Philip Marcantelli is with Carlo Vaniglia at Chicago's Historic Little Italy. Vince Romano

"If the JCCIA wants to attend a feast I have organized one for the past 13 years let them know the next one is June 5 2022, it’s called Festa della Repubblica/ Italian unity day."

IF RON ONESTI AND THE JCCIA ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THIS 2ND CRUSADE TO RESURRECT THE TAYLOR STREET LEGACY, WHAT HAD TRANSPIRED DURING YOUR FESTA DELL REPUBLICA A DECADE AGO AND AT OTHER TIMES IN YOUR PURSUIT TO CLAIM LEADERSHIP WILL SURELY SURFACE AGAIN. IF YOU RECALL, I ALLOWED YOUR ASSOCIATE TO SHARE THE HANDOUT TABLE WITH OUR TAYLOR STREET ARCHIVES ASSOCIATES AT OUR LADY OF POMPEII (OLP) MASS BACK THEN. THE OLP OFFICERS, CONFUSED, CHALLENGED THE ARRANGEMENT. YOU WON THE OLP ADMINISTRATION OVER WHEN YOU REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND CONCURRED WITH THEM THAT I WAS THE GUILTY PARTY. APPARENTLY, THAT WON YOU THE 13 YEARS OF YOUR FESTA TO BE HELD AT OLP. SURELY, SIMILAR DYNAMICS WILL BE IN PLAY AGAIN WITHOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE DETERMINED LEADERSHIP OF RON ONESTI AND THE JCCIA. THUS JEOPARDIZING THE EFFORT TO RESURRECT TAYLOR STREET.

2. FOLLOWING IS PHILIP MARCANTELLI'S CONTRIBUTION TO MY PRAISE OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE MOVEMENT.
   
   Philip Marcantelli
   Vincent Romano , it's clear as day that you've been reached out to and most likely received yet another empty promise after making a post just yesterday condemning the Italian Sports Hall of Fame and its leaders. You've flip flopped from a critic to an advocate overnight regarding whom you were just criticizing yesterday. At least be consistent in your rhetoric.

At this point Mr. Marcantelli attached a post in which: 1)  I pointedly accused “previous” Italian American leaderships of abandoning our efforts to preserve and enhance our Taylor Street legacy and 2) I praised the ‘current”  Italian American leadership for their contributions.

Mr. Marcantelli then interpreted the posts for our members to imply that I had flip flopped as the result of a bribe—knowing that most would not read the two posts for themselves nor would they discern the difference  between the two posts’ i.e., my first post references the  “previous leaderships” and the  the 2nd post references the “current leadership.”   Those who took the time to  read the post recognized the deceit.

I called out Mr. Marcantelli on the misleading conclusion he was promoting.  There was no response. 

Weeks later, in a heated tirade, (11/04021) Mr. Vaniglia  admitted to his now deleted malicious charge vilifying Mr. Onesti and, in the process,  impugning me as well. 

Carlo Vaniglia

Author

Admin

Vincent Romano don’t slander me to sanctify Ron Onesti and the JCCIA.

&&&&&&&&&&

FOLLOWING IS A REPLICA OF THE PRAISE EXPRESSED BY THE TAYLOR STREET ARCHIVES FB SITE FOR THOSE WHO HAD CONTRIBUTED TO OUR MISSION TO RESURRECT THE ARRIGO PARK STATUE, ALONG WITH THE TAYLOR STREET RENAISSANCE, SHORTLY AFTER THE AMAZING SUCCESS OF OUR COLUMBUS DAY PARADE. 

“A decade or so ago I thought we had succeeded in our mission. The UIC Trustees and the UIC Chancellor all concurred with our presentation that  "History should include the story of those who lived it." We  urged the Director of the Hull House Museum to establish a place where the Taylor Street Archives (TSA) would be readily available to interested parties. The stories and articles of the TSA confirmed the synergy that existed between the Jane Addams' Hull House and Taylor Street's little Italy, the laboratory upon which the premier sociologist of her day, Jane Addams, tested her theories and based her protests to the establishment. 

