Sunday, June 8, 2008

Pictures From The Rally

The Uptown Crime Rally held on Saturday was a huge success, with over 100 people of all ages and backgrounds attending. While Alderman Shiller's office was open during the rally, she was not present in the office and her office staff refused to address the rally. Thanks to everyone who helped plan and attend the event. Here are some pictures of the event.







211 comments:

  1. Totally lame...you accomplished NOTHING other than looking like fools.

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  2. what are you doing up so early on a Sunday, Helen?

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  3. Then I am a fool for peace on our streets! Call me what you want but I am not shutting up about violence and the loss of innocent life on our streets. Why you are for those things I have no idea.

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  4. I see a lot of "fools" or "bad apples", or whatever you want to call them, out there. Way more then you see at most rallys or protests featured on the 6 o'clock news.

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  5. My friends,

    I think it is completely unacceptable that well over 100 people protested crime and the murder of an innocent in this city, and neither the Tribune nor the Sun=Times have anything in the paper this morning about the rally. I would really like to HIGHLY SUGGEST we take it another step and email them and demand to know why... Is the fact Daley has another granddaughter really more important that a neighborhood in fear? (Top local stories of both papers this morning)

    I have provided the names and email addresses of the editors below. Please take some of the same energy you show here and email them, asking them to explain their editorial decisions on why they chose not to cover it...thank you

    Michael Cooke, Editor of the SunTimes mcooke@suntimes.com;
    Phyllis Gilchrist, Metro Editor of the SunTimes pgilchrist@suntimes.com; Ann Marie Lipinski, Editor of The Tribune, ctc-editor@tribune.com; Tim McNulty,
    Public/Local Editor, The Tribune, TMcNulty@tribune.com,

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  6. Ignore the troll at 7:48!!

    We all know that yesterday was a step in the right direction and that it showed unity!

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  7. If it was so lame and accomplished nothing, why is this person so desperate to spend the time, energy and emotion trying to convince all of the rest of us?

    We obviously struck a nerve and if that is all that is accomplished by the rally, (and I doubt it was) it was time well spent if you ask me. Maybe they will be disturbed enough about this event to finally form a conscience about what goes on here, or at least recognize that WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY!

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  8. The rally showed the unity of people from diverse backgrounds and cultures who want a peaceful safe neighborhood.

    Next steps to restore peace is join your block club. Join your block club and make safety a top priority. Neighbors working together have immense power.

    Graceland Wilson Neighbors,GWNA,is hosting an event this Tuesday,June 10, at Nick's on Wilson at 7:30. New board member applications will be available. Join GWNA for $15.

    Truman Square Neighbors and Clarendon Park Neighbors will be hosting block club parties this summer.

    UU has all the block club information listed.

    Block clubs are the building blocks to thriving healthy neighborhoods. Start now.

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  9. In my humble opinion several things were accomplished at the rally. The 46th ward office did not attend but this does not surprise most of us and it is not an accomplishment to be reminded out about Helen’s choice to avoid community events. We did find other neighbors and community members who are very serious about changing the culture of what counts as acceptable behavior on the streets of the 46th ward. Saturday mornings are priceless to many of us and for over 100 people to donate their time shows all of us just how much power we have. Don’t allow Helen’s staff who are terribly invested in keeping things the way they have been for 20 years to dictate what is going to pass as acceptable. We have the power to make things different and this was a perfect example of it. This is the third positive loitering/anticrime rally in the area in the past few weeks. When is the last time that happened? If it ever has it has been a while. People are motivated to address these issues in our neighborhood and we all feel good about it.

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  10. I have to wonder if Shiller is EVER in her office?

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  11. To the people videotaping the event:
    Did you send the footage to the media? Sometimes you sadly have to do the work for them.

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  12. All the peace rallies in the world won't change the fact that the only way to get criminals out of our neighborhood is to not give them a place to live.

    No more subsidized housing, no more SROs, no more scattered site CHA, no more section-8, no more group homes, no more halfway houses......

    As long as these things exist, so will the criminal element.

    Then we can focus on bettering our schools and educating our children properly.

    Call me a racist and argue with that all you want, but it's still the truth.

    Helen Shiller and people like the folks at COURAJ are not helping, they're only hurting us.

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  13. ALDERBEAST SIGHTILNG.
    Helen watched the rally. She was in front of the "Wig and Hair" store on her cell phone and lerking between cars to get a better look. It is possible she was there to buy a new wig: "What price this beauty!"

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  14. It's nice to know who Cappleman voters are.

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  15. I had George download all these photos. We are creating a list of attendees.

    Don't be surprised if your garbage doesn't get picked up.

    I'll get you, my pretties!

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  16. I think a lot of people post on this board about the stupidity because:

    a) They aren't Shiller supporters
    b) Are old enough to know that you can't blame Shiller for everything
    c) Understand that the kind of things posted on this blog only make it harder for someone to step up before the next election to run against her
    d) Understand that James Cappleman is not the answer
    e) This empowers Shiller more
    f) You all demand respect from her but you talk out of your butt about how corrupt she is but can't prove it
    g) You also spread false rumors about companies such as Midway Moving running guns
    h) Know that all neighborhood in Chicago have crime and problems you just don't seem to follow those hoods as much to understand that
    i) This is a City and is not Mayberry,
    j) You complain about lack of business but then bash Target
    k) Say the housing at Wilson yard is Cabrini Green because it doesn't follow HUD standards yet HUD standards aren't he only standard. And you only got that from JC spouting his mouth off about that and his best practices bs.
    l) When the land in Uptown becomes more valuable to build market rate apartments, rehabbed condos or new one that will happen. Shiller doesn't control the US Economy or Uptowns.
    m) Boystown was a very rough area of Lakeview at least I can remember when it was.
    n) As was the North/Clyborne area of the City until all the younger professionals moved in.

    etc, etc.

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  17. It's not poverty, but the concentration of poverty that creates a hotbed for crime.

    The U.S. Census tracts for Uptown show 37% of housing is government subsidized housing--6,000 low-income units.

    The majority of people who live in in this housing are good, hard working neighbors who struggle to keep their kids out of the gangs and in school.

    Many of my section 8 neighbors send their children to stay with relatives out of state to keep them away from all the negative influences.

    We could cite example after example that shows kids and familiies flourishing when given the opportunity to attend good schools, participate in structured activities that enrich their lives, and solid job training they move into middle class lives.

    Simple, no. Attainable, yes.

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  18. Ha, now you guys and gals in these piccies are going to get NOTHING. LOSERS. Helen doesn't forget who the 'bad apples' are. You guys and gals are screwed.

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  19. "Ha, now you guys and gals in these piccies are going to get NOTHING. LOSERS. Helen doesn't forget who the 'bad apples' are. You guys and gals are screwed.

    Did just say "piccies?" Oh my - you DID. And we're the ones that are screwed?

    Try again next time.

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  20. She is just the product of Helen's social services and lack of a true committment to education. If you notice, almost all of the Shillerista's have trouble with spelling, syntax and punctuation. Basic skills needed to get real jobs....

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  21. I do hope that those posts threatening to withhold services from those who participated in the rally are the lame joke of somebody in the community who doesn't get it and not that of someone actually associated with Shiller's office. Because they do know that's a crime, right? Even to threaten such a thing can get her office in trouble. Anonymous on a blog isn't really anonymous folks...

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  22. To the gut-less Schiller-backers who show, in true Schiller fasion, their lack of balls by posting anonymously - why dont you show up to the rally next time and confront the neighorhood residents in person? Mocking an anti-violence rally by anonymously posting is akin to hiding under your mommy's skirt. Here I am posting my thoughts and name - and reitterating that I believe Helen is a gutless corrupt sack of crap.
    Ryan Caldwell, Uptown resident.

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  23. Chicago politics = if you work against me and I am your Alterman.

    = I won't talk to you are take your call.

    Well actually that is the way it is every where people that don't work within the system get screwed.

    Kind of like in my corp job the difficult people, trouble makers and with bad attitudes get put at the bottom of my to do list when they call.

    Where as the nice people that get it, get better service.

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  24. The last post is obviously someone from Shilleristaland. It pretty much reinforces the post at 11:19. It is not too difficult to pick out grammatically who is pro-helen and work for her versus those of us that actually work in the corporate world and pay property taxes

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  25. I see a lot of gutless Cappleman supporters posting as well anonymously.

    A lot of us don't 100 percent like Shiller and wont' mind change but we understand how Chicago works and we respect her because she was elected Alderman and don't go out of our way to blame her for everything. In fact I didn't vote for her last time I voted for the guy running against her. But have sense seen what he is really all about.

    We also realize the election is a few years off so we get tired of the Cappleman camp being disruptive aholes.

    Shiller had down a lot for the GLBT community and people in general.

    Her office has always been very helpful to me.

    A sheridan road resident

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  26. Helen and our taxpayer funded Ward office won't do anything for us because we participated in a rally expressing views contrary to her political agenda?

    What else is new? Not doing anything for those who aren't her North End political Shilleristas or uninformed South end voters that are unaware of her brazen abuse of public and non-profit organizations is the hallmark of her entire career. These aren't new threats, they are simply status quo.

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  27. I am a member of the GLBT community. And I think Shiller has lost any moral authority she may have originally brought to the table. By consistantly backing gangs - which do gay bashing, having her campaign manager hang out in her office during the rally with a baseball bat, continuing to avoid any meaningful conversations with those that have a different point of view.... My GLBT viewpoint is only one aspect of my point of view in life. I am also a homeowner that pays a shitload of taxes, contributes thousands to charities a year...and I would like to live in a safe neighborhood.

    I am not a Cappleman supporter. And I hope that someone, frankly, stronger and with a much stronger personality runs against her next time.

    It has nothing to do with ANYONE'S social status. Feeling safe in one's neighborhood is a basic human right. And this is a phenomenal example of Helen not supporting Human Rights. My right to walk freely and safely in my own fucking neighborhood!

