tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post1298402509598495533..comments2024-03-23T09:42:36.833-05:00Comments on Uptown Update: Pictures From The RallyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-52006249143103555642010-07-28T16:29:50.694-05:002010-07-28T16:29:50.694-05:00PLEASE tell me when the next rally will take place...PLEASE tell me when the next rally will take place. I NEED to know!<br /><br />Dearest Shitler,<br /> <br /> We didn't have this technology in 1987 when you were first elected. You can't hide from us now. We can organize easier and communicate faster than ever before. This should scare you out of your Birkenstocks.<br /><br />I'm doing my part by telling everyone I know about your carelessness. Guess what? People get it and they can't wait to exercise their right to vote you out.<br /><br />Power to the people who care. Power to the people who want a safe neighborhood. Power to the people who want their money handled correctly. POWER TO US! THE VOTER!<br /><br />Down with you, Shitler. You will not be missed. Ever.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-11500415414452645342009-08-17T11:08:48.132-05:002009-08-17T11:08:48.132-05:00How come Alderman was not there to listen to peopl...How come Alderman was not there to listen to people's concerns. Obviously, this was a priority for many uptown residents. Don't get it!A Choihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02633461287833549063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-82168093872067361502008-06-10T07:56:00.000-05:002008-06-10T07:56:00.000-05:00oh my goodness people!! we need to end this string...oh my goodness people!! we need to end this string as it has totally stopped being productive. as long as the negative and degrading comments are given credibility, this is going to continue to spiral out of control.<BR/><BR/>we had a very successful rally on saturday: we've made the point that we care deeply about the safety of our neighborhood for ALL of it's residents, present that morning or not; we made the statement that we refuse to let it degrade any further; and we have exposed some very bitter feelings here that need to be mended.<BR/><BR/>maybe this is a bit idealistic, but let's please focus on moving our community forward instead of needlessly dividing it. we ALL have the same basic goal with respect to this rally and these postings - to live happily and safely in the place that we have chosen to call home. period.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-65347063118053384732008-06-09T19:02:00.000-05:002008-06-09T19:02:00.000-05:00For the love of all things Uptown, we've ALL got t...For the love of all things Uptown, we've ALL got to keep trying to move forward positively. A college student was shot on our streets. People decided to hold a rally to make a statement against violence on our streets. They held it in front of the alderman's office mostly because she won't even do the most basic lip-service thing that most politicians are willing to do when something like this happens---"I am shocked and saddened by this tragic loss. My heart goes out to the family." <BR/><BR/>She simply ignores that the crime and violence in our area is bad and she chooses to believe that this is the safest area of the city because the rest of the police district statistics are allowing our numbers to look reasonable. People get angry at politicians all the time. That is not a reason to further damage this community with incendiary tactics. Put your thinking caps on people. Do you think that Uptown is just some sort of magnet for never-satisfied racists who just want to bash a saintly Alderman for sport? Or, is it more likely that these are decent people who are just trying to live their lives in peace...raise their families...whatever...and want to see the streets become safer for everyone? Do you seriously think that any of us woke up in the morning and said "Let's go on over to the Alderman's office and have a hate march." If so, I've got news for you. The people who really feel that way pursue their tactics silently and live in communities where everyone thinks alike and looks alike. That is NOT what is going on here so just stop it.<BR/><BR/>The fact that this rally did not reflect the diversity of Uptown is true. But the reason some have given for it is 100% wrong. The real reason is that people aren't talking in this community. That goes in all directions---I didn't know one person at the rally. So here is a challenge for all of you people out there criticizing what some of us tried to do on Saturday. Do your part to get a productive conversation going! If you think we don't understand Uptown then stop insulting us and engage us. We should have made it abundantly clear by now that ignoring us is no longer an option. And for cryin' out loud---RESPECT YOURSELF ENOUGH to stop trolling hate.Sassyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07023321034518238290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-65742383291286525492008-06-09T18:22:00.000-05:002008-06-09T18:22:00.000-05:00I what to the rally it was so hot!First let me tel...I what to the rally it was so hot!