What unfolds next is a Timely Human
Interest Story/Feature
for major Global Media to cover and cite.
Please share with those in your Network as this can,
has, and promises to continue to happen
if We do not unite and make our Stand visible and outstanding.
A Number
of The Residents fighting for Our Home.
We are so
grateful to Mark Brown,
award-winning
Journalist of The Chicago Sun¬Times
who cared enough to pen our
First National Story
about this devastating Ordeal:
First National Story
about this devastating Ordeal:
September
27, 2018.
Marilyn
& I (front row center) are holding that Feature found online:
https://tinyurl.com/yb95nklz
Photo
Credit: Leah
Parker-Bernstein ~ Senior Caucus
THE PRICE OF DISPLACEMENT ©2018
By ASK: ADRiENNE SiOUX KOOPERSMiTH
3i’s: implant. involve. influence.
Creator of EVENTOLOGY™:
Founded: 1990
KOOPERSMITH’S
GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS
“People read what ASK writes about…”
The Levy
House
1221 West Sherwin – 6E
Chicago, Illinois 60626-2212 USA
847-890-1489
RE: THE PRICE OF DISPLACEMENT
There’s
a horrible Price to be paid by Americans when they get old due to “The Process.”
Maturity has nothing to do with IT, but Sets of Circumstances happen that
disrupt (y)our Lives that should not or ever happen PERIOD. That is, for those People who manage to “age
gracefully” after the proverbial “Mid Life Crisis” happens and then,
successfully live through every Decade marked as:
their 50s
their 60s
their 70s
their 80s
and, beyond their
90s…
These
Circumstances (not under our Control) make us suddenly stop and begin to wonder
WHY.
The Decades alone
take a Toll on a Person’s Body, Mind, Soul and Psyche. Having other Individuals
who apparently are “IN CONTROL” willfully HARM those in such a Frail Position
should be considered criminal.
ENTER:
Dan Fagin ~ dan.fagin@cje.net
CJE SeniorLife’s President & Chief
Executive Officer
&
Kal Wenig ~ kalwenig@gmail.com
Chairman of The Board of Directors
Sometimes, GETTING OLD(er) merely does not appear as a “Lucky Stroke” or as a “Blessing”
as it most definitely is. Accumulating
ALL THOSE YEARS may be the easy Part.
Figuring out how to continue at a Happy & Healthy Pace when
Roadblocks block your PATH calls for an active Team of Helpers and Supporters. I’m speaking from the Vantage Point of being an
eternally grateful & optimistic 66 year old (as of August 9, 2018) - a university
educated graduate, exuberant, award-winning creative Woman who is appalled by “The Disconcern” exhibited by those in
POWER who are ready to “throw a Senior in front of a Bus…”
To
us living at The Levy House, this
Act(ion) registers and constitutes as #ELDER
ABUSE.
THIS
horrific and appalling Situation is happening to me, my Fiancée, my Fellow
Tenants and our beloved PETS at The Levy
House located at: 1221 West Sherwin,
½ block East of Sheridan Road, ½ block West of Lake Michigan. Many of us have been here for over Twenty (20)
years. Not considered a “Retirement
Community” in the true Definition of the Term, The Levy House was bequeathed by:
Robert S. &
Ruth Levy
whose Generosity made our Residence
possible
To:
Council for Jewish Elderly
(CJE)
Affiliate of The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Dedication:
October 18, 2009.
and is designed for those 55+. Containing
all the Amenities of enjoying what Life has to offer upon Retirement, the
Buildings and Surrounds is pleasant and provides what Residents need who find themselves
single again and/or in need of Special Services. That is why We (as a Collective Whole) are
shocked, flabbergasted and sick to our Stomachs (many NOT able to eat or sleep
through the night) to learn that OUR Building is being sold.
We
only found out a Week ago by a Resident who went to a Meeting at Sulzer Public Library
where the Topic was discussed. She brought the terrifying News back. The Bottom Line was: We were lied to.
Of
course, Buy-Outs happens on a regular Basis.
We all have seen the Regentrification of Chicago. As a Resident of Chicago [since late Spring
of 1974], I have seen all of our Neighborhoods (all 100 of them) change. That is the PRICE We pay. Nothing stays ‘The Same.” “The Change will do you good” We have been
told.
HOWEVER, there are Limits...
HOWEVER, there are Limits...
As
soon as a Starbucks and Ann Sathers move into “The Hood” and more
Trees are planted, expect Property Taxes & Rents to rise and keep
increasing. Growth & Development have made “Sweet Home Chicago” the
#3 City in the USA and an ideal Cultural Center – “The Hub” for those who are
crossing “The States” to get from New York City to Los Angeles. After all, they must touchdown and refuel.