“The then power structure of the Italian American community failed to support the UIC chancellor, the UIC trustees, and its Chairman, Christopher Kennedy, (son of Robert Kennedy). Not one medium, not one alleged leader (social, political or otherwise), not one prominent business man spoke out on behalf of our legacy. In short, THE SILENCE WAS DEAFENING. 

Cutting to the chase, today we have the vibrant combination of the acknowledged leader of the Italian Americans, Ron Onesto, President of the JCCIA, actively involved in every ground swell of our Italian constituents--weekly vigils at the Columbus statute sight, amassing a Columbus Day parade that rivaled that of Camelot days of the JCCIA, providing support for the grass roots efforts of creating a visual legacy of Taylor Street's Little Italy comparable to that of Greektown and Chinatown, and of equal importance, the overdue creation of the Taylor Street Archives Museum. 

We now have a synergy that had never existed. Ron Onesti, armed with his acknowledged leadership of our people's empirically confirmed dedication to our cause, on the one hand, and the vibrant and energetic activities of our grass roots revolutionaries. The existence and mutual support of both entities is crucial to the success of our mission. 

Vincent

*****

FOLLOWING IS THE NARCISSISTIC RESPONSE BY ONE OF THE MANY WHO HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE  PURSUIT AND RETURN OF OUR LEGACY.  THIS RETORT CLEARLY DENOUNCES ANY CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY OTHERS.  .

Carlo Vanaglia
“Vincent Romano I too like your stories and posts , but I take offense to this post. I have organized the festa della Repubblica for the past 13 years . I have invited and asked for support from the JCCIA every year , only to be ignored because I don’t have a 7 figure savings account . I do it only to bring back some of our traditions to little Italy and to unite our community all at my expense . As for the vigil at arrigo park I started it and warned the JCCIA before the statue was taken down and it fell on deaf ears to all the Italian organizations until the statue was gone, so after a year and a half of being there every Sunday.  I left when the JCCIA turned my PROTEST into an Italian feast , if the JCCIA wants to attend a feast I have organized one for the past 13 years let them know the next one is June 5 2022, it’s called Festa della Repubblica/ Italian unity day.”

Response: To suggest that contributions made by others were insignificant is the height of narcissism.  As just one example, who would diminish Luke Capuano’s appearances and contributions who decades earlier was recognized, beyond his skills a a fist fighter:   “If I am only remembered for my skills as a boxer, then I really did not do a good job with the rest of my life.” 

*********

FOLLOWING IS ANOTHER OF THE ORCHESTRATED ATTEMPTS THAT BRAZENLY DEMEANS THE CHARACTER OF ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR SUCCESSES  AND, IN REALITY,  THREATENS HIS VERY LIVELIHOOD. CLAIMING THAT INDIVIDUAL HAD MADE “ANOTHER EMPTY PROMISE”  CLEARLY IMPLIES THAT A BRIBE WAS BEING OFFERED  TO ME TO INCLUDE HIM AND OTHERS IN MY PRAISE ON BEHALF OF OUR TAYLOR STREET RESIDENTS—BOTH PAST AND PRESENT.  

Philip Marcantelli
Vincent Romano , it's clear as day that you've been reached out to and most likely received yet another empty promise after making a post just yesterday condemning the Italian Sports Hall of Fame and its leaders. You've flip flopped from a critic to an advocate overnight regarding whom you were just criticizing yesterday. At least be consistent in your rhetoric.

At this point Mr. Marcantelli attached a post in which: 1)  I pointedly accused “previous” Italian American leaderships of abandoning our efforts to preserve and enhance our Taylor Street legacy and 2) I praised the ‘current”  Italian American leadership for their contributions.  Mr. Marcantelli then interpreted the posts for our members to imply that I had flip flopped as the result of a bribe—knowing that most would not read the two posts FOR THEMSELVES and discern the difference; e.g., difference  between “previous leaderships” and the  “current leadership.”   Those who took the time to  read the post recognized the deceit.

I called out Mr. Marcantelli on the misleading conclusion he was promoting but to no avail. However, the reading/intelligence levels of our Taylor Street contingent is such that the ploy was recognized by most.  Only a handful of lemmings accepted his conclusion.   

