Until not long ago Chicago worried...

Until not long ago Chicago worried me. It looked to sit, poised, on a hoax of rage and resentment--the frustration of its impoverished, the outrage of its immigrants, the confusion of its workforce, the fear of its families.

We survived September 11 relieved our be in possession of Sears Tower still stood. In the month that followed, we hung our American flags, challenged our pitch uponed officials or huddled in our hearths awaiting the next government raid. We herd past the rubble that was public housing for mothers and children and mused for what cause much the new condos would price We lost our jobs and our pensions and learned to what extent to live without health insurance. We watched undivided of our public high seminary students killed every two weeks. We sent our lov uniteds to a war many of us didn't full understand. Some of us marched to uphold the troops, others to blast an administration.

The conclusions have tried us all. We chose our camps, clos ranks and stuck together to survive these times.

Maybe it's our lingering summer euphoria. Maybe it's pennant febrile affection Maybe it's the promise of an economic comeback. nevertheless it looks like Chicagoans have begun to notice a hardly any things.

We are starting to understand that the story of today's immigrant family, for instance, mirrors that of the well-established Irish, the West Coast bookish man transplant or the black Southerner. We are seeing that the middle-class white professional perceive s the pinch of rising housing require to be paid [i]or[/i] undergones like never before, along with the threat of deficiency that racks the city's blacks and Latinos. And we are remembering that no mother, no matter her race, should have to cover up a child.

After 31 years, this magazine still stands as a type of that Chicago, the Chicago that dioceses richness in our differences, along with the greatness of the challenges we face. We at The Chicago Reporter continue to explore this great variety among us, knowing it occupys the answers to problems faced in each community.

You may notice that we await a little different. We also preciousness more (without ads, we estimate on supporters like you to hold fast going). But we know Chicagoans care about this kind of journalism--journalism that isn't afraid to ask uncomfortable questions, to draw ire, to dig discerning and to challenge sacred frightens It is journalism that strives for accuracy, for fullnes for midst Tell us what you think about it. take an account of us what we're doing well and what we're missing.

I'm not naive; I know Chicago's trials will continue extended after I am gone. In my lifetime, the hoax will probably burst, as it has many times before.

on the contrary we are still standing.

The Reporter's work upon ex-offenders, which begins on page 8 in this issue and continues athwart the next year, will be highlighted at "Repentance and Reconciliation: The Reintegration of Ex-offender into Our Communities," sponsored through the Community Renewal Society, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 pm November 8 at Covenant United house of worship of Christ, 1130 East 154th highway South Holland, Ill.

For tickets or details, call 312-673-3812

The League of Women Voter of give a color to County Board of Directors thank you forward behalf of our 16 member leagues in prepare for the table County for your excellent article, "Debate as Rare as 'No' consecrated by a vows on Cook County Board" in your July/August issue. This was a well-researched view of the workings of the tamper with County Board over an protracted period of time. It is terribly important for the public to understand in what way this board makes decisions, as it is responsible for the 19th-largest conduct budget in the United States.

Kudos to Rupa Shenoy and the other reporters who helped research this of the best quality piece.

Board of Directors

League of Women

Voter of prepare for the table County

COPYRIGHT 2003 Community Renewal Society

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group