City Room™ - Metro - Altgeld Gardens Has High Hopes for Obama

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City RoomTM Public Affairs coverage from our award-winning staff

Altgeld Gardens Has High Hopes for Obama
Produced by Linda Paul on Monday, November 17, 2008

Altgeld Gardens resident Tyrone Nelson (WBEZ/Richard Cahan)

As Chicagoan Barack Obama becomes President Obama, it’s just natural that his fellow Chicagoans will have big expectations of him, and his administration. And that’s certainly true at Altgeld Gardens, one of the places Obama planted his Chicago working roots. Altgeld Gardens is the most remote of Chicago’s public housing devolpments. So far south, it’s almost in Indiana. The collection of two-story brick row houses was built for returning World War II veterans. It's ringed by a polluted Calumet River, aging landfills and a sewage treatment plant. People worry about pollution, crime and finding a job. But these days, what everyone there is talking about is Barack Obama—and what’s to come. Richard Cahan and Linda Paul visited the day after the election.

Jennifer Brandel, Rogers Park, Chicago // Monday, November 17, 2008 @ 11:17 AM

What a fantastic piece! Linda Paul got such great tape from the residents - I felt like I was there! She took what could have been a really standard opinion poll to a level of intimacy that is so hard to capture on tape. Great story telling and great work!

Cheryl Johnson, Altgeld Gardens // Monday, November 17, 2008 @ 12:17 PM

What a great piece you have done on my community. It tells the lives of my community and how one day we shall overcome obstacles and struggles because change is coming. Thanks!

Danielle Kelly, Rockford // Monday, November 17, 2008 @ 10:47 PM

Amazing piece - so glad I found it. Change is coming folks - I hope you're ready - I know I am!!

Ralph Hale, Brynmar/Southeast/Chicago // Monday, November 17, 2008 @ 11:15 PM

Excellant story! Thank you for that perspective of an underserved communities response, to such a historic event. Keep up the good work.