Friday, July 25, 2008

Last Night's FORUM Meeting

Here are some observations a reader sent in from last night's grassroots FORUM (Friends Organizing to Repair Uptown's Mismanagement) meeting.

A special thanks to the couple who organized it at such short notice, as one of them will take the bar exam next week. And to Kahawa Coffee House for hosting it and being a good neighbor to the community. We appreciate all of our Uptown businesses, and a brand new store allowing residents to hold a meeting at their place makes us appreciate Kahawa even more.

  • The meeting was very informal, and it was made clear at the start that it should not, and did not intend to replace traditional CAPS meetings or other meetings with represented officials.

  • It became clear that we needed a sense of unity as far as both meetings and information outlets is concerned. People simply don't know how to make a difference, and how and when to attend meetings. The more bodies at these meetings (especially CAPS meetings), the sooner we can make a difference.

  • People need to call 911 often. If in doubt as to whether you should call 311 or 911, call 911. Give your name and phone number, get a case number, and follow-up later that day or the next. Everyone must call 911 at least once this week. Brush your teeth, make coffee, dial 911... Post Cappleman's "How to make an effective 911 call" -- available on uptownneighbors.org

  • We have people working on a new sign/window placard campaign that says something to the effect of "NOT ON OUR BLOCK. UPTOWN RESIDENTS AGAINST CRIME, DRUGS, AND GANGS"

  • Spread the word about Uptown Update. The more people who read the depressing stories, the more informed our community gets, and the more active they want to become. Make signs with Uptown Update on them, write Uptown Update with sidewalk chalk, tell everyone you know...

  • Take back our community by acknowledging everyone when you walk by them. Including drug dealers. Saying hi to the gangbangers will catch them off guard, and let them know that we are watching them.

  • Court advocacy flyers handed out -- When an Uptown resident who is arrested is brought to court, we need to have Uptown residents attend the court hearing. If a judge sees residents from that area, they are more likely to impose a stiffer sentence.

  • There is only one blue-light police camera in our district (Sheridan and Wilson) even though every district has funds allotted for two. Bombard Shiller's office with e-mails demanding why. Make signs saying "Uptown has one police camera when every other district has two. Demand answers from Helen Shiller"

  • Possibility of starting a 911 phone tree so that instead of 1 person calling about a particular incident, 3 or 4 or 5 can. The more 911 calls, the more police presence.

  • Fill out 1/2 sheets at CAPS meeting to let them know of constant problem areas. First and foremost, attend the CAPS meetings.

  • A petition will be made demanding answers from the Police Superintendant, and will also be sent to other interested parties in our community (the Alderman, public housing landlords, police chief, mayor).

  • Join your block club. Go out into the community. Know your neighbors. Take back Uptown. Don't be afraid of Sunnyside Mall or any other hot spot.

  • FORUM meeting was beneficial -- it will be done again, although there is a need to combine forces with all other similar community meetings.

12 comments:

  1. I am so bummed that I missed this! Sounds like it was a productive meeting. I will definitely try to be at the next one. Did the representative from Shiller's office show up?

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  2. I think this is great... however, I feel like this is information that we all know, and have discussed in our own block clubs, at CAPS meetings, on UU, etc. Where has it gotten us?

    Again, I think its great this meeting was held, and I'm glad more people are getting involved, I'm not slamming the results of the meeting. I just feel like we all know this information, and a lot of us practice it. But its not getting us where we need to be.

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  3. i like the idea of the 911 phone tree. i just saw someone posted on the crime blotter about calling 911 3 times for drug dealing on 4800 Kenmore; i could have helped call!

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  4. I love that it says don't be afraid of Sunnyside Mall. Those of us that live on the mall have to walk through it every day! It would be so beautiful if we all took action so everyone (even those of us with no choice) can walk through Sunnyside Mall without our hearts beating a little extra hard! I think all these ideas are great, some of which I already actively engage in.

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  5. Actually, I think that mall isn't bad at all, and I walk through it virtually every day, and there are always kids and families and dogs enjoying it. Only this summer have I noticed more riff-raff settling in on the benches around Malden.

    It's nice to see this list of what "we all know" in print, since the popularity of this blog and the passion of uptown residents has increased as neighbors are poised to end gun battles and drug trafficing and improve the safety and quality of life for residents!

