Publication schedule
Hey readers, we’re taking a short break from print issues—our next one won’t be until September 26, which will be our Best of the South Side issue. After that, we’ll return with the regular bi-weekly schedule on October 10. In the meantime we’ll still be publishing stories online, so be sure to check us out at southsideweekly.com and on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Removal of free and alternative press during convention
On August 19, the first day of the DNC, the City of Chicago began the removal of dozens of newsracks from downtown, which distribute a range of free and alternative print media, including the South Side Weekly, the Chicago Reader, and La Raza. We became aware of the situation after the Newcity publisher, who hadn’t been informed about the move either, reached out to the vendor, JCDecaux, and then to fellow outlets. JCDecaux said that its contract with the City meant that they had to follow City directives, which ordered the permanent dismount of eighty-three newsracks, and that it was not their decision. JCD added that they were “under the impression [news outlets] were made aware by the City, before they instructed us to start with the dismounts.” Despite social media backlash, Alderman Bill Conway, of the 34th Ward that includes the South and West Loop, tweeted that he was “glad to work with Streets and Sanitation to remove these dilapidated news racks, which were underutilized and had become unsanitary due to misuse. Time for them to go.” However, recent photos of the sidewalk multiracks (such as those on Randolph) showed that they were neither dilapidated nor unsanitary. A mayoral spokesperson told the Weekly that “the decision to remove the multiple news racks was made based on the public health and safety risks, as well as their deteriorating condition and limited use in locations where news racks have been removed. Publications are free to use individual news racks, provided they comply with the general size, weight, placement, and aesthetic restrictions” per the city code.
Riot Fest is back in Douglass Park
In mid-August, Riot Fest and city officials announced that the punk rock festival would be taking place in Douglass Park in September after all. The festival, which first moved to Douglass Park in 2015 after being ousted from Humboldt Park by angry residents, has faced growing pressure from North Lawndale residents unhappy about their park being blocked off for weeks each fall. In June, festival organizers said they were leaving Douglass Park and moving to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, pinning the blame on the Park District for not cooperating throughout the permit process.
In the new arrangement, Riot Fest will send 10 percent of its revenue from the festival to go toward maintenance and improvements of the park itself, as part of guidelines under the Park District’s new Park Enhancement Fund. It’s unclear if that’s separate from the funds that will be needed to clean and repair the park afterwards. It’s also unclear whether local residents will be able to score free tickets—usually the days to get those take place earlier in the summer.
The move apparently came after festival founder Mike Petryshyn met with Mayor Brandon Johnson about the possibility of keeping Riot Fest in Chicago. Alderwoman Monique Scott (24th), whose ward oversees the park, has also been a supporter of Riot Fest staying in Douglass Park. Residents opposed to Riot Fest plan to attend upcoming Park District Board meetings to voice their demands.
The festival will take place September 20-22, though the south part of Douglass Park will be closed off for days or weeks ahead of and after those dates. Headliners will be Pavement, Beck, Slayer, and Fall Out Boy, and the festival will also include performances by Tierra Whack, Taking Back Sunday, St. Vincent, Sublime, and many others.