At a recent Beat 124 Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) meeting, the officers who patrol the beat highlighted the growing issue of theft. The area has experienced an increase of 13.6 percent in theft, primarily from vehicles, over the past month according to Chicago Police statistics.

GPS navigators, iPods and car chargers are commonplace in most vehicles these days, and people have become careless with their valuable items. Left in plain view, the high priced items are easy targets for thieves willing to break a car window.

“These are incidents of thefts from autos and people are taking laptops, iPods, sunglasses, whatever they can see,” said Officer Mary Panick.

Panick urged residents to use caution when parking their cars on public streets or in lots because the areas are easily accessible by anyone. She suggested parking in well-lit areas, moving valuables out of view and staying aware as simple ways for residents to protect themselves.

“Are they going into condo building parking garages where they have cameras too?” asked resident Maddy Fields-Gollogly.

Sgt. David Villalobos answered with a firm “yes.” Incidents have been reported in the public and condo building parking garages around Millennium Park where people are more prone to think they’re belongings are safe. Villalobos reminded everyone that parking garages are public spaces and easily accessible on foot.

“These people walk up and down the aisle and see what’s there,” explained Villalobos. “The cameras are set up to look at license plates, not to look at people walking up the ramp so the parking companies have got work to do.”

Whether someone notices some suspicious activity or is the victim of theft, the officers encouraged everyone to report it. Reporting any incident helps beat officers focus their patrol on areas of concern to better serve the neighborhood residents.

“Too often I think people don’t want to get involved because it’s not their problem, but you know what, one day it might be your problem,” said Panick.

To report suspicious activity, or any other concern, residents are also encouraged to use another method of communication offered by the police department – CLEARpath. The site provides an online outlet for residents to file community concerns with the police department without having to make a phone call.

“Log on, list your concern, I’ll personally review it and assign it to an officer,” said Panick. “We’re out there and we’re doing our best to remain visible.”

This month’s meeting was hosted at Park Millennium, 222 N. Columbus, as part of the beat’s “roving meeting” project. Beat 124 CAPS meetings are normally scheduled to occur every other month, but residents pushed for a monthly opportunity to speak with their beat officers. Several condo associations volunteered to host meetings between the bi-monthly ones to familiarize New Eastside resident with their neighboring buildings.

The next regularly scheduled Beat 124 CAPS meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 14, at the Daley Bicentennial Fieldhouse, 337 E. Randolph. For more information about Beat 124 and CAPS, contact the 1st District CAPS Office at 312-745-4381.

“It’s a civil right.”

“It’s having the power and resources to make healthy decisions.”

In an attempt to draw more attention to the issue, the Neighborhood Writing Alliance and Jane Addams Hull-House museum hosted a discussion group to address the topic last Tuesday night.

After viewing “Legal But Out of Reach,” a short documentary about six women and their struggle with abortion, the discussion moved to a more personal level. Nicole Goss, an activist with the Chicago Abortion Fund’s My Voice My Choice program, spoke about her own experience with abortion.

“I joined the leadership group because I wanted to have a say in what I did,” said Goss, who was unable to afford the procedure without the help of the group.

Goss has been involved with the My Voice My Choice group to speak at forums tackling the issue of reproductive choice and access to health services. The journey has been a challenging one for Goss because the topic she passionately discusses is not always well received.

“Reproductive justice is often associated with abortion and people are not very receptive to it,” said Goss. “You can’t force a person to learn what they don’t want to hear.”

The general public has often shied away from the “taboo” topic of abortion and the federal government has as well. The Hyde Amendment prevents federal funding to be used for abortions, but many low-income women receiving Medicaid are the ones who seek them, according to the Chicago Abortion Fund.

Without federal assistance, these women are often unsure as to what step to take next.

Pro-life groups do provide other options for women who may not be sure about keeping their child. The Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League (PLAL) provides sidewalk counseling for women walking into abortion clinics to offer them alternatives.

“The help that we offer is kind of like First Aid,” explained John Jansen, project coordinator for PLAL. “We speak with them initially and then give them access to pregnancy resource centers that will provide them with more help.”

However, keeping a child is not the best option for every woman and advocates for health care reform have acknowledged that. Medical professionals like Veronica Bohanan are campaigning for basic health care coverage to include access to services and better education for everyone.

“Two of the big issues right now are abortion and family planning,” said Bohanan, who works at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Medicine. “We have to make this a public issue, not just a women’s movement.”

Members of the group all agreed that access was the key to a woman truly having reproductive choice. The availability of better health care, affordable birth control and morning after pills could allow women more of a say in their personal health.

“Women make 95.5 percent of the decision in choosing a health care plan so shouldn’t it provide more for them?” asked Bohanan.

