The Memorial Day weekend and afterwards..

Time seemed to just fly by this weekend thanks to the holiday Memorial day I was able to get away from the village of Oak Park, IL for a little while. I heard the new mayor of Chicago was trying this time,  to get a handle on the city’s violence during this time. I wish the village of Oak Park, IL would have used this time to remove the stick out of its collective asses to bring some life to it. I could not stand another moment of the boring lackluster atmosphere during a holiday weekend in which Men and Women gave their lives so that we could enjoy our freedom by being in this restrictive area.

I think that is what is the real issue with Oak Park, IL it is just a shell of itself, a place tries to be representative of ideals and morals thought to be great and lively. However it is all bullshit the village likes to do the exact opposite of what it tells itself and others and then we all become foolishly residents of a monstrous ploy. It is hard to enjoy a holiday weekend here unless you are stone drunk by Friday night and are recovering the rest of the weekend.

The weekend went by as such, and I totally welcomed it, to be in bed enjoying some silence was fantastic but it was not in the village. Oh no, not here! LOL I went to a hotel in Lombard and enjoyed the room and quiet. Now back I feel yuck almost a film of disgusting vomit covering everything and a feeling of being letdown entirely. And I know I get that feeling every time I come back to Oak Park, IL.

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Oak Park, IL a place of “fake liberals”?

I came back from Vegas I was tired, up came May 4^th/Free Comic Book Day then hit Cinco de Mayo I am literally drained and could not write too much for the blog. I mean coming from sin city to then going geek with the relatives to going back to chaos with tequila tinged activities. So my English skills are at a minimum. But then I literally had to go to Pilsen to do anything, Oak Park is really not that happening a town. I think I said that before LOL however it is a point to keep hammering home.

I was with a colleague of mine called “G” she asked me how much I liked it in Oak Park, IL and I told her honestly (without mentioning the blog) how I felt about it. “G” stated that she felt that the village was filled with “fake liberals” (first time I heard that) and that the village in its entirely championed “causes that they really did not believe in…” From a blog standpoint and the direction of it, this is great news but it made me think about how living in Oak Park, IL negatively impacts its residents.

Whether they are temporary residents, renters or people that only come here for school or even those who move away in the local area for academic or professional reasons how does that association impact how others view us? Do people from the city (of Chicago) or other suburbs looks upon us as “fakes” or pretentious? When we put our support behind causes, volunteer for them, demonstrate, etc., does that lessen the strength of that said cause or action? In other words, for example when march for equal rights and our asses end up on the 6 o clock news as a special segment do people in Chicago roll their eyes?

The last thing you want to do if you have a negative reputation is strengthen support for the opposing team or be ignorant of it. It’s similar to having all your friends to telling you not to call your ex on a lonely Friday night, but you text them instead thinking that makes everything okay. Maybe the negative reputation could be halting other activities or opportunities for people in Oak Park, IL that are actually not a part of this “circle”?

I do not know however I just wanted to share the information to see if anyone else heard about this or had a similar event in which someone from outside the Oak Park, IL area expressed a similar opinion. When people have a negative opinion about you whether established with facts or not, is to get ahead of and try to counter to it somehow, the problem here is that one’s residence like many parts of the Chicagoland area is defining who we are, what we can do and how people interact with us.

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Time Out Chicago article speaks about our behavior in Chicago

There is this hilarious article about people from the suburbs visiting Chicago by TimeOut Chicago. The funny thing is, how true the content or the barbs are when it comes to the behaviors exhibited by those (from the burbs) who roam around downtown. I have had seen people actually take pictures with their iPad downtown only to find out that they are from either Schaumburg or even Oak Park, IL. And I am just thinking “they just want to be jacked up in the middle of downtown for that shit?”…

The stopping of a group in the middle of the sidewalk? Seen that and you can tell these people who are “pushed” out the way by angry and fast walking Chicagoans are from out of town. The real out of towners usually wear something from out of state to signify that they are from out of town and proud of it or they are wearing daisy duke shorts in the middle of March, so you know they are really from out of town!

All to find the way to the bean or Navy Pier and I cannot tell you the last time I have been to either in the last decade. Which is of course as the article states is an out of “stater’s” destination. I suggest reading it over for a quick laugh if you are from Chicago and if you are from somewhere like Oak Park, IL maybe you can learn something from it so that you stand out less as you navigate in the real world.

This is the article I mentioned above:

https://www.timeout.com/chicago/things-to-do/how-to-spot-someone-from-the-suburbs-in-chicago

The Las Vegas Strip compared to Oak Park, IL

So the strip in las Vegas is so amazing, the whole thing is like a show onto itself. I mean nothing in Chicago and especially oak park, il can compare, if this is sin city I don’t want to be good ever again! The lights are fantastic, and we are talking about resort signs! Being out in the desert the fountains are just amazing, and you can actually spend a good couple of minutes watching or filming them in action.

