“In IL-07: State Rep. La Shawn Ford has been endorsed by Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman and North Riverside Village President Joseph Mengoni.” — From Politico Illinois this morning.

“Activists say they discourage violence. ‘We don’t have guns. All we have is a whistle,’ Enriquez said. ‘That has become a method that has saved people from being kidnapped and unlawful arrest.’”

This is fascinating- like going back in time and through the life of a wealthy Chicago socialite. (The sale is mainly from “Maureen Dwyer Smith’s collection”.) On many of the items, you can click on “provenance” and get some history. freemansauction.com/auctions/641...

Great place to donate your professional clothes in the Chicago area. DePaul’s Career Closet relies on donations from the community. If you are cleaning out your closet, you can email the following address to donate: [email protected]. www.fox32chicago.com/news/depaul-...

“Some felt that previous Broadview clergy-run events that were based solely on prayer and ritual were not bold enough to make people take notice of the conditions there. They wanted to take to the street —and were surprised by the quick violence that they met.” evanstonroundtable.com/2025/11/14/e...

It’s a beef, coffee, tropical fruit Thanksgiving!

Broadview, 11.14.25. Hoping that those barricaded inside the shockingly small ICE holding facility could hear the voices of the interfaith crowd appealing for their human dignity and calling for their release.

This says so much about Brian Straw, and Methodists. Organized religion gets criticized so much lately, but this is inspiring.

I prefer the Billy Bragg - Wilco version but this is still awesome.

Senate President Harmon did not file petitions. “That avoids what would have been a public clash between two of the three most powerful Democrats in the state.” And now Thomas comes into the race. www.oakpark.com/2025/11/11/t...

He does not have a chance, but “Illinois law does not require a candidate for Congress to live in the Congressional district he seeks to represent, only to be a resident of the state for at least one year.” www.oakpark.com/2025/11/11/c...

If you see this bike around Chicago, feel free to say hey. Brian Straw (one of the Broadview Six) has been a big advocate for improving bike infrastructure in our community.

The Oak Park Village Board gave CPOC a role in investigating the police response to a “teen takeover” of 500 teenagers in downtown Oak Park on Halloween night. River Forest police deployed pepper balls.

“The village is looking to purchase the U.S. Bank building at 11 Madison St. with the plan to redevelop it into a new police headquarters. At a meeting Nov. 12 the full board also signed off on a plan to acquire the site via condemnation if necessary.” The building is listed for sale at $2.65M.

Just for fun, and to support a pro-democracy company: this is the best salt-free spice blend you will ever use! www.penzeys.com/online-catal...

we need a department of kerning

The real QAnon was the thousands of misspelled emails every single rich person on earth sent to Jeffrey Epstein along the way

Today, 11/13. abc7chicago.com/post/judge-l...

Love my community. www.oakpark.com/2025/11/06/h...

Straw objected to a condition of pretrial release requiring that he turn over his passport— he was at Broadview to protest ICE’s “demanding of identifying documents from residents based on their skin color.” The judge said he did not have to turn it over. news.wttw.com/2025/11/12/k...

And Epstein’s email address is “[email protected]?” And the tail/tale thing? Ugh.

We are now just left with Smyth. <sigh> www.wbez.org/food-drink/2...

If you can’t see the aurora with your naked eye, you don’t see it. I will die on this hill.

Chris Parente, lawyer for Brian Straw, objects to forcing him to surrender his passport, saying he's a "boring suburban dad" and that his reason for going to the protest in the first place included objecting to the government checking people's passports and papers

Parente questions the reason for Straw "to sit here now and ask him to turn his passport over to the government for no reason other than they think they can?" He says landscapers arrested by ICE "cannot stand up to the government. Mr. Straw can, and your honor can too."

Best part.

Chris Parente, attorney for Brian Straw, objects to his client turning over his passport. The reason Straw went to Broadview, he says, is the feds' "demanding of passports … for people who appear to be a certain skin color."

Brian Straw led the way on this issue and it benefited all other defendants.

Straw believes that landscapers detained by the feds "can't stand up to the government," Parente says. "Mr. Straw can. And your honor can."

Arraignment today at 1:30, Courtroom 1025 at Dirksen. Brian Straw: "The Trump Justice Department’s decision to seemingly hand-pick public officials like me for standing up against these inhumane policies will not deter me from fulfilling my oath of office." www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/12/k...

Brian Straw and the others charged will be in court today, 11/12/25, at the Dirksen federal building, Courtroom 1025 at 1:30 pm. I will join others to support Brian (and the First Amendment).

Excellent legal summary of the Supreme Court case regarding the National Guard being deployed in Illinois. Includes links to all briefs. (And the author, Amy Howe, is brilliant.) www.scotusblog.com/2025/11/trum...

Guess they follow the nice weather. So tough. www.nprillinois.org/chicago-il/2...

Oak Park and Berwyn Community Open House to discuss Roosevelt Rd. RSVP here: www.ticketweb.com/event/roosev...

“But when it comes to sending the National Guard into Illinois, there are signs a Trump victory might not be a slam dunk.” www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/10/s...

The Oak Park Migrant Ministry has set-up a coat distribution program for adults and children through partnerships with local schools, churches, and community members. If you wish to donate, please email [email protected]. They are only accepting coats, hats and gloves at this time.

A new location for the Oak Park police dept at US Bank building at Madison and Austin? After negotiations reached a standstill, the Village may condemn the property to “acquire the property at an acceptable price and within the timeline necessary.” oak-park.legistar.com/LegislationD...

At the 11/11 Oak Park Village Board meeting, the Board will discuss regulating e-bikes and scooters. Currently OP only regulates bicycles. Memo below. oak-park.legistar.com/LegislationD...

The 11/11 Oak Park Village Board meeting includes the public hearing for the 2025 tax increase of 4.98% for the Village and Library combined (remember the Village tax is about 15% of our total property tax bill, and the library is about 4%). oak-park.legistar.com/LegislationD...