Commander Rottner and Alderman Moore,
I know you think I'm a serious pain in the rump. For someone like me, who wants to help out in the community and with the citizen participation between our police on the streets, and the neighbors, I get abused, ridiculed and at times my life is in danger. This comes from all departments. The street gangs, the slumlords, the CAPS program and our elected public officials.
And yes, even from a few officers working in the Chicago Police Department.
I've assisted in catching many wrong-doers, gone to court for neighbors who needed a hand, formed walks, marches and neighborhood groups like Paws 4 Peace. Yet, I'm still cast as a pain in the you know what. Lesser men would've thrown in the towel long ago. I refuse to quit until I die. Which, if I don't watch my back, could happen anytime.
Okay, back to the Roll Call last night.
Here's where I look at a potential key part of our neighborhood relations problem in one photograph last night. Maybe you see it different. But, in this one roll call photo, I see a almost all, white (90%) police force.
If I were a person of color, I'd be scared to death too. This is not the make-up of the neighborhood, by no means. This roll call was in a neighborhood made up of maybe 80% people of color. Our police department should be a reflection of the community, shouldn't it?
Alderman Moore, this is for you. We, as a community, NEED YOU to step to the plate and get Commander Rottner more police on the streets in the 24th. Every other Alderman I work with has no problem doing this, why is it you can't?
Funding should not be an issue over public safety. This is just getting tiring to see the problems get worse and worse, not better.
I'm just one little nosey neighbor who wants to help out. Just one man's thought's. It can be ignored like all my other offerings. I just felt a need to share this with you personally.
Peace,
Craig Gernhardt
19 comments:
Craig,
I believe you are off base regarding the racial composition of the police.
Honest people are not afraid of the police. Yes, there are always bad apples, and sometimes people of color get unnecessarily hassled, ALA DWB. That's wrong. But, for the most part, the police are fair. Frankly they don't want to do unnecessary paper work. Extra stops/arrests equal more paper work. Think about it.
Don't fall for the ultra-liberal viewpoint that it's the police fault for people doing bad things.
Bad people are responsible for doing bad things. Period!
Reminds of a meeting where both members of the Rogers Park Community Council (RPCC) and the Rogers Park Community Action Network (RPCAN) were present. The meeting had been called by RPCC and held in their space on Morse Ave. A line of cops were standing along the wall, all white men. Apparently, they had been asked there by RPCC, who falsely anticipated some problems with the RPCAN people.
I have not seen police officers of color in RP in the 20+ years I've lived here. My dad was the first African-American Illinois State police officer back in the early 1960's. I'm not impressed nor intimidated by bad cops, which make up a small portion of the force. I praise the ones who do their job to bet of their ability, because they have a hard job.
However, I doubt that hiring police officers of color, coupled with the long-term view of RP police as being ineffective and incompetant, will help relations between the cops and the residents much. A lot of people, including the law-abiding ones, have been conditioned to mistrust the police, due to personal experiences with them or what they have observed in the media. A criminal is not necessarily going to respect a cop any more just because they are of the same ethnicity.
Craig, you raise two TOTALLY legitimate issues here. I'm really happy that you did. Unlike a lot of people who observe your blog or post on it, I have never doubted your ability to see and then address fundamental community issues. Sometimes your reporting style makes people think that you do not have this in you. I know different.
The two major points that need to be underscored and amplified are 1) the need for racial integration of our local police force and 2) the need for aldermanic leadership, work, support, and assistance - especially to identify additional resource$ for our 24th District the way other aldermen do.
I discussed these issues with Commander Rottner two years ago. I raised the issue of racial integration of the nearly 300 officers assigned to our local constabulary. He agreed it was a problem. The tenor of our discussions was such that I believed that he was and is sincerely concerned about how the issue affects his department’s ability to serve and protect. Boxing Tomboy, who posted here raises an interesting perspective. However, like it or not, for many residents race relations is an important slice in the larger police professionalism pie. Yes, there are many other police professionalism issues that need to be tackled, but the racial component cannot be ignored.
Commander Rottner came up with a partial solution after several months of meetings to discuss this and other issues. He reached out to the Police Academy and recruited nearly a dozen Black and Latino academy graduates to accept an assignment here. That was a good first step and I congratulated him on it. I'm sure he would do more - and it really means the community must back him up. That means publicly give him the congratulations, credit, and encouragement to keep doing the right thing.
This concern also relates to the issue of how to get more Black and Latino parents and residents to participate in CAPS. More of our neighbors – of all races – need to be involved in discussion and action on crime, local housing conditions that allow criminality to flourish, and measures to encourage police professionalism like enhancing the racial make-up of our local police force. For CAPS to work we must embrace all possible options for improving community/police relations.
As far as Alderman Moore's advocacy on this and doing the right thing? You are right to note the example of how other aldermen work. Maybe going to our neighboring aldermen (Mary Ann Smith or Pat O'Connor) asking questions, listening, learning, and taking notes about how to "work the system" to bring home the bacon would help.
