One night after the National Night Out, a person was injured from a gunshot wound in the 1000 block of West Lawrence, in front of the Lawrence House Retirement Hotel. Around 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday evening, a young African-American male was shot in the leg almost directly in front of Lawrence House. According to a witness to the crime, the victim continued to run away from his assailants before falling to the ground in the middle of the street. He was able to walk with the assistance of paramedics and taken away in an ambulance. No report on his condition. Neighbors reported hearing a series of three gun shots. While there has been no police comment on this shooting, it does appear to be gang-related based on the eyewitness reports received.Please send any information you may have on this shooting to Uptown Update and be sure to contact the police with any vital information as well.
Update: The Uptown Crime Blotter has some details from the police scanner.
Update #2: A reader has verified with 2 tactical officers that 3 shots were also fired at 7:30pm last night at Sheridan and Ainslie.
Update #3: And while the bullets fly, head on over to Ald. Shiller's website to take a very important "Recycling Survey." Are bullets recyclable?
I heard the 3 shots of rapid gunfire and called the police. I didn't go outside, but I could see people milling around right afterwards. I don't understand why people would be hanging around right after gunfire. I would have been running for cover.
ReplyDeleteWhere did these guys learn to shoot? I walk that area a lot at night because I live there and more worried about getting hit because the guys can't aim. If these guys really want to kill each other, they're not being smart or skilled about about it. Considering the crowd that hangs around Lawrence/Sheridan and the shootings there in the past few months, it would make sense to put a camera there. These actions on a very busy street show that the gangs are reckless, stupid, and aggressive. BTW, if there is shooting, hit the ground, don't run. You're a much bigger target (even if unintentional) when you're upright.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget that Lawrence House is home to many, many disabled and low-income seniors who are sick, tired and scared of this sh**. C'mon reporters---get out there and interview some of these elderly men and women and see what they have to say. I'll put my money on the same stuff you are hearing from all of the so-called "evil racist poor-hating" condo owners. People want (and deserve) to feel safe in their neighborhood. It really is that simple.
ReplyDeleteThe Trib has a story about recent crime statistics:
ReplyDelete"For the first seven months of 2008, murders rose by 18 percent over the same period in 2007 and by 9 percent for the same period in 2006. According to internal police data, 291 people were killed from January through July, up from 246 in 2007 and 266 in 2006."
"Aggravated batteries with a firearm, another marker of increased violence, also continued to climb, to 1,153 incidents in the first seven months, up 245 from the same period a year earlier, according to statistics provided by the source."
"If trends from the first seven months continue the rest of the year, Chicago would finish with more than 500 murders for the first time since 2003.
FYI the 23rd district has 1 homicide for 2008 and the 20th district has 1 also. In 2007 the 23 district had 6 at this point and the 20th had 1.
ReplyDeletegang warfare is getting ridiculous...
ReplyDeletebut it sounds like witnesses got a good description. hopefully they get the guy, even if the vic is unwilling to cooperate.
ReplyDeleteUptown Update - at 7:30 PM on Wed night there was another shooting on Ainslie/Sheridan. Three shots fired, lots of the white t-shirt crew running around, all freaked out.
ReplyDeleteMany cops came down and checked out the situation. Luckily, no one was hit, but I wonder if someone came back to finish the job on Lawerence?
Nadmenny Millicent,
ReplyDeleteYou've been drinking Helen's kool-aide again. Much of Lincoln Park and Lakeview are within this district.
When you look at the incidents of violent crime in the district however, you will find most of it occurs in one small area of the district known as Uptown. Ask any police officer in the district and hear for yourself.
Would it be in poor taste to say to the Lawrence House residents concerned about crime...
ReplyDelete"This ain't your suburban retirement home campus, sweetie. There's crime in the city."
I guess I'll leave that up to Alderman Shiller's office. Poor taste and bad judgement never seems to be a problem for them.
I'm sorry Jan 1 2007 thru Aug 7 2007 the 46 ward had 2 homicides. Jan 1 2008 thru Aug 7 2008 the 46 ward has 1. I am not taking sides just stating facts.
ReplyDeleteAnd while the bullets fly, head on over to Ald. Shiller's website to fill out a RECYCLING SURVEY!
ReplyDeleteThis block to JJ Peppers needs some serious attention. God knows what kind of transactions are going on in the alley behind JJ Peppers aside from drug transactions and prostitution.
ReplyDeletehey, question on the white t-shirt fad. I work in fashion, and i know its a cool clean look, boring but simple to wear a white t and jeans. But is the ridiculously over-sized white t with baggy ass jeans a gang thing or a trend? I see the kids hanging around leland malden all dressed like this, and i know i don't like to wear the same thing as other people I'm hanging out with, so i ask what's the style about? is it a gang thing??
ReplyDelete" know i don't like to wear the same thing as other people I'm hanging out with, so i ask what's the style about? is it a gang thing??"
