Ridiculous Anti-Gentrification Flier Passed Out in Uptown... UGH!!!! (Chicago, McHenry: homes, neighborhoods)

[i blame history]

Purposely spelling a word wrong will definitely get me to side with the group, that's for sure. How cool and edgy of them. Right in line with my generation, so they must be cool. I mean, who spells words properly anymore? That's so two years ago, man.

[icebergsyndrome]

Originally Posted by Chicagoaklandish

in fact, I can't even see the flyer from my work computer

me neither. someone type out its contents, typos and all!

[coldwine]

I am going to purchase a condo in Uptown just to laugh maniacally from the rooftop as I spit on minorities below. I'll throw my arms wide while my black coat ripples in the wind. And where did I buy that coat? Banana Republic, that's where. And that scarf on my neck? Burberry. The gloves that shoved that old lady in the wheelchair down the steps? Lauren.

Why? Because I'm an evil white person, that's why. Get your ass to steppin, 'cause I'm here to buy your community.

[ajolotl]

Hilarious. I guess the Couraj are the original settlers of that area, direct descendants of the Potawatomis, so they have the moral rights to the area. Of course when they moved in they displaced no one. History starts with them.

I remember long ago in Hyde Park this black guy named Joe next door to me used to ***** to me about how the university was ruining "his" (ie black people's) neighborhood. When I pointed out that that the university existed there in HP long before the first black person, he told me he was going to kick my ass. Some people don't want to listen to reason I guess.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by coldwine

I am going to purchase a condo in Uptown just to laugh maniacally from the rooftop as I spit on minorities below. I'll throw my arms wide while my black coat ripples in the wind. And where did I buy that coat? Banana Republic, that's where. And that scarf on my neck? Burberry. The gloves that shoved that old lady in the wheelchair down the steps? Lauren.

Why? Because I'm an evil white person, that's why. Get your ass to steppin, 'cause I'm here to buy your community.

Flaunt that attitude in certain parts of Uptown and you might buy a bullet as well.

[IloveLoganSquare]

Sounds like it's time for a counter offensive...

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

This flier occasionally gets passed out in Uptown near the Wilson "L" stop. I'd comment more, but it's so stupid it makes my brain hurt. I was hesitant to post it because it would bring attention to the idiotic group "COURAJ", but the entertainment value is high because of the sheer ridiculousness of it all. I think the organization "COURAJ" is really just a old rabble-rouser lawyer named Marc Kaplan and whatever left-wing college kids he can scrape up in a particular summer.

[Steve-o]

I cant see the flyer so I cant comment. Anyone have a link or something? Im sure "COURAJ" has a website somewhere. Gee, I cant wait to read his/her stuff.

[eevee]

hope i typed it out correctly (alas, I couldn't replicate that crappy font!):

Do You Want To Help Preserve a Diverse Community?

Do you want to help solve the problem of destroyed families, lives and unaffordable communities?

Do you consider yourself a good person who believes in helping your fellow man and woman?

If you answered yes, we urge you not to buy a Condo in Uptown. The Condo craze is destroying our community. It is making the cost of living in Uptown unaffordable to working families, seniors and long time residents. By buying a condo you are adding to the artificial rise in property taxes that are making it very difficult to keep rents affordable. Help our community survive by buying elsewhere.

Be part of the solution to the housing crises.

Do the heroic thing and don’t buy in Uptown

The people of Uptown will thank you and hold you in high honor.

Thank You!

For more information call COURAJ 769-2085


another "anti-gentrification" rant, only this one, unlike some previous ones here, seems to be a "diverse" rant from no particular race or ethnic group. IDK, you'd think people would want people to invest in an area by buying, which would seemingly make an area less transient and boast services. but what do I know, I don't live there (and if I wanted to buy and live there, I wouldn't let some stupid little flyer stop me either! I'd probably wear a "I bought a condo in Uptown and am PROUD OF IT!!" T-shirt! )

not sure when being a young, educated professional living in the city and looking to buy housing in an area become so taboo and frowned upon to the point there are community groups protesting against them. I guess after I graduate and land a decent job, I shouldn't bother buying in the city so as not to rouse any anti-yuppie (or at least in my case, "buppie") sentiments

[Lookout Kid]

The guy who is basically the one man COURAJ group (Marc Kaplan) is a white lawyer who has rented in Uptown for years. I think he's just bitter about his bad financial decision. He could have bought his place just off Montrose for $50,000 in the 1980s, and now it's worth closer to $300,000.

As easy as it is to laugh off Marc Kaplan, he is quite influential with Alderman Shiller. When she "consults the community" about a decision, COURAJ is used to prove how "the residents of Uptown" really feel about an issue.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by ChiMack

he is just saying what he feels, maybe he is right maybe he is wrong but thats how he feels, he doesnt want yuppies in uptown and i dont think there is anything wrong with that

Well people in Scranton don't want gays/lesbians moving here from nearby NYC, but hell the closeted LGBT population here is relatively large already from we homegrown natives, so that pretty much debunks that futile battle!

I don't think one group should have the right to tell another group where they can or can not live. That's asinine!