moved from the Illinois State Senate to the US Senate and the White House.

She was a behind-the-scenes mediator and adviser. She was known for her calm, conciliatory demeanor. These characteristics were welcomed during the Jeremiah Wright controversy. She persuaded Obama to deliver his famous public speech on race in Philadelphia.

President Obama selected her as White House Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Liaison. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[filmnoirfoundation]

"Two of the 18 movies to be screened, 'Chicago Deadline' and 'Call Northside 777,' center around Windy City reporters and investigations surrounding murders and alleged suspects. Alan K. Rode, who'll introduce 'Chicago Deadline' and a slate of other NOIR CITY Chicago movies, said the city is a perfect place for noir stories.'I think Chicago has a rich tradition of being a great petri dish for film noir, based on the history of the city and the background and the colorful characters that came out of all that. What other city could have Carl Sandburg, Al Capone, and Mayor Richard J. Daley in the same century,' Rode said."Schedule and tickets for NOIR CITY Chicago: https://bit.ly/3YtW8ud

[sgtmickeyslaughter]

hi gigi !

🎵 🙃 (that bone record fact is so cool, i want another!)

hello! thanks for asking 🖤

🎵 (Last song you listened to?):

queue power walking though the airport soundtrack

🙃(What’s a weird fact that you know?):

since this is a shameless blog, let’s do a chicago themed one, back in the 1960s the prince of japan visited chicago and mayor richard daley gifted him a couple handfuls of illinois state fish

they were populated as possible new game fish and have been creating absolute habitat destroying havoc on the ecology of japans lakes and rivers ever since. and while i take ecological integrity and invasive spices management very seriously, this is objectively hilarious

emoji ask game

[moleshow]

what would you say to someone (me) who is thinking about moving to chicago

it's a good city. without information on what you're looking for, where you're coming from, what your line of work is, what your finances are like, or whether you want to study here i can only give general advice. so without further ado

what exactly is a chicago

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

POPULATION:

we have the largest population of polish people outside of poland

we are located within COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS which contains the ring of inner suburbs that border chicago. our 3 transit systems are the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), which operates the L (back to that in a second) and our city bus system. the suburban bus operations are run by Pace, and the L has two lines which extend into the northern suburbs of Skokie, a predominately jewish and to a lesser extend filipino neighborhood (don't quote me on that), and Evanston, which is where the main campus of Northwestern University is located. Metra runs our suburban commuter trains, but they don't own all of the tracks. metra trains have a few stops within the city, but generally serve the Greater Chicagoland area.

note that Chicago and Chicagoland are different places and the terms are not used interchangeably. chicagoland is always the burbs. this is a chronic issue: people from the suburbs will claim they are from chicago. do not let them trick you. ask them what neighborhood.

the CTA operates the Red, Purple, Yellow, Green, Brown, Blue, Orange, and Pink Line trains. all of these converge in the Loop. because they form a Loop. the other stuff in this picture that do not go into the loop are metra lines.

the "base point" for our address system is in the loop, at Madison/State. major roads will have numbers and N/S or E/W on them to indicate where they are relative to that intersection. you might hear, like, "5200 block on north clark", which will tell you where along clark that location is (in this case, clark street is 5200 N at foster).

regarding politics

if you live here, you will benefit greatly from understanding the politics. we have a council-mayor system. each city council member (known as an alder-wo/man/person or sometimes just alder) represents one of 50 wards. we use a weak-mayor system, but there's coalitions and mayors usually tap into that (unless they're hostile nutjobs)

as you might be able to tell there's a lot of politics happening here. to that point, we do big city democrat boss/machine politics here. you should look up richard j daley and then richard m daley to get a peek into that. it's the politics of knowing a guy

we have a new mayor. you might know this already but this is a lead-in to a larger point which is that chicago is, relative to the extent that any place can be after the 1980s, a union town. brandon johnson comes to us, broadly speaking, out of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). they are to city hall progressives what the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) are to the conservatives. teachers union vs police union. fight

note that our conservatives are not republicans. our conservatives and progressives are democrats, because everyone only votes for democrats. the national party labels don't apply so the policies are what's different

vexillology

we have one of the finest flags possibly in the history of man.