ReplyDeleteYou can't accurately identify crime suspect gang members if they're all wearing the same style of clothes.
When you all wear the same thing, it's much tougher for people calling 911 to ID you...
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's time to ban white t-shirts. Force all stores to sell pink t-shirts only.
ReplyDeleteKidding.... sort of.
This scared me: I live right around there and walk that way all the time. Something has to be done about this!
ReplyDelete"Something has to be done about this!"
ReplyDeleteThere are some nice rentals near me in Evanston. Not as urban as Uptown, and more safe and quiet.
Also-- white Ts have become QUITE the fad since the rap song "In My White T."
ReplyDeleteI've never been in a JJ Peppers. Please someone -- tell me, is it as great as I imagine?
About those "Plain White T's" becoming bad-guy apparel (like back in James Dean's heyday)...wow, am I having a senior moment here! I thought that one of the many "reasons" guys join gangs is to rock the "gang colors." Has that become passe?
ReplyDelete"But is the ridiculously over-sized white t with baggy ass jeans a gang thing or a trend?"
ReplyDeleteListen to colin. Dressing alike makes it much more unlikely you can be identified by a witness.
Also, oversized plain white heavy duty tshirts are 5 for $20 at Footlocker.
The baggy white T is a gang thing 80% of the time. Sure there are 20% just trying to look urban cool. Covers the gat in their pants. Call the cops when you see them congregate. Most of the time - cops find something on them and take them away. Sure, they will be back in a day. But, enough of this and they will move on.
ReplyDeleteWow, I moved out of an apartment right by that intersection at the beginning of this month. I'm really not regretting by decision.
ReplyDeletelaw enforcement call the baggy jeans and white t-shirt look, urban camouflage.
ReplyDeleteMeghan, JJ Peppers is more or less a dumpy 7-Eleven. I've been into the one at Lawrence and Sheridan a few times.
ReplyDeleteI was punched in the stomach a few years ago by an old crazy lady, while waiting to by a pack of cigs at JJ Peppers. It has been a rough area for years. If everybody wants another police camera I recommend trying to put it up over there.
ReplyDeleteI love reading everyone's comments about gang fashion, those posts should be sent to 'like' MTV.
When Ron Russo was giving his safety classes, he mentioned it's a good idea to notice and describe what criminals wear below the waist -- pants, shoes, shoelaces, etc. -- because they dump the baggy white t-shirts after a crime so witnesses can't identify them. Rarely do they change pants and shoes.
ReplyDeleteThis is probably related to the shooting that took place outside of my building on Kenmore and Ainslie around 7:20-7:30 last night. The shooting took place on Ainslie and Sheridan, I literally saw the gunman run by, with the gun in his hand, pointing behind him, and then pass the gun off to another guy who ran towards Broadway on Ainslie. The police came, but no one was shot at that time.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely insane. I'm sick of this crap.
Isn't Ainslie and Sheridan right across the street from the boys and girls club, an elementary school and a park? Thankfully no innocent children was caught in the cross fire. This is ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteThe "shirt dumping" post is spot on. I see the gangbangers many time carrying an extra shirt. Sometimes, you can see it as they are wearing two shirts. In the span of 15 minutes - they will change their shirts a couple of times. One baggy white shirt - one baggy black shirt.
ReplyDeleteYes it is across the street from McCutcheon Elementary and The Boys & Girls Club...
ReplyDeleteLot's of white tees hang out on that corner all the time. The building on the left hand side of that street has a lot of "seating" around it. The police are constantly called to this area to break up the loitering, drug dealing, gambling, etc.
Bottom line? It's not an issue about being out and walking around at 3:00 a.m. inviting trouble. This is happening in broad daylight, around the time most people are out walking their dogs, or going for a jog, a walk, a bike ride, taking their baby out in the stroller for a post-dinner walk, etc.
Someone is going to take a bullet in the head because these moron gangbangers can't aim for crap. See, they watch the action movies and think that they can actually hit something while running, with the gun pointed sideways "gangsta" style. See guys, this isn't an episode of 24, this isn't a rap video. Firing a gun and hitting your target is actually hard to do. Perhaps the Alderman's office should provide free target practice and lessons?
Ok. So I posted the Trib's City crime stats and then Nadmenny Millicent put them in perspective with Uptown's crime stats---3 homicides. (Point being that the 46th ward is down from last year...a good thing.) I haven't checked out the stats for our aggravated batteries with a firearm (maybe later today). I guess what is concerning me is the anecdotal evidence of how these shootings happen. In this case and also in Francis Oduro's case there was violent activity in one or more different locations preceding the actual incident. Most of the time these events don't get into the statistics because no arrest is made. Nevertheless the fact that they happen means that there was an opportunity for a bystander to have been hurt. I would like to see our officials spend a little less time reflecting on the meaning of the official statistics (although not unimportant) and a little more time taking the average citizens perspective. Homicides may be down but that doesn't mean that gun violence is down at all. There is usually a gap between perception and reality but the tools we have right now to bridge that gap are sorely lacking.