********

THE MALICIOUS POSTS HAVE BEEN REMOVED BY THE CONTRIBUTORS.  HOWEVER, THE ORIGINAL POSTS ARE SAFELY STORED AWAY.  IN ADDITION, THIS RECENT POST WAS ACCIDENTALLY POSTED IN A RAGE OF DENIAL.  IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY LEARNED MEN, TO BE A SELF-INFLICTED ADMISSION OF THE MALICIOUS ATTACK UPON ONE OF OUR TAYLOR STREET CRUSADERS.  SIMPLY BECAUSE HE WAS INCLUDED IN THE PRAISE WE HAD HEAPED UPON ALL THE COLUMBUS STATUE CRUSADERS—WHOMEVER  AND WHEREVER.   

“Carlo Vaniglia

Author

Admin

Vincent Romano don’t slander me to sanctify Ron Onesti and the JCCIA.”

&&&&

1. FOLLOWING IS THE INITIAL POST PRAISING THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP OF THE JOINT CIVIC COUNCIL OF ITALIAN AMERICANS (JCCIA) FOR IT’S SUPPORT OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE GRASS ROOTS EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE RECENT COLUMBUS STATUE ISSUE AND ITS SUPPORT OF THE MISSION TO PURSUE THE TAYLOR STREET RENAISSANCE THAT HAD BEEN IN PLAY SINCE THE CAMELOT DAYS OF THE JCCIA. 

TAYLOR STREET RENAISSANCE 

THE NOW TAYLOR STREET RENAISSANCE: OUR LAST CHANCE TO PRESERVE OUR LEGACY 

Reaching back to my roots and my pedigree as the son of one of the numerous Italian immigrants who found their way to Taylor Street's Little Italy at the turn of the century, I share this observation with those who have recently taken up arms in defense of our history, our legacy, and our people's historic contributions to the evolving civilizations and their societies. 

As a self-proclaimed historian, I have engaged in decade long battles with the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)--their faculty, their board of Trustees, and the staff of the UIC's Hull House Museum-- to correct the flawed history being dispensed to educators, historians and the public; e.g., Italians were simply one of 24 immigrant groups equally served by the Jane Addams Hull House. 

A decade or so ago I thought I/we had succeeded in our mission. The UIC Trustees and the UIC Chancellor all concurred with my presentation, i.e., "History should include the story of those who lived it." They urged the Director of the Hull House Museum to establish a place where the Taylor Street Archives (TSA) would be readily available to interested parties. The stories and articles of the TSA confirmed the synergy that existed between the Jane Addams' Hull House and Taylor Street's little Italy, the laboratory upon which the premier sociologist of her day, Jane Addams, tested her theories and based her protests to the establishment. 

The then power structure of the Italian American community failed to support the UIC chancellor, the UIC trustees, and its Chairman (Christopher Kennedy). Not one medium, not one alleged leader (social, political or otherwise), not one prominent business man spoke out on behalf of our legacy. In short, THE SILENCE WAS DEAFENING. 

Cutting to the chase, today we have the vibrant combination of the acknowledged leader of the Italian Americans, Ron Onesto, President of the JCCIA, actively involved in every ground swell of our Italian constituents--weekly vigils at the Columbus statute sight, amassing a Columbus Day parade that rivaled that of Camelot days of the JCCIA, providing support for the grass roots efforts of creating a visual legacy of Taylor Street's Little Italy comparable to that of Greektown and Chinatown, and of equal importance, the overdue creation of the Taylor Street Archives Museum. 

We now have a synergy that had never existed. Ron Onesti, armed with his acknowledged leadership of our people's empirically confirmed dedication to our cause on the one hand, and the vibrant and energetic activities of our grass roots revolutionaries. The existence and mutual support of both entities is crucial to the success of our mission. 

Vincent

2. FOLLOWING IS CARLO VANAGLIA'S RETORT IN THE FIRST OF THE SERIES OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE ORCHESTRATED RESPONSES/CRITICISMS FOR MY HAVING INCLUDED THE CURRENT ITALIAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP-- I.E.,JCCIA, ET AL—IN MY RECENTLY POSTED PRAISE ABOVE. 

