Saturday, May 17, 2008

Not-For-Profit JPUSA Finally Takes Down Political Signs

A reader just sent in the following pic from the second floor of one of the JPUSA owned facilities at 935-939 W. Wilson. The windows had been displaying numerous Shiller election posters for years, which is a big no-no for a not-for-profit. Numerous readers had contacted the IRS informing them of this apparent violation. It's good to see these signs removed.

54 comments:

  1. Chalk it up to another success story for Uptown Update. These signs have been up for many years and it only got addressed when it was posted on Uptown Update. I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Now if only JP/USA could lose their tax exempt status.

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  2. Now if only they could remove themselves from the neighborhod

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  3. Wow..you guys (the first 2 pathetic posters) are great community activists... NOT REALLY.

    Do you understand (or care) that JPUSA actually houses countless seniors who are on a fixed income? JPUSA helps a lot of disadvantaged people in the community. But then again, the first 2 posters here would have no clue about the concept of "compassion." Get a life. You have no clue.

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  4. JPUSA may do wonderful things, but they also knowingly and deliberately break the laws of the Board of Elections and the IRS regulations governing 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations.

    Not to mention the (former) situation over on Clifton of housing male adult sex offenders in the same building as their child care center.

    Not to mention their horrible overnight shelter on Clifton that had violations like water dripping on a live fuse box, and where they locked the doors at night to keep the people sleeping there from getting out (also remedied, I believe, like the sex offender situation, by UCC's hard work).

    I belong to the Covenant Church, which oversees JPUSA, and I do believe they do good for the needy. But the egregiousness with which they scorn the laws they don't agree with leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.

    Thank goodness the fire at the Clifton shelter happened after the practice of locking the homeless in for the night ended.

    If JPUSA doesn't like having multiple reports made about them to the IRS and the City of Chicago Board of Elections, they need to stop breaking the laws of those organizations through blatant electioneering. It's hard to feel compassion for the arrogant, no matter how much good they do.

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  5. JP/USA wants to view themselves as humble advocates for the poor who experience prejudice for just doing their good works. Their arrogance has watered down anything positive they have done.

    I am delighted.

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  6. I have been a social worker in this community for 15 years. They were not knowingly housing sex offenders. That is a complete lie. Organizations like JPUSA are working on an unbelievably tiny budget to try to help the community. They are doing an amazing job with an extremely small staff!

    Someone wrote: "It's hard to feel compassion for the arrogant, no matter how much good they do."
    Really? It sounds as if you are saying: "Down with JPUSA - and down with all the individuals they provide services to as well (families and seniors included) because I do not like their attitude (even though you clearly have no idea what it takes to run a shelter and work with individuals on a daily basis who have experienced much trauma in their lives)." ....does that pretty much sum it up for you?

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  7. JPUSA's care of traumatized individuals, and the frustration that results, does not justify traumatizing the rest of us in the neighborhood with dangerous violations of the building code, the IRS code, and unethical political conduct. This neighborhood is changing, whether JPUSA likes it or not. If JPUSA insists on using its charitable works as an excuse to ignore the law, then I'm quite confident that the organization's mission would be better served in a location where its conduct would be subject to less scrutiny. Unfortunately, there are MANY communities that have much greater needs than ours. Perhaps JPUSA should seriously consider selling its real estate at an enormous profit, buying into a less expensive community, and using the proceeds to do some real good, rather than keeping so many resources tied up in prime real estate.

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  8. First off:
    1. Please tell me what you mean by "unethical political conduct."
    2. Please tell me how you have been actually "traumatized" by the IRS violation issue?

    ..and then we can cover the other issues raised.

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  9. Gee, Anon 10:21, project much?

    This has NOTHING to do with the people they house. You know nothing about me and my attitude towards people JPUSA serves.

    Let me clue you in just a tad: I have family members who are homeless; who live in Section 8 housing; who have been institutionalized and incarcerated. If they lived in the Chicago area, they would be JPUSA clients. I love them and and help as much as I can, as do many members of my extended family. I appreciate the agencies that have helped them throughout the years, because I don't know where they'd be without their aid.

