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January 11, 2019
Rest in Power, Robert Rohdenburg
Dear ,
I wanted to share the devastating news that one of our affordable housing leaders, Robert Rohdenburg, passed away yesterday. Robert had discovered he was struggling with cancer last fall, and he had planned to undergo chemotherapy at the start of this year. It has been been a shock for us all.
Since then, Robert has continued to fight for SRO tenants by being a real driving force in creating, moving, and passing the SRO ordinance. He fought extremely hard in negotiations with the Mayor's Office to make sure the ordinance still represented and reflected the rights of SRO tenants to be treated with dignity and respect. Robert always took his role very seriously, and many of us on staff remember that moment when we finally won the SRO campaign, Robert had one of the biggest smiles.
After the ordinance successfully passed in 2014, Robert invested his time significantly in the Mental Health Justice team, the Communications Committee, and nearly every other affordable housing campaign we had--from the Chicago Housing Initiative (CHI) to Rent Control to Tent City to our SRO Campaign part II in ensuring the ordinance is implemented effectively. He has been deeply invested in ONE Northside's success as an organization, and consistently held us accountable to being the best we can be.
We remember Robert today for being so incredibly brave.
From our former Senior Housing Organizer and Director of Organizing, Mary Tarullo, "Robert was not afraid to hold people in power (and those not in power!) accountable, and always told the ugly truth about how people's (i.e. the mayor's) actions and lack of actions have real consequences for people. He devoted his life to justice, whether it be for SRO tenants, low-wage workers, viaduct residents, the LGBT community, and many many others. He educated us about political news, upcoming citywide actions, and new affordable housing policy proposals. He will be missed by many people in the affordable housing community and beyond."
Thank you, Robert, for all that you have done for this community. The hours in meetings strategizing, behind computers sending pertinent information, and so so much more. We miss you already. May you rest in power.
We will be in touch soon with more information about services for Robert Rohdenburg.
In remembrance,
Vivien
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Vivien Tsou
Community Organizer
ONE Northside
773-769-3232 x14 (office)
773-769-0729 (fax)
vtsou@onenorthside.org
4648 N. Racine Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60640
www.onenorthside.org
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