Wearing shirts that read, "Don't Box Us Out. We need Jobs, Opportunity, Development," more than 1,000 people listened to speakers voice their disapproval with the proposed law, which they said will drive stores like Wal-Mart and Target out of Chicago.I might start agreeing with African-Americans who claim "the man is keeping us down", now that they know exactly which "man" is keeping them down.
The hearing, sponsored by the Rev. Leon Finney, pastor of Metropolitan who is also chair and CEO of The Woodlawn Organization, was meant to send a message to the City Council on the proposed ordinance. Few inside the church spoke in favor proposed ordinance, which is expected to go before the City Council Wednesday.
Finney and other religious leaders have opposed the ordinance for fear it might make stores like Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Target reconsider their plans to build in retail- and job-starved communities on the South and West sides of the city...
(one protestor said) "I need something to help support my family. I'm trying to be a productive member of society,"...
"I have 9,000 applicants for 450 to 500 jobs and you're talking about a wage increase? Nine thousand people don't even have a job, how are you going to increase the wages?" Mitts asked. "You've got to start somewhere. If a man don't work, he don't eat."
Finney (said) with the unemployment rate in Black communities at 27 percent, the jobs need to stay in Chicago.
"I would argue that we ought to have a national minimum wage, but we're looking at economic devastaton in Black communities. We want the jobs," Finney said. "I will fight with all of my might to make sure there's a (national) minimum wage, but first we want the jobs."
4/5 of a loaf is better than none.
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