However, with Hurricanes ripping across the
Atlantic hitting our East Coast & Gulf Area and Forest Fires destroying
thousands of Acres in Ten (10) Western States (year-in and year-out), destroying
Homes, Businesses & Livelihoods causing a new HOMELESS POPULATION to appear and mount, that same System
wreaks Havoc (causing Mudslides to wipe out entire Towns & Havens), causing
People to come to the grim Conclusion and Realization that this is now a
Commonplace Occurrence that will reoccur regularly due to Global Warming.
Where
do this “New Breed of Homeless” go?
What
do they do? Logically, they head to
Chicago where Opportunities abound and where (for the most Part) Earthquakes,
Hurricanes, Mudslides and Forest Fires do not destroy what We have built up
over a Lifetime. Therefore, Prices skyrocket in every Sector of Life.
The
Residents of The Levy House (upon
signing their Leases) were promised this Building would remain affordable and
livable through The Term of our Stay(s).
SABOTAGE
21ST CENTURY STYLE:
Those are the Key
Words: “over the Course of a Lifetime.”
This
bleak Chapter is presently unfolding now for me and (approximately) 56 others who reside in The Levy House, a handsome, well-maintained brick 8-floor Building
built in 1954 located in Rogers Park on The Far North Side of Chicago. Without any Notice from Management, CJE:
Council for the Jewish Elderly are sabotaging The Remainder of The LIVES of
these People (including my Fiancée and our Precious Calico CAT, Cali) although
their Mission Statement supposedly runs on the Rules of The Torah that focus
upon:
Respect - Kavod
Advocacy - Timicha
Compassion - Chesed
Intention - Kavanah
Innovation – Chidushim
Accountability – Arevut
CJE SeniorLife Corporate is located at:
Bernard Horwich Building
3003 West Touhy Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60645 USA
3003 West Touhy Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60645 USA
A short 11 Minute (2.4 mile) Drive via Google Maps.
Derived from
CJE SeniorLife Website,
their Missions & Values are elaborated upon thus stating:
The mission of CJE
SeniorLife is to enhance quality of life and facilitate independence
of older adults.
At CJE SeniorLife,
We fulfill our mission and realize our vision for and on behalf of our Clients,
our Clients’ families, our Staff, our Board Members and our Volunteers by
striving for excellence through Respect, Advocacy, Compassion, Intention,
Innovation and Accountability.
JUST
IMAGINE if their illustrious
List of Donors (who so generously contribute to these Goals) knew what they
were doing to the “Older Adults” they purport to aid.
Contributions would dry up within a Week.
CJE’s Milestone 45TH Year
Anniversary is marked for October 9TH at a prestigious Hotel in the
Chicago Loop. From our – The Levy House Residents’ Point of
View, there is nothing to celebrate as the New Year: 5779 was recently observed
(by those who are OF the Jewish Faith) knowing our HOME is being sold from
under us. I should add for clarity that The Levy Building is non-denominational
and People of all Creeds, Faiths and Races live and are welcome(d) here.
“THE PRICE OF DISPLACEMENT” cannot be measured in Dollar and Cents.
Heart-break, Disillusionment, Distrust and Homeless will not be condoned.
It makes NO SENSE to disrupt the Lives of People who have paid their Dues
and wish to remain in Chicago as integral Parts of The Community and a diverse Neighborhood. As Neighbors, Parents, Grandparents, Friends
and now taking on a Role as Family (since our Community knows one another very
well), We are physically sick and mentally wrought that the Sale of this
Building may leave us OUT IN THE COLD with no reasonably priced place in which
to turn.
I know for a Fact there are several Elders who are not being
told that the Building is for Sale fearing they will have a Heart Attack and
die from hearing that News.
There is NO Time for DISPLACEMENT. Life is simple. There are those who HAVE
and those who do NOT HAVE. There are
those who MAKE DUE with what is given to them.
Throughout LIFE, We can and do experience a Combination of those Factors
that cause and affect us in many brash and rash Ways. However, when a Person
gets to a Point in their Life, they need a Sense of Security and
Permanence. A drastic Change like Moving
is fatal.
Time
is of the greatest RELEVANCE when you over 65
because there’s NOT enough of it left. You don’t have another 65 years to squander away. Not that any of us are squandering
it, but I’m sure you get my Drift.
FURTHERMORE: For those of us living in The Levy House who do not drive or do
not know how to use a Computer (in order to locate what other Housing Units are
available in the Area), physically walking through “The Hood” looking for a new
Home is inconceivable. Having painful Arthritis,
being a Fall Risk or being confined to a Walker or Wheel Chair prevents a
Number of Levy House Residents from
even looking for a new Home, that would be unaffordable in the First Place.