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  28. Ok Shilleristas. Stop trying to define Uptown Update as a Cappleman political web. I am a very active Uptown Update poster, yet I had nothing to do with the last election and probably will nothing to do with the next.

    This is about our community being a dangerous shithole and the alderman who is in charge of it and won't do her job or even talk to us.

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  29. Chicago politics = if you work against me and I am your Alterman.

    = I won't talk to you are take your call.

    Well actually that is the way it is every where people that don't work within the system get screwed.

    Kind of like in my corp job the difficult people, trouble makers and with bad attitudes get put at the bottom of my to do list when they call.

    Where as the nice people that get it, get better service.


    Worst. Response. Ever. So dumb.

    Where to even begin?? "Alterman?" "I won't talk to to you are take your call?"

    You're not fooling anyone. Now get back behind the front desk in Shiller's office!

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  30. "We All Deserve to be Safe," "We want to create and live in safe neighborhoods." Very controversial assertions for your 'protest'. Don't protests usually involve a controversy? "End the war now," or "stop the gas tax," or something similar seems like a reasonable protest banner. What signs do you have planned for your next protest? Maybe try "we should all be happy," or "can't we all get along."

    Also, Helen has some nerve not to be in the office on a Saturday before noon. LOL! Did you expect here to show up in her Rambo gear and cleanse the streets of gangs?

    Also, is it just me, or are there some serious racist/classist overtones here? To me the message is "f#$# the poor!" Loud and clear guys.

    Also, looks like there's heavy equipment in the wilson yard. Good job!

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  31. Yes, I guess it is class warfare. Those of us that have, and those like you, that do not

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  32. "I see a lot of gutless Cappleman supporters posting as well anonymously."

    "disruptive aholes."

    "Her office has always been very helpful to me."

    "A sheridan road resident"

    Ok, First you just posted anonymous like the "gutless Cappleman supporters" . Second, feel fee to clean up that Nasty crack infested Sheridan road you live on and then you can come back and post. I know crime doesn't bother you, that must be why you bought where you did, but some of us just west of Sheridan with families and loved ones aren't hip on it.

    -Uptown Dad

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  33. "We all Deserve Safe Neighborhoods," said the signs.

    What is classist and racist about that? Only a Shillerista could find -- no, overlay -- classism and racism onto a statement like that.

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  34. This is a classic. Here the people of Uptown rally to demand as much safety at the North end of the Ward as in the South end of the Ward and the Shilleristas are there to fight it to the detriment of the rich and poor living at the North end.

    Think, now why is that?

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  35. The majority have spoken in 2007. Loud and proud.

    Helen is STILL AlderWOMAN!

    Keep blogging while Helen leads the masses.

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  36. "Kind of like in my corp job the difficult people, trouble makers and with bad attitudes get put at the bottom of my to do list when they call."

    Your 'to-do list' should probably include "finish 3rd grade." By the way, no one is calling you.

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  37. If we do not increase the safety at the North end of the Ward, we will continue to see innocent people like Francis murdered. We will continue to see street robbery rates that are the highest in all of Chicago. We will continue to have people shot in parks.

    Why do Alderman Helen Shiller and her Shilleristas oppose street safety in the North end of the Ward?

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  38. I'm a have not, eh? You must know me. To you I probably am (only drive an 09, but not a lexus.. poor me.)

    Also, if this was a 'peace rally' as you contend, why were you protesting outside the alderman's office? Is she going to draft up a treaty? Shouldn't you be protesting in front of gang members and mobsters? They shouldn't be so hard to find if they are invading your neighborhoods.

    What about the other wards with far worse crime rates? I'm sure their aldermen are to blame too. Tell Helen to get out her magic wand and wish all the bad things away!

    Also, about the classist, racist signs... I wasn't saying words on the signs themselves indicated this to me, but rather the overall projection of your little group. Let me paraphrase your stances as I understand them. Get rid of all low income housing (come on yups, triple your investment on your condo in just a year!) and force the poor into the streets (where they will not contribute to crime, I'm sure), preferably to the south side where they belong (no one here's protesting the violence there). Also, where did the recent violence come from? Middle aged white condo owners? Hmm..

    Poor people = violence. If this is not what you mean, please by all means enlighten me!

    Thanks, and keep the conversation simple, the views diametric (go bush!), and your focus on Helen. Distract yourself from your sense of right and wrong, and by all means, protect the value of your condo!

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  39. The troll loves gangs, the poor people with poor ways, the violent, and Shiller.

    More than anything, the troll is delighted with the way things are.

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  40. It's really too bad that some people are playing the classicism and race cards. Not all people who want a safe neighborhood and would like Shiller to do her job are rich and white. Everyone deserves to walk down the street and feel safe. That includes commuter students to Truman College, rich white folks who work in the burbs, and people who live in CHA housing.

    I am white and had a relative live in this area many many years because he needed the social services provided here. He had no where else to go. It is one reason why I moved here.

    I want to be supportive of a community that does not turn their backs on those that have a hard time taking care of themselves. But if the alderman wants to continue taking on this responsibility she needs to step up to help manage the problems that do come with it. So far in my 5 years here I have not seen her publicly respond in a positive way to any of the concerns most residents have here. It blows me away that there has been no public response from her regarding the loss of a young mans life at Truman College.

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  41. All you losers can back another loser like Cappleman in 2011. Until then, Helen rules. Get it. Got it. Good.

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  42. Hi, anonymous 10:37. I was at the rally and I would like to respond to your comments:

    a) They aren't Shiller supporters
    I used to like the idea of a former radical "independent" until I began to learn the real story. I could have been a Shiller supporter but I can't get past the hypocrisy. I don't say that to be mean---the facts speak for themselves.

    b) Are old enough to know that you can't blame Shiller for everything
    Correct, Shiller is not to blame for "everything." However, her supporters can't spin the story about evil structural forces keeping people down and then fail to acknowledge that in Uptown local level resources and local level media/rhetoric has been deployed to fight back against those larger forces. Clearly, this is having undesirable effects on residents who are not willing to back that plan because it comes at their own ability to have a voice in their community.

    c) Understand that the kind of things posted on this blog only make it harder for someone to step up before the next election to run against her.
    Good or bad, this is a community talking and sharing information.

    d) Understand that James Cappleman is not the answer.
    This is so not about Cappleman, who is a decent guy and doesn't deserve to be run through the ringer while he is a private citizen.

    e) This empowers Shiller more.
    Whatever you say, I guess.

    f) You all demand respect from her but you talk out of your butt about how corrupt she is but can't prove it.
    Yes. I demand respect from a public official who has a duty to listen to her constituents, to represent them and to mediate differences in the community. I think the lineage of dirty tricks is well documented here and elsewhere.

    g) You also spread false rumors about companies such as Midway Moving running guns.
    I will let the person who posted that come back again with their response which I believe was: the workers told me this, I observed things and try "googling" if you don't believe me.

    h) Know that all neighborhood in Chicago have crime and problems you just don't seem to follow those hoods as much to understand that
    Of course all neighborhoods have crime problems. And, Uptown is by far not the worse. However, we are lied to and our experiences are marginalized when the Mayor, the PD and the alderman speak about the low crime here. When you put the two police district data together (rather than having Uptown divided down the middle) you see that that crime is high for a neighborhood of this kind with similar characteristics. 5 homicides have happened in Uptown in the last year not including any deaths that were misclassified. Ever check out the data on child abuse & abduction? Bad too. I guess we'll just have to do a better job of exposing the dirty laundry to refocus our leaders on solutions rather than "it's not that bad"/"it's been worse"/"it's worse someplace else". Keep lying to yourself. One day you will have to explain to all of the people I passed carrying my signs yesterday why many said "thank you" and "that's right." Who is mostly a victim of violent crime around here? Why in the world are you people not interested helping people who have already been dealt a raw deal in life?

    i) This is a City and is not Mayberry,
    You can paint us naive little Pollyannas if it makes you feel better but the fact of the matter is that you are dealing with educated committed urbanists who have an idea what good city plannning and management should like like. This ain't it.

    j) You complain about lack of business but then bash Target
    To most of us Target is a mixed bag because the entire development is so flawed. To others of us, big box retail carries its own problems that shouldn't be disregarded and are very important when you consider that there is no long range plan/goals for commercial development in the area.

    k) Say the housing at Wilson yard is Cabrini Green because it doesn't follow HUD standards yet HUD standards aren't he only standard. And you only got that from JC spouting his mouth off about that and his best practices bs.
    Well, then what standards or recommendations does WY follow? Name a high profile person or organization in the right to housing movement who is advocating EXACTLY what we are getting at WY and then maybe some of us will hush up.

    l) When the land in Uptown becomes more valuable to build market rate apartments, rehabbed condos or new one that will happen. Shiller doesn't control the US Economy or Uptowns.
    Duh. It has happened. Many of us are here because Shiller couldn't stop landlords from converting their buildings and finally cashing out of this neighborhood.

    m) Boystown was a very rough area of Lakeview at least I can remember when it was.
    What happened to change it?
    n) As was the North/Clyborne area of the City until all the younger professionals moved in.

    It sounds to me like you feel that benign forces change things in urban environments. Maybe you feel that things should just take their course? You seem to be offended, then, that some people would have the gall to enact change. If it is going to happen anyway, we be so resistant to the changes? The only reason why you would be is because you know that there is no such thing as benign forces and that this is political. You consider us your political opponents and you want us squashed.

    We know that.

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  43. For the record, I don't believe ALL white people are racist gentrifiers. Only those who oppose all low income housing projects that come up. Would you complain if wilson yard turned into a dozen 300G condos? Think hard before you answer. That's my point.

    Some math. Poor <> Gangs + violence. Violence + protest <> peace. Wilson Yard - Target - Low income housing + condos <> nirvana. Sleep well.

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  44. you dont see people bitching like this in rogers park do you?????

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  45. Midway Movers runs guns and Shiller knows it.

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  46. I don't think a lot of posters like me are pro Shiller but I think we realize there is a group here that blames her for everything which is ridiculous to say the least.

