We are hearing that there were five shots fired at Sheridan and Sunnyside, in the Makola Grocery parking lot at around 12:25 today.
- "Police all over the scene, police with guns drawn ran south on Sheridan and turned left at Agatite in pursuit apparently. Lots and lots of spectators."
- "The person shot is being treated in front of the laundry in the mall at Sunnyside and Sheridan."
- "Yellow tape is up and ambulances are all over the scene.
- We are hearing varying reports that one and two people were shot, but no life threatening injuries reported.
If you have any further information, please call 911 if it is helpful in identifying the shooters.
Daylight shooting are becoming a regular part of life in that part of Uptown. The time for hardcore draconian measures is now.
ReplyDeleteI live right by there and heard the shots. I didn't think they were gunshots, though. It sounded more like someone banging on a dumpster.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting really tired of this. The last few days have been terrible. Maybe at the rate they're shooting, all of the bangers will be dead in a few months' time. Here's hoping.
900 block of Sunnyside is blocked to traffic. I'm ready for a nice blizzard to quiet things down!
ReplyDeleteMy roommate called and said more than one person was shot. Is she wrong? We live on Sunnyside and Sheridan. So much violence lately.
ReplyDeleteI fear that more retaliation is inevitable. Please, everyone be careful.
The shots sounded different because it was a .45 rather than the more common 9mm or .40.
ReplyDeleteme and the wife were eating at la ciudad when it happened. Two people shot... Loud as hell. I dont care i still love uptown. It is what it is.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately daylight shooting have been a regular part of living in this area for the last three years..and I have been writing about it as much as possible..as my schedule does not allow me to attend meetings in the evenings...two summers ago on July 3 at 11:30 AM on windsor just 20 feet east of Sheridan in front of my house several rounds fired 1 minute before I was leaving my house...last summer on Hazel several daytime shootings...
ReplyDeleteThe problem is a gang war. And on top of it latin kings son was shot and killed by police not to long ago and this has escalated things in the last few months. This is just insanity to put our police in the line of fire like this, bring in the National Gaurd to deal with this. To many people in the line of fire up here. Thanks Shiller for keeping up with landlords and business and having them take responsibility for who they bring into this neighborhood. argh....
ReplyDeleteHere's to "stabilizing" their lives. Sorry James, you lost me on that one as part of your interventions.
ReplyDeleteHardcore measures, yes Alek, you're exactly right. Walter Jacobson said it best - back in the day, cops would knock on the door of these homes, tell the mothers, get your kid in check, or he's coming home in a body bag. - prob can't say that anymore cause of some PC BS.
GET'EM OUT.
Natalie, bringing in the national guard is not an option. Jeez, if it were, I think they ought to go to Lawndale or another hood that has it worse than Uptown. What we need is men and women to start raising their children right. I am disgusted by the way so many people act in front of their kids. Some of the worst parents ever right here in Uptown!
ReplyDeleteMy idea of a draconian measure, since other ideas are either too expensive (more police, "small" police stations) or too harsh (longer sentences, firing squads, bringing back the loitering law, enacting a law making it illegal to be in a gang, treating the gangmembers as terrorists), would be to ship all the gangmembers to a deserted island and ship their weapons to them later. If you're a tax payer, you should have the right to live in your neighborhood in peace, without hearing gunshots,your kids should be able to play outdoors without having any concerns about being shot.
ReplyDeleteWas there a shooting this morning around 5:15am? I live at Montrose and Hazel and I thought I heard 3 or 4 shots that woke me up and then the sounds of police and ambulance sirens immediately afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI am at Magnolia and Sunnyside (not in the immediate vicinity) and heard a lot of police sirens about 12:30. First thing that went through my mind was... "Oh...Another shooting". It frightens me to think how commonplace this in my thoughts these days.
ReplyDeleteAlek is right - it's time for draonian measures. Kick out that 75 year old grandma if she's harboring these guys. Take away her food stamps, her healthcare. Get military forces to patrol the streets. Put Cabrini Green back up. I don't care anymore. They and the people harboring them are putting my family's life at risk and I am fed up with the fear.