there is no east side because there's a lake.

where to move

you'll get more transit access for your money if you look for apartments on the north side east of ashland, or at the very least, damen. around the brown line might be tempting but it doesn't run 24h and i found that difficult to rely on when i was along it. the area i've described has decent redundancy so you can have a lot of options a few blocks apart.

older buildings almost always use gas stoves and steam radiators. that's something to be aware of when you're looking depending on whether or not you care.

rapid fire north side neighborhood ratings from someone who doesn't go west of ashland because i refuse to cross it

rogers park good, mid around loyola university, edgewater mid if you aren't on wilson, uptown good, andersonville overpriced and mid, ravenswood barely a neighborhood but cheap and mid

this area is so lame it's uninhabitable. over here it's always christian girl autumn. drivers are aggro as fuck, they all drive SUVs, and the food sucks. don't move there

continuing further south: lakeview after belmont (e/w) is good and better on broadway to the east. this is where boystown is due to gay men being there. lincoln park nice to look at but mid to be in. downright bad around depaul. "ranch triangle" is barely a neighborhood, wealthy and mid. near north side is complicated due to proximity to the Viagra Triangle. gold coast is not a neighborhood but has good peoplewatching. nonetheless, mid. old town is where they invent new ways to be mid. and river north is a nuclear mid-off but has fairly swank restaurants if you don't spend too much time there

6. the dollar

apartment prices vary depending on what amenities you want. a basic oldschool unit without a dishwasher or central air but with laundry in the building will generally set you back $750-1000 for a normal, rather than weird, studio. you shouldn't pay more than $1600 for a one bed. it is better to look for places in person but come off of anon and i can give you the name of a company i rented from that had good units in good areas for good prices. and parquet wood flooring.

if you are poor and or gay we have medical services for that. the howard brown health system does sliding scale and has locations across the city

things aren't too pricey here in terms of having fun but the main thing people do is drink, go to the lake, and drink at the lake. there's other stuff of course. the restaurants are good generally speaking and the industry is frankly enormous here. usually all around the same price point, we don't do a whole lot of the Fine Dining stuff here.

culture notes

this is longer than i intended it to be

we have sports teams only three of which matter. these are the cubs, white sox, and bulls. cubs and white sox are both baseball teams and appeal to different demographics. cubs fans usually live in the suburbs or on the north side, white sox fans are largely from the south and west sides. the bulls are a basketball team. you'll see all of this stuff on hats

we got a few newspapers: the chicago tribune, chicago sun-times, and block club chicago are some of our heavy hitters

all the cops and firefighters live out here in the bungalow belt

don't move there

[urbs-in-horto]

Alexander Calder's Flamingo unveiling at Kluczynski Federal Building plaza in October 1974. Calder is the white haired gentleman. Senator Charles Percy and Mayor Richard J Daley can be spotted too. And someone hired a mime. These are photos shot by my Father. He worked in the Federal Building and the Flamingo was one of his favorite photographic subjects. I have dozens of Flamingo images he captured.

[pedestrianlens]

City of Chicago

Green Alley

Richard M. Daley

Mayor

[thevida]

The Infamous Side of Chicago

Chicago, the Windy City, is renowned for its rich history, iconic architecture, and vibrant cultural. However, it also harbors a darker side that has captivated the imagination of people for generations.

The Mob and the Prohibition Era Chicago's history is intertwined with organized crime, particularly during the Prohibition era of the 1920s. Figures like Al Capone and Johnny Torrio achieved notoriety for their involvement in illegal activities, including bootlegging and the operation of speakeasies. The St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929, a brutal gangland killing, remains one of the city's most infamous events.

Political Corruption Chicago has been no stranger to political scandals and corruption. Names like Rod Blagojevich, who attempted to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat, and former Mayor Richard J. Daley, accused of voter fraud and nepotism, linger in the city's political annals.

