Hull House closes doors after more than 120 years

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

CHICAGO (AP) — Hull House, the Chicago social services organization founded more than 120 years ago by the Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams, closed Friday after running out of money.
The agency said the poor economy resulted in more demand for its services but also made it harder to raise money to cover its costs. Hull House has been providing child care, job training, housing assistance and other services for 60,000 people a year in the Chicago area.
The agency had announced plans to close in the spring, but Friday's shutdown was unexpected, striking some 300 employees with a devastating and unexpected blow. They received layoff notices and final paychecks and then spent the day packing their belongings and saying tearful good-byes. Many said they were startled to learn their insurance ended almost two weeks ago.
"It's been my life," said Dianne Turner, who spent 25 years teaching families in Chicago housing projects how to break the cycle of poverty. "It wasn't about the pay. It was about seeing a family go from feeling hopeless to being hopeful and feeling like they can do things."
more:
http://news.yahoo.com/hull-house-closes-doors-more-120-years-183258990.html

[judesedit]

1. OMG So much for the trickle-down economy Reagan/Bush touted.Thank the greedy, glutonous millionaires

and billionaires. They take everything and give NOTHING back. I can donate $10.00 if that can start the fundraiser ball rolling. It's inexcusable what the wealthy have done to this country and the world, for that matter. The crummy "conservatives" make money on the backs of many, yet claim they did it all by themselves. Meanwhile, they are using the many amenities this country's taxpayers have provided, such as roads and highways, the electrical grid, the public water supply, etc. etc. They don't mind destroying it along the way either. They sure take advantage of all of the government programs, also; funding, tax write-offs, just for a couple of examples. The 99% have begun to take back this country and demand equality. The grass roots will help you with small donations. I'm sure they weren't even aware of your situation. Tell me where to give in hopes many will follow so you can reopen and rehire your employees. For starters....GET THE MONEY OUT OF POLITICS!

[closeupready]

40. Yes, what happened to Hull House is yet more evidence of the lie that lowering taxes on the

wealthiest will result in the same social safety net, but financed privately. It doesn't happen. And more people end up suffering, as a result.

[secondwind]

2. Where are the compassionate conservatives on this?

Koch Brothers are now infiltrating our universities so that they can have power to change young people's minds.

Why can't they find compassion for the poor in Chicago? What's a couple of million to those two? I get so mad!

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

3. Remember, these assholes say we should cut govt aid to the poor

because charities can do the job alone - provided they actually get donations, of course

[Beartracks]

43. That gets to the whole point of democratic self-rule, too.

To guarantee for ALL citizens the things that are essential to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that are best not left to the vagaries of human whim or economic mood swings.

Government services weren't developed to steal power from the private sector; they were developed specifically because the private sector cannot reliably provide those services. Businesses are businesses; governments are governments. Governments can't be run like private enterprise because their purposes are different. Likewise, private enterprise can't be depended on for the provision of public services.

=====================

[stockholmer]

6. plenty of rich on the left could step up too, would love to see this saved, no matter who funds it

Provided it comes no ideological strings attached, of course (especially from the right).

[nanabugg]

14. Would be nice for Warren Buffet and/or Gates to donate a couple of million to keep them in business

And pay the healthcare insurance for all the employees for the next two year. It wouldn't even be a drop in the bucket for those two.

[iemitsu]

19. bill gates does not care about anything but profit.

don't confuse him with buffet.

[stockholmer]

39. Buffett is pure oligarchic scum as well, just cloaked in a bullshite 'aw shucks' PR machine

Do 'hero's' do things like this?


Buffett – trading on inside information – steals $3.7 billion from the American taxpayer.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-18/buffett-generates-3-7-billion-from-goldman-investment-made-during-crisis.html

"Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A) has made about $3.7 billion, including paper profits, from its $5 billion investment in Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) at the depths of the financial crisis in 2008.

Goldman Sachs today said it will pay $5.65 billion to redeem preferred stock it sold to Berkshire. The price includes the original investment, plus a 10 percent premium and first- quarter dividend. Berkshire still holds warrants to buy $5 billion of the New York-based bank’s common stock with a strike price of $115 per share, which have generated a paper profit of more than $1.9 billion, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Buffett invested in Goldman Sachs following the collapse of rival securities firm Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. Under terms of the deal, Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire collected a $500 million annual dividend on the preferred stake. Goldman Sachs closed at $159.96 today on the New York Stock Exchange, compared with $84.39 at the end of 2008..................................."