Carlo Vanaglia
Vincent Romano I too like your stories and posts , but I take offense to this post. I have organized the festa della Repubblica for the past 13 years . I have invited and asked for support from the JCCIA every year , only to be ignored because I don’t have a 7 figure savings account . I do it only to bring back some of our traditions to little Italy and to unite our community all at my expense . As for the vigil at arrigo park I started it and warned the JCCIA before the statue was taken down and it fell on deaf ears to all the Italian organizations until the statue was gone, so after a year and a half of being there every Sunday I left when the JCCIA turned my PROTEST into an Italian feast , if the JCCIA wants to attend a feast I have organized one for the past 13 years let them know the next one is June 5 2022, it’s called Festa della Repubblica/ Italian unity day

Vincent Romano Admin Carlo Vaniglia I was present at one of your early Festa Del Republica events at Our lady of Pompeii (probably your first one). It's not likely that the JCCIA would provide support for what amounted to an automobile display in which few, if any, of the participants were of Taylor Street vintage. Neither was it apparent that any had immigrated prior to the 1950s. Further, the JCCIA rarely, if ever, provides financial support for any events other than those which they themselves sponsor. They do advertise the events sponsored by their members.

Carlo Vaniglia Vincent Romano i never asked them for a dime . But if you and the JCCIA think what I have done is just a car show with a few of my friends , then call the JCCIA and go join them at their next golf outing , since you’s are both ignorant of Italian history .

FOLLOWING IS A SIMILAR CRITICISM DIRECTLY DEMEANING ONE OF OUR MEMBERS AND EVEN THREATENING HIS LIVELIHOOD.
  

Vincent Romano Admin
Carlo Vaniglia You're the one who said "I have invited and asked for support from the JCCIA every year , only to be ignored because I don’t have a 7 figure savings account." Your post is still here to be read. Further, I don't get the connection with you wanting me to call the JCCIA to join them in their next golf outing  and then claiming that both the JCCIA and I are ignorant of Italian history. What you just said doesn't make any sense. Are you OK?

&&&&&&&&

Vincent Romano Admin
Carlo Vaniglia "As for the vigil at arrigo park I started it . . ."

IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT OTHERS HAD STARTED THE VIGIL AND YOU SIMPLY SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIJACK IT AND CLAIM IT AS YOUR INITIATIVE.

"I started it and warned the JCCIA before the statue was taken down and it fell on deaf ears to all the Italian organizations until the statue was gone."

NOT TRUE, IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THROUGHOUT THAT THE COLUMBUS STATUTES WERE IN JEOPARDY FROM COAST TO COAST. YOU SIMPLY JOINED THE CHORUS AFTER THE FACT.

"I left when the JCCIA turned my PROTEST into an Italian feast"

AT WHAT POINT DOES ITALIAN HOSPITALITY TURN INTO A FEAST? FOOD/REFRESHMENTS HAD TYPICALLY BEEN SERVED AT THE SUNDAY VIGILS. CLAIMING THAT YOUR ABSENCE AT THAT MAJOR COLUMBUS DAY EVENT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE SERVING FOOD DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

"If the JCCIA wants to attend a feast I have organized one for the past 13 years let them know the next one is June 5 2022, it’s called Festa della Repubblica/ Italian unity day."

IF RON ONESTI AND THE JCCIA ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THIS 2ND CRUSADE TO RESURRECT THE TAYLOR STREET LEGACY, WHAT HAD TRANSPIRED DURING YOUR FESTA DELL REPUBLICA A DECADE AGO AND AT OTHER TIMES IN YOUR PURSUIT TO CLAIM LEADERSHIP WILL SURELY SURFACE AGAIN. IF YOU RECALL, I ALLOWED YOUR ASSOCIATE TO SHARE THE HANDOUT TABLE WITH OUR TAYLOR STREET ARCHIVES ASSOCIATES AT OUR LADY OF POMPEII (OLP) MASS BACK THEN. THE OLP OFFICERS, CONFUSED, CHALLENGED THE ARRANGEMENT. YOU WON THE OLP ADMINISTRATION OVER WHEN YOU REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND CONCURRED WITH THEM THAT I WAS THE GUILTY PARTY. APPARENTLY, THAT WON YOU THE 13 YEARS OF YOUR FESTA TO BE HELD AT OLP. SURELY, SIMILAR DYNAMICS WILL BE IN PLAY AGAIN WITHOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE DETERMINED LEADERSHIP OF RON ONESTI AND THE JCCIA. THUS JEOPARDIZING THE EFFORT TO RESURRECT TAYLOR STREET.

