Meet Illinois State Representative Elgie Sims

STATE REPRESENTATIVE ELGIE SIMS,understands the value of hard work and how to come up with common sense solutions to real world problems.

An attorney and second generation smallbusiness owner, Elgie's commitment to hard work began at an early age while working in his family's business, where he learned that "nothing in life is given, it must be earned." Throughout college and during his time working in Springfield, he often commuted from downstate Illinois to help run the family's business on Chicago's south side and while putting himself through law school.

Elgie's commitment to public service began at an early age, working in the youth ministry at his church. He continues to make a positive impact on every community of which he is blessed to be a part; as he was always taught, "too whom much is given, much is required." He remains active in many civic organizations whose mission is to improve the quality of life for the communities they serve. As a community leader, he has worked to provide scholarships and books to children in need and worked to make our communities more safe.

As Budget Director to the Illinois Senate Democrats, Elgie helped put millions of dollars into improving the quality of life in our communities, by providing funds for education, capital improvements, health care initiatives and economic development activities.

As our State Representative, Elgie continues to put our families and communities first. During his time in the Illinois House of Representatives he has championed legislation focused on improving the quality of our schools, strengthening the middle class by creating good jobs, bringing fiscal discipline to Springfield, and passing common sense public safety initiatives to make our streets safer.

Elgie, his wife Shivonne and their two daughters Kennedy and Mackenzie reside in the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago.    

PROFESSIONAL

• State Representative, 34th District
• Attorney, Law Offices of Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
• Former Budget Director for retired Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, Jr.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

• Member and Immediate Past President, Board of Directors, Chatham Park Place Homeowner's Association
• Member, Board of Directors, South Central Community Services
• Member, Chairman's Advisory Council, Big Shoulder's Fund
• Member, Chatham-Avalon Park Community Council
• Member, Greater Chatham Alliance
• Member, West Chesterfield Community Association
• Member, Park Manors Neighbors Community Council
• Member, South Holland Business Association
• Member, Board of Directors, Charles H. Wesley Foundation
• Member, Board of Directors, Alpha Phi Alpha Building Foundation
• Member, Illinois State University, Black Colleagues Association
• Member, University of Illinois at Springfield Alumni Association
• Member, Loyola University Chicago Alumni Association

EDUCATION

• Loyola University Chicago, School of Law, Juris Doctor
• University of Illinois - Springfield, Master's in Public Administration
• Illinois State University, Bachelor's of Science

http://www.repelgiesims34.com/index.php

 

SAUK VILLAGE ENFORCES CRIME FREE HOUSING ORDINANCE

by Police Chief Kowalski 

The Sauk Village Housing Commission has a mission to PROMOTE Sauk Village.  The Housing Commission works on providing quality and affordable homes for those in need.  

Sauk Village promotes owner occupied home ownership in the Village. Citizens are encouraged to purchase homes that are selling below market value, empty, abandoned, or being sold for back taxes to rehab and sell to homeowners. 

They also assist residents in their efforts to achieve home ownership, and work with the community to strengthen our neighborhoods. Those who are interested to reside in the Village will find a friendly atmosphere were code enforcement/ordinance review will work with individuals to improve the appearance of existing properties. The Housing Commission will guide low and moderate income families with potential financial resources such as grants and low interest loans to improve property values. 

First time homebuyers are encouraged to purchase homes within Sauk Village and we will provide information about support agencies (FHA, HUD, VA, etc.) which are avenues to assist with your purchase.  Most importantly the Housing Commission, Code Enforcement Officers and the Police Department work together in providing a safe environment for all who live and visit the village. 

In providing a safe village Sauk Village had enacted an Ordinance which became effective on January 8, 2013, incorporating Illinois Municipal Code 65 ILCS 5/11-60-2 which authorizes corporate authorities to define, prevent and abate nuisances. In other words the statute provides the Sauk Village Police Department the tools to work with the Housing Commission to enforce and address potential nuisance property owners.

The Housing Commission and Code Enforcement Officers have been working cooperatively with the Police Department in a team effort because when drug criminals and other destructive residents operate out of rental property, neighborhoods suffer and landlords pay a high price.  Enforcement of the ordinance will be considered if a resident in a property does not have a legal right to be on the property or becomes a nuisance.

The purpose of the Sauk Village Crime Free Housing Housing Ordinance is to assist landlords in developing effective partnerships in a neighborhood environment, and fostering a safe, healthy place to live. 

The program focuses on three key elements; eliminate crime at rental properties, reduce calls for police service and to foster a clean, healthier, more stable living environment in Sauk Village.

First step in cleaning and the sound of progress

Sauk Village 3rd Annual Resource Fair

Who will be at the 3rd Annual Resource Fair?

Fighting “BLIGHT”

In a previous post, I pointed out the disastrous effects that “Blight” has on our community. Thanks to the efforts of the Sauk Village Housing Commission, Sauk Village Police Department, Sauk Village Fire Department, Sauk Village Code, Cook County Board and the Cook County Sheriff’s office blighted areas in Sauk Village will start to disappear. 

Crews from Cook County SWAP were in Sauk Village this week cleaning blighted areas and the Cook County Sheriff's Office started removing blighted homes this morning in Sauk Village (see pictures below).