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

key quote "Goldman Sachs’s redemptions are “unwelcome,” Buffett said Feb. 26 in his annual letter to shareholders. “After they occur, our earning power will be significantly reduced"

In other words, Buffett wants to keep his hand further in the Goldman Sachs till, as they continue to financially rape and pillage.

flashback video

Charlie Munger (Buffett's long time Berkshire partner), tells the US people that "Thank God that bank bailouts came before handouts" to them and that the Americans need to just "Suck it up and cope"

&feature=player_embedded

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What bailouts you might ask? The $700 billion in Tarp? No no no, how does over $23.7 TRILLION (much to foreign banks) sound?

U.S. Rescue May Reach $23.7 Trillion, Barofsky Says (article from 2009)

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aY0tX8UysIaM

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, many said that this figure would NEVER come into play, that at most the totals would be another 700 billion (similar to TARP).

well.......................................... HELLO:

http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=9e2a4ea8-6e73-4be2-a753-62060dcbb3c3

Senator Bernie Sanders: The FedRes Audit – “U.S. Provided a Whopping $16 Trillion in Secret Loans To Bail Out US And Foreign Banks”

http://sanders.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/GAO%20Fed%20Investigation.pdf

(go to page 144, 3 of the Buffett-related banks, Wachovia, Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo, got over $1.1 TRILLION in guarantees and zero or near zero interest loans)

and this

another disclosure, different from Bernie Sanders' audit

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/08/the-feds-secret-12-trillion-bailout-of-wall-street/243938


Wall Street Aristocracy Got $1.2 Trillion in Fed’s Secret Loans

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-21/wall-street-aristocracy-got-1-2-trillion-in-fed-s-secret-loans.html

Goldman Sach's (whilst Buffett was a significant share holder (see above), got around $70 Billion in bailouts and loans, Wells Fargo, another $45 Billion, and Wachovia got $50 Billion. That is another 165 billion to Buffett-related banks.


Between just these 2 Federal Reserve disclosures, 3 of the Buffet-related, partially or majority Buffett-directed received almost $1.3 TRILLION in secret bailouts, guarantees, and zero or near zero loans (which they turned around and leveraged out for billions in skimmed profits.)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Buffet and Drug Laundering Money:

Wachovia (now Wells Fargo under Warren Buffett) laundered $378.4 BILLION in drug cartel money, yet paid a fine of only $160 million.

That is equal to laundering a million, and paying a 423 dollar fine. A speeding ticket is more than that in certain cities. Buffett was completely involved in the negotiations to lower the fines.

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2011/04/wachovia-paid-trivial-fine-for-nearly-400-billion-of-drug-related-money-laundering.html


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Buffett and the Mortgage Fraud Class Action Lawsuit (Buffett now has massive shares in 2 Huge Banks, Wells Fargo and Bank of America that are squarely in Schneiderman's Target Zone):

Buffett Is Betting Against Eric Schneiderman

http://www.thestreet.com/story/11231295/1/buffett-is-betting-against-eric-schneiderman.html

Perhaps. But, if so, the next time banks get government help won't go down like it did last time.

Warren Buffett announced Thursday he will take a stake in Bank of America, paying $5 billion for 50,000 cumulative preferred shares, each with a liquidation value of $100,000.

This investment has already raised red flags in the investment community, with the announcement coming days after Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan vehemently denying that the bank needed capital. Also, the terms of the deal -- specifically the outsized dividend -- have led at least one prominent analyst to declare: "There's no way the bank can make money." http://www.thestreet.com/story/11230870/1/buffett-to-invest-5-billion-in-bank-of-america.html

So what exactly are Bank of America(BAC_) and Warren Buffett up to?

They're betting against New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

Schneiderman is investigating the foreclosure practices of major banks; http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/233633-schneiderman-removed-from-mortgage-deal-committee opposing any mortgage/foreclosure settlement that gives banks a release from criminal investigations in exchange for civil fines.