    And why protest in front of Shiller's office? Is my question? Why not where it happened?

    Also I read on here a lot where everyone says they want development then when we get it they complain because it is a 711 or it's a new condo building on Clark with parking in front of it.

    Also it says a lot to me about someone that ran and lost against her is still running and he brings nothing new other than he is going to please everyone. He is also a social worker.

    If anything Shiller has become more pro-business as she has gotten older.

    Also I see a lot people on her complaining about Jesus People USA. Frankly, I don't believe in God and don't like cults and I think all organized religion has cult like issues. But it is not Helen Shillers job to determine if JPUSA is a cult or to enforce laws Governing cults. Nor my job to debate it or worry about it as long as they aren't affected me.

    The people always complaining about Shiller bring nothing to the table either. If our hood is so bad why stay?

    We all want safe streets but that is not what your mission is. It's to further divide and cause trouble.

    If you had a 100 protesters patrol the streets at night a report what you see.

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  47. Wilson Yards was supposed to be a business TIF to revitialize our community. I oppose the hijacking that has made it a cement jungle of public works projects that will not allow Uptown revitalized but simply be used (once again) by the rest of the city for their needs.

    Thus, I would oppose upscale residential housing that displaced the revitalization efforts too.

    Oh, and by the way, taxpayers are paying $400,000 for these condos, it's just that they are overpriced low income housing units that should have cost only $150,000.

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  48. 1:03, you just don't understand the issues yet. I say this in the kindest way---you are misreading the situation and I encourage you to read more, talk to people more and listen to what they have to say. It is not as simple as you are making it. Sorry.

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  49. I think it the following deserves to be repeated. Helen Shiller won the last election by less than 800 votes with both her and Daley's machine behind her candidacy. Obviously, the put the full force behind her and she won, but in by far her closest election yet.

    There are 40,000 potential registered voters in Uptown. Over 20,000 did not bother to vote. This is an opportunity for everyone to both educate and mobilize over half of our neighbors on what is possible in the next election...

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  50. The old Shiller mantra for Uptowners was "Where will they go?"

    The new Shiller mantra for Uptowners is, "Leave and go back to Lincoln Park."

    Well, there are two other options:
    1. Edgewater left Uptown and took the community with it the mid 1980's when it divorced Uptown and became it's own neighborhood census area. This was the first time in history that a census area changed and it was done purposefully to escape Uptown's chaos and reputation.

    2. Instead of Uptowners going South, the Shilleristas could head South. They could go South of the Montrose dividing line and scream their rhetoric to the Lakeview ward members.

    Shiller could integrate her ward and make it diverse. It is not diverse, even though she constantly says it is. She runs a poor Uptown ghetto next to a wealthy Lakeview enclave. She locates all the disabled housing and social services in 10% of the ward.

    In fact, she operates the ward exactly the way the old Democratic Committeeman slogan said old Mayor Daley stayed in power: In the poor area he said: "Look what I build there for YOU, pointing at the new low income projects in the poor neighborhood." Then, in the rich neighborhood, he said, "Look what I built THERE for you," pointing far away into the poorer neighborhood instead of in the rich neighborhood where he was standing.

    After 20 years of Shiller rule, the ward has the rich, crime free zone and and ghetto, crime-ridden zone split because of her, not in spite of her.

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  51. Let me paraphrase your stances as I understand them. [By all means, after you don't listen and your silencing tricks don't work...feel free to put words in our mouths!] Get rid of all low income housing (come on yups, triple your investment on your condo in just a year!) [Has ANYONE EVER SAID GET RID OF ALL LOW-INCOME HOUSING? And, how in the world can someone triple their real estate in one year---I'd like to know!]and force the poor into the streets (where they will not contribute to crime, I'm sure), preferably to the south side where they belong [Wow a double-whammy of class and race baiting...but AGAIN, WHOEVER SAID THAT?] (no one here's protesting the violence there). [Now THAT is a very, very good point. Maybe we should all come together and do that...and also demand answers for why this city is so segregated and why violence is somehow acceptable in poor neighborhoods. Maybe we should have a rally demanding a true socio-economically mixed community that can be a beacon for the rest of the city? I know, let's make one in Uptown!] Also, where did the recent violence come from? Middle aged white condo owners? Hmm.. [Well, ya lost me there. I have no idea what you are talking about...] Now I will leave you with a quote:

    "Let no man drag me down so far as to make me hate him."

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  52. Hey 1:03 -

    "If you had a 100 protesters patrol the streets at night a report what you see.

    Huh?

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  53. =====There are 40,000 potential registered voters in Uptown. Over 20,000 did not bother to vote. This is an opportunity for everyone to both educate and mobilize over half of our neighbors on what is possible in the next election...===

    How many people read this blog a day? Maybe 1000 at best. Good luck with this.

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  54. and YOU. That makes 1,001 - according to your omnipotent knowledge.

    Thanks for the luck!

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  55. In this ward you only 800 more than the other guy.

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  56. Blogs need regulated and it will come.

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  57. What is interesting is that this anti-crime rally was a grass roots movement. It wasn't organized by any official community organization, or by a block club or by an aldermanic opponent. It was organized and attended by regular citizens ... neighbors who are FED UP by daily and nightly gang shootings and mob violence outside our homes. We are FED UP with a mob gang fight in broad daylight while we rush our children inside and call 911. We are FED UP that another innocent victim got in the way and this time lost his life. We are FED UP that our alderman does nothing, says nothing, provides no information or any plan to help offset the dangerous situation. And worst yet, instead of LEADING a community through the situation, our alderman ignores it and HIDES.

    The Shiller apologists on this message board are frightened because THIS TIME it is just a bunch of neighbors and concerned citizens that got together to voice their concern, it's not a political group or a community group that rallied everyone out on a Saturday morning. And no matter how much they try to spin it any other way, those are the facts.

    It is interesting that the only political person I have seen involved so far is Rep. Greg Harris. He has encouraged me to contact him directly (and therefore not waste any time with the alderman)about ANY gang activity and crime and he has made a commitment to be a voice in discussing these issues directly with the police. Now I am not stating this to start a message chain about the pros and cons of people whole like and dislike Rep. Harris. But the fact that he is the only person so far to make an effort, speaks volumes. He attended last week's CAPs meeting and has met personally with the police commander about the gang issues. He lives in Uptown (unlike the alderman) so he also has a personal investment. He has expressed his personal concern to me about the recent upswing in gang violence. Why bother with an ineffective alderwoman (though we should all continue to hold her feet to the fire to actually do her job ... and after 20 years if she doesn't understand what her job is, she can just look at the surrounding wards for advice on how to act and communicate with her consituents).

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  58. --The people saying that we shouldn't be wasting our time trying to stop violence obviously have zero credibility. It is unfortunate that the detractors (who obviously also have passion for the neighborhood) would embrace such a defeatist attitude towards something as unequivocally positive as a peace rally.
    --There are surely individuals on both sides of the gentrification-related issues that have race and class influenced view-points, but there are many more people who want to figure out how to improve the neighborhood for ALL Uptown residents.
    --Property owners should have a sense of entitlement. Purchasing anything literally creates entitlement. It is the basic meaning of the word.
    --IMHO, Shiller's office has not worked nearly hard enough to figure out where the common ground exists between how she thinks the neighborhood should be improved and how the property owners think it should be improved. But, she will almost surely have to listen as the neighborhood grows. And yes, more condos will be built, there is really no way to avoid this fact. If you are worried about gentrification you should be starting a dialog, not simply (and foolishly) cursing the money flowing into Uptown.

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  59. Stop it! Just Stop it!

    Every fricken request for crime reduction at this end of the ward has to be hijacked into a Shillerista discussion of low income housing, race and gentrification.

    That is all they ever want to talk about because it allows Shiller to hide and ignore crime. We might as well be talking about green roofs again.

    Forget the distractions. What is Shiller going to do in her aldermanic capacity to reduce crime?

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  60. I have a question did people move to Uptown so they could become part of the educated urbanist movement to get rid of Shiller?

    Or did you move her because it was a neighborhood you could afford to buy in and you were not aware of all the social service and lower income people that were here?

    Is this really about Shiller?

    I suggest the best everyone can do is get out in the next election and vote.

    Nobody wants crime I doubt Shiller wants crime either but really why protest in front of her office?

    The press might have showed up had it not been about Shiller and not been front of her office.

    And as much as you think the USA is a fair democracy it's not quit that everyone has a voice like we all want to drink the koolaid and believe.

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  61. Activists and aldermanic staffers who slander the reputations of private citizens by calling community members and constituents racists for simply owning condos need to be regulated and it will come.

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  62. "And as much as you think the USA is a fair democracy it's not quit that everyone has a voice like we all want to drink the koolaid and believe."

    Quit? What are you saying?? Is that a sentence? You keep posting and cannot spell or punctuate. Your point is always lost in your own muck, which is just fine with the rest of us.

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  63. to "at the rally too said... "

    Z. Understand when you write that long of post I want to shoot myself in the head.

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  64. FACT: The press showed up at a staged rally at Alderman Smith's HOME.

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  65. On a side note, well this is the picture comment post..it sure is nice to see the women out with the mini-skirts this time of year! Now if we could air brush Rob out of the top photo it would be great.

    Kidding, we love ya Rob!

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  66. Sorry 2:23. I don't want to increase the violence around here---even if it is self-inflicted! Responding to trolls point-by-point usually ends up in something too long. That should teach me to not respond point-by-point. It's not like it will stop them trolling their hate, disinformation, illogical arguments and divisiveness anyway.

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  67. Good point. And there is no use talking logic to these fools anyhow.

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  68. Last post on this guys, I promise.

    If you moderate your blog, you'll undoubtedly axe my comments. Just wanted to say bye in advance! Just imagine the fun you will have blogging, and only seeing like minded comments! Fun for all (who are not moderated out)!

    Down with crime! We all agree, but what to do about it? Silence....

