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The runner up in the design contest, Caitlin Henehan, and her family met with City Clerk Susana Mendoza to discuss the decision to withdraw and issued a statement though the City Clerk's Office, NBCChicago.com reported.
Read the original report at NBCChicago.com
“While our daughter truly enjoyed participating in the design contest and was proud to see Chicago select her as the first runner up, what should have been a happy accomplishment in her life has now turned sour," Henehan's parents, Marty and Maria Henehan, said in a joint statement with the City Clerk's office.
Hebert Pulgar originally won the contest with more than 18,000 votes. However, production of his winning design was pulled after police sources and police blogs pointed out that elements of his design could be misinterpreted as gang signs tied to the Maniac Latin Disciples.
After a meeting with gang experts, Mendoza announced that the city would be going with the design of the runner-up, Caitlin Henehan. However, Pulgar would still receive his $1,000 prize for having the winning design.
"I don’t want to put any other child through what our entrants this year have gone through," said Medoza. "We are performing a review of the sticker design contest process and will learn from this experience. Should we decide to continue this contest, details will be made available well in advance of the 2013–2014 vehicle sticker season.”
(After Henehan pulled out, the city said all finalists would receive the $1,000 savings bonds that come with winning the design contest, The Associated Press reported.)
On Friday, the FBI increased the reward for Pulgar's father who is a suspected gang member and wanted for trafficking cocaine.
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So the original winner's father is a suspected gang member and wanted for trafficking cocaine? That's a good one.
But according to the kid he was not sending covert messages to gang members - in particular "dad".
Thanks to the police department for being dicks about it. Way to wreck a good time for some kids. Now that I think about it, the cops are really good at wrecking good times for kids.
So if your mom was killed by the Maniac Latin disciples it wouldn't bother you for the city to pay a gang member to advertise for the gang. I'm guessing you have never had a gang encounter.
I try not to criticise most of the articles on here, but damn, it just keeps getting harder and harder not to. Can anyone tell me why, the runner-up pulled out of the contest? Because the story sure as hell doesn't.
Wild guess, maybe 2nd place disagreed with the decision and didn't want to "win" like that. Wouldn't be the first time a kid showed more class and grace than adults.
runner up had no choice...the MASTERS and OWNERS of the police decided they wanted to use something else, and the kids can eF off and die for all they care... after all, if people start to get the idea that regular people can effect the police, well, that just won't do for the tyranny the police, politicians, and their OWNERS have designed for our short and painful oppressive futures as slaves.
It's because to many people complained that she drew 3 white people.
Public opinion branded her a racist.
Props to her and the original winner. Boos to the police for overthinking nothing.
A gang member was caught trying to sneak in his gang signs and colors. his facebook was loaded with 'representing' for his gang. And he has a long police record and sells drugs. His father is a coke dealer for the same gang.
As a lifelong Chicago resident, I'm afraid we're all suffering from a bad case of testosterone poisoning.
Did the first sticker design contain gang signs? Damn if I know. The original complaints came from a blog with an unprintable name (and frequently unprintable content) that's spozed to be popular with Chicago cops and from the Fraternal Order of Police (the union). Then Jody Weis, former Mayor Daley's last police commissioner who's now head of the Chicago Crime Commission, chimed in and agreed cuz he's just published a guide to gang iconography. And that's hilarious, because FOP and the unprintable-name blog absolutely hated Weis because he came in from the FBI (rather than up through the ranks), and fought everything he tried to do during his entire three-year term as commissioner. Meanwhile, Mayor Rahmbo tries to resolve issues with various unions (including the FOP) by playing hard guy in the media (rather than taking tough stands at the negotiating table). It's all entirely too "high school" for me.
If we hadn't managed to elect Toni Preckwinkle (a longtime alderman of the female persuasion) County Board president, I'd need to go out and get an estrogen shot....
Chicago. Love it. Crooked mayors, election fixing, and the worst President in history.
So George W Bush was from Chicago?????????????? WOW!! Thought he was from another state/city...
Best of luck to the kids who tried and F---Y-- to the PC officials who ruined it for them
Yes best of luck to all bloodthirsty gang members. God Bless Them. And their victims.
That's chicago for ya.Thier electeds control every facet of thier lives.
And who should have control over the city's contest to pick the city's logo for a year?
Why do kids need gangs - If their families at home were more supportive, Parents - your kids need you - don't be doing drugs or booze - know these are tough times, but you brought them into the world and they are your responsibility don't give up on them especially if you give up on yourself. As for the sticker, today being politically correct, you could call some of DaVinci's paintings as gang symbols - they have a extremely large following - known as the Catholic church. Political correctness has gotten out of way out of control. People shouldn't have to be afraid of calling it as they see it (wasn't that why people came to the United States in the first place, Freedom of Speech guaranteed to us by the Constitution.)
Medoza needs to be fired period.
It's nice know that chicago is in such good shape that they can waste time and money on this superfluous bull@!$%#.