The group also discussed the benefits of starting comprehensive sex education early on so every child has access to information as they’re growing up. Bohanan believes teaching the basics and outlining consequences that would affect the future is the simplest way to ensure that men and women make the best decisions for themselves before other people can make it for them.

“It’s not about race, sex or gender. It’s about what’s needed,” said Bohanan.

The Neighborhood Writing Alliance and the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum are hosting a follow up discussion discussing the issue of sex education more in depth. “Who Framed Sex Ed?” will be held 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 15. The event will be at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, 800 S. Halsted, and reservations can be made by calling 312-413–5353.

The Grant Park Advisory Council (GPAC) and the Grant Park Conservancy hosted the meeting for members of Chicago 2016 to explain their proposal to residents, mainly focusing on the plans for Grant Park and Northerly Island.

“We want to give information about the Olympics and its impact and legacy on Grant Park and Northerly Island and give information to the public as much as possible,” said GPAC President Bob O’Neill.

The Grant Park, Northerly Island and downtown lakefront settings are the proposed sites for seven different venues to host a variety of Olympic events. Ranging from Monroe Harbor to Soldier Field, McCormick Place to Buckingham Fountain, these locations would serve as hosts for kayaking, the marathon, gymnastics and many more.

The number of visitors projected to attend the events downtown may seem extreme for the average Chicago neighborhood with the high end at approximately 53,000. However, it would just be another day in the park for area residents – literally – who see higher numbers during football season and peak vacation months.

“There’s an annual history that these numbers can and have been accommodated in Grant Park,” said Chicago 2016’s Director of Neighborhood Legacy Arnold Randall.

While many of the venues are pre-existing, some major construction has been proposed in the bid book, especially for Monroe Harbor. The plan is to create a new breakwater, a barrier that protects the harbor, which would replace the existing one.

“It needs the change in breakwater because of regulations to control waves for events,” Randall explained.

The new breakwater, stretching from Randolph St. to the Shedd Aquarium would offer a view of the downtown skyline to pedestrians, which is usually reserved for boaters. Construction for the new breakwater would begin in 2013 and residents would have consistent access to the harbor throughout the process.

Randall also highlighted one of Chicago 2016’s “legacy projects” in his presentation – the whitewater slalom course at Northerly Island.

The slalom course would replicate a whitewater rafting experience, bringing the great outdoors to the big city. After it is used in the capacity of the Olympic games, it would remain to provide rock climbing and whitewater rafting adventures to Chicago residents.

“It needs to fit into the landscape,” said Randall, ensuring residents that the design would compliment the surrounding area.

In addition to the whitewater slalom, Northerly Island is the proposed site for beach volleyball and sailing. Currently, the man-made island is the current home of the Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, which has some residents concerned.

A volunteer with the animal hospital, Maddy Fields-Gollogly inquired as to whether the facility would be disrupted due to the games. Fortunately, Randall was able to assure her that birds and other wildlife would be able to continue receiving treatment without any disturbances.

Gollogly is also a Grant Park resident and in addition to the displacement of injured animals, was concerned about possible interruptions for residents of a number of Randolph St. condos. One of the main streets that access the lakefront, Randolph St. is the proposed ticketed visitor entrance for events at Monroe Harbor.

“There’s a whole plan to make sure that people who live here, and their guests, get to their homes. The goal is to really protect local residents from being inundated by tens of thousands of visitors,” said Randall.

“We forgot to mention that you’ll all be locked out of your houses for a year!” joked O’Neill.

Peggy Brennan presented a mathematical discrepancy to Randall and O’Neill about the displacement of boats at DuSable and Monroe Harbor. Originally, an additional marina was planned for 31st St. but is no longer included in the bid book.

“So we have 1,600 boats but only 230 planned slips and now I don’t see that 830 slip marina anywhere in this plan anymore,” said Brennan.

The park district has made a commitment that boaters who want to remain in the system for the season will have a place to go, although it may be less convenient than the harbors right downtown, according to Randall.

In anticipation of the first of several visits from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) right around the corner, the Grant Park residents overwhelming support for the games must have been a relief for Chicago 2016.

“We’re the first city being visited and we’re going to put our best foot forward,” said Randall.

The IOC will make their final choice for the 2016 Summer Olympics host city on Oct. 2 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The document covers a wide variety of topics, ranging from construction and affordable housing to community enhancement, which would be tackled if the city is picked to host the Olympics.

“This is not something that was just thrown together overnight, it’s a wonderful document,” said Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th).

Although the aldermen have spent the past two months discussing details of the document with the bid committee and community organizations, there were still some concerns brought up at the meeting.

