UPTOWN — A meeting between Salvation Army Captain Nancy Powers and Ald. James Cappleman (46th) on Wednesday appeared to end the controversy sparked last week by reports that the alderman asked for Salvation Army food trucks to stop feeding the needy in his ward.
Despite the reconciliation, at least 200 protestors showed up Wednesday outside Cappleman's office. They decried the alderman’s alleged disregard for the poor and needy in his ward, criticizing his recent run in with the Salvation Army and blasting him for various issues related to affordable housing in Uptown and the 46th Ward.
The Salvation Army is not leaving Uptown or the 46th Ward, according to Cappleman (46th) and Powers.
"I want to thank Captain Nancy Powers for meeting with me today to talk about the issue of chronic homelessness," Cappleman said in a statement after the meeting. "We both agree that there is more work we all can do to combat this problem. We both also agree that it’s time for all social services in the 46th ward to come together and work together."
Reached by phone Thursday morning, Powers sounded upbeat.
"We are going to stay in the ward. We have just really appreciated the amount of support that we have received from other social service agencies," she said. "Everyone from neighbors, to national groups have been in contact with us and it's been extremely rewarding."
She said Cappleman expressed that there should be more collaboration and coordination of services between agencies to help make sure "we are using all of our collective resources to the fullest potential."
"I think the alderman is really looking at bringing together the service providers for homeless services in the ward," she said. "The winners are the folks that need all of our services."
