2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina slated to be the "People's Convention" per First Lady Michelle Obama

I received an email from First Lady Michelle Obama, (as I am sure did millions of others), soliciting my opinion about the Democratic National Committee Convention to be held in 2012.  She indicated the desire of our President to make this convention the “People’s Convention.”

                                           Rendering of USX Site Future Development

                                                    Proposed Site on The South Side of Chicago

The following are the questions and my responses peppered with shameless plugs for the Obama Library.

How do you think the convention could be brought to your community?

I live in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago, IL a few blocks from the South Shore Chicago Cultural Center where you and the President started your life as husband and wife.

There is so much gentrification going on in our neighborhood.  This is a good thing.  However, I fear that across this country many residents of inner city neighborhoods will be displaced, not fairly compensated for their property or ultimately priced out of the “New Urbanism” neighborhoods that are created within our inner cities.

Chicago has been hard hit by foreclosures and a 200,000 person population decline of predominately African Americans.

The USX site is located on the south east side of Chicago.  We are hoping that this site will be seriously considered as a future site for President Obama's Library.

I believe that we can also use this site as a satellite to host and broadcast DNC convention events in Chicago.  This would give the USX site great visibility throughout the nation.  This visibility would also showcase the merits of our lake front location as a stellar option for President Obama's Library as well as a destination point and catalyst for economic growth on the south side.

Most important would be the power of hosting a satellite national convention on the south side of Chicago on the site of the former USX  Steel Company where thousands were employed ,  afforded a living wage and a more prosperous life for the workers and the surrounding community.   This site is reminiscent of the America we must become again, a producer nation not a consumer nation.  This site is our glorious past and our promising future.  This site has the opportunity to be all inclusive.

It is my understanding that President Obama started his career in public service as an organizer working with and for the steel workers at this very site.

This area is bordered by very diverse grass roots communities; African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian.

It would be great to have a permanent structure from the 46^th Convention,"The People's Convention", as the site of the Obama Presidential Library.

How would you like to see service play a role in this convention?

Selection of the USX site, a USGBC site for Neighborhood Development, as well as a model for New Urbanism would honor to the past as well as herald the future in America.  This would be a wonderful time to highlight green jobs, sustainable communities, and how everyone can prepare for and participate in the revitalization of America.  Reminiscent of the beginnings of the Museum of Science and Industry, a Southside Green Technology Training Center and the Obama Library could remain and usher in a new era of innovation and prosperity.  J   What a great service and legacy.

The service that can be provided would be to reach out to all the 50 wards in Chicago and all the congressional districts to send representatives to our DNC convention satellite location on the southern lake shore of Chicago, Chicago Lakeside.

Provide a location for educating the community about green jobs complete with providers for training and retraining to prepare our residents to work in the development of the USX site and to manufacture and service the green technology products which will be used in the development.

Where do you typically watch the convention?

I watch at home on TV.

What would get your friends and neighbors more interested in the convention?

Genuine inclusion in the reshaping of America in their own backyard as well as unabridged access to the information and opportunities coming to their backyard with the USX Development and other projects nationwide providing “green Jobs”, would serve as a tremendous motivator for participation in the Peoples Convention.  The opportunity to redirect the youth who are aimlessly populating the corners of our neighborhoods with no hope towards a bright future of productivity, prosperity and inclusion, coupled with the opportunity to be in the know would be a tremendous incentive.  Knowledge is said to be power… power to the people.

This can truly be where preparation meets opportunity.   The opportunities are coming to the south side of Chicago.  Let’s make sure the residents of the south side and the entire city are adequately informed and prepared. 

God Bless America.

To tell Michelle where you and your neighbors would go to be a part of the "Peoples Convention" follow the link below...

http://my.barackobama.com/PeoplesConvention-inv

South Shore... Chicago's Golden Shore: Where do you want to see the Obama Presidential Li...

South Shore... Chicago's Golden Shore: Where do you want to see the Obama Presidential Li...: "Ald. Jackson Wants Obama Presidential Library at USX Chicago Alderman Sandi Jackson (7th Ward) says she’s found the “perfect locatio..."

Where do you want to see the Obama Presidential Library?

Ald. Jackson Wants Obama Presidential Library at USX

Chicago Alderman Sandi Jackson (7^th Ward) says she’s found the “perfect location” for the Barack Obama Presidential Museum and Library: the old USX site on the South Side.

“The old USX site in South Shore would be absolutely perfect for the Obama Presidential Museum and Library.  It’s the President’s old stomping grounds.  It’s where he began his career as a community organizer; it’s near his home; near the University of Chicago where he taught; and near his old State Senate district. Additionally, it’s a beautiful lakefront location, and it’s available,” said the Alderman.

“It would be similar to the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, which is on the waterfront in JFK’s hometown.  In Chicago, this would join the Bean and Navy Pier as another tourist destination.”

Jackson, who unveiled the proposal today, noted that Presidential Libraries typically draw several hundred thousand visitors a year.  She also noted that Presidential Libraries often spur significant new development in the surrounding neighborhoods.

“The Lincoln Library brings in millions of dollars in tourism every year to Springfield,” she said.  “And in Little Rock, the new Clinton Presidential Museum attracted more than $1 billion in neighborhood redevelopment.”

As envisioned, Jackson said the Obama Library could be located in the old USX property along Lake Michigan near 79^th Street.  “The 500-acre lakefront site is large, pollution-free, and offers great views of the skyline.  A Presidential Library typically needs about 20 and 30 acres, so there is plenty of room.  The city has already begun building new access roads throughout the site, but the overall development plans are still taking shape,” she said.

Jackson suggested that the Obama Library could be built with several local partners, including the Chicago Park District, the Chicago museum campuses, Chicago Public Schools, and the nearby University of Chicago and Chicago State University.

“The Presidential Museum could be surrounded by parkland.  Local schools could use it as a resource.  It would enhance the city’s already spectacular museum community. And U of C and CSU could play roles in research and archiving,” the Alderman said.

Jackson has been working for years with city planners, USX (property owners), and a private development team headed by the McCaffery Interests to redevelop the old US Steel mill site.