If you ever wanted to learn how to waste $25,000 dollars, DevCorp North would be the perfect instructor.
A few months ago, after a year of discussion, after one community meeting, DevCorp North hired a couple of rent-a-cops. What DevCorp North really did was ram these rent-o-cops down our throats. We, the community, didn't have a choice. DevCorp North did this even though the community said "nothing was going to change".
After all was said and done, DevCorp North should have listened to the community before starting this boondoggle, taxpayer funded waste.
The mission for the rent-o-cops? Just drive around, waste gas and take notes for three months, that's all. The rent-o-cops kept score, as the bad guys scored.
DevCorp North, (still sitting on a bundle of money for security) just finished and put out their propaganda style summary report. DevCorp North crafted the reports wording to show positive results. DevCorp North made some really fancy graphic charts. The whole summary fit nicely on two pages of paper.
All this for $25 tttthhhhousand dollars.
The rent-o-cops didn't make any arrests. None. Zero. Zip. All the rent-o-cops did was keep a log of the illegal activities (no word if the rent-o-cop even called 911 on these illegal activities witnessed) and waste expensive gas driving around in their gas guzzling, clunker car.
30 businesses along Clark Street and Morse Avenue said they did not see Improvements in foot traffic or sales.
My question is, if DevCorp North were to use the paid membership dues money instead of $25,000 dollars in taxpayer money, would they have had hired these rent-o-cops to drive around keeping a log on the crime in the area?
If throwing taxpayer money out the window were an olympic sport, DevCorp North would win the gold medal.
21 comments:
There's that ever-popular cherry pick which months you want to report on trick again. DevCorp North has a very unusual fiscal year: January-October.
Whoa! October was a good month! Quick! Get a report out before anyone else is raped or stabbed or mugged!
No reporting on arrests?
No reporting on calls to the the 24th?
No reporting on calls to the 24th resulting in arrests?
The security officers WATCHED all those oodles of crimes, but there's no reporting on convictions supported with testimony from the security patrol officers?
Pretty cool how you can raise taxes, spend the money, set your own criteria for evaluation, and write your own report card. Where is the accountability? DevCorp North is out of control.
Page 1 of the report card presents statistics from the security patrol's crime log, and page 2 presents crime statistics from the 24th district, but it is not clear there is any relationship between the two.
The data underlying the crime statistics presented are not available to the public for review.
>The greatest decrease in crime occurred in Beat 2431 ... where security patrols were active ...
Beat 2431 was also the only the only beat with a Blue Light Special (installed 6 weeks into the 10 months of the study period). This unique confounding factor makes it impossible to draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the security patrol.
>The goal of the initiative was to ... create a more postive atmosphere ...
> .. local business owners and residents ... directly benefited from an improved atmosphere of safety.
$25,000 for an impoved atmosphere of safety? Not improved safety?
Here is a list of restaurants that my wife and I enjoy in RP:
1. Yuens Chinese Kitchen
2. Parkside Grill
3. Campeche
4. Caffe Suron
5. Morseland
6. Chipotle (I know...but so good)
7. Wing/Chicken Stop
We tried Gateway a few months back. It was OK. We are willing to try it again, any suggestions? Heartland is not bad, just haven't been there in awhile.
DevCorp North's Security Patrol Initiative Summary
DevCorp North's Taxation District: Clark-Morse-Glenwood Special Service Area Map
24th District Beat Map
Beats 2422, 2424 and 2432 all had a decrease in crime, with NO security patrol and NO police camera?
Steph n 63 said.......>"I asked why do you go gamble in Las Vegas"
Steph, I went to las Vegas to watch some serious moto racing. Talk about scary.
Excerpts from the security patrol logs:
Assistance = Assessing security concerns of local business owners
Security officer: "Pack of Camels, please."
Clerk in bodega: "Here you are, officer."
Security officer: "How's it going?"
Clerk: "Fine. And you?"
Security concerns assessed. Check.
Loitering = Disrupting the activities of known drug dealers or groups of individuals exhibiting suspicious behavior.
3:20 PM in front of Soo Liquors: "Move along boys, you can't wear white t-shirts here." Check.
Violation Enforcement = Disrupting and preventing criminal activity, predominantly prostitution
RP businesswoman: "Hi, officer, looking for a date?"
Security officer: "I told you, not when I'm on duty."
Potential instance of prostitution disrupted. Check.
Public Drinking = Disrupting illegal public drinking activities
1:45 PM Yelled out window at 1343 W Morse, "Take it INSIDE the brick wall, guys." Check.