    One more thing: I am not a Helen supporter or detractor. I do not work for her, have never campaigned for her, did NOT vote for her. I just hate hearing complaining without suggestions. Well, I also hate people telling me I don't understand the issues, and calling me a 'have not' without knowing anything about me. -- To the future moderator: Make sure you axe those comments too, and not just mine :)

    Last words of the Troll.

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  69. 3:02 Oh, now after flaming all day you are acting like the modest reasonable guy. Good bye!

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  70. Hey Troll - what do YOU do to stop the crime? (silence)

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  71. I hope there continues to be very limited moderation on this blog. The Shillerista's that comment nonsensically on here just continue to emphasis my committment to a positive change.

    And speaking of changes, it seems the Shillerista's have taken a new tack.

    Please note 2:57. I would bet my last paycheck it is someone from Shillers camp trying to pretend they are a homeowner and fan the flames. No true homeowner would ever trash their neighborhood in such terms. It makes absolute no economic sense. So be careful, Shillerista's are trying to get tricky!

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  72. Right 3:14. If you notice, they are resonating parts of comments posted earlier (i.e., disheartened with what has happened...political view of onesself altered...) but then BAM it goes on to really derogatory language that only the trolls have ever used here. It is quite telling (and quite sad) that they can't even bring themselves to listen long enough to even make their troll comments more realistic.

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  73. I agree 3:14. To wit:

    "...I plan to unload my condo and just write it off as a very bad business decision."

    Okay, Thurston Howell. Do you agree with Bush that we are experiencing an "economical lull?" Good luck selling - you can just tell the potential buyers that everything is great in your neighborhood.

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  74. Helen, thank you for literally making me chuckle out loud at the Thurston Howell comment. Obviously all of us 'evil homeowners' chose Uptown because of its luxurious amenities. And we are able to easily walk away from putting our life savings into a downpayment for our home...

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  75. I can't wait til the next rally!

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  76. Could a real estate agent please give these COURAJ folks a real estate primer? It is frickin' hilarious that someone might think they could sell a condo here and then have enough money to move to Lincoln Park. I guess the affordable housing issue only exists in the 60640 BIZZAROLAND Zip Code.

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  77. Did anyone from the JPUSA cult show up?

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  78. Wow, the Shillerista's are really trying hard...LOL

    At least they were smart enough to get someone online that is literate to spew their ridiculous statements

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  79. "Could a real estate agent please give these COURAJ folks a real estate primer? It is frickin' hilarious that someone might think they could sell a condo here and then have enough money to move to Lincoln Park. I guess the affordable housing issue only exists in the 60640 BIZZAROLAND Zip Code."

    I understand that guy's/gal's point. I am also planning to sell my 3-bedroom in Uptown and move to a 1-bedroom in a better neighborhood. I would rather live in much less square footage than live in a dangerous neighborhood.

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  80. 3:42 troll alert. No one who took time to come out and take a stand against random violence and loss of life talks like this. It is despicable. I couldn't even pretend to do it for a just cause but somehow you feel you can. Seeing it over and over again makes my blood boil.

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  81. is helen a handbasket one of those fat women in the photos?

    fat women in stretchpants and tubetops are visual terrorists.

    who wants to rally with me against fat women next weekend?

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  82. Hmm, the Shillerista's are quickly adjusting their tactics. They obviously must be more than a little nervous.

    O.K> Tell me your address so I can have an opportunity to bid on this wonderful 3 bedroom condo you want to sell. Looking for a deal here!

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  83. 3:51...Who do you think is causing the "random violence" and "loss of life?"

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  84. Whenever you see evidence of a troll who purposely tries to paint people concerned about crime as racists, just contact UptownUpdate@hotmail.com and alert them. They will take it off.

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  85. 3:53 you really get around. Are you the guy who complains about breastfeeding women on the Edgewater Crime Blog too? Hell yeah troll..why not add misogynist to the list too so that you can thoroughly insult everyone.

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  86. to anonymous 3:54...I suggest you read the real estate listings and contact my real estate agent. I'm not going to negotiate price with a blogger.

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  87. 3:57...good point...we can add public breastfeeders to the other fat broads who are visual terrorists in their spandex.

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  88. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  89. 4:01:

    Why do you hate poor people so much? I am going to have to have Helen Shiller have a chat with you. Don't you know that low socio-economic status and living in a high crime neighborhood are positively correlated to obesity? Why are you blaming the victims? Instead of complaining that people are fat and an offense to your eyes, why don't you get out there and fight for safer neighborhoods for poor people to live in and for more funding on how to reduce the positive relationship between low socio-economic status and obesity?
    You should be ashamed of yourself.

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  90. 4:09:

    According to your theory, if poor people just moved to a safe neighborhood, they would magically become slim and trim?

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  91. I could stand to lose 10 or 15 pounds. If I move to Lincoln Park for the summer, will that do it?

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  92. I am glad you asked an inane question so that I can inform you on a serious issue. There is a significant body of research that shows a positive relationship between obesity and living in high crime areas. Many times, high crime areas are also very poor and are also where disadvantaged groups live. Although the factors are related, people researching this topic argue that childhood obesity may come from inadequate opportunities to exercise outside (i.e. mothers keeping their kids indoors because of fears of violence) as well as the fact that high carbohydrate foods are not only pleasing, well-advertised and less expensive than healthier alternatives such as lean protein and vegetables. The same factors apply to adults (i.e. not enough exercise due to violence and food costs) but also that poor nutrition shows up as health problems in adults. Type II Diabetes disproportionately affects disadvantaged groups of people in this country and on and on. So, if you have a conscience at all please don't go around making fun of obese people who live in a poor neighborhood. If you cared, you would do something about it.

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  93. Oh, and kiss my fat A**.

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  94. No, it's Shan Restaurant's Frontier Chicken that is to blame. Damn you frontier chicken! And Naan and biryani too.

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  95. Well, that may be true for some, but I am one of those fat-assed, thunder-thighed women and I have no excuse. I just eat too much.

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  96. Maybe foodstamps shouldn't cover CHEETOS.

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  97. anon 4:32:

    don't get me wrong...I don't hate you...I just hate SEEING you.

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  98. I am making a rhubarb pie...mmmm

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  99. Deflect, deflect deflect but never address the real issues of this community. Time for change.

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  100. Anon. 2:57- WOW! Instead of moving to Lincoln Park you should move to Libertyville, where there is a large population of residences that are in the KKK.

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  101. edward if you want to live with blacks, don't then complain about their behavior.

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  102. Look, troll. You've gone to far. Your comments will surely be deleted. Please respect yourself enough by not making such statements. There are plenty of thriving heterogeneous communities and quite a few thriving heavily African American communities as well. We all know that but apparently you don't want to because you just keep coming back in a vain attempt to whip up more hate. You can't whip up what is not here. Take a deep breath. Look around. There is goodwill all around you. Embrace it. You might be amazed by what may happen.

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  103. Anonymous 1:57PM said:

    I have a question did people move to Uptown so they could become part of the educated urbanist movement to get rid of Shiller?

    Or did you move her because it was a neighborhood you could afford to buy in and you were not aware of all the social service and lower income people that were here?


    Good question. My answer, based on the ten years I've owned here, and especially, the condo owners nearby whom I've met over the past five or so, is (B).

    It’s almost pitiful, seeing the near-wild-eyed shock once they’ve experienced a few months of a plethora of homeless and poor, the lack of shopping venues, the nightly sirens, the open drug deals on the corner as they realize their $300,000 condo was affordable because of location, location, location...

    The thought that someone may have spent more time test driving their new car than test driving (or walking) Uptown, where they invested ten or fifteen times that amount is nothing short of stunning.

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  104. To the KKKer: Get out of my neighborhood. Your hate is part of the problem.

    Oh, and food stamps do not cover Cheetos. I have single mom friends who happen to be white that needed to use food stamps. The bare basics is what food stamps cover.

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  105. Trolls, Trolls, Trolls...


    And the reporters wonder what we live with here in Uptown. Take a good look.

    A simple little rally with signs that say, "Alderman Shiller, We all deserve to be safe" and her activist crowd comes flocking in to disrupt, distract, divide and label.

    Jeeze, Give Peace a Chance.

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  106. Did I say my thunder thighs are paid for by food stamps? Nope, I'm proud to say I paid for those babies myself!

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  107. Dear Tribune Condo Columnist Mark Pearlstein:

    I recently bought a home in Uptown. I now must sell it and move to Lincoln Park because my Alderman does not allow condo owners and her activist ward boss - operating this week under the name of COURAJ - disrupts my life by threatening my existence.

    May I sue the prior owner who sold me the home for failure to disclose under the Illinois Residential Real Property Disclosure Act?

    Pearlstein: You poor thing. The Disclosure Checklist only covers items in the home. You are stuck in Uptown unless you can afford to to pay 7 1/2 % commission sell this home and buy another and you will most likely incur a loss in this depressed market. Sorry, you are stuck where you are at and your Alderman will have to adjust.

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  108. You guys are so anal that you did not do your homework to find out that Alderman Shiller was at an anti violence summit with the Mayor and Commander Bohmer brainstorming on how to prevnet violence not only in Uptown but also the entire city on Saturday. While you guys were out in front of her office acting like Racist FOOLS!! I pray that you would start to speak the truth and stop making up lies just to put fear in the residents of Uptown, You should thank GOD that you don't live in Englewood, Austin, Back of the Yards, and many other areas in the city of Chicago where the crime rate is horrible. Stop the mean spiritness and Anti-Shiller, stand up like men and women and the least you could do his to say who you are and stop hiding behind you blogs. Say what you mean and mean what you say and Tell The Truth of what this realy is about. If you were not SCARED you would say who you are NOT ANONYMOUS. By the way there were 33 people out there NOT 100

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  109. anonymous 5:32:

    Name ONE of the "quite a few thriving heavily African American communities."

    Name ONE.

    ONE.

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  110. Re: It’s almost pitiful, seeing the near-wild-eyed shock once they’ve experienced a few months of a plethora of homeless and poor, the lack of shopping venues, the nightly sirens, the open drug deals on the corner as they realize their $300,000 condo was affordable because of location, location, location...


