Sunday, September 27, 2009

Does Uptown Need The Guardian Angels?

Please use this post to discuss whether or not Uptown needs the Guardian Angels and if so, how we go about getting them on Uptown streets. Long-time Uptown residents may remember when the Angels were in Uptown in the late 80's but then left due to lack of community support. For some background on the Guardian Angel's history in Uptown, check out this video.
The photo above shows 1218 W. Wilson, just east of the current-day Magnolia Cafe. This photo was taken in the late 80's and shows the former Uptown headquarters of the Guardian Angels.

55 comments:

  1. After just watching the senseless video of the MURDER of Derrion Albert on the South Side a few days ago (see Chicago Tribune or Fox 32 Chicago Websites), I am numbed at how much it resembles video from the Leland and Sheridan earlier this summer. After a short time, you can hear the lone police siren approaching, but by the time help arrived, it was too late...

    First, Derrion's death is tragic and my heart goes out to his family and the good members of his community that don't deserve to live among that chaos and danger. I hope they come together and take a hard stance against those that are destroying their peace, safety, and potential prosperity.

    Second, from what I have seen this summer, this type of thing could have just as easily happened here in Uptown, and if we don't control our community, it will.

    We need to do whatever it takes to reverse the course of senseless violence in our neighborhood, and that might include involving the Guardian Angels (with our support). It's an immediate and decisive response to an immediate and serious problem.

    But, what happens when Kates, the Guardian Angels, etc. leave? We, the members of the community at large, need to execute a long-term plan to increase the quality of life and safety here. That means building a mixed community of people who can help each other, and NOT making the same mistakes of the past.

    SO YES - I SUPPORT EXPLORING THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE GUARDIAN ANGELS.

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  2. After last night's escapades, yes... It's no longer safe to walk around with my girlfriend after 1 am. People literally follow her making cat calls, etc. Last night someone tried to grab her, but I stopped it.
    I never thought I'd say it, but it's getting to a point where you have to be strapped.

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  3. I support it...what's it going to hurt? We need all the support we can get in Uptown right now.

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  4. There is a Chicago Chapter
    Chicago, IL - United States
    Chapter Leader: Miguel Fuentes
    Mobile Phone: 312.217.7245
    Email Address: Chicago@GuardianAngels.org

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  5. I'm sorry, but I will need to do more research before voting. I'm not from Uptown originally and I actually don't know who the Guardian Angels are.

    I'll be back to vote after trying some googling/wikipedia, but if anyone would like to post their reasons to vote for/against I'd be very interested. I always learn a lot reading this blog! Thanks!

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  6. I support it. Lets balance out the negative activity with positive activity, and that, God willing, might lead to the positive activity eventually stifling the negative.. this neighborhood has had enough. Blue light camera's and rallies may be great, but we need more support -- particularly from someone like the Guardian Angels. I had never heard of them before watching these videos but I most definitely support what they do.

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  7. I vote yes. As many have wrote, there needs to be a multi prong approach.

    1) Guardian Angels
    2) Positive Loitering
    3) Engage Shiller, if she does not respond, actively work to send a message inaction by her is not tollerated. Remind her of 2011.
    4) Engage Mary Ann Smith as problems at Lawrence and Sheridan live in housing in Mary Ann Smiths ward.
    5) Attends CAPS meeting
    6) Insist on Building owners who rent to make sure that the laws are being obeyed.


    I see a BIG lack of LEADERSHIP from Alderman Shiller and Smith on the north side. We need to demand more from our elected official. That is why we are PAYING them to LEAD. I wished I could make over 100K and do nothing and be an absentee Alderman. BTW Aren't they "Yuppies" cause they are making a mint off of the taxpayers?

    Demand more from our government and do what we can as citizens.

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  8. Yes. Absolutely. Besides, every time we show that the citizens of Uptown care more about Uptown than Shiller does, the worse she looks, and I've been pushed over the line into wanting to see her vilified in the media.

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  9. I am in support of something positive happening, and if that is bringing in the Guardian Angels, then so be it. However, I have questions about their services, like, are they paid to do this ( I always thought it was a volunteer service, but I guess that is a bit idealistic) and how will Schiller spin it in her favor (this could be bad). It could also be spun in a good way for the cause if the media finds out that the people of Uptown had to engage the Angels in order to feel safe. I also want to be sure that the police are on board, so they do not feel isolated or that the uptowners do not appreciate the hard work they are doing.