These fountains actually make Buckingham fountain look like it needs a major upgrade. I stayed away from the shows because there was too many elderly people and large groups of preppy “standouts” going to them, so I digress I stayed on the strip. As a true Chicagoan I tried a few restaurants out because we definitely know about food here. In fact Gordon Ramsey has about 3 different restaurants out in Vegas and yes there is also hell’s kitchen. I went by the in and out burger, sprinkles (cupcakes), a ramen and a hall place the strip had definitely a lot of variety.

http://theunofficialguides.com/2017/10/23/navigating-las-vegas-strip-without-car/

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The closing of the Oak Park market

The sad thing about this, is that this is another business in Oak Park, IL that failed and the residents nor the village of Oak Park, IL did not come out to support this fledging business. To hear that the owner was hoping that residents from the Austin area would come out or that he understood those Austin residents believe the market was for “oak parkers” says a lot.

As I have always said there is a lack of marketing in Oak Park, IL I mean you cannot even post a real estate sign to sell your home, so the marketing of a new business from a customer standpoint is non existent. For the owners to believe that Oak Parkers would come out to support the store was foolish because it was on North Avenue which most in Oak Park, IL feel is part of Chicago or the “border” so not really part of Oak Park, IL. Plus, Oak Park, IL residents rather spend their money within the core of Oak Park, IL (not downtown as much) than on the outskirts. Playing Devil’s advocate, naming your business “Oak Park” does not mean that people from Oak Park, IL will automatically come out either.

The other part of this statement by the owner that the people form the Austin area believed that this store was for Oak Parkers is telling. Well, he did name the store for Oak Park for one! Second what does that say when a store is linked to the village and the neighboring residents from Chicago for example do not want to patronize it? What type of negative connation is linked with Oak Park in general that makes people stay away and not patronize stores that are needed in the area?

I think the answers are in the comments as a few commenters feel badly about how the store was ran, but also about their neighbors for not coming out to support a business in their namesake. The comments are golden so read a couple! The main point is that there was no practical research is this business plan when you drive down North Avenue you see that the businesses on this border have extensive difficulty if they are not practically based in the demands of the community. Nor believing that the residents would come out to support anything that espouses the name “Oak Park” is foolish, Oak Park, IL is the snake eating its own tail, chewing on its own lies and paying the price.

This is the article that talks about the closing of the Oak Park market:

https://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/2-15-2019/Oak-Park-Market-near-closing/#Comment-1b4eb16ad29bf7e5da92832cc1028019

Doing different something for Oak Park IL, blog

Doing something different and writing a couple of blog posts for holidays that don’t mean much to everyone else. Like teddy bear day, or maybe even Sweetest day.  I have already made a blog post for next St Patrick’s day that is very clinical. That way I can just go enjoy the day without having to worry about posting about the day on the day. So, of the issues with a blog post is that unless you have a major following and can generate the add revenue to make a living you cannot quit your day job.

I definitely have too much in student loans to quit my day job, and you know what rent is like in the area, but I cannot see myself writing this blog if I had Bill gate’s money either. Therefore, I guess I am at an impasse with me, posting about the bullshit in Oak Park, IL. When it comes to Oak Park, IL it is almost like that shining little shit village on the hill that looks down on Chicago, however is almost fucked up like Chicago but its worse because of the size and population ratio. Meaning that even though I am writing about these upcoming obscure holidays, trust me, Oak Park, IL will be in my sights for future posts.

New Chicago mayor: Lori Lightfoot

Oh man so the city of Chicago is going to have its first African American woman as a mayor one that is considered an outsider. Anything is better than that old principal chick raising sod taxes on everyone. This is the sort of change needed in Oak Park, IL, a one of the blue, way outside the box type of person that can come in and demoralize the status quo and shine light on the entrenched idiots that are in local government today and do what is really needed to look out for the residents of the village.

Hopefully Oak Park, IL can take this as a hint to vote in new blood and do not let the April 2^nd elections be an end of demanding change. I hope people get tired of bitching about changing things, tired of complaining about traffic, parking and taxes and vote in people who will get things moving. Moving into the right direction for the village itself.

Here is the link that shows the results:

https://elections.suntimes.com/results/

April 2nd election, racism and reality

I was reading this candidate’s bio for the April 2^nd election for Oak Park, IL and one of the main things that hit me was the fact she believed that racism was a main problem in the village of Oak Park, IL. Besides losing shared values and Economic classism these are three things that Oak Park, IL has shied away from facing. And to the point this candidate understands the overall decisions and attitude that Oak Park, IL has and has made impacts the village and the communities around them.

