After much debate and discussion, it appears the consensus for the Uptown Neighborhood Crime Rally will be Saturday, June 7 in front of Alderman Shiller's office at 4544 N. Broadway. Be in front of the Alderman Shiller's office at 10am. We need residents to step forward for planning purposes. We already have someone willing to design flyers for the rally. Now is the time for block club presidents and organizations such as UCC, UNC, and WAMA to step forward and help in the planning process.Update: A reader just sent in a flyer (below) that you can click to enlarge, then print and pass out to your neighbors and post in businesses in your neighborhood to get the word out.
What is a rally going to do? Is it really Shiller fualt there is crime in Chicago?
ReplyDeleteSeems to me the Police aren't doing their jobs.
Thank you trolls, for providing that extra little bit of antagonism to get this rally rolling!
ReplyDeleteThis rally will be an opportunity for Uptown residents to get to know each other better and to make a statement that there is gun violence on our streets and that it is UNACCEPTABLE. It may also be an opportunity for this community to remember Francis Oduro, who certainly died too young.
ReplyDeleteWhat do people think of me contacting CeaseFire to see if they will get involved and help us? Northwestern University just released a 229-page report concluding that gun violence dropped 17 percent to 24 percent in six of seven neighborhoods where CeaseFire mediators were in place. We need some help like this in Uptown! Our local leaders and institutions are ignoring the problems. Enough of that.
Extraordinary amount of negative comments about positive events. I find that very ironic. It's almost as if you are supporting random, senseless violence. Gun violence on the streets of our neighborhoods. Perhaps you argue our anger is misdirected as your comment re: CPD indicates.
ReplyDeleteTo answer Anon's 1:50 questions: A rally is going to get noticed. By CPD, the Tribune, Sun-Times, our wonderful Ms. Swanson, state representatives and our federal reps. All can have a hand in cleaning up the crime, reporting it for maximum exposure and requesting, or better yet funding, policies and programs to help. Schiller is not responsible for all crime in Chicago. That's a dumb question. What she is responsible for it what happens in the her ward. I'm sure you understand the subtle aspects of Chicago politics, the power of the Daley machine and the power of individual aldermen in particular, or you wouldn't ask such a question...
So, a question for you: what, pray tell, do you suggest instead?
What is a rally going to do? Is it really Shiller fualt there is crime in Chicago?
ReplyDeleteLet me paraphrase what I heard at a neighborhood watch meeting:
Raise your hand if you think doing nothing is going to make the situation improve.
Just a simple question- Is her office open on Saturday & when is she EVER at the office?
ReplyDeleteNot trying to be negitive here.
mmm a latte! I will support a business in the neighborhood, Cafe Too on Sheridan, where they make latte's .. and bring it to the rally!
ReplyDeleteIt does not matter if she is at her office. It is a stand WE need to make as a community. Involving organizations like Cease Fire is a great idea. We should inform media and news outlets about this event.
ReplyDeleteI am disappointed with the amount of negativity on this message board. Let's be proactive in preventing future tragic events.
Edward-
ReplyDeleteHer office is specifically open on Saturday June 7 from 9am-11am. I doubt she will actually be there to avoid any sort of conflict, to be honest. The message will be clear nonetheless. We will not tolerate rampant crime in Uptown.
I will bring my latte from Dollop, a recent victim of Uptown crime. Cafe Too supports Shiller.
ReplyDeletegather the crowd notify news stations to be there so that it can be publicized.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sad I am going to be out of town for this.
ReplyDeleteIf I could make one suggestion to the group, it would be that we need to make it very clear that we're doing this for EVERYONE, not just condo owners, or white people, or anyone else whose activity has been accused of "picking on the poor."
If I were in town, I would march with a sign that says, "ALL UPTOWN RESIDENTS DESERVE A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD". Please feel free to copy that since I will be unable to do it myself :)
I agree all uptown residents need to live in a safe neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteltn318- I will gladly make a sign in your honor!
ReplyDeleteI have no skills, but if someone can produce a flyer that I can do a one page print out ... I will be more than happy to plaster it everywhere I can...
ReplyDelete"I agree all uptown residents need to live in a safe neighborhood."