I want to know I can get my son home from school without seeing gunfire. That's not asking alot.
Unf***ing believable. How long will this keep going on?
ReplyDeleteI actually called Alderman Cappleman's office this morning to see if anyone had been following the comments on these blogs over the last couple of days. It seems as though there is a lot of good communication happining and I thought the Alderman's office, with it's reach to other neighborhood groups/organizations, might use this as an opportunity to try to officially engage the community in some way to create some really intimate dialog with EVERYONE concerned. And I don't mean another stale, vanilla, sterile community meeting, where people speak AT each other. I mean something with some substance were we can actually speak WITH one another. More like a steering committee or work group.
I was told to keep going to my regular community meetings and block group meetings. That's pretty much it. Unfortunate.
Now another shooting...and another...and another...and another...
Nothing to worry about folks! A few of the residents want to have "sit downs" with the local gangs and throw them a "block party." Yup, all this should be under control in no time!
ReplyDeleteOoooh I almost forgot, Ron Durham wants us to give up all what we have worked hard for in this life and sing "Kumbaya" in the Bronco Billy play lot. One big happy communal cesspool of low standards.
Yuuuuuuppers...this problem will be solved in no time!
FYI, Next Friday will be Hawaiian shirt day here in Uptown.
Where is the new Aldermans plan to curb violence? He keeps talking about what he is going to do and how positive loitering helps. Well the two shootings have happened in broad day light with ton of people around. If this doesnt help distract them, I dont think anything will!!!! As for the landlords, really? I would imagine most of the scumbags probably don't even live in Uptown. How about hiring more cops, which Rahm and and Capelman both said they were going to fund. Where is that? I havent heard that CPD, has even started a new class!!! The true way to eliminate the problem is simple. 1) more Cops and stiffer penalties.
ReplyDeletePlease dont respond and say give him a chance. I don't have the time to wait. We have had more shootings since Cappelman took over, now I will say he is doing well in other areas, but this needs priority
Time for another movie in Clarendon Park, this time let's screen The Interrupters, not 2012.
ReplyDeletehttp://interrupters.kartemquin.com/
Can we get some more Ceasefire presence in Uptown?
My idea of a draconian measure....would be to ship all the gangmembers to a deserted island and ship their weapons to them later. - F44
ReplyDeleteWalter Jacobson said it best - back in the day, cops would knock on the door of these homes, tell the mothers, get your kid in check, or he's coming home in a body bag. - prob can't say that anymore cause of some PC BS. -Jimbo
I wonder why no one ever thought of these ideas before? Or how about just shipping the gangbangers out of the neighborhood? Or make it against the law to be a member of a gang?
I wonder if the reason why none of this is done is because it would all be thrown out of court as unconstitutional?
However, speaking of draconian measures, I'd like to throw one out: No one on this message board is allowed to comment about crime if they are not actively doing something themselves to address the problem. However, it's a message board and people have a right to their opinion no matter how weird it happens to be.
@Garret - Ceasefire is supposed to be here in Uptown... Don't seem to be interrupting yet.
ReplyDeleteSure, kick out the 75-year-old grandma and take away all her means of survival...then you can complain about how many homeless people you see shuffling around the Wilson station asking for handouts.
ReplyDeleteI remember in the early 70s in UPTOWN -if the police seen teenagers driving around in a car they were pulled over and they checked the car for beer,why can't they pull some of these kids over and check for guns.
ReplyDeleteOh sure, Cease Fire is in the Community… give it few days they will be out doing their stop the violence parade. After the parade you might be invited to a great BBQ or basketball tournament for the local gang bangers to enjoy on behalf of your tax dollars. Same routine over and over and the violence doesn’t stop, but Cease’s Fire funding continues to grow with no positive outcome.
ReplyDeleteWhere's the Punisher when you need him?