Monitoring = Patrolling known trouble areas
2:12 PM Drove past 1342 W Morse. Check.
2:24 PM Drove around the block and past 1342 W Morse again. Check. ...
> ... while the I-CAM may not substitute for genuine police presence, I'm afraid to admit that it's the best we can do right now.
We CAN do better.
DevCorp North has had their turn at being the "sole service provider" for the Morse SSA.
Let's take the ENTIRE Clark-Morse-Glenwood Special Service Area budget, and present it to the 24th District Commander, and ask him for a real beat cop or two.
Let's make the 24th District the new sole service provider for the Morse SSA.
Let's make public safety the one and only priority for the Heart of Rogers Park.
Planters can wait.
SSA #24 Budget
>Can the taxpayers ask for a refund or rebate?
We can stanch the bleeding.
Craig - Thanks for the posting about this report. Good work.
Did anyone ride along with these security patrols? I'd be interested to talk with someone that did.
The part of this report that confuses me is calls for assistance, which was the highest number of instances the security patrol logged (94) next to loitering (71) -- which, oddly enough, includes "disrupting" drug dealers and suspicious activities.
DevCorp notes in the report that these assistance calls included "directly responding to disturbances." If the security patrols did nothing, what specifically did they do for assistance?
I also was under the impression the security officers did not make their presence known or get directly involved with any incidents they observed. Am I wrong about this?
You would think that out of 94 of these assistance calls, there would have been at least one or two arrests. Am I missing something here?
While DevCorp reported that over half of the businesses surveyed felt safer, it's interesting that 73% (almost three out of four) of business owners saw no increase in foot traffic and sales in 2005, when compared with the same period in 2004. Would the results be much different if there was less crime on Morse Ave.?
Additionally, this survey included businesses on Clark Ave., which I personally feel isn't as bad as Morse Ave.
I would love to see a breakdown of the survey by street -- especially Morse Ave. I just can't believe that in the short time span of this program, over half of business owners felt safer with undercover, off-duty police officers who made no arrests.
The survey didn't ask whether the program was a success (which is typical for most studies): The question was whether business owners knew the program was going on (90% did), and whether they felt safer in summer 2005 than in summer of 2004 (63% said they did).
So what can we do? On Howard Ave., they are conducting a lot of police roadblocks to check for seat-belts, etc., and then proceeding to check for other law violations. Maybe this needs to be done more along Morse also. They did that in New York City when they wanted to clean up Times Square. They arrested drug dealers and the gangs for even minor offenses. Eventually, the activity moves elsewhere.
Any suggestions on where we go from here? Is it a manpower issue, do the police need to step up and crack down, something else entirely?
"I agree with you. Rogers Park is beyond redemption."
-Steph whatever
Um, I don't think anyone said that- maybe you're hallucinating again Stephie. Did anyone really say that? Why are so angry? You seem really angry- I'm sorry if we make you angry. I'd like to provide a reality check for you about what is going on in this community. I hope you'll overlook our differences of opinion and take the time to absorb some facts and cease denigrating this dialouge and blog with your spite and insults.
It is true that I don't like you insulting my neighborhood. I don't think you'd like me to insult yours either. Your comments are really nasty. I don't think anyone here has insulted you to the degree that you are insulting us.
Nor have you offered any solutions or ideas. You say it is hopeless here basically. You might say that we have so-called bad things to say about RP, but don't you also notice that people try to come up solutions or ideas. Did you notice that people here get involved in community events and what's going on? Pick up litter. Call the police when needed. Just curious if you know your neighbors where you live now? Hopefully you do.
What is your agenda anyway? What do you want? To feel good that you left? Fine. Maybe you're mad because you sold your building and took a loss. FYI- property values here are skyrocketing. Talk to any realtor and they will tell you that this neighborhood has been red hot for years. And we have room for steady high levels of appreciation to come.
On my street within 2 blocks alone this past year 5 buildings either went condo or were newly built as condos. I wouldn't call that "beyond redemption." And this is happening all over the neighborhood on almost every block. Last Saturday, there was an article in the Chicago Tribune stating that property values here have increased 100% in the last 2 years. This is why the Alderman initiated some zoning changes to protect our historic single family homes from being demolished for building condos.
