Wednesday, January 11, 2012

New Camera At The Sunnyside Mall

Residents have been asking for this for years, and today it was installed:  a blue-light camera at Sunnyside and Magnolia, right by the problematic Sunnyside Mall.  Definitely a move in the right direction.

12 comments:

  1. Believe me they will adapt real quick. (like use alley etc.) And in about 1 year the camera wont work anymore..

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  2. The police have said the cameras have been helpful with identifying people who have committed the crimes. But if you have evidence that the police are wrong, give them this information you have.

    I've heard the argument in several different versions about addressing a problem. (can't address aggressive panhandling here because they go somewhere else, can't address people camping out in the parks here because they'll go somewhere else; can't remove this bus bench here where there is public drinking because the public drinkers will go somewhere else; and it goes on and on and on.)

    I say let them move on and we'll address it there, and there, and there, and there. We'll keep making it uncomfortable for crime to get committed in this area.

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  3. At least our current Alderman listens and works to provide what some neighbors have indeed been asking for. Of course a camera will not magically make gang members disappear, however it is a start.

    It appears the 46th ward is working on the problem from multiple angles. Going after the "problem buildings" is also part of their solution. But it will be a slow process.

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  4. I completely disagree and this is not a step in the right direction. Everyone's property value is going to go down, and potential buyers will be EXTRA weary about buying on this block now. All that is, is a camera that won't lead to anything, and will just redirect problems to another area. I hate the trouble just as much as the next, but cameras are just a cheap way of showing that the alderman, city, and police are doing something. Thanks again for punishing the property owners of Uptown.....

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  5. @HogDog: Of course, the CPD and the Alderman can do nothing (like the previous one), and a) no one will be happy except for the gangbangers and drug dealers, and b) your property value will go down because of the crime. I guess this just goes to prove that no good deed shall go unpunished. And frankly, if you don't want the camera there, maybe we can get it moved to Racine and Sunnyside where we would welcome the extra eyes on the street.

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  6. Hot Dog I understand your frustration. But if focusing on property values, a camera is really not the biggest of your problems.

    There are now thousands of those cameras in Chicago and more on the way. There are three or four across the street from Wrigley field. Do you think it hurts the property values in that area? There are 40 or 50 now on the lakefront path. Do you think it stops people from wanting to go to the beach, or run on the path?

    Dead bodies on the street, bullet holes and fights can effect property values. If a camera moves some of those problems off your block how is that a bad thing?

    If you don't want the camera what other concrete ideas would you suggest instead?

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  7. I like the idea of a camera here but I have doubts about how good they are. The kid shot dead in early Dec. at Lawrence and Winthrop was pretty much right under a camera and the car from which the suspected shooter shot from passed right under and past it, but apparenty the camera was unable to capture a license plate # or even tell if the shots came from the car and there has been other crimes that occured near cameras that remain unsolved. I hope for the best from these cameras, but am disappointed in an apparent lack of results from them.

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  8. I'm not sure the thugs loitering on the corner or the shootings and other assorted violence were doing much for your property values, either.
    I don't believe the POD cameras are the panacea that Mayor Daley and previous police administrations tried to claim they are. I know it's not this simple, but I'd rather see the funds directed toward improving police manpower. That said, it's a step in the right direction and if it deters criminal activity in this area, then it's a stopgap at the very least until we can invest in police manpower.

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  9. Lets not talk property value then. Lets talk about the reputation those lights bring at a glance. Me personally, along with many others, would belive this to be a troubled area automatically. Had I seen a huge police camera on the corner, I probably wouldn't even have thought about buying. So, property value aside, people just flat out won't even consider putting an offer in because of the image those cameras make.

    And jailing the troublemakers would be the BEST way of solving everything. I would pay more taxes to support larger prisons if it meant that I wouldn't have my tax money going towards the roof over thier heads in the building next to me.

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  10. @hotdog
    If you attend CAPS meetings, you would know the light to the camera can be turned off so that no one knows it's there. You do go to CAPS meetings, right?

    Now and then, the subject of the effectiveness of cameras come up at the CAPS meetings.Why don't you bring this subject up again about their effectiveness? I'm sure the commander wouldn't mind re-explaining it again.

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  11. The very first camera in the neighborhood was placed at Wilson and Magnolia. It was placed there at the request of the police department. At first there was some concern about the effect on the community. Soon, however, businesses in the area were thrilled with the effect the camera had and begged to let the camera remain.

    I'm thrilled we finally got one installed at this location!

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  12. The problem is not the cameras or the property values. The problem is the buildings that house gangbangers terrorizing our beautiful neighborhood. Focus the energy on penalties for crime in their buildings. Cameras have a long record of reducing crime.

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