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Is Kanye Still a ‘jeen-yuhs?’ Mar 03, 2022

Show notes

Whether it’s a public feud with ex-wife Kim Kardashian, impromptu speeches during a problematic, and confusing, presidential run, or a traveling album rollout, Kanye West is always in the news. For most of Ye’s polarizing music career, controversy, scrutiny, and art have gone hand in hand. But there was a time before Kanye West was a household name. Back in 2000, he was a Chicago music producer trying to break into the rap game. This is where the Netflix documentary “jeen-yuhs: A Kanye trilogy” begins. Directors Clarence “Coodie” Simmons and Chike Ozah intimately chronicle Ye’s slow and uncertain climb to fame, his relationship with his late mother Dr. Donda West, and the of arc of his 20-year career. Host Jacoby Cochran talks with music and culture writer Britt Julious about the nostalgia and disappointment present in “jeen-yuhs” and also its subject (you can read here review of "jeen-yuhs" here).

Guest: Britt Julious — Music and culture writer

CPS Discrimination Lawsuit Highlights Need for Black Male Teachers Mar 02, 2022

Show notes

Ten years ago, Vivonell Brown was a teacher at Woodson Elementary in Bronzeville, on track to become a principal, when he lost his job. And he wasn’t the only one: More than a hundred Black educators were laid off or fired from schools CPS deemed to be underperforming. Brown and two other teachers filed a discrimination lawsuit in 2012, which finally reached a settlement in December.

Lack of representation is still a problem in Chicago schools, especially for Black male educators. Host Jacoby Cochran talks with Brown and middle school teacher Kirby Birgans about their experiences as students and teachers, and the importance of representation at the front of the classroom. Kirby is a member of the Black Male Educators Alliance of Illinois, which aims to recruit and retain Black male teachers.

You can find out more on the settlement here.

Here's the full statement from CPS:

“Chicago Public Schools aims to provide a welcoming, equitable and safe teaching and learning environment for staff and students. On Wednesday, the Chicago Board of Education will vote on a settlement between the Chicago Teachers Union, Local 1, and CPS relating to layoffs that disparately impacted African American teachers and paraprofessionals resulting from the turnaround policies around certain CPS schools in 2012, 2013, and 2014. The agreement concludes nearly 10 years of litigation and will result in the creation and distribution of a settlement fund to benefit those staff members affected by the turnarounds. Resolving this matter is in CPS students’ best interest and will allow the District to move forward with its continued focus on providing a high quality education that is grounded in equity for students in every city neighborhood. As a District, we will continue efforts to recruit and retain a diverse faculty that reflects our student population."

Why Illinois' Richest Man is Spending Big on Republicans Mar 01, 2022

Show notes

If you thought Ken Griffin was running for governor in Illinois, we wouldn’t blame you. Whenever there’s news about Republican candidates, you usually see his name too. That’s because the richest man in Illinois has pledged to go “all-in” to finance a Republican to defeat Democratic incumbent (and fellow billionaire) JB Pritzker. The two last went dollar-for-dollar in 2020, when Griffin dropped nearly $54 million to beat Gov. Pritzker’s income tax measure. Griffin’s political spending is only growing, so we asked A.D. Quig of Crain’s Chicago Business to tell us more about who he is, why he’s backing Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin for governor, and what he’s looking to get for his money.

A little bit of news: Insight Hospital in Bronzeville, formerly Mercy Hospital, is accepting emergency ambulances again. Go back and listen to our conversation about the history of the hospital and the fight to save it.

'I Wish for Them to Have Peace, Freedom': Chicago Ukrainians React to Russian Invasion Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

The Chicago area is home to nearly 54,000 people of Ukrainian ancestry, the second-largest in the U.S. Many Ukrainians here are scared and confused, waiting to reach friends and family in Ukraine as Russia invades the country. That’s why Chicago Ukrainians are taking to the streets. Host Jacoby Cochran and lead producer Carrie Shepherd take us to a rally in Ukrainian Village.

A little bit of news: Here’s where to sign up to find out more about the city’s basic income pilot program. Applications open in April.

How Chi Remains Segregated, Masks to (Maybe) Come Off, and Cute Animal Stories Feb 25, 2022

Show notes

On Wednesday, alderpeople authorized the city to spend $700,000 to buy a now-vacant Aldi in West Garfield Park. But it’s not yet clear if the city will actually acquire the property, if it will ensure a new grocer takes over, or how long it could take. While WTTW’s Heather Cherone was watching City Hall, she and her colleagues also launched a series looking at the history and present-day effects of segregation in Chicago. She talks about both of these stories with City Cast’s Jacoby Cochran and Simone Alicea. They also talk about the mask mandate ending Monday and share some cute animal stories, including one about otters in the Chicago River.

