Ah! I missed it! I had to go pick up my kid from his first Cubs game (he didn't last long!) and when I got back to the intersection around 7:00 everyone had dispersed. The only thing that was left was a tattered "no loitering" sign...There seemed to be about 15 people when I passed by the first time. Thanks everyone!
It was a nice short event, the new Commander was there, so was a cub Scout pack from the Uptown Baptist Church. The Pastor of the church said some very nice words. The Children made a plaque for the police to thank them for serving the neighborhood.
Seeing the pastor who I also believe is the Cub Scout Leader leading the kids reminded me of being a Cub Scout myself. This is exactly the type of activity this area needs.
I want to thank the few who attended the positive loitering event last night! It was great to mingle with supporters in the community and meet the new commander. What troubles me is ALL the people who complain on this blog about the violence in Uptown and how we need CHANGE yet the roll call was (in my mind) sparsely attended. Yes, it wasn't warm but come on people, this is your neighborhood and you have to make your presence known. I challenge all of you to be more visual in our community and back up you words on this board.
Work ran late and I didn't get home until 7:30. Sorry I didn't make it, but as a resident of the area I'd like to thank everyone who did. It's nice to see people getting together for positive reasons in the neighborhood.
Why go out of your way to criticize an upbeat event you didn't even bother to attend? I see a lot of smiling faces, so I don't think it was divisive.
Cub Scouts, Pastor of a church, church members, neighbors, new Commander and the children donating a plaque thanking the police for their work in the community. That's splintering?
As someone who attended, I can't see how it splintered the community. I met people I normally wouldn't have met and showed my support for the men and women who are trying to protect us, despite what some people think about the job they are doing. Personally, I like community events like these where I can make my presence known as a member of the community who thinks a safer neighborhood is good for all of us and meet my neighbors at the same time. The purely social events don't interest me as much. That's not to say folks who are interested in those types of events shouldn't plan them.
Rather than criticize events others have planned, why not help plan some more to your liking?
We've got a lot of armchair quarterbacks in the comments section.
The only people not represented last night were the criminals. I spoke to a woman I know who's homeless and she was there. She and I talked about the murder last week (she heard the shots from a shop down the street).
were people talking about the upcoming rally? we have to push-push- push through the divisions and distrust that exists in this neighborhood and get everyone focused on making this neighborhood safer for everyone...young...old...homeless...housed...mentally ill...everyone.
while I like the positive "loitering" why not get a dog or "rent" a dog and walk around the neighborhood. I do this w/my dogs and cell phone and call when I see something amiss - the more people walking/etc on the streets the better
I want to Thank all the people who attended, and to say Sorry that I missed it.
To the nay-sayers: it's better that this happened than sitting around with "better" ideas, and yet doing nothing about it.
And once again who do I see but James Coppleman's partner Richard. Since I was not there I don't know if James attended or not, but at LEAST the two are trying! I don't think if James became alderman, that HE would think that "things would be perfect" if he was in charge. They know how the system works, and they know where the road blocks are. They are out there trying far more than most writting comments on this blog (including me!), and Yes our alderman as well.
I did not get back to Uptown until 7:30...Sorry I missed it, but glad to hear that people braved the cold to attend. There is Cub Scout troop in Uptown?! Cool! Brings back some great childhood memories. I wonder how many kids in the area know that this exists.
Ah! I missed it! I had to go pick up my kid from his first Cubs game (he didn't last long!) and when I got back to the intersection around 7:00 everyone had dispersed. The only thing that was left was a tattered "no loitering" sign...There seemed to be about 15 people when I passed by the first time. Thanks everyone!
ReplyDeleteIt was a nice short event, the new Commander was there, so was a cub Scout pack from the Uptown Baptist Church. The Pastor of the church said some very nice words. The Children made a plaque for the police to thank them for serving the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the pastor who I also believe is the Cub Scout Leader leading the kids reminded me of being a Cub Scout myself. This is exactly the type of activity this area needs.
I thanked the pastor of UBC for his church being more active in the community, and he said more events were being planned.
ReplyDeleteIt was a nice cross-section of folks, all of whom had one thing in common -- being cold -- so it was over more quickly than most events like this.
I want to thank the few who attended the positive loitering event last night! It was great to mingle with supporters in the community and meet the new commander. What troubles me is ALL the people who complain on this blog about the violence in Uptown and how we need CHANGE yet the roll call was (in my mind) sparsely attended. Yes, it wasn't warm but come on people, this is your neighborhood and you have to make your presence known. I challenge all of you to be more visual in our community and back up you words on this board.
ReplyDeleteWhat about encouraging innovatative activities to renew our sense of community?
ReplyDeleteFor example, host a kids & families event at Clarendon Park. A Bocce Ball event will get people out to use the Bocce Ball court.
Have the Block Clubs host one of the many childrens music groups and invite the families.
Host a Cirq-Esteem event that showcases the kids doing something positive in the neighborhood.
The positive loitering, the police roll calls splinter us, not bring us together.
Work ran late and I didn't get home until 7:30. Sorry I didn't make it, but as a resident of the area I'd like to thank everyone who did. It's nice to see people getting together for positive reasons in the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree we should do more community and family events.
ReplyDeleteYes, the positive loitering and roll call events splinter us as a community... the criminals and the up standing citizens.
Great ideas 8:53. I will bring them to my block club.
ReplyDeleteWhy go out of your way to criticize an upbeat event you didn't even bother to attend? I see a lot of smiling faces, so I don't think it was divisive.
ReplyDeleteCub Scouts, Pastor of a church, church members, neighbors, new Commander and the children donating a plaque thanking the police for their work in the community. That's splintering?
As someone who attended, I can't see how it splintered the community. I met people I normally wouldn't have met and showed my support for the men and women who are trying to protect us, despite what some people think about the job they are doing. Personally, I like community events like these where I can make my presence known as a member of the community who thinks a safer neighborhood is good for all of us and meet my neighbors at the same time. The purely social events don't interest me as much. That's not to say folks who are interested in those types of events shouldn't plan them.
ReplyDeleteRather than criticize events others have planned, why not help plan some more to your liking?
ReplyDeleteWe've got a lot of armchair quarterbacks in the comments section.
The only people not represented last night were the criminals. I spoke to a woman I know who's homeless and she was there. She and I talked about the murder last week (she heard the shots from a shop down the street).
were people talking about the upcoming rally? we have to push-push- push through the divisions and distrust that exists in this neighborhood and get everyone focused on making this neighborhood safer for everyone...young...old...homeless...housed...mentally ill...everyone.
ReplyDeletewhile I like the positive "loitering" why not get a dog or "rent" a dog and walk around the neighborhood. I do this w/my dogs and cell phone and call when I see something amiss -
ReplyDeletethe more people walking/etc on the streets the better
There is a bocce ball court at Clarendon Park?
ReplyDeleteI want to Thank all the people who attended, and to say Sorry that I missed it.
ReplyDeleteTo the nay-sayers: it's better that this happened than sitting around with "better" ideas, and yet doing nothing about it.
And once again who do I see but James Coppleman's partner Richard. Since I was not there I don't know if James attended or not, but at LEAST the two are trying! I don't think if James became alderman, that HE would think that "things would be perfect" if he was in charge. They know how the system works, and they know where the road blocks are. They are out there trying far more than most writting comments on this blog (including me!), and Yes our alderman as well.
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL WHO ARE TRYING!
I did not get back to Uptown until 7:30...Sorry I missed it, but glad to hear that people braved the cold to attend. There is Cub Scout troop in Uptown?! Cool! Brings back some great childhood memories. I wonder how many kids in the area know that this exists.
ReplyDelete