<BR/>First let me tell you am black and it was like only 3 black people there LOL. Whan I got there everybody look at me funny. <BR/>one guy say I Know How hard it is for me to be there at the rally I was about curse hem out but he walk a way to fast.like I was scare to come. I was there because it was a anti-Crime rally but it was not it was a anti-helen relly what a shame. last time I will go to your rallys.North Magnoliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05695711723365535713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-49732158473223577182008-06-09T15:04:00.000-05:002008-06-09T15:04:00.000-05:00The media's too busy uncovering Obama's nasty litt...The media's too busy uncovering Obama's nasty little Chicago skeletons.<BR/><BR/>More power to 'em.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-54424636108957455812008-06-09T14:52:00.000-05:002008-06-09T14:52:00.000-05:00Hey guys... I'm getting my email to Phyllis Gilchr...Hey guys... I'm getting my email to Phyllis Gilchrist, Metro Editor of the SunTimes pgilchrist@suntimes.com returned as undeliverable. Anyone know if this email is correct of not. Please do email the press about this... feel free to copy and paste the letter I wrote below.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Hello... I am an Uptown Resident and I am afraid to walk the streets of my own neighborhood. We pulled together a grassroots rally of over 100 neighbors to protest the increasing violence in our neighborhood, and an alderman who refuses to even acknowledge the murders of innocent people. Your publication was notified well in advance of this rally, and didn't have the courtesy to show up and give us any support at all. I would like an explanation as to why our rally to protest the violence occurring everyday in Uptown was not deemed as important as Daley's new grandchild.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-50025572426840607922008-06-09T13:44:00.000-05:002008-06-09T13:44:00.000-05:00I can understand how a rally might be intimidating...I can understand how a rally might be intimidating to Shiller. Maybe she needs an engraved invitation to attend the next CAPS meeting? Maybe the block club presidents for the next CAPS meeting could send her letters inviting her and make phone calls to invite her? Maybe a smaller group is more her style?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-51296219284039066812008-06-09T13:41:00.000-05:002008-06-09T13:41:00.000-05:00Helen's words via a pre-election ('07) interview w...Helen's words via a pre-election ('07) interview with the Windy City Times:<BR/><BR/>" We’ve started to do e-mail blasts. … We’ve been doing a once a month thing that we are planning on doing maybe a little bit more often. I go to community meetings three or four times a week. We try to cover the things that happen regularly. We go to any meeting we’re invited to. We’ll continue to do that.<BR/><BR/>My staff is here to deal with any issues people have on a daily basis."<BR/><BR/>The joke writes itselfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-51441692854967268392008-06-09T13:12:00.000-05:002008-06-09T13:12:00.000-05:00That was my long answer "whats the point." My shor...That was my long answer "whats the point." My short answer is that while those other factors do exist, THE RALLY REALLY WAS ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME. An innocent college student was gunned down. Gun "play" and other crimes with guns involved are up around here. Our part of the police district accounts for ALL of the homicides. Something more needs to be done for the safety of everyone. Keeping silent is not the answer. But with the Alderman hiding out and then the troll attacks that came afterwards, I guess we know that more silence is what we will be getting.Sassyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07023321034518238290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-38829353650765251382008-06-09T13:04:00.000-05:002008-06-09T13:04:00.000-05:00Hey, "whats the point." I wish I could live somewh...Hey, "whats the point." I wish I could live somewhere else and read this blog because this is some really, really interesting stuff. If you can spend the time, keep reading through the comments section because, like most people who haven't "lived it" you don't really understand the situation here. Please permit me to be your local tour guide. Here are some answers to your questions.