born 46th ward chicago illinois served year terms elected city_council attempt chicago black mayor elected second term election helped close council wars era chicago government described committed liberal causes appropriate district represents significant impacts chicago advocacy diverse inclusive affordable housing helping craft chicago response hiv aids crisis commitment community development displacement brought contention real estate developers editorial boards oral history collected winning author resident late book hope dies early life education born raised long_island new_york growing middle class family parents home owners father self employed chemist according perfected fake morris emigrated united_states members family holocaust victims mother née born raised lived including germans polish russians soviet_union came america age nurse married morris died age summer earned high school diploma vermont progressive boarding school children attended graduated degree history active anti vietnam war movement students democratic society graduated focus public policy early career moved chicago neighborhood husband infant son lived drove cab worked free lance photographer got involved radical politics chicago controversial political organizers helped organize sort white support arm committee evolved heart coalition political social service organization rhetoric comrades expected organize frame mind revolutionaries able solve problem comes way said coalition provided array programs geared providing essential services poor including medical pregnant women mothers young children legal aid clinic food distributing clothes meals poor decades allies worked preserve north neighborhood south home significant population low income households supported primary challenge illinois governor attacking thompson making deals chicago machine urban poor helped open extension broadway fall took illinois joined consumers groups federal lawsuit attempted break monopoly fitting president ceo print shop small business owners recalled period student engaged civil rights movement anti vietnam war protests come new_york attend exciting time lot active students wound different cities communities organizers chose spent years developed legal clinic health program city small course heard chicago challenges wound waited tables photography took pictures attorneys ultimately started print shop order print newspapers magazines campaigns campaign special election called 46th ward elected elected retired mid term head chicago regional office welfare march chief administrative assistant ward slated time years old editor strong leftist magazine attempt elected office join multi way challenge ran 46th ward terrified shy afraid speak people time recalled picked support founder leader unsuccessful challenge elections running primarily expose displacement latino lower income areas near downtown machine received vote coming second way race base support geographic center ward area high density low income families broadway campaigned work displaced including 44th 43rd 5th mayoral candidate 43rd endorsed founder community group unanimously endorsed 46th ward citizens search committee group ward residents interviewed candidates candidate priest director challenged stricken ballot leaving way race television news reporter charged regular democratic organization unfair campaign practices challenging new voters helped register stealing campaign posters store owners remove signs chicago_tribune endorsed noting runs primarily champion poor prevailed receiving votes votes second campaign challenged extra alarm fire early friday february weeks election caused extensive damage building containing campaign headquarters left homeless chicago_tribune endorsed votes votes candidate received majority vote way race run forced endorsed run chicago_tribune wrote program shares elements appears based hopes eventual revolution defined described lesser race enlisted volunteer attorneys duty policemen challenge ghost voting project called operation safeguard challenged voter ward rolls upheld defeated run votes later recalled campaign won primary percent vote runoff lost votes machine candidate bringing fresh ideas experienced fighting machine election day swore run racial terrifying called names posters black paint racial disturbing campaign successful campaign mayor chicago municipal elections employed campaign organizer 46th ward owned operated print shop printed campaign literature washington mayoral campaign published circulation left wing bilingual newspaper edited formed plan register new voters washington public aid offices close advisor candidate later mayor elections resigned city_council job cook county sheriff office community activist ran went run won votes allied council wars mayor run recalled challenged lawyer vice president mayor commission chicago landmarks leader president sunshine cubs opposed night baseball field chaired campaign consultant years treasurer supported mayoral campaign challenged petitions mayor washington endorsed incumbent including washington appeared joint rally announced candidacy endorsed chicago_sun-times county municipal employees chicago_tribune endorsed charged developers displacing people wake rehabilitation priced housing reach said wanted community boards decisions binding charged campaign war chest developers regular democrats outside ward way race took vote candidate received majority resulting run endorsed followers supported tried position sides political fence late campaign attempted stage public conversion positions prominent 48th state representative state senator endorsed chicago_sun-times chicago_tribune relationship large real estate developers important advocate people outside ward people charged allies spread rumor aimed jewish voters support palestinian state forces called racist large number blacks backed early campaigns later said machine won chief staff engaging racial organizing white gangs helped organize consciously racially white power gang hooked months leading election supporter director broadway organized voter registration drive registered homeless people center address election day fed meal local church hall helped vote jesus people usa member business charity religious group members living ward supported career switched run jesus people spokesman explained think lovely man doesn takes stand development things going massive displacement people thrown homes decided prevent displacement supporters charged city official offered city contracts jesus people construction firm elected tuesday april defeated votes contributed narrow reform minded majority city_council helped draw council wars era close career terms served committees buildings committees rules ethics finance health term december supporters city budget proposed washington late passed mayor washington death office opponents budget approved december january named people watch chicago_tribune staff mayor opponent city_council votes months year term sponsored resolution creating sub committee backed group people including homeless people children erected tent city doors wood vacant lot illustrate plight homeless friday october arrested police