Harris’ words rang hollow for the Burnside residents in attendance who contend that they’ve been running community events without the help of Ald. Harris or any of the Chicago Park District representatives thanked during the speeches for organizing programming in Burnside.
“They don’t do anything for these kids over here. On other holidays, we do that stuff ourselves,” said Sharonda Beasley, another Burnside native who had no idea about the event. “I just happened to be riding by and saw all of this and was, like, ‘where all our people?’”
In a story about the renaming of Lake Shore Drive, Grand Crossing residents expressed their frustrations with their alderpeople — Harris and 17th Ward alderman David Moore) — about placing their effort in missions that don’t move the needle any closer to prosperity for the community.
“I’m not hating on them bringing the kids over here for this. I’m glad that they got to be a part of it, but put some flyers out. Let our people know what’s going on,” Beasley said. “We’ve been playing ball on that old broken gravel court for years, so something like this is sentimental to us. It’s only right that we should be involved.”