    So, you can put words in my mouth that I hate the poor and JPUSA clients, but .. ain't so. (And, to further blow away your projections, I know and like several JPUSA members. Sorry to keep chipping away your view of me as a foaming-at-the-venti-latte hater.)

    Now that that's out of the way, my disdain for JPUSA's hubris comes from the organization's own actions, not that of their clientele.

    Pray tell, if WE all could look up on the sex offender list and see how many listed the Clifton address as home, how on earth did JPUSA not know? Apparently Lisa Madigan agreed, because it was she who had the place shut down. And, she moved the men to different and in many cases better housing -- she didn't just toss them out on the street.

    I said: "It's hard to feel compassion for the arrogant, no matter how much good they do." You said this made me hate everyone JPUSA served. Aside from that leap of logic, or whatever, I stand by my statement.

    It's hard for me to take them seriously when they so blatantly disregard the pesky ol' "give to Caesar what is Caesar's" thing and break laws on electioneering that both the IRS and the City Board of Elections set forth.

    See here for their front door during the last election. I don't know of ANY polling places other than JPUSA that pulled stunts like this.

    And check out the windows in the main blog entry on this item, which displayed Shiller campaign posters over the years. The IRS has stripped organizations of their tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status for far less egregious practices.

    JPUSA displayed those poster for YEARS.

    I'm sure you're going to continue to turn this thread into your own personal crusade, defending JPUSA against all comers, and you go right ahead. I'm out. I've said all I'm going to on the subject.

    Glad to see they're finally complying with the IRS regulations that apply to their 501(c)(3) status and hope they keep it up. There will be plenty of eyes on them, that's for sure.

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  10. anon 10:21, You really know how to jump to conclusions. You should feel terrible!

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  11. You wrote: "I'm out. I've said all I'm going to on the subject." Darn, I thought this discourse was just getting started. : )

    So you care for homeless individuals. But do you feel that JPUSA has done anything positive for the disadvantaged in the community over the years? This is a crucial question for you to answer. As a result of the efforts of some community residents, ALL single men at the shelter were asked to leave. The consequences of that decision damaged the lives of many homeless men (99.5 percent of whom had no sex offense records)in the Uptown area. If you ask some city officials, they will tell you that most of the men were placed in housing. If housing means they were placed in shelters then they are absolutely correct.
    But homeless shelters should not be considered housing (do you agree?). By hypothetically removing JPUSA from the Uptown area, the result is that many people will suffer. It is not as easy as you may suggest to open up a shelter in other areas!
    You keep bringing up the poster issue... But should that kind of issue bring down an entire program that helps hundreds of people? If you answer yes, then it is confirmed that you have your blinders on when it comes to this issue; It then can only be concluded that you really do not care as much as you are claiming about the disadvantaged. You make it sound like it is so easy to move entire programs to other areas - without negatively affecting the population being served. Give yourself a break.

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  12. IF JPUSA could not do its work as well if its not-for-profit status were compromised, why does it deliberately endanger its standing as a 501(c)(3) organization by electioneering and breaking regulations?

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  13. First of all, when the men's shelter run by JPUSA closed down, ALL the men were given the opportunity to move into SRO housing and some of them refused. Many of these men had been living in this homeless shelter for years while their drug and alcohol habits were being subsidized by giving them a free meal and bed. The amount of reported crime in that area says it all.

    Second, you have the mistaken belief that the shelters run by Cornerstone provide care to Uptown residents. The huge vast majority of residents living there are not from Uptown. They are from outside of Uptown.

    Third, and most important, JPUSA have been horrible neighbors and their arrogance has blinded them to the alienation they have caused in this neighborhood. The political posters were their passive aggressive way of giving the community the finger that they are above the law. Well, they are not.

