Friday, May 14, 2010
"Attempted Fisticuffs" Video -- With Concealed Lead Pipes and Cops With Rifles
Here's video of Thursday afternoon's activities at Sheridan and Leland. (If you're at work or near the kids, turn the sound off. The vocabularies of those portrayed in the video are limited and profane.)
Residents responded to the near-riot with many 911 calls.
Police responded with cars, 'cuffs and at least one rifle.
Ald. Helen Shiller responded to similar activities last year by saying these incidents were simply "attempted fisticuffs," adding that anyone complaining about it was her "political enemy."
Gangbangers conceal lead pipes in their clothing as they sit at bus stops and hope the police don't search them before they can walk away. Welcome to Helen Shiller's Uptown. And remember, keep those TIF dollars coming!
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Carnack the Magnificent presses the envelope to his forehead and predicts: Police Brutality against Innocent Children.
ReplyDeleteEd Mc Mahon tears open the envelope to reveal the question: "What will Alderman Helen Shiller and her cop suing son, Brendon, claim next?
"Heeeeeere's Uptown!"
Yeah, that was a scene. You just missed the 3:30 AM scene with a guy yelling how he was going to kill all these girls who he had driven with in a van. The van stopped on Sheridan and Leland and they proceeded to yell for 15-20 minutes until a cop finally came.
ReplyDeleteI'd watch for the same today, too. I heard some of the guys saying to the rival gangbangers "we'll see you at school tomorrow."
ReplyDeleteYou can bet if it's warm out again that they'll be up to the same after school.
Keep up the hard work Helen, I love paying for your experiment and really appreciate the nice increase that was passed along this year. I am guessing that was for the increased police patrols to stop this from ........never mind!
ReplyDelete284 days can not go by fast enough!!
Just Curious, Where do these young voters live in the neighborhood?
ReplyDeleteEveryone be vigilant and be the police's eyes on the ground. Call 911 and tell them where the fisticuffers are headed. Let's keep averting their fights. This CANNOT happen in broad daylight in our neighborhood. We won't stand for it.
ReplyDeleteAhhhh summer in the city.....
ReplyDeleteWe make fun here, but I have to agree with Meg. This is not acceptable in this (or any civilized) neighborhood.
ReplyDeletePeople - We get what we settle for. Don't settle for this stuff. You can bet I will be extra cautious and have little tolerance for this crap around my home.
To me, a 2X4 is a deadly weapon in the hands of a trouble maker. I would not be surprised if one of these idiots ends up shot dead by one of those rifles....
Was the one guy at the bus stop telling the cameraman to stop filming him? Yikes.
ReplyDeleteNothing like seeing YET AGAIN my building on video. If this continues, I say we all march on the aldermans office and call the news crews and remind them of last summer of inaction from the person who claims to be our alderman.
ReplyDeletePeople, we elect individuals to take a lead on resolving problems. Those that are unqualified need to be called out and replaced. If this alderman is such a good person, why does she have the mental capacity of a 3rd grader and yet she gets elected. Time to stand for someone that works for the people and works to remove elements that keep this neighborhood in the trash. My parents were dirt poor but they cleaned the sidewalk in front of their place and they took an active role to keep the neighborhood safe. Those with little or no money have no excuse to break the law. Stop blaming others for your situation. They need to look at themselves and realize they are the one causing their economic problems. Nothing is handed to you free..... r
@950 Leland
ReplyDeleteHey Sarah Palin, this isn't a Tea Party blog. Take your class warfare garbage somewhere else.
This is a neighborhood problem for everyone. Money or no money. White or black. We need the help of everyone to solve this problem. It sounds like you wanna turn this into a class war and you are painting poor people with a broad brush so you can forward your little agenda of no poor or minority people in this neighborhood.
Uptown needs the help of everyone. We need to get rid of the Shillerista and her allies but people like you only make the situation worse and she is able to use people like you as a campaign slogan.
When you keep on doing what you've always done...you keep on getting what you always got.
ReplyDeleteWe, that means the people who live here, the school administrators, the parents, the police and the neighborhood organizations have a choice--change the processes, change the people--change the community.