Let's look at the time period you lived here (1963 - 1995). In every major city in the sixties and seventies there was what you call urban flight. The Depaul area, Wrigley, and Lakeview were all slummish and River North was skid row in that time period for example. I lived in RP myself in the eighties and early nineties (I've been around a while I knew Foodworks and Rocky's)and as far as I'm concerned it wasn't bad. I used to walk to ennui at night alone- never any problems. But, it's better now. I'm sorry you had such bad experiences. From what I hear, the South side isn't all peaches and cream either.
And I haven't heard anyone diss the Morseland to the extent that you describe. I see someone else around here being the "hater".
Here are some real indicators that this community is on the upswing. 1. This so-called slum is getting $3.4 million of taxpayer money allocated for Streetscaping on Morse Avenue.
2. That gang banger problem building you were referring to on Morse and Sheridan is no more- the buildings on the corner have either gone condo or are now managed by responsible landlords.
3. When you went to the Morseland, did you happen to notice that huge loft development and Remax across the street? 70% sold at $300K++. Maybe they'll eat there too. Many of us already do. They had a nice outdoor cafe all summer that was always full.
4. Train station was just renovated. It looks better, is better lit and functions better now.
4. Glenwood will be included in the streetscaping to be made more appealing to retail stores and pedestrians.
5. How about the Glenwood Arts building. They did a great job renovating it and now artists can find affordable and community-type digs to work in.
5. 1/2 billion (that's $500,000,000.00) in development dollars is being spent by Loyola for non-university development, which includes over 400 market rate condos, commercial space including space for large anchor stores such as Office Depot. These developments will be near Loyola & Sheridan- a stone's throw from Morse Ave.
a few other comments on your diatribe:
"The block east of Sheridan would be desirable place to live if it was not in Rogers Park."
It is a nice area. We all enjoy walking down those streets and right up the park and beach, which is like no other neighborhood in the city.
"You regard Tasty Sub as an asset and the Morseland as a blight. We regard places like Tasty Sub as blight and welcome places like the Morseland."
That is what I am talking about- insulting and just plain nasty. Didn't your Mother teach you any manners? Do you know anyone personally on this blog or who lives here currently? I would never eat at Tasty Sub and I eat at Morseland often.
"I see from this blog that the crime rate has soared"
That's not what the statistics say. If you're getting your "facts" from one source, not a very good way to verify the truth.
And with that, I've said my peace.
"Y'all have been dissing Morse as a Hellhole for what? A year? And now Steph comes along and says, yeah, you guys are right, it is SUCH a Hellhole."
Steph made a crucial mistake: He forgot to tie his comments to DevCorp, Section 8 Housing, Ald. Joe Moore and Katy Hogan.
Let the witch hunt begin.
weeeeeeee.
>Y'all have been dissing Morse as a Hellhole for what? A year? And now Steph comes along...
This blog is the reason for Morse's image problem? Not the crime or the lack of retail or corrupt politicians? How could a dumb guy with a computer be more influential than DevCorp North with a 7-figure budget?
> RPneighbor, thanks for saying many of the things I've said. OK Hugh, time to attack her.
You know, it sounds different to me when it's coming from someone who's not an anonymous poster or the 2431 CAPS Beat Facilitator or the Secretary of the Board of Directors of DevCorp North or Chairman of DevCorp North's Publicity and Public Relations Committee or the Chairman of DevCorp North's standing committee to promote real estate development.
Hugh asks.....> " How could a dumb guy with a computer be more influential than DevCorp North with a 7-figure budget"?
Luck I guess?
just a thought from someone in the art studio on the corner of lunt and glenwood. first, we are a working studio and not a gallery. and to my knowledge we've never lost a patron to a gangbanger shooting in the 4 years we've hosted openings in this building.
in fact, during our august opening we had over 250 guests that night. no one was shot, maimed or raped - or at least we never heard about it.
we're trying to create a positive environment on this corner and having openings and holding classes brings people to this corner for something other than a drug pick up.
steph, if you read this today, stop by our opening tonight (dec. 10) and feel the difference that a gathering of community can make. and it's happening here, in rogers park!
our landlord has also told us that he plans on renovating the window structure. i think that this will improve the look of this corner and he's doing it at his own expense. the devcorp facade rebate will not cover all the work that needs to be done on these storefronts.
> ... devcorp facade rebate ...
Thanks for the post about the opening, but please don't call it the "devcorp" facade rebate. Facade rebate is a program of the City of Chicago, our home town. Cost are shared between the property owner and the generousity of the taxpayers of the City of Chicago.
No DevCorp North funds are used for facade rebates. DevCorp North merely keeps the application forms on file in their office and maybe helps a store owner fill it out. That's it.
Post a Comment