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Discount Mall is Heart of Little Village But Its Future is Uncertain Oct 04, 2021

Show notes

Ever since the Little Village Discount Mall property was sold last year, vendors and neighbors have been demanding answers about its future. The mall anchors the 26th Street business corridor, which was once dubbed the city’s “Second Magnificent Mile” as the second-highest revenue generator in the city. More than 100 small business owners call the Discount Mall home, and they attract Mexican and Mexican-American visitors from Chicago, the suburbs, and beyond. The property was purchased by a construction company known for developing big box stores. That reputation and a lack of communication has vendors worried about the future of the mall and of the neighborhood. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to a reporter who covered the sale and grew up going to the Discount Mall and the owner of a dress shop in the mall.

Guests:

Carlos Ballesteros, reporter at Injustice Watch

Kocoy Malagon, owner of Source Fashion Corp

Know Your Rights Housing virtual event

Jacoby's Good News: "Last Week Tonight Masterpiece Gallery with John Oliver" at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in River North

Obama Center Breaks Ground, City Budget Details, and Bookstore Love Oct 01, 2021

Show notes

The Obamas were in town Tuesday to break ground on the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. But not everyone is convinced the campus will be a beacon of hope and change for surrounding South Side communities. Host Jacoby Cochran is joined by Injustice Watch’s Charles Preston and WTTW’s Heather Cherone to discuss lingering concerns facing the Presidential Center. The trio also dive into Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s 2022 budget proposal; and, of course, they leave us with a few moments of joy, including the grand reopening of Semicolon Bookstore and improving Covid numbers.

Guests: Charles Preston — Audience Engagement Manager, Injustice Watch

Heather Cherone — Political Reporter, WTTW

Film About Southeast Side Asks ‘How Did We Get Here' Sep 30, 2021

Show notes

When Steven Walsh was growing up in the East Side neighborhood, he saw what unemployment and disinvestment did to the area. Walsh knew his neighborhood as “the hood,” but he never stopped to ask how it got that way. After he returned home after college, he started filming his grandfather while he played guitar, drank beer and watched the History Channel. Walsh's grandfather’s story was the story of so many people. When the steel mills closed down in the '80s, thousands lost jobs, money dried up, and residents did whatever they could to survive. Walsh talks to host Jacoby Cochran about his film, “Southeast: A City Within a City,” which explores the story of his family and other families on the Southeast Side.

Guest:

Steven Walsh — Filmmaker, Southeast: A City Within a City

Sneak Peek of “Southeast: A City Within A City” with Steven Walsh at Chicgo Public Library

Talking and Tasting Chi Foods That Aren’t Hot Dogs or Pizza Sep 29, 2021

Show notes

We all know pizza and hot dogs are iconic Chicago foods. But the city’s culinary contributions don’t stop there. Some foods everyone knows have origin stories here, like the legendary Palmer House brownie. And there are some foods that just scream Chicago, like a well constructed pizza puff. And then there are some Chicago foods you may not even recognize depending on which side of the city you live on. We taste some of these lesser-known Chicago foods and talk about their origins with Chicago Tribune food critic Louisa Chu.

Guest: Louisa Chu — Food Critic, Chicago Tribune

Some of the restaurants mentioned:

Column: Dave’s Red Hots, Chicago’s oldest hot dog stand, is even older than we thought

The Palmer House Brownie recipe

Home of the Hoagy

Italian Fiesta Pizza

'Boystown' Became 'Northalsted' Last Year. Is it Sticking? Sep 28, 2021

Show notes

Last year, the Northalsted Business Alliance surveyed residents and business owners in “Boystown” about whether the name should change. Although “Boystown” is not an official neighborhood name, it’s what the area in Lakeview has been called for decades to signify it as a safe and welcoming area for LGBTQ Chicagoans and tourists. But not everybody felt included there, including lesbians, transgender individuals, and young people of color. So the Northalsted Business Alliance declared the area would now be advertised as “Northalsted,” saying a name nodding to the geographic area would be more inclusive. We talk with Block Club Chicago’s Jake Wittich about the fight to change the name, why some people wanted to keep “Boystown,” and whether the change has really caught on.