ReplyDeleteI also heard the 3 shots. Quite frankly, I wasn't entirely sure if they were gun shots or something else and I wasn't going to venture outside to find out.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they will finally install a police camera at Sheridan / Lawrence as we've been told for years is supposed to happen.
I love Uptown. Have been here for 8 years, but that's a little close to home. This keeps up and I too will be joining the exodus out of the neighborhood.
Saskia, you are correct.
ReplyDeleteAlso, keep this in mind. When the commissioner at CAPS tells you that the 46th Ward has the lowest crime statistics. Keep in mind how they calculate that. I learned this from the Comissioner at a CAPS meeting last summer:
The statistics are pulled from data where a 911 call was made, officers dispatched and an arrest was made. THAT'S IT.
Those statistics do NOT count how many 911 calls were made overall... how many of those were responded to or not responded to. It only includes how many arrests were made.
So, incidents like last night where a shooting occurred on my block at 7:30 p.m., doesn't count at all in terms of whether or not Uptown has 'crime' issues. Why? By the time the cops got there, the perps had scattered, no one was shot and no arrests were made. Statistically - nothing happened last night.
Unless the shooter from the 11:30 Lawrence shooting is arrested, that will likely not count either.
Straight from the horses mouth. It was amazing to learn this... and when the Commissioner was called out on this being not a very accurate picture of crime in Uptown, she stated that just counting 911 calls 'wouldn't be effective because some might be phony' - well, she barely got that out of her mouth before the room exploded with protests and laughter.
It's a joke. So no, I don't take statistics like nadmenny posted seriously, because it's only for lack of accurate shooting that there hasn't been more murders in Uptown... not for a lack of trying.
...because it's only for lack of accurate shooting that there hasn't been more murders in Uptown... not for a lack of trying.
ReplyDeleteClassic.
I've been here for 3.5 years, and haven't noticed a significant change in the level of crime. This kind of stuff happens from time to time. It's totally unacceptable, but it happens from time to time. I actually think last summer was worse.
ReplyDeleteAs long as we have gang-bangin' chumps living in the neighborhood, we'll continue to have these problems. I have no problem forcing these "teen organizations" out of the neighborhood. I don't see why taxpayers should subsidize this behavior through housing vouchers.
"I've been here for 3.5 years, and haven't noticed a significant change in the level of crime. This kind of stuff happens from time to time. It's totally unacceptable, but it happens from time to time. I actually think last summer was worse."
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but I think your perception is inaccurate. There's been a material uptick in crime, particularly shootings. Furthermore, the crime has shifted north. The police really need to pick up there presence in that stretch. There are a ton of retirement homes with lots of residents who like to be outside and aren't all there mentally. I really hate to think it will take the deaths of some senior citizens or disabled people before we can get the matter taken care of.
Now I don't live in the DAMN(dreaded area Montrose North) area, but the daylight shootings seem to increasing. When you have bangers shooting at one another across Wilson at 3PM that is something out of the ordinary.
ReplyDeleteSo far luckily they have largely missed their targets as hitting someone with a handgun while moving is difficult even for expert marksman. I fired handguns and rifles in the Army and even standing still and firing at a fixed target is very difficult with a handgun. I wasn't particularly good and I had days of formal training. So unless the bangers start arming themselves with surplus M-16's you can count on them largely missing their intended targets.
Of course that means they sometimes hit unintended targets.
Once Mr Bullet leaves the barrel of the gun he goes where he is pointed.
As long as we have gang-bangin' chumps living in the neighborhood,
ReplyDeleteSee, that's the thing. Are all of these guys acutally living in the neighborhood? I mean, there are a LOT of potential gangbangers I see out there and I'm trying to figure out where they're all living. And when i do hear about them being busted, the home address given for them is almost always somewhere else. Obviously there's a few guys who acutally live here and the other hundred or two hundred or whatever are just using those apartments as the HQ. As I've said before, gotta destroy their base of operation. I mean, they're running somewhere after they shoot someone. Where are they going? They can't all be living with mom...
There were also shots fired a couple of nights ago just 2 blocks north of Ainslie, on Winona and Kenmore. I heard them at 10:45 p.m. and police did arrive, though the shooter was gone by then of course.
ReplyDeleteAs long as we have gang-bangin' chumps living in the neighborhood,
ReplyDeleteAccording to the arrest records and court documents seen by our neighborhood court advocates, very few of these a**holes live in Uptown. Most are from deep on the South Side. Why bang in your own back yard?
Colleen, that seems to be the consensus. What I don't get, then, is why there isn't a little bit more willingness coming from Shiller's office to do something about it. Afterall, ignoring the issue certainly adds to the everyday grief that law abiding residents in these buildings experience and it is not helping make the case for affordable housing. Coming from Helen's perspective on the world, why not talk about how poverty, racism and segregation bred this violent drug trade (especially on the south and west sides)? It is not impossible for her to stay true to her take on things and her political goals and also deal with the fact that the drug trade continues to hurt poorer areas of this city. Is she really so stuck in 1968?