Peace, Michael Harrington
i would really like to hear about any instance of an alderman who was able to bring resources to the police department in their ward. preferably with a link to a reputable source. (and i don't mean- got more officers assigned to the ward because upper class home owners think they deserve more protection.) it just does not work that way. nor should it. divided government is too essential in a democracy.
of all the things that drive me crazy about the jomo haters, it is the idea that he is responsible for everything that happens in the ward, and should be involved in ever citizen group. the alderman does not BELONG at every caps meeting. you complain that he doesn't do his job, then expect him to spend every night at meetings that are not even decission making venues.
and as far as the racial composition of the police force- where have you been? this has been an issue that has been fought since the 60's and went all the way to the federal government and back, trying to increase the number of minorities in the police department, the fire department, and city government in general. hiring and contracting as well. it remains a sad legacy of entrenched racism in this city that too few minority children get a decent education and have a stable, nuturing home necessary to achieve. and racism ruled hiring for a very long time. it is a complex situation that permeates our culture. (and is getting worse since conservatives got control. st ronnie of raygun made it fashionable to hate again.) one alderman is not responsible for it, nor does he have the tools to undo it.
without a doubt, tho, aldermen like joe have done more to change that than all the rich white guys in this city put together. and you don't give him credit for his role in bringing caps to chicago.
really, you ought to see what you can do about joining us here in the reality-based community.
Who's not in favor of more black or hispanic cops? It cuts down on the number of race-based complaints, and everyone benefits from that, including the cops.
Unfortunately, Craig is about the last person who ought to raise this issue. As he points out, the cops already hate him. Now, the issue of hiring more black and hispanic cops is tied to all the lunatic bullshit Craig has pulled in the past.
Great. I think we can kiss the possibility of getting more black cops goodbye now. Thanks, Craig.
so we should have more black doctors in rogers park. more black lawyers. more black bankers. more black business managers. more black drug dealers. oh sorry, we have plenty of those.
get a clue. the color of the police will not change the criminal element. how does anyone think that racial quotas will solve what are social, economic and cultural problems.
The Chicago Public Schools have a policy for their selective schools (Lane, Northside, Walter Payton, Whitney). The student population must reflect that of the City of Chicago.
been there said...> "I would really like to hear about any instance of an alderman who was able to bring resources to the police department in their ward. preferably with a link to a reputable source."
I'd be glad to. First sign in under your real name.
Alright, so is it out of the realm of possibility to have a few undercover cops on foot patrol?
Considering he amount of crime that has taken place in RP recently :
http://gis.chicagopolice.org/CLEARMap/startPage.htm
Is a few cops on foot patrol really too much to ask?
By the way, Craig, I'm pretty sure I live really close to ya.
zabasearch.com is a wonderful (and scary) tool...
What do you think of the recent gooning attacks?
What are you running for now, Harrington?
By the way Craig, did Harrington ever pay back that campaign debt to you or did he work it off?
From now on I'll be posting under by real name.
Formerly Toto
(o)(-)
<====>
Little tommy mannis on his piss poor roger park bench blog thinks I'm some kind of rich 48th ward developer with oodles of clout downtown. I only wish.
Kiss kiss tommy. I think you're some kind of closeted anti-gay right wing wacko.
Formerly known as Toto
T(o)t(-)
Dear Bloggerdaddy49,
I’m ready to engage in a sane, civil, respectful, and non-personal dialogue with you. This kind of exchange between us can only begin when you finally get the guts (whichever gonads you possess) to identify yourself to me and to us all.
Since the advent of Internet posting on blogs like this, I have always used my full and real name. There are no pseudonyms behind which I hide. I have been open and honest about who I am because I am not afraid to say what believe. Put another way, I believe in what I say. Moreover, I am willing to be publicly identified with, am willing to defend, and am willing to debate whatever position I take. I’m also willing to admit mistakes and accept that I am not perfect. Do any of these characteristics apply to you, Bloggerdaddy49, whoever you are?
Contrary to your implication, I say aloud what I believe and volunteer to do the things that I do neither from aspirations to public office nor from malicious intent. Unlike you or some others, I’m not here to make comments with a goal to be nasty or seemingly witty. You have speculated in the past about ulterior motives by me and others. Well, since you still don’t have a clue, I’ll spell out my “ulterior motive” for you. Actually, there are two.
Firstly, I am motivated by the experiences of a lifetime of living as a Black, Gay, Man in Chicago who as a child was raised in a house full of books by parents who made sure I had a college education. I am thankful to powers greater than I for that long list of assets and benefits, which I know many cannot claim. I am secondly motivated by my admittedly selfish interest in looking out for the best interests of my family here in Rogers Park and the enjoyment I get in doing that. These two fundamental statements about my life are ever-present in my mind. Silence about what I know and believe is not an option.