    Nope: That wild eyed shock is from watching a twenty-year incumbent alderwoman do nothing to about it.

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  111. The thought that someone may have spent more time test driving their new car than test driving (or walking) Uptown, where they invested ten or fifteen times that amount is nothing short of stunning.

    Actually, what's stunning is the organization known as COURAJ that views itself as an advocate for the poor who also find it justifiable that Uptown remain unsafe for this same group of people. All people living in Uptown deserve to feel safe, regardless of their income level, skin color, etc. The only people who don't share in this belief are a few fringe types who are more interested in advocating the overthrow of capitalism.

    What's also pathetic is that some people need to pretend to be racists in order to promote their manifesto. If what they have to say is worth something, they shouldn't have to use fraudulent means. It only proves that the very belief is flawed.

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  112. Oh, so now we have transformed the discussion (yet again) into caveat emptor & sour grapes. Keep trolling until something sticks, I guess. Sure most people weren't aware of the extent of Uptown's political climate. Who could IMAGINE that it was this bad??? Fake rallies, dirty tricks, ruthlessly silencing the other side...

    The true issue, however, is that most people were still looking to live in a diverse urban neighborhood when they came here. They just didn't know that whatever they would bring to the table would be abjectly kicked back in their face by a bunch of self-loathing white activists who are more interested in taking ideological ground than actually creating a beautiful diverse neighborhood.

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  113. Willie Mae,
    Don't lie. There were many more than 33 people there.

    Stop calling everyone racist.

    Don't use that tired leming excuse that it's ok to have crime here because there is crime elsewhere. A student was murdered in front of Alderman Helen Shiller's office. Senseless death is unacceptable anywhere.

    If Shiller and Daley and the Commander are brainstorming it's a little late to save the life of Francis Oduro. They should have been brainstorming about crime in 2007 instead of standing at a podium at Joan Arai school on Wilson Avenue during their re-election campaigns claiming that there was no crime problem in Uptown.

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  114. I agree with 6:14, I think...even though his comments are a little obtuse.

    When I bought in Uptown 9 years ago, my real estate agent assured me that once Shiller was voted out in the next election, the poor people would be forced out so the rest of us could live safely.

    It hasn't happened yet.

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  115. yo Willie Mae - congrats on winning the "longest run-on sentence" award of the day. That was amazing!

    Thirty-three (33)? Not only is your writing awful - you can't count!

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  116. You know what? We're wrong. Uptown is not the source of ALL the homicides in this police district. And Shiller was NOT at an anti-violence with Mayor Daley between 10:00AM and 10:30AM on Saturday. And why I am a racist for saying that I will not stand by silently when an innocent black man is slain on Wilson Avenue at 9:00 at night by an EL station is beyond me. The gun violence has risen. Period. I am not going to stand by and wait to say something when it is a 5-year old baby who is killed next. Where will you be when that happens (God forbid)?

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  117. Anonymous 6:17 Hi George Atkins. Having fun trying to stirk up racism? Don't forget to shut Helen Shiller's ward office door when you leave tonight.

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  118. Willie, exactly how could Commander Boehmer be with Alderman Shiller and Mayor Daley at a "violence summit" when the Commander was at the rally standing next to me talking to me at that time?

    Dual personalities?

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  119. UU, please delete the hate speech on this thread. No group of people deserves to be denigrated like that over and over again. Thank you.

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  120. I disagree - do NOT edit it. Bush would want it that way.

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  121. 6:27...if criminals don't deserve to be denigrated, no wonder there is so much crime.

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  122. I don't think that I can keep checking back in to see the activity on this thread. I can't take watching Shiller supporters sink so low as to make hideous racist comments to make everyone who attended the rally look like racists. Is what is happening here simply beyond reproach? Are there no acceptable ways to register a complaint around here? Is it just that these people view Helen as St. Helen and nothing bad can be said about her---ever? Or, are they just too used to the power that they wield around here at the expense of everyone's democratic liberties?

    WTF PEOPLE!!?? Why does it have to be like this?

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  123. hate speech again at 6:36.

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  124. "You guys are so anal that you did not do your homework to find out that Alderman Shiller was at an anti violence summit with the Mayor and Commander Bohmer brainstorming on how to prevnet violence not only in Uptown but also the entire city on Saturday. While you guys were out in front of her office acting like Racist FOOLS!!" Willie Mae

    Actually, I was at this summit with the Mayor at the time this rally was held. The block club president of Truman Square Neighbors was given an award for some innovative things her block club is doing to address crime. Regardless, I always try to go when these events are scheduled.

    There were about 6 aldermen present at this event and they were all introduced. Ald. Shiller was not among them. I've gone to a number of these events and I've never seen her there.

    The term "racist" is batted around quite often. Like most people, I believe racism has caused extensive damage and we all suffer when racism raises its ugly head. However, the devastating effects caused by racism are watered down when false accusations are made. If we are truly committed to eliminating racism, we will not use this term lightly. The many people who have died violent deaths due to racist attitudes don’t deserve this. It insults them and they deserve better.

    It is hoped that all can agree that every family wants and deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood. That’s what we build on. That’s where we can come together. That’s what will have us strive to make this a better place for all.

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  125. Uh, I hate to point out the obvious but the crime victim was a poor person. He was not a condo owner in the neighborhood. He was a visitor on our streets. The victim was also an immigrant of a minority race.

    Charges of gentrification or racial makeup of the community have nothing to do with this.

    This is about asking that our Alderman do the things she is capable of doing to reduce crime. Things she has refused to discuss or do.

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  126. Anonymous 6:14PM said:

    Oh, so now we have transformed the discussion (yet again) into caveat emptor & sour grapes. Keep trolling until something sticks, I guess. Sure most people weren't aware of the extent of Uptown's political climate. Who could IMAGINE that it was this bad???

    Last time I checked, "caveat emptor" meant "watch your own back and watch out for snakeoil salesmen." To heck with the "political climate," do you think any of those realtors and developers volunteered the statistics on the number of subsidized housing units, the number of social service agencies? Do you think any of them even know, much less care, how many homeless people piss in the adjacent alley onn any given hot summer day?

    My guess is "NO." And from my experience having lived here for as long as I have, I KNOW that some owners, instead of being outraged by their own lack of due dilligence in shopping for a neighborhood as well as a home have misplaced their ire on Ms. Shiller.

    THOSE are the people who make comments like an earlier poster "get rid of all the social services, the subsdized housing, the neighborhood won't improve unit that happens."

    I know it may sound crazy, but there are a lot of us who OWN property here, who want this neighborhood to realize its potential as a truly mixed income, ethnically diverse neighborhood, and we don't even support Ms. Shiller.

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  127. Thanks for being willing to step into the fray, James. People have been so unkind to you lately and it is not right because you are a private citizen. Your point about carelessly using the term "racism" is spot on. What is most despicable is the people who are using it right now really do know better.

    -a 48th warder

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  128. The alderman could have and still could put better lighting under the Wilson El tracks. The Wilson TIF study suggested it and that has been almost 8 year ago.

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  129. Anon 6:17 said...

    "We DESERVE to be safe?" Who says? According to what law? How can anyone guarantee your safety?

    Did you miss this day at CPS? Here is the Law your looking for.

    "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

    I bet you feel dumb now don't you? I would.

    -Uptown Dad

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  130. I know it may sound crazy, but there are a lot of us who OWN property here, who want this neighborhood to realize its potential as a truly mixed income, ethnically diverse neighborhood, and we don't even support Ms. Shiller.

    You've got that right. I'm a dirt-worshippin' tree hugger pink diaper baby and can't stand Shiller because she is making a bad name for all of us!

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  131. I am happy that this site exists and that people are at least trying to make a difference. Trolls or not, I'm glad that there is a place where we can all speak.

    Thank you to the folks who post here with constructive comments.

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  132. The alderman could insist upon better security at Truman College. At my college downtown, the security force will escort students to the nearest El or will stand outside the building and watch you until you board your bus. Truman security guards are a joke. They rarely leave the front desk.

    And, there is a regular gang raceway along the back side of that school through the parking lot to Broadway.

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  133. I wish Shiller would get voted out of office. I voted for that Capple guy in the last election, even though all his endless sarcasm and mean-spirited behavior turned me off. It apparently had the same effect on lots of voters. We need a better Shiller opponent for the next election or she will be re-elected again.

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  134. The Alderman could do a better job of removing gang tagging in the neighborhood. This shooting was gang related. Right where the shooting took place across from her office is a 8-foot tall wall of gang grafitti that should could get removed.

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  135. ANONYMOUS, just like I said I have photo's too, there were 33 people and 5 DOGS, ANONYMOUS, this is my first and last time on this blog. I was raised not to be afraid of my thoughts and feelings and to speak out loud and clear about issues that concerned me. Issues that was near and dear to my heart. Not not hide my face and or my name, turn my back, and make up untruths about someone because it is convenient. If I strongly beleived in something, just the fact that you are still using the word ANONYMOUS you have proved my point. MAN UP and or WOMEN UP which ever applies ANONYMOUS. By the way I knew Francis and went to school with him and Alderman Shiller did not pull the trigger. I think as a community that is so beautifully diverse, we should come together as one and stop polorizing clases and races of people. Stop the rumor mills and TELL THE TRUTH, BY the WAY MY NAME IS "WILLIE MAE" This will be the last time on this blog. I will not waste my time on this blog. WHY TALK TO A FOOL WHEN ALL THEY ARE GOING TO THINK IS FOOLISH THOUGHTS, by the way I am a White Women, with 2 children, in Truman College and I received a link card not food stamps.

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  136. I haven't seen anything racist in this thread.

    Maybe you don't read what you write?

    Is it racist to admit that most crime is committed by blacks? They are the overwhelming majority population in prisons. How is stating that fact racist?

    Crafty. Very crafty. You have shifted from tired welfare mother stereotypes to trying to support the incorrect statement that "most crime" is committed by blacks with the fact that the majority of prisoners are African American. The causal argument doesn't work that way. Ever take a logic course? You can't assume that just because prisoners have a common characteristic that that characteristic is what caused them to become prisoners.

