This should be one of the major issues in this upcoming state and city political races.

People are rejoicing about the new Walmart stores coming on the South Side in the future but jobs are needed NOW. What is being done to address Chicago South Side’s high unemployment rates NOW?

According to The Chicago Reporter: “The second highest rate of long-term unemployment in Chicago was recorded in a South Side region that includes Auburn Gresham, Englewood, Washington Heights and West Englewood. In 2008, 14,700 of 36,000 residents there between ages 16 and 30—or 41 percent—had not worked during the previous five years or longer.”

Also, I learned that over 1/3 of  the crimes committed in my community are by young people under 18 during my last visit to the Community Alternatives Policing Strategy (CAPS) meeting.

What this means is that until people can work, crime is going to increase.  So, again I ask: What is being done to address Chicago South Side’s high unemployment rates NOW?

Now is a good time to get on elected officials to work on a solution to this problem.

How do you think the high employment rate can be addressed? Will this impact your decision to vote for political candidates?