Contract percentages included in the memorandum were the main source of contention between the aldermen and the bid committee. Originally, 25 percent of construction contracts were to be allotted for businesses owned by minorities and people with disabilities. Another five percent were to be granted for women-owned firms.

Many of the aldermen agreed that the percentages were not high enough and would not be satisfied until the numbers were increased. After a heated discussion within the council chambers, the bid committee agreed to raise the percentages to 30 for by minority and disabled business owners, as well as 10 percent for women-owned companies.

“I think diversity is a great thing,” said Ald. Ed Smith (28th). “We all really want to do the best we can for the city of Chicago.”

Other topics highlighting the economic impact on the city and goals for affected communities are also included in the document. For example, the committee aims to increase the minimum number of affordable housing units within the Olympic village from 20 percent to at least 30 percent, if possible. It also strives to include as many local businesses and residents in the construction and staffing of new venues.

The Memorandum of Understanding was created in anticipation of the first visit from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Valerie Leonard from Lawndale commended the group’s hard work and said they “exceeded expectations.”

“I’m really impressed with the transparency going through a process that proves minorities exist,” said Leonard.

Cecilia Butler, president of the Washington Park Advisory Council, praised the committee on their ability to include as much community feedback in the memorandum as possible. Butler has worked with the committee over the past two years to make sure the concerns of her neighborhood were properly addressed.

“They asked what it would take to the support the Olympics and the community created a 26-point plan,” said Butler. “Sixteen of the 26 have been met.”

Hailed by Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) as an “historic document” created through a collaboration of public and private entities, the memorandum still faced criticisms from members of the audience. Members of the public had a brief opportunity to voice their opinions to the aldermen shortly before the meeting ended.

Lawndale residents Mark Carter and Paul McKinley were disappointed in how their neighborhood was represented throughout the process.  In their opinion, fellow Lawndale resident and co-chair of the Chicago 2016 committee Michael Scott did not properly address their community’s needs.

“We’ll wait for the IOC to get here and bring the real community out,” said Carter. “Michael Scott does not speak for us.”

Tom Tresser, a volunteer with No Games Chicago, expressed his group’s desire to shut down the city’s Olympic bid and instead use the funding for Chicago’s public transportation, schools and parks. The group is hosting a rally at Federal Plaza on April 2 to let the IOC know that “Chicago 2016 does not speak for the people of Chicago.”

The IOC will make their first of several evaluation visits to Chicago on April 2 to help determine their final decision. A countdown to the final selection on Oct. 3 can be found on Chicago 2016’s website.

March 9, 2009 - Kennedy-King College  recently hosted a forum discussing HPV and cervical cancer, the second deadliest cancer globally, to inform the public about the preventable disease.

The event, “Our Daughters, Our Duty: the Facts About HPV and Cancer,” presented a panel of medical experts to an eager audience ready to learn. Held at the Kennedy-King College auditorium, people gathered to learn about the causes, prevention and treatment of both HPV and cervical cancer.

“I came just to get some information,” said high school senior Sitaara Sharif, 18. “I really don’t know much about it.”

On behalf of the University of Chicago’s Cancer Research Center (UCCRC), Dr. Rick Kittles welcomed the audience to the event co-hosted by the Kennedy-King College Nursing Program and the UCCRC. He encouraged everyone to be open, honest and straightforward with the topic.

“This is a topic that a lot of folk don’t talk about and a lot of folk don’t know about,” said Kittles. “This is a timely topic that we need to address.”

On hand to provide vital information about cervical cancer was gynecologic oncologist Dr. Yvonne Collins from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She began the program with a powerful presentation, complete with shocking pictures, discussing all aspects of cervical cancer. She explained the science behind the cancer to better help the audience understand why it is so important that they be screened for HPV on a regular basis.

“We know the cause, we have a screening test, so why do we have so many people coming in with this advanced disease?” asked Dr. Collins.

As part of her presentation, Dr. Collins provided guidelines for women to live by to best prevent themselves from acquiring HPV and cervical cancer. In addition to annual pap smears, she recommended that women maintain a healthy diet, practice safe sex and refrain from smoking. She also encouraged the audience to establish a good rapport with their doctors to better inform themselves and to help their daughters in the future.

“If we can eliminate any disease, we eliminate disease,” said Dr. Collins, expressing her desire for every women to be aware, get tested and protect themselves from HPV and cervical cancer regardless of age or ethnicity.

Well-known HPV researcher Dr. Kenneth Alexander also spoke at the event and lectured about the HPV vaccine Gardasil. The father of two young girls, Dr. Alexander spoke very passionately about the effectiveness and importance of the vaccine, which has proven to be nearly 100 percent effective in preventing HPV.

