Grady Humphrey
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Grady Humphrey has notified Forum49 that the Board of Elections upheld the objection that he did not have enough qualified signatures on nominating petitions to be on the Feb 25th ballot.
-Webmaster, Forum49
49th WARD - 2003 ALDERMANIC CANDIDATE
Grady Humphrey
gradyhumphrey@wans.net
RESPONSE TO FORUM 49 QUESTIONNAIRE
Why are you interested in running for Alderman?
The most important question I can answer for you, is why I am running for 49th ward Alderman of Rogers Park/ Edgewater community of Chicago, Illinois. I am running for 49th ward Alderman because change is seriously needed for our community.
The current alderman lied to the community. Four years ago the alderman told the residents of the 49th ward that jobs will come from the Gateway Shopping Mall construction projects. With only one person being hired to date, no one has been trained or hired as a laborer as work continues on the Gateway Shopping Mall construction project.
When I, Grady Humphrey, announced my candidacy for Alderman in 1986 before the Tenants’ Organization meeting, I stated the neighborhood had changed. Today, we have more gangs than ever before. We have more people here who do not share the community spirit. Our new residents have come from a culture that is not of a giving nature but, more of just taking. They have not learned what volunteerism means.
I am afraid that people of our community will become victims of crime more so than ever in the past. The Chicago Police Department needs to be placed on notice that the 24th District will no longer be called a country club. Following that meeting of the Tenants’ Organization, Grady, Founder and President of United For Progress Outreach Organization reported back to his board of directors. The ongoing problems of crime has now come into our community, by way of the El, cars, buses and people moving into our community. The demolition of the CHA north side building caused many residents to move further north into our community, and they have come with their own life styles. As a precinct captain in 1986 I remember knocking on doors and talking to residents about my candidacy. I met new residents who stated that they loved this community. They have never gone to a store where there was no plastic glass in the store separating them from food products. They could now walk through a store and pick out the food products they wanted. Something you and I can not even imagine and we take for granted.
I said to the board members that we have to do more in our community. With support of United For Progress Outreach Organization, we began to have workshops in the Rogers Park/Edgewater community, such as (1) Becoming aware of the gangs and gangs colors by the Chicago Police Department Gang Units. (2) Our community was becoming filthy with litter and trees branches needed to be trim. We had the Department of Street and Sanitation Assistant Deputy Director come and meet with the neighbors of community the discuss our concerns, and what can we do? (3) With liquors stores wanting to open up in our community, the residents had questions and wanted answers on how to stop new liquor stores from opening up in the Rogers Park/Edgewater community and how to monitor those already in existence.
A sad commentary, with all of the crime activities that is in our community. I live one block from the current Alderman. My neighbors and I formed a block club within Jargowood block club called (JAFA) Jarvis, Ashland and Fargo Avenue neighbors from the corners of 1500 and 1600 block. We have all kind of criminal activities within this small area. The reason why we came together was to confront our ongoing problems of loud music, loud talking way into the early morning and enough noise to awake you at night. These types of activities went on all week and weekend; open drinking of alcoholic beverages, illegal gambling and drug selling. Groups of young men and women were congregating on the street in front of our homes, sitting on residents’ parked cars and standing on corners.
Our group, JAFA, stopped the activities by developing a phone tree, calling 911 repeatedly, and sitting out on the corner way into the morning every weekend from spring to fall. We also applied pressure on the owners of apartment buildings and making our beat a hot spot through the (CAPS) Community Alternative Program.
The current Alderman lives just east of me. Why would he allow these ongoing criminal activities located just a half block from him, on the corner of Greenview and Fargo Ave, as well as by his community service office on Greenview and Jarvis Ave to continue? The current Alderman has allowed these criminal activities for the past 7 years. It does not make any sense for this continues to happen.
If the JAFA group was able to neutralize the criminal activities directly affecting us, why does the current Alderman continue to allow these criminal activities to go on? The Alderman should have made the criminal activities disappear years ago.
Grady has over the past 25 years, has become familiar with many neighborhoods along the way by standing on the corner at El Stations, bus stops talking, walking the streets and alley ways with neighbors. We have talked as our children played in the parks or as we walked our dogs in the park along the lakefront. We have met at political meetings, community meetings, Christmas parties and being together in church. We have shared our concerns on issues of the community, our families, and our pets, to our own personal lives and problems we faced. I have learned from all whom I have met during my 25 years in the Rogers Park/Edgewater community. For this experience I am truly grateful.
Community Economic Development issues - The new Gateway shopping Center on Clark St. & and Howard St. has yet to be fully occupied. People who ride the El have yet to come down the stairs to purchase merchandise in the shopping mall. I believe if the community could find several anchor stores to occupy the vacant stores in the shopping mall, these riders of the El and bus depot might stop, visit and spend money in our community more often. I believe as Alderman, we the community could reach out and find the major stores for our area.