    You don't hear the community being in an uproar about Salvation Army's family shelter at 4800 Marine Drive. They too have strong religious beliefs that I don't agree with, but they are good neighbors to the community and they don't thumb their nose at the residents and do whatever the hell they want.

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  14. Anonymous 11:36 p.m. have you ever considered the Jesus People's motivation for running their shelter and non-profit operations? THINK MONEY.

    First they impoverish their members by having them irrevocably donate all their worldly goods to Jesus People (John Lott) & Co. Then, from what I can tell, they set up a non-taxed barter arrangement where these people work in exchange for room and board. (That non-tax part is not legal by IRS law, by the way.)

    Then, they have their members apply for SSI, food program, and housing benefits because those individuals no longer have any assets or income. Then the Jesus People's multi-tiered corporation and partnership conglomerate applies to be a shelter,social service operator, and day care operator, (and now a school) and gets city and state funding to run the housing and social services that house and feed and provide services to their own members and others.

    They get paid all ways. Pretty slick.

    Finally, their members work for their for-profit construction entity at artificially low wages. The construction fire is hired to provide construction services under government subsidized contracts. No wonder Jon Lott drives a fancy car while his impoverished believers are hoofing it around Uptown.

    People who decide to leave the cult are left penniless and are left with no SSI retirement benefits because they never pay into the Social Security system. They are basically screwed and end up wards of the (taxpayer) State.

    BTW, this is similar to the financial scheme used by Warren Jeff's to amass wealth at the West Texas polygomy cult.

    So, Anonymous 11:36 p.m. do a little in-depth analysis. Looks and non-profit status can be deceiving.

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  15. Wow.. where to start in addressing these falsehoods..

    "First of all, when the men's shelter run by JPUSA closed down, ALL the men were given the opportunity to move into SRO housing and some of them refused."

    Actually, this is not true at all. For many of the individuals who had no income, this was not necessarily the case. And even many of the ones who received "SRO housing" only got it for a few months. When they were unable to pay the rent (And how could they without funds?) after a few months they had to leave their new homes. Believe me, it is a falsehood the city would like you to believe that they were all offered actual housing. Many of the clients I still work with would be the first ones to correct you on this point.

    "The amount of reported crime in that area says it all." Really" That is a highly debatable point. Two individuals who happened to be homeless were recently murdered by non homeless individuals. One individual was sleeping on a park bench when he was shot. If he had had a decent place to stay (like what Cornerstone shelter offers for instance) perhaps he wouldn't be dead. Contrary to misinformed opinion, homeless individuals generally are the ones who are victimized in society.


    The next quote: "Many of these men had been living in this homeless shelter for years while their drug and alcohol habits were being subsidized by giving them a free meal and bed." Contrary to whatever you have read (or believe through faulty logic) about substance use issues,individuals who are dependent on drugs and/or alcohol ordinarily do not just stop using because food and shelter are taken away from them. The issue of substance use in our society is a million times more complicated than what you are claiming.

    And then this juicy comment: Anonymous 11:36 p.m. "Have you ever considered the Jesus People's motivation for running their shelter and non-profit operations? THINK MONEY." Really? You clearly have no idea how little money that organization receives for providing not only shelter - but case management as well (all with an incredibly tiny staff). Yes, I would personally not want to join their organization and give up my salary. But it is any individual's right to choose to join any organization. In the Catholic church, people become priests and brothers and take the vow of poverty. Are they wrong for doing that? Hey, it wouldn't be for me - but it's their choice.
    I doubt that JPUSA is in this thing for financial riches. That is pretty laughable.
    Next piece: "Second, you have the mistaken belief that the shelters run by Cornerstone provide care to Uptown residents. The huge vast majority of residents living there are not from Uptown. They are from outside of Uptown." What does the area where a homeless person originally comes from have anything to do with the point you're attempting to make? Countless individuals tell me that they chose Cornertstone over other shelters because of JPUSA's compassionate approach. Also, Uptown happens to have other social service programs that could be of assistance to them. Homeless individuals go where the services are located. It is called survival.