For the vaccine to be most effective, Dr. Alexander suggested girls receive the three-part shot while they’re getting other childhood immunizations. The fact that the shot is recommended for girls 11 to 12 has received some criticism, suggesting that it would encourage girls to engage in sexual activity early on by eliminating the risk of HPV. Dr. Alexander quickly dispelled the rumors. He explained that it’s better for girls to be vaccinated early on instead of hoping they’ll give their parents a six-month warning before their first sexual encounter.

“It’s like fire drill, we’re preparing ourselves for when the fire comes by getting your immune system to practice,” said Dr. Alexander.

The shot is administered three times over a six-month period. It is FDA approved and the main side effect noted was a sore arm at the injection site. Although Gardasil is recommended for girls between nine and 26, both Dr. Alexander and Dr. Collins agreed that all women should seek out the vaccine if they have never been diagnosed with HPV.

After two hours of discussion and lecture, the audience walked away with a newfound sense of understanding of the preventable disease.

“I can now share the information with people not involved in health care in a way that they’ll better understand,” said April Belk, a nursing student. “The pamphlets they gave us and the panelists really helped.”

The Board of Health is providing free vaccines for nine to 18-year-old girls and many insurance companies are starting to cover the cost of the $350-500 shot for older women.

For more information on HPV and cervical cancer, consult the National Cancer Institute. Additional facts about the Gardasil vaccine are available through the Center for Disease Control. 

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Feb. 6, 2009 – The Cook County Board of Commissioners gathered Tuesday morning to address a number a tough issues affecting the county and its residents, including heart health, the Olympics and the winter weather.

In congruence with the American Heart Association’s (AHA) push to encourage people to take heart disease more seriously, Board President Todd Stroger declared February to be National Heart Health Month. Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women in the United States and over 1 million Americans will be affected by heart disease in 2009.

“I want to make sure that everyone knows that we need to promote health in Cook County,” said Commissioner Mike Quigley, one of the resolution’s co-sponsors.

Quigley said that “we have to take care of our children” and teach them good eating habits early on to prevent high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes in their futures. In addition, Stroger stressed the importance of an aspirin a day to keep heart disease at bay for those already afflicted with symptoms.

“And please don’t forget the two glasses of red wine every night!” joked Commissioner Roberto Maldonado.

To support the AHA’s efforts to reduce heart disease in America, the committee encouraged everyone to wear red on Friday Feb. 6 as part of the “National Wear Red Day” campaign.

The Board of Commissioners briefly touched on the controversial topic of bringing the 2016 Summer Olympics to Chicago. The prospect of hosting the games has been a heated topic since it was first introduced and it hasn’t lost any steam in Cook County board meetings.

The group of commissioners was recently polled to decide if Cook County should enter an Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Chicago to allow the use of county property as event venues. Only one person voted no, Commissioner Tony Pereica, and he reminded everyone why at the meeting.

“I think with the county government’s position currently, in terms of its finance, to join in this effort is absolutely the wrong thing to do,” said Pereica, who pointed to the debt facing London and Vancouver as his reasons for disagreeing.

In spite of Pereica’s strong opinions against hosting the games, the resolution to allow the agreement was passed. The agreement will be included with the materials presented to the International Olympics Committee for consideration to host the games. 

“I think the fact that we’re able to have some of our county land potentially used as sites for these Olympics will be a great boom to the city,” said Commissioner Larry Suffredin, who has attended seven Olympic games.

The recent bout of brutal winter weather, which prompted a resolution to declare Cook County as a federal disaster area, was also on the agenda and discussed by the commissioners.

During December 2008 and January 2009, the county received the amount of snow in a month’s time that it usually receives during an entire winter. The abundance of snow has drained the city’s supply of salt and left many streets unplowed for longer than usual.  

“Before everybody starts telling me that it snows in Chicago – I understand that, but it’s unusual that we received this amount of snow,” said the resolution sponsor Commissioner Peter Silvestri.

In situations like this, the Cook County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) requires local government to deplete their own resources before seeking assistance. The county will then provide whatever supplies and monetary help they can before reaching out to the state for help.

After the last big snowfall, only one township – Wheeling – had requested assistance from the EMA.  Since there were so few requests for help, the EMA did not encourage declaring the county a disaster area. 

“I would not recommend to the president of the county board that we had reached that standard,” said Daniel Coughlin, coordinator for the EMA.  The resolution was not passed and Board President Stroger did not declare Cook County a federal disaster area.

The commissioners also took a moment to salute and congratulate Roland W. Burris on his appointment to the United States Senate. Burris had fulfilled the unexpired term of President Barack Obama before being officially appointed to the position on Jan. 13.

