If Jan Schakowsky cares a ton about D65, where has she been? I haven't heard a peep from her as the District falls apart - surely there is federal money available for things like Bessie Rhodes under a Biden Administration.
Dude, we got absolutely hosed. Worse than 2016. The numbers speak for themselves. I don't think there is a single person reading this blog besides you that feels otherwise.
If Jan Schakowsky cares a ton about D65, where has she been? I haven't heard a peep from her as the District falls apart - surely there is federal money available for things like Bessie Rhodes under a Biden Administration.
Dude, we got absolutely hosed. Worse than 2016. The numbers speak for themselves. I don't think there is a single person reading this blog besides you that feels otherwise.
You elected the Congresswoman to go to Congress. You also voted for school board members. It is wildly unfair to assume Congresswoman has to micromanage one of dozens of school boards in her district.
I think when you say "hosed" it sounds like there is something unfair about it. I am saying we got our ass kicked nationally but thats not as true locally. Our local numbers will keep getting better. We won here. The GOP flipped nothing in Illinois.
You are correct in that Congresswoman Schakowsky isnтАЩt responsible for D65. I do believe that she does тАЬcare.тАЭ
ItтАЩs a complicated problem, but it may boil down to the feeling many of her constituents have (probably more than you realize) that the quality of their lives are deteriorating. Yes, we care about democracy, womenтАЩs rights, equity and being a welcoming community. But itтАЩs
the daily indignities that grind down the quality of life here. Below I offer two examples of many.
Public transportation in Evanston and the region is a mess. Have you been on the Red Line lately? When you sit among the urine, pot smokers and trash hoping not to be mugged just to get to work, you wonder if the leaders rallying you to тАЬprotect democracyтАЭ could just get the frigginтАЩ train you take to work halfway decent, too? Not to mention that the poor rely on public transportation more than other economic groups. When you used to take your kids to the neighborhood Grey Park to play but donтАЩt anymore because of the drug dealing, harassment, and public safety fears, it doesnтАЩt feel like restoring DEI preferences is at the top of your wish list.
You can say for each of these situations, itтАЩs not entirely the fault of the Congresswoman. ItтАЩs not entirely the fault of Representative Gabel, Senator Fine or Mayor Biss. But they are collectively our leaders. Who does have the responsibility to improve nagging everyday quality of life problems if not the people we elect? And why should we believe theyтАЩll fix the big problems when the тАЬlittleтАЭ ones just seem to get bigger?
I am a lifelong Democrat. IтАЩll continue to be a Democrat. But I increasingly feel that my party is out of touch with how people actually feel. And when they express those feelings, they are shamed about not seeing the тАЬbig picture.тАЭ Or, thatтАЩs тАЬanother office.тАЭ
One final tangent. I canтАЩt escape the nagging suspicion that if Bessie Rhodes was closed by a group of white Republicans, the Congresswoman would have been out marching with Bessie Rhodes families.
I wish I could pin this comment. Thank you for saying this, I couldn't agree more. We have City Council elections coming up and I think this needs to be part of the theme of my conversations with them.
And as far as federal money, there is the accountability and competence questions - I was just at a ribbon cutting for the new health center for CCSD21 in Wheeling where they got over a million in federal funds thanks to Cong. Schneider. Did they count on Schneider to just do that for them, or did they ask, follow up, and do what they were elected to do and advocate strategically for the district?
It will be, I can promise that. Board members and staff need to be asking for that money. I worked with her team when it was at 820 Davis, they all know me and know I am going to do the right thing. I also know when to ask.
But that's the way it works when you're working with a congressperson's office - it is only in our hometown and its because Jan lives in town that you would suggest she just takes care of our problems for us like a parent to a wayward child - we need a board that can do what boards are supposed to do.
I get it, I don't think I am asking her to swoop in and provide a deus ex machina ending. But I do think there needs to be vastly more collaboration between the city, the schools, and the state and federal governments. We missed a good opportunity during the Biden years and the next four could be a real mess depending on what Trump does to the Dept of Ed.
I agree with that, I just will draw a big bright line on getting close to "we elected 7 people to do a job, they didn't do that job well, let's be frustrated that this other person in a different elected job didn't do it for them"
You are certainly not the first person to get close to that line, this isn't my first time through this counterargument. Part of the motivation for running - I know how much all of those name brand politicians care, I know what it looks like when local school board members build the relationships that lead to success, I can do this for my kids and the district I grew up in. And boy do we effing need it.