Where do this teens live?
Where are their parents?
What school do they attend?
What follow up is there to address their violent behavior, hold them accoutable for it, and work to move from violence to peace?
Looks like we're gonna party like it's 2009.
ReplyDeleteNote: no one is blaming our beloved alderman for the violence itself ..., only for fostering an enviroment which has been shown, statistically, to be condusive to violence ... oh, and for not using her office to better promote public safety.
In case anyone needs a reminder as to how our beloved alderman views the OK Corral on Sheridan/Leland, here ya go.
My fav tidbit:
In each of my five re-election campaigns, the strategy of my opposition has followed a now familiar pattern: attack my efforts at preserving affordable housing and engaging in a goal of development without displacement by repeating a mantra that affordable housing equals crime, and polarizing the community at every opportunity in spite of evidence again and again that each day has brought improvements to the safety of our community.
9 months later and the only improvement I can see, on this exact street corner, is in the armament of these young men.
Golf clubs and bottles have been upgraded to 2x4's and weaponry.
Again - it isn't like these upbursts of violence are occuring in scattered areas around the ward.
It's the same darned place.
Josh, please tell me how you interpret what 950 Leland said into remarks involving the Tea Party, Sarah Palin or anybody or anything else? I applaud what 950 Leland said. He/she is spot on. Me thinks it is YOU that is the problem, not 950 Leland. Stop being an enabler!
ReplyDeleteIf these were "students" they most likely go to Uplift right around the corner. The video needs to be taken to the principal and teachers to see if they can identify any of the "students" involved. Once identified the police need to deal with them accordingly and their parents for lack of supervision of a minor.
ReplyDeleteThis link is to the e-mail boxes of people who run The Uplift Community High School.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.uplifths.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=49611&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=staff&hideMenu=1&rn=1709592
HopelessinUptown....Great idea! At least we would know where the leaders of the school stand based on how they use/follow up on the video.
ReplyDeletethe kid in the white shirt towards the beginning of the vid was spotted around 530/545 hiding behind an SUV on leland from the cops.
ReplyDeleteUpdate! Here are the e-mail boxes of ALL of the staff at Uplift Highschool.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.uplifths.org/apps/staff/?rn=4157761
If you can't get out of your seat to help, you can send e-mails to the staff.
:)
Josh. i'm a left leaning to the far left democrat. I am the extreme opposite of anything Sara Palin spews.
ReplyDeleteMy point it that this stuff is unacceptable. You have families that could care less about the upbringing of their kids, you have people who live on social welfare programs that refuse to do anything to uplift themselves out of their circumstances.
My biggest grip is we have an alderman that decides to take from those that own property with higher taxes. Building Section 8 housing at a cost of 400K per unit. Condos in this area don't even go for that much. You have a developer that is puttin in the cheapest amenities and then you have people moving in that pay "reduced" rent with section 8 vouchers. Man, we have a deficit situation in this country and it is not a democrat or republican issue. You have people that are getting things for free from the government that could give a flying F about keeping the neighborhood safe, keeping it clean and helping one another. Most of this crap comes from poor parenting and the cycle of poverty that is engrained generation to generation. Welfare.. I'm all for helping those down and out. You never know where you might need assistance but to make it a habit to suck money from those that try to uplift themselves, i just call it lazy. Even in Soviet Russia, you get money from the state, you work. Why not demand people accepting social welfare money to work for the money or take classes to help enrich their lives than throw it at someone and let them do what they want. All the social welfare programs will never work unless the person receiving the aid wants to bring themselves out of poverty. The gang bangers fighting outside my condo are not what this country is about. They don't want to bring themselves out of poverty. They want to sell drugs and they think they are all smart by playing "the man" The individuals making Leland and Sheridan their fighting playground are a result of poor parenting and being enabled by this alderman.
We need an alderman that stands up and defends those lawful citizens. We have no leader in this ward. We have an enabler. I would debate you face to face on this topic. This crap has got to stop and then can't blame society.
