Alderman Sawyer Votes No On The Chicago Ward Remap

For Immediate Release
For More Information Contact:
Lesley Chinn lrchinn33@gmail.com
(773) 746-9044

ALDERMAN SAWYER VOTES NO ON THE CHICAGO WARD REMAP

Over the objection of Alderman Roderick T. Sawyer (6^th), the Chicago City Council passed the new ward map 41-8.  “Unfortunately this map, despite numerous public hearings, was not one that the public was able to review and provide input” Alderman Sawyer said. “The communities of the 6^th Ward made their opinions clear in the meetings that existed; unfortunately the city council chose to fully disregard the concerns of my community.  This map only benefits a few self-serving Alderman, not the City of Chicago, and definitely not the Citizens of the 6^th Ward.  Nonetheless, I remain committed to the communities of the 6^th Ward and I look forward to bringing our new residents into the family.”

Under the revised 6^th Ward map, the communities of Chesterfield, West Chesterfield and Roseland Heights have been removed from the ward.  The 6^th ward now loses 2 public parks, its top performing elementary school and a high school.  These neighborhoods are a traditionally high voting area and this move greatly affects the voting strength of one of the city’s traditionally highest voting wards.

“There are numerous problems with the process. There was blatant disrespect for the outcome of the last election as certain individuals were determined to disregard the well stated preferences of their community and allowed rules to be broken in the process,” Alderman Sawyer continued.  “I left with an agreement on my map, with particular boundaries that, while not perfect represented what I worked for, only to receive a call this morning to find that my map had been unilaterally changed with no notice to me. This was done in spite of the fact that such an action is in clear violation of the rules set up to govern this process.  There is no way that I could support such egregious actions that disrespected so many of the people who sent me to office, but it is a wake-up call about the priorities of certain individuals and exactly what they think of our community.”

Alderman Sawyer concluded, “Today, when you look at the aldermen who were disenfranchised, the city council sent the residents of Chicago a clear message; if we don’t like who you elected, the concerns of your community will be ignored.  For someone who has spent his entire life in Chicago politics, I can honestly say I have never seen such little regard for the voters of this city.”