Guest: Jake Wittich — Lakeview, Old Town, Lincoln Park Reporter, Block Club Chicago

Pride Fest 2021 kicks off Friday in Northalsted, and Pride South Side takes place Saturday at the DuSable Museum of African American History

Business is Booming for Chicago’s Secondhand Markets Sep 27, 2021

Show notes

Factories and manufacturers, abroad and in the U.S., have had trouble shipping orders on time because of pandemic-related closures and staffing shortages. These backups in the supply chain are trickling down to customers who have been left waiting long periods of time for their online purchases. The delays have led to a boom for local businesses that sell antique and vintage items. We talk to Ally Marotti from Crain’s Chicago Business about this trend, and to Meredith Schipferling from Roscoe Woodstock Antique Mall, a 44,000-square-foot mall that sells everything from pinball machines to costume jewelry.

Guests:

Ally Marotti — Reporter, Crain's Chicago Business

Meredith Schipferling — Manager, Roscoe Woodstock Antique Mall

Jacoby's Good News:

Destinos: Chicago International Latino Theater Festival

Chi Fall, Some Love for Navy Pier, and Two Young Lives Lost Sep 24, 2021

Show notes

Two Simeon High School students — Jamari Williams and Kentrell McNeal, both 15 — were killed in separate shootings Tuesday. The tragedies hit hard for host Jacoby Cochran and our guests, WBEZ’s Araceli Gómez-Aldana and WTTW’s Joanna Hernandez. They reflect on the loss and look at other stories in the city this week, like threats to the Discount Mall in Little Village and to the indoor Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier. And of course, they send us off with moments of joy, including a lot of love for the autumn season. Move over Summertime Chi — Fall is here, and we are here for it.

Guests: Araceli Gómez-Aldana, Reporter/Host, WBEZ

Joanna Hernandez, Reporter, WTTW

Sky In Playoffs Third Year in a Row. Where is Everybody? Sep 23, 2021

Show notes

The Chicago Sky make their third consecutive appearance tonight in the WNBA playoffs against the Dallas Wings at Wintrust Arena. There was a lot of hope for the Sky this season after the team signed superstar forward Candace Parker. But the season turned out to be a little lackluster, and now the team faces the stress of a single-elimination game. Despite the drama, three consecutive playoff appearances should be exciting for any Chicago sports fan. Yet the Sky don’t get the same coverage or attention as their counterparts in male leagues. Host Jacoby Cochran discusses those disparities with the Sun-Times’ Annie Costabile and Chris Pennant of The Skyhook Podcast, who also give their takes on the Sky’s season and the one-and-done playoff structure.

Guests: Annie Costabile — Sky and Red Stars reporter, Chicago Sun-Times

Chris Pennant — Host, The Skyhook Podcast

Jacoby's Good News:

Andersonville Homecoming Festival

45th Ward Residents Are Asking 'Now What?' Sep 22, 2021

Show notes

In the past few weeks, Ald. Jim Gardiner of the 45th Ward on the Northwest Side has had to apologize for crude text messages about colleagues, allegations of withholding services from constituents who oppose him, and reports that he used taxpayer money to pay a campaign worker. You know all this; we’ve told you here and here. But what kind of response has the news garnered from residents, who can be affected by Gardiner's behavior, and has it made some people who weren’t politically engaged pay a little more attention?

Guest: Ariel Parrella-Aureli — Northwest Side Reporter, Block Club Chicago

Here’s Why You Should Care About Ward Remapping Sep 21, 2021

Show notes

Every ten years, the city has to redraw the boundaries of the city’s 50 wards. Alderpeople are supposed to use census data of who lives in the community areas, but there’s also self-interest seeped into the process. After all, the ward boundaries help determine if they’ll get re-elected. Alders tend to create these maps behind closed doors in a way that serves them. But a good government group is trying to change the process. CHANGE Illinois is behind the Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission, made up of 13 members who represent Chicago’s diversity. The commission hosted community meetings all summer, livestreamed their boundary-drawing sessions, and now they have a map. Commissioner Chris Kanich explains why these aren’t just arbitrary lines on a map and why it’s critical to ensure your alderperson is representing your community’s needs.

Guest: Chris Kanich — Commissioner, Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission

At 1 p.m. Wednesday, the City Council his hosting a public hearing on redistricting.

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