c/o North Star Mission

1414 South Hamlin

Chicago, IL 60623
773-522-7610

February 3, 2008

Hon. Richard M. Daley

Mayor
City of Chicago
121 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60604

Dear Mayor Daley:

I am writing on behalf of the Lawndale Alliance, a newly-formed group of Lawndale stakeholders who have
come together to improve the social and economic conditions in Lawndale by promoting increased
community participation, education, resident leadership, and holistic community and economic
development. To date, the group consists of approximately 100 stakeholders representing block clubs,
individual property owners, local business owners, churches, schools, and engaged residents. We
have been meeting on a consistent basis since May, 2007 to educate ourselves on the pros and cons of
the Proposed Ogden-Pulaski Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Plan.

As you are aware, the matter of the Proposed Ogden-Pulaski TIF Redevelopment Plan will be heard by
the Community Development Commission on February 19, 2008. The Lawndale Alliance has raised a
number of issues regarding the Plan, its implementation, and the need to put safeguards in place that will
ensure broad community input, as well as capacity building for local entrepreneurs and residents. I have
included for your review a copy of correspondence to Ms. Mary Richardson-Lowry, the Chairperson of the
Community Development Commission, as well as a draft issue paper.

Given the lack of responsiveness of our elected officials, developers, sponsoring foundations and local
community groups, we are not confident that "the people" will actually "be heard" on the 12th. Moreover,
there is no reason to believe, if left to their own devices, TIF sponsors will incorporate the feedback from
rank and file tax payers who will foot the $300,000,000 bill (conservative estimate) for the TIF over the
next 23 years. For example:

1. Reginald Jones, Executive Director of the Steans Family Foundation, offered to share Steans' Deep Dive
application to Fannie Mae with the Lawndale Alliance back in October or November, 2007. When we
asked that he meet with a broad cross section of stakeholders (10) he balked, and said he only wanted to
meet with Joe Ann Bradley and me. He later called to say that the application was not approved and the
plan is no longer relevant. As a result, he would not be sharing it. Needless to say, we didn't meet with
him. The most recent version of the Ogden-Pulaski TIF Redevelopment Plan includes the plan that he
says is no longer valid.
 2. The Lawndale Alliance met with Alderman Dixon back in June, 2007 to share feedback and express
concerns regarding the Proposed Ogden-Pulaski TIF Redevelopment Plan. We have also sent follow up
letters, postcards, e-mails, and phoned the Alderman’s office regarding ongoing issues with the TIF. She
has not sent any response letters or returned any calls since June, 2007. Today is February 3, 2008.

3. Alderman Dixon and Alderman Munoz committed to having a TIF Advisory Council in place by the end of
November, 2007. This has not happened, yet the plan is being advanced through the approval process.

4. On October 9, 2007, Alderman Dixon and Alderman Munoz solicited input from about 300 people
regarding ideas for the Redevelopment Plan and Budget, and none of the input was included in the
revised plan, dated November 30, 2007.

5. The Joint Review Board met on January 4, 2008 to discuss the matter of the Proposed Ogden-Pulaski TIF.
The Lawndale Alliance submitted a letter outlining our concerns with the Plan. The letter was not
acknowledged one time during the meeting. Members of the general public were not allowed to speak.
The representative from North Lawndale did not say a word during the meeting. Alderman Dixon did not
raise any of the concerns that her constituents have been sharing with her over the past 8 months. The
only question she asked is if the numbers in the plan were estimates.

6. Kim Jackson, Executive Director of LCDC was invited to share the North Lawndale NCP/QLP with our
group back in May, 2007. She declined, but attended a couple meetings just to listen in. In fact, LCDC
listens in on our meetings, receives, notification and meeting notes, but does not participate in the
discussion or invite the Alliance members to partner with them on any of their projects. I understand from
one of the LCDC board members that I should have expected a call from Kim Jackson back in October,
and I have yet to get the call.

7. Coach Wayne Gordon, who is the unofficial leader of the Lawndale Christian Development
Corporation, refers to himself as "North Lawndale" (and thus, answers to no one).

8. Eric Strickland, Executive Director of Lawndale Business and Local Business Development Corporation,
when asked why he didn't let people in the community know about the Proposed Redevelopment along
Ogden Avenue, responded that he would never disclose anyone else's plans. Oddly enough, the
information was on the Metropolitan Planning Council’s website at the time he made the remark.

The people who have been entrusted to safeguard our community's best interests do not engage dissident voices.
However, their organizations will be among the first direct financial beneficiaries of the TIF when it's implemented
this spring. Clearly, those of us who are not paying taxes enjoy the representation that the tax payers severely
lack.

On behalf of the Lawndale Alliance, I respectfully request that you recommend that the Proposed Ogden Pulaski
TIF not go forward to City Council until the Department of Planning and Development, Aldermen, Steans Family
Foundation, LISC, the Lawndale Alliance and other interested parties (whomever is deemed most appropriate to
represent the interests of a broad spectrum of community interests) can work out a community benefits agreement
that will work in our collective best interests.
Community Benefits Agreements go a step further than redevelopment agreements between the developer and the
City. The agreements are legally binding, and could be negotiated by the City, plan sponsors and a coalition of
community groups, who must also provide mutually-agreed-upon deliverables. In the event there is no specific
development that must happen now, it is imperative to get an agreement as to the guiding principles of the
community benefits agreements and governance of the TIF over the next 23 years.

I also ask that this process be guided by an attorney(s) that is well-versed in issues of community development and
mediation. Perhaps this could be done by one of the attorneys affiliated with the Community Economic
Development Law Project, or the Department of Human Relations, or other disinterested party.

I have provided for your review a great model that could be easily applied to this situation. I understand that the
Steans Family Foundation, one of the Plan's chief sponsors, already has been studying community benefits
agreements. Please find attached background on CBA's at the link below:

http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/pdf/cba2005final.pdf

In closing, I ask that you provide a written response to this letter as follows:

Lawndale Alliance
c/o Valerie F. Leonard
4111 West 21st Place
Chicago, IL 60623

If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 773-521-3137.

Co-Founder
THE LAWNDALE ALLIANCE