"A handful of chronically unhappy residents" -- that's how Denise Davis, Shiller's chief of staff, refers to the alderman's critical constituents (i.e., the ones who pay her six-figure salary and fund her insane TIFs). A vision of Denise with her fingers in her ears ("Lalalalala, I can't hear you!") comes to mind.Read all about it in Adam Verwymeren's article for Medill Reports: Shiller’s critics praise her motives even as they turn up the heat.
Our favorite part is a nice variation on the usual "Helen Shiller's office did not return calls asking for comment." This is it: "Shiller, through her chief of staff, refused to comment for this piece: 'If she has to pick and choose who she talks to, it won’t be Medill students.'"
Sounds about right. Troll.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet statement regarding the Medill students and all us unhappy people.
ReplyDeleteWho put the "ass" in class? Helen Shiller and her merry band of taxpayer paid flunkies.
This was a good quote from a local resident. “We’re all pretty fragile human beings and that’s why we can’t rise above each other...we have to lock arms.”
ReplyDelete"A look at crime reports shows that Uptown’s reputation as a dangerous community is not totally unfounded, but is somewhat overblown. . . . [Uptown] does have a slightly higher rate [5.7] of violent crime than neighboring communities such as Edgewater (4.2), Lake View (4.1) and Irving Park (4.6), but it lags behind Rogers Park (7.8)."
ReplyDeleteInteresting facts to consider.
Here's a fact for you to consider, billyjoe:
ReplyDeleteThe alderman's chief of staff had the audacity to make this statement to the press:
'If she has to pick and choose who she talks to, it won’t be Medill students.'
Denise starts to realize that she's justified criticism of Helen in 5, 4, 3, ....
It's the snotty attitude Helen uses and has allowed her staff to use which is why she's losing friends.
Respect is a two way street, baby. You give us some, and we'll give yo some. That's how it works in a civilized society.
Helen's using the Hugo Chavez Guide to Public Relations to a tee.
As for the crime stats ... I've considered and disregarded. I wonder if that report says anything about having two eruptions of violence at the Wilson station, right around the corner from where a man was shot down in gang cross-fire?
I'd be more interested in seeing what the stats look like within a one block radius of the alderman's office?
I moved into Uptown less than a year ago, and was at the march. I am hardly a 'chronically unhappy resident'. I find that incredibly insulting. I look forward to being one of the many that vote against this ass, for the first time,of a alderman. I came into this neighborhood with no feelings one way or the other. Trust me, I sure have feelings one way now!
ReplyDeleteUptown usually does lag behind Roger's Park in crime statistics. However, I do believe that the Edgewater and Lakeview communities have not had a homicide at all in the last year whereas in Uptown we had the spate of 3 shootings and then the most recent murder on Wilson Avenue. I don't know how Maratta Walker's murder was classified as to neighborhood but Foster Avenue is still in Uptown.
ReplyDeleteIf your point is that people should be careful not to exaggerate crime around here, then you're right. If you have an additional point that we should take police brutality and racial profiling seriously as well, then you're right. CPD has not had a stellar record in its long history and the issue has resonated with Uptowners for over 30 years. I can respect all of those points in the larger sense. But are you trying to make an argument that there is a "reasonable" amount of violent crime or homicide that we should be ok with sort of like people try to say that there is a "reasonable" amount of unemployment that we should be ok with? In both cases, something that looks reasonable on paper doesn't feel like it when you're the man on the street.
Why does Helen feel she has the right to "Pick and Choose to whom she speaks with". If they live in the ward she was elected to serve, doesn’t she have an official obligation to hear what they have to say?
ReplyDeleteIncredibly short-sighted of her to dis a Medill student. Particularly since Medill students graduate and go on to become mainstream journalists.
ReplyDeleteFor someone who's supposed to be "of the people," Helen's an incredible elitist.
Adam, you rock buddy.
ReplyDeleteI hope the Tribune and Sun-Times hire this guy as soon as he graduates. We need him covering Chicago news.
I can't believe she said that about picking and choosing who she talks to. Talk about putting your foot in your mouth. At least "no comment" is polite.
ReplyDelete"For someone who's supposed to be 'of the people,' Helen's an incredible elitist."
ReplyDeleteNo. She's a mediocre elitist, at best.
The good elitists know better than to show their hand; or to have their hand exposed by rank amateurs, like Denise Davis.
Not sure where to post this but breaking news from the Broken Heart is that Lorraine Swanson was denied access to a big community meeting in Roger's Park. Sorry to break up this thread but it seemed to fit under "unhappy residents"!
ReplyDelete