“We have now
seen the True Colors of CJE - this American Institution who once
prided themselves on:
þ Respect
þ Advocacy
þ Compassion
þ Intention
þ Innovation &
þ Accountability
and are thoroughly
appalled.
Behind
every Door on every Floor there is a “Story of Survival.” Seniors are not called “Seniors” for
nothing. Many of us have Service or
Companion Pets (Cats or Dogs) that would also be HOMELESS when the “New Owners”
take over.
5
YEARS ~ 6 MOVES:
My Personal Story of Housing Upheaval began
on January 15, 2013 when my Apartment at 1437 West Rosemont (near Devon &
Clark) went “Condo” after living there from September of 1990 – January, 2013 -
for 23 years. After that DISPLACEMENT, for nearly Four (4) Months I lived in a respectable
Homeless Shelter run by The ARK in West Rogers Park. Then, Robert (my Fiancée) & I moved to
1258 West Loyola in September of 2013; only to be OUTED from there in April of
2017 because an aggressive Real Estate Development Company, BJB was determined to purchase any and
every Structure in the Chicago area.
From April to September of 2017, Cali
My Calico and I shifted and lived at Three (3) different Locations until finding The Levy House. Robert
joined us in Mid-September of 2017 to start LIFE ANEW. I must plug my CAT. That CAT is a Trooper, adjusting to every Move, knowing I was trying my
best to keep a Roof over her Head as she has a damaged Ear and was declawed so
she cannot fend for herself if “let loose.”
ALL
THE WHILE from May of 2017
through March, 2018, Robert went
through a grueling Series of 6 Operations.
Therefore, having a clean, safe and affordable Place to call HOME for
his Recovery was indeed a God-send.
Without much Strength & Energy, he is still in his Recovery Period
(which at his Age) is taking longer than he/we had planned.
He has BAD
Credit (due “his Divorce” taking its Toll).
I have NO
Credit.
No one would even RENT to us…
These Days Landlord demand a PET RENTAL FEE.
This was unheard of when I was growing up
in the 1950-60s.
Granted,
I am a/his Caretaker to a “Sick Mate,”
“THE PRICE OF
DISPLACEMENT” takes its Toll
on my Creativity. Being termed as:
“The Undisputed Champ of Holiday Creation”
by Doug
Criss of CNN &
“The
Gatekeeper of EVENTOLOGY”
by Cody
LaGrow of Newsy,
any
negative Act that takes or draws me away from my ART
is highly unproductive and I do NOT
condone it as it destroys “The Flow of Creativity” that is
needed every Day in order that a certain Amount of Work is created, checked,
maintained and disbursed. My Literature & Writing Style has been a Staple
in American Pop Culture since 1990 and is my Legacy.
1221 WEST
SHERWIN is full of Creative
People who enjoy what they do; when they do it; where they do it; and how they
do it. “Why they do it” can be answered because for many of us it is our
PASSION or IT must be done during the Course of our Days (left).
IT
keeps our Brain Cells active. It also provides a Sense of Security that cannot
be replaced by a(nother) drastic Move.
That is why We are fighting for our Rights and our Lives/Livelihoods in
order to keep our Units/Apartments affordable in a volatile Market that has
only increased and skyrocketed enormously the last Decade, if not longer.
Being
on a limited Income also prohibits many Levy
House Residents to even be able to afford to move. This is “The Place” they
wish to call “Home” until Death.
VIP
INSERT: As STANLEY
KRAVIT ~ stankravitarbor(at)aol(dot)com
- one of our Residents at The Levy House
and a Professional Arbitrator informed us:
“When
ALDERMAN MOORE & I spoke on September 26, I said
there had to be a "Senior Market Rate;" that is, a concept that we
call “safe, affordable and convenient
housing” that keeps Senior Housing from being driven down to the Lowest
Common Denominator resembling the Nursing Home. I did a number of Arbitrations
involving nursing homes; that is not the way I want to live.
“The previous Levy management apparently had no problem understanding this and
the many Donors will not have either. Many of them will have had
experience with nursing homes. Selling this building is inconsistent with
CJE's mission, their Tax Status,
their Appeals for Donations and the Promises made to us as Residents.”
THE PRICE OF DISPLACEMENT is not only financial. It bears upon a Person’s Psyche to restart,
to rebuild and to redo what’s already been cemented into place the first 55
years of (y)our Life. For that Reason alone, We should be able to live
comfortably, safely and peacefully here at The Levy House without any Interruption
or Turmoil tearing at our Souls and Pocketbooks. My Fellow Neighbors deserve “The Respect”
they have earned. Our Pets should have a
stable and warm Abode where they are loved, cared for and where they can take a
walk, if they please. As beloved Companions, our Cats and Dogs should not be
displaced at “The Whim” of what abject Capitalism has become – fully displayed
by:
CJE Senior Life’s President & CEO: Dan Fagin
&
Chairman of The Board of Directors: Kal
Wenig
of CJE
SeniorLife
Director of Finance: Tom Lockwood
The
Tearing apart of the American Fabric of Civility and honoring those who have
reached Elderhood (that is: each and every one of us living at 1221 West
Sherwin in Chicago, Illinois) is what you see “AT WORK HERE.” This
is CRIMINAL. This is ELDER ABUSE.