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  137. "Uptown Dad"...

    I attended an all-white private school and the preamble of the U.S. Constitution does not say that residents of Uptown "deserve to be safe."

    If you think you "deserve to be safe," go stand on the corner of 68th and Martin Luther King Drive after dark and see how long the inhabitants there think you "deserve to be safe."

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  138. "Willie Mae" thinks she is high class because the taxpayers subsidize her with a link card instead of foodstamps.

    LMAO.

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  139. 7:06...OK then, you tell us...what racial group is committing the most crime?

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  140. "even though all his endless sarcasm and mean-spirited behavior turned me off."

    That wasn't the "Capple guy" it was me. Cappleman actually seems like a decent reasonable person. Unlike the idiots pretending to be against Shiller and issuing racist statements.

    Are things that quiet over on Wilson Avenue today that you can do that. Shouldn't you be growing your beard, getting tattos and praying?

    Now some of you claim the Capplemaniac ain't a good candidate. Well by that criteria Helen Shiller wasn't a "good" candidate because she ran and lost for alderbeast before running again and winning.

    He ran about as good a campaign as could be expected and it is clear that the alderbeast and her minions seem to be annoyed and scared by him. Must be hell having to suck up to "da mare" for his support after fighting him all those years. I wonder how the younger Helen Shiller would view the older sellout Helen Shiller?

    I mean Jon Trott at a crime rally with the mayor last year? Damn, that must have hurt him and his JPUSA cadre of naive dumbasses. Of course when you have no soul it is easy to sell it.

    Now if you will excuse me I need to sit at my picnic table and drink some Guinness while admiring my landscaping work.

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  141. So a Truman student went to the rally and counted 33 people and 5 dogs and "knew" that Alderman Shiller was at an anti-crime summit downtown with Mayor Daley and the police commander. On the basis of these facts, this woman concludes that the people at the rally are racists who are polarizing this community when we should otherwise be rallying around Alderman Shiller and what she has been doing to keep people like her murdered friend safe. Okay.

    Willie Mae has a unique perspective for someone who just lost a friend to random gun violence. I can't say that I would be so kind toward the political establishment if it were me in her shoes. Just because it is worse elsewhere (including the very neighborhood that Oduro lived in) doesn't mean that it is acceptable here. I am not sure why a mother would feel this way but I guess to each her own.

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  142. I was happy to participate in the rally but reading the trolls on this blog are making me angrier than ever. If you were wise you would have tried to co-opt us rather than instigating us. Now I am committed to doing whatever I can to end the hypocrisy that is the Uptown political establishment. Good job, Shillerites.

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  143. I mean Jon Trott at a crime rally with the mayor last year? Damn, that must have hurt him and his JPUSA cadre of naive dumbasses. Of course when you have no soul it is easy to sell it.

    Apparently, "troll" depends on whether you sit on the table or passed out underneath it with a barrel of rum.

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  144. It's Guinness, NOT rum.

    Also if I was passed out underneath the table I wouldn't be typing now would I.

    Now go away your attempt at humor was valiant, yet futile. Sorta like the alderdummy trying to pretend she is "independent".

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  145. After trying to read Willie May's posts, it's obvious to me that there is no English requirement for admission to Truman College.

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  146. After the suggestion that I was a "troll" I decided to reveal myself. I reveal YOU DECIDE. Just like Fox News only I'm sexier.

    I reveal myself as a troll/leprechaun to the Trolls.

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  147. irishpirate if you were responsible for the impression held by voters that Cappleman was too sarcastic and too mean and too gay which made him lose the election, why haven't you learned anything and changed your behavior?

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  148. "I attended an all-white private school and the preamble of the U.S. Constitution does not say that residents of Uptown "deserve to be safe."

    No?

    " We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

    Establishing justice?

    Insure domestic tranquility?

    General Welfare?

    Securing blessings of Liberty?


    Next time you mention the Preamble, I'd highly recommend that you actually READ the damned thing.

    You're lowering the collective IQ, singlehandedly.

    Nice work.

    Feel free to argue me on this point. I dare you.


    Overall, this thread is disappointing. Granted, the "anti-Shiller" folks (and I'll lump myself into that group) tend to over-work a few arguments, here and there; but that's politics. Helen and her supporters should be able to suck that up.

    The pro-Shiller posters on the other hand. People! I've never seen such ignorant, obtuse and wholly outrageous arguments in my life!

    Were any of you to even remotely stay on topic, that'd be sweet; but, you come across as lumbering jackasses slapping their keyboards.

    Typical Chicago response politics: lie, divert, lie, avoid, lie some more and then flat out ignore that which you cannot control.

    And, when you're back is really against the wall, pull the race card.

    Not everyone is dumb enough to fall for that, any more.

    Not to be (too) rude, but the likes of willie mae are little more than Shiller-hack, nutless pussies.

    I'll gladly invite any of you to a debate in an open forum for two reasons:

    1 - You know darned well your arguments can't stand scrutiny, and

    2 - You don't have the grapes.

    But, I digress ...


    The overall bright spot is that the old-style machine politics of this city are on their way out.

    The days of securing power by controlling information are done.

    Video killed the radio star, and the internet will kill classless politicians and their no-nothing lemming flunkies who couldn't shit out a decent argument if you shoved one up their ass.

    Shiller and her crew are starting to see this.

    It's so obvious.

    It's so sad.

    And it's so inevitable.

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  149. Muah,

    sarcastic.!?

    As for me changing my behavior I will consider doing it after you change your adult diaper.

    I got news for you I didn't cost the Capplemaniac the election. Mayor Daley and the hundreds of thousands of dollars he helped Helen Shiller raise had a bigger impact. The endorsement of every sellout politician in the area had an impact.

    I really don't think the videos, What the Helen, or even Shiller's using the debate video against the rules had any significant impact. At least in the realm of changing hundreds of votes. All sides were mostly "preaching to their respective choirs".

    As for "voters" having the impression that Cappleman is sarcastic don't conflate yourself with all the "voters". Now go "pray" somewhere and ask the Lord to save my pirate soul.

    Most "voters" in an aldermanic election simply vote for the name they know and when they see it associated with a Mayor they like, Daley, they are likely to vote for that name.

    Imagine that. Shiller is the "establishment" alderbeastie. Gotta hurt, huh.

    As for Cappleman being "too mean" or "too gay" I don't think any reasonable person has that impression.

    What is "too gay" anyway? Liberace? Senator Craig? Richard Simmons? George Bush in a flight suit?

    Oh Lord, the Shilleristas must be gearing up for 2011 because the poop is starting early.

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  150. To Anon 7:06

    You said..If you think you "deserve to be safe," go stand on the corner of 68th and Martin Luther King Drive after dark and see how long the inhabitants there think you "deserve to be safe."

    Well just so happens that I have to work in englewood tomorrow. I will also be at 87th and Ashland and last but not least 63rd and Ashland. Working..in the "hood." I work in the medical advertising field, so next time you want to talk smack about a location please feel free to go there first. Your more than welcome to come on my route with me. Matter of fact how about you check out the corner of 63rd and Halsted and your jaw will drop at the constuction and development that Uptown can only dream about.

    As far as the Constitution I believe that "Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity" falls under protection and how about "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility"

    You went to an all white private school? Where was this Alabama in the 60's? Did George Wallace walk you in to school?

    Hate to dust off an old chestnut but damn...your dumb!

    -Uptown Dad

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  151. Uptown Dad,
    I would hope you would want your son to feel safe. I would only hope. Is it a right? Well, I want talk semantics here, but I really don't think it's a stretch to say we in this community should feel safe.

    As for 63rd & Halsted, I am more focused on my neighborhood feeling safe. I'll let the people in that neighborhood work hard to feel safe there. We're not asking for Mayberry, but walking down Wilson today and seeing the tons of graffiti everywhere is not what I had in mind either, especially when I see for myself the number of gangbangers selling drugs on that street.

    Now maybe you are used to low standards and maybe you like having low expectations for a neighborhood. You are rapidly coming into the minority of people like that because the poor families in this neighborhood are also demanding to feel safer, too.

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  152. It is great that Uptown residence are being proactive about violence in the community; it is sad that this dialogue cannot remain mature, civil and adult. Citizens deserve the right to hold public officials accountable for their professional responsibilities, be it an alderperson, police officer or DMV employee. The upswing of gang activity and violence in Uptown is bad for everyone, no matter what race or socio-economic class.

    We are well aware that this is not the fault of any one person nor can any one person remedy it. It's complicated and dense and I am proud that we have this sounding board to share ideas. I wish people would stop using it as an elementary school yard, please!

    I have lived in Uptown for 3 years and my boyfriend has lived here for 7, and he has seen how much better it has become because of residents who take pride in their homes and communities, no matter what they pay. There are also more businesses that see the potential in this market and that is also improving the area. Change happens over time, in steps.

    Being an active citizen isn't foolish or lame - it is a precious right we have and should exercise! Let's keep this about holding our public servants accountable, working with them to find the best solutions and improving the quality of life for all Uptown residents!

    Remember, call the police every time you see something suspicious and let your officials know that it is not acceptable no matter where you live!

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  153. The same people who wrote the Constitution were all rabid racists who all owned black slaves and never would have dreamed that they would someday be set free to run amok among the rest of us.

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  154. I know it is dizzying at this point, but I think you and Uptown Dad agree, CAPS attendee. Lets keep everyone safe from gun violence and stop this madness that is hurting everyone.

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  155. TO Anon. 5:20
    Never put words in peoples mouths! I've NEVER complained about "blacks" like you or who ever the other "anons'" are! There's plenty of white people that are being arrested in this area too. Idiot.

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  156. 9:36. Wow. Another classic one. Is "all" accurate? And if that is your characterization why the last sentence? You Shiller supporters never cease to amaze me with your broadbrush rhetoric and tricky trickiness.