 3. FOLLOWING IS THE TONY DONATO'S CONTRIBUTION. 

Tony Donato Mr. Romano, I have read many of your posts, comments and insight to Taylor Street as well as The history of Chicago, Italian - Americans. I truly enjoy your posts. This one whoever I feel that you may have been misled a bit or under the impression things are getting done or got done under the JCCIA. Until now the JCCIA has done nothing to help the Taylor Street community. Other than hold some carnival like rallies and a frivolous law suit to bring back the Columbus statue. We all know that statue is never coming back to Arrigo Park. I do believe Ron Onesti has good intentions. But Ron is also a showman and a promoter. He has made a promise to bring a statue of Italian American prominence to the newly named Piazza Di Italia Chicago, formerly DiMaggio Piazza. Hopefully Mr Onesti will put his money where is mouth is. It’s amazing with all these Italian - American organizations out there, that NONE have done anything for the community. Instead it took two courageous, passionate and determined men (Carlo Vaniglia and Philip Marcantelli) to get a beautiful mural painted in the Piazza. Neither of these men have political backing, nor backing from major corporations nor from wealthy private investors. Instead they did a Go Fund Me and raised the money within a week. As well as both put in numerous hours and money out of their own pocket.

Vincent Romano Admin Tony Donato I was not made aware that Ron resisted the painting, or the weekly vigil, or the Columbus Day parade. Further, I've known Ron Onesti and Carl Vagnalia for decades. I stand by my convictions as stated elsewhere in this thread.

Tony Donato Vincent Romano I never said Ron resisted the painting. He had nothing to do with it. But did show up at the unveiling to support the efforts of others that put into it

Vincent Romano Admin Tony Donato Sorry about that. I misread the criticism as being directed toward Mr. Onesti who, as we all know, supported every grass roots effort to ignite a Taylor Street renaissance. "Until now the JCCIA has done nothing to help the Taylor Street community. Other than hold some carnival like rallies and a frivolous law suit to bring back the Columbus statue."

4. FOLLOWING IS PHILIP MARCANTELLI'S CONTRIBUTION

Philip Marcantelli Vincent Romano , I've noticed that you like to speak of the past quite frequently. While I too believe that our history is vital, my question is what have you or anyone that you are advocating for done to revitalize Chicago's Little Italy in 2021? There are too many talkers and very few people that actually live by their word. Stay tuned for our next revitalization project to be completed in the coming weeks to enhance Chicago's Little Italy.

Vincent Romano Admin

Philip Marcantelli I SENSE THAT YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR QUESTIONS WERE INTENDED TO BE DEROGATORY. HOWEVER, MY RESPONSES MAY BE BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH OF US.

I've noticed that you like to speak of the past quite frequently. TRUE. AS AN HISTORIAN AND CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGIST, I DO RELY ON THE PAST TO HYPOTHESIZE A VISION OF WHAT AWAITS US IN THE FUTURE.

While I too believe that our history is vital, my question is what have you or anyone that you are advocating for done to revitalize Chicago's Little Italy in 2021? TO EVEN OUT THE PLAYING FIELD, I SHOULD ASK IN RETURN, WHAT HAVE YOU OR ANYONE FOR WHICH YOU ARE ADVOCATING DONE TO REVITALIZE CHICAGO'S LITTLE ITALY PRIOR TO 2021?

BTW: I DID ADVOCATE FOR PHILIP MARCANTELLI AND RON ONESTI, BOTH OF WHOM MADE NOTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS IN 2021. DOES THAT COUNT?

There are too many talkers and very few people that actually live by their word. TRUE AGAIN. MOST TALKERS ARE SEEKING TO COVER UP THEIR INFERIORITY COMPLEXES. YOU'LL FIND THAT ITS NOT LONG INTO THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THEY'RE ENGAGED, KNOWINGLY OR UNKNOWINGLY, IN A PENIS MEASURING CONTEST.

