Protesters Slam 16th Ward Candidate For Ownership Of "Disgusting" Vacant Building
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The hotly contested race for alderman of the 16th Ward saw a little political theater on Tuesday, outside one candidate's Englewood campaign office.
Activists with Action Now staged a noisy protest on the 900 block of West 59th Street, where candidate Stephanie Coleman owns a vacant building that has been targeted for demolition by the city.
"We're here today to highlight a gross hypocrisy," said Charles Brown, a member of Action Now, a community group supporting Coleman's opponent in the upcoming runoff.
"A real daughter of Englewood would never allow a place to look like this," Brown said. "Buildings like this become havens for crime."
Activist Desmon Yancey noted the city has sued Coleman in an effort to demolish the building, citing dangerous and unsafe conditions inside.
"It's even more disgusting when the person who owns this is running for alderman," Yancey said.
Coleman's mother, Shirley, was alderman of the 16th ward from 1991 until 2007, when she lost a runoff to the late JoAnn Thompson.
"A real daughter of Englewood would be standing with us to ensure homes in Englewood are properly maintained," Brown shouted as the group marched to Coleman's campaign office down the street, at the corner of 59th and Racine Avenue.
The protesters made no secret they're backing Coleman's opponent, current 15th Ward Alderman Toni Foulkes, who is running in the 16th Ward after the boundaries of the 15th Ward changed significantly under the 2012 remap.
Coleman was not in her office, and unavailable for comment.
The demonstrators moved on when police arrived at her campaign office.