ReplyDeleteWith no offense to the author, this is the understatement of the year! What a weird, weird ward we live in that we can't get residents of all stripes, the police, and our elected leaders to rally around this simple and straight-forward sentiment!!! How is the situation here even possible? So sad...
Thanks JKW!
ReplyDeleteThough how funny and sad that it's only opened for two hours. Harsh life for those who "work" there!
LOL!
I thought she's in Vegas spending our TIFF money.
"Baby needs a new Wilson Yard, and new shoes!"
Reason for a rally: Because all the crime up here gets ignored.
ReplyDeleteThe alderman herself says it's the safest police district in the city (which it is... except that the great majority of crime that happens in the 23rd District happens in Uptown).
Her chief of staff says crime doesn't matter because it's not like it was a few years ago.
Daley stands in front of the cameras and says there's no crime or gangs here due to Ald. Shiller's fine work.
Remember that Shiller office worker Pamela Barton's son lost his life to gang violence a few years ago.
A RALLY IS A WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL STREET VIOLENCE IN UPTOWN.
Let's not forget, the victims of this latest shooting were black. We are holding a rally in memory of Francis Oduro and in hopes that others who are alive today don't have to lose their lives the way he did. Let's hold it in hopes that pre-schoolers walking to the playground no longer have to stumble across weapons used in shootings the night before, as happened this week.
This issue transcends class, race and political lines. We are all potential victims, every one of us.
ltn318 is absolutely right. Flyers (that I believe UU will post on this site) need to be distributed to EVERYONE - that includes condos, apartments, Section 8 buildings, Hull House scattered site housing, JPUSA - everyone. The crime her affects all races, ethnicities and income levels. We need to all unite against crime.
ReplyDelete"In fact we are trying to create improvements in our neighborhood so that we can walk oue dogs and walk the streets without the fear of some young punk kids fighting in the streets or shooting at one another. "
ReplyDelete"Create improvements" seems code for "get rid of all the low-income housing." Shiller aint into that, because she feels that she needs to represent those who need an 1) affordable place to live 2) that has access to public transportation that can 3) get them to jobs in the city. Uptown is and has been that place for many years.
Not all low-income folk are criminals, but they do have a tendency to attract and harbor the stragglers--relatives who need a place to crash in order to stay off the streets, including those who are in and out of jail and go out into the neighborhood and cause trouble. It's easy to pick on these people, so Shiller should at least get some credit for her Christ-like support of them. Im sure she realizes the complexity of the situations these folks face in life, and chooses to protect them nonetheless.
CPD has been pretty involved with the Positive Loitering organized by the Uptown Crime Blotter. Any word on getting them to this rally somehow? Invitation or something similar? Getting them the word on an event like this is pretty darn important, too.
ReplyDeleteI will be forward and say that "Create improvements" is a code for "get rid of all the low-income housing." Sorry but the low-income housing in this area is abused and 75 % of those on it should not be receiving it. Their relatives, friends or associates are the ones that do not care about the area. These people need that wake up call,, they need to know that if they can not control their family and guests then Shiller will not always be there to help them and they will loose their goverment assistance and give it to those that need it.
ReplyDeleteAnons 3:01 and 3:18 - let's keep this positive. This rally is about showing that:
ReplyDelete- We will not let violent crime take over the neighborhood
- We care about the safety of all Uptown residents
- We want to create and live in a safe neighborhood
Overall we want to stay with this positive message. Therefore those who oppose us are opposed to... the safety of Uptown residents?!
Remember everyone, those who want a safe neighborhood are the good guys. Let's stay positive so we can remain the good guys.
"I will be forward and say that "Create improvements" is a code for "get rid of all the low-income housing." Sorry but the low-income housing in this area is abused and 75 % of those on it should not be receiving it. Their relatives, friends or associates are the ones that do not care about the area. These people need that wake up call,, they need to know that if they can not control their family and guests then Shiller will not always be there to help them and they will loose their goverment assistance and give it to those that need it."
ReplyDeleteNewt Gingrich could have posted this.
