Avondale parents feel blindsided by plan to use park as migrant respite site
Even worse, parents were told the summer programs they and other families rely heavily on have been canceled at the site.
www.cbsnews.com
Residents on Chicago's northwest side are feeling both confusion and frustration after parents say they were blindsided by the city's plans to take over their park to convert it into a migrant center.
The move, parents said, puts many programs in jeopardy. CBS 2's Andrew Ramos spoke to concerned residents in Avondale.
On Tuesday, when parents picked up their children who attend after-school programs at Brands Park, they learned about this sudden change. Many in the neighborhood were stunned and questions remain, which adds to the frustration.
The city is designating the facility as a temporary migrant "respite site" in the wake of the arrival of thousands of migrants from the southern border.
Ald. Rosanna Rodriguez (33rd) said it will serve as a transitional location for incoming migrants until they can be placed into a temporary shelter.
"It is going to be inconvenient for some people. It is also the right thing to do in terms of humanity," Rodriguez said.
Small business owner Tony Romanik said about the change, "Nobody knew about it. That's the hardest part. It feels like we are losing a lot of trust in our local officials.
What exactly did they think being a "sanctuary city" meant? If they want to go around bragging about how they are more tolerant and compassionate than the rest of us, they should have to earn it.
It's no accident that the Black mayor and Black city council put the migrant center in a White middle to upper class neighborhood......That's a good thing I guess, it let's the residents see exactly what they have been voting for.
