Whenever you have censorship, whether by government or the media, democracy suffers. In his article “Running Against Rosty” [October 28], Adam Langer mentions only in passing that I am running as an Independent in this race. As a community psychiatrist and 4th-generation Chicagoan, I entered the race against Rostenkowski to fight crime on our streets and in Washington and break the cycles of gangs, drugs, abuse and welfare in America while saving tax dollars in the process. All of Chicago’s media, including Adam, have known about Safe Haven and my candidacy for at least the past several months. But when you, the readers, never hear the details of my work until it is too late to matter, both you, myself and the democratic process are all ill-served indeed.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
Much as with the original CCC and WPA, my Safe Haven’s Community Service Corps (CSC) would replace present welfare subsidies with JOBS in the public and private sector from day one. Such CSC jobs would include resident patrols, day-care and teacher’s aides, after-school assistants, community cleanup, meals-on-wheels and home health care aides to name but a few. A motto of Safe Haven is that A PENNY OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A DOLLAR OF CURE. If we could reduce gangs, drugs and teen pregnancies by even 10% we would be saving over $400 million annually in Illinois alone. By reinvesting some of these savings into even further expanding prevention-oriented programs such as high-quality, affordable day care and after-school programs, we could have a multiplier effect with even greater savings (both human and financial) in future years.
Whether it is coverage of my candidacy, Safe Haven or even the cover-up of the death of a DCFS ward of the state by official misconduct at UIC and DMH (University-Gate), we all are harmed when the media fail in their basic duty to inform the public. I spent everything I ever had, including second mortgaging my home, to give people a true option in this race. But because of a lack of coverage and funds to fight legal challenges, I was forced to withdraw my petitions and run as a write-in instead.