<BR/><BR/>YES. It would have made more sense to have an anti-violence rally outside of a police station. However, I believe that our district's police station is in Lakeview by Wrigley Field. We live many blocks north of that and oftentimes in what feels like a different world. The cliff notes about the police is that their hands are tied because Uptown has a very long history on the issue of police brutality. The legacy of it as a political issue is with us today and Alderman Shiller and her friends at COURAJ keep that on the front burner & talk about CAPS as a racist organization so that policing in Uptown takes on unusual characteristics. In addition, the college student who was recently shot was shot across the street from her office.<BR/><BR/>YES. The pictures do show "a bunch of middle class looking white people." You can see from this blog how hard Shiller's supporters work to marginalize and discredit anyone who isn't lock-step behind her. Racial provocation is part of that agenda. Lying to longtime constituents about how people like us want to kick them out of their homes is another tactic. The bottom line is that Uptown has been used since the 1960s as a platform for activists to pursue their agendas. That is not to say that no good has come out of this for people who haven often been forgotten by society, the Daley administrations, the state and the federal government. BUT if there is any other larger issue (you said it can't all be about crime) then it is that middle class property owners (of all stripes) are purposefully marginalized around here. This too has been happening for a long time and it is time for this community to BE SOMETHING rather than just STANDING FOR something. It needs to become a true community and it can't while it is still beholden to a political regime.<BR/><BR/>As your Uptown Tour Guide, I will tell you that I am absolutely devastated by what has happened/is happening. I want to live in this ethnically diverse socio-economically mixed community on the lakefront that everyone keeps talking about! Let's make it happen. So, the more these people keep kicking me down with their hate and their insults and their ignoring the basic tenets of justice...the more I grow stronger to fight back for something that is good.Sassyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07023321034518238290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-64595273468055765042008-06-09T12:31:00.000-05:002008-06-09T12:31:00.000-05:00There are a LOT of other issues besides a straight...There are a LOT of other issues besides a straight up "go talk to the cops about crime."<BR/><BR/>The short version: Shiller has not been responsive to the uptick in violent crimes in her ward; specifically around Uptown.<BR/><BR/>She cites a stat that indicates her ward has the lowest crime rate in the city; but fails to acknowledge that stat is an aggregate and does not indicate the growing gang violence in and around Uptown, specifically (her office, is pretty much the epicenter, as a matter of fact).<BR/><BR/>This rally wasn't so much (or should not have been) an anti-Shiller rally; but a rally (as one of the signs stated) to get Helen to get involved.<BR/><BR/>She's made no statement with regards to a gang-related murder which occurred outside her office, and, like any number of other issues, when her is office contacted for her response, she's never available.<BR/><BR/>It's not like she's responsible for the crime, but by not responding, or taking any negligible action whatsoever, she is quietly propagating the matter.<BR/><BR/>Additionally, it's her love of warehousing low income folks into such a confined area that's also promoting more violence.<BR/><BR/>In short - her "I know what's good for you" ideals have floundered when put into practical usage and she's ignoring the resulting higher crime as to admit to it would be tantamount to admitting that she and her policies are abject failures.<BR/><BR/>Why this is so important is because none of us want fall prey to the monsters that Helen has created by providing the proper environment and we also want to prevent her from adding fuel to the fire by stacking more low income (though expensive to build) housing atop Wilson Yard.<BR/><BR/>So, no, it's not Helen's fault, entirely; but, over the last two decades, she has proven herself more on the side of the problems, than on the solutions.<BR/><BR/>And since she flat out refuse to engage the community, the community thought to engage her.<BR/><BR/>The fact that so many trolls have sprouted on this thread in her (weak) defense indicates that the community did the right thing and that she's frightened that she won't be able to cover her nasty little tracks for much longer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-83847515636108032892008-06-09T12:19:00.000-05:002008-06-09T12:19:00.000-05:00It's been my experience that many of the residents...It's been my experience that many of the residents living in CHA and HUD housing are afraid to come to these kinds of rallies for fear of retaliation. It's starting to change a little and it seems the safer it starts to get, the braver the residents are to be more outspoken.