Division Street

That’s how many Illinoisans were right when they cast their vote for governor in 2006.

The Greens will do themselves no favors, though, if they nominate Cynthia McKinney for president, as expected.

Mike Gravel, by the way, is with Jesse.

The whole world isn’t likely to be watching, but the Green Party is bringing its national convention to Chicago this weekend for four days, beginning Thursday.

And with the whole world seemingly gone green, who can deny they were ahead of their time? Maybe we ought to pay attention.

* The candidates.

* Party Platform.

* Ten Key Values.

At the Beachwood, including:

1. Miss Manners on patriotism.
2. Kim Wilde’s Kids in America.
3. Regulated Militia Well. A poem.
4. 13 Anthems. Including The Respangled Banner, The Alphabetically-Spangled Banner, The Star-Spangled Forecast, and The Redacted Banner.

Posting here at Division Street will resume later today.

“Look, this really is a pro-Obama bumper sticker,” writes Eric at The Edge of the American West. “It’s just a realistic, not to say jaded, pro-Obama bumper sticker. And maybe it’s more than a little whiny. You really think you can win the presidency without courting or crafting constituencies that Good People don’t like? I don’t.”

Proceeds will be donated to the Obama campaign.

* Thanks to the passionate but good-humored Obama supporter who sent this to me.

From Ald. Brendan Reilly’s latest e-mail newsletter.

Vote Today and Help Chicago 5th Grader Win National Sports Award
Please join Alderman Reilly, Alderman Sandi Jackson, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Lt. Governor Pat Quinn in voting online for 5th-grader Nichyria Byrd for the first-ever Earn Your Stripes Youth Achievement Award as part of the 2008 ESPYs in Los Angeles, California.

“11-year-old Nichyria is a member of the after-school program Girls on the Run at Ariel Community Academy on Chicago’s Southside. She’s the only nominee from the Midwest. The winner will be selected based on online voting through this Sunday, June 15th, which is why your support is so important. Please take a moment to vote online here, and encourage your friends to do the same.

“Nichyria wasn’t nominated because she’s the fastest kid in the country. She was nominated becuase she embodies the spirit of amateur sports: team work, respecting others, doing your best, and competing for the love of the game.”

Alderman Reilly is a proud supporter of Girls on the Run Chicago, which focuses on the spirit of amateur sports and much more through its 12 week after-school program. Their volunteer coaches teach girls ages 8-12 self-esteem, leadership, community service, and healthy lifestyles all while training them to run their first 5K. Girls on the Run Chicago currently serves more than 2,000 young girls in 100 schools throughout the Chicago region. For more information on programs in your school or how you can help, visit www.gotrchicago.org.

“P.S. Nichyria is currently in 1st Place, but she needs your help to cross the finish line. Please take a moment to vote today!”

I went looking for Politico’s county-by-county map of the Indiana vote and found yet another example of the Obama campaign’s savvy Internet advertising strategy. They’re everywhere.

Our little corner of the world is a less joyous place today than when the weekend started. The Spindle is dead.

* “Grassroots activism lost to corporate America [Friday] night when the 50-foot Berwyn ‘Spindle,’ an eight-car kabob, was dismantled under cover of darkness. Cermak Plaza’s pop icon was taken down with a crane to make room for a proposed Walgreens.”

* “Artist Says He Was ‘Heartbroken’ To Learn of Demolition.”

* All that’s left is the base.

* The Spindle by Flickr.

* State senate resolution to save the Spindle.

* I wonder if the pending pay raise for state officeholders would have been enough to save the Spindle. Somebody do the math.

* Isn’t this the sort of thing that earmarks were designed for?

It’s all about Indiana now, people.

The Community Media Workshop is an invaluable resource to stay abreast of grass-roots stories that often fly under the radar of the traditional media. Among its current news tips:

* “Logan Square residents will rally Saturday to ask Mayor Daley and Ald. Rey Colon (35th Ward) to reconsider the city’s rejection of a proposal for permanent supportive housing in a building that has been vacant for 18 years.”

* “The Kenwood Oakland Community Organization is hosting a legislative hearing on strengthening LSCs this Saturday, April 12 starting at 11:15 a.m. at Kennicott Park, 4434 S. Lake Park.”

* In a meeting with park advisory council leaders last Friday, the Chicago Park District backed off its controversial effort to implement stiff new guidelines for park volunteers and promised more consultation with the councils, reports John Paul Jones of Friends of the Parks.

* “Chicago area job growth is concentrated in municipalities with the lowest African American populations and the least affordable housing, according to a new Chicago Reporter analysis. The black unemployment rate in the Chicago area is five times the rate for whites.”