The truth is seeping out on how the established residents here, in their “open-mindedness” are really not as such. To see that others are speaking out about racism here in Oak Park, iL and running on eliminating it or fighting against it at least is refreshing. It is a shame that it would be someone that most residents would consider an outsider that is leading the fight to save Oak Park, IL from itself, save its values and how the rest of the area perceives it. In the end it is not words, or little signs in the front lawn that make an impact it is actually actions that do.

To have a candidate run upon changed the narrative on how Oak Park, IL defines itself speaks volumes. That Oak Park, IL may have a chance is reversing the downward spiral that it really is in. What Oak Park, IL does not want to become is a place or area that most of the area knows as a “place that you are not welcomed” if you are of color or anything else. What Oak Park, IL wants to become is a welcoming village that has values, affordable housing, affordable taxes, great parking, easy traffic and sensible government. Maybe this candidate can help start the conversation into that direction.

This is the candidate’s profile here:

https://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/3-15-2019/Arti-Walker_Peddakotla/

Oak Park, IL residents suing against affordable housing is just blatant…

The funny thing about the Oak Park, IL residents suiting against a project for affordable housing is that they are using regulations regarding height and parking/traffic restrictions for the area. The first thing you think of when residents sue against affordable housing when they state it would bring down the property values is blatant racist. The you look at he excuses they use “traffic” “parking” “construction height” etc. and in a way, you are like: “man they may have a point.

That’s if the height restrictions for the village was not set aside for all the construction near Lake and Harlem avenues and traffic in that area has just gotten worse. So really these excuses are bullshit. You may even state that Lake and Harlem is considered downtown Oak Park, IL and is different from this more residential area but is it really? Then you also have to think when will Oak Park, IL think about the future when it comes to developing the properties in the area?

Is traffic and parking a valid excuse when this is a problem that occurs everywhere in the village already? No, it is a problem because affordable housing brings minorities and poor people to their affluent area. Property values going down because of affordable housing? Maybe. But what the hell is there now? Do a Google search there is an empty lot. I am pretty sure that lowers property values than a huge four-story building.

Therefore, to me again, Oak Park, IL is just showing its true colors. A lawsuit against affordable housing is just a victory for injustice, the one thing Oak Park, IL states as a community they are against. They state and post little signs on their lawns that “Hate does not have a home here…”  Well I think it has found one on Oak Park Avenue and Van Buren Street.

Here are the articles describing the lawsuit:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/news/ct-oak-park-residents-lawsuit-tl-0124-story.html?fbclid=IwAR2lZd63Rszmih8nM5eh6Y-fX1nO6xur7gMcA364O9b2TJD0uQQpDravLRg

https://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/1-15-2019/Neighbors-sue-Oak-Park-over-affordable-housing-project/

Google map of the proposed site:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Van+Buren+St+%26+S+Oak+Park+Ave,+Oak+Park,+IL+60304/@41.8742668,-87.7940906,3a,75y,222.65h,81.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sKZnJeDDwTryTZPqh0m8HIw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x880e349485659ceb:0x81b3b4d4ec0abdca!8m2!3d41.8742776!4d-87.7940525

Sharing is not caring

So now we got 7^th graders sharing racist images so school field trip, nice. Most likely he shared it with someone who was not too careful in hiding this idiot’s racist bullshit. Now, before you say “yeah but that stuff is everywhere” or “there are a lot of things that can be considered racist nowadays” today’s grade schoolers are more alert to what is considered racist than us adults are.

The fact that it happened it Oak Park, IL does not surprise me either. It has been become the breeding ground of where dormant racist feelings are coming to light. Now we all now Oak Park, IL has been like this, going back to my past example of cul de sacs in the area bordering poorer areas. Oak Park, IL’s progressive idea to keep poor people for going Indy 500 through their neighborhoods. And now we are surprised and make a highlight of this type of behavior?

Most likely this type of behavior has gone on long before this kid showed up and probably was exhibited by their parents either at home, when they went to school or maybe at a parent teacher conference with a bunch of like-minded friends. The latter is a conjecture, but you get the idea, the “apple does not fall far from the tree” or maybe it is behavior learned from friends either way it is Oak Park, IL.

Hopefully the school can bring in someone with sometime of culture sensitivity training or develop some learning materials from online to help their students gain some type of awareness. Mainly so that the little bigots know that they are not the only type of people in the world before they leave the bubble of Oak park, IL and stop sucking their mom’s racist tit. If you want to operate in the world properly you have to realize there are others different than you, and if you think something like a racist image is “cool” or “funny” think again, because you just got yourself, your family and your community labelled as racists. Good job.

Here is the article that speaks about the incident:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/news/ct-oak-park-97-airdrop-tl-0328-story.html#nt=oft12aH-1gp2

Here is a site online that discusses lesson plans for understanding stereotypes

http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/understanding-stereotypes.cfm