ReplyDeleteChambo,
ReplyDeleteto repeat an oft mentioned item: Cap's done more in his first 100 days than Shiller did in over 20 years.
At the very least, he's addressing the issue and not hiding under his desk while his policies continue to create an environment which simply acts as kindling for this type of issue.
Everyone is twitchy about these GBDs firing off their penis extenders, especially in broad daylight - but I feel a hell of a lot better with Cap at the till than Helen.
I haven't seen the comprehensive master plan as it's still in development, but a lot of what I have seen does take a lot of the contributing factors of gang activity into account.
To repeat another oft mentioned tidbit, it's going to take longer than 100 days to disengage the community from 2 decades+ of abject failures - especially with the mountain of bullshit he's going to have to climb get the kind of cooperation from various "community groups" he needs to make any substantive change.
Honestly, on an immediate level, I'm not sure what options are available short of posting cops at every corner for an extended period of time and/or raids into GBD homes. Both of those things would certainly raise the dander of left-over shilleristas.
At least since Cap's been in office, I'm seeing a HELL of a lot more cops, and am hearing details from the alderman's office.
As for CeaseFire - yes, every little bit helps, but don't anyone hold their breath expecting them to make any significant change any time soon, if ever. Their track record ain't terribly stellar, and I'm not sure what Bridget Gainer really hoped to accomplish giving them state money.
Please note: marches and vigils don't accomplish shit.
Thank you yo for putting some sense into all the emotional reactions. Things like this take time and I also have seen an increase in cops just driving around and also an alderman can do A LOT within a few months but he can't do everything, give him the proper amount of time and respect that he needs to reverse 20 plus years of damage.
ReplyDelete"Sure, kick out the 75-year-old grandma and take away all her means of survival...then you can complain about how many homeless people you see shuffling around the Wilson station asking for handouts."
ReplyDeleteAsking for Handouts and Gunfire... well that's a good comparison.
I agree that it takes more than 100days to change the problems or even to generate a long term plan. However, it would be nice to know what steps have been taken so far.
ReplyDeleteI talked with Cap's office, hoping to, at least, hear he's meet with the head of the CHA, the President of Truman, etc... Instead all I got was staffer's are talking with these people's staffers.
When asked what we can do, it was suggested I go to CAPS meetings. Wow.
I am hoping there are some secret, behind the scenes, meetings taking place and some plans being made to which the public can't yet be privy.
"Honestly, on an immediate level, I'm not sure what options are available short of posting cops at every corner for an extended period of time and/or raids into GBD homes. Both of those things would certainly raise the dander of left-over shilleristas."
ReplyDeleteWe definitely need a short term solution and if this it, let's do it.
When asked what we can do, it was suggested I go to CAPS meetings. Wow.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping there are some secret, behind the scenes, meetings taking place and some plans being made to which the public can't yet be privy.
Again, on an immediate level, there's not much for us to do beyond what some of us are already doing.
And, again, Cap's got 2 decades of crap to dig that office out of. 2 decades of selfish, ignorant, close-minded and divisive politics and moronic policies and relationships of convenience to erase re-build.
That's going to take time.
And I'm sure a lot of conversations are taking place in that vein, and won't be known to the public, just yet.
I can understand that.
And it's considerably better than what we've seen in the past, and I have faith that Cap will communicate what needs to be communicated when it's acceptable to all parties that he communicate.
Speaking of which - I just got ANOTHER email from Cap's office with info.
That's not the action of a person not fully engaged in the issue - unlike his predecessor, or some of his rivals, quite honestly.
As for the raids and overwhelming police presence, I'm not gonna lie, I wouldn't have an issue with it.
Ditto, let's get Cease Fire up here!
ReplyDeleteI agree - a screening of The Interrupters and a storefront office with Cease Fire. This neighborhood is in crisis.
ReplyDeleteIt is going to take a long time and a long fight to clear out the gangs.