The Board of Commissioners will have their next meeting on Feb. 18 at 10 a.m.

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Jan. 30, 2008 – Problems with prostitution, improving the neighborhood’s quality of life and a new safety program were the main topics discussed by residents and board members at a community meeting in Bronzeville on Tuesday night.

The Bronzeville Area Residents’ and Commerce Council hosted their monthly meeting to discuss the area’s problems and to present a new safety program to residents who gathered at the Urban League, 4510 S. Michigan Ave.

“We’re tired of prostitutes, we’re tired of loitering, we’re tired of people drinking on the public way – it’s time for it to stop,” said BARCC’s Safety and Security Chairman Marie Smith.

Over the past few years, one of Bronzeville’s main concerns has been prostitution. Abandoned buildings in the area are prime locations for prostitution and other illegal activity to take place. With the help of the local alderman and police, residents are working to eliminate the problem.

Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) attended the meeting and spoke about her goal to end prostitution in the area by working closely with the police in District 2. So far, they have succeeded in closing down houses on Calumet Avenue and Prairie Avenue, an area she referred to as “Prostitution Row.”

“We’ve closed down houses of prostitution in the ward and we want to continue to have a more consistent focus on that,” said Dowell.

Dowell referred to Chicago Police Department statistics to show that in the course of one year, the number of arrests for prostitution in District 2 rose by 85.9 percent, while they decreased 9.5 percent citywide. She addressed the importance of staying on top of the issue to continue seeing results and exclaimed, “I’m on it.”

BARCC and Dowell are also interested in addressing quality of life issues in the neighborhood, like public drinking, loitering and selling loose cigarettes. Residents have previously expressed concerns about people loitering around liquor stores and hope to resolve that issue and make the area safer.

“I think the things that are really going to tip this community and take it to another level is to really begin focusing on quality of life issues,” said Dowell, who listed focusing on those issues as one of her top five initiatives for the 3rd Ward in 2009. 

To help resolve the neighborhood’s issues with prostitution, public drinking and loitering, BARCC will be implementing a new communication system called a “calling post.” For the most effective results, the Bronzeville neighborhood was divided into 10 zones with designated zone leaders who are responsible for reports in their area. 

Residents who notice any suspicious activity are encouraged to first call 911, and then report to their zone leaders with as many details about the incident as possible. The zone leader can then reach out to other people in the zone who can also make a call to report the issue.

“We want the police to come out to get those prostitutes,” said Smith. “If we get 5, 6, 7, 8 people calling on one prostitute, the police will be there right away.”

The “calling post” system will also be used to address non-emergency neighborhood concerns, such as potholes and streetlights that need to be replaced. Zone leaders will send email alerts for non-emergencies encouraging their neighbors to report problems by utilizing Chicago's 311 service.

“That’s the best way to get things accomplished – to share information,” said BARCC Treasurer Pam Dempsey.

BARCC encouraged everyone at the meeting to sign up for his or her respective zone to become a part of the calling post system. If more residents get involved, they can hope to see more positive changes in the neighborhood.

“It doesn’t matter what block you belong to, we want to help you make our community better because at the end of the day, it helps all of us,” said Dr. Keith McCoy, BARCC’s Safety and Security Co-Chairman.

BARCC holds their meetings on the last Tuesday of every month at the Urban League. To find out more information about the organization and their goals for the Bronzeville neighborhood, go to their website.

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Jan. 16, 2008 – Residents made it clear during a Lincoln Park Advisory Council community forum Wednesday, they are still unsure hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics will be a great experience for their neighborhood.

Guest speakers both for and against the Olympic games addressed the crowd at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Gyata Kimmons and Patrick Sandusky spoke on behalf of Chicago 2016 and Dr. Allen Sanderson from the University of Chicago offered an opposing viewpoint.

Residents, in turn, voiced their own concerns.

Kimmons and Sandusky emphasized the legacy that the summer Olympics would leave in Chicago and in Lincoln Park. Currently, the Northside neighborhood is the proposed site of the triathlon and tennis events. Existing tennis courts would be upgraded and improved, leaving Lincoln Park with better facilities after the games are over.

"Any place that we're going, we want to make sure it's better after we leave," said Kimmons, Director of Community Relations with the Chicago 2016 Olympics bid committee.

Sanderson countered that the bid committee and their attempts to get the games in Chicago were nothing more than "auto salesmen trying to sell you a car." He has written two articles on the negative economic impact the games would have on the city, and stated that their economic impact report was "totally without merit."

Charlotte Newfeld has worked at the migratory bird sanctuary located at Addison St. and Lake Shore Dr. in Lincoln Park for the past 12 years. As of right now, construction on the Olympics tennis venue would interfere with the wooded area she has lovingly tended to for over a decade.

