Justin Honra 1007 W. 31st St. Chicago, IL 60608 Mayor Rahm Israel Emanuel City Hall 121 N.

LaSalle St. Chicago, IL 60602 Dear Mayor Emanuel, I am Justin M. Honra, a freshman at DePaul University. I am writing to you about my concern for the lack of assistance that the many solicitors begging for help on Chicagos public transportation system receive. I believe that we can create a more efficient method of helping our fellow Chicagoans. So I am proposing that you, Mayor Emanuel, work with non-profit organizations, CTA officials, and other legislators to create some type of program that will improve resource availability for the hundreds of homeless, unemployed felons, elderly, and mentally disabled folks roaming the public transit system. There are organizations such as Rebuilding Exchange that hire past convicted felons and teach work skills in carpentry. The government can help fund and/or work closely with non-profits to create programs like Rebuilding Exchanges. Information for these programs can be better communicated to those in need by making them public on CTA station bulletins and flat screen televisions. That way, the many people who are soliciting on the CTA and actually need help can learn where to get more effective, professional help. Much like the other thousands of commuters, I frequently ride the CTA. What I have noticed is that there are so many instances where people who either really need help or are just hustling solicit for money outside stations, on platforms, and even hop from train car to train car. Many of them claim to be straight out of jail, need a CTA pass to look for a job, are homeless, and/or are physically or mentally sick. Just the other day, a young homeless man asking for change or any type of help was completely ignored by everyone on the train car. He asked for assistance because of his injured, torn up and swollen foot which he showed to the public. No one took the time to get off their phones, iPods, or books to even acknowledge the man. A lot of everyday people do not give or offer help to these people who may actually be in need. I feel that, morally, it reflects badly on us as a city. Some give spare change, but that would hardly affect the people asking for help in the long run. It should not be up to the passengers when there are ways that the CTA can better solve this issue. I thank you for all that you do for our city. Please take this issue into consideration. Feel free to let me know how I can further support this effort. Sincerely, Justin Honra