<BR/><BR/>If I had a drug dealer living in my building, I guess I would feel intimidated too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-66981751494664471072008-06-09T12:10:00.000-05:002008-06-09T12:10:00.000-05:00That guy in the third picture has featured promine...That guy in the third picture has featured prominently in at least 3 photos on UU. What's the deal? Is he a local celebrity?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-56982232581101825712008-06-09T11:57:00.000-05:002008-06-09T11:57:00.000-05:00First off, I am not a resident of Uptown. I became...First off, I am not a resident of Uptown. I became interested in this site after the article in the paper. I wish every neighborhood had such a clearing house for local issues. I hope that this doesn't negate my question.<BR/>If this was an anti-crime rally, why didn't it take place outside of the local police station? Isn't the Chicago Police Department in charge of fighting crime? It just seems like this was designed to protest the Alderman and the bulk of these comments seem to back up that assumption. I wasn't there but the pictures show a bunch of middle class looking white people. Do the crime stats support the idea that it is middle class white people that are getting shot in uptown? There's more going on here than many of you claim as the issue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-2952888827250614922008-06-09T11:38:00.000-05:002008-06-09T11:38:00.000-05:00BTW.. with all of those photos being taken at the ...BTW.. with all of those photos being taken at the rally, did anyone get a photo of these alleged Schiller workers with baseball bats? Think of what that would have done come next election time. Hell, think of the fallout if those photos were sent to the newspapers. She might actually have to show her face to respond.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-48104785341205014152008-06-09T11:36:00.000-05:002008-06-09T11:36:00.000-05:00As an Edgewater resident (and black) I ask all of ...As an Edgewater resident (and black) I ask all of you to keep up the good work. No anti-crime rally is ever in vain (or "lame" as the high school dropouts here keep referring to it in their limited linguistic skills). The sad thing is the morons who spout so-called racial statistics on crime like parrots and the naysayers will benefit from your efforts. If there was a way to accomplish your goal and have all remaining crime follow just them like their personal dark rain cloud it would be poetic justice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-2420617284431079642008-06-09T11:05:00.000-05:002008-06-09T11:05:00.000-05:00Thank you to all who sacrificed your Saturday morn...Thank you to all who sacrificed your Saturday morning to come out and take a stand. It was a pleasure to meet so many people who care about Uptown.<BR/><BR/>For those who are complaining, making derogatory comments, etc. If you think we are all a bunch of racist gentrifiers, why didn't you show up with signs of your own to tell us how you really feel? It's so much easier to post anonymously on a blog, or like Willie Mae, lie through your teeth, than it is to take actually DO something, ANYTHING, positive for your neighborhood. <BR/><BR/>Why didn't you come out and protest in favor of Shiller? Scared? Of what... all the young couples and their toddlers? You would of been ok... Shiller's people were armed with baseball bats in her office, they would of protected you! Makes you wonder, if, as they say, Uptown has no issues with crime... why they would find it necessary to be armed against a group of peaceful protestors? Rather ironic I think. <BR/><BR/>Instead of being so hateful and judgemental, perhaps you could of confronted those of us at the rally in person and actually learned something about us? It's pretty cowardly to come on a message board and anonymously call people racists and accuse us of trying to run the poor out of Uptown. <BR/><BR/>I'm not against anyone but gangbangers and drug dealers. I expect my Alderman, who I help pay the salary for, to publicly denounce crime, gangs and drugs in her Ward, and be an active member of the community, representing ALL of her constituents, NOT just her pet projects. Why? Because that is her JOB. That is what she is hired to do. If she feels so justified in her lack of action regarding all the recent crime in her Ward, she should of had the guts to stand up and come out and discuss these issues with the protestors, and publicly go on record with her plans to curb crime in her Ward. No other Alderman in Uptown has an issue discussing their plans. Why should Helen be held to a different standard? <BR/><BR/>For those with the balls to show up on Saturday, thanks for coming. For those of you who choose to sit around and do nothing but gripe at those of us willing to try something, ANYTHING to make the neighborhood better for ALL of us, shame on you. Your way of doing nothing has obviously worked so well for you, hasn't it?Farrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01601337658921776539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-52993172624272533382008-06-09T10:48:00.000-05:002008-06-09T10:48:00.000-05:00I was happy to see that the rally was a success. ...I was happy to see that the rally was a success. I've been reading this blog of some time and I don't remember a post that's had this many comments before. Clearly, we've all struck a cord.