tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post567038168050695254..comments2024-03-23T09:42:36.833-05:00Comments on Uptown Update: Two People Shot At Sheridan & Lawrence This AfternoonUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-42708359075434705992013-06-20T01:35:13.817-05:002013-06-20T01:35:13.817-05:00Thank you for the critique. Much appreciated.
Def...Thank you for the critique. Much appreciated.<br />Definitely not Helen. I was addressing earlier posts regarding the circle of violence and how one young man lost so many friends due to gun violence. He and his friends need to aid the community by taking a risk and turn the guilty parties over to the police. <br />(Return just for you) Violence, whether it be Uptown or Southside, is unacceptable. I don't believe anyone in Uptown expressing concern over violence is a "yuppie bitch". I understand the concerns of the mother afraid to walk her baby in the neighborhood.<br />As far as references to you personally, I've read your posts for a long time. Give people a break. But, who am I to give you advice. This blog is a place for discussion and expression. It's not an essay contest. <br /><br />Down and Out in Uptownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12064994797900581090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-23090096615444083652013-06-19T12:07:52.304-05:002013-06-19T12:07:52.304-05:00Daoiu,
Is that you, Helen? Gawd, I hope so.
...Daoiu,<br /><br />Is that you, Helen? Gawd, I hope so. <br /><br />The writing style seems vaguely familiar.<br /><br />Long, rambling, almost a run on sentence.<br /><br />Lack of punk u aton and the ability to hit the enter key for paragraphing.<br /><br />It almost reminds me of this <a href="http://uptownavenger.blogspot.com/2009/08/aldermans-shillaz-leter-to-her.html" rel="nofollow">blast</a> from the past.<br /><br />Now I'm having a hard time deciphering what you were trying to say. I'll try to break it down for the class.<br /><br />1. Violence on the south and west sides is worse so WTF are you complaining about yuppie bitches.<br /><br />2. Violence bad. We need to work together and turn in the criminals. <br /><br />3. Pirate bad. Fire bad. AAAGH. Are you fictious or is a computer program sponsored by the ghost of Muammar Gaddafi, NASA, and the NSA typing for you. Use your education for the public good. Stop being a jack ass.<br /><br /><br />Really whoever posted that the "enter" key is your friend. <br /><br />It's amazing how much easier it is to follow some comment when there are breaks between paragraphs.<br /><br />As for me I'm unfortunately very real. My persona on the other hand is just for dramatic effect. I'm not Irish and I don't particularly like the water. <br /><br />I barely even live in Uptown at the moment. Depending on how the ward remap shakes out in court I may end in the 47th Ward. I'm sure Alderman Pawal is thrilled about that possibility!<br /><br />That would put me in the same ward as Rahmbo. I walk by his house frequently. If I thought he would win reelection I would buy a house down the street from him. Excellent police protection on that block. <br /><br />I'd love to have a heavy weapons team at my disposal. Ain't nuthin scarier to gangbangers than khaki clad cops with automatic weapons running towards them. <br /><br /><br /><br />IrishPiratehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11339255909419333238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-82944844283255607912013-06-19T01:15:26.526-05:002013-06-19T01:15:26.526-05:00Yes, up in arms over gunshots in Uptown when the W...Yes, up in arms over gunshots in Uptown when the West and Southside are exceeding murder rates and violence. Solving all the years of hurt and pain suffered by previous poster is something that is utopian. People with information of those violent criminals may have to stand up themselves and help end the cycle by turning over criminals. The general public doesn't know who these people are. I am sympathetic to all involved. I realize the problem is deep and has run over decades. No one should have to live in fear. Pirate, you post your opinion. Not the opinion of everyone. You also don't represent everyone. Whether you are a fictitious individual or the real bad, drunken, prostitute chasing man you pride yourself to be, perhaps you should use some of the education you have to realize the position of other people. Not everyone can be as free with their lives and have responsibility of young children. Why you would pride yourself on the things that you do just undermine anything intelligent you have to say. Good luck Uptown! Down and Out in Uptownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12064994797900581090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-91628188721711279552013-06-13T19:22:19.158-05:002013-06-13T19:22:19.158-05:00I agree with you 110%I agree with you 110%un-biashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15024272677050153501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-83299537506039403462013-06-13T17:26:04.118-05:002013-06-13T17:26:04.118-05:00Would like to see a regular beat cop on the corner...Would like to see a regular beat cop on the corner of Sheridan and Lawrence. Say from 3 pm to 9 pm???? Not one that sits in their vehicle.