In this sense, he's a lone wolf, getting booted from multi-state mortgage-settlement talks http://www.thestreet.com/story/11229482/1/new-york-ag-booted-from-mortgage-talks.html while facing pressure from the Obama administration to accept "blood money" in exchange for banker immunity. http://www.thestreet.com/story/11226640/1/obama-wants-schneiderman-to-back-off-banks-report.htmlThe proposed settlement of $20 billion would protect mortgage servicers such Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Ally Financial from further mortgage investigations. For perspective, the laughably small settlement is less than a single year's Wall Street bonus pool.

clip
-----------------------------------------------

my thoughts

The $20 billion settlement is is actually 7 and a half times less than Wall street paid itself in bonuses for just 2010.($150 billion)

http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/video/wall-street-bonuses-150-billion/383180

Buffett despises a true investigators like Schneiderman, and actively worked, along with the other bankster oligarchs behind the scenes to pressure his removal.

Furthermore, Buffett, per the terms of his $5 billion investment in Bank of America, gets paid back before ANYONE else, even the US government, in the event of BOA's demise.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Buffett also played his typical disinfo campaign in regards to the rating agencies (talking trash about them, but reaping huge profits through his large holdings in Moody's, as they blatantly mis-rated mortgages in the sub-prime debacle)

http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010062202/warren-buffett-rating-agencies-and-corruption

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Buffett and derivatives:

Let’s Hold Benedict Arnold Billionaire Warren Buffett Accountable

http://www.alternet.org/story/146795/let%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2%84%A2s_hold_benedict_arnold_billionaire_warren_buffett_accountable

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[font color=blue]Lastly, let me turn to Buffett and his widely played remarks calling for higher taxes on the rich for capital gains and dividends.

Buffett owns HUGE shares in companies, he cannot easily pull out of a stock without destroying its market value. He also is known for long term holding, and reaping huge profits, and if his companies get in trouble, he goes running to the government to bail him out.

So, what better to ensure a stock's price than raising the penalty on ALL OTHERS for pulling out by taxing that capital gain at a much higher rate. He is actually calling for the government to force people to stay in stocks much longer than they would have, due to tax penalties. Meanwhile, he completely benefits, as this captive group of investors now is much less likely to abandon the firms that he holds huge shares in. Meanwhile Buffett and his fellow ilk will use ultra-complicated (and previously illegal) accounting methods to offset the increase in taxes he would have paid via losses that he will say he incurred. [/font color]

I completely agree the truly rich should pay more, as the US tax system is designed to smash small and medium sized firms, whilst the big multinationals, who basically wrote the tax code through lobbyist pressure, pay next to nothing. But Warren Buffett's plans are a sham, a scheme, and also will hurt, once again the small investor and small businesses, who employ 70% of all Americans.


--------------------------------------------

If Warren Buffett, (a billionaire who has consistently used his privileged position to suckle off a bastardized version of crony capitalism which has morphed into corporate fascism through its confluences with the deepest cores of state power) is a 'hero', then........... HOW LOW the thresholds for the heroes of our age have fallen..........

[iemitsu]

47. no, this is not the behavior of a hero.

quite a collection you have here.
thanks.

[Posteritatis]

23. They are busy conserving their compassion. (nt)

[Beacool]

50. Where are the Democrats?

This is the Obamas' city. How about the first lady organizing a fund raiser to call attention to their plight?

[tomp]

4. a little notice to employees would have been nice. nt

[leveymg]

5. With an Admin. dominated by Chicago pols, they couldn't scrape together a few bucks to keep it open?

I thought it was Spring Time on Wall Street and for the Dow Industrials, again. Guess that hasn't trickled-down.

[RKP5637]

7. Another stake in the ground as America progresses on its path to dystopia. Thank you Mr. Reagan,

what a grand and wonderful president, NOT.

[MaineDem]

8. What a shame!

The Blues Brothers need to put the band back together.

Seriously, I remember reading about this when I was in grammar school. Jane Addams had a very inspiring story.

[The Wizard]

17. The Band

That's it, the band.

[xxqqqzme]

35. I rememer learning about it in

Social Studies class in 4th or 5th grade. I also remember reading about Jane Addams in one of those blue cloth bound biography series where the pictures were in silhouette.