<BR/><BR/>My husband and I were stopped by for a bit and my only suggestion for future rallies that may be planned is diversity. As I've stated before on this site, middle class white condo owners are not the only people in this community concerned about violence. The elderly living in assisted living, the families in public housing, the rich in single family homes.... everyone deserves a safe environment to live in. And despite many of the comments to the negative in this particular post, I think the vast majority of us that post here agree with that.<BR/><BR/>Many people who move to this neighborhood enjoy the diversity that Uptown has to offer, both racial and economic. Its what makes this community special. We need to do a better job of getting the word out about these rallies too all the people in this community. The more people that we can involve the less ammunition that we provide to Alderman Schiller.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-87198480067268269952008-06-09T10:08:00.000-05:002008-06-09T10:08:00.000-05:00I agree. Which is why it is great we have all the ...I agree. Which is why it is great we have all the email addresses. Lets use em!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-67001099596376275592008-06-09T09:48:00.000-05:002008-06-09T09:48:00.000-05:00The media are under no obligation to attend every ...The media are under no obligation to attend every rally in Chicagoland. They like rallys conducted by established groups because they can then use a boilerplate form to write their stories. There will also be a rally for Grant Park this week. They are way into that issue.<BR/><BR/>So, it is a little bit of laziness on their part and a LOT of not wanting to tell the story of what is happening here. It is complex. Seasoned reporters have a pretty good idea of what has been going down around here. But telling this story would mean being able to move beyond the "good guys" vs. "bad guys" formula. In order to tell this story, you'd need some page count and they probably feel that not enough folks in Chicago are interested. Plus, to tell the story the newspaper would end up having to make some jabs at the Mayor, an alderman and important charities and philanthropists. Who needs all that grief?<BR/><BR/>This is a great, great story for someone with some vision and some serious reporting skills. I suppose that it needs to be our job to show them how deep this goes and why the story needs to be told.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-3547493826633119112008-06-09T09:39:00.000-05:002008-06-09T09:39:00.000-05:00Media did not attend because a disorganized lame "...Media did not attend because a disorganized lame "rally" isn't news.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-43051803865295828082008-06-09T09:37:00.000-05:002008-06-09T09:37:00.000-05:00I would really like to HIGHLY SUGGEST we take it a...I would really like to HIGHLY SUGGEST we take it another step and email them and demand to know why... Is the fact Daley has another granddaughter really more important that a neighborhood in fear? (Top local stories of both papers this morning)<BR/><BR/>I have provided the names and email addresses of the editors below. Please take some of the same energy you show here and email them, asking them to explain their editorial decisions on why they chose not to cover it...thank you<BR/><BR/>Michael Cooke, Editor of the SunTimes mcooke@suntimes.com;<BR/>Phyllis Gilchrist, Metro Editor of the SunTimes pgilchrist@suntimes.com; Ann Marie Lipinski, Editor of The Tribune, ctc-editor@tribune.com; Tim McNulty,<BR/>Public/Local Editor, The Tribune, TMcNulty@tribune.com,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-55468864713900167252008-06-09T09:31:00.000-05:002008-06-09T09:31:00.000-05:00My biggest question is- Why did no media attend th...My biggest question is- Why did no media attend this event?<BR/><BR/> That is what doesnt make sense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-88902255238577977102008-06-09T09:25:00.000-05:002008-06-09T09:25:00.000-05:00UptownGuy2008 makes me smile. To paraphrase Shakes...UptownGuy2008 makes me smile. <BR/><BR/>To paraphrase Shakespeare (to the Shillerista's, he was kind of a famous writer a few years ago...)<BR/><BR/>"The lady doth protest too much"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com