This Is About Structural Power @WTPMTV

Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

"This is about financial and economic control over the decisions that impact our society." - Larry Kaul

“This book brings clarity about power.” - Jane Weber McCarthy

Unsafe Black Voice examines how power centralizes itself quietly...through delay, alignment, and narrative control.

If you’ve ever felt decisions were made before the public conversation began, this book will feel familiar.

Book links below.

#UnsafeBlackVoice #InstitutionalPower #PoliticalSystems #NarrativeControl
#meleikagardner

$✅ Evanston Residents… You Need to See This I’m sharing a short 9-minute clip from Tuesday night’s Housing & Community Development Committee meeting. This is the moment where I said, “I don’t know if the Feds need to come in and do a forensic audit or what’s going on.” Why did I say that? Because none of this makes sense. We have a city sitting on multi-millions, including the Northwestern Affordable Housing Fund, yet staff pushed back on a property tax relief program over $500,000, a tiny fraction of available housing dollars. Meanwhile, we have NO property tax relief program in the Strategic Housing Plan. None. Some residents are being squeezed by rising taxes. People in Evanston are making impossible choices...pay the tax bill or pay for medicine...fix the roof...or keep the lights on. Transparency Under Delay After submitting my FOIA request for the full, unedited recording: The City initially classified it as a commercial request, giving them 21 days to respond - unacceptable. After I contacted the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, the City clerk’s office now says they will respond by November 27, 2025. Until then, I’m sharing my own recording of my public comment so you can see exactly what I said, unedited and uncut. Note: The full video of the HCDC meeting has not yet been uploaded by the City at the time of this post - keep checking for the official release. And let me be clear: This is public information. Sharing it with the community is not a commercial purpose under FOIA. Transparency & Accountability: Staff Actions and Recognition During my public comment, I raised that Liza Roberson Young, Chief Policy Advisor, provided little to no assistance on this program over the past year. All related communications can be FOIA’d. It is also important for residents to be aware that staff positions and salaries, including additions to payroll, sometimes happen without council approval. Occasionally, some staff receive awards that leave community members wondering about the criteria, while others clearly really deserve recognition for their work. And now, just waiting for some “Chief Legislative Adviser Award”, that nobody has ever heard of; to suddenly become a thing…a reminder that awards and recognition don’t always line up with results or accountability. Meanwhile, other staff who genuinely deserve recognition continue to be overlooked. This highlights the need for transparency and accountability in city staffing and resource allocation. A Pattern of Devaluing the Work & Hypocrisy At the November 10, 2025 City Council meeting: Councilmember Shawn Iles referred to the program as “intent” instead of acknowledging the months of careful work in the packet. While he works at a homeless shelter, he was on board with stalling and delaying this program - a measure that could help residents at risk of becoming unhoused or struggling with rising property taxes. Councilmember Jonathan Nieuwsma called it “just a kernel of an idea,” further devaluing the careful work of residents, housing experts, and community advocates. These statements and actions show a troubling disconnect: supporting help only for those already unhoused while delaying programs that could prevent families from losing their homes. Property Tax Circuit Breaker Program Update & Council Debate City staff confirmed the program will be on the January 20, 2026 HCDC agenda, separate from the Strategic Housing Plan. While there is a serious debate on council over whether the City of Evanston even needs to raise taxes, there is a clear divide in approach: Some council members have consistently favored policies and funding decisions that benefit developers or outside organizations, rather than programs that directly help residents struggling with rising property taxes. Other council members recognize that the City is sitting on significant funds, which could be used to provide relief without creating a heavy burden on residents. This split makes it clear: if the five pro-developer council members win the vote, residents without a protective program could face a heavy tax burden and limited support, while resources remain available elsewhere. This is why the January 20 HCDC meeting matters - your voice matters. Residents need a mechanism in place before decisions are made that affect every family in Evanston. What Residents Can Do Reach out to EVERY member of the Housing Community & Development Committee: ✔ Councilmembers ✔ Community members ✔ Anyone with a vote or influence Tell them you support the Evanston Property Tax Circuit Breaker Program. Unless you are insulated in wealth, rising taxes aren’t a matter of if they will hit you…but when. Families are holding on. Residents are being priced out. The time to act is now. Watch this clip. See what I said. Stay informed. Stay engaged. Contact HCDC members before January 20, 2026. #EvanstonIL #EvanstonHousing #HCDC #PropertyTaxRelief #CircuitBreakerProgram #EvanstonResidents$

⚠️ WAKE UP, EVANSTON! THIS ISN’T “PROGRESS.” IT’S A TAKEOVER.

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