I'm not so sure about Cease Fire. They work a lot with O.N.E. and end up holding rallies without working with CAPS. They have a little bit of a reputaion of being anti-police.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you who don't know O.N.E., they are a milder version of COURAJ which is headed up by Marc Kaplan and O.N.E. was very supportive of Shiller in the last election.
Let's refrain from using the words "take back Uptown". It will be misinterpreted to mean giving it to the gentrifying yuppies by some.
ReplyDeleteI'm for keeping it positive. Just being there in front of Shiller's office will send a clear message to her that we are critical of her lack of participation with CAPS and the rest of the community. If it gets negative, some would stay away. Let's make it inviting so that we can encourage people to unite together to address crime.
CeaseFire works a lot with O.N.E. and we are still not seeing any efforts in this neighborhood? When will any of these people accept that ignoring the violence is Uptown is not the best thing for the community?
ReplyDeleteI will be there. I don't know if it will matter, or do anything, or if Shiller will bother to respond or even care. Probably not. However, I feel like I have to do something aside from complain on blogs about the situation here in Uptown.
ReplyDeleteI've had enough.
I agree, its all about baby steps and taking a stand somewhere. Next the residents of Uptown can rally at the police stations. Because lets face it if the alderman will not pick up the phone to make a call and express a concern that the residents of uptown need to do it. I am sure that the Sgt. of the uptown police station does not want to loose their nice job.
ReplyDeleteI will download the flyer and carry it with me for the next few weeks and I hope everyone else will do the same! Let's get a HUGE turnout!
ReplyDeleteJust so there are no surprises, has anyone looked into the legality of this kind of rally? The two rallys about Wilson Yard had to be marches, or "walk by" rallys, due to some City ordinance. The groups met in the park and then marched past the Alderman's office.
ReplyDeleteHi all... I just returned from my doctor's office where they had an issue of Time Out Chicago - I think it was the May 15th issue. The cover story was "Building a Better Protest". I didn't have time to read it, but if anyone has it or comes across it, it could provide some tips.
ReplyDeleteNewt Gingrich could have posted this.
ReplyDeleteMay 23, 2008 3:25 PM
I find it funny how people point to Bush, or Newt, or republicans in general on how bad/corrupt things are in the nation/world - when, in fact, we're rallying to change the bad/corrupt results (or lack thereof) generated by the democratic majority (Machine) in our fair city.
Point: let's give the part affiliations-thing a rest.
We've got enough on our plates to tide us over, don'tcha' think?
Having said that - I'm excited about the positive feedback seen here, today; and I'm all set for June 7 as long as we keep it positive, and civil. There's a fine line between frustrated and antagonistic. The latter being exactly what certain alderman would like us to demonstrate to help prove his/her point about "bad apples"
An anti-crime rally should not necessarily be an anti-Shiller rally.
"An anti-crime rally should not necessarily be an anti-Shiller rally."
ReplyDeleteRight. It is actually ridiculous that it would even risk becoming that but that is the weird, weird ward we live in. At the last Truman meeting, Shiller vigorously defended the importance of the $10 million of TIF money going to the parking garage because immigrant students like Francis are working themselves through school and that the parking garage would help them attend to all of things they need to accomplish in a day. Ok. But a new student center or a new parking garage because the EL may be inconvenient for these students becomes so besides the point when you are talking about a young man who himself said he was afraid of the violence he experienced, said he wanted to move somewhere else after graduation, but never had the chance to do either because he was gunned down on our streets.
I hope people are civil, etc., but it just boggles my mind that everything is so turned upside down around here! Shiller is just so intertwined in the problem because she just refuses to address REAL issues. As much as I want to stay positive I honestly don't know how I can keep my thinking cap on and keep the negativity at bay!
"I'm not so sure about Cease Fire. They work a lot with O.N.E. and end up holding rallies without working with CAPS."
ReplyDeleteThis event would certainly be a great opportunity for O.N.E. to rebuild a bridge with the Uptown community which they burned a long time ago.
It would really be a stretch for them to twist it into an anti-CAPS and anti-police message.
An immigrant college student, gunned down in gang crossfire, who was studying Engineering and was signing up for Summer School so he could graduate early hardly says "the police and CAPS are too aggressive."
Even if that is their message or if they claim that gentrification is the root of all evil, I say let 'em come. This is their community too and if they choose to make it divisive they are only hurting themselves.
