Brown Sugar Bakery

"Dangerously Delicious"

If you are looking for sweets that bring back memories of your grandmother’s kitchen, then the 6th Ward definitely has a place.

 Brown Sugar Bakery located in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood at 328 E. 75th Street. The Bakery, owned by Stephanie Hart opened eight years ago in 2004.

 Brown Sugar Bakery delivers southern deserts and a number of traditional and non-traditional deserts. They include: cheesecakes, cupcakes, cobblers, cookies, pies and more. Specialty sweets include sweet potato pie, peach cobbler and bread pudding. Nearly 20 whole cake flavors are available, including German chocolate, red velvet, carrot and turtle.

 The bakery offers options such as customized cakes for special events also, orders for holiday deserts.

 “Brown Sugar prides itself on being a part of the joyous occasions among families and creating the taste of sweet memories.”

 The Bakery is always open for new clientele within the 6th Ward and beyond. Expanding the product line into grocery stores worldwide is one of the ultimate goals of the Brown Sugar Bakery.

 Be sure to visit and spread the word about the delectable deserts served at the Brown Sugar Bakery in the 6th Ward.

 For more information, visit their website at brownsugarbakerychicago.com/.

328 E. 75th Street

Chicago, Il 60619

773-224-6262

 Monday - Saturday / 10am - 8pm

Sundays / 12pm - 5pm

For Immediate Release

For Media Inquiries Contact:

Lesley Chinn lrchinn33@gmail.com

(773) 746-9044

ALDERMAN SAWYER VOTES NO ON PLAN TO INTERCEPT TAX REFUNDS

Alderman Roderick T. Sawyer voted no on the Mayor’s plan to intercept the tax returns of individuals who are indebted to the City of Chicago.  The Mayor announced this plan as an attempt to collect up to $20 million dollars that the city is owed.  “I am sympathetic to the city’s need to collect money that is owed to the city of Chicago,” Alderman Sawyer said “but I believe that this plan is problematic and could have been implemented in a better way.”

In the need to close the fiscal deficit in the city of Chicago there have been numerous increases in fees, fines and enforcement.  Further new proposals like the speed cameras concern Alderman Sawyer because he sees them as being potentially regressive and creating a larger impact on those who can least afford it. 

“I think about the senior citizens in my ward on a fixed income who didn’t know she even received a ticket until she got the determination in the mail.  I am also aware that many of the people who owe the city money either dispute the fine or can’t afford to pay it.  I am concerned at the regressive nature of many of these policies particularly as I am not seeing the same focus for investment in these neighborhoods.”

Alderman Sawyer has been pursuing a neighborhood based plan for growth that requires some investment that is targeted towards maintaining stable communities by establishing strong accessible transit options, safe high quality schools and strong attractive housing stock.  “The key is that we need to keep solid families that have always been the backbone of communities like those in the 6^th Ward in the city of Chicago.  However, if the city institutes too many punitive measures targeted at the middle class we will not be able to come out of the recession with strong neighborhoods.” 

Alderman Roderick T. Sawyer (6th Ward) released this letter about the ward remap today.

January 31, 2012

Dear 6^th Ward Family:

I know there has been a great deal of concern about the ward remap and the effect that it will have on the communities of the 6^th Ward.  First, I would like to mention that the ordinance is silent on an effective date of the new map which means that the ward boundaries will likely take effect for the next city elections in 2015.  Therefore city responsibilities should remain with the current alderman until a new council is elected.  Secondly, I do disagree with the process under which the remap was done and that is why I voted no.   People will continue to debate the Census numbers that drove the process; however, with the numbers being the numbers, our challenge remained how we can maintain strong representation for our communities within city government.

I worked with the Black Caucus map for the goal of maintaining maximum representation of African-American Aldermen in the city council.  While the initial map proposal was not my preference my negotiations were guided by a few core principles.  First, I believe in the strength of communities.  Throughout my entire life I have been focused on the strength of communities and their organizations more than any particular political boundaries.  However, I do share the view that communities get hurt when split by too much representation, and therefore keeping a community wholly in one ward was important to me.  This is why I was working to keep all of Chesterfield, West Chesterfield or Roseland Heights in one ward, whether it was mine or not, and that is why I am against the gerrymandered sections in this current map that needlessly divide natural neighborhood boundaries.

But I also want to be clear that my job is to represent the 6^th Ward.  If you are within those political boundaries, we have a standard of service that we will provide you; however, if you are drawn into another ward that does not mean that an individual on the next block is no longer a neighbor.  One of my major initiatives upon entering office was to promote people attending their local community meetings.  A strong Chatham, Park Manor, Greater Grand Crossing, Chesterfield, West Chesterfield, Roseland Heights or Englewood will be a strong community no matter what ward they are in.  An active community pushes their representation for results and votes that representation from office if it does not meet its standards.  The same goes for any other entity, school or business that enters a strong community.  Entities should have a vision and a plan, but they cannot and must not set the standards for the residents of a community.

I have lived in the 6^th Ward my entire life.  I remember when the ward went much further east and when the southern border was anywhere from 79^th to 101^st street.  In all that time the 6^th Ward has always represented a certain standard and that will never change.  It is my honor to continue to serve those that elected me this past May and I know that my strong community partners will benefit the 8^th and 9^th Wards, while I look forward to introducing my new residents to what it means to be in the 6^th Ward.