<br /><br /><br />Also, isn't time that the greasy S&L pantry store on the south east corner of Sheridan and Lawrence take down the dirty sheets hanging in the window?<br /><br /><br /><br />Totohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10134095614798025301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-40682268429753724942013-06-12T20:24:23.858-05:002013-06-12T20:24:23.858-05:00Uptown J is right on the money with his comment. I...Uptown J is right on the money with his comment. If you cannot find help the usual ways then you have to become resourceful.<br /><br />Amber the truth is that CPD just does not have the resources to arrest every possible criminal. Moreover, they often concentrate more on the higher level offenders. Low level drug dealers will probably get off on probation even after multiple arrests. <br /><br />As for the scenario you've described involving the street fest and CPD--I have to say that naivete is a two-way street.<br /><br />Do you honestly expect CPD to go after (most likely armed) possible gang bangers with a diplomatic approach? I am sorry for your child but these are the realities of big-city living (and life in general). <br /><br />Honestly when you're on the street you cannot afford to be kind or gentle because that mindset only gets people--innocent civilians or your partners--killed.UptownLibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16037531511363912067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-45095443826473583952013-06-12T19:49:11.315-05:002013-06-12T19:49:11.315-05:00Amber,
do you have audio or video of this encount...Amber,<br /><br />do you have audio or video of this encounter? If you do post it on youtube and give us a link.<br /><br />Frankly, your story and writing style doesn't pass my initial IrishPirate smell test.<br /><br />Is it possible the general outline of your story is true? Certainly, there are more than a few idiots employed as cops.<br /><br />My first encounter with such an idiot was back in the 70's or early 80's. I was traveling down the Dan Ryan expressway at a high rate of speed and a Chicago cop with an Irish name and accent tried to shake me down for a bribe. I took the ticket and went to court downtown. I probably should have reported him, but I was a teenager and didn't. Anyway his word against mine. Hence the beauty of audio and video today.<br /><br />I think on duty cops should be required to wear cameras/audio recording devices on their uniform. It would make for better police conduct and better conduct from the citizens they interact with.<br /><br />Do you have a ticket you could scan and post here with appropriate sections blacked out?<br /><br />Inquiring pirates want to know.<br /><br />Now your writing style and purported occupation scream "social justice education" blah blah freaky blah.<br /><br />Are you one of the near 100 percent of Uplift high school graduates who go on to college? <br /><br />Plus the timing is a bit suspect and a quick google search leads me to believe you've never posted here before. However, amazingly and with exquisite timing you post in a topic regarding a gang shooting and try to change the discussion from the bangers and their bullets to the bad bad police.<br /><br />Perhaps I'm wrong and if I am I'll admit it, but right now methinks something stinks in the State of this topic on UU.<br /><br />That stinky thing.....it's you Amber and all Uptown waits to see if you can put up or shut up.<br /><br />The Uptown Upside is that if you're right and can prove it you will have humiliated me, The IrishPirate. Thousands or at least a dozen or so people will take great joy in that.<br /><br />To humiliate me will bring great joy to the legion of people who don't appreciate my presence in Uptown or this site. <br /><br />To them I can only say to quote my now four year old niece Lucretia McEvil:<br /><br />THPPPPPPT!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />IrishPiratehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11339255909419333238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-54616941004192858572013-06-12T19:45:04.493-05:002013-06-12T19:45:04.493-05:00Amber, this all sounds like made up garbage.
