From the comments:It is official --> It's official --
Tomorrow (Thursday) at 7 p.m. Emergency meeting of FORUM (Friends Organizing to Repair Uptown's Mismanagement) at Kahawa Coffee House (838 West Montrose).
Owner will provide free coffee (they also have lattes, smoothies, pastries that, while not free, are nonetheless delicious!).
On the agenda are four main areas that need improvement:
- Development of local business and economy
- Proper response from and relations with public officials
- Halting gang and other crime/violence, and
- Visibility or media coverage of corruption when it cannot be averted.
maybe after people can head to driftwood for the dogpark fundraiser?
ReplyDeleteIf this notice can be distributed by all of the area block clubs via their email list, that would be a great start....
ReplyDeleteIf you have been in Uptown awhile and you haven't yet joined your block club or don't go to CAPS or never gone to Positive Loitering events or never helped with Clean & Green events or have never heard of UCC or UNC or didn't work on Cappleman's campaign to get rid of Helen, please think whether or not you would have some long term interest in forming yet another group.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering:
ReplyDeleteI have just moved from out of state and have bought property in Uptown. So no, I was out of town for the only CAPS meeting when I was a resident, but plan on attending all others. No, I did not work on Cappleman's campaign. But I, like you, have invested in the community of Uptown.
But in the last month, I have tried to learn all I can about Uptown, and yes, I am interested in making a difference. Perhaps my wife and I can provide a unique perspective, especially because it does not seem that attending CAPS or Positive Loitering meetings, or working on the campaign has gotten Uptown to where we want it to be.
The FORUM meetings are not intended to replace CAPS or other community meetings or events. It is merely intended to be a face-to-face meeting of those on Uptown Update (for now) to make our ideas more concrete and tangible. Further, it appears that those attending CAPS meetings are often fearful to speak up for fear of who is listening. Hopefully, this will fulfill a unique niche in Uptown.
Re:post
ReplyDeleteBy all means steal the meeting. Just make sure cooler heads prevail and your ready to moderate a calm meeting.
It is very important C(orr)Uptown to controll these meetings. If they get out of hand people shy away. I would have given it more time to organize and to get the word out to more than Uptown Update site.
This may sound bad, but let me state it nice..The gay community in Uptown has been fighting the battle to long for the rest of us. They have been involved long before the rest of us jumped in. We need to transistion and get the parents, teachers, ect involved. Spur of the moment meetings do not allow enough time to contact all the right people and to diversify the crowd.
Have the meeting, let us know what you come up with, then we can go from there.
Will this meeting be open to those who have not participated in other groups since we are new to Uptown?
ReplyDeleteI don't want to speak for anyone else, but I believe the meeting is open to all... just an informal get-together to brainstorm about making Uptown the best it can be.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, corruptown, I can't come tomorrow. But -- I look forward to future meetings!
By all means, nothing wrong with forming another group. I'm saying please don't forsake working with CAPS, your block club, and other neighborhood organizations that are already doing much of what you want to see happening.
ReplyDeleteIf you have a history of complaining that these other groups don't work, I bet you will eventually complain about this new group not working either. It takes time, sweat, and a committment to make any organized group work.
I appreciate all of your comments/feedback regarding this meeting. Like Meghan said, it is open to all and will begin informally. If you are unable to attend, but have something you would like to say, please e-mail Uptown Updater and he will forward it on to us.
ReplyDeleteAnd, by all means, if you are new to the community (like myself) you should attend.
uptown_dad, just as an FYI, us 'gays' include my friends that are, um, parents, teachers, etc. They also include police officers, firemen, doctors and business owners. Yup, all of the aforementioned are gay friends of mine.
ReplyDeleteWe also happen to be homeowners paying our mortgages and taxes too. The great thing about being included in society, is that we have the exact same issues and concerns as everyone else
We really dont need to be segregated as a community, we prefer to be thought of as part of it.. and our part includes a rapidly growing loathing of Shiller...
Sorry if I hurt your feelings superhero.
ReplyDeleteI just thought with the rainbow flags, the parade, the gay themed newpapers and such that you were a group that wanted to be noticed and didn't mind seperating yourselves from the straight community.
What my intention was to say that the parents and such need more than one days notice. You see having a family reqiures shifting of schedules. More so than not having a family. I have been on both end so i know. Your right, I understand some gay folks have kids as well, we have some friends that fall in to that perdicemant. So it is bad of me to lump. Once again sorry for hurting your feelings.
You know, there are enough manufactured "us v. them" divisions in Uptown.
ReplyDeleteCan we agree that the one "us vs. them" division most of us are striving for is "those who want a safe and healthy neighborhood" versus "those who want to keep the status quo"?
I really hate to make this issue even vaguely related to gay versus straight Uptowners.
Unless someone's looking for rainbow tattoos at the door to the meeting, I think it's safe to say that anyone who wants a healthier, SAFER Uptown is welcome to attend.