Community Based Not-For -Profit Organizations - Grady Humphrey has a long history in Roger Park/Edgewater. I have been a community activist and served on the board of directors of many community organizations. I have been a member of many community organizations and I have continued to fight crime in our community for more than 25 years. I have taken all of my learning experiences from the community. I became founder and president of United For Progress Outreach Organization, a not -for profit organization of this community. Grady understands the funding process from the City of Chicago to the not -for- profit sector, I know how to obtain grant dollars. Grady mailed out more than 200 grant proposals before United For Progress Outreach Organization received it first grant dollars. Grady will be an advocate for our community and make sure that all community based not-for-profit organizations continue to exist and they have my support and my word on that.
Crime - Grady wants stronger laws for dog fighting and abuse. The Chicago Police Department began a major crack down on illegal blood sports being used by gangs to desensitize kids as they are recruited into violence. I want second time offenders of dog and abuse to receive 10-15 years of imprisonment and a $75,000.00 fine.
Grady Humphrey strongly believes in the Rogers Park community where we live, Work and play.
Grady Humphrey 14 points Plan for the Community.
Humphrey’s educational background includes pursing a Ph. D in Criminal Justice. I have a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree in Corrections and Criminal Justice. I have more than 20 years experience in Law Enforcement, which separates me from all other candidates.
1. Humphrey can get the job done, as he will fight gangs and crime in our community.
2. Humphrey will be a protector and advocate for our seniors and disabled persons.
3. Humphrey will work closely with the 24th District Chicago Police Department.
4. Humphrey will place a ten-year moratorium on opening liquor establishments.
5. Humphrey will represent all residents fairly.
6. Humphrey will support existing community Based not-for profit organizations.
7. Humphrey will seek positive youth recreational alternative programs.
8. Humphrey will work to bring reinvestment dollars back to the community.
9. Humphrey will keep the community informed the about first time buyer home ownership programs.
10. Humphrey will be an advocate for on going education for children and adults of HIV-AID.
11. Humphrey will promote leadership among Ethnic groups.
12. Humphrey will make available to the community all city services.
13. Humphrey will encourage quality education, library systems, economic development, job opportunities and affordable housing.
14. You have my word on this plan. You, the Residents of the 49th ward deserve it.
What are your qualifications and credentials?
EDUCATION BACKGROUND
1995 - Present University of Illinois at Chicago
Ph.D. Program - Public Policy and Urban
Planning with Emphasis Criminal Justice.
1983- 1984- Roosevelt University,
Graduated Study, Lawyer Assistant Program,
Certified, Paralegal.
1982- 1983 Chicago State University ,
M.S., Correction and Criminal Justice.
1975- 1982 Loyola University, Chicago,
B.S., Criminal Justice.
1971- 1975 Kennedy King Jr. College
A. A., Liberal Arts.
License By the State Of Illinois
1974 Warren Academy Of Beauty Culture-
Cosmetologist - Beauty Culturist.
1998 Pharmacy Technician
CERTIFICATES
1995 Circuit Court Of Cook County - Training
Division, Certificate First Aid Training Programming.
1995 Circuit Court Of Cook County - Training
Division, Certificate Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, CPR.
1990 Circuit Court Of Cook County - Training
Division, Certificate in Domestic Violence Program.
1990 Circuit Court Of Cook County - Training
Division, Certificate in Advanced Gang Awareness Program.
1989 Circuit Court Of Cook County - Training Division,
Certificate in Neuro- linguistic Programming.
1987 Circuit Court Of Cook County - Training Division,
Certified as Adult Probation Officer.
1984 Chicago Urban Skill Institute, Certified G.E.D,
Training Specialist Instructor.
1977 Central Y.M.C.A. Community College,
Certificate in Investigation Technology.
1976 Central Y.M.C.A. Community College,
Certificate in Security Basic Training.
Distinguished Awards:
2002 - 2003 Strathmore’s WHO’S WHO
2001 Chicago Police Department - 24th District
- Community Alternative Policing Program - (CAPS) Together We Can.
1996 Ebenezer Methodist Church - Evanston, Illinois
- Certificate Of Recognition - Outstanding Work in Law Enforcement.
1990 Fred Hampton Image Award
- Certificate of Achievement For Distinguished Achievement.
1987 Kiwanis Club of Rogers Park
- Certificate of Appreciation - Your contribution to our club.
- E-mail us: Chicago's 49th Ward MudZappers > Ward49_MudZapper@Yahoo.COM
WINDY CITY TIMES GETTING IT RIGHT
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JOE TAKES A FLYING LEAP
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Witchy City Times
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WalWHO? Joe steps in it, deep.
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STRANGE BEDFELLOWS IN 49th WARD!
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TOM BRADLEY - ONE SHORT YEAR AGO...
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Sandy Goldman Rocks Rogers Park!
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JOE SUPPRESSES FREE SPEECH! AGAIN!
JOE'S 2003 CHALLENGERS:
TOM BRADLEY
MICHAEL HARRINGTON
KAREN HOOVER
TOPICS ON WWW.FORUM49.ORG - 49th Ward Aldermanic Election - 2/25/2003