Anyone want to place any bets regarding Alderman Shiller calling up a certain Police Commander and expressing her displeasure at the sight of police rifles?
ReplyDeleteNot that I have any inside info or anything.
Call it an educated guess.
I'm relatively sure she would find that sight more disturbing than the sight of our nation's future leaders running up and down the street with pick axe's.
Garden hoe's. Pick axe proliferation. What's next. A weed whacker?
950Leland - You better watch out because your starting to sound like a conservative. By the way I believe it is a liberal conservative issue when we talk about policies. Show me the conservative who favors building more public housing for people to depend on, extending wellfare programs, tax redistribution in the name of fairness, food stamps for everybody. Free this free that everyones entitled to something and we are on a one way train to loserville. All of the problems you listed are created by big government programs. They are never efficient or save money. They are full of unintended consequences and are often judged on their intentions not results. Its exactly what we have in uptown.
ReplyDeleteI don't care if the rest of you agree, but AMEN to 950Leland's last comment. I couldn't agree with you more!
ReplyDeleteI'm with 950Leland too. Josh, not sure where your response to 950 is coming from, as it sounds like straight up common sense to me.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, three cheers to the videographer for inconveniencing these turkeys and getting their faces on film.
Neil.
ReplyDeleteI don't think conservatives have the corner market on demanding accountability and looking at ways to make government run more efficient, demand better results for money and demand society to look at itself on how we educate or raise children.
Universal healthcare is a liberal idea. You can run universal healthcare efficiently or poorly. It's the choices we make and how much we demand them to be run. Housing for the poor can be run poorly and not setting a challenge to those living there to improve their lives and move on to being taxes payers so those new less fortunate can replace them.
I don't think it sounds conservative to demand that society set goals and give a helping hand but demand a return for societies investment. If everything is given away free without demanding results, we all become slugs and we turn into a 3rd world country. We need to demand accountability from our leaders and I don't think its too much to ask for parents to take an active interest in their children. The results of those failing are those kids fighting outside my doorstep.
980leland-
ReplyDeleteeverything you stated in your comment previously is not even close to a far left democrat stance. you say you shouldnt be giving these people free housing etc, etc, etc but then you say free healthcare is okay. far left democrats believe the government should be providing for those left fortunate. a more conservative right leaning view is that housing can be provided, yes, but only for lets say 2 years - 4 years while you find a good paying job or better your education to get that good paying job. the more you give to people, the more they feel entitled to it, especially if the government will hand it pretty much anyone with no questions asked. all im saying is, it sounds like i agree with your stance on housing and accountablity, but that is definitely not a far left view on the subject.
"Far Left" is a definition by the "Far Right" and vice-versa; essentially meaningless. "Liberal", "Progressive," and "conservative" however are actual words with real definitions. Liberal is freedom oriented, progressive is growth and development oriented, conservative is static oriented. One can most definitely be "liberal" and "progressive" while demanding accountability.
ReplyDeleteCapstone
ReplyDeleteWith the massive budget shortfalls and debt the views on the left will be demanding better services and and accountability and no free ride. You see it with Obama demanding accountability with government and paying for the services. Higher taxes are not going to cut it. You then have a choice cut services or make government more efficient.
I never said a time line of 2-4 years on staying in a section 8 housing project. What ever times it takes to help uplift someone out of living off the government. The point I am making is that those living in Section 8 or government assistance should be put to work to earn the lower rent wages. With massive budget cuts coming down the pike, government services are going to be stretched. I don't thing that is a right view. Existing socialist countries demand those receiving government assistance work for the money they are receiving. They don't get a free ride. Training is provided and people develop a sense of pride in working and they tend to take pride in their neighborhood. When you have people receiving money for nothing have no skin in the game. The days of free money are going away. it's a fact and that is not a right view nor a left view but a realistic view. If you believe otherwise, you haven't seen the debt coming down the road with social security, medicare and other existing entitlement programs that can not be eliminated without destroying the retirement of the baby boomer and the economy.
You may disagree but I have not been wrong one time with the economy over the past 20 years. it's not going to be pretty and everyone is going to have to chip in. The rich and those receiving entitlements equally are going to be asked to put in their fare share.