ReplyDeleteman on the street, I think they're all living at Leland and Malden. At least that's my perspective from living on the same block...
ReplyDelete1:14 PM: Female stabbed in the chest at the pantry, (unknown name) Lawrence and Sheridan. Victim going to the hospital. Police may have offender in custody.
ReplyDeleteI think that would be the infamous S-L pantry on the southeast corner of that intersection.
ReplyDeleteSo people from outside neighborhoods are setting up shop in Uptown to sell drugs becuase of the bustling marketplace here? That's really unacceptable. A few hard-fisted police crackdowns should send a message that this can't happen here. We need Helen to stop tying the hands of the police and get Giuliani on the area. Set up checkpoints on problem blocks. Make arrests. Send a message.
ReplyDeletefarrell and saskia,
ReplyDeleteShootings are statistically reported when there is a case report made. You are correct the if shots are fired and no one is hit(no victim) and no offender is caught it statistically never happened. But calls to 911 about the shooting can be tracked. If you watched the Weiss meeting with the aldermen he is questioned about calls for service (911 calls). Calls for service are not a true indicator of crime. 100 911 calls about a shooting does not mean the was 100 different shootings.
All I am doing is putting things in perspective. That statistics have many ways of being looked at. There are 4 or 5 districts with well over 20 homicides each.
I agree something needs to be done about the increase of shooting in Uptown. And what that is is stepping away from the computer and GET INVOLVED. Call the police, sign complaints on quality of life crimes you witness (drinking and urinating) and go to court. Join a block club or citizen patrol. This won't get rid of the gangbanger but it will push out his customer. Become a good witness.
IrishPirate, after recently been introduced to firearms myself, I agree with you that shooting at a stationary target with a handgun is very, very difficult to do. And now I understand why so many innocent people get shot. It's because these gangbangers think that Grand Theft Auto is real, and they can run and shoot 'gangsta' style, with a gat in each hand, and knock down their opponents like dominoes... and hey, if YOU get shot, no biggie! You have more lives! Or, if you get caught, no biggie there either, just get a lawyer to tell your tissue tale of how 'horrible' your childhood was, and hey, by the time the jury and the judge are done mopping their eyes, you've got your aquittal, or your slap on the wrist, and the family of your victim(s) can get on with burying their loved one and dealing with the grief and anger for the rest of their lives. Which of course, is fair... because hey... you had a tewwible, wewwible childhood, and it made you think its ok to kill people!
ReplyDeleteSorry, I'm just SO fed up with all of this, and the coddling of our justice system.
So, back to business... if these thugs are coming from other areas, WHAT makes Uptown, and the particular areas they are shooting at, attractive to them? What can we do to make it unattractive as possible for them?
Something more than calling 911, and positive loitering must be done. There were plenty of people and children 'positivie loitering' on my block at 7:30 last night, and that didn't deter these idiots one bit.
"I agree something needs to be done about the increase of shooting in Uptown. And what that is is stepping away from the computer and GET INVOLVED. Call the police, sign complaints on quality of life crimes you witness (drinking and urinating) and go to court. Join a block club or citizen patrol. This won't get rid of the gangbanger but it will push out his customer. Become a good witness."
ReplyDeleteSorry, this isn't good enough. Many of us have been doing these things since we moved here, and the issue isn't getting better. I want to know what to do to get rid of the gangbanger.
And I still feel that the fact that the police only count arrests in crime statistics to determine the level of crime is only a self-serving statistic to show that they are doing their job. I would like to see how many 911 calls, to one area, on one incident, result in a police officer not being dispatched in time to apprehend a criminal. Or if they do find them, how many aren't arrested.
Comparing those two is a much more accurate portrayal of what is really occurring in a neighborhood. It's just like in business... If I only count how many widgets I sell as proving my business is profitable, without facturing in how much money I invested to create those widgets, how many widgets were returned, how many were defective, etc, I am only painting part of the picture. That wouldn't be an acceptable business model, and this method isn't an acceptable way of tracking crime in a neighborhood.
Just because the cops didn't get any perps on a call, doesn't mean that the 46th Ward isn't being used as a shooting range. And THAT is the message our Alderman and her supporters use...they claim there is no gangs, no crime in Uptown, because based off of that very myopic statistic, our crime level appears artificially low.
I realize there are worse places in the city... that's why I don't live in Englewood. But when I am being told there is 'no crime in Uptown, no gang issue in Uptown, yet I am witnessing shootings on my block, I raise an eyebrow.
