The current issue of News-Star has an article on today's Wilson Club Hotel hearing, including an interview with Jay Bomberg. It sounds like he intends to make a difference in how the hotel is run; we hope that today's court case provides some backing for his optimism.
Here are a couple excerpts from the article; the entire piece can be read here.
Before the May hearing, Bomberg said he evicted four residents for alleged criminal activities; a fifth resident was asked to leave in June, and four more residents have since been evicted. "I think the community will already have noticed that there is a whole lot less loitering in front of the building between ourselves and working with our two (commercial) tenants," he said.
Bomberg said he has instructed front desk staff to call 911 more quickly before incidents inside or outside the hotel can escalate. Security cameras have been installed in front of the hotel. Use of that camera resulted in the arrest of a graffiti tagger from the neighborhood, who was convicted and given 90 hours of community service.
"We call 911 a lot more often than prior management did. Check the statistics from the first six months of last year (under previous management) and this year, and calls are up 50 percent," Bomberg said. "Our own residents know now that they cannot hang out in front of the building. If people are out front loitering they are not going to be our residents.
"The house rule (for residents) is that if you want to take it somewhere, take to the park and go somewhere else. (Residents) can wait in front for a ride, then can wait for the clinic to pick them up, but hanging out is not going to be done," Bomberg added.
[...]"We're not asking anything of the (outside) community other than understanding and respect," Bomberg said.
The housing court hearing for the Wilson Men's Hotel is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Aug. 14, in room 1111 at the Daley Center. News-Star will do a Web extra and follow up on the results of that hearing in the Aug. 21 edition.
"I think the community will already have noticed that there is a whole lot less loitering in front of the building between ourselves and working with our two (commercial) tenants,"
ReplyDeleteI can't speak for the entire day, but there is definitely much less loitering outside at 6am(when I get on the train).
None of them work or are awake by 6 a.m. The same thing is going on at 6 p.m. as was 6-months ago. How does he rationalize a problem by saying we have made 50% more police calls? This could also be that there is 50% more problems than before. Sounds like he is taking steps to change this place, but not easy considering where he is starting from.
ReplyDeleteHow is Bomberg able to make a case that they have made more 911 phone calls if that data isn't even recorded for verification?
ReplyDeleteIf the EMOC doesn't record how many 911 calls are made from one area, how the heck are they going to have verifiable data from Bomberg?
Sounds promising...hope they follow through.
ReplyDeletePLEASE give Mr. Bomberg a chance! Did you know that he was one of the forces behind the renovation of the building on Wilson with the former Jane Addams center on the main floor and the SRO upstairs? I had to evaulate this building a few years ago for a Chicago Assn. of Realtors award and was quite impressed with Mr. Bomberg's determination to combine good business with just plain doing good. Yes, CAR gave him a "Good Neighbor" Award!
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