    Also: I find it amazing that he chose to not answer my question: "But do you feel that JPUSA has done anything positive for the disadvantaged in the community over the years?" That says a lot.

    Wow.

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  16. can we all just agree that they are a cult, and need to be removed?

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  17. So now you use the "they are a cult" argument. It is not surprising. You are badly losing this debate..and a sense of desperation has set in...

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  18. At the time the men’s shelter was closed, there was a total of 4 homeless shelters on this 4600 block of Clifton and after a series of crimes, the head of the Department of Human Services made the decision to close down the men’s shelter. Given that Cornerstone’s Sylvia Center was allowed to ignore the requirements set by the Zoning Board of Appeals in order to be allowed there, it was high time that some accountability was at last initiated.

    At the time the men’s shelter was closed, there was an average five 911 calls made per week to address problems on that one block. Salvation Army’s shelter at 4800 Marine averaged one or two 911 calls per year. To this day, representatives from Cornerstone still do not attend CAPS meetings.

    Sure Cornerstone has made some positive impact on the homeless, but thread isn’t really about Cornerstone’s work with the homeless. This is about Cornerstone flaunting the law for many years even though they knew it threatened their not-for-profit status, yet they STILL CONTINUED. How arrogant is that!

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  19. What's up, Jon Trott?

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  20. Ok..let's look at the first claim:
    1. "At the time the men’s shelter was closed, there was a total of 4 homeless shelters on this 4600 block of Clifton."
    What 4 shelters do you mean? (Are we counting men's and women's respectively)? Are you counting Salvation Army - which is located a couple of blocks away?


    2. "...and after a series of crimes, the head of the Department of Human Services made the decision to close down the men’s shelter."

    umh, I have some questions. What crimes are we talking about? Are the homeless to blame for all crimes that happen in the vicinity of a shelter? Again, what were the crimes committed in that alley?

    And another: "Sure Cornerstone has made some positive impact on the homeless, but thread isn’t really about Cornerstone’s work with the homeless."
    Thank you very much for being the first to admit some positive effect from Cornerstone's work. And, no, since this thread is about JPUSA it has to include the overall picture of the situation. Moreover, I go back to my earlier statement concerning the fact that if you take away Cornerstone's services (which has happened already) people suffer - namely disadvantaged ones.
    What I am hearing from many of the comments is a lack of compassion concerning the plight of not only homeless individuals - but also a lack of recognition regarding how difficult it is to keep a shelter open (and also at the same time be in compliance 100 percent of the time with city codes).
    So if JPUSA were 100 percent in compliance with city codes, would we still be hearing a lot of the "down with JPUSA" talk? I would guess that the answer would be yes. In that case, my question is why is yes the answer?

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  21. "You keep bringing up the poster issue... But should that kind of issue bring down an entire program that helps hundreds of people?"

    If JP/USA knew that the "poster issue" could bring down an entire program that helps hundreds of people, and still chose not to take them down in spite of the risk, wouldn't you agree that that shows a level of arrogance? Why wouldn't you, as someone who seems to support the organization and their initiatives, encourage them to follow the law and remove the posters, so as to not risk their non-profit status and ability to offer services?

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  22. Anon 6:25, I'd be happy to oblige.

    1. Besides Cornerstone’s men’s shelter which closed down, there is Sylvia Center, Hannah’s House, and Naomi’s Place all located on the 4600 block of Clifton; totaling 350 people. Also run by Cornerstone is Barnabas Project, another shelter located at 4656 N. Malden.

    2. Big crimes, small crimes, there are all kinds of crimes. The whole point is that Cornerstone should be doing a much better job of monitoring the area (a requirement from the Zoning Board of Appeals by the way). Salvation Army has little crime because they monitor the area outside their building. That’s what good neighbors who run social services do.

