Mayor: If you feed them, they will stay

Salvation Army-Jackson Jr. plan to feed residents of mobile park met with resistance

Friday, June 28, 2002

By Brent Watters
Staff writer

At the request of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2nd) of Chicago, the Salvation Army went to the mobile park to provide residents with three meals a day for at least the next 60 days.

But just as the Salvation Army workers began serving lunch, they were approached by Robbins officials and asked to leave — although they later were told they will be allowed to return today to serve meals.

Robbins Mayor Irene Brodie said the agency was asked to leave Thursday because Jackson had not informed her office that the Salvation Army would be at the trailer park.

"I thought it was disrespectful to set up an operation in a municipality without anyone informing the mayor or the mayor's office as to what is going on. I do not think that is right," Brodie said.

"So the Salvation Army was asked to leave until we can get this matter straightened out," she said.

Rick Bryant, a spokesman for Jackson's office, said the congressman had notified the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County that the Salvation Army would be assisting people at the park.

"That is what the mayor had earlier asked us to do," Bryant said.

Brodie said that her office should still have been notified.

Two weeks ago, more than 50 residents were ordered to vacate the mobile home park at 138th Street and Claire Boulevard after village officials said the park had become a health and safety hazard. Some residents are still living at the park even though the park has been without running water, gas or garbage service for the last month.

Major Patrick McPherson of the Salvation Army said that he was surprised when he and his people were asked to leave on Wednesday.

"We were quite surprised," McPherson said. "But after we were notified that everyone was not in the loop ... we realized what happened. We have to have the consent of the local authority, and the local authority had not been notified."

After talking with both Brodie and Jackson, McPherson said the agency will begin serving meals again this morning.

"We are looking to do what we can to help," he said.

Brodie said that she also became worried about the Salvation Army's efforts because she is concerned that residents who have been asked to find housing elsewhere will see free meals as a reason to stay.

"Sometimes you have to stir the nest a little in order to get the birds to leave. I just don't want people getting too comfortable. We need people to find housing elsewhere," Brodie said.

Jackson said providing the residents with meals would allow them to save money to relocate to permanent housing.

Village officials said that some residents are stubbornly staying in their trailers despite offers to help them move to a better park.

Two weeks ago, the village asked Cook County Circuit Judge Aaron Jaffe to order an immediate evacuation of the park. Jaffe has asked the village and various state agencies to do all they can to relocate residents before the park, which was abandoned by the owner in February, is shut down.

The next court hearing is July 8.

Brent Watters may be reached at bwatters@dailysouthtown.com or (708) 633-5973.