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  10. I also want to say that I wrote to Alderman Smith about this issue 3 days ago via e-mail and never received a response, which was upsetting. I work for a City dept and the mantra is that we have to respond to all inquiries within 24 hours... why not the aldermen?

    Should this issue be brought to the City Council meetings? Is there a public forum there?

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  11. I am for them coming to stay in Uptown. All we need is the support of businesses and residents that want all the crime and gangs out of our Uptown streets. Residends are afraid to walk the streets and businesses suffer from customers not wanting to come to unsafe Uptown. I say it`s time we all support the Gardian Angels and have them move into a headquarters with resident and business support. NOW.... With all the residents and businesses that feel the same I feel we have more then enough dollar resources to get them setup now.....Lets go for it as the longer we wait the more crime and gangs get a better hold on our neighborhood....

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  12. Bringing the Guardian Angels to Uptown is like putting a Band-Aid on a broken leg. While I admire their work and their dedication to a safe environment, they really are no match for the criminals we are talking about. The crimes we have seen in Uptown are violent and deadly. These thugs are using guns in broad daylight. That's pretty fearless. The Guardian Angels are basically just a group of organized citizens who can do no more than the rest of us against this kind of criminals.

    We've had bad leadership. We've had bad government support. We've had inadequate police protection. All of this will not change overnight because some folks in red berets are walking the streets. They stand just as much risk of getting caught in the crossfire or - worse - shot on purpose just for being who they are.

    I don't have a complete answer, but I know the first step is getting an alderman who takes this very, very seriously.

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  13. The Guardian Angels did not leave for want of community support, unless by community you mean the police, the city council and various city officials. The Angels actually had a great deal of support from residents in Uptown, Wicker Park, and elsewhere.

    Disparaged and reviled as vigilantes by the police and many politicians, the Guardian Angels only base of support was in the neighborhoods most in need of their help. The only exception was the CTA. That was the only public institution to break rank and embrace Guardian Angels and encourage their patrol of trains and buses.

    The Guardian Angels represented the more active form of community policing that many of us advocated for in the 1980s and early 1990s. The community policing model that was ultimately accepted and endorsed by CPD and others was the CAPS program, which is helpful for relating local information to the police and introducing residents to key police staff but it is not the active, participatory model that early activists like GA founder Curtus Sliwa envisioned.

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  14. BTW if you have a powerful enough AM radio, you can tune into 820 AM in the late evening and hear Curtis Sliwa's radio show from NYC.

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  15. Our problems with gang activity will not be solved by the Guardian Angels. We need to remove the element which allows the gangs to form - high concentrations of poverty. Some of the Section 8's and subsidized buildings must be relocated to other areas with much lower levels of poverty. It's really straightforward. That's the point of scattered housing. It's supposed to be scattered so that neighborhoods are not overrun by the ghetto culture. I can't believe how many of my neighbors took our alderman's arguments about the evils of gentrification seriously and swallowed them hook, line & sinker. Not only did she convince them that they were mean, taxpaying property owners, but some of them actually actively fought against gentrification. I'm sure the gang bangers are really grateful to those neighbors who wanted to keep things locally "diverse." Well, those of you who "controlled" gentrification blew it for Uptown. Now, we're up to our ears in weapons, drugs, and violence. Innocent people are being hurt. Perhaps those of you who controlled gentrification and encouraged "diversity" should volunteer to reason with our gang bangers. Why ask someone else, like the Guardian Angels, from outside of the neighborhood to put their asses on the line and have them do our dirty work?

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  16. Uptown revivalist...Section 8 and subsidized buildings are here to stay. You try to reason to Shiller to get everything in Uptown to change. Go to her with gang and crime control and today you see the results. I say fight fire with fire and get some group like the Guardian Angels that have more backbone in their spine that any resident has to fight for us to make our streets safe and sound. You say why ask the Guardian Angels to put their asses on the line? The answer is easy. Are you going to patrol the streets and put your ass on the line to fight the gangs head to head? Something other then words are needed to get gangs and crime the hell out of here. Uptown could look like wicker park if the elements of gangs and crimes are gone once and for all.......

