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Who We Are And What We DoStreetWise is a social enterprise designed to help severely impoverished men and women out of poverty. We publish weekly StreetWise, a general interest magazine with a gritty "from the streets perspective" to give insight to its readers on what is really going on in Chicago. By using vendors as the distribution mechanism, we are able to personalize the face of poverty and create income for the vendor. read more >> Candidate questionnaireQuestions for President Stroger:1. What will you do to protect the safety net provided by Stroger, Provident and Oak Forest Hospitals, and the remaining neighborhood clinics? "One of my top priorities is to ensure that the safety net provided to the medically underserved of Cook County by the Cook County Health & Hospital System (CCHS) stays intact and functioning well. During my first term I have fought relentlessly to keep County hospitals and clinics open and able to provide the best quality services for those residents who have nowhere else to go. As the second largest county in the United States, the demand for health and public safety services is at an all-time high. Throughout my time in office we have accomplished some astonishing things within health care, such as implementing the Independent Hospital Board to take politics out of health care. We reduced the rate of denied insurance claims from close to 70 percent to the national average of close to 12 percent, giving more money back to the hospitals, allowing patients to receive the best care possible. In my next term I will continue to seek revenue to fund the CCHS both with county and federal dollars. I will continue to fight for County hospitals and clinics to stay open." 2. If you were re-elected county board president, would Cook County apply for the new Adult Redeploy Illinois program, in which counties can seek state funds to provide services instead of incarceration to nonviolent offenders? (Counties must in turn also reduce incarcerations by 25 percent.) "In my administration, I have made it a priority to put an emphasis on any program that would reduce headcount at the Cook County Jail and to provide alternatives to individuals who would otherwise be incarcerated. I have fought to expand electronic home monitoring and, in spite of the support of the state, I have fought to expand the boot camp program. If the Adult Redeploy Illinois program is a viable option for the county I will place all the necessary resources behind it. I must caution that the state most recently because of funding issues have not provided adequate funding for the programs currently in place." 3. Is there a link between education (or lack thereof) and the rate of homelessness? "Homelessness is an issue of economics and there is clearly a nexus between economic status and educational status. We must continue to encourage education at all levels whether its means a college education or training for a particular vocation. The key is to make people ready for the jobs we anticipate in the future." 4. Do you give change or dollars to a homeless person standing on the corner when you pass them? Why or Why not? "When I am able to help, I help in any way that I can. I am always sure to greet the person to whom I am speaking or who speaks to me, homeless or not. It is important to recognize that they are just as significant as anyone else. If I can share, wisdom, advice or money. If I am unable to assist in the moment, I make sure to support in other ways. Questions for Rich WhitneyGreen Party candidate for Governor 1. Would you support tax reform as presented in HB174, involving an increase in the personal and corporate state income tax? "Yes." 2. Is there a link between education (or lack thereof) and the rate of homelessness? "I think that there is some link between education and homelessness, although of course it is just one of many factors that can contribute to homelessness. Certainly people who are denied the opportunity to receive a quality education, both academic and vocational, are going to be at a disadvantage in the labor market, and things can cascade downhill from there. That is why, to me, a top priority and obligation of government is to build a society in which everyone who is willing and able to work can obtain employment at a living wage or better -- whether they have been able to obtain quality education or not. Everyone in society who is physically and mentally capable of contributing to society should have the opportunity to do so, and everyone in society who does not have such physical or mental capability should be provided for so that they can live with dignity. So I suppose another way of answering your question would be, "Yes -- but it shouldn't be that way." Everyone should have a right to quality education and everyone should have a right to a living wage or better job, even if they are not educated. Then of course we need to deal with the affordable housing part of the equation. But if everyone willing and able to work had the opportunity to work at a living wage job, that would be less of a factor." 3. Do you give change or dollars to a homeless person standing on the corner when you pass them? Why or why not? "Sometimes. Usually when I am in Chicago, I will do it once for one person, but not everyone -- because I personally am not so well off that I can try to solve the problem as an individual. No one can. This is a societal problem and it requires a societal solution. That is one of the reasons why I am running for governor. I will also sometimes give leftover food to a homeless person -- and I will usually buy Streetwise once an issue when I am in the City." Questions for StreetWise/Robert Marshall:1. What is the federal government's responsibility toward affordable housing? Do you support a $1 billion appropriation for the National Housing Trust Fund, which would provide funds for states to build affordable housing? "I do support the one billion dollar appropriation for the Nation Housing Trust Fund. The federal government should help in creating more affordable housing." 2. Is there a link between education (or lack thereof) and the rate of homelessness? "There is a link between education and homelessness. People with a high school education or better have a much greater possibility of obtaining a job and holding onto their homes. This is why we should put much more emphasis on education in our country. We should spend much less on military spending and foreign wars and foreign aid and more on education." 3. Do you give change or dollars to a homeless person standing on the corner when you pass them? Why or Why not? "I sometimes give money to a homeless person on the corner. Homeless people should be encourage to seek employment but sometimes it is difficult for them to do that and giving them some help directly does not harm them in the long run." News And EventsVolunteers/Mentors needed for StreetWise Housing Initiative Click here to find out more. RECENT PRESS COVERAGE FOR STREETWISECover story in today's Chicago Sun Times "Saving Troy Not So Easy" ................. Streetwise coverage on WCIU's "The U" program ................. ABC news special about Streetwise ABC news special describing the current financial state of StreetWise organization. Watch the full story ................. CBS news article about Streetwise CBS article by Pamela Jones. Read the full story ................. My Fox Chicago news special about Streetwise Interview with board member Pete Kadens and StreetWise vendors. Watch the full story ................. Causes on Facebook Cause page now set up on Facebook for StreetWise. ................. Richard Pegue 1943-2009 Read Ben Cook's editorial looking back on the life of Richard Pegue. read the editorial here. >> ................. Save Troy Foundation featured on CBS News with Katie Couric Some of you know about our Streetwise board member Pete Kadens' recent endeavors in the homeless community. The story about how he met his formerly homeless friend, Troy, aired tonight on CBS National News with Katie Couric. This is 2.5 minute segment and what it really tells us is that each and every one of us has the power to make a positive impact on peoples' lives. ................. Watch the StreeWise:The Move Trailer See what people had to say about this touching documentary featuring a look into the lives of StreetWise vendors by Chicago Filmmaker Rob Federighi. view trailer >> 2009 Silver Feather Award
Suzanne Hanney wins the 2009 Silver Feather Award. ................. See the StreetWise photo mosaic picture
Check out the photo mosaic made up of pictures from various StreetWise events. Please allow time for page to load. ................. |
Upcoming Issues:February 10th, 2010
Street Wise:The Movie
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