Truman student slain in gang crossfireBy LORRAINE SWANSON, Editor
Faculty and staff at Uptown's Truman College are still reeling at the news of a student who was slain on the 4500 block of North Broadway on May 21, across the street from Alderman Helen Shiller's 46th Ward Service Office.
Francis Oduro, 22, of the 9800 block of South Marquette Ave., was shot twice around 9:15 p.m. by another male described as being in his late teens. Another 22-year-old male who was walking near Oduro on the sidewalk, was also shot in the back, and is listed in stable condition at Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital.
"We're saddened that this happened," Truman College-spokesman Clifton Truman Daniel said. "Everyone is upset. Teachers and staff are in shock."
Read the rest of the story here.
I didnt realize it was that close to Schillers office.
ReplyDeleteLets see how she can spin this into some kind of Gentrification-caused incident - or if she can squeeze in 'havent the poor suffered enough' --
thanks for all youve done for us Hellen, you rancid scumbag
Thats if she even comments/recognizes the incident in the first place
ReplyDeleteWhat event?
ReplyDeleteALtheperson says
ReplyDeleteI think that a lot of people imagine this had to do with drugs....
I think it may have been more likely a random shooting. Killing for fun.
That's what goes on more than alleged "hits"
The blood stains are still on the street
CAN WE MAKE SURE TRUMAN COLLEGE KNOWS ABOUT THE ANTI-VIOLENCE RALLY?!? They have the potential bring a significant number of people, a great deal of passion, and a personal angle that the press will value.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! Has anyone seen any signs about the rally around town? I am surprised that I haven't seen any.
ReplyDeleteTruman College has posted the following message on their website:
ReplyDeleteOur hearts go out to the family of Francis Oduro, our student. You will always be in our thoughts and prayers. Anyone wishing to send a remembrance to Francis' family may contact Clifton Daniel at: cdaniel@ccc.edu.
I will be sending a message of condolence via the college to Oduro's family and I will also ask Truman if they would like to participate in the anti-crime rally. However, in order for the college to be an active participant in the rally, we all need to keep in mind that the reason behind this event is that an innocent man was shot on our streets. In my opinion, any negative sentiments concerning the alderman (and her lack of public statements, etc.) should be secondary. She is a member of this community too and she undoubtedly feels bad about what has happened. The ultimate question for us all (and Shiller is to be included in "us all") remains: how can we move forward proactively?
After all of the brouhaha about what was ON the posters we need to get them printed off and distributed more widely to the community. As I said I would, I have contacted Truman to invite the faculty and administration to come. Who is going to go over there and get permission to put up some of the flyers in student areas? Who will be checking with the police to make sure that a large group of people can congregate at that location or do we have to make it a march? Finally, have YOU contacted your block club president and asked for an email to be sent out to the distribution list?
ReplyDeleteLet's get on it!!!
PS --- Business Partners, how about sending something out to your email list? How about posting something on your website? Nobody should need to point out that random gun violence is bad for business too.
ReplyDeletePlease note:
ReplyDeleteCAPS beat 2311 meeting at Truman College cafeteria, Tuesday, June 3rd at 7:00 PM.
This recent "incident" will be on the agenda, no matter what.
just emailed my block club president.
ReplyDeleteI printed one of the posters (the one without the victim's photo) so that I could get copies made and start distributing. However, the resolution was very blurry. I'm not tech savy so I don't know if there is anything I can do to fix that. I did email UU to see if I could get a pdf of the poster to see if that would allow a higher print quality. I'm ready to start distributing them to nearby businesses and getting them up in highly visible locations.
ReplyDeleteHere is the latest response from Representative Greg Harris. I have also copied his original response from last week underneath. I am impressed by his prompt replies and sensitivity to the situation:
ReplyDeleteMay 29 Response:
I did talk with Ald. Shiller and Commander Boehmer who both outlined the steps that were being taken to increase police presence substantially in the neighborhood (both uniformed and undercovcer). Commander Boehmer will also be attending the CAPS meeting next week, I believe, to fill the community in on the status of the investigations of the different incidents. I am currently on the House floor, where the State Budget is being debated. I do not have my June calendar with me, so I will have to get back to you about the 7th.