"Who did your environmental impact study? Who went and looked at the situation of the migratory bird sanctuary?" questioned Newfeld. "Who is going to tell the birds, ‘Sorry, not these years, we're having Olympics tennis. Wait, come back when we're done.'"

Steve Quinn, a longtime member of the Lincoln Park Boat Club, worries that new facilities constructed for the summer games will render the 100-year-old historic building useless in the eyes of the park district.

"What happens when state of the art amenities compete with existing facilities?" asked Quinn. "The days of seeing boats coming up and down the lagoon will be gone."

Additional topics addressed by residents as potential issues included access to North Avenue Beach and the tennis centers in Lincoln Park during construction, as well as public transportation to accommodate the large crowds associated with the games.

Kimmons agreed to reach out to as many park district personnel and other officials as possible to resolve all of the neighborhood's concerns as quickly as possible.

Representing No Games: Chicago, Bob Quells encouraged more people to speak out against the bid and to "reject this BS project." No Games: Chicago has looked at past host cities and their poor economic state after the games to dissuade people from supporting the 2016 Olympics in Chicago.

"The day after the Olympics are done, these thieves will be gone," said Quells.

While it seemed that most people attended the meeting to express their uncertainties about hosting the games, there were some who support the bid committee and their efforts to bring the Summer Olympics to Chicago.

"People throughout the world think of Chicago as Al Capone's thing, that and Michael Jordan," said Vince Daley, a resident of Lincoln Park. "It'll be a positive thing for the city."

Kimmons encouraged the crowd to continue submitting any feedback about the proposed plans so all of the neighborhood's worries can be addressed. Members from the bid committee also plan on attending more community meetings in Lincoln Park and around the city to discuss as many resident concerns as possible.

"Don't feel that this is our last touch point," said Kimmons.

The Chicago 2016 Olympic bid committee will release their official bid book containing the city's plan for the games on Feb. 13. It will be available for review by the public on their website.

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Jan. 12, 2008 – Racial profiling, hate crimes and vagrancy were among the issues raised by residents of Chicago’s New Eastside neighborhood during their Beat 124 CAPS meeting Thursday. 

The bi-monthly Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy meetings aim to address issues, past and present, with officers who work in the area. In concurrence with recent media coverage about biased-based policing, guest speaker Sgt. Dan Mahoney from the Internal Affairs Division was on hand to address the issue.

“The department has a strict policy prohibiting racial profiling and biased-based policing,” said Mahoney. “We are looking to make sure that officers are not engaging in either and we’re committed to stopping this.”

Mahoney spoke of a new office, the Independent Police Review Authority, which citizens can use to help combat inappropriate policing in the city. Residents who witness any policing they find to be offensive or inappropriate are encouraged to use the office’s website to file their complaint.

“All of the complaints and compliments are looked at and there will be follow-up on our end to all the inquiries that are made,” said Mahoney.

In addition to the meeting’s focal point, residents also discussed an ongoing problem within their New Eastside neighborhood. At the November meeting, people voiced their concerns about vagrants urinating in public at 500 E. Randolph and the presence of homeless people sleeping in the same area.

“We did initiate a special attention on that area for the officers to make periodic visits to try and deter anyone who might be hanging around there,” said Officer Mary Panick.

Richard Ward, president of the New Eastside Association of Residents, acknowledged that the situation appeared to be improving but there is more that can be done to combat the problem. Although the area doesn’t currently meet the crime criteria for a security camera, Ward suggested lobbying for one anyway to prevent future crime.

“It’s a very intimidating location that has potential for high crime because there’s no one down there and the neighborhood kind of avoids it,” said Ward. “You’d look over the railing and see five people sleeping, that’s why it’s a concern.”

Sgt. Kathy Cunningham agreed to approach the district commander about the possibility of installing a camera in the area of concern.

“This is all good, we need you guys to help us and tell us what’s going on in the neighborhood,” said Panick.

Noting the success of meeting and addressing the neighborhood’s concerns, Cunningham proposed meeting once a month instead of bi-monthly to better serve the area. Beat 124 serves the downtown areas between the Chicago River, Michigan Ave., Balbo Ave. and the Lakefront. The next Beat 124 meeting is scheduled for Feb. 12 and the location can be obtained by calling the First District CAPS office at 312-745-4381.

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Jan. 13, 2008 – A group of Illinois students will embark on a once in a lifetime trip on Sunday to witness a piece of history – the inauguration of the country’s first African American president.

The “Witness to History Bus Tour,” organized by Clarence Davidson at the Chicago-based Center for Community Advocacy, will take approximately 25 students from around Illinois on a free 4-day bus trip to Washington D.C. for the Inauguration on Jan. 20.

