Comptroller Mendoza releases fun video urging people to rediscover the joys of Little Village

ICE raids have chilled foot traffic on 26th Street, so Comptroller asks: Isn’t it time you visited Chicago’s “Other Magnificent Mile”?

Comptroller Susana Mendoza – with friends “Silent Jay” Briney and the one-and-only retired farmer Dick Bigger Jr. from Western Illinois – take Little Village by storm, sampling everything from steak tacos to churros and visiting businesses selling cowboy hats, boots, pastries and candy. A new video captures all the delicious fun.

“The threat of potential raids and deportation has severely slowed foot traffic on 26th Street,” Comptroller Mendoza said. Organizers of Chicago’s Cinco de Mayo parade through Little Village announced Thursday they were cancelling this year’s parade due to deportation-raid fears.

“People have asked me how they can help,” Mendoza said. “The best way is by patronizing these shops and enjoying delicious meals at these restaurants. I wanted to (re-) introduce people from all over Illinois and beyond to some of my favorite restaurants and businesses in Little Village. I was born here and know how many wonderful people offering an authentic experience call the area home.”

You don’t have to travel all the way to Mexico to enjoy authentic Mexican culture. This stretch of 26th Street in Little Village is known as the “Mexico of the Midwest” and has 1,800 businesses sustaining 30,000 jobs, according to Enlace. The businesses bring in enough sales tax revenue for the state and the city to earn 26th Street the nickname “Chicago’s Other Magnificent Mile” after Michigan Avenue.

“As the state’s chief fiscal officer, I have to be concerned when sales tax collections are down here because that’s less money I have to pay the state’s bills,” Mendoza said.

In the video, Comptroller Mendoza, Dick Bigger, Jr. and Silent Jay make stops at several places including Aguascalientes, Taqueria Atotonilco, Los Comales, Los Mangos, Nuevo Leon, El Nopal, El Churro, Dulcelandia, Carnitas Uruapan, El Milagro, OK Corral and Bombon.

Between Comptroller Mendoza’s fun nature, Silent Jay’s reserve and the inevitable jokes with Dick Bigger, Jr. – star of the Comptroller’s campaign video from a couple years ago that landed him on Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night comic talk shows – the video is as hilarious as it is informative. Business owners are inviting everyone to stop by the area and try some amazing authentic Mexican food and products.

“I really hope everyone watching will be inspired to come visit some of the fabulous places in Little Village. They won’t be disappointed!” said Comptroller Mendoza.

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P.S.: And, while we’re having fun, enjoy the outtakes/Bloopers Reel!