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  17. Why ask someone else, like the Guardian Angels, from outside of the neighborhood to put their asses on the line and have them do our dirty work?

    Indeed.

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  18. It might be a good idea. Uptown will not be getting extra police.
    Extra police go where the really bad crime is. Example Friday and Saturday nights(25, 26 Sep) the 11th district had 9 shot with 4 dead. The 4 dead happened between 9 and 11pm on Friday. That's where all the extra police units go. Uptown has no where near this amount of crime.

    So you need to look at other means.

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  19. I'm all for it and would support the Guardian Angels coming in. They can help organize things around here and show the residents what we can do as a whole to help turn the neighborhood around. They have a track record for doing this.

    I like the positive loitering that's been going on, but doing that for an hour or two a couple times a month won't change anything. We need a consistant, organized effort and the G.A. can help show us how to manage things (not to mention their presence on the streets).

    @ UptownRevivalist. You have a lot of complaints, but I don't see you offering any solutions. Simply complaining about what Helen has or hasn't done doesn't help. She's not going to change.

    I hope we can find someone to beat her next election. I truely do. But given her unseamly election day strategies, I wouldn't bet the farm on it. Besides, election day is a ways off. We need to start taking action now.

    Yes on the Guardian Angels.

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  20. Can the GA train members of the community to be junior GAs?

    But its time to bring private security to Uptown.

    And most importantly, in needs to be communicated to the police that we don't want the GA because of their failures but because of Helen's and the city's failure to support the police.

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  21. I VOTE AND SUPPORT THE NEED FOR GUARDIAN ANGELS! After all that has been happening in and around the area it is terrifying to come home past eleven oclock. I dislike so much being paralyzed by fear.

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  22. I say pretend we have no alderman. It is a waste of time to pretend Schiller cares about any of us or that we can shame her into feeling otherwise. She doesnt live anywhere near the violence, so we should not expect her to care when things happen far away from her home. As far as I am concerned, we have no alderman, and it is up to us to change things.

    We may not be able to control the Section 8 housing in our neihborhood, which, lets face it, brings further violence and gangbanging into our community. The only answer is to let them know that we will not tolerate further violence in our community.

    I dont mean to sound disrespectful, since I believe this board provides a valuable service, but nothing will change unless we somehow make it clear that gangbanging will not be tolerated in our community. Whining or ranting will not solve our problems.

    Last week, I purposely damaged a cab in order to send a message to the driver that littering will not be tolerated in our community. Before that, I called out several pedestrians for blatantly littering on our sidewalks. When they acted defiant, I walked up to them and got in their face until they were intimidated or shamed into picking up their trash.

    Nothing less will do. The bangers know you are too afraid to call them out and challenge them, and until you act as a community and let them know there will be consequences beyond ranting on an Internet board, the gangs will rule Uptown.