If y...Amber, this all sounds like made up garbage.<br /><br />If you had video, it would have been posted and we'd have a link to it.<br /><br />I call BS.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-57061539664612392022013-06-12T18:32:28.705-05:002013-06-12T18:32:28.705-05:00I think its absolutely hilarious that my friend Fr...I think its absolutely hilarious that my friend Frankiem Mitchel just gave you a look into the issues that you all know "so much about", yet had you had more to say about a white woman getting pulled over then coming up with suggestions to the issues he just presented to you. Unbelievable.<br /><br />"After all, i am a white 25yr old female without any sort of record/previous arrest being stopped a block down from the location where nearly 25 gunshots just littered the neighborhood...so needless to say, I was not expecting what was about to come." <br /><br />Hey Amber!! Wake up! I wonder if this will get them to stop harassing me because I'm a 22 year old African American woman with no trouble with the law yet I get harassed on a weekly basis just by walking home from work after midnight. Re examine your morals. Little do you know you just unveiled the underlying racism behind your comments. I'm sorry you had to go through what my brothers and sisters go through everyday, because theyre black they must be gang bangers, because theyre outside after midnight they must be drug dealers, because he has on a white tshirt he must be a shooter. The CPD don't do shit. Protect and serve? How do you think so many guns are winding up in the wrong hands? They arent being escorted over here from Baghdad, theyre being handed over by your loyal CPD.<br /><br />Give me a break. You want them to stop shooting? Offer them a job! Or wait because theyre black they must not want to work either. Theyd rather sell drugs huh? Re-read frankiems comment, understand it, then come back with solutions. Not 1,001 solutions to being pulled over and harassed! We go through it everyday, what makes you think your so different?Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714633919533866243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-74630550706274071162013-06-12T17:52:43.398-05:002013-06-12T17:52:43.398-05:00One last thing....
I want to thank everyone for y...One last thing....<br /><br />I want to thank everyone for you support and follow up suggestions!! It truly means a lot and you have given us some much needed hope!! We are new to this city, but we are very passionate about it attaining a just and productive stature to for ourselves, future residents, and most importantly the children being raised here! Thanks again!! I will update on our progress in dealing with the incident. <br /><br />Best Regards! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07384997851556908773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-17880914818312052792013-06-12T17:37:02.379-05:002013-06-12T17:37:02.379-05:00(part II of my super long rant :))
Given the alm...(part II of my super long rant :))<br /><br /> Given the almost immediate compliance of the young man, I do think that this was slightly overdone. What if the suspect would have had a weapon and had chosen to use it? Or what if he decided to grab my daughter as a hostage shield to evade his arrest? Regardless of the severity of the “seize”, the procedural choices made by the officers involved seemed, incredibly naïve, but more so entirely inconsiderate of the immediate safety of the multiple bystanders…and rather appeared as if it was driven by rage rather than thoughtful analytics. We found out later in the evening someone in attendance had called the police on the group reporting “suspected gang activity”. I’m not here to critique the motif for the call, nor the guilt of the suspects, but I do find it alarming that so quickly my five year old daughter fell into harms way at what seemed to be a perfectly safe and celebratory environment. Needless to say, everyone left that evening unharmed, and nicely introduced to city we now call home. Not to mention, the incident became great fuel for my mothers argument of why I should have never left the safe and sheltered comfort of our small southern illinois town to embark on life in a big violent city.<br /><br /><br />Regardless, my two major encounters with police in one my year of residency have proven a rather grim perception of those employed to protect us. Perhaps lady cop was intimidated by "real" encounters (which i find doubtful if your working in cpd), perhaps she was proving a point to her less experienced accompaniment...I've have tried to form some sort of reasonable justification for her actions, but I honestly have no idea what would prompt such behavior. Perhaps the gang member was highly wanted suspect, or dangerous criminal who warranted such drastic measures? Who knows?…but that does not compensate for the risks assumed by living here…from both criminals and law enforcement alike. As a white female, I do feel incredibly privileged to not be the target victim of such occurrences, and as I mentioned in a previous post…I truly do empathize for the humans that do….particularly the young minority males in chicago. These kids step out of the door with the world already assuming they are doing something wrong and I understand why some of these young men get swept under the arm of crime as a result (among various other reasons). Perhaps that is were we should turn our focus if we want to eliminate crime? Embrace and educate our youth instead of trying to control them with invasive control. Become authoritative rather than authoritarian! Much easier said than done…but definitely food worth some thought! <br /><br />To jump off of my teacher “save the world” pedestal and lightly venture into a lens of suspicion....One might also consider the fact that Chicago is not necessarily known for its honest or ethical political system....pay offs have been occurring since the origination of gangs in Chicago. And with this, what is happening in this city- to our youth and to you and to me-should be completely expected provided the circumstances. <br /><br />How can you expect to produce a functioning community under an ill functioning infrastructure....