ReplyDeleteBut here's my suggestion:
If you receive any kind of government subsidy or benefit such as Link/Food Stamps, CHA subsidized housing, Section 8, free school lunch, SSI, Medicade, unemployment compensation etc., - and - your kid is not in school, you loose your benefit.
Why does Chicago have nearly a 50% drop out rate? Because students learn at an early age that you can get a zillion government subsidies if you don't finish school. Parents don't care. Children learn not to care. Kids join gangs because their parents don't care.
Is it harsh and draconian? Yes. Will it in the short term put people out on the street? Yes. But why should we subsidize people who don't want to play by the rules and raise children who will learn there are rules. And there are consequences for breaking the rules.
And if the parents say, "Hey don't punish our family because I can't control my kid," The parents should be sent to parenting classes (with their unruly children in tow). Maybe then the parents and turn to their trouble making children and say, hey you're behavior is jeprodizing our whole family.
Frankly as a taxpayer, I'm tired of paying for schools that don't succeed because parents don't give a damn about their kids enough to send them to school, prepared and ready to learn.
ARM THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA! I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE OF CONCEAL CARRY! THESE DAYS,YOU'RE ONLY DEFENSE IS YOURSELF!
ReplyDeleteAhhh, several corner boys being arrested on Hazel/Agatite right now, a welcome sight!
ReplyDeleteI think the police do an amazing job with the resources available to them. They can't be everywhere all the time. There's only so much they can do.
ReplyDeleteHowever, enough with the loitering. No more loitering on the street corners. You don't see this in other neighborhoods, Edgewater, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Ravenswood, etc.Why? Because the community and the businesses won't permit it.
Enough is enough. If there are kids or people hanging on the corners, parks, in front of stores, break it up. Immediately. Every-Single-Time. Period. End of story.
If we want economic development to continue to grow in this community the we, as a community, have put our foot down to these thugs. I own the street, literally, not these idiots. I pay my property taxes which in turn pays for that f***ing corner that these guys are squatting on.
If they aren't permitted to be hanging on the streets to begin with, then there's nothing to shoot at.
Don't give them a chance.
Let them hang out in their own homes playing video games, like I used to do when I was a kid and had nothing to do.
Yes there were shots at 5:15 a.m. this morning and I think they were in the alley between Dayton and Clarendon or on Clarendon in front of the tall 4343 building. I jumped up out of my bed because it sounded like they were in my condo then immediately called 911.
ReplyDeleteb7277 you are right!
ReplyDeleteI have fought tooth and nail to get the gangs off of morse and wayne. And there really hasnt been much shooting around me. What a coincidence. There are still problem areas in Rogers Park that we are working on of course, now that are at ashland and farwell.
BUT I never tolerate loitering. Its always a 911 call. Always. There is a push lately to try to make it a 311 call. NOPE. Atleast on Everyblock there have been people trying to push that agenda. NOPE. ITs always 911.
Loitering on gangs on street corners incites violence. Because then other gangs will want that territory. ITS NOT GANG TERRITORY.
That is my agenda. Its just a neigbhorhood, thats it. Just a regular place. ITS NOT DA HOOD.
Nope just a regular place.
Something needs to be done by the police or the aldermans office to stop all this killing and shooting in uptown. There are too many schools near by where this is all taking place.
ReplyDeleteUm, people, don't look to the Alderman's office to "resolve" the gang problem. This is a toxic plague that has terrorized the nation for decades. The gang culture is a complex problem that sociologists, criminologists, law enforcement, the justice system, social workers, etc. have struggled to address and resolve. Don't expect Cappleman to have the answer.
ReplyDeleteBut hey, while I'm at it, if you do want a quick fix, change the laws (as someone commented earlier) to make it illegal to loiter, illegal to have a gang affiliation, and legal to profile and search people. Gee, I can hear the howls of protests from the civil liberties activists already!
I sympathize with the it's going to take time crowd…decades of craming the poor, addicts and displaced gangbangers into mismanged and neglected Sec 8 buildings, SROs and loading the 'hood up with clinics and shelters etc is a tough nut to crack.