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  157. More pics including the black kids the last poster apparently missed. I guess you just gotta be there to see that all kinds of folks were there.

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  158. But notice, 166 posts and they've mangaged to use charges of racism and classism to divert the blog from what it is about: Alderman Shiller, We deserve a safe neighborhood.

    When will you stop hiding and show up at your office and speak to us and work to solve these crime problems?


    Now, Shilleristas, feel free to lob another missile my way.

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  159. Wow. This has been a busy day on this thread. I think this is the most comments ever on a single thread. Now that the weekend is almost over could someone please explain to me what the big deal is?

    As I see it, there have been more murders in Uptown this year than in recent memory. Gun violence (either non-fatal shootings or robberies with a gun) are up. The police have declared that an innocent man was murdered near a college campus, an El station and at a reasonably early hour of the evening. When no further "official" response occurred, local residents became angry and wanted to do something because they feared that this wouldn't be the only murder this summer. Since the Alderman's office is right around the corner from where the murder happened, and let's face it---she doesn't have much of a track record on community policing issues---a rally happened there.

    Why is this worthy of all of the types of comments that you can see from the Pro-Shiller people on this blog all day? As Shiller herself should know quite well, people tend to like to criticize elected officials in order to affect change. There is no need to take it so personally and start acting the way that some have on this blog. Why not take the high road, BE A LEADER and say, "ok folks you've made your point. No one here is for violence either. But, some of the issues are complicated. Let me tell you about what I think, what we are doing and what I think the community can do to help..."

    WHY IS THIS SO HARD?? This community is bleeding in more ways than one and it is very difficult to watch it happen.

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  160. 2 black kids, in all of the pictures? Have you looked around this neighborhood? Why weren't flyer's plastered everywhere? Why wasn't the community invited? This was a "we want the neighborhood whiter" rally. Not an anti-violence rally. Until you engage everyone in the community you can not have an uptown rally to fix anything. You can go ahead and call me any name you want, but you are racist, and you need to face the truth. And it is sick. You should all open your eyes and take a look at what is really going on around you.

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  161. So you look at racist messages posted by Pro-Shiller trolls and then call the rally racist because you see mostly white faces? Unbelieveable.

    Then, you go on to state an assumption that no one at the rally or anywhere else has said, "You moved here, only hoping that the neighborhood would quickly become gentrified, because it was the only place you could afford to buy. Gentrification isn't happening soon enough for you, so hold a rally when you really aren't understanding the problem in the area that you live in."

    You are right that "peace comes from within" and "we all need to help each other"---that was what the rally was about!!! Why are you not willing to see that? Do you really believe all these people would gather protesting the loss of an innocent black man's life and not wanting to see it happen to ANYONE again because they are racists? Do you have such little faith in humanity? What the hell is going on here??? It IS about the violence and THE VIOLENCE has to end!

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  162. We are on the right track given all the trolls that want to make their false charges of racism. But they are the ones who are really racist. They falsely believe that blacks like low standards.

    If Helen doesn't like all the attention to this rally and this blog, she could start listening to the community. Until then, this will continue and trolls won't stop it.

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  163. To Anon 9:53pm- Not all of us are looking for fast gentrification or gentrification AT ALL. I'm still in support of Wilson's Men Hotel, and for low income along with decent apartments that most can afford that doesn't have slum-lords running them.

    You are right that peace comes from within, but it IS about the violence. A young man (who was not white) was shot and killed outside of Truman College. How is that racist? And before another idiot uses the "race card"- answer me this, if we all were racist then why would we live in Chicago at all?

    THIS WHOLE PROTEST WAS ABOUT THE VIOLENCE THAT EFFECTS EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY!

    Peace to all!

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  164. Let's not pretend that this neighborhood isn't polarized and it is kept so in order to keep the votes coming in for the pro-Shiller forces. How in the world do you expect a bunch of individuals (not part of an established group) to overcome the ingrained suspicions that you have so clearly spelled out in a few weeks' time? What you stated is the "party line." How could we overcome that in such a short period of time in order to get a broader coalition at the rally? You use it against us and then use it against us again. That is not right.

    In my mind, part of the purpose of the rally is to build momentum so that we can do just that---have some force to break down the barriers between groups in this neighborhood. But as evidenced by the tactics deployed here, it will be quite a challenge. IMHO, having a healthy community will be worth it. I hope we can do it for everyone's sake.

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  165. There were more than two black kids there. I guess I shoulda counted and broken down the entire group by age, gender, sexual preference, racial group, renter or owner, etc etc etc.

    I had neighbors at the rally and I don't see them in any photos. Does that mean they weren't there.

    In all the photos I have seen I can't be found easily. Was I not there?

    You trolls amuse me.

    If there were no rally held you would claim it was because the most recent victim was black and the potential marchers don't care about a black victim.

    Being that a rally was held you still claim the marchers are racist.

    Really, it freakin amuses me.

    No one, regardless of income or race or any other "ist" should have to fear walking down the street.

    This was an anti violence rally. It seems to me that the people who are truly harming the community are those who have low expectations. There are lotsa decent folks living in subsidized housing around here. They are the ones most at risk for violence. Some of them marched today. I guess they are "haters" too.

    GRRRRRRRRRRR,

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  166. I believe: yuppies, homeless people, drug addicts, Jesus freaks, alcoholics, tourists, school children, recent immigrants,social workers, transsexuals, potheads, condo owners, commie-pinkos, Rush Limbaugh ditto-heads, SRO residents, fat balding guys, prostitutes, radical feminists, biker dudes, aging leftist agitators, skateboarders, AND EVERYONE ELSE deserves to live in a peaceful community where we are all working hard to prevent ANYONE from being the victim of violence.

    CALL ME ANYTHING YOU WANT. I WILL NOT STOP PURSUING THIS GOAL! And, for crying out loud what is wrong with the people who won't join me!??

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  167. Umm, I know that "Willie Mae" was discredited already, but I just wanted to point out that in just one single picture here, I count at least 50 individual heads. If you're going to make those kinds of lies, at least try to square it with the evidence eveyone can see. Just sayin'

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  168. Only in Uptown can you be considered a racist because you stand up against violence. Really though, we're talking maybe 2 people, 4 tops.

    This blog has had over 325,000 hits. These trolls are just now getting it how powerful this blog is and it scares the hell out of them.

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  169. Shiller's not the answer nor is James.

    Daley will provide us with an answer before the next election.

    James you are no Obama!

    Why do you keep responding on these blogs? Isn't your day job more important to you? You are not comfortable with yourself in your own skin.

    Do you really think you are a good Alderman/woman candidate.

    You lost get over it.

    I am looking for someone new to support.

    You and Cindy go drink wine and have fun planning your next crusade somewhere else.

    Why don't he 4 of you all move in together!

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  170. "Daley will provide us with an answer before the next election."

    The fuhrer always knows best! I must admit it is becoming mesmerizing how the comebacks take shape for the next round. C'mon guys. We know you don't like Daley! You rounded everyone up to rally against his plans for CPS over at Mary Ann Smith's house. How can you stand to pretend to love him over in the 46th ward?

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  171. Two technical points / corrections:

    #1 Francis Oduro Jr was not killed aroung the corner from Shiller's office. He was killed at 4547 N Broadway, directly across the street from the Alderman's office at 4550 N. Broadway. He must have come out the Truman College side entrance to Broadway and crossed the street before proceeding north to the El.

    #2 Why no posters to let the whole neighborhood know of the event? Because in the past the Alderwoman has had her Ward Superintendent fine us for posting items on the street. Can't have it both ways when you Shillerista's complain.

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  172. Judging by all the obnoxious and grammatically challenged troll-rants, it's safe to say that we got the attention of Alderman Shiller's staff!

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  173. "James is not Obama""

    Well, I wonder what the Obama camp, David Axelrod, Mayor Daley, and Dem. Committeeman Tom Sharpe are thinking about their gal, Alderman Helen Shiller?

    If you recall, all the robocalls for the get-out-vote and come-to-the Holiday Club fundraiser were executed from the voice of their gal Alderman Helen Shiller (even though *69 showed the calls cam from a phone bank in California.)

    Do you think they like seeing this display of race-baiting occuring once again after the Rev. Wright and Pfleger incidents?

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  174. By the way, where was Alderman Dick Mell's number one son, Democratic Committeeman Tom Sharpe, on Saturday?

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  175. I wonder who the trolls will be attacking tomorrow morning when I wake up again and check in to this thread. So far we've been through the gamut. I honestly can't guess what ridiculous accusation they will try to lob next. Maybe they will just circle back to "totally lame fools" again. Or, down with fat women/fat breastfeeding women. That might have been my favorite. Time to shimmy my thunderthighs into my pajamas!

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  176. Seems like the trolls are thinking Cappleman is a threat to Shiller because they're starting the lies and mud slinging a little early. Well, the count was rather close, so I guess they should be nervous.

    Still, they seem to delight in the idea that ward residents shouldn't have a say in who their alderman should be. So much for pretending to be for any type of justice, I guess. It again shows that they approve of the use of dirty tactics, but that's something we all knew anyway.

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  177. Remember, it wasn't that long ago when COURAJ could assemble a large group of people at a moment's notice to protest. Now, I think they have 3 members and their office has a disconnected phone number. Kind of pathetic, don't you think.

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  178. Whaddya talkin' about? Their anti-police brutality rally was anything but "lame"! A ton of people showed up...oh, wait...those were people who didn't have much to say about police brutality but did have a thing or two to say about needing more help from the police to address the rise in crime.

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  179. Wow.... I'm readin a lot of rage in this particular Blog. Wondering how productive this Site actually is at this point.

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  180. I find it very productive. I also find a few COURAJ folks to be extremely threatened by it too. There's a lot of discussion because people know this blog has had well over 300,000 hits in the short year that it's been existence.

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  181. Just wait, now that we've outed COURAJ as just another one of Helen Shiller's surrogates run by her ward boss Marc Kaplan to do the race-baiting she doesn't want to do directly, it will reinvent itself under a new name again.