FYI 30 min ago saw police captain at the corner of leland and mangnolia
ReplyDeleteA meeting before a meeting? Aw crap. I hate these.
ReplyDeleteGood news. I hate the current situation in Uptown a lot more.
There really ought to be coordination between interested parties prior to any CAPS meetings anyway. As Uptown Dad said, a couple of days notice helps boost your turnout.
I will most likely attend.
"maybe after people can head to driftwood for the dogpark fundraiser?"---Meghan
ReplyDeleteAlas, I have a conflict of interest cos I was planning to attend the Driftwood affair tomorrow night. Btw, can I bring my doggie?
Here is what you again do.
ReplyDeleteVote Hellen out next election and for that matter the rest of the crooks in the town.
Until then there is not much you can do it's a wasted effort.
Also the violence won't go down until Jody Weiss leavs and Daley either hires from within or a real cop to run the dept.
I second the question about bringing my dog. He's a caring neighbor too, always growling at gang members.
ReplyDeleteVote Hellen out next election and for that matter the rest of the crooks in the town.
ReplyDeleteUntil then there is not much you can do it's a wasted effort.
Also the violence won't go down until Jody Weiss leavs and Daley either hires from within or a real cop to run the dept.
Are you another Shiller troll? We should just throw up our arms and give up?
If you have been in Uptown awhile and you haven't yet joined your block club or don't go to CAPS or never gone to Positive Loitering events or never helped with Clean & Green events or have never heard of UCC or UNC or didn't work on Cappleman's campaign to get rid of Helen, please think whether or not you would have some long term interest in forming yet another group.
ReplyDeleteThe UNC hasn't posted anything new on their website since April, and before that, it was 2007. I still have my orange T-Shirt for the Uptown Arts Center somewhere, but if they're not going to keep updating the community with information, they're not a huge help. They fought(and maybe still are fighting) the good fight over WY, but other than that, I hear little out of them. Uptown Update is really starting to gain traction and I think taking what has been an informal digital group and making them real is a good idea.
Actually, anything that increases communal ties is great for this area.
no I am not a helen troll but really in the USA we hold elections and I think she needs to go but there isn't another election until 2012 so why waste the effort complaining
ReplyDeleteHelen isn't going to change and you aren't going to solve anything by meeting and bitching about things
If you see violence crime call the police.
While it is true that in the USA we hold elections, there are other ways to solve problems then waiting for our glorious leaders on high to grant us sweet relief. Contrary to what you might think, it is possible for a community to come together to make itself a better place.
ReplyDeleteBut we'll be back with a vengence in 2012. The message was all wrong in 2008, but that will change, because this time its about safety and crime in the ward, not just WY. We also know that Shiller isn't going to play fair, so we've got to be ready. We also know that she's going to bend the election laws, so we've got to be ready, and we will be.
Good work! Now if I can get out of a stupid dinner I'll be there. I'll support whatever emailing, letter writing, positive loitering, landlord pressuring, advertising buying, peace marching the group can agree on if I can't make it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes it would be great in Chicago if we could recall Alderman and someone else besides the feds had a say in how they operate but we don't.
ReplyDeleteI have lived a lot of places and politics in IL is a complete Joke.
I am voting Republican from now on for local government.
"no I am not a helen troll but really in the USA we hold elections and I think she needs to go but there isn't another election until 2012 so why waste the effort complaining."
ReplyDeleteYou can't get to 55mph until you reach 5mph, 10mph, 15mph...blah blitty blah blah.
Defeating incumbents begins a year before your last defeat.
The next election is in 2011, not 2012.
ReplyDeleteAnd the issue isn't getting Helen in, or out, the issue is taking any/all necessary steps to make this ward safe from those pesky bullets.
If Helen would care to join those who pay for all of her failed social programs (incl. her salary, which in and of itself is a failed social program, not to mention her retirement package), we'd love to have her.
If not, she can continue to pound sand and watch, helplessly as she discovers the limitations of her influence.
good glad it is 2011
ReplyDeleteIt should be an interesting election and to see who if anyone runs against her or even if she is still in office then.
And how far along WY is.
I want to stress the importance of this meeting -- we all have really good ideas and it is about time that we are able to share them with our neighbors in a more personal FORUM. My (future) wife and I already have some great ideas for tomorrow night, and we are ready to put them in action immediately. If we have good ideas after living here for hardly 2 months, I'm sure that your ideas are equally, if not more valuable. Please share them tomorrow night at Kahawa.
ReplyDeleteI will check with the owner of Kahawa and ask him about the dogs. No guarantees though.
WY Update: Project moving forward. Only firm commitment is extremely low income housing, very low income housing, and low income housing.
ReplyDeleteI prefer my $360,000 units to be found in 3 and 4 flats, but this project is to stack em, and stack em cheap.
