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| GREEN: Helping Altgeld Gardens |
There
were those (myself included) who said his actions weren’t all that different
from the political people of old who would give away the free turkeys to poor
people around holiday season – so as to gain their good-will (and potential
votes) on Election Day.
SUCH
AS JA’MAL Green, who is one of the dozens who has hinted at running for mayor
in the Feb. 26 municipal elections.
It
seems that Green reached out to the people who live in the city’ Altgeld Gardens
public housing complex (at the city’s far southernmost tip) to help them ensure
they’ll have something to eat for a Thanksgiving holiday meal.
Specifically,
he helped arrange for Cornish hens to be given away to those residents. It’s
not turkey – but it is something that can make for a full meal and I’m sure
there are those who will appreciate the idea of being given something they can
prepare themselves; rather than being asked to settle for something served on a
tray at a “soup kitchen” that is serving up a few turkeys to the needy to
appease their own desire to appear helpful to the needy.
The
Chicago Sun-Times reported how Green made the arrangements for people to get
the food, and also have an event that created something of a festive mood
within Altgeld Gardens on Wednesday.
IT
SHOULD BE noted that Green isn’t paying for this. Although part of his event
will include checking the participants to see if they’re properly registered to
vote – and helping those who aren’t to fill out the paperwork so that they will
be capable of legally casting a ballot come the February election (and April 2
run-off, if it becomes necessary).
But
Green found business interests in and around the 130th Street area
neighborhood who kicked in financial perks to make it possible to stage the event
--- including finding a suburban automobile dealership willing to kick in a car
for a raffle.
I’m
sure there are those who think Green is merely buying the good will of
potential voters so that they’ll keep his name in mind when they cast ballots.
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| WILSON: Created a stink earlier this year |
Or
I’m sure others will prefer to think of it as Green showing off the kind of
organizational skills one would need to have if they’re truly qualified to hold
an electoral office such as mayor.
IF
ANYTHING, IT’S all too similar to the kind of tactics that political people
have always used to try to gain support from the elements of our society who
are not as financially well-off as some of us.
It
shows just how cheaply a vote can be bought for.
The
2018 going rate is $7.68 each. At least that’s what Wal-mart was charging as of
Wednesday for a pair of Cornish hens.
Perhaps
Wilson was being overly generous earlier this year when he was handing out cash
in increments of up to $100 each to people who came to him saying they had emergency
bills that had to be paid off.
FOR
GREEN, I’M not sure how much all of this helps. Although it did get his name in
the newspaper yet again, and I’m sure his political aspirations of the future
will benefit if he can create the impression that he’s a somebody.
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| The cost of some 21st Century votes? |
He
lives in the Pullman neighborhood, and I’m sure he thinks he’s merely helping
the needy in a neighborhood not far from his own.
There’s
nothing unusual about political people trying to publicize themselves, and get
their names out. Choosing to spend a little bit of money for the public
relations benefit is to be expected.
It’s
when people begin to think that it’s all about the Cornish hens, or whatever
other products they choose to give away, that we then have to start worrying
about whether our politics are becoming too tainted.
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