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  23. IN REFERENCE TO MARY ANN SMITH. HERE'S SOME FACTS. FIRST, LOW INCOME HOUSING IN THE 48TH WARD IS 33% OF THE HOUSING IN OUR WARD. HERE'S WHAT MARY ANN SMITH DOES TO MAKE SURE THE SLUM LORDS FOLLOW THE LAWS OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO. IF A LOW INCOME HOUSING LANDLORD HAS DRUG DEALING GOING ON IN THEIR BUILDING AND THEY LOOK THE OTHER WAY, THAT BUILDING IS BUSTED AND CONFISCATED BY THE CITY. IF THEY AREN'T AWARE OF IT, THE TENANTS ARE EVICTED. SHILLER SHOULD USE THE SAME STRATEGY. SECOND, YOU PROBABLY DON'T REMEMBER WHEN GRANVILLE WAS A NIGHTMARE, I DO. IT'S NOW CLEANED UP. WHY? BECAUSE THE STOREFRONTS THAT WERE ACTUALLY COVERS FOR THE DEALERS HAVE BEEN CLOSED DOWN AS WELL AS THE BUILDINGS THAT WERE HARBORING DRUG DEALERS. THE 48TH WARD IS IN BETWEEN UPTOWN AND ROGERS PARK AND FRANKLY, MARY ANN SMITH HAS DONE A HECK OF A LOT TO KEEP THE THUGS THAT COME INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM GROWING AND GETTING OUT OF CONTROL. NO, I DON'T WORK FOR MAS, BUT I AM INVOLVED IN WHAT GOES ON IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT INCLUDES GOING TO CAPS MEETINGS, BEING THE EXTRA EYES & EARS FOR THE POLICE AND BEING CONSISTENT CALLING 911, SENDING EMAILS AND CALLING OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. I DON'T JUST CALL OR EMAIL ONCE OR TWICE, I STAY ON THEM UNTIL I SEE SOME CHANGES BEING MADE. THOSE OF YOU DEALING WITH THE THUGS RUNNING RAMPANT SHOULD BE CALLING 911 FOR ANYTHING THAT LOOKS SUSPICIOUS BECAUSE IT WILL BECOME A LARGER ISSUE. SHILLER IS PRETTY USELESS, I KNOW, BUT EVERYONE AFFECTED BY THE VIOLENCE IN UPTOWN NEEDS TO BE BOMBARDING HER, NOT JUST A FEW. SHE ALREADY THINKS THOSE FEW ARE "SINGLING HER OUT" SO THE REST OF YOU NEED TO STAY ON HER TO SHOW HER THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY FIGHT THAT'S NOT GOING AWAY.I SEE A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY DOING GREAT THINGS TO GET THE THUGS TO MOVE ON. JUST STAY CONSISTANT AND IT WILL CHANGE. YESTERDAY I WENT TO THE BLOCK CLUB YARD SALE AND SAW ABOUT 4 UNDERCOVER COPS SO SOMETHING IS STARTING TO WORK. AND BY THE WAY, IF YOU HERE A CAR WITH IT'S MUSIC BLASTING, CHANCES ARE IT'S LETTING THE USERS KNOW IT'S IN THE AREA BECAUSE THEY'RE THE DEALERS. KINDA LIKE THE ICECREAM TRUCKS WHEN THEY PLAY THEIR MUSIC AND THE KIDS RUN OUT TO GET ICECREAM. CALL 911! JUST MY OPINIONS.

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  24. I AGREE WITH YOU WILL, I DO THE SAME THING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. EVEN PICKED UP A CANDY WRAPPER THAT A POLICE OFFICER HAD THRWO ON THE SIDEWALK AND GAVE IT BACK TO HIM. TRASH ALL OVER TELLS THE THUGS THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. HERE'S A SUGGESTION. WHY NOT START A CAMPAIGN WHEREBY ALL THE STORE OWNERS GO OUT AND CLEAN UP THE AREA IN FRONT OF THEIR STORES AND GO OUT AND TELL THE PANHANDLERS TO MOVE ON? EYES & EARS. WE CAN ALL DO SOMETHING TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

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  25. Good Lord, when I bought a place here on Malden in '91, it seemed the only direction the neighborhood would go is 'up'.
    I can't believe I would now, in 2009, be wary of walking the streets after dark.

    And flash forward,
    Helen and Peter have a nail salon coming in at the Wilson Yard debacle?!
    What's wrong with this picture?!
    Actually, the Malden/Magnolia alley seems a bit better, from the early days when a semi-naked bum would be passed out at my garage door. Nonetheless, I feel so cut off from the 46th Ward office, that it is both alarming and frightening.

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  26. This is off topic, but since this post is getting so much attention I figured I would post this here.

    I so love taunting the Alderwoman. I'm ALMOST going to miss her.

    Looking at the UU Facebook feed I see the Sun Times story on the Olympic "pep rally" and see a photo of Aldercritter Shiller firmly implanted directly behind hizzoner.

    I was surprised Helen could find Washington Park. They must have taken a bus from City Hall.

    Helen, are you reading this?

    Silly wabbit, Tricks are for "da mare".

    Do you really think standing behind the Mayor will make you immune from the machinations of his elective majesty and his minions?

    That's the kind of logic drunken 19th Ward Irish guys use when driving down the Ryan at 4 am with their blinkers on. They figured if they are seen they are safe.

    Just ask former Aldercritter Mike Wojcik about how Richard the Lesser did him in after the 2000 census. You remember Wojcik? Created by the Daleyites and dumped when it was convenient.