<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07384997851556908773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-76219288780080792552013-06-12T17:36:11.111-05:002013-06-12T17:36:11.111-05:00I have tried contacting CPD headquarters for the l...I have tried contacting CPD headquarters for the last 3 days to obtain the names of the officers involved with no avail. I plan on visiting the station tomorrow afternoon. I am hesitant to pursue the issue too invasively in fear of future encounters with this individual.<br /><br />Also, yes gang violence and shootings occur in all major cities...but Chicago is set apart in that, the concentration of violence-specifically shootings-in specific geographic locations far surpasses what "statistics" might illustrate as "normal" rates. With this said, this actually further perpetuates my hostility around my encounter with the police on Monday. <br /><br />Like many other users on UU forums often mention, I too can personally point out multiple drug dealers, transactions, gang members, crack head parents, drug dealer parents (w/ children in attendance), theft from local businesses, etc etc etc....and where are the POLICE? If the police were properly functioning, these humans would not be existing as they currently do...they would be in jail! Instead, we are locking up people for personally, but not externally, intrusive crimes such as traffic warrants, minor marijauna offenses, etc The demographic being targeted for minor offenses is obvious (minor offenses being traffic violations, noise complaints, parking/city ordinance violations for the everyday law abiding citizen BUT for the professional criminal, one might liberally consider small drug deals, minor assaults, unarmed robbery, etc as such). It is obvious that THEY ARE TARGETING THE HUMANS THAT WILL PAY THE FINE! Im not saying that CPD doesn't take gang crime seriously, because I have witnessed it, but I do think the main focus is major weapon or high quantity busts..often letting the smaller, street made, transactions fall under radar. Unfortunately, but obviously, it is the street activity that is putting innocent people at most risk..not necessarily because of the transactions on the streets, but because of the areas by which these foot soldiers choose to reside during their "working" hours. Aside from territory disputes, larger transactions gone bad elsewhere, often elicit a consequence that is going to take place on the streets. So why? Why aren't the police more actively involved in dispersing street activity. As i have personally witnessed, more cops does not mean more action aimed at "actual" criminals. So what is the answer? Is there one or do you just throw in the cards and move?? <br /><br />My first week living in Chicago, my mother, daughter, and I were attending a neighborhood block festival. It was really awesome...live music, positive people, local business & resident vendors, and more. About an hour after arriving, my family and were talking with one of the vendors when multiple police cars entered the area..targeting a group of young (18-30 yr olds) black males standing around a car with music playing. From an eye witness perspective, I had not noticed any harm and illegal conduct being committed by the group in the hour we had been in attendance. However, when the police were noticed, the group of young men started to diffuse the opposite direction. Very quickly the police pulled up, exited their cars with guns drawn, and retained the group except for one individual who had crossed the street. The individual they were still attempting to detain, surrendered with his hands up about 2 feet away from my family and I. With this, the officer was within about 10 ft from the individual gun still drawn screaming that he will fucking kill him if he tries to run (with a few racial slurs to accompany his statements)...this may be protocol, who knows what this individual was or was not guilty of, but one thing i do know is that my 5 year old daughter was frozen in fright stuck between the cop and alleged perp.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07384997851556908773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-15361781276385629782013-06-12T16:51:46.183-05:002013-06-12T16:51:46.183-05:00Amber--I don't blame you for crying, I most ce...Amber--I don't blame you for crying, I most certainly would have as well--I'm so sorry you went through that, just heinous.<br /><br />I recommend that you use every single outlet available to get this story out--especially the media. I follow pretty much every reporter from ABC7 news on Twitter and have found them very responsive when I bring things to their attention so maybe try them? And most certainly talk to Alderman Cappleman as well. <br /><br />Seriously--Every. Single. Outlet. Available. <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01995683652847538589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-89249997532748808572013-06-12T15:50:07.169-05:002013-06-12T15:50:07.169-05:00So any word on whether or not Blue's Clues cau...So any word on whether or not Blue's Clues caught our uniquely identifiable "17 to 22-year-old black male with a white t-shirt"?