Rep. Greg Harris
13th District
May 23 Response:
Thanks for the email. I've read the news stories about some of these occurrences while I've been in Springfield, and Brian Curtin from my office has been actively reading the blogs and telling me about the other things going on. When I'm back in Chicago this morning, the first thing I'm going to do is talk to Ald. Shiller and Commander Boehmer about the seriousness of this situation, and what the response is going to be to this violence. Some of your neighbors have asked that I come to the CAPS meeting on June 3 to hear what the plan is to deal with these issues. I'll definitely be there, and will work with you and other community members to be sure that we're getting an adequate response and decide what our next steps should be. Its just not acceptable that we should live in fear in our own neighborhood.
Rep. Greg Harris
13th District
This is very nice. Now we can be sure Shiller's response will be to point to all of the behind-the-scenes things that she may or may not be doing and to chastise us for being so belligerent and skeptical. (Sorta like the Truman meeting where she said that the parking garage all fit into a master plan in works with the CTA that they would roll out to residents in the coming months...)
ReplyDeleteMy dear alderman, why will you not SPEAK TO US directly and in a timely manner??? If it is true that any of us have gotten bitter and paranoid...perhaps that is only what can be expected when you give people the silent treatment, attempt to shut them away and then call them names (i.e., "bad apples" "my political enemies"). And on top of that we get the same treatment from the few people we know you do deign to speak with regularly. Ever heard the phrase "you catch more flies with honey"? Try it sometime!
Off topic - any report on how the hearing for the Wilson Men's Hotel went this morning?
ReplyDelete"and Brian Curtin from my office has been actively reading the blogs and telling me about the other things going on."
ReplyDelete... such as?
I'd be curious to know what Brian is passing along, as well Greg's opinions on the matter(s).
Don't get me wrong, I find Harris responding not once, but twice, a good move and a refreshing change of pace. A little respect to your constituents will get you far.
Ahem.
"I think that a lot of people imagine this had to do with drugs....
ReplyDeleteI think it may have been more likely a random shooting. Killing for fun."
This is at least the 2nd time this comment has been posted, probably by a blog troll who has a very disturbing agenda, but the response the last time to this comment is that the press has been covering this as a gang shooting, based on information from the police. The teenager who was shot and survived was believed to be in a rival gang.
Greg Harris endorsed Shiller. He knew she was this way before he endorsed her. He has a long ways to go to earn my trust. I was disappointed no one ran against him.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we even get to elect our politicians in this ward. The seats are just sold from one retiring generation to the handpicked next. They have to maintain the Special interst Gay seat and the Special Interest Jewish Seat and the Special Interest Woman seat. There is no such thing as a seat to represent the constituents of the ward.
ReplyDeleteAs in Art Berman to Carol Ronen to Heather Stearns. As in Larry McKeon to Greg Harris.
Does anyone know if Ms. Do Nothing Shiller will be attending the June 3 CAPS meeting?
ReplyDeleteAnother student--at 1:15, you said: "[Shiller] is a member of this community too and she undoubtedly feels bad about what has happened."
ReplyDeleteI think you're making some assumptions that aren't necessarily true there. Shiller has never taken on a role of "public servant/elected official"...she tends to portray herself as an advocate for SOME people--but not all. If Shiller really felt bad about Mr. Oduro, and if she conducted herself as a valued and trusted elected leader in the community, she would have jumped at this immediately. Let me offer a press release that she could have and SHOULD have issued if she couldn't make a public statement:
"I and the residents of the 46th Ward mourn the senseless murder of Francis Odurno, and I offer my sincere condolences to Mr. Odurno's family and to the Truman City College family. Francis was one of the people from every corner of the globe who are part of the diverse community who live, work, and study in this most diverse ward in the City of Chicago, and we rededicate ourselves in his name to ensuring that our ward is welcoming and nurturing and protective for all those who find a path to a better life in Uptown.
