Rock Island Line

Dwight Ford: The Critical Role of Anti-Poverty Work in Rock Island

02:37:46

Dylan Parker and Annika O'Melia talk about the Social Services License Ordinance

01:36:53

Antaeus Simmons: Safety as Human Development

02:25:26

Demetrius Johnson: The Green Store and More

02:04:12

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Letter to the Rock Island City Council from the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness

Annika OMelia

5 days ago

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ROCK ISLAND FACTS

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Annika O'Melia In today's installment of Rock Island Facts, we explore how Rock Island's population has changed over time. Here are the...

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ABOUT ROCK ISLAND LINE

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Rock Island Line was founded by Annika O'Melia — a Rock Island native, local therapist, business owner, and lifelong advocate for her city.

Born and raised here, Annika created this platform as a space to explore, celebrate, and critically engage with the community she loves.

More than just a website, Rock Island Line is a multimedia space dedicated to telling the story of Rock Island — past, present, and future.

At the center is a podcast that features the voices of local residents, artists, thinkers, builders, and changemakers. Through candid conversations, it explores the challenges the city faces, the dreams its people hold, and the ideas that can move Rock Island forward. Our very own community think tank — rooted in empathy, driven by dialogue.

In addition to the podcast, the site publishes in-depth stories, fact sheets, and policy recommendations aimed at informing and empowering residents. Whether you're looking to understand a local issue, connect with neighbors, or get involved in shaping the city's future, Rock Island Line is here to help you do just that.

This is a platform built with love, grounded in shared understanding, and fueled by the belief that Rock Island’s best days are ahead.

ALL ABOARD

If you follow this page, you know I like to randomly drive through Rock Island and film what I see. Some downtown folks I am connected with have noticed an increase in the presence of unhoused people since the opening of the Third Place. While I didn’t see anyone outside the Third Place, I did see a larger group of folks near the bus stop and the area by El patron and Soi 2. And talking with several people, some people live downtown and were just hanging out on a lovely night. It can be quite difficult to tell who is homeless and who is not. Others were experiencing homelessness. I asked the people who were struggling with housing if they’ve noticed an increase in the number of people in Rock Island lately? They all told me basically the same thing… That it’s the same people who are always around RI, but they are a little bit more visible because now there’s a place to get help. While I was speaking with different folks, a man and woman got into an argument and were quite loud and it was a little alarming. I asked the people I was talking to, what should the city do about individuals who may scare others or not behave right. The people I was talking to said that since the SAFE-T act, it doesn’t seem that rules are enforced as well. Folks told me that it’s really important for law enforcement to check that sort of behavior right away so that the word spreads that you have to act right if you want to be left alone. I don’t have much to add to this. Just keeping a record.

�✝️ Rev. Jennifer Ohman-Rodriguez from St. John’s Lutheran Church stopped by to share her Rock Island story. Check out the new episode Tuesday! #rockislandline #ibelieveinrockisland #keeprockislandreal #

🧐 Bear with me and my long reels. By suspending the rules and passing the social service license ordinance, Rock Island city Council gave the community zero opportunity to raise important issues for discussion. Zero. At a recent White House task force on political violence, presenters linked entities and individuals that care about homelessness and participate in the “homelessness industrial complex” to violent extremist groups and terrorists. Pam Bondi pledged to look into not only the folks on the street, but the folks embedded in these organizations. Whenever they talk about the radical left, I always wonder if they’re talking about me? I desire a society that is more just. More equal. More fair. Where we take care of our neighbors and value the dignity of every human life. I’m not a violent person. I’ve never ever in my life endorsed violence. But one thing we know from history is that love is one of the most powerful and threatening challenges to the economic and political structures that drive increasing disparity and desperation in this country. Standing up for the vulnerable is being cast as deviant behavior. Rock Island is a little blue city in a state that is gaining a lot of negative attention from the current administration. Rock Island city council should consider protecting the identities of the people in this community who do the dangerous work of loving others. #rockislandline #ibelieveinrockisland #keeprockislandreal #citygovernment

If you listened to today’s Rock Island Line podcast, you’ll hear Heinz talk about the day that he and my Dad climbed the light tower at Rock Island high school football stadium so that Heinz could get a great picture to take home with him. Here’s the photo evidence I just received from from Germany.

🎸 New Episode Alert: Annika sits down with Heinz-Georg Dresnler to learn about his unique Rock Island experience as an American Field Service student at Rock Island High School in 1964/65. Heinz lived with my Dad, grandparents, aunts and uncle. #rockislandline #americanfieldservice #afsstudent #1964 #rockislandhighschool

The Social Services Licensure Ordinance passed. The City Council suspended the rules and passed in a single reading. Zero discussion. Rock Island will not thrive until she takes care of ALL her people. Homeless rights are Civil Rights. This video is of my first interview with Alderperson Dylan Parker on when it’s appropriate to suspend rules. Sad day for Rock Island.

Important city council meeting tonight, where Rock Island defines its approach to homelessness and poverty. Pay attention folks, the rest of the state of Illinois is definitely watching.

Just received notice our premiums are going up again this year. Our family of 6 has paid over $20k/year out of pocket for healthcare in the past few years. I run a small business. My contractors depend on the ACA and some have received notice their premiums are tripling. It’s time for universal healthcare, free medical school, and medical student loan debt forgiveness. Families, city governments, police departments and small businesses cannot keep up with rising healthcare costs. It would be one thing if we had phenomenal outcomes, but we pay the most for the worst outcomes. Every American would essentially pay less if we had universal health care, small businesses could compete with big companies, entrepreneurs could leave jobs they keep for healthcare to go off and do cool things. There, I said it.

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