One other area to bring up is all of the crime/illegal activity/scamming of government agencies that goes on in JPUSA, that damnable cult that supports her.
ReplyDelete(continued from previous post)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, JPUSA members, including Jon Trott, attented a march against crime a couple years ago and their involvement did a lot to heal the animosity they had created in the community. (Of course, COURAJ members protested the march, but what else is new.)
IMHO, the best possible result would be for this event to unite groups which don't always get along, all in a common message that violence in our community is not acceptable to any of us.
ok, so it wasn't the "previous post" but the post before. Some tricky blog troll got their divisive fingers to the enter key faster than me.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! Within two minutes after mentioning the JPUSA cult, a JPUSA defender - probably Jon Trott himself - shows up to put in a plug for that damnable cult. But then again, that's the fool's duty: to do spin and damage conTROLL for the cult.
ReplyDeleteGo to http://jpusainfo.yuku.com and http://www.exjpusahelp.com for info on the CRIME and illegal activity that go on inside this cult.
The only reason JPUKA shows up at such rallies- just watch, the fools that run the cult will probably send people tomorrow - is to try to improve their image.
uh...no...it wasn't Jon Trott who said that. Please keep your divisiveness to yourself. It is not welcome here.
ReplyDeleteWe lose if we come across as spiteful. We win if we make attempts to reach out to groups that don't always agree with us.
ReplyDeleteI distrust JPUSA and O.N.E, and most especially COURAJ. If they want to come to the rally, fine. If we can reach some common agreement about crime, even better. I will never trust them because they have proven themselves many times over to be incapable of trust, but I will still continue to find common ground. That would make us the winner in all of this.
And let's not forget that the gang shooting that killed the Truman College student took place in this same 4500 N Broadway block where we will be protesting. It's not just about Shiller.
ReplyDeletePrinting out fliers right now and passing them out tonight!!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know where we can get one of those giant blow up rats that you see at the union protest?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.arizonaballoon.com/generic61.html
ReplyDeleteRaise your hand if you think doing nothing is going to make the situation improve
ReplyDeleteI'm there
I mean I am there, as in the rally.... Because as mentioned, we need to do something other than complain in a blog.
ReplyDeleteAny way to have the flier be more visually eyecatching? I appreciate that someone took the time to do this, but I just want to make sure it does not get lost on bulletin boards, etc. and I feel this may..
ReplyDelete8:26 - Ungrateful much? Someone took the time to do that and you just complain. Make your own, if you don't like it.
ReplyDeleteI would if I could. Don't be a jerk. I was simply asking as I am trying to support this as opposed to just blowing it off....
ReplyDeleteYou could print it on bright, colored paper. Maybe that would help.
ReplyDeleteA rally is fine, but on a Saturday? I seem to recall the Wilson Yard rally on the 10th anniversary of the fire that ravaged the bus barn and 100 neighbors marching to Shiller's office on a Saturday morning, which was closed. Why not hold it on week day when her staff, at least, is in the office. I hear Ms. Shiller is busy "talking to developers" and spends very little time in her ward service office.
ReplyDeleteWow Anonymous 10:15am
ReplyDeleteI invite you to scroll back through the comments. I think you will see that Ald. Shiller's office is OPEN on this day and that was a major reason for scheduling it then. It is hard to catch her in her office anytime, so we have to deal with that.
aside from that, most people are at work during the week. we will have a much better turn out on a sat.
ReplyDeleteFYI, I just added it to the Yelp.com website under local events. If others could add this to their internet community websites as well, that would be great, free advertising!
ReplyDeleteI don't know who is running this rally, but I think it would be a good idea to contact the parents of Francis Oduro who live on the 9800 block of South Marquette Avenue,and ask them to join us and lead the rally. I think the rally should be dedicated to Francis Oduro's memory.
ReplyDeleteI was going to go to the relly but most of you are trying get rid of all the low-income housing in I live in I one I think I lived here longer then any of you 20 years, it sad you move in and think ok lets get rid of all the black people. that is why we "black low income people" will not come to your little relly.