Agree but like, the Evanston/Skokie Mayors sending an email to D65 over the Bessie Rhodes 7th and 8th grade thing moved the needle. I have no idea why - they have no statutory authority - but it worked. Probably because it embarrassed them.
I don't think they need to step into every issue, but if parents are protesting and having multiple marches - it might worth taking a look at and levering their power, even if it's just a tersely worded letter of concern.
As you know, power is a weird thing and hard to write about. I have power via this blog so I definitely get a sense of the caution you have to use when wielding it. Hard to write about.
I agree and have a track record of bringing these community issues to the electeds I work for, because that's part. I can say that Rep. Gabel cares a ton and is waiting for someone on that board to do their part, but also looking for opportunities to help. I just don't think it is realistic to think the other electeds can, could, or should solve what is inherently the school board's primary function: strategic vision and oversight of execution of that vision.
The board we elected didn't do their jobs, doesn't matter the reasons. The board has power. The board members haven't used it, even if you want to give them the best of intentions. Outside electeds can do pressure, sure, but let's not get into Harley Clarke, the branch libraries, or any other crisis we have gotten into. The Mayor letter worked here, but it doesn't always.
And all of that is to still say I do not have the experience where Tuesday plays into this either for or against. Our current D65 is post Blago or post Rauner, much better analogies for your future podcast.
Do you think NU would help dig the district out? If there was a responsible board plan for it? I read years ago that Yale and Princeton contribute quite a bit to their local school districts. I donтАЩt know much about this stuff works.
I don't want to get into a fight over this - I hear what you're saying, I do and after January when you're running for Board we can talk more about this (I'm thinking about doing a podcast)
The Suburban Cook county results alone show that sure we won but lost more ground. In an election like this, with Donald Trump on the ballot, I find this incomprehensible. How are we losing ground to a guy we're calling a fascist. I think this alone is worth some navel gazing by the party.
Lost more ground yes, but I point to mail and rain again. In the few bellweathers that had to be really worked, like the state house races against Grant and McLaughlin, we might even be gaining seats.
We all locally spent as many hours and resources in WI and MI as we could because we are over 50%+1 and wanted to get the White House. Don't conflate that with the national failure is my point.
If Jan Schakowsky cares a ton about D65, where has she been? I haven't heard a peep from her as the District falls apart - surely there is federal money available for things like Bessie Rhodes under a Biden Administration.
Dude, we got absolutely hosed. Worse than 2016. The numbers speak for themselves. I don't think there is a single person reading this blog besides you that feels otherwise.
You elected the Congresswoman to go to Congress. You also voted for school board members. It is wildly unfair to assume Congresswoman has to micromanage one of dozens of school boards in her district.
I think when you say "hosed" it sounds like there is something unfair about it. I am saying we got our ass kicked nationally but thats not as true locally. Our local numbers will keep getting better. We won here. The GOP flipped nothing in Illinois.
Christian,
You are correct in that Congresswoman Schakowsky isnтАЩt responsible for D65. I do believe that she does тАЬcare.тАЭ
ItтАЩs a complicated problem, but it may boil down to the feeling many of her constituents have (probably more than you realize) that the quality of their lives are deteriorating. Yes, we care about democracy, womenтАЩs rights, equity and being a welcoming community. But itтАЩs
the daily indignities that grind down the quality of life here. Below I offer two examples of many.
Public transportation in Evanston and the region is a mess. Have you been on the Red Line lately? When you sit among the urine, pot smokers and trash hoping not to be mugged just to get to work, you wonder if the leaders rallying you to тАЬprotect democracyтАЭ could just get the frigginтАЩ train you take to work halfway decent, too? Not to mention that the poor rely on public transportation more than other economic groups. When you used to take your kids to the neighborhood Grey Park to play but donтАЩt anymore because of the drug dealing, harassment, and public safety fears, it doesnтАЩt feel like restoring DEI preferences is at the top of your wish list.
You can say for each of these situations, itтАЩs not entirely the fault of the Congresswoman. ItтАЩs not entirely the fault of Representative Gabel, Senator Fine or Mayor Biss. But they are collectively our leaders. Who does have the responsibility to improve nagging everyday quality of life problems if not the people we elect? And why should we believe theyтАЩll fix the big problems when the тАЬlittleтАЭ ones just seem to get bigger?
