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Rather than just leave the former tent city residents alone after forcing their eviction from the
Lake Shore Drive viaducts, police instituted a policy of repeated evictions, not allowing them
to erect tents or tarps anywhere on public property in Chicago, leaving them at great risk of
harm as the citys cold and wet season hits.
Not content with forcing homeless people to move their tents, the City is insisting on destroying their ability to stay safe
with the approach of winter, said Uptown Tent City Organizers Andy Thayer, a 30-year resident of the neighborhood and
co-plaintiff in the suit. The repeated forced dispersals represent a huge safety hazard as they force homeless people to
hide, making it that much more difficult to reach them with warm clothing, food, referrals to social services, etc. as the cold
weather unfolds.
Among other things, the suit contends that it was the very visibility of the Tent Cites 50 to 75 people out of a citywide
homeless population estimated at 82,212 that led to the outsized focus of the homeless there, and the Citys
determination to shut it down.
To add visibility to the Citys ongoing attacks on homeless and other non-wealthy people in Uptown, tomorrow night
Uptown Tent City Organizers, a co-plaintiff in the suit, plan on giving 46th Ward Alderman Cappleman THE WORST
Award. The presentation will be at an event the alderman is hosting, the 46th Ward Awards, which is a re-election
fundraiser for himself. The protest will begin at 6 pm, Wednesday, Nov. 8 at The Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway
Avenue.
While most of the awardees at the 46th Ward Awards are undoubtedly deserving of their honors, Cappleman is trying to
bask in their reflected glory while plying for campaign cash, said Thayer. As detailed in our lawsuit, the alderman has led
the way in committing a series of unconstitutional attacks on his own constituents. He showers favors on the wealthiest in
our ward, while attacking the poorest, which certainly certifies him as The Worst in any number of categories.
Attorneys for the suit, Uptown Tent City Organizers and Andy Thayer v. City of Chicago, et al., No. 17 CV 4518, are
Jeffrey Frank, Susan Ritacca Law Office, Alan Mills and Nicole Schult of Uptown Peoples Law Center, the Law Office of
Molly Armour, and the Law Office of Adele D. Nicholas.
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