How is that different from raising the bridges?

How is that different from raising the bridges?

The first warm weekends of the year saw instances of gun violence in the neighborhoods, including shootings with multiple casualties and kids caught in the line of fire. Without many recreational spaces, productive activities or entertainment to rely on during this time, crowds of school-aged teenagers take public transportation downtown looking for something to do. But there’s only so much you can do in the Loop; few venues and public spaces are able to (or have the desire to) accommodate multitudes of neighborhood children. After an incident in which a 17-year-old fatally shot a 16-year-old during a scuffle, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the enforcement of a 10 p.m. curfew downtown for unaccompanied youth and a 6 p.m. curfew at Millenium Park—and had stern words for parents. Critics say that instead of shunning predominantly Black children from everywhere, the City could find ways of adding programming, outlets, and safe spaces in areas with foot traffic. Others called for more funding for schools, parks, libraries, and afterschool and summer programs.

New study provides more detail on lack of internet access across South and West Sides 

In March, the Weekly published a story about Chicago’s digital divide, which describes stark differences in internet access and connectivity between various neighborhoods. Last week, the Internet Equity Initiative, a program of the University of Chicago’s Data Science Institute, published a data portal based on their research that shows more clearly how the divide looks at the neighborhood level. While around eighty percent of households in Chicago have access to the internet, the disparity is as wide as forty percent between certain neighborhoods. On the South Side, for example, there are portions of Englewood, Roseland, and South Shore where only about fifty percent of households have internet access. Unlike other studies, this data is broken down at the level of census tracts, which show in more detail how small parts of each neighborhood connect to the internet. Researchers will next rely on volunteers to research what role price and internet infrastructure play in access across the city.

Faculty join Art Institute staff union 

Non-tenured faculty at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) gathered on May 10 at a rally in favor of a union. Lack of access to benefits, issues with salaries, wages and growth in the job are key reasons that have pushed non-tenured faculty at SAIC to push for joining a union. Back in January, the SAIC and Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) workers voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing and formed the Art Institute of Chicago Workers United (AICWU). That effort was overseen by the National Labor Relations Board. A new letter posted to the school’s website states SAIC’s intent to unionize, and is signed by around 200 people. If the unionizing is successful, non-tenured staff would be a part of AICWU.