[Art_from_Ark]

45. I first learned about Jane Addams from my stamp collection

http://www.mysticstamp.com/viewProducts.asp?sku=878

Shortly after that, we read a story about her in social studies class (like you, it was either 4th or 5th grade )

[Justice wanted]

9. So sad. This is unreal.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. Earlier thread in GD

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002230606

[izquierdista]

11. Had the U.S. taken a different path...

We might be reading
"The agency said the socially responsible economy resulted in less demand for its services. Hull House had been providing child care, job training, housing assistance and other services for 60,000 people a year in the Chicago area, at the height of their operations, but with more government programs coming on line, in the last year only 600 needed them.
The agency had announced plans to close in the spring, and Friday's shutdown was earlier than expected, with some 30 employees gathering for a final farewell. They spent the day packing their belongings and saying tearful good-byes, but all said that social work was the most rewarding of all."

Yes, we could be reading that paragraph, had the U.S. taken a different course 32 years ago and decided to emulate the Scandinavian countries. I don't think you'll find much need for a Hull House in Oslo or Stockholm.

[nanabugg]

13. You mean those damn socialist nations? :sarcasm:

I just hate it when hate takes over!

[nanabugg]

12. I just hate any employer to fire people without at least two week notice.

You come into work and get a pink slip? Not nice. Your insurance is cancelled two weeks prior to your knowledge? I thought this couldn't be done under the new healthcare program? WTF is going on in this country?

[Irishonly]

15. It just makes me ill

It is just wrong on so many levels.

[MADem]

16. What a crime.

Outreach agencies like that should only close because the services they provide are no longer needed.

This is a real shame.

[xchrom]

18. wow! nt

[newspeak]

20. this is so damn sad

Eleanor roosevelt worked for hull house. Every child should know about jane addams, unfortunately, I didn't learn about jane addams until I went to college. We need more jane addams in the country and less of the corrupt greedheads she fought against.

There's got to be something to save it. We need hull house more than ever today.

[JDPriestly]

21. This is a sign of the lack of values of our society at this time.

Jane Addams was one of the heroes of my childhood.

I noticed on Romney's list of contributions from his trust that he had donated $25,000 each to the Federalist Society and to the Heritage Foundation.

Imagine what good he could have done had he given that money to Hull House instead?

[newspeak]

22. his goal is not to do good for the "undeserving working poor"

his goal is to donate money to unthink tanks to further an agenda. Those two organizations do more damage and hurt more americans while "catapulting" corporations and wealth over everyone else. Shows you where his heart is and it's not for those who are suffering in this country.

[judesedit]

25. Exactly. It's all about Romney and that's all it will ever be. Newty boy no different.

They suck us dry.

[valerief]

32. You mean Mr. Moneyvacuum and Mr. Soulsucker. nt

[judesedit]

24. I wish this had reached the national spotlight so the poor could help the poor. The rich bastards

won't let go of a penny. They don't even pay their bills or the contractors they hire half the time. And the real greedy slime tries to get out of paying for their restaurant bills by screaming and hollaring about how lousy the food was....AFTER they've licked the plate clean. Of course the establishment will just want them out of the building. Could these bought and paid-for scumbags be any more disgusting! Sorry, Hull House, I would have helped if I had known. And I'm sure others among the 99% would have, too.

[EFerrari]

28. Somebody got too tired to fight any more.

Such a shame.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

37. What's the going price for a football game ticket. Hmm.

Priorities ?
Give them cake and circuses.

[UpInArms]

26. I remember when the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy were being pushed - they said

that all that money that would be paid in taxes would be given to all those organizations - wow! didn't that work great!

Hurrah for the 1%ers!

What a bunch of philanthropic givers!

[tooeyeten]

27. what happened

to all those millionaire and billionaire givers lauded by the GOP?

Nevertheless, I find this very disturbing .

[newspeak]

36. yeah, the repug mindset

get rid of all government programs that help people and allow the churches, and those with the money to help those they DEEM worthy. I just love those jars at the store, donate money for some poor sick child because their parents don't have enough to get them treatment.

