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9th Ward Meeting

Please join me for our next 9th Ward meeting on Sat. Feb. 23, 9 a.m., at Fire Station #2, 702 Madison Street.

A Statement From Ald. Fleming

Several weeks ago, the Council approved a $1.25M settlement to close out the lawsuit brought on by Dr. Lawrence Crosby over his 2015 arrest by the Evanston Police Department. Due to an unfortunate situation, I was unable to provide my thoughts on the settlement that evening, so I have included them below.

Tonight, I will be voting “Yes” to approve the $1.25M award to Dr. Lawrence Crosby in response to his 2015 arrest. Although I was not on the Council during the time of this disastrous incident, I feel a monetary judgment is the least we can provide given our actions.

It deeply troubles (but does not surprise) me that in our City a resident's first assumption is that a Black man is stealing a car vs. caring for his own property. It is worrisome that a resident would pursue an assumed criminal rather than engage in a conversation with a neighbor. It is very concerning that our “well trained” police would assume Dr. Crosby understood the various commands being hurled at him and that he was resisting arrest instead of considering that Dr. Crosby lives with the validated fear that as a Black man, a routine encounter with law enforcement could very well end his life. More than all these facts, the decision to withhold an apology; pursue legal persecution; cause unwanted media attention with the public release of the arrest video; and take no disciplinary action against the officers made this case even more disturbing.

As a City Council member, it is my job to ensure that the residents of Evanston are serviced, protected, and valued in our city. This case reminds me that despite the strides made, we have a long way to go.

I would like to extend an apology to Dr. Crosby for the trauma our city caused him. While his life was altered by this one night, it is my hope that this exposure will force Evanston to address the racism that exists. I would like to tell Dr. Crosby that I am cautiously hopeful in the new direction the police department is going under new management, but I am clear that nothing can repair the harm we caused you. Your published statement below reminds me of the work that needs to take place to bring Evanston to a place of racial reconciliation and I hope that even from afar you will one day see a new Evanston raise up.

“Instead of apologizing when they had an opportunity to do that, when they ascertained that I was the owner of the vehicle, even that would have ended the rest of the night,” Crosby said. “It would have been somewhat traumatic still, but the actions they took after that were the most egregious to me. They knew that I owned the car, they made a mistake, and they decided to persist in prosecuting these crimes that they knew I didn’t commit.”

Pre-Job Fair Job Readiness Workshops

Mayor Hagerty's Summer Youth Employment Program (MSYEP) Job Fair is Sat., March 16! Get a jump on the competition by being among the first 50 attendees to complete one of the four pre-fair job readiness workshops and get the opportunity to skip the line at the job fair.

The workshops will take place at ETHS, 1600 Dodge Ave., on the following dates and times:

• Tues., Feb. 26, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., East Cafeteria
• Sat., March 2, 9 a.m. to 10:25 a.m., South Cafeteria
• Sat., March 2, 10:35 a.m. to noon, South Cafeteria
• Tues., March 5, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., East Cafeteria
  

Registration is required.

Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program

The 2019 Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program job fair will be held from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sat., March 16 at Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Ave. Doors will close at noon. Those interested in participating in the Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program are required to attend this year's job fair for eligibility for employment through the City and affiliated organizations. 

Registration is required.

ETHS Career Options Night 2019

Evanston Township High School and the City of Evanston will host the secondCareer Options Night: Multiple Pathways to Success event at ETHS, 1600 Dodge Ave., on Thurs., March 14, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  
This event is designed for current and former students, alumni, parents/guardians and anyone interested in learning more about professional careers that don't require a four-year college degree.

Check in - ETHS Main Lobby
6 p.m. - Welcome - North Cafeteria      
6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Career Options Fair - North Cafeteria
*6:15 p.m. a 7 p.m. - Información en Español- E112 - Cynthia Fuerte/Cristian Saenz (SS)

Info Session Schedule - North Cafeteria north presentation area
6:15 p.m. - Apprenticeships 101 - Shelley Gates (CTE)
6:45 p.m. - Military Exploration - Michelle Vazquez (CCS)
7:15 p.m. - Careers That Do Not Require 4-Year College Degree - Beth Arey (CCS)
7:45 p.m. - Local Work Opportunities - Diana Balitaan (YJC)

2019 Summer Camp Registration Continues

Registration for Evanston summer camps continues online and at Evanston community centers. View the 2019 Summer Camp Guide to browse the wide variety of program options available, including camps focused on the arts, sports, ecology, leadership, and much more.

EPD Town Hall Meeting 2/21

The Evanston Police Department will host a town hall meeting facilitated by Dr. Gilo Kwesi Logan on Thurs., Feb. 21, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Morton Civic Center, Room G300. The topic for the meeting is "Rights, Responsibilities and Reasonability in Evanston."

Free Income Tax Preparation Assistance

The Evanston Public Library is offering free tax preparation assistance for households earning up to $55,000 and individuals earning up to $30,000 annually. This service is provided by the Center for Economic Progress. Tax preparation is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Assistance is offered on Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., through April 13, at the Main Library, 1703 Orrington Ave.

Evanston Public Library Offers Access to Streaming Service

The Evanston Public Library is now offering free access to Kanopy, an all-movie streaming service. Kanopy brings more than 30,000 of the world’s best films to stream on computers, tablets, and other mobile devices.

Apply to Evanston's Cultural Fund Grant Program by April 1

Arts organizations are invited to apply to the City of Evanston’s Cultural Fund Grant Program. The Cultural Fund, administered by the Evanston Arts Council, supports artistic excellence throughout the community by providing financial assistance to not-for-profit arts organizations for operational costs or projects. Applications must be submitted online at cityofevanston.org/culturalfund by Monday, April 1, 2019 at 5 p.m.

Free, Confidential STI and HIV Testing Offered In 2019

Howard Brown Health Center will again offer free and confidential walk-in STI and HIV screenings at the main Evanston Public Library on the second Monday of each month, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Interfaith Action to Open Overnight Shelter Nightly

Interfaith Action of Evanston will open its overnight shelter every night in January and February. View the schedule of locations.

Cicely L. Fleming    
Alderman, 9th Ward
224-204-4017
Cfleming@cityofevanston.org
www.cityofevanston.org 

Facebook: facebook.com/Evanston9thWard

NextDoor Community Message Board:  southcentralevanston.nextdoor.com