I do not disagree with anything you said in your last post, nadmenny millicent. And, neighborhoods with 20 homicides probably have a lot of gun activity that goes unreported as well. We are far from the worst neighborhood on these counts. On the other hand, we are very much unlike our peers to the immediate north (Edgewater) and to the south and to the west even though we have closed in on the economic differences with those neighborhoods in recent years. My very simple point was that people who want to disregard the community's sentiment that gun-related activity is up will say that homicides are down and this is, as always, a very safe neighborhood. I'd like to see some accounting that falls somewhere between the inaccurate "100 calls" on gun shots and the misleading statistic of 2 homicides.
ReplyDeleteEveryone wearing white shirts and baggy pants? Paintball gun and smelly rounds will make it easier to point out 1 guy!
ReplyDelete/Not actually advocating this
//Uptown Update does not advocate this as well
///IrishPirate does
I must say I grow sick of people coyly telling me that the south side and west side have far greater crime problems than Uptown. One, I'm not an idiot; I know that. Two, that's why I don't live there.
ReplyDeleteThe reality is that our neighborhood looks and feels like a slum, even though it is surrounded on all sides by bustling, gentrified neighborhoods. This should be unacceptable. I'd like to see less excuses for all the crap we all have to put up with and more action.
I also find it ironic that this shooting happened directly across from a spot where a squad car had been parked for almost 24 hours due to a down power line. The police pull away (after ComEd finally took care of the live wire) and bullets fly.
WHAT makes Uptown, and the particular areas they are shooting at, attractive to them? What can we do to make it unattractive as possible for them?
ReplyDeleteDrug users. Uptown is one of only two districts in Chicago that don't mandate drug screening for subsidized housing. Drug dealers are business men. They don't sit out on a corner in Roscoe Village all day because there isn't a high demand for their product there. They go to where the market is.
Drug users. Uptown is one of only two districts in Chicago that don't mandate drug screening for subsidized housing.
ReplyDeleteJessica, you're getting warmer. Make the landlords accountible. You know they're anxious to avoid empty units that will cost them money, but they have to do a better job of screening and avoiding an apartment full of people over the age of 19 and only one of them has a place of work listed on the apartment application. The money is coming from somewhere...
Getting to yes or a no on the question of whether or not crime is increasing is, because of the measurement problem, a tree falling in the woods kind of question.
ReplyDeleteI’ve lived here since 1981 and I can attest to the fact that the overall trend is positive and improving. The Uptown we enjoy today is a far cry from what it was just a generation ago. I can also tell you that the incidence of gang-related crime is somewhat cyclical and reflects, in part, the economy and the job prospects for teenagers, particularly summertime jobs for juniors and graduating seniors.
This isn’t an observation offered to appease. God knows the prospect of incremental change is utterly unsatisfying in the face of frequent (or infrequent) gunfire and dead or wounded kids.
But for the first time, at least in my memory, there is a growing group of residents who are not pissing and moaning and leaving. Instead, people are staying and taking positive, constructive action. If there’s a silver lining to the housing and liquidity crises, this may be it.
For a long time there was a relatively short list of community warriors; now the list is long and it’s burgeoning with talented and energetic residents. It used to be that a half a dozen or so politically active residents advocated for community policing and went toe-to-toe with whomever to implement it. Now, there are hundreds of residents participating in CAPS, block clubs, local politics, etc. By the end of this year, maybe next, it could be thousands of residents. This marks an important turning point for Uptown and, for me personally, it’s a dream come true.
FYI: Eighty percent of kids wearing baggy white Ts and blue jeans are NOT gang-bangers---at least not of kids < 18 years old. The uniform code of many public and private schools calls for white shirts and dark pants. ;-)
When UCC and the police department hold meetings on how property managers can help clean up their buildings by preventing gangs and dealers from taking over, people like Aqueela Ali (whose sons and grandson are featured nearly every month on the Notable Arrests sheet) come to CAPS and disrupt the meeting by lously proclaiming that CAPS is anti-family and bigoted against poor people.
ReplyDeleteHRC (Housing Resource Center), which manages all the CHA buildings in Uptown, has traditionally been guilty of playing the "ostrich game." Perhaps with new management in place, things will change. Time will tell.
Get rid of the housing for gangbangers and dealers and just watch how fast the neighborhood gets safer.
He left his cell phone at JJ Peppers! LOL It should be pretty simple to catch this retard.
ReplyDeleteOk, just a couple of quick things...I live on Argyle between Marine and Sheridan and as I was driving around for an HOUR last night trying to find parking somewhere safe in a four block radius of my house (but was unable to since for some reason there are A LOT of people that have NO idea how to park) and I noticed several groups of young men and women hanging out on Sheridan around Ainslie and Castlewood on the west side of the Sheridan. At one point an unmarked squad car had a group of three or four young men bent over the hood of the car questioning in them and patting them down. This was on the one-way street with the stop sign right there (forgot the name of it, but most of it requires permit 79 to park there). I guess the officers didn't find anything on them or whatever because when I was making my next drive through on Castlewood, that unmarked car came driving down that street with its lights off and no arrestees in the back. Wonder if some of the guys they had under their control were at all involved, somehow I think probably.