    Ask Ted Matlak if the Daleyites have tossed him a bone since he lost in 2007. Need I go on?

    Remember my "deep sausage" comments, Helen?

    Just go to comment #19 and follow the link.


    Now Helen, I'm assuming you've refreshed your memory.

    Just ask the one neighboring aldercritter who gets along with you if any overtures have been made from 5th floor operatives about finding a replacement for you.

    Perhaps said Aldercritter will tell the truth. Personally, I would watch the reaction more than the words. I think the truth is more likely to be seen there.

    They're coming for you, Helen. It's going to be fun to watch.

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  27. IrishPirate, I don't see why anyone would get the impression that you're a political operative.

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  28. Indeed. And one who is has some of the best misinformation in town! ;-)))

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  29. NRN312,

    wow, you pulled yourself away from commenting on Christopher Hitchens to comment on this. Thank you.

    However, a man's got to live by a code. Please try to use only one "nom de guerre" when you post on the net. Using two or more is just plain greedy. I only use "irishpirate" and "pegleg paddy" and that's wrong on my part.

    Don't worry about me being an operative. I'm sure Helen's coming electoral loss won't affect your income stream.

    Suzanne,

    I prefer to think of it as "diss information". Cause by posting it I'm "dissing" the aldercritter.

    How much of what I've posted in the "deep sausage" chronicles will come to pass I don't claim to know.

    It's clear to me that Shiller is likely to run again so much of it is irrelevant. The "machine" can't force her out of the race. If she does run and it seems likely she will lose the amount of support she will get from "da mare" is minimal. They spent a boatload of cash and resources trying to get Matlak reelected and don't want to be in that position again.

    Now if her chances look better come February 2011 you could expect serious mayoral support.

    Personally I think the Target opening will be a help to her.

    The large property tax increases Uptown residents will see next year aren't going to help her.

    Ditto on the parking meter and Olympic votes.

    Throw in the TIF fiasco and the idiocy of the "fish farm" and while she has a better chance of being reelected than I do of becoming a reptile and growing a new leg..................well you get the point.

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  30. Josh,

    The issue is not a class war and working together. It has zero to do with ethnic backgrounds, race or creed. It's the concentration of poverty. It leads to the kinds of markets for drugs & prostitution which directly result in the kinds of violent wars & riots between gang members which our infrastructure can't handle, and shouldn't have to. There are reams of articles discussing this based on empirical evidence. We've seen subsidized housing relocated before in recent years. It needs to be done again. It's unfortunate that innocent individuals have to be relocated due to the lack of foresight by our gov't leaders when they implemented their vision for Uptown. However, I'd rather see some individuals relocated to other locations rather than have a vast majority suffer. If something "radical" isn't done soon, Uptown will slide back into the kind of ghetto Chicago has dismantled in other parts of the city. I'm afraid that the Guardian Angels are a bandaid. Positive Loitering sounds nice and certainly demonstrates solidarity, but the drug & prostitution markets remain. If our community leaders aren't more confident in their "concentration of poverty" arguments, and don't act on them, then I think that others will look for safer areas of the city to relocate, or leave it altogether like our friends at Unique So Chic. I certainly am not going to be inviting my family and friends to visit me among the crossfire and riots ad infinitum. I can't tell you how many emails I've gotten from people asking me, "What the hell is going on by you?" If this continues, and our community leaders are ineffective about implementing the obvious solutions, and/or a majority supports retaining the status quo with regard to the numbers of subsidized units in this area, then I'll vote with my feet. I hate to leave because I think the area has a lot of potential, but I don't want to be another statistic.

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  31. Don't worry about me being an operative. I'm sure Helen's coming electoral loss won't affect your income stream.

    Indeed, I have never worked in the public sector either directly or indirectly. I couldn't afford the pay cut, for starters! Can you say the same?

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  32. NRN312,

    I really don't have time to play with you today. It feels lovely and cool today. My kinda weather.

    I suggest you try self medicating to calm down a bit. That is your Modus Operandi isn't it?

    Perhaps you can post a comment somewhere criticizing Christopher Hitchens.

    As for me I've never worked for State or Local governments. Read that as you will. I suggest thinking conspiratorially.

    I'm really getting into your head, huh?

