———————————————————————————–

ATTEND THE FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW INDEPENDENT 43rd WARD
DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION!

Tuesday, April 29, 7pm
Lincoln Park Library
1150 W. Fullerton Avenue
Special guest: Anita Alvarez, Democratic candidate for Cook County States Attorney
For more information

————————————————————————————–

To join Greater Lincoln Park DFA just go to http://www.dfalink.com/group.php?id=2440 and click on “JOIN GROUP.” That’s it! We’ll email you a PDF of the guide as soon as we get word of your joining (be sure to include your email address in your DFA profile when you join).

We are asking for $20.00/year as membership dues. You can use PayPal – it’s quick and secure! Thanks.

Download our membership form.

PROTECT OUR PUBLIC PARKS MEETING ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28 AT THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, A HUGE SUCCESS!

Almost 200 people packed the meeting room to hear speakers on the Latin School land grab. Over 40 people volunteered
to help and $500 raised on the spot. Call them at 312-276-5165 to help. Watch the coverage from Fox Chicago News.

Greater Lincoln Park Democracy For America (DFA) is a grassroots organization dedicated to progressive, transparent, and responsible government.

We are appalled by the private deal made between the Chicago Park District and the Latin School that creates a soccer field in Lincoln Park for which the Latin School will have the rights to over 850 hours of prime time annually. In addition, it allows The Latin School to sell sponsorships and erect sponsorship signage at the park site.

Greater Lincoln Park DFA strongly opposes this land grab for several reasons:

• This deal was concluded in private and away from public scrutiny.It was only after the deal was made that word leaked out to the community and organizations with a vested interest in the use of community assets.
• This deal effectively privatizes 4 acres of Lincoln Park, a treasure that is supposed to belong to all Chicago.It sets a precedent that encourages other private institutions to take over public space.
• This deal changes the nature of public space.It cedes large amounts of prime time to a private and elite institution and shuts out the citizens who have a civic right to use Lincoln Park.
• The Latin School has a right to sell advertising signage, which has never been allowed in Lincoln Park and which substantially changes the nature of park space.
• Financially, the Park District and the people of Chicago are getting little out of this deal.The Latin School simply prepays usage fees it would pay were the Park District to build such as facility.

Greater Lincoln Park DFA is not opposed to soccer fields or to helping children enjoy the benefits of sport.It is opposed to turning over public spaces to elite institutions.

The Chicago Park District has a capital budget for park improvements. If there is a need for a soccer field in Lincoln Park to be used by all of Chicago children’s soccer teams, it should be included in the capital plan and use of the field should be governed by Park District procedures for all such spaces.

In short, the Greater Lincoln Park DFA believes this deal epitomizes bad politics, bad process and bad pricing.

We urge local residents, friends of the parks, advocates for public space, and all citizens concerned with open government to protest this land grab and encourage the City of Chicago to void this contract.

Inspired by the presidential campaign of Howard Dean, Democracy for America (DFA) is a political action committee dedicated to supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates at all levels of government—from school board to the presidency. DFA fights against the influence of the far right-wing and their radical, divisive policies and the selfish special interests that for too long have dominated our politics. There are currently 54,620 members active in 808 independent chapters nationwide.

More information: glpdfa@gmail.com

Committee to Keep Lincoln Park Public web site: www.cklpp.org

Online petition:

Download this statement as a PDF document

Download the flyer “STOP The Privatization of Lincoln Park”

New story from Feb. 13 edition of The Chicago Journal - “Can Latin’s Soccer Deal Still Be Bounced?”

Read Ben Joravsky’s article from 2008 in “The Chicago Reader”

You join GLP DFA by clicking over to this page.

For more information, please contact us at glpdfa@gmail.com.

————————————————————————————————————————–

Check out a fun group!

Drinking Liberally is an informal, inclusive progressive social group. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don’t need to be a policy expert and this isn’t a book club – just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it’s not taboo to talk politics.Bars are democratic spaces – you talk to strangers, you share booths, you feel the bond of common ground. Bring democratic discourse to your local democratic space – build democracy one drink at a time.While drinking liberally, always remember to drink responsibly, and make liberal use of designated drivers. Drinking and driving is reckless and irresponsible, like a neocon war or corporatist tax cut. Liberals, don’t do it.

Join the Chicago email list: http://drinkingliberally.org/subscribe1.html?id=175