The Third Ward

The 3rd Ward is made up of many vibrant and exciting communities. I chose to live in Bronzeville because of its rich place in African-American history and culture. I have also chosen to make it my life’s work to improve the lives of all who live in the 3rd Ward.

The 3rd Ward is a better place since 2007. Over the past 29 months, improvements continue to happen in our community.

• A grocery store will serve our community. Roundy’s will soon begin construction of a new store at the corner of South State Street and 39th along with sorely needed retail development. I am proud to bring this project and its jobs to the community.

• More than $2 million in infrastructure improvements have been completed. The previous alderman failed to program the money that was available to the 3rd ward. I worked hard to made sure that streets, sidewalks, alleys and streetlights were repaired using the money intended for the ward.

• The many TIF zones in the ward are now benefiting 3rd ward taxpayers not just the chosen few. I worked to ensure that these funds created real economic opportunity not just profits for special interests.

• More capital improvements have happened in our schools and parks. I am leading the fight to bring money to rebuild long neglected schools like Mollison, Mayo, Beethoven and DuSable High School. We invested more than $3 million in historic Fuller Park.

• Crime is down and the ward is cleaner. We have reached out to the community and continue to serve our seniors and those most in need. The ward office is always ready to serve the people.

But I am sad to report that the Harold Washington Cultural Center continues to be an unfulfilled dream in our neighborhood. The center should be a crown jewel in our community. It should be an African-American cultural anchor and an economic engine. It is time to change the management team.

I am disappointed and frustrated that the current managers have squandered this asset. A new group is needed to breathe life and enthusiasm into the center. They have betrayed the community's confidence placed in them.

This is not a battle about personalities. Those who will frame this discussion in those terms are sadly mistaken. It is about making the Harold Washington Cultural Center a viable operation that contributes to and celebrates the African-American community and its namesake.

Yet the facts soar over the rhetoric. The current management team used millions of your tax dollars to build and manage the center and agreed to hold 239 days of events a year. But they fell embarrassingly short. In 2005 only 22 days of events were booked, in 2006 only 35 days and in 2007 just 28 days. These years were long before the current economic downturn. Better management then would have created a firm foundation for future stability.

I urge all to look past the negative attacks, speeches and grandstanding and look at the facts. The only obstacle preventing the Harold Washington Cultural Center from being a success is poor management. It is time, just like with a failing sports team, to change managers.


Pat Dowell
Alderman, 3rd Ward

Click Here to Add Comments (0)