    3. By all means, let’s talk about the overall picture: Cornerstone flaunts being a good neighbor to the rest of the neighborhood, is arrogant in their disregard for requirements placed on them, and has therefore alienated many people in the community. That’s the overall picture.

    4. I’m not saying take away Cornerstone’s services, but it was a mistake to place so many shelters on one block and it was rather arrogant for Sylvia Center to disregard the requirements placed on it to remain there.

    This thread is about JPUSA’s ignoring requirements to remain a not-for-profit organization at risk for losing everything because of their arrogance. That’s been an overriding theme that keeps getting Cornerstone in trouble over and over again. They get called on it and play victim. That game doesn’t work anymore.

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  23. So anon coward, can we assume that work for the Alderbeast? I know it must hurt to have one of your electioneering schemes taken out from under you, but just accept that eventually the truth, justice and the American way prevail.

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  24. 1. "Besides Cornerstone’s men’s shelter which closed down, there is Sylvia Center, Hannah’s House, and Naomi’s Place all located on the 4600 block of Clifton; totaling 350 people. Also run by Cornerstone is Barnabas Project, another shelter located at 4656 N. Malden.
    By the way, Barnabas is not really an overnight shelter.

    Ok, you have just named just one shelter..lol
    In actuality, you have named parts of a shelter. One for single women; the others for families, ect.

    It is ludicrous to count parts of shelters (that each serve different populations) as "different" shelters...(I cannot stop laughing). They all cover the same piece of property.

    2. Big crimes, small crimes, there are all kinds of crimes. The whole point is that Cornerstone should be doing a much better job of monitoring the area..."

    Sorry, you need to be more specific. Were you referring to public urination as a "big" crime?
    So Cornerstone is responsible for "stopping" crime on their block? Are you joking?


    3. "By all means, let’s talk about the overall picture: Cornerstone flaunts being a good neighbor to the rest of the neighborhood, is arrogant in their disregard for requirements placed on them, and has therefore alienated many people in the community. That’s the overall picture."

    How does Cornerstone flaunt being a good neighbor? It is impossible for them to become "crime busters" in their block. They help hundreds of people who (guess what) ARE members of the community - just like any one of us.

    4. "I’m not saying take away Cornerstone’s services, but it was a mistake to place so many shelters on one block and it was rather arrogant for Sylvia Center to disregard the requirements placed on it to remain there."

    Thank you for saying that Cornerstone's services should not "all" be taken away. That is progress to me. But there you go again with the term "shelters." Many shelters in the Chicago area use the same large piece of property to house more than one population. In fact, it is often all they can do because of financial constraints. Cornerstone does a remarkably good job of housing several populations on the same property.


    5. "That’s been an overriding theme that keeps getting Cornerstone in trouble over and over again. They get called on it and play victim. That game doesn’t work anymore."

    Well, ok, they took down the posters. And they are still in existence. It is time to accept this reality that they survived (and will continue doing so) to help more people in need.

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  25. Well let's not forget that the Cornerstone Shelter was also operating a day care without a license until DCFS caught them and forced them into legal compliance. Once again, they took the funding but refused to follow the law.

    Arrogance and lack of concern for the safety of those they served.

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  26. What would Jesus do?

    Not lie and violate the law, I bet.

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  27. The person who is complaining that the Jesus People don't get paid enough to service people is twisting the argument.

    The Jesus People are structuring their operations to stick their personal earnings and personal assets into a corporation and then claiming poverty to get paid to care for themselves. If they have personal wealth, but simply use financial structures to hide it, they should not get paid at it for their own care!!!!

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  28. 1. "The person who is complaining that the Jesus People don't get paid enough to service people is twisting the argument."
    Umh, I surely never made that argument.

    2. "The Jesus People are structuring their operations to stick their personal earnings and personal assets into a corporation and then claiming poverty to get paid to care for themselves. If they have personal wealth, but simply use financial structures to hide it, they should not get paid at it for their own care!!!!"

    There is no evidence to support this very silly point.