Sincerely,

Rod

Announcing the Illinois Black Caucus Foundation Scholarship.

The Illinois State Legislators' Black Caucus is giving a scholarship to qualified students.  Details are below and you can email service@6thwardchicago.com to receive the application.

The 6^TH Ward Remembers The Honorable  Eugene Sawyer

Thursday marked the fourth anniversary of the passing of the 44^th mayor of Chicago and former 6^th Ward Alderman Eugene Sawyer.  His son, Alderman Roderick T. Sawyer took time to reflect on the legacy of the former Mayor.

“My dad taught me a great deal about public service and what a privilege it is to serve your community with honor and dignity.” Alderman Sawyer said, “I caught the political bug from my dad, and if it was not for all the time I spent with him growing up, I wouldn’t be in this office today.  I continue to work to meet the high standards he set as a man and I am proud to have the opportunity to live up to some of the real accomplishments that my father made from his time in government. “

Here is a glimpse into the great life of the Honorable Eugene Sawyer…

Born in Greensboro, Alabama on September 3, 1934, Eugene Sawyer was proud of his Alabama roots.   Throughout his early years, he continuously demonstrated outstanding leadership skills. Whether as quarterback of the football team, senior class president and salutatorian of his high school, or as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated helping Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with the Montgomery Bus boycott, Eugene Sawyer was one of the best and brightest.

In 1957, he moved to Chicago, where he soon was hired as an industrial waste coordinator for the City's Department of Water and Sewers.  He also joined the 6th Ward Democratic Organization, where his talent and diligence led to expanded duties and responsibilities. He was first elected alderman of Chicago's 6th Ward in 1971, and served with honor and distinction in that office under four different mayors for a total of 17 years.

While serving as alderman, he was the first African-American elected official to endorse Harold Washington's candidacy for mayor, and he became president pro tempore of the City Council and chairman of the City Council Committee on Committees, Rules and Ethics under Mayor Washington.

Alderman Sawyer became the Mayor of the City of Chicago after the sudden death of Mayor Harold Washington.  This was a heavily tumultuous time for the city and Mayor Sawyer was a voice of calm and reason in the difficult times. Eugene Sawyer was the second African American to serve as the mayor of Chicago, served from December of 1987 until May of 1989.

During his time in office, Mayor Sawyer managed to bring the council together and passed several major progressive initiatives, including, but not limited to:  placing lights in Wrigley Field, an Ethics Ordinance to prevent corruption and one of the first Human Rights Ordinances that protected gay men and women from discrimination and also the Clean Indoor Air Ordinance. The Human Rights Ordinance is seen as an important moment in Chicago's gay and lesbian rights movement. Mayor Sawyer also expanded Chicago's governmental outreach to develop cooperative partnerships with business and industry.

More than just an elected official Mayor Eugene Sawyer was always remembered as a very nice man, who cared deeply about his family and his community.  He served as a Trustee at the Vernon Park Church of God and continued as a mentor and inspiration to his own children, his extended family, and the large collection of citizens for whom he made Chicago truly work.

Mayor Eugene Sawyer passed away on January 19, 2008 at the age of 73.

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.”

Remember, this year the city is asking you to be a good neighbor and shovel your walk.  If you are elderly or need help, you can reach out to your block clubs, 311, the Alderman's Office or the City of Chicago's new website ChicagoShovels.org for help.

If you would like to be a neighborhood volunteer that helps someone keep their walks clean this winter, please call Alderman Sawyer's office at (773) 635-0006, email service@6thwardchicago.com or leave "feedback" on our webpage.

For Immediate Release For More Information Contact Lesley Chinn

lrchinn33@gmail.com (773) 746-9044

ALDERMAN SAWYER CONCERNED BY NEW LIBRARY HOURS

Alderman Roderick T. Sawyer of the 6^th Ward expressed concern at the last second change to library hours.  This week the library announced that instead of being closed on Monday and Friday mornings that the libraries would just be closed for the full day on Monday.

During the recent budget session there was much debate about the hour change for libraries including whether Monday and Friday mornings were the best to be closed because of low traffic and whether individual libraries could close on their slowest hours rather than system wide set hours.  “It was not stressed that the entire idea was contingent on union concessions that had not been discussed,” Alderman Sawyer said.  “As one of the 28 Alderman who signed the letter to protest the original cuts I would not have believed the compromise was sufficient if I knew it would leave out neighborhood libraries with a closed week day.”

Alderman Sawyer along with 27 aldermanic colleagues signed a letter expressing serious reservations with the city budget.  Alderman Sawyer stated that he went to council the day of the budget vote still unconvinced but determined to give Mayor Emanuel the benefit of the doubt that we were making necessary financial efficiencies without serious impacts to service.  This budget also included changes to garbage collections; the 911 center and city run mental health clinics that concerned the alderman. 

Currently the plan is for branch libraries to only be open from Tuesday Through Saturday, except the Regional Libraries that would retain their regular hours.  “We all know we are in difficult economic times but the bait and switch is not a good way to negotiate, I am concerned about what this means for the other cuts we approved,” Sawyer said. “It is not productive to release drastic cuts in the press as a way to try to pressure city workers to cutting a deal the way you want.  I have spoken to the Mayor’s office and they ensure that the press reports are not correct, however I remain committed to trying to restore all funding as well as providing the tools for people to effectively seek employment at their public libraries.”  

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