called owner evicted protesters lot charged spent minutes jail charges dropped funding november budget cycle recommended city cancel federal grant year old community group contended issues chairman recommendation came hearings distribution million federal mayor washington budget recommendation included grant facilitate residents applying home improvement loans service area included adjoining supported funding requested committee deny grant accused helping developers displace low income residents heated debate voted favor amendment remove grant death mayor washington office supported mayor supporters prevailed weeks later city_council meeting mayor funding restored said restoring grant affect 48th ward ward going operating 46th said claiming reached agreement services ward days washington death mayor claimed recommended changes low income housing consent decree early possible sites proposed northeast commuter campus city colleges chicago community college district site west station opposed concerned displacement low income residents largely blacks southern whites american indians project heated controversy decades federal lawsuit filed alleged low income housing units development constituted funds city represented campaign manager attorney young real estate developer active apartment rehabilitation neighborhood aided creation local historic district park historic district critics charged dubious historical value created facilitate nineteen tax properties offered sale auction fall program afford local governments opportunity acquire tax properties prior county sale public local government specific development plan october urged accept cash bid city tax parcels decision deferred commissioner requested delay grounds washington administration provided development plan chairman commissioner said county cash sales program designed place property tax rolls quickly possible land banking appropriate pass city tells parcel parcel intend plan pay commissioner noted city owned tax properties added properties gave city years ago war zones don want thing happen bench ruling neared proposed ordinance directed city settle accept consent decree consent decree vacant parcels land bank future affordable housing administered community development corporation funded city years consent decree desirable goal low income housing units november chaired time ally voted recommend consent decree committee hearings mayor backing decree stopped winning commentator wrote chicago_tribune depressing sections chicago area north apartment buildings vacant stores bars vacant lots career new vision old neighborhood future apparently vision remain old neighborhood wrote main motive building political power base included drag voting booth proposal criticized series editorials chicago_tribune called proposal silly enabled commercial development ward poor bad idea deserved defeat sidekick charge community development corporation purpose block private investment use available space low cost housing consolidate power ensuring constituency poor dependent voters explained editorials developer felt threatened hired publicist time talked development displacement went press got vicious editorials published december parcels sold private annual sale partnerships controlled bought parcels december regular business meeting city_council death mayor washington office washington foes brought proposal committee joined blocking agreement saying arrogance prevailed arrogance answered floor council rejected consent decree second term supported davis unsuccessful primary challenge endorsed challenger campaigned sent letters support finished seven votes ahead candidate got vote forced runoff straight run fourth straight 46th ward run won vote amid charges added budget amendment triple city aids budget voting budget included million property tax increase absent budget vote budget term chicago_tribune newspapers endorsed election won vote run supported representative unsuccessful challenge arguably single important legislative responsibility voting city budget year said lone vote budgets hearings budget included million property tax increase submitted questions budget writing department heads answered objected tax increase period years budget attended hearing budget armed policy questions said went unanswered present budget hearings fourth term black high school english teacher women opposed female field race chicago history chicago_tribune endorsed prevailed vote runoff inducted friend community november joined unanimous support budget vote budget second vote city budget applauded joined unanimous support budgets chicago tried committed supporters failed adjacent wanted contend supporters reached understanding mayor supported elections pushed forward development facility destroyed fire affordable housing target store million generated subsequently consistently voted support mayor agenda fifth term supported election cited commitment affordable housing particular work project wrote chicago_sun-times wheel city_council independent voice joined chorus endorsement amazing look started close find city hall defeated reed time vote joined unanimous support budget cast vote passage required large retailers pay living wage target sent letter mayor indicating ordinance overturned proceed projects chicago voted sustain veto sixth term criticism election largely focused lack communication ward residents failure obtain input residents changes ward lack involvement community meetings years retail ward critics charged frustrating developers project maintain political base defeated social worker vote october chair criticized residents perceived lack engagement address crime neighborhood including string violent nearby attracted attention chicago_tribune chicago_sun-times local news police interviewed said staff facilitated protection gang members allegedly gaining voter base according report mayor supporters redevelopment project celebrating completion construction july project included units housing low income residents buildings seniors families target store opened sunday july august announced run election reflected able sure place city development sure people today complete singular perspective prove possible city inclusive diversity honest making sure place closing ward office wrote proud achievements city funding budget hiv aids victims developing toughest stance written work domestic violence issues establishing hour children house senior living welcoming target neighbor partner course setting bar affordable housing chicago personal life separated husband mayor assistant press leader later editor strong magazine editor passed february age complications multiple son attended whitney young high school selective enrollment public high school chicago near west attending managing editor went washington years starting february edited street newspaper sold people homes risk chicago graduated class currently works lawyer representing criminal defendants police misconduct long time staff member interviewed separate chapters hope dies collection oral histories winning author resident publications helen chicago housing let market decide worked chicago_tribune retrieved
Helen Shiller