Stay tuned for our next revitalization project to be completed in the coming weeks to enhance Chicago's Little Italy. THE BANNERS WILL BE SIGNIFICANT IN ENHANCING THE IMAGE OF TAYLOR STREET'S LITTLE ITALY. IF THERE'S ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ANOTHER GRASS ROOTS OPERATION UNLESS YOU HAVE GOTTEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO FINALLY CAPITULATE AND GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTED THEM .

Philip Marcantelli
Vincent Romano , it's clear as day that you've been reached out to and most likely received yet another empty promise after making a post just yesterday condemning the Italian Sports Hall of Fame and its leaders. You've flip flopped from a critic to an advocate overnight regarding whom you were just criticizing yesterday. At least be consistent in your rhetoric.

At this point Mr. Marcantelli attached a previous post in which I pointedly accused previous Italian American leadership of abandoning our efforts to preserve and enhance our Taylor Street legacy. It appears that post deceived others into believing that I had flip flopped and had abandoned my decades long criticism of the Italian American leadership. When in reality my recent post praised, not the previous leadership, but the stellar performance of the current JCCIA leadership and the contingent of leaders encouraged to support both the formal and the grass roots eforts that were underway. I called Mr. Marcantelli on the misleading conclusion he was promoting but to no avail. However, the reading/intelligence levels of our Taylor Street contingent is such that they will surely uncover the ploy. 

Vincent Romano Admin Philip Marcantelli Noted! And for the first time in memory, since the Camelot days of Congressman Annunzio, Anthony Fornelli, et al, (1960s-70s) we have more than a titular head of the Italian Americans. However, our legacy lies in the control of the those who choose to write our history and our legacy, to their liking. Historians, educators and students don't come to our homes to complete the research required before publication. Those writers , etc. go to the Hull House Museum for their material.

If those historians, etc, manage to get to Dominic Candoloro, whether it be via Casa Italia or the Loyola College Italian Chair, he will, as he has in the past, purport that Taylor Street was one of the many Italian American enclaves in the Chicago area. Ignoring the fact that over half of Chicagoland's Italian Americans have their roots in Taylor Street, the port-of-call for Chicago's Italian Americans.

Dominic Candeloro was instrumental in helping to raise $250,000 to buy an Italian Chair being offered by Loyola University of Chicago. The chair and the position was paid for by the Italian American community and benefitted others, as has always been the case for our people. Unfortunately, the promised support to win back our legacy from the UIC Hull House once we were awarded the Italian Chair, never materialized.

The never ending story of our people being too unsophisticated and too unconnected to fend for themselves may now be breeched. This year, thanks to the Columbus debacle, we have grass roots support and the formal leadership encouraging and supporting every effort to win back our legacy. 

Stay the course and keep Ron Onesti close and in the loop. When all is said and done, (and recognizing your amazing contributions) Ron Onesti will hold the trump card that can resurrect the legendary Taylor Street for all to acknowledge:- a time, a place, and the people that were and can never be again.

A series of additional give and takes are in the original post. The reader can view them at their leisure.

vincent 

&&&&&&&

Karma...Karma...Karma. The plethora of false accusations made by Messrs. Vanaglia and Marcantelli have now been refuted. The current leadership of the JCCIA did not, as they repeatedly alleged, stand idly by as the city absconded with out Columbus statue. And in the process the surrounding false allegations they made have also been refuted.

Should we now demand that those who misled us regarding the character and input of the newly elected JCCIA regime make a public apology? That apology should include, in addition to the current JCCIA leadership, others who also had been seriously maligned. Those that they had publicly accused of being in league with some unnamed power structure and upon whom they heaped insult upon insult in alleging that they were involved in some sinister plot to undermine their leadership. An obvious ploy designed to thwart any inquiries or criticism of the false narratives they were spreading.

I now regret having allowed them to use our FB site to marinate the minds of our members in their attempt to form a Jihad type mob that would blindly support their brand of what would be akin to a form of Sharia law. All for the single purpose to control our thoughts and our actions in their efforts to impugn and ostracize those whom they perceived to be a challenge to their recently contrived leadership that would enable them to control the neighborhood and its institutions.

It is being rumored that once they have total control and immunity, they will impose a street tax on our businesses and our people, both residents and visitors alike. I personally had to endure a barrage of unending insults and accusations from them and their hired guns.