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  29. 1. “Ok, you have just named just one shelter.”
    If you want to call it 1 shelter, be my guest, but be aware that they provide shelter to 350 people, making it easily 3 to 4 times larger than other surrounding shelters. (Hey, that would be 3 or 4 shelters!)

    2. “ Were you referring to public urination as a "big" crime?”
    The fact is that the surrounding residents are angry about the amount of any type of crime, be it public urination, public drinking, drug use, or murder. By the way, I really don’t think little children should be witnessing adults urinate, but call me overprotective. However, DCFS would agree.

    3. “ They help hundreds of people who (guess what) ARE members of the community - just like any one of us.”
    Cornerstone helps homeless people who come to Uptown for shelter. What residents have been saying for years, and what the Dept. of Human Services is now recognizing, is that it’s not appropriate for one neighborhood to be responsible for a disproportionate number of homeless in all of the Chicago metropolitan area. That’s not healthy for the community and it’s not healthy for the homeless.

    4. “Cornerstone does a remarkably good job of housing several populations on the same property.”
    I disagree about Cornerstone doing a good job. Like you, they have low standards on what constitutes good care.

    5. "Well, ok, they took down the posters. And they are still in existence. It is time to accept this reality that they survived (and will continue doing so) to help more people in need.”
    Cornerstone took down the posters after it was left up for many years when THEY KNEW IT WAS WRONG. It is now time to accept the reality that if they continue to flaunt the laws of the land, they will not survive.

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  30. I think anyone who continues to be "anonymous" in such a discussion can't be taken seriously.

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  31. sounds like someone drank the kool-aid!

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  32. Well, the Cornerstone supporter was at an extreme disadvantage. It's a piece of cake to debate someone when their argument is filled with flaws, half truths, and the acceptance of low standards.

    I think it's why many of Helen's supporters get so easily flustered on this site and leave. They might play victim and say they are getting picked on, but they start their arguments on some very shaky ground.

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  33. Well, the posters are down. The shelter's violations have been remedied for the most part, I think?

    Maybe JPUSA is on the way to becoming a good neighbor, in compliance with the laws and regulations? We can only hope. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the future.

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  34. I suspect taking down the pictures has more to do with their need to start their charter school there than it does with any real desire to change. And, their new charter school is being run by Slim Coleman and Helen's activist teacher from Joan Arai who goes way back as a writer on Shillers newspapers, so don't expect much change.

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  35. they are a cult. i wish they were gone (like all cults)

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  36. jon trott - what are you afraid of? people check out the chicago tribune articles and other articles about the jesus people cult activities. BTW what kind of car does tatoo jon drive around in?

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  37. anon 11:37 AM- Isn't property value what's really behind hating Schiller? I hate Daley, so I also kind of hate Schiller for associating herself so closely with him. But isn't your big problem with her is that she treats low-income residents (including the homeless and mentally ill) as citizens with equal rights? And as long as they're around your property values won't reach their full potential, right?

    But to claim that I've done no research is wrong. I paid close attention during the last election and know plenty about the goals of the James Cappleman bloc. I also have a good friend that teaches at Uplift. So there's that...

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  38. 1."# a neighbor says: May 19, 2008 7:38 AM

    1. "Well, the Cornerstone supporter was at an extreme disadvantage. It's a piece of cake to debate someone when their argument is filled with flaws, half truths, and the acceptance of low standards."

    Oh my, perhaps I am debating children (or is it adults who are simply childish).
    You obviously have no clue when it comes to the topic of effective debating. lol..
    I know a lot of people on this forum hate JPUSA. That is very sad. But guess what? The last time I looked they still exist (and will continue existing and helping people in the community).
    oh well.. : )

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  39. By the way, I am no Daley supporter. I would love to see him beaten in the next election.

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  40. Glad to hear you're an expert debater. I bet you caught the "ad hominen" attack that blamed residents for only being motivated by the value of their condos.

    The writing on the wall about social services that choose to remain bad neighbors in the community. I suggest you tell your fans at JPUSA to shape up or they will be booted out.