I am a lifelong Democrat. IтАЩll continue to be a Democrat. But I increasingly feel that my party is out of touch with how people actually feel. And when they express those feelings, they are shamed about not seeing the тАЬbig picture.тАЭ Or, thatтАЩs тАЬanother office.тАЭ
One final tangent. I canтАЩt escape the nagging suspicion that if Bessie Rhodes was closed by a group of white Republicans, the Congresswoman would have been out marching with Bessie Rhodes families.
I wish I could pin this comment. Thank you for saying this, I couldn't agree more. We have City Council elections coming up and I think this needs to be part of the theme of my conversations with them.
And as far as federal money, there is the accountability and competence questions - I was just at a ribbon cutting for the new health center for CCSD21 in Wheeling where they got over a million in federal funds thanks to Cong. Schneider. Did they count on Schneider to just do that for them, or did they ask, follow up, and do what they were elected to do and advocate strategically for the district?
Jan had no problem getting D65 money for Horton's failed teacher residency program:
https://www.foiagras.com/p/district-65-teacher-residency-program
There was almost no accountability for this money - over $300k just went out the door to one of Horton's pals.
These things need to work together. They are currently not working together. I hope this can be part of your Board campaign.
It will be, I can promise that. Board members and staff need to be asking for that money. I worked with her team when it was at 820 Davis, they all know me and know I am going to do the right thing. I also know when to ask.
But that's the way it works when you're working with a congressperson's office - it is only in our hometown and its because Jan lives in town that you would suggest she just takes care of our problems for us like a parent to a wayward child - we need a board that can do what boards are supposed to do.
I get it, I don't think I am asking her to swoop in and provide a deus ex machina ending. But I do think there needs to be vastly more collaboration between the city, the schools, and the state and federal governments. We missed a good opportunity during the Biden years and the next four could be a real mess depending on what Trump does to the Dept of Ed.
I agree with that, I just will draw a big bright line on getting close to "we elected 7 people to do a job, they didn't do that job well, let's be frustrated that this other person in a different elected job didn't do it for them"
You are certainly not the first person to get close to that line, this isn't my first time through this counterargument. Part of the motivation for running - I know how much all of those name brand politicians care, I know what it looks like when local school board members build the relationships that lead to success, I can do this for my kids and the district I grew up in. And boy do we effing need it.
Agree but like, the Evanston/Skokie Mayors sending an email to D65 over the Bessie Rhodes 7th and 8th grade thing moved the needle. I have no idea why - they have no statutory authority - but it worked. Probably because it embarrassed them.
I don't think they need to step into every issue, but if parents are protesting and having multiple marches - it might worth taking a look at and levering their power, even if it's just a tersely worded letter of concern.
As you know, power is a weird thing and hard to write about. I have power via this blog so I definitely get a sense of the caution you have to use when wielding it. Hard to write about.
I agree and have a track record of bringing these community issues to the electeds I work for, because that's part. I can say that Rep. Gabel cares a ton and is waiting for someone on that board to do their part, but also looking for opportunities to help. I just don't think it is realistic to think the other electeds can, could, or should solve what is inherently the school board's primary function: strategic vision and oversight of execution of that vision.
The board we elected didn't do their jobs, doesn't matter the reasons. The board has power. The board members haven't used it, even if you want to give them the best of intentions. Outside electeds can do pressure, sure, but let's not get into Harley Clarke, the branch libraries, or any other crisis we have gotten into. The Mayor letter worked here, but it doesn't always.
And all of that is to still say I do not have the experience where Tuesday plays into this either for or against. Our current D65 is post Blago or post Rauner, much better analogies for your future podcast.
Do you think NU would help dig the district out? If there was a responsible board plan for it? I read years ago that Yale and Princeton contribute quite a bit to their local school districts. I donтАЩt know much about this stuff works.
We won around here and everyone I know is running around like Democrats are losers. We won because we work at this all the time, this isn't a hobby.
I don't want to get into a fight over this - I hear what you're saying, I do and after January when you're running for Board we can talk more about this (I'm thinking about doing a podcast)
The Suburban Cook county results alone show that sure we won but lost more ground. In an election like this, with Donald Trump on the ballot, I find this incomprehensible. How are we losing ground to a guy we're calling a fascist. I think this alone is worth some navel gazing by the party.
Lost more ground yes, but I point to mail and rain again. In the few bellweathers that had to be really worked, like the state house races against Grant and McLaughlin, we might even be gaining seats.
We all locally spent as many hours and resources in WI and MI as we could because we are over 50%+1 and wanted to get the White House. Don't conflate that with the national failure is my point.