These are all steps towards reducing crime in these areas and the work you see being done is possible due to the efforts of a joint collaboration of village Departments, Commissions and Cook County agencies working together.

There are so many to thank and I'm sure to miss someone if I were to start naming individuals by name. So, to everyone that had a part of making this happen......A special Thank You! from a grateful Mayor and community.

Meet Illinois State Representative Marcus Evans Jr.

Marcus C. Evans, Jr. was appointed in April of 2012 and elected November 2012 and re-elected in November of 2014 as the State Representative for the 33rd District.

Mr. Evans is a resident of the 8th Ward of Chicago and is an active civic leader. A member of Compassion Baptist Church, Southeast Calumet Heights Homeowners Association, & the 800 East 88th Place Block Club.

As the current State Representative, he serves on the following committees in the 99th General
Assembly;


      Agriculture & Conservation
      General Services Appropriations
      Vice-Chair: Business Occupational Licenses
      Chair: Economic Development & Housing
      Revenue & Finance
      Financial Institutions

Previously, Rep. Evans served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Alderman Michelle A. Harris (8th Ward of Chicago) and has served in a multitude of civic assignments throughout his young career. Representative Evans is a graduate of Morgan Park High School and attends Governor State University.

He is a 9 year cancer survivor and a health advocate, fighting for Health Care Reform, quality health care and health insurance. In an effort to highlight awareness and assist in the fight against cancer, Marcus joined the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network, where he traveled nationally advocating for quality healthcare legislation and cancer research funding for American citizens. He became an ACS Cancer Action Leader representing the 1st Congressional District of Illinois.

Marcus has served his community in a variety of leadership roles, volunteering as director of various community programs and events. In his spare time, Rep. Evans is an Illinois High School
Association (IHSA) official, a member of the Metropolitan Officials Organization (MOA) and Central Officials Association (COA); licensed in both basketball and football.

He has served two consecutive terms as Treasurer of the Cook County Young Democrats, a member of the 8th Ward Young Democrats and has had the honor of participating in the 2013 Edgar Fellows Program.

In 2013 he was invited as the honored guest speaker for the Concerned Christian Men Annual
Leadership Breakfast. He was considered State Rep. rookie of the year in 2012, by Governor Pat Quinn where he lead the passage of a bill that will protect Cook County residents from landfill pollution.

From this outstanding achievement, Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr., received awards for Environmental Leadership and Leadership award for his outstanding contributions and accomplishments in politics. 

Additionally, Representative Evans has received awards for Community Service Achievement, Cancer Survivor Humanitarian and the Archbishop James Lyke African-American Male Image Award.

www.staterepevans33.com/district.htm

National Alzheimer's Month - November 2015

Go Purple with a Purpose for Alzheimer's Disease Awareness and Caregivers Month. President Ronald Reagan designated November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month in 1983.

At the time, fewer than 2 million Americans had Alzheimer’s; today, the number of people with the disease has soared to nearly 5.4 million.  Get involved this month, and help raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease.

Recently, President Barack Obama proclaimed November 2015 as "National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month."

"Wear purple to raise awareness."

Military Family Month 2015

Military Family Month was established in 1996 by the Armed Services YMCA, with the U.S. Government recognizing the occasion every year since. Each November, the President signs a proclamation declaring November Military Family Month and with hundreds of thousands of service members deployed overseas, recognizing the daily sacrifices made by military families has never been more important

Read more: http://militarybenefits.info/military-family-month/#ixzz3qKvW4RYr

The Elephant in the Room – BLIGHT

by Mayor David Hanks

What cancer is to a body, “blight” is to a community: No surprise that blight has spread and is having a disastrous effect on all parts of Sauk Village.  Its core cause “housing flight” started years ago: 

Today we see its havoc; housing vacancies, property de-valuation, loss of revenue, increases in crime, pull-back of business, and discord among community leaders. And yet we fight this disease in disarray, hoping its symptoms will somehow go into remission.

Fighting the future of Sauk Village independently will not breathe life back into it. We must attack BLIGHT as a community.

Our Administrator J.W. Fairman has laid out a blueprint to attack blight, a plan that includes all of us. Results will not happen overnight and will certainly depend on the amount of support Sauk Village is willing to show him. He has already rallied the support of key staff. He is in the process of producing a master Vacancy list, and correlating it to criminal activity in the Village. 

This will enable Police Chief Kowalski to identify the areas of greatest concern. Reduction in crime is the first step in the property valuation and increased revenues. Our Housing Commission, also a “blueprint” partner, is moving forward with the demolition of blighted homes. The Village Board’s Public Works Committee has authored a key piece of legislation placing the accountability for delinquent water bills on the owners of property.   

Mr. Fairman wants you to be our eyes and ears. When someone tampers with water meters or turns on water that the Village has turned off for non-payment – report it. These people are not your friends, free water to them cost you more. When you see or hear something in your neighborhood that you know isn’t right – report it. 

"People who commit crime value themselves over everyone else."

As the months go on I will report (good or bad) the results of our (yours and mine) efforts to turn Sauk Village around.

“Community” is the cure for BLIGHT.