Recognizing the historical significance of the upcoming event, Davidson was inspired to organize the trip as a way for students to be a part of history and engage in numerous learning experiences along the way.

“The historical event provides both an educational experience for these kids and hope to inspire them to go beyond the limited opportunities available to them,” said Sarah Pawlowski, who has assisted in planning the trip.

The group will watch the swearing-in ceremony and the Presidential Inaugural Parade from the designated public areas along the National Mall on Jan. 20. Later that night, they’ll celebrate with their own Inaugural Ball complete with formal attire. 

“That’s what makes this trip unique, no other kids they know will be able to say they witnessed the inauguration of the first black president,” said Davidson.

While in Washington D.C., the students will also participate in a number of activities hosted by the Douglas Memorial United Methodist Church . Dialogue sessions and discussion groups have been scheduled to talk about a variety of topics, including their expectations for Barack Obama’s presidency and what they think needs to be done to better the future of America.

“The main goal is to introduce a multitude of learning experiences through discussions of events that will take place,” said Pawlowski.

The students will have an opportunity to listen to a panel of African American senior citizens willing to share their experiences growing up during segregation. The dialogue sessions, discussion groups and panel have been opened up to students in the Washington D.C. area to add another perspective to the group.

“I think there will be tremendous bonding between the students and it will give them a global picture of what their options are,” said Davidson.

A film crew and a photographer will accompany the students to help document the trip. Students are expected to keep a journal and write essays on several subjects that will later be compiled in a book, along with the pictures, to preserve their experiences. 

“It’ll be enlightening, and it may very well be life changing for a lot of these kids,” said Davidson.

The Center for Community Advocacy is still seeking funds to help cover the cost of the trip and donations can be made through their website. Additional information about the trip will be added to the site as it becomes available.  

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Nov. 12, 2008 – Residents living in the Grant Park area gathered to express their concerns and offer suggestions regarding a proposed 10-year contract extension with the organizers of the Lollapalooza festival on Monday night.

The last-minute Grant Park Advisory Council meeting was held at the Daley Fieldhouse to discuss the contract, which would keep Lollapalooza in Grant Park until 2018, before the Park District Board votes on matter Nov. 12.

The proposed contract extension between the Chicago Park District, the Parkways Foundation and C3 Presents is very similar to the current 5-year contract already in place, with the exception that the amount of money raised by the festival and put back into the city’s parks will increase.

“It’s basically an extension of the current contract,” said Brenda Palms, executive director of Parkways Foundation. “The money that goes into Grant Park is never at risk whether or not the festival is successful.”

Last year, the festival raised $1.6 million for the Chicago Park District, which was dispersed throughout the city’s parks. They negotiated that a minimum of 10 percent of the money raised is to be pumped back into Grant Park.

“We’re trying to get as much money in Grant Park as possible from Lollapalooza,” said Bob O’Neill, director of the Grant Park Advisory Council. “Last year, over $130,000 was put back into the park.” 

Resident Thom Alcazar challenged the details and negotiations of the contract, suggesting that the neighborhood should’ve had an opportunity to compare it to similar contracts in other cities to ensure they are making an informed decision.

“There has never been an intelligent lease that a city has entered into. Are we doing a smart, good negotiation?” said Alcazar.

Along with concerns about the contract details, residents expressed their displeasure with the state of the park after the festival is over. Resident Alison Dallmer noted that months after the festival has taken place, there are still things in the park that are in desperate need of repair.

“For all the great work and all the great money that you’re saying is going in, there is an awful lot of continual disrepair and it’s upsetting,” said Dallmer, noting the crumbling concrete steps along the lakefront.

O’Neill acknowledged the problem and has been filing complaints with the city to get them fixed using the Lollapalooza generated funds. 

“We will, as we do with all these projects, get those taken care of,” said O’Neill.

In addition to voicing their concerns, community members offered up suggestions as to how the money should be distributed to enhance Grant Park.

John Methvin, representing the Chicago Skateboarding Association, proposed using the funds to create a permanent skate park replicating a downtown plaza to replace the current temporary facility located at Balbo and Columbus.

“It would be more of a European garden style plaza that would accent the look of Grant Park,” said Methvin, who thinks that skateboarders would be less interested in skating illegally downtown if they had a better facility to use.

Other suggestions included using the funds to improve Queen’s Island, create a natural and organic lawn display in the park, and find a sod alternative to keep Butler Field in better shape.

The Park District Board will vote on whether or not to allow the Lollapalooza contract extension at their regular meeting at 4 p.m. today.