Stories discussed:

FIRSTHAND: Segregation — A Year-Long Exploration of Segregation in Chicago

City Council Approves Plan to Buy Closed West Side Aldi (and check out our Wednesday conversation)

Why Rogers Park Hare Krishnas Are Worried About Proposed Development

Chicago to Lift Indoor Mask, Vaccine Mandates Monday

‘Hank the Tank’ Offers a Vision of a Better Life

River Otters Are Back in Chicago

“Women of Soul” at Mercury Theater

Why Hare Krishnas in Rogers Park Are Worried About Proposed Development Feb 24, 2022

Show notes

Since 2017, a developer has been pushing for rezoning in Rogers Park so he can turn a 100-year-old vacant building at 1710 W. Lunt Ave. into a modern 20-unit housing complex, including four affordable housing units. Like with most construction projects happening across the city, neighbors have voiced concerns about the preservation of the building and decreased parking. However, on this block, the loudest opponents are the members of the Hare Krishna temple next door. The congregation says they are concerned about how this development would impact their religious practices. As 49th ward Ald. Maria Hadden decides on the future of this development, we sit down with Block Club Chicago reporter Joe Ward and Subal Dasa, one of the managing directors of the temple.

Some good news: Black History Month events this week across the city!

Grocery Stores Abandoned West Garfield Park. Will the City Step In? Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

There are currently no grocery stores operating in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. An Aldi that operated there for three decades suddenly boarded up their doors in October, and now the Save-A-Lot is temporarily closed after failing a health inspection. Losing a grocery store has big consequences for people living in the neighborhood. It means longer commutes, higher prices, and losing access to healthy foods. It means a community where the average life expectancy is 16 years lower than that of neighboring white, affluent communities is left even more vulnerable to malnutrition and illness. The city could step in to buy the vacant property and facilitate a new grocer coming into the neighborhood. Community members are demanding that whoever moves in be held accountable to its neighbors. WBEZ's Linda Lutton and Director of the Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative TJ Crawford join host Jacoby Cochran to discuss what’s next for West Garfield Park.

The Reader Paved the Way for Alt-Weeklies. What About its Future? Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

The future of the Chicago Reader is in question. After years of money troubles and ownership changes, the 50-year-old paper is set to become a nonprofit to gain financial stability. But the transition has been delayed because of a dispute between the Reader’s current owners over its leadership. The Reader has been an essential part of Chicago’s media landscape — at one point, its classifieds were so coveted that people would steal copies from the printing press before they were distributed — and longtime journalist Mark Jacob argues the Reader’s owners should come to an agreement to save the storied paper. Jacob has written about the dispute and the Reader’s 50th anniversary, and he talks with host Jacoby Cochran about why the Reader is so important in Chicago.

Guest: Mark Jacob — Freelance writer and editor

Call or text us: (773) 780-0246

Pandemic in the Church, Southeast Side Recycling Decision, and the All-Star Game Feb 18, 2022

Show notes

After years of being continuously delayed, the Southeast Side recycling permit decision is set to be officially announced in the coming days. Block Club Chicago reporter Maxwell Evans and WBEZ's Adora Namigadde sit down with host Jacoby Cochran to unpack the possible health and environmental effects of this decision. They also discuss vaccination views in the church, a proposed vacancy fraud bill, places they find peace in the Chi, and their moments of joy!

Stories we talked about:

What happens when communal worship goes online? For some, it’s a chance to grow in faith.

City Will Rule On Controversial Southeast Side Metal Scrapper’s Permit By End Of Week

These COVID-19 treatments help patients avoid the hospital. Who’s getting them?

Moments of Joy:

Chicago Theatre Week 2022

Pullman House Project Lets Visitors Explore Living Spaces Behind Industrial Powerhouse, From Workers’ Apartments To Pullman’s Estate

All-Star Game

This Man Helped Popularize Chinese Food. But His Death Remains Mysterious Feb 17, 2022

Show notes

In the early 1900s, Chin Foin’s restaurants helped popularize Chinese food among white Americans. Chicago’s King Yen Lo, King Joy Le, and The Mandarin Inn served an upscale version of what you would have found in the city’s chop suey joints along with American fare on white table linens while a performer sang opera in the background. Chin’s restaurants were popular among politicians, gangsters, and other Chicago elite. But in 1924, he fell down an elevator shaft and died. Chin’s death was ruled an accident, but granddaughter Nancy Wang questions that narrative. She tells Jacoby Cochran her grandfather’s story.

Guest: Nancy Wang — Co-director, Eth-Noh-Tec Theater

Wang’s play “Shadows and Secrets” explores her grandfather’s mysterious death. She’s working to put it up next year in San Francisco.

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