By Lorraine Swanson, News-Star EditorThe five young men, all between the ages of 13 and 17, press their backs up against the fence inside a play lot somewhere in Uptown. Spotted, their chins sink to their chests, avoiding eye contact with the adult approaching them. They try to disappear inside their oversized T-shirts, their shoes kicking dirt and bark. Busted, they wait to be kicked out of one of the few places where they say they feel safe, where you must be 12 and under to stay.
"There have been allowances for kids over 12," explains a block club member who wants her name withheld because she's taken much criticism for going to extreme measures to keep the play lot safe for children. "But it's not the policy."
Too young for summer jobs, or unable to find summer employment, with their toddler years not far behind them, there are few places for these younger teens to go once they graduate from the play lot. They're good kids who want to stay out of trouble, but are boxed in an area bounded by Broadway, Wilson, Sheridan and Lawrence, afraid to leave its parameters for fear of getting beaten up by gang members or pressured to join their alliances.
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Not sure the point of this article. Am I supposed to feel guilty that these teenagers are getting kicked out of the park?
ReplyDeleteI was just on the park district web site and they have hundreds of free programs. Also I know churches in the area that support programs geared at teens and preteens. I've never seen a gang inside a LIBRARY? How about going in a reading? There is a free SKATE PARK at Wilson and LSD. How about the BASKETBALL COURT at Foster Beach?
If anything "boxed" these kids in it is there mothers choices.
To the kids, remember this when you get older. Remember that you want a better lot in life for your kids than your parents gave you.
This is such a sad story...
ReplyDeleteThe point of the article is to inform the reader of the checkpoints that gangs have established to track the movement of people.
ReplyDeleteYou're not a target uptown_dad. The gangs have attached a risk portfolio to you. If they attack you it hurts their business. If they attack the young girls and boys, nothing will happen to them.
The point here is that the youth in the community are in need of "Blackwater" type security convoys just to move from their homes, to school, to the libraries, to the parks, to the community centers, etc.
These are the roots of problems that bloom into stereotypes that to study and achieve is a "white thing". What they are really saying is "I want to live, and to study and achieve I must avoid paying the gang's tax on my life".
I really wished I understood more what these kids are talking about.
ReplyDeleteI will say this, is it not Shillers decision that this is one of only 2 wards where those in Public Housing are NOT screened? I would think if this was instituted, a number of these problems would go away.
I am not so naive as to think all of it would, but I would guess a significant portion would.
Does anyone have any concrete information if in fact this is true, that she is one of only two alderman that do NOT require screening for public housing?
We should try and get the gangs out of Uptown, and it would be cool if our Alderman wanted to get them out.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, our Alderman and her lackeys at COURAJ support the gangs, and by extension the abuse they perform on the children in our community.
Thanks SOMH.
ReplyDeleteI mentioned that to Sen. Steans the other night. I asked if she could talk the schools and develop a better program of escorting the kids home.
We shall see. It all starts with the parents.
these kids are growing up WAY too fast...
ReplyDeletekudos to Lorraine Swanson
ReplyDeletethis was a gutsy article idea, listening to teens and pre-teens and writing up what they have to say
If Shiller were actually what she pretends to be about, she'd be addressing the concerns on this article.
ReplyDeleteSo easy to see how the kids in this article could end up in gangs in the next few years (or months). They are the purest example of "at risk youth."
"these kids are growing up WAY too fast..."
ReplyDeleteThey have to. They are adapting to their environment to ensure survival. This is what most humans do.
This is why safety and security are the primary interest of any community be it a small neighborhood or a large country. If people cannot freely flow within its borders outsiders can prey on its people and resources.
The gangs are smart too. They adapt to ensure their survival as well. Look at the police camera. Move it from one place to another and the gangs simply move as well.
This article quotes Sandra Reed. She ran against Shiller and lost. Reed is someone that knows what is plaguing the community. She's an ally of residents interested in public safety FOR ALL.
sounds like the children know the gang territory map better than most grown-ups
ReplyDelete