By Chinta Strausberg:

Born in the shadows of Chicago’s Rockwell Garden housing development and raised in Cabrini Green, Ald. Walter Burnett, Jr. has transformed his life and that of his very diverse ward so much so that he is being challenged by a banker who doesn’t think he deserves to oversee such a successful ward.

The son of a Cabrini Green precinct captain, Burnett, worked side-by-side with his father, Walter Burnett, Sr., doing precinct work. As a child, he thought his father’s connecting people with services was like magic. Sadly, his father died one month before Burnett was elected in 1995. “He was my biggest campaign worker…bragging to everybody about his son,” reflected Ald. Burnett.

But as an adult, Burnett soon learned running a ward and connecting people to services was hard work that enabled him to bear the fruits of his labor. “I built this ward up too good for myself.   I’ve made the ward successful and prosperous, and now they think I am not deserving to have it.”

But Ald. Burnett’s track record speaks for itself. He has saved foreclosed housing bringing them back to life. He voted for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) dollars to be used to purchase and rehab foreclosed housing. Legally, TIF funds are to be used to improve blighted areas, and Burnett fought to get his fair share for his community. He was the lead sponsor for this ordinance.

So, it’s kind of strange that a banker would run against such a seasoned and successful alderman who has literally brought his ward back to life and into the limelight. The 27^th Ward is a beacon of success and outshines many of Chicago’s 77 communities. Burnett explains the irony of being opposed by a banker.

“Banks did a lot of predatory lending in our community,” he said. “I am trying to help clean up what the banks left behind, and now a banker wants to take it over.”

Proud of his record, Burnett said, “I bought a lot of economic development to the ward like Google. We were able to secure UILAB that was funded through the President to help manufacturing companies do research and development and help businesses to come up with new ideas and technologies. We were able to get some of the top restaurants in the country to come to this ward.”

With remapping, Ald. Burnett’s ward extends from Clark Street to almost Pulaski, North Avenue to the Eisenhower. “We have the medical district, Old Town, Greek Town, West Loop, Near West, East Garfield Park and West Humboldt Park.  “This is a very diverse area, and we’ve built it up,” he said proudly explaining the 27^th Ward was once not so desirable.

“When I became aldermen, Cabrini Green was Cabrini Green. A lot of businesses were closed. Greek Town didn’t have a lot of vibrancy. The West Loop was Skid Row and the Near West was still suffering from the Dr. Martin Luther King fire. “We’ve cleaned all of that up, built it up and now that I’ve made it a prominent diverse area, folks think it is too good for me to have,” said Burnett.

“We’ve brought in new schools, the new parks, the Jesse White Center in Cabrini Green where the Jesse White Tumblers train. “We’ve been able to transform Henry Horner and Cabrini Green to be more attractive communities and they are diverse now. We are now doing the same thing with Rockwell.

“We have brought several grocery stores to the community that hired from the community like Mariana, Pete’s, Jewel’s, Whole Foods  and I have two fresh markets on the drawing board,” the alderman said.

“We have the Bulls Training Center and we are looking to bring the Blackhawks Training Center to the ward. We were able to help with the Murlac House gym where Isiah Thomas learned to play basketball. We got a new gym put in as recreation for the kids in the neighborhood.

“We’ve had several SRO’s built in the ward, a veteran building, several senior buildings and homes for women and children with AIDS, and a new Salvation Army on the West Side.

“We have new schools like Westinghouse, Crane’s medical school, Malcolm X College. Rowe Clark High School (new) and the new Skinner School all having a community component to allow citizens to attend.

“We’ve been able to rebuild several parks from the community from the East end to the West end new parks have been built. We’ve been able to beautify the streets with flowers and trees. We have been able to do all of this by sharing our power with the community,” explained Burnett.

“We helped to create several community organizations to give them a voice and allow them to get engaged with what is happening in the ward and to help me direct what they need.

“We have been blessed to have the favor of God on our side to make a difference though we came from humble beginnings,” Ald. Burnett stated.

Referring to the time when he got into trouble with the law, Burnett said, “I made a mistake as a kid, got my feet back on the ground and pull my self up and ever since God has given me another chance, I’ve been working….

“We also work very closely at my church, First Congressional Baptist Church where I am a deacon.” Burnett is also involved with the prison ministry. “Because of my past, I visit jails and prisons once a month…sometimes three times a month and share my story and plight with the inmates inspiring them to do better.

“I have been doing that since the late 1990’s. I love it. That is my ministry. I thank God for the opportunity to be able to share and let people know that your past does not equal your future. Like Moses, no matter what your mistake is God can make you a leader and productive citizens in our society,” said Burnett.

Always reaching out to the youth, Burnett has been an assistant coach of the Jesse White Tumblers for the past ten-years. He attended both Harold Washington College and the University of Illinois at Chicago before earning an associate Degree and a Certificate in Mechanical Drafting from Southeastern Illinois University He earned his Bachelor’s Degree while he was a full time alderman in 1998 from Northeastern Illinois University. He is also a financial advisor and is a licensed life and health insurance agent.

Burnett, who is serving his fourth term, is chairman of the Special Events and Cultural Affairs Committee and a sitting member of seven committees: Budget and Government Operations, Buildings, Rules and Ethics, Education, Finance, Health, Police and Fire and the Zoning Reform Board.

Burnett also serves on the Board of the following organizations: The United Center Economic Development Board, Leslie’s Place, Harold Washington Advisory Board, CHA Alumni Association, St. Leonard’s Ministries Advisory Board, Family Guidance Centers, Inc. Advisory Board, Deborah’s Place, Haymarket Center Advisory Board, the YMCA Youth and Government Advisory Board, and The Inner Voice, Inc. Burnett is also a member of St. John Masonic Lodge, Shriners, and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, and a former member of the Elks and Near North Kiwanis.

A 52-year-old father of two and grandfather of three, Ald. Burnett is married to Darlena Wiliams-Burnett who is Chief Deputy Recorder of Deeds for Cook County and the State Central Committeewoman of the 7^th Congressional District.

###