ReplyDeleteSecond, as for this white t-shirt "fashion" issue you all have been discussing, it came about because that is the CPS dress code. Years ago CPS tried to thwart gang activity by requiring all of its students to wear white shirt with no markings and pants. The gangs were still able to thrive and flourish with new membership and it was a lot easier to walk down the street without being harassed by the police for wearing gang colors. Therefore, it stuck. They can now more freely engage in their gang activity with less of a concern that they will be stopped and arrested (considering there is an ordinance that allows a polic officer to arrest anyone they believe to be in a gang or involved in gang activity).
Finally, on a side note, if anyone reading this lives in the radius I spoke about earlier, if you could please be kind when you park your car, we all live there and we all need parking, it has really gotten WAY out of control the last few months. Not saying any of you are the culprits, but just a friendly little neighborly request. Thanks.
"FYI: Eighty percent of kids wearing baggy white Ts and blue jeans are NOT gang-bangers---at least not of kids < 18 years old. The uniform code of many public and private schools calls for white shirts and dark pants. ;-)"
ReplyDeleteActually, the school uniforms will be collared shirts, but likely still white.
The bangers wear noticably long, white, heavy duty tshirts that hand down between the knee and the hip. They're heavy duty in the fact that they have enough material, whether wet or dry, to conceal items behind the apparel.
If you see a person wearing this AND another shirt underneath the white one, take notice. If you see them alone, you're probably fine. If you see more than 2 together, cross the street.
"Uptown is one of only two districts in Chicago that don't mandate drug screening for subsidized housing."
ReplyDeleteJessica, wow, I had no idea, and had never thought about this difference among wards/neighborhoods.
It seems like this should be a relatively easy thing for the community to push for... relative to voting officials out of office anyway.
Do any of the veterans of the area know if there's ever been a grassroots push to make drug testing mandatory in Section 8?
I'm really curious about this angle. Thanks.
Do any of the veterans of the area know if there's ever been a grassroots push to make drug testing mandatory in Section 8?
ReplyDeleteThe only sticky wicket about this is that someone will invariable jump up and say, "Do they drug test people who move into condos? Why do they only drug test us?" and to be honest, they will have a point.
I don't think it's the drug testing that will help curtail this so much as making sure that the primarly leaseholder lists the names of everyone who is to live under that particular roof and that anyone else found to be residing for longer than a reasonable time is grounds for eviction (or grounds for adding to a list of violations that will eventually lead to eviction). Prohibiting loitering on buiding property (hanging out in front of the building for all hours) and actually enforceing it will also help (there are parks and stuff for people to play and hang out in, no need to linger in front of the building harassing passersby), as well as seeking evicting residents whose actions have required the summoning of police more than two or three times. Also those who cause excessive damage to property and fail to maintain a clean apartment should face eviction proceedings as well.
Finally, the landlord has to maintain the property (no broken front doors, broken locks, piles of garbage, etc.). I lived in a building where people were constantly braking the front door lock and stuffing pieces of paper to prevent it from locking so they could have access. Someone once even flat-out broke the inside vestibule glass door to get in. Whether they were gang bangers or vagrants, I don't know. Management tried to remedy the situation (fix the locks, hired a nighttime security guy), but I gave up and moved.
it all just seems to be common sense to me: make sure your tenants follow the rules and make sure the landlord maintained the property. There's not a lot of gangbangers hanging out in the front of condos. If they see that no one in the building cares, they move in like rats. Otherwise they have to move on.
Man On The Street,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it seems unduly burdensome on the majority of people in Section 8, who are great neighbors.
It had never occurred to me that other areas of the city might do something like this though.
Does anyone have any information on landlords in Uptown? I wonder if there's a publicly-available list of who owns what -- and whether we could identify the worst offenders in terms of landlords who own lots of units that are the scene of trouble.
It's so hard to unwind, but so awful to think of what Uptown will be like if we don't think of something other than reactive calls to 911. :-(
A couple of thoughts while reading sooneratkent's post: Y
ReplyDeleteThere was "activity" by CASTLEWOOD? This is one of the "better" streets in Uptown; like Hutchinson and a few other streets it is home to a lot of "upscale" housing, including that of local celebrity Studs Terkel. (I wonder if he ever shows up at community meetings...sure would be interesting!) I wouldn't be surprised if the cops pay more attention to suspicious goings-on near those streets rather than "ordinary" people's streets.(Studs himself could give you an earful on the reasons why.)
Also, the T-shirt and pants is not a "required" uniform of All CPS schools as far as I know. I think it's a school-by-school issue that the parents and principal can vote on. I see plenty of high-school kids coming out of schools in "typical" teen-age attire that would not be confused with the default gang uniform. (Wow, talk about good intentions backfiring! A step to eliminate gang identifiction has now become...a form of gang identification.)
