"Call" To Action

In the past few weeks, we've become way too accustomed to the sound of gunshots in our neighborhood. Two people were hit by gunfire when someone shot into a crowd at Broadway and Wilson on a recent Sunday evening. Someone was shot in a car at Montrose and Dover. Someone died from multiple gunshot wounds at Clarendon and Windsor. And this doesn't even take into account all the "shots fired" that we've heard since the weather warmed up.

Here's the latest: Last night someone's car window was shot out while it was parked on the street, and bullets were shot into the home of a "civilian."

"I live on the 4500 block of Magnolia ave, and I have written here before regarding issues in the Uptown Neighborhood. Around 2:30 Sunday morning I was woken up by the group of "locals" who roam up and down Magnolia all the time, and they were sitting on some cars that were parked in front of my building.

None of them live in or around my building. I called the police and about 20 minutes later they were gone and I went back to sleep. At around 5am gunshots woke me up again, and sadly I was unsure if they were gunshots or some of the loud fireworks that were launched on the weekend of the 4th.

I woke this morning and went into my living room to find a bullet hole in one of my living room windows.
I immediately called 911 for the second time in a matter of hours. The officer arrived, filed a report helped us find where the bullet landed which was about 25 feet away in the wood molding around the front door. My roommates and I are completely freaked out by this, wondering what would have happened if it was earlier and we were in the living room on the couch, walking in the front door, or one of our animals were sitting in the window. Scary stuff.

Later this afternoon I noticed police again on my block with two "locals" with their hands on the police car hood. Then even later I noticed police again because apparently one of the cars parked across the street from us also had a window shot out. Sad stuff, scary stuff. I love this neighborhood, and I'm so upset that a small number of the people in this area are ruining it for the majority. Not only that but my bedroom window is maybe 5 feet from the window where the bullet came through.

I just wanted to share because I think we need to promote calling the police as much as possible when these guys are "hanging out", and we need to start feeling secure in our own homes, which right now I do not."

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It goes without saying that Ald. Shiller is silent while all this is going on. She has never - NEVER ONCE - acknowledged, or given any indication that she cares, that people are dying in front of her office, or that people are being shot in the middle of the afternoon there on a regular basis (including a young mother holding a baby). Her message is clear -- Until we vote in a new alderman, one who actually gives a damn about creating a safe community for ALL residents -- we're in this alone, folks. (If you have any doubt how much contempt the alderman and her staff have for our concerns, reread "This Isn't Your College Campus, Sweetie.")

But we have a huge advantage: There are more of us than there are of them. In other words, there are more residents who want a safe and healthy neighborhood than there are gangbangers and troublemakers. They want a gang war? We say, let's give them one. Let's fight for our OWN turf.

Call 911 when you see anything suspicious. The "locals" who hang out on Magnolia and sit on cars... call 911 when you see it. Feel threatened when you're walking down the street? That's a 911 call as long as you're willing to sign a complaint and show up in court. Call, call, call. Every call may not get a response because the police prioritize and if something bigger's going on, that's where they'll be. But if we don't call, we'll continue to feel victimized.

Start attending your CAPS meetings. The police brass are really good about showing up and they can explain what's going on. Better yet, you can tell them what's going on, what you see. If you can't make it, ask that your block club send a representative who can be a liaison. See who else is there -- which aldermanic candidates have a track record of attending. We know the alderman won't be caught at a CAPS meeting. See who cares enough about your safety to show up.
We're sick of printing these stories. We're sick of wondering if the next bullet that comes through a window will be at our house. We're sick of driving around in the evening and having to slam on the brakes to avoid gunfire. We think you feel the same way. Time to take back our own turf. The gangs have ramped up the aggression in recent years, and we've got to do the same thing. We've got the numbers; let's back up our advantage with action.

We can't say this enough: Make a commitment today that you will vote in the February aldermanic election. If you don't, you're giving your tacit approval to living like this for another four years.

Update: From a reader going to work this morning: "About 15m ago (4:50 or so) heard the typical yelling around Argyle Stop but then heard three shots fired."