CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - An old department store on the South Side might soon become a shelter for migrants.
The City had initially deemed the former K-Mart near 70th and Pulaski as unsafe.
But, in a letter to 23rd Ward residents, Ald. Silvana Tabares said the City reversed its decision and plans to use the location to accommodate the influx of migrants who are being bused to Chicago. The migrants would be housed both indoors and in the parking lot with winterized tents.
The alderwoman said she opposed the development and that it would be "unfair to current residents due to current population densities, overcrowding in local neighborhood schools, and overextended public safety resources and police manpower."
Here is Alderwoman Tabares' full letter:
Dear Neighbor,
The migrant crisis impacting our city has placed great strain on city services and finances. As many of you are aware, the Johnson administration announced plans for constructing temporary tent-like housing facilities in multiple locations throughout the city to move migrants out of police stations.
The property located at 7050 S Pulaski Road has been seen as a potential location for months, and though the city and myself were opposed to the location when the state released plans for housing migrants there in February, the city has reversed course and notified my office they now intend to utilize this location for a migrant shelter. I want you to know I take your feedback in opposition to this camp very seriously. Your concerns are my concerns, and I will continue to fight to raise your voices in City Hall.
My position remains unchanged: constructing a migrant shelter in our community is unfair to our current residents due to current population densities, overcrowding in our local neighborhood schools, and overextended public safety resources and police manpower. When these factors are considered, it is clear housing a migrant shelter here would be unwise, unsafe, and irresponsible.
The administration has approached this endeavor with a severe lack of transparency, accountability, and community input. Despite the city’s efforts to exclude aldermanic and community input, I intend to keep voicing my concerns for the safety of migrants and community members alike.
If you feel it is unfair and unsafe for migrants and community members for the city to construct a tent facility in our community, please join me and sign the petition on the back of this letter.
In addition to sponsoring measures to curtail the city’s ability to force a migrant shelter on a community without aldermanic and community input, I am also working to pass measures to allow for greater coordination amongst law enforcement agencies to better protect all residents of Chicago and to place a referendum on the ballot for the March primary for residents to vote on whether to keep Chicago’s Sanctuary City status.
I intend to deliver completed petitions to city hall and the mayor’s administration to ensure our
voices are heard and common-sense is considered for the safety of all.
Sincerely,
Silvana Tabares
23rd Ward Alderman, City of Chicago
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