IN
CLOSING: #SAVEOURLEVYHOMES
Won’t
you join us in our Fight to preserve our Home, Dignity & Integrity? Our Team presently includes:
JOE
MOORE, Alderman of The 49Th
Ward & Chairman:
City
Council Committee on Housing & Real Estate
7356 North Greenview
Chicago Illinois 60626 USA
Phone: 773.338.5796
MARK
BROWN, Journalist & Award-Winning
Reporter of the Chicago SunTimes who
penned an incredible Article on September 27, 2018 found online at:
&
Page 2 of the Thursday
Edition
Email: markbrown(at)suntimes(dot)com
JANE
ADDAMS SENIOR CAUCUS
1111
North Wells – Suite 302 - Chicago, Illinois 60610 USA
LILLY
LERNER ~
lilly@seniorcaucus.org
KELLY
VISELMAN ~
kelly@seniorcaucus.org
LEAH
PARKER-BERNSTEIN ~ leahp@seniorcaucus.org
“The
Seniors who make CHANGE happen.”
Housing
Justice Organizers
312-787-2382
"The Test of a People
is how it
behaves toward The Old."
Quote of: Rabbi
Abraham Joshua Heschel
As found on CJE Senior Life’s Website at:
https://www.cje.net/about-us/our-mission-and-values
After
all, if this Trend continues, this may be YOU and/or your Parents in 5, 10 or 15 short
years…
For
additional Info on The Progress We are making, contact any of us at the above
Locations. Robert, Cali & I are conveniently located at:
Robert E. Hofstadter: 847-890-1489
Robert.hofstadter@gmail.com
to
elaborate and collaborate moreso if you have a(ny) specific Question(s) or
Queries to what I outlined above. The above Exposé was simply my Valued Opinion
on Seniorhood (and how We are mistreated) in 21ST Century America. As you can tell, there needs to be a lot of
Improvement and The Levy House
serves as that Model.
Thank
you for our Time and Expertise devoted to our STORY that is still unfolding One Person – One Pet - One Decision and One Day
at a Time. Let’s hope our STORY has
a Happy Ending.
***
UPDATE:
Saturday, October 6, 2018 - 10:04 AM
VIA: ASK/Chicago: October 6, 2018 - 10:22 AM CST
I I I
UPDATE:
Saturday, October 6, 2018 - 10:04 AM
I am so happy to tell you all that "Our Home is safe." The following Letter from CJE confirms that.
There are so many wonderful People to thank who came to our Rescue as Alderman Joe Moore of the 49TH Ward where We reside; his Staff; Mayor Rahm Emanuel; the Organizers, Kelly, Leah & Lilly of Jane Hull's Senior Caucus; 7 Floors of resistant Residents at 1221 W. Sherwin, the Levy House here; Journalists as Mark Brown of the Chicago Sun-Times & Bob & Joann Kitsos of The NewsStar who sat and spoke to us at length just last Saturday Morning; and my Linked In Members as Wayne H., who chimed in on many Occasions to keep my "Spirits" up.
"It takes a Village to keep a Village affordable" so that everyone - at every age can have a chance to enjoy The Wonders of Living in a Big Town with Entertainment, Culture, with Restaurants, Sports Arenas, Museums and their Doctors nearby. Every Decade takes its Toll. Don't forget: You won't be young forever and taking care of yourself and loved ones begins with a Roof over their Heads.
I also must add that since it is #CATurday, the 40TH one for 2018, it's very important ~ #imPURRtant that the Cats, Dogs and Pets in our Lives be treated with Compassion, Love and Respect as well. Many Seniors are now alone; their Mate & Family Members have passed away. There's no greater Companion than having a loving CAT. Dogs are swell, too, but if you cannot walk well, realize that DOG needs Daily Exercise that you cannot PROVIDE; unless you are wealthy enough to hire a DOG WALKER. Now, there's a good Philanthropic Endeavor. Pay Dog Walkers to walk Pooches for those who are not that mobile.
The Best Part of all this: We Residents get to remain at the Levy House with our Beloved Pets, as Family Members and enjoy the Rest of our Days in Peace & Quiet. Thank you for reading and supporting us through this tumultuous Ordeal.
VIA: ASK/Chicago: October 6, 2018 - 10:22 AM CST
I I I
