RoykoForChicago

As Election day gets closer, I wanted this take a moment to share with you why I am running for 1st Ward Alderman. I believe that Chicago’s best days are ahead of us if we do away with false choices and work together. Please watch my video below #1stward #1stwardchicago

In 22 years covering the #Bears, not sure I’ve seen a head coach at Halas Hall more impressive than Ben Johnson was today in terms of command, confidence and eloquence. Winning a press conference means little but showing the ability to communicate matters—especially here and now.

Happy 92nd birthday to a Chicago legend—our friend Mike Royko!

The Newberry Library's free exhibit “Chicago Style: Mike Royko and Windy City Journalism" includes Royko’s Rolodex, his tweed hat and jacket, a reporter's notepad and more. trib.al/8ypFMUX

This is what I am talking about! This is awesome J.B. Pritzker eyes a $20 billion quantum-computing campus | Crain's Chicago Business ⁦@GovPritzker⁩ chicagobusiness.com/technology/pri…

Hi all, This morning we sent out a letter on Public Safety supported by ten other neighborhood organizations to our alderpeople, Cook County commissioners, the State's Attorney's Office, and the Mayor. I am attaching the image of the letter. We will host a press conference with Alderman Villegas next Wednesday, November 1st, at 9:30 at the Ukrainian Cultural Center, at 2247 W. Chicago Avenue to discuss public safety. If you or someone you know has been impacted by violent crime and would like to speak, please message me or join our discussion on the Greater West Town Community Page on Facebook.

Last night at the Wicker Park Committee meeting I pushed Alderman La Spata on crime. His response to me was that shootings are down, even though in some areas in our ward, armed robberies were up over 460% compared to the same month the previous year. I challenged him that so far, we’ve been lucky these robberies hadn’t escalated to more shootings. Let me be clear - our public safety plan has to be more than hope and luck. Today, a man over 60 years old was violently robbed and shot. One of our community members, his neighbor, found him, and called me after calling the police. I’m not sure if he’s going to make it, and it didn’t look good. Enough is enough. If we allow phrases, not plans, to be our only answer for violent crime - we will lose more of our neighbors, friends, and loved ones. I’m going to work around the clock to see what we as a community can do to help. We need to stop experimenting with failed policies. We need to start creating data backed plans to address crime now and to support all of our communities. And please - we need all the help we can get, so reach out if you’re willing to join me in this effort. This will not be easy, but we need to take action now.

“There used to be 50 bars between here and Oak Park Avenue,” he said. “Now, there’s maybe four. There’s hardly any bars left of Western. There used to be 3,000 bars in the city of Chicago. Now there’s maybe 1,000.” trib.al/shHPPNF

Thank you for your incredible support of our campaign and our fantastic team.   What started as a traumatic experience for Erin and me, has turned into something truly transformative. We have made many friends who will last a lifetime, and your support – and the community’s support - has been incredibly humbling.   Together, we have fought for safer communities through accountability, communication, and community policing. We have helped bring more attention to the urgency of addressing long-term systemic issues to break cycles of poverty, crime, and violence. We have advocated for Ward maps that represent community boundaries, not political ones. We have supported local businesses by finding creative solutions to better utilize our storefronts and parkways. And we have spent the last eight months running a positive campaign focused on public safety, constituent services, and the future of the 1st Ward.   I want to commend Alderman La Spata on a hard-fought race, it was decided by a handful of votes – a reminder that every vote matters.   While this was not the outcome we hoped for, everyone should be immensely proud of the work we put in. We put our heart and soul into this campaign. However, this is not the end. Let me promise you, I am not going anywhere. We will focus our efforts on working with our communities, and we will double our efforts to grow our community group, the Greater West Town Community Coalition (GWTCC), to give greater voice to people across the 1st Ward and neighboring communities.   Most importantly, we will work together to make sure our city thrives, and every resident feels like they have an ally. Thank you so much for your support. I look forward to fighting alongside you for a very long time.    Forever grateful,   Sam Royko

Election Day, April 4th, is coming up fast! #teamroyko is out today talking with neighbors about the upcoming #1stward runoff election. There is no time to lose, you can help by signing up to volunteer at roykoforchicago.com #1stwardchicago #logansquare #wickerpark #westtown

Thank you so much for outpouring of support. We have new volunteers every day, and continue to build a strong 1st Ward coalition. Please reach out if you are interested in helping the campaign: roykoforchicago.com/get-involved #1stward #1stwardchicago #runoff

While responding to a domestic violence related 911 call, a Chicago Police officer was shot and killed yesterday while working on duty. Another tragic loss of life. My deepest sympathies are with this officer’s family and friends.

#1stward #runoff We are fighting forward. Election Day is April 4th, 2023. Thank you for all the support, we could not have done this without so many dedicated 1st Ward volunteers and neighbors. #teamroyko #1stwardchicago

We are fighting forward. Thank you for all the support, what a day! #teamroyko #runoff #1stward #1stwardchicago

Still unclear if race for 1st Ward alderman will head to runoff or be over tonight. @SamRoyko’s campaign is “cautiously optimistic” & “fighting forward” as they watch for numbers from last precinct. Runoff does NOT happen if @DanielLaSpata clinches more than 50% @cbschicago

BREAKING: Ald. Daniel La Spata could be headed for a runoff against Sam Royko in the tight 1st Ward race. blockclubchicago.org/2023/02/28/ald…

Election morning is here! I’m so thankful to all of the volunteers across the #1stward today. Thank you so much for the support. Punch #54 for Sam Royko. #1stwardchicago

Thank you to @cbschicago for the interview, and for covering the #1stward race. #teamroyko #logansquare #wickerpark #westtown #eastvillage #noblesquare #westbucktown #ukrainianvillage #pulaskipark #palmersquare @LaurenVictory #1stwardchicago

I am humbled by the support this campaign has received from neighbors across the #1stWard. Residents deserve a representative that can work together with the community and with colleagues in City Hall. Punch #54 on Election Day for Sam Royko. #1stwardchicago #chicagoelections

1st Ward residents deserve a representative that can work together with the community and with colleagues in City Hall. I’m running for 1st Ward Alderman so I can help move the city forward. #1stward #1stwardchicago #wickerpark #westtownchicago #logansquare #noblesquare #chicago

Election Day for 1st ward Alderman is Tuesday, February 28, and I am asking for your vote. We can have safer streets and common sense values. #teamroyko #1stward #1stwardchicago #logansquare #wickerpark #westtown #westownchicago #noblesquare #eastvillage #ukrainianvillage