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August 27

Denise Poloyac

• 2 min read
August 27
2024: Watering. Taken at Spacca Napoli on Sunnyside at Ravenswood in Chicago.

I waited outside of Spacca Napoli today while Mony and her father went in to the pizzas. I figured any photo I could take would be the photo for today since I hadn't been out before then. As I stood there, this worker started watering the plants. If he told me his name, I don't remember it. I asked if I could take his photo as he worked and he said sure. As he watered and I took a few photos we started to talk. I asked him how long he had worked at the restaurant and whether it was a good place to work. He told me that he had been working there for 5 years and that they were good to him and fair, and not all restaurants are. He said he made $22 an hour and the former manager shared the tips with the dishwashers which is what he did when he wasn't setting up the patio or watering the flowers. I told him that we loved the pizza there. He said that he had grown up at Cabrini Green and that he didn't have food like this there, so it took him a while to get used to it; but he likes it so much now he was getting fat. It's always nice to know that the places we like are also places that treat people fairly.

2020: Evidence of pandemic and violence. Taken on Montrose and Kostner in Chicago. I was driving home and came by this memorial. I don’t know anything about what led to it. There is increased violence and gang fighting in Albany Park, and every day more people die from COVID. All of it is sad and all of it should be avoidable if we were determined as a country to promote the common good and to demand justice.
2018: Privilege 2. Taken in Lincoln Square between Lawrence and Leland in Chicago, After swimming I walked to the ATM then notice a lot of activity around the square. They had been filming a movie and were just breaking down and packing up the equipment. I was taking photos of that when I heard and the saw this electric car and its young driver going up the street. My first reaction was how cute. My second reaction was his sense of privilege and entitlement as he drove up the crowded sidewalk. Things were simpler when everything didn’t seem to be political -- well, because it is, and the stakes are so high
2016: Skylar found a friend. Taken on Oakton just west of Lincoln in Skokie, IL 
2012: In line for the watermelons. Taken on Lawrence just east of Sacramento.

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