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There are several major issues within the North Lawndale community, however, all of them stem from systemic factors. Drug abuse, violent crime, lack of opportunity, economic leakage, and decreasing Black population. All of these issues have systemic causes. There was an important document made called the Lawndale service area databook.
Within that document is very important information on the systemic factors that cause such problems within our community. For example, “From 2005-2009 to 2015-2019, there were approximately 771 fewer owner-occupied housing units (with a mortgage) representing a decrease of 20.2 percent. This is higher than the city of Chicago’s decline of owner-occupied housing units of 15.9 percent.” The fact of the matter is that there is an intense lack of investment within North Lawndale. Empty vacant lots and homes, a lack of home ownership, and violent crimes are on the rise. All of these issues within our community come from systemic failure. The city of Chicago is failing our community.
The consequences of said failure impact the residents of North Lawndale in very specific ways. The repercussions of not investing in a community over an extended period tend to build up. According to the document: “The issue of violent crime can be viewed as an outcome of the various socio-economic issues described in North Lawndale so far. Potential solutions then need to be addressed holistically versus attempting to adopt a single policy issue in an attempt to decrease violent crime.”
The document itself understands the notion that when you completely disregard a community economically that there will be consequences. The result is a rise in violent crime. Chicago as a whole is stereotyped as being a crime-riddled area. With nicknames like “Chi-raq” and the 24-hour news, the cycle contributes to the stereotype. Yet some areas in Chicago have no other choice. There is a systemic lack of opportunities in many areas in Chicago including North Lawndale.
When you put a community in such a hard economic spot, underfund all the schools so no one ends up learning anything or graduating, and college tuition being what it is, you get violent crime. Violent crime is sometimes the only way people in very hard situations can make any money. If you place an entire community under similar conditions you get statistics like the ones in North Lawndale. The current state of North Lawndale is unacceptable, something must change by any means necessary.
So what about solutions? Many solutions could be implemented to help mitigate these systemic issues. However, a rise in the minimum to a living wage in cook county presents itself as a viable option for a great first step in creating a better North Lawndale for the people that live there. A rise in the minimum wage would increase the living standards of every resident of North Lawndale instantly. According to a cook county government website: “As of July 1, 2022, the minimum wage for non-tipped workers increased to $13.35 and the minimum wage for tipped workers increased to $7.40.” The website also stated, “As of 2022, the living wage is $13.34/hr with employer-provided healthcare benefits and $16.68/hr without.”
When a country raises its minimum wage the lives of its citizens change. The livelihood of so many people would change if the minimum wage in Cook County were to be changed to $17. Some jobs don’t give benefits like health care so it is important to include those people when thinking about solutions. Many of the problems in the North Lawndale community are centered around money. Raising the bar for what the lowest paid worker makes would change everything.
People could better afford houses, buy the things they need like feminine hygiene products, and most of all they would be living much more comfortably. Some people have multiple jobs because one of their jobs simply doesn’t pay enough for their expenses. That person would have so much more time to live life and spend time with the ones they love instead of being at work. There are many things that can be done to help fix the problems in North Lawndale.
Written by Kenneth Mazerat
Edited by Sheena Robertson
Sources:
UIC: Lawndale Service Area Databook
Cookcountyil.gov: Minimum Wage Ordinance and Regulations
Cookcountyil.gov: Living Wage Ordinance and Regulations
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Jonathan Lee Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Eric Allix Rogers Flickr Page – Creative Commons License