Finally, in terms of the local drug trade, is there any noticeable uptick in this activity on nights when the Riviera or Aragon are holding music concerts? And if the Uptown gets rehabbed and back in the live-music business, will this eventually make that situation even worse?
Part of the problem with "identifying" ownership of problem buildings in Uptown or anywhere else around here is the enduring popularity of the "secret land trust." An initial title search of a large apartment or commercial building is likely to simply state "City Savings Bank Trust #12345 dated 1/1/71" or something to that effect. You have to dig a little deeper (into your wallet!) to get the name of the "real" owner. Not that this isn't a worthy endeavor, but there are difficulties involved.
ReplyDeleteGayle,
ReplyDeleteThey were on the Sheridan side of Castlewood, not on Castlewood itself, I was just using it as a point of reference. It is a beautiful street with beautiful houses. The police car, however, was driving down the street, I'm assuming they were probably going to cut through the boys and girls club or something.
In recent weeks, I have noticed A LOT more activity right around that area with these people hanging out on the corners right around the boys and girls club and across the street and by the grade school. I see them hanging out there when I am heading to my gym at 6:30 and they are still there when I am getting home around 9. They make me nervous because they frequently dart out into the street or start fighting with one another. I really don't feel like getting caught in the crossfire. Furthermore, there has been more than one occassion where a car has stopped in the middle of the street (causing me or the people in front of me to slam on their breaks) and engage in some sort of hand-to-hand transaction with someone on the street. I had seen an increased police presense for a while, but that has seemed to dwindle.
As for the drug open market, I have not seen an increase when there are concerts, if anything, at least around me, it seems quieter (although parking is even worse if that's even possible). There are more police out, so it seems like more of these idiot kids stay off the street, it's quit nice actually.
Studs, the dear man, is 96 and has been attending to his health. And, although his street has some gorgeous properties on it and longtime residents, I wouldn't say it gets special attention. It has had a number of break-ins and even an armed robbery this year. Ask any cop and they will say that they don't have enough personnel to do the coverage that they would like to do (or that residents seem to be demanding) anywhere in Uptown.
ReplyDelete"The only sticky wicket about this is that someone will invariable jump up and say, "Do they drug test people who move into condos? Why do they only drug test us?" and to be honest, they will have a point."
ReplyDeleteWhy would they have a point? A private homeowner doesn't have the same rules and regulations as a person that is living in quarters assisted with taxpayer money. Drug use either by the residents of section 8 housing or by their guests isn't going to get them on the path to self sustenance. It will only perpetuate their need for assistance.
"Does anyone have any information on landlords in Uptown? I wonder if there's a publicly-available list of who owns what -- and whether we could identify the worst offenders in terms of landlords who own lots of units that are the scene of trouble."
Working on that. There are some difficulties in making this information available in one place. You can run into some privacy issues so you have to link to public sources.
"And if the Uptown gets rehabbed and back in the live-music business, will this eventually make that situation even worse?"
Depends on the producer I suppose, but Jam Productions owns The Vic and they do pat down searches and bag searches for all parties entering the venue. Drug possession, consumption, and dealing is not in the interest of entertainment promoters. From what I know, they take this pretty seriously. Furthermore, drugs are digging into their business inside the theater. They want to sell alcohol. Drug use leads to fewer drinks sold.
Why would they have a point? A private homeowner doesn't have the same rules and regulations as a person that is living in quarters assisted with taxpayer money.
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of dragging yet another board off in a different direction, just because they're living on "taxpayer money' doesn't mean they don't have a right to privacy. As long as they're not dealing drugs in their apartment, they should be able to smoke a joint in their home just like a person living in a condo can (and yes, marijuana smoking is illegal and neither should be doing it from a legal standpoint). Saying the have to be "perfect" just because part of their living expenses is subsidized (while a condo owner doesn't have to be because he has more money) is a little arrogant. As long as they're gainfully employed and not dealing drugs out of their apartment, they, to me, are in compliance. Besides, it isn't as if there are no drug dealers/users living in condos.
As for your argument that using drugs won't put them on the path to self sustanence, that may be true enough. But it's a debatable point, not a factual one. Can't tell you how many times I've smoked a joint and watched coke being used (and sold?) while hanging out in condos.
Now back to the imnportant stuff...
"Saying the have to be "perfect" just because part of their living expenses is subsidized (while a condo owner doesn't have to be because he has more money) is a little arrogant."
ReplyDeleteCould we start by seeing that if one can acquire said drugs, marijuana or whatever, than one has income that is expendable on such products that could be spent on living expenses?
I also take issue with the acquisition of brand new Air Jordans while living on public assistance. So I cannot pretend I single out the consumption of drugs.
I'd have to agree with MH on this.
ReplyDeleteI lived in one condo building where we forced the owners to sell because of their behavior that was threatening to the other unit owners. The board kept fining them until they could no longer afford to stay.