    I suggest finding an attorney and issuing some subpoenas.

    I'm glad you are SO successful that you couldn't afford the pay cut of working in the public sector. From what I know about you, and it's a whole lot, I would have guessed you were struggling financially. Of course it is likely you are just full of fish poo poo.

    That's the difference between a true James Bond like operative such as myself and a wannabee whiner such as yourself. You should see how I introduce myself at operative meetings.

    "Pirate, IrishPirate". Although, in fairness I'm more like the working class Sean Connery's version of Bond than the Roger Moore version.

    It must drive you nutz, a short drive by the way, that I know nearly EVERYTHING about you, and you know absolutely nothing of value about me. Hell, do I really even live in Uptown?

    I'm done trifling with you today.

    There is an operative meeting down around 103rd and Western in a few hours and I need to stump my way over to the Metra and get on board.

    The operative train is leaving da station..........

    I apologize to the majority of folks here who have had to read this drivel between self medicating whiny boy and myself.

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  33. I couldn't care less if these punks were only killing each other, but now their antics have led to the safety of those outside of their gang circles to be threatened. Quite frankly, I'd like to see Mayor Daley get rid of the handgun ban. It seems like the only people who have them are the punks who use them as an offensive weapon. I wouldn't mind being able to have one as a defensive weapon against gang bangers.

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  34. I'm really getting into your head, huh?

    Um, if you say so.

    From what I know about you, and it's a whole lot, I would have guessed you were struggling financially.

    And who says that you and your friends are stalkers? Obviously not very good ones in any event!

    It must drive you nutz, a short drive by the way, that I know nearly EVERYTHING about you, and you know absolutely nothing of value about me.

    And who says that you and your friends try to intimidate people?

    Hell, do I really even live in Uptown?

    Wouldn't surprise me one bit if you didn't.

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  35. Down with Schiller. Up with Uptown.
    That's what my sign reads. Being proactive doesn't hurt anyone.

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  36. I thought the hand gun ban was off? wasn't it perceived as unconstitutional?

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  37. Chicago's Handgun Ban was recently upheld by the 7th Curcuit.

    "Federalism is an older and more deeply rooted tradition than is a right to carry any particular kind of weapon," - Justice Easterbrook

    I liked that. It sets up a battle in the US Supreme Court, but I bet the court won't hear the appeal.

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  38. NRN312,

    a guy bragging about how much money he makes is like a guy driving a Corvette. Need I hold up my pinky finger?

    I suggest you read some Freud. Of course Freud suggested the Irish were impervious to psychoanalysis so I'll just have another beer.

    As for me stalking you.......to quote the TV show "The Wire".......sheeeeet. Don't flatter yourself.

    It's obvious who you are because of your writing style and your "interests". If you want to play on the internet expect people to do simple web searches using your various nom de guerres. Don't worry I haven't bothered figuring out where you live and I won't be hanging out with my camera trying to "catch you". I may visit Uptown prior to the next election though. I'll make sure I bring the camera to video anything worthy of my attention. You are unworthy.

    You're fair game, boyo. I'll make you a deal though. You reveal your "provenance" and I'll reveal who I really am. Do you still have one of my email addresses?

    As for your comment about my "friends" right now I'm sitting in my mom's basement typing away furiously. I'm completely alone and friendless. Except for my dog Cujo.

    Now I shall leave you with this.

    I suspect that it will apply to you soon.

    I fully expect you to respond since your apparently congenitally unable to just walk away.

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  39. Magical City Guy, we'll know soon. The SCOTUS will be considering two cases, NRA v. Chicago and McDonald V. Chicago, during their opening conference tomorrow.

    http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/petitions-to-watch-conference-of-9-29-09-part-iv/

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  40. nrn312 and IrishPirate,

    Let's try to stay on topic. If you'd like to continue your discussion, please take it to the forum.

    Thanks.

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  41. Sal,

    I was thinking NRN312 and myself should meet tomorrow at High Noon.

    Broadway and Wilson.

    Assuming there are no riots planned for that time and location. If there is we can move northeast to Sheridan and Leland......unless there is a riot there.

    Toodles, I'm done playing with NRN for today.