"I am particularly disturbed that not only was a hardworking Truman College student murdered within a stone's throw of campus, it also happened across the street from my ward service office. No student, no family should have to live in fear of their lives and their safety in this community, so I am announcing the following measures to ensure that this sort of incident never happens again: 1) in conjunction with the neighboring Harris Bank branch, I have opened a reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Mr. Oduro's killers, and a second fund to benefit Mr. Oduro's family; 2) I have requested and been promised additional uniformed and undercover police patrols for the area immediately surrounding the Truman campus, and I fully support the Chicago Police Department's efforts to apprehend Mr. Odurno's killers and their efforts to increase safety and security in the neighborhood; 3) I will secure additional CPD surveillance cameras and work with both Truman College and the Chicago Transit Authority to enhance their ability to secure their facilities and to protect the safety of students, faculty, staff, visitors, customers, and residents and businesses in the surrounding neighborhood; and 4) I and my staff will make every effort to honestly facilitate cooperation between my office, the CPD, block clubs, businesses, building managers, schools, and places of worship to reduce tensions in the neighborhood and increase the sense of and pride in a community that values the health, safety, and well-being of all.
"I encourage anyone with information on these shootings to contact the Chicago Police Department."
THAT is what an elected community leader who really cares and who is really worth her salt would have done. Unfortunately, the silence from Shiller's office is deafening. The question becomes what will she do about it and what does she REALLY believe?
Do you think Truman College will now care enough to put a plug in that gang corridor that runs through their back parking lot? Oduro must have exited from Truman's side entrance, through the East parking lot, to Broadway and then headed North when he was shot from behind.
ReplyDeleteNeighbors have been complaining for years that the South parking lot behind Truman that connects under the El tracks to the East Truman lot and then to Broadway is nothing but a gang pedway at night.
Oh, so remorseful. But do you think Truman College and the other sponsors of Shiller's annual Unity Fest will discontinue sponsoring the gang grafitti training camp at Truman College this summer?
ReplyDeleteOh, no. They are not that remorseful.
The Annual Summer Unity Fest is sponsored by the City of Chicago, the CTA, WBBA-AM, the Chicago Tribune, Weiss Hospital, the Chicago Hip Hop Initiative, Relate Skate, COEDS, Comcast, Truman College, Rumble on the Lake, B-Girl Power, UPRISE, Chicago Original, Aqua Moon, Connect Force, and Wilson Yards.
How can Wilson Yards sponsor anything??!!
ReplyDeleteThe Unity Festival sponsored by Helen Shiller has a "graf wall" for kids to paint graffiti. That's a slap in the face to parents who are working so hard to keep their children out of gangs.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the graffit done there is put on by Kuumba Lynx.
Don't ask me how Wilson Yard's TIF dollars can be used to fund grafitti training. Ask the Dept of Planning and Ald. Helen Shiller. I just copy snippets of old press releases found on the Truman College website.
ReplyDeleteI believe Wilson Yards is the skateboard shop on Wilson. This confusion came up last year too.
ReplyDeleteI'm working to keep my son out of gangs and I'm glad he can do grafitti art in places where it's allowed. There's a big difference between gang grafitti and the "art" kind. If my kid marks up something he shouldn't I want him arrested. If he can have a chance to paint in a large format in a sanctioned public area, I'm for it. The kind of taggers you complain about, Anonymous and Tell It Like It Is, will get all the "training" they want without the alderman's Unity Fest or Kuumba Lynx. Kuumba Lynx and other programs like it help keep kids off the street and engaged in art, dance, and poetry instead of getting high and sticking you up.
ReplyDeleteThink about it.