For those who are unfamiliar with the recent debacle as they attempted to malign and purge those that threatened their attempted coup the full thread still exists on our FB site. Meanwhile, I have composed a streamlined version of the threads 100 plus comments that I am willing to post on your FB site to read at your leisure.

&&&&

I'm in Facebook jail so I'm reaching out via messenger to inform people that the pictures of the Columbus statue being circulated have been photoshopped to make us believe that the statue that our current Italian American/JCCIA leaders had negotiated to be taken out of storage for our parade is a fake. 

You can detect the deceit using simple math.  The Columbus statue is 9 ft tall.  The city workman is 1/3 the size of the 9 ft  statue.  Therefore, mathematically speaking, the city worker is 3-4 ft tall.   

It would appear that the insidious effort to deceive the Italian community and the members of the Taylor Street Archives FB site continues unabated. 

One can only surmise as to the reasoning behind those who are relentless in their pursuit to impugn the current JCCIA leadership and others who are perceived to have made (or are making)  meaningful contributions in our struggle to regain our history and legacy symbolized in the grandeur of our Columbus statues.   Lest we forget: Beyond the statue, the resurrecting of the Taylor Street Renaissance that was thought to have been achieved during the first crusade, when our people won over the minds and hearts of the UIC decision makers in 2013, remains the ultimate goal. 

Deborah Craig appears the be 1 of 3 members of the recent Jihad uprising that took place during the last couple of days that continue to remain active.  She has posted an obvious photoshopped picture of the Columbus statue as proof of her continuing inferences that you have mislead us regarding the Columbus statue.  Naturally, Vanaglia, etc. endorsed her conclusion. Having been blunted by me several times over the last several days, Deborah has only a couple people that continue to drink the KOOL aide she has been asked to serve.  There are 3 or so new people on her thread that appear to be neutral and or curious late comers.  Even Coconate was no longer buying into their narrative, actually challenging her illogical conclusions and assumptions to the point where he was now challenging and  correcting the facts she was spewing to her limited audience.   

Back to the chase.  Anyone with an IQ north of the mentally trainable barrier can see that the photoshopped picture of the 9 foot original statue, being washed by a Chicago employee before it was removed, is 3 times the size of the employee.  Therefore, applying Captain Queeq’s geometric logic, the Chicago employee is no more than 3’6”-4’ tall.  CHECK IT OUT.  

I can refuse to post the pic on the TSA FB with or without telling Deborah why… or i can post it on the TSA FB and ask her to explain the discrepancy after the fact …or simply approve the post and let it play out on its own.  I’ll have to figure out what, if any,  my responsibilities are as the FB administrator and proceed from there.    

&&&&&&&&&&

I'm in Facebook jail so I'm reaching out via messenger to inform people that the pictures of the Columbus statue being circulated have been photoshopped to make us believe that the statue that our current Italian American/JCCIA leaders had negotiated to be taken out of storage for our parade is a fake. 

You can detect the deceit using simple math.  The Columbus statue is 9 ft tall.  The city workman is 1/3 the size of the 9 ft  statue.  Therefore, mathematically speaking, the city worker is 3-4 ft tall.   

It would appear that the insidious effort to deceive the Italian community and the members of the Taylor Street Archives FB site continues unabated. 

One can only surmise as to the reasoning behind those who are relentless in their pursuit to impugn the current JCCIA leadership and others who are perceived to have made (or are making)  meaningful contributions in our struggle to regain our history and legacy symbolized in the grandeur of our Columbus statues.   Lest we forget: Beyond the statue, the resurrecting of the Taylor Street Renaissance that was thought to have been achieved during the first crusade, when our people won over the minds and hearts of the UIC decision makers in 2013, remains the ultimate goal. 

Frank Coconate. 
REGARDING THE RECENT COLUMBUS STATUE POST.  Frank, I appreciate your astuteness and integrity in challenging the misleading statements and innuendoes being dispensed on the latest Columbus statue thread.  All of which, it appears, is being orchestrated to undermine the successes of the newly elected leadership of the Italian American community assigned the task of resurrecting our Taylor Street Renaissance.  A Renaissance that had been won by a grass roots movement (sic 2013) and was ours just for the asking.  Apparently, that previous leadership failed to acknowledge and support that crushing victory.  It appeared that collecting a $250,000 street tax from our community to purchase payroll job from Loyola University for one of our elites had a higher priority.  I can no longer locate your comments challenging the misleading narrative.  It may be my age or perhaps it was removed because it did not support the narrative being orchestrated.  

