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Residents accuse local campaign group of racial attacks, urge removal of Alderman Lennon; others decry campaign mailers and loss of family spaces
Summary
Multiple residents used the public-comment period to allege racist text messages by Alderman Scott Lennon, criticize campaign mailers and municipal enforcement of the ethics ordinance, and report the loss of family-friendly businesses in Berwyn.
Several residents used the Berwyn City Council public-comment period on Feb. 5 to raise concerns about leaked text messages, race-based campaign mailings, enforcement of the city ethics ordinance and the loss of youth-oriented businesses.
Rafael Avila, a candidate for mayor and former Seventh Ward alderman, said text messages he attributed to Alderman Scott Lennon and others contained "extremely offensive racist and insulting remarks" directed at Latino Berwyn politicians and families. Avila read excerpts and urged Mayor Robert Lovero to demand Lennon’s resignation and terminate his public appointment.
"I demand that you stop these erroneous remarks," Avila said. He accused the group Berwyn Strong…
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