It's About Respect

I am proud of my heritage. And I'm glad to live in an area where my heritage is honored and its rites revered. I live in an area where my alderman, my state representative, state senator and Congresswoman are all Jewish. That is exceptional. For me, it feels normal.

But I'm not proud of my alderman. My alderman doesn't share my values, or even the values of our shared heritage. My alderman violates our Jewish tradition by ignoring it whenever possible, and then exploiting it when he suites his needs.

That is exactly what he is doing now.

I take a lot of guff for my opposition to Ald. Stone. Because Stone is Jewish, I am told, I should support him. It's the essence of the "He's our crook" argument. But I don't want to be represented by a crook. And the thought of a Jewish crook is repulsive to me. We have enough issues in the world, I don't want to see Jewish legislators tainted by Berny Stone's reputation.

Nor does Stone serve our interests. His rush to gentrify the ward results in the inevitable dilution of our community. It's not Jewish families who are buying these expensive condo conversions or resulting building from the teardowns we see throughout the ward. It's yuppies. Yuppies who don't seem to honor the profound Jewish character of the 50th Ward.

This doesn't bother Berny Stone. Not much does. He takes his quid pro quo and smiles. Why should he care if the 50th takes on a profoundly Christian character in a decade? He'll be in Arizona. He won't be bothered.

My father tells me that Stone used to be a good alderman. But it sounds like that was before Council Wars. That doesn't help us now. And that certainly doesn't protect us.

Driving around the city during the winter holidays solidified my decision to support someone who wished to "preserve the character and integrity of the 50th Ward." Throughout the city in December you would see Christmas decorations on street lights and city property. But the 50th Ward was spared this spectacle. The long Jewish legacy of the 50th Ward has meant that not only Jewish families feel comfortable here, but it has been a magnet for other non-Christians, too. The rapid gentrification sponsored by Ald. Stone threatens the safe haven we've built here.

Greg Brewer offers many attractive proposals that should preserve the profoundly Jewish character of our neighborhood. His commitment to preserving the character of the ward means that he's committed to preserving the Jewish flavor of the ward. But more importantly, Greg's proposal for creating a ward plan or roadmap that not only takes community input but is based upon it offers us the best hope for Jewish families in the decades to come.

Please join me in voting for Greg Brewer for Alderman. Greg offers us our best hope for keeping the 50th a safe haven for all of us. There is nothing that Berny Stone will do in this regard that Greg Brewer won't continue. Greg shares our values.

Finally, it seems to me that Stone's activities tonight reinforce this assessment. Stone will campaign on the Shabbat. The fact that Stone will do so demonstrates his willingness to dilute our community for his own purpose. To me, that's wrong. I support someone who respects our traditions and rites. I'm voting for Greg Brewer. I hope you will, too.