ReplyDeletePS how long have you all lived here this shooting and gangs are not new. it been going on since the late 1982. before you move in uptown you sould look up were your moving LOL. so please go had make uptown better. I am not a gang member because am tell the truth.
am black so you guys might call me a gang banger.
"before you move in uptown you sould look up were your moving LOL. so please go had make uptown better. I am not a gang member because am tell the truth. am black so you guys might call me a gang banger."
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that you feel that your neighbors want to get rid of all low-income housing. That is not true. Who is telling you those lies? I am also sorry that you think that some of the people who read this website stupidly think that black=gang banger. That is not true either. I can't speak for everyone in the neighborhood, but I am not just going to sit back and say that it is ok to have young men shot dead on our streets. That sentiment comes from love because I believe that all people deserve to live in a peaceful community and that children's lives especially should not be put at risk. And I mean it when I say ALL PEOPLE'S lives should not be at risk.
It just shocks me that those kinds of feelings are interpreted as hate speech around here. Who let it come to this?
The rally is being held because a black man was killed and we as a community are sick of the random violence.
ReplyDeleteHow can this rally be interpreted as anti-black? Or anti-ANYTHING other than anti-violence?
PS how long have you all lived here this shooting and gangs are not new. it been going on since the late 1982. Anon 11:25
ReplyDeleteI find it insulting to poor people to even suggest that crime has been here a long time and therefore something that shouldn't be addressed. I would think most poor people don't like crime, no matter what color their skin happens to be.
Anon 11:25, you allowed someone to lie to you. You don't have to choose to believe it. You've been given the power to think for yourself.
No "a thinker" I did not allow anybody to lie to me what will make you think that thinker I live here thinker I known alot I go to CAPS I do yes do I seen both side you guys and schiller are a little crazy i mean you both are.did you known they use relly too.LOL
ReplyDeleteI Know all of you can say any thing you what because if I buy 200.000 est. what ever you pay for your condo I would not want us here too. but we are . this is what we are thinking I mean us "poor people".
OK not all but most. do you think we what are children killed no and most are poor people.In housing is needed because if there no housing and Section 8 baby will on the street.
I Known Schiller is something else I have not seen schiller in person since I was in my teens. so we do need her out in about talk being active in the community. but she for us by us.
Both of you I mean schiller and you guys because that what it cames down to us are them. so I have to go with them because going with you I can lose my home.
please no reply. I cry you cry together. OK, reply but said something good like your right Anonymous. gooded luck with your relly! I hope this relly is on fox 32 or news because that is whats will get the ball rolling.
Negative campaigning must work. On election day, I saw Shiller literature being passed out in front of Truman College that claimed Cappleman was against all affordable housing and job training. It looks like people believed it.
ReplyDelete"both side you guys and schiller are a little crazy"
ReplyDeleteNow, that's right Anonymous 1:13 a.m.! LOL!
Your comment got me thinking about that Seal song..."we're never gonna survive unless we get a little crazy!" You said that if you spent a lot of money to live here you wouldn't want poor people here either. Although that seems like a natural assumption to make, it is not how I feel and I am surely not alone. People from all kinds of backgrounds should be able to live together without making designated neighborhoods for each to live. I know what Uptown is and was and that is partly why I love it. There is room for all kinds of people here. What there shouldn't be room for is violent crime. We should all be able to agree on that.
"Negative campaigning must work. On election day, I saw Shiller literature being passed out in front of Truman College that claimed Cappleman was against all affordable housing and job training. It looks like people believed it."
ReplyDeleteThat's one thing about negative campaigning - people may say they hate it and claim that it backfries, but at the end of the day, it usually works. Not always, but enough...
The worst piece I encountered was one distributed to some affordable housing buildings which referred to "Cappleman and his Klan." While it never directly called James or those of us who were supporters and/or workers members of the Klan, it was a strong enough inference that the election judge I worked with (I was a poll watcher) believed it.
That was my final break with anyone in Shiller's office/circle we had been friendly with before. They knew damned well that Channing and I worked on the campaign, but let that go out anyway. It may have been "just politics" (though there was never an acknowledgement or apology even to that effect), but it sure burned a few bridges.
oops. "Inference" should be "implication."
ReplyDelete