Monday, June 15, 2009

Positive Loitering In The Open Air Marketplaces

A reader writes: "I just wanted to drop you a line on some positive loitering over the past few days in hopes that you will post this. As some people are aware, the gang presence and drug dealing has markedly increased in the Magnolia/Sunnyside and Racine/Leland/Broadway areas over the past few weeks. Last Wednesday a drug deal was witnessed on Racine between Leland and Sunnyside at 6pm (broad daylight) right in front of a yard, and next door to another, both yards with people in them.

The witness called the police first, and then yelled at the drug dealers (2 of them, one on a bike and one on foot who did the sale) and the purchaser. The purchaser bolted and the bike rider left slowly, but the moron seller on foot came back to argue and even threaten the witness. Nice move, that gave the police enough time to arrive, arrest him and charge him with assault. The witness had the guts to stand up and will go to court to testify.

Second incident occured at Malden and Sunnyside where two witnesses watched as two "spotters" hung out to keep an eye for the cops while several of their business associates gathered and exchanged product at Sunnyside and the alley between Malden and Magnolia around 5:30pm (again, broad daylight). The "spotters" are known dealers, and some of the others are known gangbangers. The witnesses made it abundantly clear and obvious that they were watching, making eye contact and not looking away or leaving. The "spotters" then walked over to their associates, and the entire group moved away just as the police arrived. The police followed and flashing lights were seen a couple blocks to the east shortly thereafter.

These two incidents are evidence that positive loitering works. While it can be intimidating, support in numbers through positive loitering (and the proper follow through such as calling the police) will move the scum away. And keep your eyes open. It is amazing how many people don't even notice obvious drug deals. These people aren't all that smart (obviously or they'd be doing something else), so pay attention, make mental notes of what they look like, and then dial 911. If you're concerned about being seen making the call, then retreat quickly to some place where you can't be seen and dial. This is OUR neighborhood, not THEIRS, and let's make it a safe place."

12 comments:

  1. Yes positive loitering is a good answer to clean up the scum that does destroy our areas here in and through Uptown. If everyone would do thier part and call 911 when they see things going on in front or around thier homes they live. I want my neighborhood a safe and healthy place to live and we all must take part to assure it is and stays that way.......

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  2. Could you possibly get more information on the person who was arrested so that residents can follow up?

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  3. You can also text to 911, if you think calling might not as discreet in reporting illegal activity as you'd want it to be.

    Text To Tip

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  4. Can anything be done on Clifton and Wilson?
    It appears the police have given up here, there are 5-10 dealers at any given point in the day. I have personally witnessed countless exchanges even when police are in the area. They have created quite a market on just this one street, running drugs in and out of the businesses as well. They don't just sell food and old computer parts.... I will put it that way.

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  5. So it's not drug dealing, but last Thursday I called 911 for public urination on the big building on the southwest corner of Wilson and Broadway. I yelled at the man from my car (I DRIVE to Soggy Paws because I am afraid to walk)He told me to "f*ck off" and I promptly dialed 911. The thing is... I feel guilty tie-ing up the 911 line. I did it because I read Uptown Update and that's what the readers and posters say to do. Do the police suggest that to? Are we calling 911 so they can have records of the amount of times people call for that reason to hopefully clean up the streets? Any insight would be helpful

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  6. Jlvalueplayer I would try these numbers. I have used them to report drug activity around Clarendon Park 1-800-crack44 and 1-708-865-4790 Cook County Police. Its a ever fighting battle and its a shame we can`t solve it like we did in the good old days but hopefully these numbers might help your block..........

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  7. The commander at the 23rd District has been pretty responsive to inquiries regarding the area. You may want to call and ask for her to see if something can be done about the problem on Clifton. Also, contacting the local CAPS rep and attending CAPS meeting is a good idea.

    Use your phone and computer to make your voice heard. Persistence makes a difference.

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  8. Thanks for the input. I have called on the area a few times, but given the number of people hanging around it doesn't seem to make an immediate difference. I will try these other methods now. I know this area has always been of concern with the Wilson Mens Hotel and other housing on Clifton, but have others noticed the increase in loitering, dealing, drug use etc. compared to last summer? I walk from the el through it each day and feel like I am swimming through "crackheads."

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  9. Call 911. Loitering is illegal. The north side of Wilson Ave between Broadway and Racine always seems to have around 15-20 people when I walk by during evening rush hour. I just call 911 and report it as the folks do not appear to patrons of any of the merchants.

    Really this area needs calls to the police from the merchants themselves. Does 711 call the police? What about Hing Wang?

    I'm still concerned about what exactly these black, unmarked newspaper boxes are around Uptown. There is now one in front of Fresh Market Grocery on Leland and Sheridan that has a padlock on it now. It might be nothing, but the lack of markings and the fact that it has a lock on it makes me think I can just kick it open and throw it away right?

    If ownership isn't declared on the box it's just garbage locked to a city pole.

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  10. You should call 911 WHENEVER you need a Police response. If you call 311 they will either transfer you to 911 or simply create "paperwork" and forward it to the appropriate agency. Remember, 911 if you need us NOW, 311 if you want to report something else. The Police Department lives and dies with stat's. If they don't have the stat's, then they don't know where to deploy the Officers. When there is a problem or a complaint the first thing they do is check to see how many calls for service where made about a given location. Lot a calls, high priority, low amount of calls, low priority. This OEMC thing is really a joke. Whenever I need the Police I ALWAYS call 911.

    Free Bill Cozzi

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  11. To the citizen/our neighbor who stood up and will be going to court, Thank you. You are a value to the neighborhood, it is actions like these that make it safe for all of us and our children. We need many more like you.

    I would also like to thank everyone who is calling 911 on the group that constantly hangs just south of Godfathers pizza on Malden(and Wilson). The broken bottles, empties, agressive cat calling, urinating between vehicles and sitting on cars was getting to be alittle much....this group went from 3-4 decent guys down on their luck to a gaggle of disrespectful and dangerous jack-asses over night. P.D. has been superb in response to this corner as well as they have been seen breaking up the growing group almost daily.

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  12. Call the police, leave you name and number, sign complaints and you will get the service you need.

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