Chicago to designate ‘Carlos Hernandez Gomez Way’

Chicago to designate ‘Carlos Hernandez Gomez Way’

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Carlos Hernandez Gomez

Carlos Hernandez Gomez, the celebrated Chicago political reporter who died last January, will be permanently remembered by the city he loved with an honorary street named for him.

A stretch of Racine Avenue between Grand and Ogden will be designated “Carlos Hernandez Gomez Way” on Aug. 27, which would have been Gomez’s 37th‚ birthday. The dedication ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. The City Council resolution making it official was sponsored by 27th‚ Ward Ald. Walter Burnett Jr.

Gomez joined Tribune Co.-owned CLTV as a political reporter in 2005 after covering local and national politics for Chicago Public Media WBEZ-FM (91.5) and the Chicago Reporter. He died Jan. 17 after a long battle with cancer.

It’s a fitting location for a street in his honor, since he and his wife, Randi Belisomo, a reporter for Tribune Co.-owned WGN-Channel 9, lived there. Said Belisomo:

“Carlos was so excited to buy his first home here in the old First Ward, because of all the history, so I know if he can see what’s going on, he’s really pleased! In fact, one reason we bought this place on Racine was because it was built on the site of Joey ‘The Clown’ Lombardo’s concrete workshop. He loved his mob history … and now he’s part of the neighborhood story!”