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  42. I'm afraid the discussion here in the comments has really gotten off-topic. Instead of trying to one-up each other with snarky comments, why don't we all focus our attention at what is truly important?

    There are plenty of people here who shoot down every idea and it amounts to nothing more than a lot of people just complaining and nobody really doing. We need to do SOMETHING.

    Why don't we organize an informational meeting with the Guardian Angels and perhaps a member of the CPD? Perhaps if we all hear what they have to say, before making judgement, then maybe we might start taking steps in the right direction? If I had a big enough place, I would offer to host a meeting, but alas, it definitely wouldn't work in my apartment. (Although we'd have a nice view of one of the latest crime scenes...)

    People, let's start talking about useful things. If we took all the energy we have attacking each other while hiding behind the internet and put it towards positive change in our community, then I think we'd be well on the way to changing things.

    Who's got something productive to say? Anyone?

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  43. Kenny

    Thanks for that tidbit of information there. I'm generally a supporter of gun control, but it doesn't seem to be keeping the hand guns out of the hands of the bad guys in this instance. It's only leaving us to defend ourselves with less effective means in a life or death situation.

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  44. Kenny:

    Thanks for the info. I'll be dining with Justices next month, maybe I can have some influence.

    IP/NMN312 or whatever you are don't act so creepy.

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  45. Magical Guy,

    Creepy?

    Yeah, I guess dat's a fair criticism. I was bad.

    I'll refuse to toy with him here.

    NRN312 is clearly FGFM who has been criticizing me all over the net. The criticism has picked up in the last few months, but goes back to the last election. I didn't even realize the extent of it until I googled my birth name "irishpirate".

    NRN312/FGFM have the same paranoid writing style,same interest in hating on "Christopher Hitchens", and same martyred grandiosity regarding Shiller and the "opposition" that the other has. Clearly one sad person.

    I don't mind the criticism. That's fair game. Actually being that I'm a "tummler" I thrive on it.

    Tummler is the Yiddish term for a mischief-maker, whose power is creating prank like distractions.

    How do I know yiddish? I'm a tummler.

    I'm pretty sure I know who NRN/FGHM is and let's say he's likely a very close associate of Aldercritter Shiller. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

    If you choose to waste some time simply google the term "what the cappleman" in quotes and you'll see his posts all over. Recently even on non related posts he has started to use that term.

    Methinks he needs some medication.

    With that I won't "tummle" with him on this site again.

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  46. OK IP. Time for your juice box... ;-)

    The video link was entertaining....

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  47. Breaking it down to brass tacks...in reviewing the posts, it seems to me the majority that have posted here are in favor of either having the GA become a presence here in Uptown, or at the very least, seriously wanting to have a sit-down discussion with a representative from the GA to find out what actually needs to be done to move forward in a positive manner.

    As I am also in favor of the GA's presence (to the point in which my bald head would don a red beret or even dust off one of my old US Navy "Dixie-Cups" if it would make a difference) I wish to know not only what is the next step, but also, WHO either "needs / wants / or is authorized" to do so?

    There is a lot of "hip-hip-hooray", but who else is ready to strap on their combat boots and start the marching?

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  48. I have not jumped on lately as I'm in Miami packing for my move back home.Irish Pirate your a joy to listen to but let's forge ahead and stop sniping, it does only good to the enemies of a united opposition.Hell yes bring the Guardian Angels and anyone else who wants to make the area safe. Kids on bicycles shooting kids demands it.

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  49. Whoskiddingwho,

    You shouldn't compliment me.

    It only encourages me.

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  50. Irish I will complement you. You are a true Uptown resident who only speaks after doing his research. We might not see eye to eye but I respect your comments. So keep it up boyo!

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  51. Uptown Revivalist...I hear you. I moved to another state last year, and I still get phone calls from friends/family, "I'm so glad you left Uptown. What the hell is going on over there?" And these people are scattered all over the place, and they have seen the news (finally, coverage! yea!).

    I started out in Uptown all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, wanting to make a difference, participating in block club parties, trying to be a "voice" against crime and violence, and actively going to CAPS meetings and participating in protests and town hall meetings. I'm one of those people who personally had Shiller tell me, to my face, that 'this isn't Lincoln Park' at a block club meeting that she actually showed up for. (I know, shocking!)