We have confirmed that a representative from Alderman Shiller's office will be in attendance at the FORUM meeting tomorrow at Kahawa.
ReplyDeleteYou've just made mistake #1. The last thing you want at a meeting is a spy from Helen's office.
ReplyDeleteno I am not a helen troll but really in the USA we hold elections and I think she needs to go but there isn't another election until 2012 so why waste the effort complaining
ReplyDeleteAre you serious? Aldermen, all politicians for that matter, don't start getting itchy about elections two months before it occurs. Helen Schiller and all other alderman are building their war chest and base of support NOW. EVERYTHING that happens NOW, from protests to community meetings affects that. Holding a meeting now isn't a "waste". Complaining NOW isn't a "waste". A "waste" would be not doing anything until it's too late.
But just being a contrary vote ("I'm going to vote for any Republican just cause i don't like Democrats."), well, that IS a waste. Vote for them for a real reason, not just to say, "I'll show you."
The UNC is still alive, it is a very small group of people doing all the work and they got tired and needed a break. But they have been researching and coming up with new actions to be taken and should be coming out with something soon.
ReplyDeleteIMHO, all the block clubs between Montrose and Lawrence, Clark and maybe the lake should consolidate into Sheridan Park Neighbors. This is what Buena Park Neighbors did, and they have hundreds of members and some real influence over what happens there. Power in numbers. But some block clubs here are well established and some are not. Organization and consistency of membership have been issues in some areas.
corruptown--I am SO upset that I have to miss this meeting-I am already scheduled to attend an Obama platform meeting tomorrow evening. I think this is a GREAT idea, and I am willing to help organize in the future in ANY way possible. I was not living here during the last election, but agree that more has to be done than what has been done currently through CAPS and the status quo. I don't understand what all the naysaying is about on this site. I welcome any individual willing to admit that what has been going on so far has not been working. Let's see what else we can do. Is there any way that I can get in touch with you to find out how the meeting goes tomorrow night?
ReplyDeleteI would recommend to b, and other people like myself to try and keep the national politics off Uptown Update.
ReplyDeleteI realize that in the heat of the moment, especially when a shooting occurs, we can make very insensitive and over-reaching comments.
The same goes true for people mocking Libertarians(which we seem to have a happily high amount of) and Republicans.
This site, and and groups formed on here are for the betterment of Uptown. If someone wants to sit with me sometime over coffee and talk politics and philosophy(since that is the root of all politics), I'd be more than happy to do it, but simply yelling "I'm only voting Republican" doesn't contribute to any constructive discourse for our community.
Oh, and if a representative from Shiller's office is actually going to show up, lets remember the world of Dalton
ReplyDelete"Be nice. If something happens, be nice. I will tell you when its time not to be nice"
Melissa: I'd encourage you to ditch the Obama event and attend this local one.
ReplyDeleteShiller rep? Man, I wish I didn't have to miss this. Please post updates or something?
ReplyDeleteOK, I just caught the stupidity of my previous comment. "post updates"?? this is uptown update! duhhh
ReplyDeleteIMHO, all the block clubs between Montrose and Lawrence, Clark and maybe the lake should consolidate into Sheridan Park Neighbors. This is what Buena Park Neighbors did, and they have hundreds of members and some real influence over what happens there.
ReplyDeletePlease stop. I'm laughing so hard, my sides hurt.
Please provide some examples of where BPN or any other block club wields and influence over Helen.
I can't think of a single instance of where this was or is true.
Unfortunately, we will be unable to bring dogs inside Kahawa, so please drop them off before attending.
ReplyDeleteAssuming a good turnout, we will be accountable to Uptown Update for a summary of the meeting.
all the block clubs between Montrose and Lawrence, Clark and maybe the lake should consolidate into Sheridan Park Neighbors.
ReplyDeleteGetting a strong leader for your block club and having good communication with the other block club presidents will only help you become stronger. It will also help any future alderman (who actually cares to respond to constituents) know it when an issue has strong support.
And don't forget your friends in the 48th ward. We're here to help you in whatever ways we can.
Hi everyone. The Obama platform meeting has been scheduled for a month, and it is held in a private residence. It is very important to me to keep my word when I RSVP to something, and therefore, Murray, I am not ditching it. Additionally, I was particularly interested in this particular platform meeting as it discusses his platform on URBAN POLICY. Oddly enough, upon reading the campaign's ideas on the subject in preparation for the meeting, Chicago's Ceasefire was mentioned, and how he plans to refund this and similar projects whose funding was cut under the Bush admin. You may want to take a look at their stats.www.ceasefirechicago.org
ReplyDeleteAny word on what happened at this meeting?
ReplyDeleteUptown Update would LOVE someone to summarize the meeting. Please send it to uptownupdate@hotmail.com and we'll make a post of it.
ReplyDeleteCredited or anonymous, but we'd love to have something to share with everyone.