The people living in subsidized units deserve good management. It also sends a clear message to the trouble makers that they need to start acting more responsibly.
Could we start by seeing that if one can acquire said drugs, marijuana or whatever, than one has income that is expendable on such products that could be spent on living expenses?
ReplyDeleteI also take issue with the acquisition of brand new Air Jordans while living on public assistance. So I cannot pretend I single out the consumption of drugs.
so you feel it's OK to dictate what they can and can't spend their money on based on their residence in public housing? Again, that smacks of arrogance. Why not limit them to the number of shoes they can own? After all, they only have one set of feet. why not insist they only shop at Aldi's and not Dominicks? after all, the prices are generaly cheaper there. And do they really need a television? If they want to know what's happening in the news, look for newspapers left on a bus stop or in the garbage can. And do they really need to spend their extra money on treats for their kids? They don't need that stuff and the money could go toward night classes in hotel/motel management. And screw Christmas presants. Save that money for something better.
Again, just because they're in section 8 doesn't mean they forfeit their right to privacy. As long as they maintain their residence, stay out of trouble with the law and conduct a decent household, they can have all the air Jordans they want for all I care.
And holey moley:
I'd have to agree with MH on this.
I lived in one condo building where we forced the owners to sell because of their behavior that was threatening to the other unit owners. The board kept fining them until they could no longer afford to stay.
Then you agree with me too. Like i said, section 8 residents aren't the only ones who could do with rules regarding drug testing and lifestyle management from outside sources.
MOTS, I don't have a problem with people who are receiving gov't assistance being required to comply with gov't rules (ie, drug testing).
ReplyDeleteIt really *is* a similar situation to condo owners. When I was getting a mortgage, I had to be absolutely sure and provide prooof that my building's bylaws were completely in compliance with fair housing laws.
Why? Since the gov't (HUD) was guaranteeing my loan, my building had to be in compliance with gov't regulations on non-discrimination. No compliance, no loan.
It was a choice. I could choose to buy a place that didn't comply if I wanted to (I didn't), but then I wouldn't have gotten a HUD loan.
I don't see a difference with the gov't providing subsidized housing. It's across the board, whether it's for cheap rent or a guaranteed mortgage: If you take the G's money, part of the deal is you live by the G's rules. If you don't like those rules, don't take their money.
We should all find out the ownership of "hot spot" buildings and begin going after them.
ReplyDelete1) 4735 N. Malden
2) Miriam Apartments on Malden
3) 4736 N. Malden
If anyone knows the ownership of these properties...please forward.
As for the 80% white, baggy T-shirt - if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck...you know the rest.
Here you go:
ReplyDeleteMiriam Apts - owned by the Illinois Housing Development Authority - 66 units.
4736 Malden - COSMOPOLITAN BANK TRUST, Mail Street Address: 4752 N PULASKI RD, CHICAGO IL 60630 4313Taxpayer: F SHERO
Address: 4752 N PULASKI CHICAGO, IL 60630-4313
4735 Malden - Owner: 4735 MALDEN
Mail Street Address:
9432 KEYSTONE AVE
SKOKIE IL 60076 1429
Taxpayer: ERWIN DORNSEIFER Address: 9432 KEYSTONE
SKOKIE, IL 60076-1429
Isn't that the old Kemper Insurance buiding on the corner there?
ReplyDeleteMOTS, I don't have a problem with people who are receiving gov't assistance being required to comply with gov't rules (ie, drug testing).
ReplyDeleteIt really *is* a similar situation to condo owners. When I was getting a mortgage, I had to be absolutely sure and provide prooof that my building's bylaws were completely in compliance with fair housing laws.
I really don't have a problem either with drug testing for section 8 residents despite what it might seem my post implies. My problem was with the suggestion that THEY need to be drug tested and WE don't because
THEY are receiving money from the government so we have to make sure THEY are nearly perfect, as if a higher income virtually insures upstanding neighbors. You said it's similar to condo owners and I agree.
It's across the board, whether it's for cheap rent or a guaranteed mortgage
Thank you. My sentiments exactly
Wow, good job Miss Kitty. I'll send kudos to you via Marshall Dillon.
ReplyDeleteMiss Kitty - thank you for the info.
ReplyDeleteTo find building owners use this link to find the property PIN. http://www.cookcountyassessor.com
ReplyDeleteAnd then go to this link to get the tax info
http://www.cookcountytreasurer.com/
You can also use this link for further info about the property or owner. Recorder of deeds.
http://www.ccrd.info
And does anyone know how to make these links clickable?
And does anyone know how to make these links clickable?
ReplyDeleteNadmenny, in appreciation of all the info you've supplied us...
To find building owners use this link to find the property PIN.
Cook County Assessor
And then go to this link to get the tax info
Cook County Treasurer
You can also use this link for further info about the property or owner.
Recorder of Deeds
Truman,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your help.
But how can I do it?
Here's a well-written how-to:
ReplyDeleteTIP: Making a clickable link