ReplyDeleteThe kick out those who don't belong talk sounds good but is impossible to enforce.
A police sub station....not happening.
What the area really needs is money, we need people to buy the dozens of crap buildings from the slumlords and kick the trash out, unfortunately the time for that ended about 4 yrs ago. I think a crucial thing to watch in meantime will be failing condo buildings, the last thing we need are more slumblords sweeping in to get in on the Sec 8 gravy train.
Alek - I tend to agree with you. We need investors with a profit motive OTHER than riding the Section 8 gravy train...
ReplyDeleteThe real estate here is good, the political climate has NOT been good for many years and has kept many well-intentioned investors out. I know this from speaking to at least 2. They simply could not bear the risks. We need to make it attractive to invest here. Tough sell right now with the shooting gallery.
Regarding existing affordable housing and problem buildings.
FULL COURT PRESS from all sides on what is and is not acceptable. We know what was acceptable under Helen's watch. We shall see what is acceptable under James' watch with current resources.
Summer was so calm. The past two weeks seem to be way different...
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget the good things so quickly.
Marches and sit-ins raise public awareness and help people to get educated about the neighborhood. So at the VERY LEAST, it helps to get rid of this nihilist and anti-"them" feeling that pops up on this blog and in people's minds so often while living in Uptown.
I'm with saints7. If half the law abiding citizens of Uptown carried guns, I don't think we'd have any gang problem. The GBD's would just melt away. At a minimum it would make for a very interesting case study.
ReplyDeleteL Train said...
ReplyDeleteBut hey, while I'm at it, if you do want a quick fix, change the laws (as someone commented earlier) to make it illegal to loiter, illegal to have a gang affiliation, and legal to profile and search people. Gee, I can hear the howls of protests from the civil liberties activists already!
Damn right, I'm going to howl. You start violating civil liberties, you’re on a slippery slope toward becoming a police state, where only one group of people has any rights.
Did you know there's some Christian nutjobs out there now calling for a "national registry of atheists"? And from the tenor of some of the comments on this blog, it's no great leap to imagine some of the commenters calling for a “national registry of liberals.”
We keep treating the symptom (gangs and gang violence) instead of the cause (fractured and dysfunctional families, school failure, violence and abuse, hopelessness...)
This is a tragedy to be sure. I talked to my neighbor down the street, and it was her friend's son who got shot...
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like common sense to make loitering & gang affiliation illegal however I hate to say I don't think it will ever happen. It cost too much money to arrest, prosecute and keep these guys in jails that are already over crowded.as backwards as it seems lawmakers will never pass it because of how much it would cost them.
ReplyDeleteIt cost too much money to arrest, prosecute and keep these guys in jails that are already over crowded
ReplyDeleteNah... most of the GBDs see a judge only long enough to be released back into the wild so they can get back to 'bangin.
In Cook County, an arrest is simply a minor inconvenience - if that.
As has been mentioned, the issue isn't passing new laws. The issue is enforcing the laws that currently exist, and having judges with enough respect for their duty, and not beholden to (or frightened of) special interest groups, to actually sentence the offenders in accordance with those laws.
Of course, the matter of the piss poor parole system is a massive part of the problem.
At least 3 times this summer, offenders with 90+ priors have been re-arrested.
Our legal system is very, very sick and the GBDs are happy to take full advantage of that.
It used to be there were consequences to committing crimes.
Welcome to modern day Chicago.
Side note: we don't need bigger prisons, we need better schools. Too bad we fail in both categories.
Yo, don't you think part of the reason the system is this way now is because its just easier AND cheaper than upholding the current laws to the fullest degree?
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree that we shouldn't need larger jails. Just making the oveecrowding comment to reinforce that it would cost more money. Yes, we need to invest in the future and get these kids a better education. We all know the schools can only do so much and as many said before some of these parents need to start being held accountable for their lack of parenting that leaves these kids to run the streets.
Easier. Cheaper. More politically/ideologicaly expedient.
ReplyDeleteTake your pick.