<br /><br />A neighbor of mine in my building contacted the Alderman asking why he had no response compared to last year when he was "on it," and seemingly showing a bit more piss and vinegar after these such incidents. The response forwarded on to me via Cappleman was "If you have any questions about how I address crime, feel free to view the 46th Ward Master Plan." (neighbor's contact was fueled by Cappleman's usually daily tweets, sitting idle by this incident, and last having mentioned the nice concert he was attending a few days earlier).<br /><br />I don't blame Mr. Cappleman, it's just frustrating. And like I wrote earlier, this is indeed far beyond the scope of the Alderman's abilities/resources. In my head I'm just going to chalk up the police/alderman 'no news' as a strategy which will be revealed shortly as an Operation Sugar Magnolia Part II!Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09537532538599181459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-18182651171451723952013-06-12T14:43:35.021-05:002013-06-12T14:43:35.021-05:00Ummm sorry 4848 has come a long way I have been li...Ummm sorry 4848 has come a long way I have been living there for 26years and u came out just fine. I'm not scared to stand in from 4848 beacuse they do not be around there u might be right about jj's but not 4848.I'm believehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01588113951355117770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-70433358776608144202013-06-12T13:57:42.027-05:002013-06-12T13:57:42.027-05:00I am a law enforcement officer and I find all this...I am a law enforcement officer and I find all this a bit overblown. <br /><br />People are going crazy over a few gang bangers shot in recent days--these fearmongers act as if we are kneedeep in the Syrian revolution.<br /><br />Shootings are not uncommon in big cities and if they scare you that much you should definitely move somewhere "safer." I suggest Tucson.<br /><br />And Amber: you should go to your local watch commander and inform him/her of what happened. If he/she refuses to act then take it up with your alderman. <br /><br /><br /> UptownLibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16037531511363912067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-59133322643040862422013-06-12T13:55:39.955-05:002013-06-12T13:55:39.955-05:00Amber,
If you truly have video of this interactio...Amber,<br /><br />If you truly have video of this interaction, I highly recommend going to a lawyer to see if there is any recourse you can take. If there isn't, I recommend going to the media. This sort of thing should not be tolerated.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04802611813067370610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-90183625578377194392013-06-12T13:37:30.213-05:002013-06-12T13:37:30.213-05:00the violence has to stop. we really need a new ald...the violence has to stop. we really need a new alderman who will do something about thisUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16943466947997253451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-32498858839894283142013-06-12T11:34:54.508-05:002013-06-12T11:34:54.508-05:00Daniel,
when gang violence happens in Buena Park ...Daniel,<br /><br />when gang violence happens in Buena Park it's generally right at Cuyler and Broadway.<br /><br />Yes, I recall a shooting on 4300 Clarendon over the winter, but that was the exception. I'm not even sure if that shooting was directly gang related. The shootings tend to blend together in my caffeine addled brain over time.<br /><br />There's actually an easy solution to the problem on Cuyler. The two buildings on the north and south corners of Cuyler and Broadway are infested with bangers. Have been at least since the early 80's.<br /><br />Those two buildings remind me of the Uptown of the 80's or before with run down buildings being milked by slumlords. From outside appearances little renovation or maintenance is done in those two jewels of south Buena Park.<br /><br />It's time to convince the owner that renovating or selling the property is a good solution for him and the neighborhood.<br /><br />Some offshoot off one of the larger Latin gangs hang out there. Cuyler boys, Adidas boys or something like that.<br /><br />Adidas boys! Stupid friggin gang name. Right up there with the Gangster Transvestites and the Insane Wombat Porcupine Platypus Killer Clown Combine.<br /><br />In any case getting a private landlord to clean up his act, while difficult, is a whole lot easier than trying to deal with the various CHA or subsidized properties that are infested with gang activity.<br /><br />At least private landlords have the option of selling and making a nice profit in an improving real estate market.