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  6. A lot of the people there, including the people who came up with the idea for the meeting, live near Sunnyside Mall. We as a community really need to start hanging out there.

    Also, a lot of the people at the meeting are brand new to the area. Some have only lived here a few months. What "everyone knows" is new to them.

    Lots of enthusiasm, lots of ideas at the meeting. I'm glad I went. A casual, informal setting worked well. Everyone was at ease.

    There were reps from UCC, CAPS and Greg Harris's office. Although we thought someone from the alderman's office would be there, no one identified themselves as such when it was asked if someone from Shiller's office was there.

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  7. I agree with farrell. I'm not sure how productive the meeting was in terms of presenting new information really, but I do applaud the efforts at unifying the community. I just think that there are lots of other avenues that could be explored. My question is this: Why isn't anyone mentioning putting time and effort into some of the existing social programs, especially ones targeting the youth in this community? You want to stop the violence? Go ahead and call 911. It's quick and easy. But if we want to make a lasting impact, INHO, volunteering at a place like the McCormick Boys & Girls Club or a similar organization that desperately needs the help, while not a quick solution, can be very effective in the long run. I went to their meeting yesterday. The purpose was to reach out to the parents in the community to brainstorm for some ideas that would help get kid more involved in positive things and off the streets. I met some long-time Uptown residents whose dedication was so inspiring. Some of those in attendance have dedicated their careers to improving the community through mentoring the children in it. One young man I met yesterday specifically credited the MBGC for keeping him off the streets and now he serves as a coach and mentor to these kids. They really need the help.

    I hate to say this, but it seems that every time a new resident comes to Uptown and is shocked by what they see, another group is formed. It's like everyone wants to reinvent the wheel, but better time and energy can be spent volunteering and helping to improve upon what already exists here in Uptown in the way of decent social programs. Doing so would put us in touch with so many more residents of this community and would subsequently bridge the gap that seeme to exist between the new incoming residents and those who have lived here, something I think is perhaps perceived as lacking. This is what fuels the division between the "haves" and the "have nots" that many people choose to exploit. And

    We, as individuals, can get all wrapped up in and complain about the politics and corruption if we want, but is that really going to make the difference we all--and I mean ALL of us--want to see? So far, we have an alderwoman who refuses to address the concerns of new resident in Uptown and we have a gang problem. Maybe actually finding some positive things to do within the system as flawed as it is can help bring about the changes we desperately need.

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  8. Sugar--I agree with you wholeheartedly--but many of the posts on the blogs seem to indicate a far more conservative stance as far as assistance in the community where the problems arise. (IE. A less "liberal" point of view if you want to call it that) Hoever, the root of the problems starts with the families, and if we can get at the problem when these kids are young--it can make a big impact.

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  9. I don't think many of us confronting these problems started out as conservatives or are necessarily conservative now. Social services in other neighborhoods are much better about being good neighbors to the rest of the community with monitoring their clienteles' behavior in the neighborhood. We don't have that in Uptown because the social services don't get pressure by Helen to be a good neighbor.

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  10. As an attendee of this FORUM meeting, I have to say that it was quite productive and a lot of good information was passed around. What this meeting was definately NOT was a bunch of newbie country bumpkins sitting around re-hashing information "that we all know" or trying to "re-invent the wheel." It was a group of 40+ concerned neighbors and government reps learning about our neighborhood. I left with new knowledge that I DIDN'T already know because I couldn't locate it on the websites of either the City of Chicago or Alderman Shiller, nor was it posted to your front door for your new neighbors to read. I learned a lot from these new neighbors and feel better about my neighborhood. But thank you for your encouragement and welcoming attitude to us "newbies."

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  11. I'm glad that so many people attended this meeting...but please also join the block clubs. Graceland-Wilson Neighbors (Montrose to Wilson, Broadway to Beacon) is trying to start back up, but only about 10 people attended the meeting last month. They are in desperate need of board members. The organizers are busy fighting Wilson Yard and do not have time; I and another individual have volunteered to do the website, but I'm in grad school and work full time so I can't be on the board. Please get involved!

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  12. I was at the meeting held at bank at the end of May, I believe. Was there another one in June? If so, I did not receive any notification even though I signed the sheet and left my contact info.

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