There's a Burglary Prevention Seminar tonight "with an emphasis on our newer condos" in the 20th Police District building's Community Room, 5400 North Lincoln, 7pm, May 1st. Call 312-742-8770.We can't help notice that both Gene Shulter (47th Ward) and Tom Tunney (44th Ward) send out email blasts weekly with this sort of information (in fact, this is precisely how we were alerted to this event). The last email blast we received from Helen Shiller (46th) was one of a hundred or so sent right before the election in February 2007.
Maybe we're just not on her A-list; does anyone receive regular notification from her office about events taking place in the 46th Ward?
I have even called the office to request to be put on the email list 3x. Of course this was after I had complained that no one from the office had attended a CAPS meeting that took place the night before three months in a row. Therefore I certainly must be considered a "Bad Apple" and not a priority to receive info in the ward. Seems that just living here in the 46th would be enough.
ReplyDeleteI'll admit I have not put myself on any of her email lists to receive any blasts. Since I've moved back to Uptown to became a condo-dwelling bad apple, I've received no information from the alderwoman's office regarding ANYTHING. Her website isn't updated with any pertinent community information (light bulbs, anyone?). The less we know, the better seems to be the mantra.
ReplyDeleteApparently the benefit of learning how to prevent burglaries, where such anti-crime meetings are held, and who sponsors them and alerts residents about them is all besides the point--as are all programs designed to increase the quality of life in Uptown and the 46th Ward.
ReplyDeleteEach and every positive program must be used as a soap box for ranting about the horrible (and regularly re-elected) alderman, Helen Schiller.
Mitigating factor: 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore is also regularly blamed for everything bad that goes on in Rogers Park, too.
Are you bipolar Billyjoe? I thought your shtick was to keep saying that these "rainbow coalition" warmed-over hippie types like Shiller and Moore are fruitloops. So, Helen Shiller fails to inform residents about an opportunity to prevent themselves from being a victim of crime and you find fault with people want to know why?
ReplyDeleteDude, the point here is not the pile on Schiller. At least, that's not my point. And I will agree with you she gets blame for some things she shouldn't. The point here, from UU, is that s/he received notice from two other alderman of this event and he has not received anything from her office since the election in Feb. '07. The problem and issue addressed is her lack of communication to the community. The conversation of transparency has occurred here before.
ReplyDeleteThe policy of not telling the 46th Ward residents anything is deliberate. From the comments to a post about the shootings a week ago:
ReplyDeleteI just spoke with Denise Davis, Ald. Shiller's Chief of Staff. ... the position of our alderman is that there is not really an issue. She told me the area is 150% better than it was in the 80's and 90's and gunshots here and there are not a big deal. After all "The only community where there is no crime is heaven". There will not be a rep from the office at the CAPS meetings (but she said they do meet separately with the police) and they are not planning on officially attending the Sunnyside Mall outing on Saturday. ... Ms. Davis said that sharing too much information is polarizing, could decrease property values, and could jeopardize police investigations. This is why there is continued silence and inaction from the 46th ward alderman and staff.
In other words, shut up, stay in your place, pay my salary, and accept what crumbs we decide to toss you.
An active and informed community must be Shiller's nightmare. Scratch that. An active and informed community with lawyers must be her nightmare.
huh? said . . . "And I will agree with you [Helen Shiller] gets blame[d] for some things she shouldn't. "
ReplyDeleteThanks for acknowledging the point I was trying to make: Take advantage of the crime prevention meeting---but don't use it to stir up more s**t about how you feel about the alderman.
I acknowledged the point about Schiller because I agree with it on a general level. My original post pointed out her lack of communication and my follow-up was on the same issue. As was the post by UU. The alderwoman SHOULD be advocating these events to her constituency by communicating they exist. How can we take advantage of them if they are not advocated and communicated by our OWN alderwoman?
ReplyDeleteShe should be communicating regularly with her constituents about programs, events, etc. That's my point. I'm sure I could (should?) have made it easier than the three posts it took, but, eh, what are ya gonna do?
I agree with TSN but I'll rephrase it: The more informed we are, the better off we are! BTW, we have lawyers? That's awesome!
You've got some explaining to do, BillyJoe! A month ago you were crawling around this blog spewing such hate speech that I am unwilling to repeat it. Suffice it to say that what you said involved common stereotypes about young black males as well as other racially saturated illusions that were utterly reprehensible. When people confronted you with your comments, you kept coming back for more until your comments were deleted.
ReplyDeleteOne of us said that we wouldn't tolerate such hate speech in Uptown because our neighborhood was the home to the first rainbow coalition. Nothing convinced you.
Now you are back defending Shiller (and Moore too) against the slightest of slight offenses?? What are you---a Shiller apologist or a racial provocateur. Or, could it be that you are both?
To which the alderman would say, "Have a free light bulb", "Don't feed the pigeons", "Don't habor illegal chickens", "I'm here to protect your baggies.", "End the War in Iraq by taking a City Council vote", "I'm for Castro and legal weed.", and "Lobbyist Marilyn Katz, what the heck can I do for you next week?"
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong with having "legal weed"?
ReplyDeleteDon't try to back you way out of this, bucko. You said vile and horrible things. You used words like "jungle" in a derogatory way. You mocked the idea of "rainbow coalitions" of people working to make their neighborhoods better. We asked you to take your hatred elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteNow, we have good reason to ask you again to take your hatred and support of Alderman Shiller and Alderman Moore elsewhere. You clearly have something to gain by inciting hatred between groups and by fostering allegiance for Alderman Shiller and Alderman Moore. People like you are bringing pain and divisiveness to this community. There is no reason why any of us should stand for it.
Uh-oh! I would suggest that Alderman Shiller spend a bit more time rooting out racists from amongst her own friends before she and her supporters go around blaming others. !!!
ReplyDeleteI sympathize, in principle, with a lot of what Helen Shiller claims as "her issues." However, I disagree with much of what is passing for responsible public policy around here. And, I love this blog but it is so tiresome to talk about important Uptown issues here because no Shiller supporters ever come to discuss or are willing to concede points. Daring to critique Shiller or the organizations who support her automatically means that you hate the people they claim to represent. To me, that is ideologues hiding behind our most vulnerable citizens and it is wrong. Why can't I say that we can do better and that there might be more people out there willing to engage and willing to help make Uptown a great place for EVERYONE?
I hope that Schiller will not be re-elected, and I will do my best to "bring out the vote" against her. The problem is that she will again register every junkie/crack head/degenerate/homeless/criminal who is linked with one of the scam "treatment" programs in the area to vote as well. She is an old-school county crook. She does not care about the poor people of Uptown, as she claims, all she cares about is that they can remain upright long enough to vote (or at least get a blank ballot).
ReplyDelete