<br />IrishPiratehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11339255909419333238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-86064366360975619392013-06-12T11:26:52.215-05:002013-06-12T11:26:52.215-05:00. I cannot believe the abuse of power that was ena.... I cannot believe the abuse of power that was enacted upon me yesterday, particularly given the circumstances of the afternoons events. With this, I am now very very hesitant to support the deployment of additional law enforcement to curb gang activity, as this sort of misdirection become much more probable for law abiding citizens, while the professional criminals will simply evade the patrolled grounds and evolve accordingly to engage in illegal activity anyway. To me, extra police will just spread the geographics of the crime...while the law-abiding citizens become the target of heckling. Fuck cpd they do not help shit. In fact they are a large part of enabling targeted crime that those of us trying to make it in the city fall victim to. Fed up with Chicago and the crooked politics that have been oppressing minorities for over 100yrs. While I still do not have their names, their badge numbers are 7259 and 6371. I am not sure which number is the female officers, but I urge you to avoid encounters with this human at all possible costs. She is not an officer in the 20th district but fear she may return if the gang turf war continues. She has short blond hair, stockier build, probably in her early 40s. BEWARE MY FELLOW NEIGHBORS, SHE IS NOT INTERESTED IN MAKING UPTOWN A SAFER PLACE FOR US OR OUR CHILDREN! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07384997851556908773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-76142579249953309162013-06-12T11:26:30.498-05:002013-06-12T11:26:30.498-05:00After yesterday's shooting, multiple sets of p... After yesterday's shooting, multiple sets of police of bikes were deployed all around the area to allegedly scout the at large suspect. As an uptown resident, one may find comfort in such a concentrated deployment..as I initially did. That was until, I found myself getting harassed by one of the female police officers assigned to the region. I left my house around 5:30 headed to a nightly grad school course as normal..pulled out of my alley and was stopped at the light at Lawrence and marine. While stopped I entered the address of a classmate I was giving a ride into my gps and heard "hey you! Yeah you! Pull over..." shocked and slightly confused I hesitated only to hear "I said fucking pullover, are you ignorant? Listen to me and drive your car right here! I said pull right here!" Now even more shocked and completely astonished by the way I was being spoken to, I complied and pulled my car to location I was being beckoned. After all, i am a white 25yr old female without any sort of record/previous arrest being stopped a block down from the location where nearly 25 gunshots just littered the neighborhood...so needless to say, I was not expecting what was about to come. Once there, literally the first two sentences out of the officers mouth were "I don't want to hear your fucking sob story, so don't even start" at this point I have not said anything and has began to cry from the mere disbelief. Next thing said by the officer was the request to see my license and insurance...I handed her both and realized the ins card I had expired last month. This then preempted the officer's response of "you don't have your insurance card? Oh you're fucked". From there came a serious of cursing and name calling infused with threats of all of the tickets I was going to be issued. Mind you, I still have said nothing except asking why I was stopped (which the officer would not answer). I began trying to record the instance on my cell phone as I feared what was going to happen next. This prompted more teasing and harassing from the female officer...at multiple point throughout the situation it got so bad, the other officer (who was there the entire time but not involved in the harassment) actually stepped in front of her to try and calm the situation and diffuse her abusive language, which worked temporarily but not nearly enough. The situation lasted about 45 min. I finally was told I was stopped for being on my cell phone without a hands free devise. When they finally had written all of the tickets and began to hand them to me, the female officer pulled out her personal mobile phone and began recording video footage of me crying while signing the tickets she had issued while tauntingly stating "you're not the only one that can record video. Look at you, you are pathetic. Are you going to calm down or do I need to make you?" I took the tickets, held my tongue and tried to be as compliant as possible just to get away before anymore "damage" could be "construed" as I knew this was obviously a battle I was not going to win. Before leaving I asked the officers for their name and badge number and was told they could be found on the tickets I issued. Before leaving I made a snarky comment about the shooting that had just occurred and their obvious involvement which was not being fulfilled but rather diverted into a time filling, pissing contest of an alpha dog cop out to prove a point. I am completely shocked and in complete disbelief. I teach high school on the south side and have listen to testimonies of my students who have been blind-sightedly stopped, searched, and harassed by cops when simply walking down the street. But it is only now, that I am able to empathize the situation. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07384997851556908773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-84982346634960590762013-06-12T10:52:59.513-05:002013-06-12T10:52:59.513-05:00I just had to weight in on Irish Pirate's comm...I just had to weight in on Irish Pirate's comments about Buena Park being a safe harbor in Uptown. Gang activity and related gun violence happens all over Uptown including Buena Park. I personally witnessed a shooting on the corner of Broadway & Cuyler. In fact I was almost caught in the crossfire. It's a problem for all of us and we all need to participate in the process of finding solutions.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02741858597213665681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-89108591840494550582013-06-12T10:19:03.622-05:002013-06-12T10:19:03.622-05:00I'd rather risk a stray bullet now-and-then in...I'd rather risk a stray bullet now-and-then in Uptown, than live in whitebread Lakeview, or among the hipsters in Wicker Park. God, I hate hipsters.garyscanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10125261781940893994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-79414688858632533862013-06-12T09:54:05.457-05:002013-06-12T09:54:05.457-05:00(part II)