    It has been the same pattern over and over again for 20 years. I wonder what it will call itself next?

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  182. tjm very well said.

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  183. to "CAPS attendee said..."

    We had the same message. I know it was late, but you need to read all the post before you respond to a small portion. I stated that 63rd and Halsted is making progress in the development field far greater than Uptown. That was a response to the guy who told me to stand at 68th and MLK, Like it was Iraq.

    Our businesses on Wilson are treading water just to stay open, Yet englewood is back on the upswing. Check it out.

    Yes I want Uptown safe for my son. But I also want it safe for the kids in the Sect 8 housing. If some gang banger gets shot thats fine with me. The problem is they can't aim and hit the innocent. I also want business to thrive. I want people to chase the American Dream just like I have. It seems kind of difficult though when the government and the alderbeast tell these people that they will protect them from us "Yuppies" who pay for the service in the first place.

    Thank you for going to support the CAPS meeting, but next time read the whole post no not to come off ignorant.

    -Uptown Dad

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  184. GOOD MORNING.... may I add a very different point this morning? I honestly feel that the Shillerista's are being so deceptive and bitter because of one major recent issue that no one has spoken about on this blog....

    ..In less than a week, the neighborhood collected over $20k just for a single cause, to try and prevent the illegal placement of the Day Labor storefront on Sheridan.

    Now think about this my friends. If we managed to collect that much in that short of time to fight a single business...... THINK about how much we will be able to raise prior to the next election to bring about a true change in this ward... and with that money, finally have an opportunity to counter all of the lies and half-truths spewed out by the Shillerista's.....

    Now, THAT is why they are trying so hard - and failing - to derail our struggle for the basic Human Right of walking through our neighborhood without being shot or killed.

    Again, think about it.. 20k raised in a non=election year, for one store front.... think what we can do between now and then!

    The thoughts just make me smile!

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  185. CONGRATULATIONS GUYS!!! This rally OBVIOUSLY had a huge impact... 192 comments so far. I'd say that is quite a success in getting some attention. Let's keep it up!!!

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  186. Keep up the good work! And don't feed the trolls! That is what they want. Ignore them! If no one replies to them, their idiotic comments look even MORE idiotic, and plus it is only 1 or 2 of Shiller's people anyway.

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  187. UptownGuy2008 makes me smile.

    To paraphrase Shakespeare (to the Shillerista's, he was kind of a famous writer a few years ago...)

    "The lady doth protest too much"

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  188. My biggest question is- Why did no media attend this event?

    That is what doesnt make sense.

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  189. I would really like to HIGHLY SUGGEST we take it another step and email them and demand to know why... Is the fact Daley has another granddaughter really more important that a neighborhood in fear? (Top local stories of both papers this morning)

    I have provided the names and email addresses of the editors below. Please take some of the same energy you show here and email them, asking them to explain their editorial decisions on why they chose not to cover it...thank you

    Michael Cooke, Editor of the SunTimes mcooke@suntimes.com;
    Phyllis Gilchrist, Metro Editor of the SunTimes pgilchrist@suntimes.com; Ann Marie Lipinski, Editor of The Tribune, ctc-editor@tribune.com; Tim McNulty,
    Public/Local Editor, The Tribune, TMcNulty@tribune.com,

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  190. Media did not attend because a disorganized lame "rally" isn't news.

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  191. The media are under no obligation to attend every rally in Chicagoland. They like rallys conducted by established groups because they can then use a boilerplate form to write their stories. There will also be a rally for Grant Park this week. They are way into that issue.

    So, it is a little bit of laziness on their part and a LOT of not wanting to tell the story of what is happening here. It is complex. Seasoned reporters have a pretty good idea of what has been going down around here. But telling this story would mean being able to move beyond the "good guys" vs. "bad guys" formula. In order to tell this story, you'd need some page count and they probably feel that not enough folks in Chicago are interested. Plus, to tell the story the newspaper would end up having to make some jabs at the Mayor, an alderman and important charities and philanthropists. Who needs all that grief?

    This is a great, great story for someone with some vision and some serious reporting skills. I suppose that it needs to be our job to show them how deep this goes and why the story needs to be told.

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  192. I agree. Which is why it is great we have all the email addresses. Lets use em!

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  193. I was happy to see that the rally was a success. I've been reading this blog of some time and I don't remember a post that's had this many comments before. Clearly, we've all struck a cord.

    My husband and I were stopped by for a bit and my only suggestion for future rallies that may be planned is diversity. As I've stated before on this site, middle class white condo owners are not the only people in this community concerned about violence. The elderly living in assisted living, the families in public housing, the rich in single family homes.... everyone deserves a safe environment to live in. And despite many of the comments to the negative in this particular post, I think the vast majority of us that post here agree with that.

    Many people who move to this neighborhood enjoy the diversity that Uptown has to offer, both racial and economic. Its what makes this community special. We need to do a better job of getting the word out about these rallies too all the people in this community. The more people that we can involve the less ammunition that we provide to Alderman Schiller.

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  194. Thank you to all who sacrificed your Saturday morning to come out and take a stand. It was a pleasure to meet so many people who care about Uptown.

    For those who are complaining, making derogatory comments, etc. If you think we are all a bunch of racist gentrifiers, why didn't you show up with signs of your own to tell us how you really feel? It's so much easier to post anonymously on a blog, or like Willie Mae, lie through your teeth, than it is to take actually DO something, ANYTHING, positive for your neighborhood.

    Why didn't you come out and protest in favor of Shiller? Scared? Of what... all the young couples and their toddlers? You would of been ok... Shiller's people were armed with baseball bats in her office, they would of protected you! Makes you wonder, if, as they say, Uptown has no issues with crime... why they would find it necessary to be armed against a group of peaceful protestors? Rather ironic I think.

    Instead of being so hateful and judgemental, perhaps you could of confronted those of us at the rally in person and actually learned something about us? It's pretty cowardly to come on a message board and anonymously call people racists and accuse us of trying to run the poor out of Uptown.

    I'm not against anyone but gangbangers and drug dealers. I expect my Alderman, who I help pay the salary for, to publicly denounce crime, gangs and drugs in her Ward, and be an active member of the community, representing ALL of her constituents, NOT just her pet projects. Why? Because that is her JOB. That is what she is hired to do. If she feels so justified in her lack of action regarding all the recent crime in her Ward, she should of had the guts to stand up and come out and discuss these issues with the protestors, and publicly go on record with her plans to curb crime in her Ward. No other Alderman in Uptown has an issue discussing their plans. Why should Helen be held to a different standard?

    For those with the balls to show up on Saturday, thanks for coming. For those of you who choose to sit around and do nothing but gripe at those of us willing to try something, ANYTHING to make the neighborhood better for ALL of us, shame on you. Your way of doing nothing has obviously worked so well for you, hasn't it?

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  195. As an Edgewater resident (and black) I ask all of you to keep up the good work. No anti-crime rally is ever in vain (or "lame" as the high school dropouts here keep referring to it in their limited linguistic skills). The sad thing is the morons who spout so-called racial statistics on crime like parrots and the naysayers will benefit from your efforts. If there was a way to accomplish your goal and have all remaining crime follow just them like their personal dark rain cloud it would be poetic justice.

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  196. BTW.. with all of those photos being taken at the rally, did anyone get a photo of these alleged Schiller workers with baseball bats? Think of what that would have done come next election time. Hell, think of the fallout if those photos were sent to the newspapers. She might actually have to show her face to respond.

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  197. First off, I am not a resident of Uptown. I became interested in this site after the article in the paper. I wish every neighborhood had such a clearing house for local issues. I hope that this doesn't negate my question.
    If this was an anti-crime rally, why didn't it take place outside of the local police station? Isn't the Chicago Police Department in charge of fighting crime? It just seems like this was designed to protest the Alderman and the bulk of these comments seem to back up that assumption. I wasn't there but the pictures show a bunch of middle class looking white people. Do the crime stats support the idea that it is middle class white people that are getting shot in uptown? There's more going on here than many of you claim as the issue.

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  198. That guy in the third picture has featured prominently in at least 3 photos on UU. What's the deal? Is he a local celebrity?

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  199. It's been my experience that many of the residents living in CHA and HUD housing are afraid to come to these kinds of rallies for fear of retaliation. It's starting to change a little and it seems the safer it starts to get, the braver the residents are to be more outspoken.

    If I had a drug dealer living in my building, I guess I would feel intimidated too.

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  200. There are a LOT of other issues besides a straight up "go talk to the cops about crime."

    The short version: Shiller has not been responsive to the uptick in violent crimes in her ward; specifically around Uptown.

    She cites a stat that indicates her ward has the lowest crime rate in the city; but fails to acknowledge that stat is an aggregate and does not indicate the growing gang violence in and around Uptown, specifically (her office, is pretty much the epicenter, as a matter of fact).

    This rally wasn't so much (or should not have been) an anti-Shiller rally; but a rally (as one of the signs stated) to get Helen to get involved.

    She's made no statement with regards to a gang-related murder which occurred outside her office, and, like any number of other issues, when her is office contacted for her response, she's never available.

    It's not like she's responsible for the crime, but by not responding, or taking any negligible action whatsoever, she is quietly propagating the matter.

    Additionally, it's her love of warehousing low income folks into such a confined area that's also promoting more violence.

    In short - her "I know what's good for you" ideals have floundered when put into practical usage and she's ignoring the resulting higher crime as to admit to it would be tantamount to admitting that she and her policies are abject failures.

    Why this is so important is because none of us want fall prey to the monsters that Helen has created by providing the proper environment and we also want to prevent her from adding fuel to the fire by stacking more low income (though expensive to build) housing atop Wilson Yard.

    So, no, it's not Helen's fault, entirely; but, over the last two decades, she has proven herself more on the side of the problems, than on the solutions.

    And since she flat out refuse to engage the community, the community thought to engage her.

    The fact that so many trolls have sprouted on this thread in her (weak) defense indicates that the community did the right thing and that she's frightened that she won't be able to cover her nasty little tracks for much longer.

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