UCM endorses health care, affordable housing
Harry Weiner
Of the Suburban Journals
Granite City Press Record Journal
Wednesday, Oct. 27 2004
The
United Congregations of Metro-East celebrated its successes and pushed its
agenda for social justice issues at its third annual public action meeting
Sunday.
The group, which claims some 20,000 members in 21 member churches, continued
its efforts to ask elected leaders to publicly endorse issues that it supports.
On Sunday, it received commitments of support on such issues as health care,
education, housing and civil rights for immigrants from a variety of elected
officials and candidates.
"Our message is to empower the people to fight for their rights, their
children's rights," said James Harrell, the group's president. "We
have the
power."
Among the major goals the group is pushing for is establishment of a drug court
for St. Clair County. Noting the success of the court in
member Jo'Anna Watts said the creation of a similar system in St. Clair County
is a priority.
"This is one of the most beneficial programs we have found in
she said. "Drug courts prove to save lives, save money."
UCM pushed for continuation of the drug court in
when it was threatened by budget cuts. The court emphasizes treatment and
education of drug offenders rather than imprisonment.
The group also continued its endorsement of efforts to provide affordable
housing in the area. UCM member Angie Richardson said homelessness has been
increasing in recent years and low-cost housing has been on the decline.
"The Bush administration has been chipping away at Section 8
housing," she
said, noting that the Madison County Housing Authority had been forced to
consider cutting some public housing assistance because of federal cutbacks.
However, the authority was able to avoid the cuts and now hopes to add some 100
people to its Section 8 rolls by the end of the year, according to Executive
Director John Hamm, who is also the mayor of
The group praised U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Belleville) for his support of
the National Housing Trust Fund, which proposes building 1 million low-cost
homes in the next 10 years. Gov. Rod Blagojevich has also supported the plan,
On another issue, economic development, the group reiterated its opposition to
the proposed Gateway Connector highway and its support for the
River
The group argues that the Gateway Connector, proposed as an outer belt highway
that would run through largely undeveloped areas from
Barracks bridge, would promote urban sprawl.
"Do we subsidize sprawl or do we bring sprawl under control?" Dr. Ron
Trimmer
asked. "We must invest our tax dollars wisely."
The group also endorsed a
area, one of two general routes being studied by county transit officials.
On education, the group celebrated the approval of plans for a charter high
school in
vice president, noted that the proposal, spearheaded by Madison County Regional
Superintendent of Schools Harry Briggs, faced several roadblocks during the
summer. Briggs asked for UCM's support and received it, Bedesky said, and the
group helped marshal support for the plan.
The proposal was finally approved this month and the school is scheduled to
begin operation next month.
The group praised Briggs for his efforts. Briggs, in turn, thanked UCM for its
help in getting the charter proposal approved.
"It shows that working together we can get things accomplished that are
for the
benefit of everyone," he said.
Among the crowd of several hundred people at the
were both candidates for
legislative candidates, elected officials and a Blagojevich representative.