I know you're afraid! You should as...(part II)<br /><br />I know you're afraid! You should ask us if we're afraid too! I'm terrified to turn on the news or open a paper and see how many have died just yesterday. I'm afraid to see a name I know, or a face that belongs to a hand I've shaken or played football and basketball with. Please stop helping yourselves. Stop serving yourselves. There is no real change happening because no one is doing anything about anything other than typing a comment. By no one, I mean not enough people. I'm no history buff or major, but for the most part... major revolutions happen when the middle-class gets involved. Posting a comment isn't involved. Placing blame isn't involved. You do not know the process in which a human being becomes a gang member or a drug dealer. You have to know there are roots somewhere down there. Please stop perpetuating hate, and stereotype. Please stop perpetuating segregation, classism, and prejudice. If you want a safer neighborhood, help it become safer. Don't rely on systems that aren't functioning fast enough. Actions are a heart's words. If you are doing nothing, then your heart has nothing to say. You, then, should have nothing to say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-60525353683013270942013-06-12T09:49:59.419-05:002013-06-12T09:49:59.419-05:00I'd appreciate it, for whomever this applies, ...I'd appreciate it, for whomever this applies, if you all would stop saying "my" or "our" neighborhood. Whether you own or rent in Uptown... it isn't just yours. If you own, you own a home. Not a community. If you rent. You rent a home, not a community. I understand your ideas for community are such that they only include the like-class, but you're far from facing the true reality of the circumstances in Uptown. I find it sad that I have to use true in combination with reality, however it's necessary as a lot of you who read and post here have no real grip (physically or mentally) on what actually happens. More importantly you have no real knowledge as to why it happens nor do you have any real solutions. Are we all aware of the differences between problems and issues? Cool. Gang-bangers? Problem. Violence? Issue. Have we got it? Tearing down the Lakeside building and 4848 N. Winthrop (where I grew up) isn't an acceptable response to the shootings. That sounds as if it were a suggestion made by a person who has been dehumanized. There are way more immigrant families and low-income families not "harboring" gang members than there are families in which gang members belong. Why dislocate these working families because you, one person (individually [alone]) don't feel safe? Sure, if we compiled all the comments here from those who don't feel safe... there's a small army of you. Granted, everyone is entitled to safety. Has it been taken? What have you done other than post or complain? What have you done other than ridicule and "profile" or judge? Better question... if the gang life was the only life you knew, what would you do if your brother of a friend was shot in the head? You'd shoot back? Of course not, because you don't know what's really happening. Ah, the aforementioned. You have no real grip here. There is a cycle. I've said this before. There clearly is a cycle. No one wants to stop the cycle. Everyone wants to harass the cycle, though. Pointing fingers identifies the surface of a problem. Underneath there is an issue untouched. These people are hurting. Everyday. Violence is a response. Anger is a secondary emotion. You have to be hurt first. You have to be hurt to hate, even if the hate stemming from the hurt is internalized. My people (those in which I represent) are hurting. They have been hurting, and will continue to hurt. Hence, the violence will continue. The problems will be poorly addressed and the issues will continue to grow. I do love Uptown. I love the people I grew up with. I have lost thirteen friends to gun violence and three years. I did community organizing, I've organized anti-violence rallies, I've written letters, I've marched and spoke here, recited a poem there, I've made songs for the fallen. Now, at this next funeral, I am faced with the task of reading a poem for a young man that I went to high school with. A young man who had a son by a young lady who I considered a sister. The retaliation that you witnessed Monday? Guess what? It hurts me more. Why? There are a lot of people similar to me, in the middle. Having never joined gang, I am and was able to befriend a lot of the people involved. Helping where I could. Staying away when told. I'm watching friends and associates die and be hurt on both sides. I understand that some of you have children on the way. There are expecting mothers in these "hoods" as well. There are mothers who are losing their sons and daughters regularly. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com