And then when they do get their way and get rid of the programs that help people, the compassionless wealthy will donate, not to the needy or ill, but to the unthink tanks, just like Romney and his ilk.

[tooeyeten]

42. about that church thing

another way for the GOP to turn over the country to the religious fundamentalists, missionary work right here; while successfully eliminating government aid to people, and more to corporations.

[Odin2005]

29. I'm. Speechless.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

30. Compare, however, "The Jane Addams Hull-House Museum is not closing!"

From
http://www.uic.edu/jaddams/hull/_museum/visitors.html

"We are so sorry to hear about the closing of the Jane Addams Hull-House Association. We applaud their many years of hard work to improve social conditions for underserved people and communities in the city of Chicago. Despite this sad news, we are grateful that the legacy of Jane Addams lives on through the many individuals and organizations that continue to fight daily for justice and the common good. The Museum is a unit of the College of Architecture & the Arts at the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a separate entity. ***

"The Jane Addams Hull-House Museum serves as a dynamic memorial to social reformer Jane Addams, the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and her colleagues whose work changed the lives of their immigrant neighbors as well as national and international public policy. The Museum preserves and develops the original Hull-House site for the interpretation and continuation of the historic settlement house vision, linking research, education, and social engagement.

"The Museum is located in two of the original settlement house buildings- the Hull Home, a National Historic Landmark, and the Residents' Dining Hall, a beautiful Arts and Crafts building that has welcomed some of the world's most important thinkers, artists and activists.

The origional Hull House will remain open at 800 South Halsted Street in Chicago.

[valerief]

31. You have to be a multimillionaire in America to have hope. Everyone else is at risk. nt

[1monster]

33. That is a real shame. Jane Hull's name meant something because

she put even more of herself into her work than her money. And she put loads of her money into helping others.

I hope that Hull House will be able to find a way to open the doors again and continue on Jane Hull's vision and work.

[xxqqqzme]

34. But we have ONE person giving

'should be newtered' 10 million dollars for a campaign. Makes my blood boil!

[byronius]

38. Truly, that is startlingly disgusting, is it not.

Throwbacks. They're the sociopathic force that never stops trying to drag the entire human race into the Pit.

[Dreamer Tatum]

41. This is why Warren Buffet is completely full of shit.

He could donate a few million to keep the place open and have a direct, immediate impact on people, but instead he just laments that he's undertaxed.

Likewise many other ultra-rich turds.

This is Chicago - where is Oprah on this? Too busy sunning her carcass in Montecito? Where is Obama's political machine? Where is the mayor?

All absent.

[Guy Montag]

44. The damn SCOTUS opened the floodgates to millions of dollars for advertizments

in a very money bloated presidential race.

Why can't some of those millions being wasted on ads go to keep Hull House and other necessary entities open?

THis is a disgrace, and those politicians happy to see so much money coming their way from rich fat cats should hang their heads in shame for their participation in this nightmare of mis-allocated monies.

[blue-wave]

46. My Heart Sank When I Heard The News

Last edited Sun Jan 29, 2012, 03:35 AM - Edit history (1)

Hull house helped 60,000 people a year! Chicago and our country is certainly so much less for the loss. I believe the greedy 1% are throwing society into an abyss that is destroying so much of civilized society. There was a time when caring for one another was an admirable attribute. Over the past 30 years or so, there has been a war against common decency and helping your neighbor. It's origins are found in the narcissists who worship at the alter of pure greed.

[BlueIris]

48. Awful. And the employees' insurance ended two weeks ago? nt

[AngryAmish]

49. State of Illinois owes them 2 or 3 millions dollars

The State of Illinois is insolvent and does not pay it's bills until they are several months to over a year in arrears. So Hull House (and every other social service agency that relies on state funding) have been drawing on their lines of credit for years now.

Line of credit stopped because banks do not believe the state will ever get current.

Why is this happening? Because the voters do not demand our state pay their bills.

What is next? State employee pension cuts, school districts have to pay their own pensions (property taxes going up) and medicaid reimbursements will be cut.

Illinois is broke. We got their. We have to get us out if it.

[Beacool]

51. I find that solely blaming the Republicans is disingenuous.

This is a Democratic city. Furthermore, it's the home city of the president and his wife.

Where are the Democrats?