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  41. There was no violation. The code allows nonprofits to say anything they want as long as no election is looming.

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  42. Gee, I'm a member of a not-for-profit organization at work and we're not allowed to put up any signs or even wear buttons at work.

    Could you site your reference on this?

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  43. "Oh my, perhaps I am debating children (or is it adults who are simply childish).
    You obviously have no clue when it comes to the topic of effective debating. lol.."

    Gee, isn't this an ad hominen attack as well? I thought experts in debating wouldn't resort to this kind of thing.

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  44. 1. "Glad to hear you're an expert debater. I bet you caught the "ad hominen" attack that blamed residents for only being motivated by the value of their condos."

    1. I never claimed I was an expert debater (I am just absolutely right on the issue of whether or not JPUSA is in fact a "good" neighbor- and should therefore stay in the community to continue helping others.
    2. I never used that argument concerning residents being "motivated by the value of their condos."

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  45. If you only base being a good neighbor based on doing some good works, then Cornerstone is a good neighbor. However, there's a host of residents who would kindly disagree with you, thus all the many postings about JPUSA.

    JPUSA may want to be a victim and blame it on selfish evil condo owners or people who hate the homeless, but there is no basis for that. If that were true, there would be many complaints about Salvation Army family shelter on 4800 Marine Drive. There are not.

    It's long overdue for Cornerstone to have some semblance of accountability to the community. If they choose not to, in time they will lose their funding and they will be out of the neighborhood. Times are quickly changing. Cornerstone has a choice: be a good neighbor in the eyes of the rest of the community or continue their behavior and be on the way out. The choice is completely theirs.

    I have my hunch which way they will go.

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  46. Let us count the ways the Jesus People get paid with tax dollars, and therefore should be accountable to taxpayers to follow the laws:


    City Clerk Online City Contractors 2008 Ethics List for those contractors getting paid over $10,000:

    Source: http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_ATTACH/475_ReportJanuary2008.pdf

    1.CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY OUTRE 01, 920 W WILSON AVENUE EFT, CHICAGO, IL 60640
    2.CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, 939 W WILSON AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60640

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  47. There was no violation. The code allows nonprofits to say anything they want as long as no election is looming.

    Even if that's true (and I don't know that it is, or isn't), how to explain the posters' presence through many, many elections?

    And, the most egregious, the poster touting Daley/Shiller that stayed on the front door of JPUSA's HQ at 920 West Wilson right up until Election Day in 2007?

    They've put their 501(c)(3) status in jeopardy over and over again. I don't understand why they're so cavalier about it when they have a large stake in remaining a not-for-profit.

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  48. Let us count the ways the Jesus People have been exempted as a non-profit from paying taxes, and therefore should be accountable to follow the laws:

    County Assessor Tax Exemption:
    922 West Wilson SR0
    927 West Wilson SRO (the old Granada Apartments)

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  49. Let us count the ways the Jesus People operate as licensed entities, and therefore should be accountable to follow the laws:

    Source: EveryBlock.com 04/21/08
    Friendly Towers
    Location 920 W Wilson Ave (SRO)
    Issue Date: August 16, 2007
    License Type: Single Room Occupancy Class 1
    Expiration Date: July 15, 2009
    Structure: Corporation

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  50. FACE IT - Their days are numbered. More and more people are moving into this community. People that won't put up with the kind of crap JPUSA tries. We will prevail.

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  51. Seems like JPUSA are the last to know that they have been lousy neighbors to the rest of the community with the lousy way they have been managing their homeless shelters. How out of touch can you get? They keep blaming residents and never look at themselves.

    Like Helen, they have some catching up to do, but like Helen, it may be way too late.

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  52. For some EXCELLENT info on the Jpusa CULT go to http://www.exjpusahelp.com and click on the links!!

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  53. www.exjpusahelp.com has lots of info on Jpusa and helpful info for those who want to leave Jpusa.

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