&&&&&&&&&&

*Ron Onesti, recently elected leader of the Italian American community, actively engaged in examining the damaged Columbus statue.  In an amazing political and public relations strategy, Mr. Onesti, our newly elected leader negotiated the release of our statue and, in the process,  salvage our Columbus Day Parade.  A parade of such proportions as had not been seen since the Camelot days (sic 1960-70s) of Congressman Annunzio, Representative Victor Arrigo, and Anthony Fornelli. 

*It is obvious (to me and others) that the picture Debora is presented of the Columbus statue is fake and has been photoshopped. Professional photographers have also determined as much.

A) the Columbus statue is 9 ft tall; 2) the picture of the city worker planted alongside the statue is less than 50% the size of the statue (more like one-third). That means the city worker is somewhere between 3’ 6”-4’ tall. In my mind, the city worker is either a hobbit or this is a fake picture planted here to deceive and mislead us into believing the statue used in the Columbus Day Parade is not the original statue but a replica.

If this observation is correct, then, by definition, we must surmise that Deborah has also been deceived into posting the picture and the repeated false innuendos about the newly elected leadership of our Taylor Street (and the larger Italian American community). Mr. Ron Onesti did not lie to us, as has been and continues to be alleged.

Mr Onesti, did not replace the original statue with a replica as is being alleged. Neither is he in league to undermine the grass roots efforts of anyone involved in this community effort. He has been supportive of and in attendance at virtually every event, whether they be grass roots or were planned and supported by the formally recognized Italian American leadership that he now commands.

All groups were invited and accepted his invitation to the resurrected Columbus Day Parade. Including those opportunists who are now intent upon betraying our cause in an attempt to feed their unquenchable narcissistic bent by denouncing anyone who shares any recognition or praise in this venture to resurrect or legacy.

Hopefully, Deborah Craig can share with us from whom she received the pictures and the slanderous/libelous misleading statement of facts designed to denigrate the character and integrity of the one person who, in the initial months of his leadership, won over the Chicago administration to not only lend us the Columbus statue but to reinstate the Columbus Day Parade. That individual being Mr. Ron Onesti.

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Mr. Onesti, contrary to what is being purported, had the statue cleaned as pictured elsewhere on our Taylor Street FB site(and likely at his own expense). And in the process orchestrated a Columbus Day parade of proportions not seen since the Camelot days (sic 1960-70s) of Congressman Annunzio (won the approval of legislation that declared Columbus Day a national holiday), Representative Victor Arrigo (spearheaded the drive to install the statue in Peanut/Arrigo Park), and Anthony Fornelli (widely recognized and respected leader of that greatest generation).

Carlo Vanaglia and Deborah Craig and Phillip whatever your last name is, please respond with something other than repeating your tiresome mantra that people are and will continue to insult you in an attempt to undermine you. 1) Simply name this clandestine group that you have  uncovered that has flip flopped me and others or admit that is a fabrication on your part; 2) explain how you missed the fact that the picture you endorsed with the 4 ft Park District employee has all the markings of being a fake, much like the fake Viking Vineland map attempting to usurp Columbus' achievements; 3) and most important, explain why you were so insulting to me on our TSA FB site when I heaped praises upon all who had contributed to whatever successes people had achieved in our mutual struggle.

 I am still at a loss to comprehend your reasoning for the slanderous insults simply because I heaped praise on all who had and continued to contribute to the pursuit of our legacy that was being hijacked by others.

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*It is obvious (to me and others) that the picture Debora presented of the Columbus statue is fake and has been photoshopped. Professional photographers have also determined as much.

1) the Columbus statue is 9 ft tall; 2) the picture of the city worker planted alongside the statue is less than 50% the size of the statue (more like one-third). That means the city worker is somewhere between 3’ 6”-4’ tall. In my mind, the city worker is either a hobbit or this is a fake picture planted here to deceive and mislead us into believing the statue used in the Columbus Day Parade is not the original statue but a replica.