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Sept. 16, 2008 – Residents concerned about their safety in a Northside neighborhood will have an unorthodox opportunity to show their concern about crime in the area.

Residents of the Triangle Neighborhood, which is bounded by Clark Street, Halsted Street and Addison Street, will have an opportunity to meet with their local police officers at 1 a.m. on an upcoming Saturday, Oct. 4.

In an effort to draw more attention to the problem of crime in the area, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) proposed Beat 2331’s next Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) meeting be held during the area’s problem hours.

"The CAPS meeting will focus on the activity on Halsted," said Mary Kate Rohan, director of community outreach in the 44th Ward. "Tom’s going to be there; the police are going to be there."

By holding the meeting at 1 a.m. on a Saturday, the community and CAPS officers will be able to address the neighborhood’s nighttime and weekend safety concerns on Halsted Street. 

"The street dramatically changes after 11 p.m.," said Stu Zirin, a resident and business owner in the Triangle Neighborhood. "Our street is being taken over by hoodlums and drug dealers and prostitutes."

Some residents have experienced firsthand some of the issues that will be addressed at the upcoming CAPS meeting. Joe Ader, a neighborhood resident, expressed his concern about illegal activities that have occurred near his condo.

"I've seen drug dealers on the corners when I take my dogs out for a walk at night," said Ader. "The police haven’t been responding to my calls when I try to report it."

While Zirin and others report that the district commander and police officers have done a good job patrolling the streets, they say that community support and involvement is also a necessity to help decrease criminal activity.

"The officers don't believe it's a community issue in the sense that the community doesn’t care about it," said Zirin.

Involved residents hope that by attending the late night CAPS meeting, they will make it known that the presence of illegal activity is something the neighborhood is very concerned about.

"The only way to stop this – to take the street back – is to show the commander and the police that we care about our street," said Zirin, who added he hopes to see a large turnout at the unconventional meeting.

While residents had two opportunities to "walk the beat" at night with police officers over the summer, this is the first time that a CAPS meeting will be held during late night hours.

Information about the upcoming CAPS meeting’s location, when confirmed, will be posted on the Lake View Citizens' Council website . 

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“There were gangs on the streets when we moved here in the early 90s,” said Poppy. “At the time, crime was a big issue.”

A little less than two decades later, Lakeview – especially the 44th Ward – has seen a dramatic decrease in crime and has become a very desirable place to live in the city of Chicago.

“Lakeview is a very attractive neighborhood. People want to live here now,” said Poppy, who is also a member of the neighborhood organization, Central Lake View Neighbors.

Even though the 44th Ward is the largest in the Lakeview area, home to approximately 60,000 people, it has one of the lowest crime rates in the city. This may be attributed to the changing demographics of the neighborhood. At a time when the city’s first black mayor was elected, many of the area neighborhoods were pushing their minority residents out.

“Gentrification in Lakeview has been a much slower process than it was in Lincoln Park, it’s been more controlled and more in the community’s interest,” said Dick Simpson, former alderman of the 44th Ward and head professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “The community hasn’t been able to maintain the original demographics of the neighborhood entirely, more better off people are moving into the area.”

Over the past ten years, the number of minorities in the area has decreased. Approximately 68 percent of current residents are white, in contrast to only 15 percent Hispanic/Latino residents, according to the 2000 Census data.

“In general, gentrification involves an increase in income and a decrease in crime,” said Bennett Lawson, deputy alderman of the 44th Ward. “Race tends to be a factor, along with class and income.”

More recently, the ward has become more attractive to a younger crowd – college students, recent college graduates, and young families. A large number of restaurants and boutiques have moved into the area, making it an ideal neighborhood for someone who wants to live in a dining, shopping and entertainment destination.

“I go to school in the Loop but I don’t like living downtown anymore, there’s never anything to do,” said Columbia College student Kate Bond. “I’ve become pretty familiar with the Lakeview area because I have a lot of friends who live there and I’m looking forward to living there as well.”

During a development boom in the 90s, many of the area’s single-family homes were replaced with apartment complexes. Local residents were worried about overdevelopment and made their voices heard. Zoning laws have been created in the area to prevent any more homes being replaced by high rises.

Most of the area’s homes that were preserved are west of Sheffield Avenue, and families typically move into those structures. College students and recent graduates are more common east of Sheffield Avenue, where more apartments are available, said Poppy.

To regulate future development, neighborhood activists have joined Ald. Tunney to create a “Master Plan” for the ward to guide development and growth in a way that will not negatively affect the existing residents and structures.

“The plan will have a lot of input over a long period of time,” said Poppy. “We want a good community with a good quality of life.”

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Submitted on Thu, 12/13/2007 – 13:48.

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