The President doesn't have to raise taxes to steal your money to play in his laboratory.
ReplyDeleteIrish Pirate, Schiller can beef all she wants, the rifles are here to stay. Hell, certain members of the Command Staff (ususally old Irish guys,lol)are against them and have tried to deny Officers the use of them. Those Commanders receieved a prompt response and directive from a "higher up" that the Officers are NOT to be denied use of the rifles. As a matter of fact, the General Order PROHIBITS watch commanders from preventing the use of rifles by the watch commanders. If an Officer is qualified, he MUST be allowed to carry a rifle. As it should be. We are encountering thugs with high powered rifles with greater frequency as of late. The rifles are an absolute necessity in todays world. To ask an Officer to confront these criminals underarmed is an absolute travesty and will not be tolerated. And please be advised. Many of those rifles are personally owned and cost thousands of dollars. Mine cost me 2,200 dollars. If you or anybody else (yes, that means you Helen)think that I'm not going to carry it, think again.
ReplyDeleteLeland. Look, don't be a fool, I'm not republican, not even close, but what you describe is more of a libertarian point of view anyway. All parties want accountability, but don't want it, if you know what I'm saying. And both parties are guilty of it. I consider myself a libertarian, I demand more PERSONAL accountability, and little to no government controlling me. It's like the old days....... "Hmmmmm how am I gonna get to work today, there are no roads!!!! Well shoot me and my pals are gonna work 8 weekends to get it done so I can feed my kids with a good job." a little exteme but you get my point. You either want big government or you don't, you seem to want it and not want it at the same time. With a government so big, and getting bigger, it make it nearly impossible for the big government to be resposible for who is accountable or who isn't. Seems like you want more personal accountability to me.
ReplyDeleteShooting the video might seem like a great thing to do. But at some point he should put down the camera and call 911. From his vantage point he could show the officers who the bad guys are. The person hiding the pipe could have hurt a officer or anyone else who happens by. If the bad guys are caught it would help solve the problem.
ReplyDeleteNadmenny Millicent:
ReplyDeleteIn all of our films of violence at Leland and Sheridan, we call the police before (and often during) filming. In most cases, we also send the footage to authorities to aid them in filing charges. This film is a clear example of swift and thorough police response following our calls and the calls of numerous vigilant neighbors.
I'm pretty sure that the video taker was capable of shooting the incident and call 911. I don't think it was an either or choice between the two.
ReplyDeleteHere what Alderman Schiller should do, get the names of these boys and you call the parents into the Aldermans office and have a face to face, if that doesn't work you call in the landlord and find out when their lease is up and you move them out when its over.
ReplyDeleteIf he was on the phone we would have heard giving the dispatchers descriptions of the offenders it on the video. I hope someone with him was on the phone giving the play-by-play to the 911 operators. I know it not as dramatic if it only lasts 30 seconds. You need to stay on the phone until the incident if over.
ReplyDeletejoe - we appreciate your videos!
ReplyDeleteAlso - i heard 11 arrests total from thursday's shenanigans.
does anyone notice how calm it was tonight? could these be (definitely!) school-related incidents?
Wait a minute--I come here to read about this incident, and I see comments that are critical both of: 1) The person who shot the footage, and 2)A person who lives in the building?????
ReplyDeleteWhat am I missing here? If this were my residence, I would be demanding action everyday, no matter what my politics!
I don't live here, but I drive past here everyday with my young daughter, so to think that I barely missed this scene Thursday b/c I was running late makes me shudder. And my daughter--no matter white or black, poor or rich, liberal or conservative--deserves to be protected from this BS!
Joe--keep up the good work, it provides some undeniable truths about Uptown.
950 Leland--I'm sorry this continues to happen right in front of your building.
The Alderman is a complete waste of taxpayers dollars as usual with the city of Chicago. The more I research where I live the more disappointed I am with being from this beautiful city. Thank God we can finally get rid of her at this election....Good-bye Helen hello Michael Carroll...someone who isn't from politics and might actually work for his money.
ReplyDelete