    My husband and I had CPD detectives on speed dial, and even had them use our building to do late-night stakeouts to crack a major drug ring that was happening on our block. For one blissful summer, it was quiet. Then the heads of the gangs got removed by an anti-gang task force, and instead of it fixing the issue, all hell broke loose.

    After multiple murders, attempted murders and witnessing a shooting occurring in broad daylight just outside my bedroom window, being woken up at 6:00 a.m. to semi-automatic gunfire that had me throwing myself out of bed and to the floor, leaving my building and finding police tape in the garbage can after a 17 year-old kid was gutshot, and my husband seeing the dead body of the kid killed on Sheridan last year, I'd had enough. These thugs don't care a whip. I've had a group of hoodlums throw beer bottles at me when I was simply out for a jog (in broad daylight too). Drug deals happen right outside of my building 24/7. Kids sitting on the cars and gambling on our sidewalk, and basically trying to intimidate people coming and going from the building, etc.

    It got to be an embarrassment. I was embarrassed to invite family or friends over. They were afraid to leave their car parked on the street overnight. One family member pulled up to my building just in time to witness a guy beating the crap out of his girlfriend. Nice! And THIS is what I was working so hard for? To own a piece of property in gangland? It's like owning a diamond in a tar pit.

    My neighbor was attacked in broad daylight. I lived next door to a woman who was selling drugs out of her baby's stroller in the middle of the night. I was afraid to walk home from the train after dark, even during the hours of 6-9 p.m.

    I threw in the towel and moved to get some peace and quiet, and peace of mind that I'm not throwing my hard-earned money in the toilet.

    If I still lived there, my vote for the Guardian Angels would be a huge HELL YES! Lord knows that Uptown needs help now before it turns into Englewood. I was fortunate to have the ability to move. Those who don't have a choice to leave, deserve to live in a safe (as possible) neighborhood. Given the lack of political support to make it happen, I think bringing in an outside source would be great.

    In my dream world, the Marines would come in and really show these stupid 'gangs' just how inept they are! I would pull up a chair and a bucket of popcorn and applaud as these so-called 'gangsta' bangers cried like little babies while getting their asses handed to them.

    From a former Uptowner - hell YES to the Guardian Angels.

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  52. Dare I mention the elephants in the room...that a lot of the "social pathology" of Uptown (and elsewhere, in the city, state and nation) would dissipate if drugs and prostitution were de-criminalized?

    But that's another topic for another thread...

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  53. Boys and girls, do you know how to spell O-F-F-I-C-I-O-U-S?

    Before I explain why I oppose the presence of the Guardian Angels, let us consider, for a moment, appellations. As Juliet would attest, a rose by any other name… I’m thinking about starting my own mob of heroes. I think I’ll call them the “Uptown Hooligans.” We’ll film ourselves throwing a bunch of punches, kicks, and karate chops in the air, and we’ll look serious and, without so much as cracking a grin, tell you we’re here to protect poor little you. Would you feel secure? You should not feel any less secure than you would feel because a bunch of people who say they are members of the “Guardian Angels” work with an untrustworthy news media to convey the impression that they will somehow protect you. Here is just one example of one of their “demonstrations” of how they will get themselves killed for us; I particularly enjoy the part near the end where they show us that they can defend themselves against guns. Yeah, right.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlqKbseavYI

    Unlike the cops, the Guardian Angels have no legal duty whatsoever to protect you. You would not be able to sue and collect a dime if a Guardian Angel should refuse to help protect you from criminals. And, unlike the Chicago Police Department, the Guardian Angels probably do not have deep pockets or even liability insurance, so if you get a Guardian Angel size-10 planted upside your head because he mistakes you for a mugger, you would scarcely collect a dime from the Guardian Angels. But if a cop were to negligently or willfully fail to protect a citizen from a criminal, or if a cop were to mistreat a citizen, the citizen could wind up filthy rich.

    Cops are (at least in theory)experienced, full time, educated professionals who are fully equipped to perform their duties; Guardian Angels possess none of these attributes (even in theory). Any reliance on the Guardian Angels would only lull Uptown citizens into a false sense of security. Let’s leave the exploits of the gratuitous crime fighting superheroes, who never have to stop to eat or take a cr@p, to the comic books.

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