The Great Chicago Fire The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 is a tragic event etched into the city's history. It resulted in extensive destruction and left thousands homeless. Although the fire was not deliberately set, its infamy arises from its devastating impact on the city.

Haunted Legends Chicago boasts several reputedly haunted locations, such as the Congress Plaza Hotel, known for ghostly sightings, and Bachelor's Grove Cemetery, a burial ground with eerie stories of paranormal activity. These tales contribute to Chicago's mystique.

Gangland Tours For those intrigued by Chicago's dark past, gangland tours offer an opportunity to explore infamous crime scenes and hear captivating stories about the city's underworld. These tours visit places like the Biograph Theater, where John Dillinger met his end, and the former site of the Lexington Hotel, Al Capone's headquarters.

The Dark Legacy of H.H. Holmes Herman Webster Mudgett, alias H.H. Holmes, ranks among America's first serial killers. His "Murder Castle" in Chicago, where he lured and killed numerous victims during the 1893 World's Fair, is a chilling chapter in the city's history.

While Chicago is undoubtedly celebrated for its positive attributes, its notoriety adds depth to its character. These infamous tales, whether involving mobsters, political scandals, or haunted locales, have become integral to the city's narrative.

[crackinwise]

I looked the pants (Agora) up and got a tad more "what" then "oh"

Chicago, which has a large Polish American community, had hoped to add a major work by Abakanowicz for several years before Agora arrived. Among the plans which were not realized were a large hand to be placed at the end of BP Pedestrian Bridge and a set of animal sculptures to be placed near the Monroe Street harbor. One proposal called for a group of headless figures be placed in Chicago's Museum Campus. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley eventually suggested placing an installation at the south end of Grant Park, near Roosevelt Road. By 2006, private donors, including actor Robin Williams, contributed over $700,000 to bring the work to Chicago.

[...]

Abakanowicz, who grew up during World War II, has said that her art draws on her fear of crowds, which she once described as "brainless organisms acting on command, worshiping on command and hating on command".

The trouble with public art installations is that even among those that don’t strive to be inoffensively bland, too many of them are designed to be cute or inspiring or edgy or otherwise provoke a specific, well-defined emotion. What we need is more public art whose intended reaction is “what in the goddamn…?”

[darkmaga-returns]

Evangelicals Should Capitalize on Trump’s Victory

Donald Trump will be moving back into the White House in January. Early Wednesday morning, the 2024 presidential race was called, and the American people elected Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States. His victory in this election was perhaps the greatest political comeback at the presidential level in American history, outdoing Grover Cleveland’s nonconsecutive terms in office in the late nineteenth century and Richard Nixon’s storming back in 1968 after losing (with the help of Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley) to JKF in 1960.

Trump ran through a deadly gauntlet to get back to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He successfully evaded multiple assassination attempts, the Democrats’ myriad efforts to jail him and confiscate his personal wealth through lawfare, the Intelligence Community’s machinations to frame him even before his first term began, and two impeachments.

Trump’s win is a rejection of the personalities and policies offered by the Democrats. More importantly, it’s a searing rebuke of the bipartisan ruling class’s arrogance, incompetence, and clear disdain for large swaths of the country—and a repudiation of their supposed divine right to rule.

Fortunately, increasing numbers of voters are seeing through the successive waves of propaganda pushed out by our state media. They understand the depth of the supposed smart set’s gross malfeasance, which sits atop a foundation of malevolence for their way of life. What else should these Americans think after constantly being told to repent for everything they believe in—and even the color of their skin—or else be replaced with “real Americans” from the third world? 

As Julie Ponzi wrote in a symposium at The American Mind, contrary to our so-called benevolent rulers, “a legitimately obtained majority of the people [should be] responsible for the direction of the United States of America.” A Trump victory opens the possibility for a recovery of politics itself—not in the sense that the people will rule directly (the American founders, after all, despised democracy in the Aristotelian sense), but that voters will choose those who have the wisdom to do what’s best for America—not leech its vitality for their own benefit.