Quick Hits

Bite-sized updates from the PI staff »

Protesters Call For Eviction Moratorium (VIDEO)

As part of the build up to Sunday's NATO summit protest, Occupy Chicago marched to Daley Plaza in Chicago today with a focus on foreclosures. Speakers demanded that Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart implement a one-year moratorium on evicting homeowners who face foreclosure.

The specific demand was partly answered by the sheriff’s office, with Dart Deputy Chief of Staff Dana Wright showing up at the rally. Wright pledged that Dart would meet with two Occupy delegates this afternoon and suggested that a later public meeting could take place.

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By Matthew Blake
Wednesday, May 16th 4:41pm

Community Activists To Show The World A Different Side Of Chicago

The eyes of the world will be on Chicago this weekend as about 2,000 journalists from around the nation and the globe are headed to the Windy City to cover this weekend’s NATO summit.

Surely, the national and international press will be focused on the visiting Heads of State and other high-ranking government officials, in addition to the planned protests set to take place. But a group of community organizers is urging the NATO press corps to take a deeper look at some of the city’s most troubled neighborhoods.

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By Brandon Campbell
Tuesday, May 15th 6:58pm

Guest Article: South Suburban MoveOn Group Rallies Against Illegal Home Foreclosures

The following is a guest article from Esther Allman, of Frankfort, IL, on behalf of The South Suburban MoveOn Council.

Intent on exposing Bank of America's fraudulent foreclosure practices, over 60 men, women, and children joined the South Suburban MoveOn Council as it protested at the Bank of America (BOA) in Matteson, IL last Wednesday. Armed with signs revealing the shoddy business dealings of the bank, people lined Cicero Avenue to enlighten passing motorists about the ongoing nature of the mortgage crisis.

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By Progress Illinois
Tuesday, May 15th 6:23pm

Op-Ed: Farm Bill Could Sow Seeds For Obesity

The following is an op-ed from Celeste Meiffren, field director with Illinois PIRG.

When Congress turns to reauthorizing the federal Farm Bill this summer, you might think that only farmers should care. But in reality, the decisions they make impact all of us, because there’s a real risk Congress will maintain a broken status quo that lavishes taxpayer dollars on the junk food ingredients that are helping to fuel the obesity epidemic.

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By Progress Illinois
Tuesday, May 15th 1:25pm

With Downtown Shutting Down, Chicago May Not Profit From NATO Summit

Today’s arrests of protesters in downtown Chicago, and the drumbeat of businesses announcing they will close shop at the end of this week, casts further doubt on Chicago's projection that the two-day NATO summit will be a money maker.

“We stand to benefit a little if things go well, but we could get a black eye if they don’t,” says Alan Sanderson, an economist at the University of Chicago.

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By Matthew Blake
Monday, May 14th 4:46pm

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