Utter contrived horseshit. Maybe they should have interviewed the people that had “the bag” ripped out of their hands when they were run out of their hometowns by hordes of unassimilated immigrants.
I have a particular bone to pick because they discuss the city I was born in.
I have a particular bone to pick because they discuss the city I was born in.
First off, Cicero is NOT a suburb of Chicago. It’s culturally + architecturally contiguous w/ the city. It’s dense and urban. All the streets have the same names and numbering patterns.
It’s more Chicago than any neighborhood north of Division Street. It’s serviced *by the CTA*
It’s more Chicago than any neighborhood north of Division Street. It’s serviced *by the CTA*
Neither is it working class. It’s a migrant/trafficking stronghold. In the 90’s, you could drive around town w/ a megaphone shouting “la migra” and see people flee houses.
If you drive past my grandpa’s old house today you can see floor to ceiling bunks in the basement windows.
If you drive past my grandpa’s old house today you can see floor to ceiling bunks in the basement windows.
Keen readers might recognize Cicero as one of the Chicago area hotspots during the Saint Floyd Canonization Riots of 2020.
The dollar store that was defended by Roof Mexicans is across the street from my boyhood home, not far from where locals set up checkpoints into Lawndale.
The dollar store that was defended by Roof Mexicans is across the street from my boyhood home, not far from where locals set up checkpoints into Lawndale.
Brief aside about Lawndale. It borders Cicero on the east. It’s a rashy armpit that was wonderful 100 years ago. Then the race riots of the 60’s and 70’s came, it burned, and they never rebuilt.
It mostly still looks like pic related today - anyone’s guess as to why.
It mostly still looks like pic related today - anyone’s guess as to why.
Back to Cicero. Cicero was largely settled by Czech and other Bohemian immigrants. This is reflected in many local toponyms, including the main street, Cermak Road.
Yes, the Cermak that took a bullet for FDR.
Yes, the Cermak that took a bullet for FDR.
St. Mary of Czestohowa church. One of those places that only gets built by a true community. Hand carved marble altar imported from Italy. I was baptized here.
As I write this, my mother texts me that the church I grew up in, down the street, will be closing this summer.
As I write this, my mother texts me that the church I grew up in, down the street, will be closing this summer.
So strong was the Bohemian pride in community that they had a parade dedicated to the “houby” (mushroom), which I marched in as a boy no fewer than six times.
George Bush Sr. even rode in it once. This parade now hosts taco stands instead of dumpling booths.
George Bush Sr. even rode in it once. This parade now hosts taco stands instead of dumpling booths.
You might recognize from the above picture the Klas. Opened in 1922, finally closed in 2016, and tragically demolished in 2022.
A public meeting house and restaurant in the style of late medieval Czech/Slovak halls. Hand carved woodwork. Completely irreplaceable.
A public meeting house and restaurant in the style of late medieval Czech/Slovak halls. Hand carved woodwork. Completely irreplaceable.
By the time I was in high school in the mid 00’s, they were desperate to stay open. They were hosting terrible local bands, mostly emo and metal acts.
Their food remained incredible. I still remember the last time I went there. Why did the Czechs “deplete” their own restaurant??
Their food remained incredible. I still remember the last time I went there. Why did the Czechs “deplete” their own restaurant??
Cicero is about 90% mexican, and has been for virtually my entire life. It is relatively lawless. My home was burglarized - by my neighbors no less - on no fewer than two occasions.
I witnessed many drive-by shootings. When called, the cops often simply do not come.
I witnessed many drive-by shootings. When called, the cops often simply do not come.
But it wasn’t always so. It used to be home to great industrial giants like Western Electric. It housed slaughterhouse workers, ironworkers, engineers.
Many of its streets had their width determined by how much room a Sherman tank needed when rolling off the production line.
Many of its streets had their width determined by how much room a Sherman tank needed when rolling off the production line.
I share such personal history because we are at an inflection point. What the lever pullers did to my insignificant lump of soil…they will try to do to every bare square inch of clay in this country.
There is no bargaining with them. They will not stop until they are stopped.
There is no bargaining with them. They will not stop until they are stopped.
I hurt for my hometown. It was already dead by the time I was born.
Heed my words. “The Suburbs” are an abstraction to them. It is a black box into which whiteness is poured and livability comes out. They don’t understand, and in their fumbling ignorance they will destroy it.
Heed my words. “The Suburbs” are an abstraction to them. It is a black box into which whiteness is poured and livability comes out. They don’t understand, and in their fumbling ignorance they will destroy it.
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