I’ve shared criticisms and concerns about public officials and institutions which purport to serve our community. Other times, I’ve celebrated and applauded when appropriate. Again, I’ve always done so with full disclosure about who I am. Our neighbors here know that I am usually transparent about who or what I support, and where on the many sides of an issue I stand. There is no secrecy or fakery when I offer my experience or thoughts.
On the other hand, Bloggerdaddy49, you seem to have something to hide. What your secret is we don’t know. What we do know is that you don’t like it when anyone criticizes the 49th Ward alderman. Why is that? What motivates you? We can only wonder whether your objections relate to your paycheck or to some other personal stake you have but would rather not disclose. Without knowing your real identity we’ll never know what to believe regarding anything you have to say.
You puzzle us when your response to criticism about the alderman essentially does not defend him, but instead makes a personal attack against the critic. Guess what, Bloggerdaddy49? Elected officials here get public scrutiny. Yes, they even get criticized, warranted or not. In America it’s what we call ACCOUNTABILITY.
I am among many residents who want and expect a helluva lot better than what we’ve been getting. I have a right to express that. I have a right to believe that we can raise the standard in what we expect from our elected officials, from our institutions, and from each other. And, just for the record, even though I’ve said it here before and most people know it, I'll state it again: I was a candidate for alderman in 2003 and this year was proud to serve as a leader of the Citizens Committee to Elect Don Gordon 49th Ward Alderman. Both activities were a result of the motivations I have expressed here and what I believe.
So, I conclude here by asking you this question: Can we raise the standard in what we expect of each other by being honest about who we are? By being open about our motivations and vested interests? I just did. Now, it’s your turn.
Peace, Michael Harrington
Boxing tomboy,
You have an interesting perspective on this. I guess not having respect for police (and lots of other things) goes with the territory for actual criminals. But what about law abiding people who mistrust the police? Do you think having uniformed police of different ethnicities, gender and who are multi-lingual can help build trust with the public?
Or do you think it all boils down to the quality of personal experiences with them and media representations?
Is it accurate that RP police are less effective or competant than other wards? Not sure how this works since the 24th spans multiple wards. Is it a competancy issue or a resource issue?
Syd, I thought you weren't supposed to hatch for a few more days.
"This spring,...the 17-year periodical cicadas will make another appearance in northern Illinois," said Ron Wolford, a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. [...] "This includes the Chicago area."
"Full-grown...cicada nymphs will emerge this spring in late May." he said.
"About a week after emergence, the males will congregate and start singing [...] The trilling is very loud and occurs during the sunny part of the day. The...period lasts for two weeks, the males die, and the singing ends."
"Even though periodical cicadas look a little scary," Wolford said "they are not dangerous to humans or pets."
Harrington said: "Elected officials here get public scrutiny. Yes, they even get criticized, warranted or not. In America it’s what we call ACCOUNTABILITY."
You ask why I don't reveal myself? Because here on the blogs there is no accountability. I understand when a public figure does something dumb they get called on it. But here in blogland our alderman chased a purse snatcher and you're all finding fault with that, looking for SOME way to vilify the guy for something that was a good deed!
The paranoia and full out hate just runs too deep for me to reveal my name. And it's so schizophrenic. He loves you...NO he HATES you! These blogmasters are your buddy one day and your sworn enemy the next. I don't need Craig or Mannis going after my girfriend and my kids and posting embarrassing pictures and stories of us on their blogs. I like my private life. But Harrington, you seem to enjoy it enough that you keep coming back for more--even after being Craig's target. Just like your candidate came back for more from Craig after humiliating his daughter. You want the exposure. You need it.
Besides, without your name on your posts Craig would never print them. They're so long and so pompous! Paradise posts long blogs but they're so crazy you can just imagine the spittle splattering all over the keyboard as she writes.
I am not running for anything. I'm just watching the circus. And you're in the center ring.
Bloggerdaddy,
It is lots of fun to speculate who you might be, but really who cares? You guys are all cut from the same cloth.
I'm tempted to give you a primer on the potential of the "social media" you are using here and how it's not like traditional journalism, but you can look that up yourself - on the internet!
As for your ramblings about people getting personally attacked by Craig on this blog, I'll just point out two things. One, when Craig posted the story about Don Gordon's daughter, Don was a candidate and Shana Gordon was actively working in Don's campaign at the time. I don't say this to defend Craig actions per se, (personally I don't give a rat's a** about candidate's families unless they've gone to prison for illegal politically motivated activities) but to point out that Don had entered public life at that point.
Two, you did make a personal, anonymous and unsubstantiated attack on Michael Harrington in this string. He's not running for anything or working on anyone's campaign right now. So, what was your point again?
Other than that, I just have to chuckle at your inflated sense of self-importance. Most of us don't expect to have our private lives splattered across this blog simply for disagreeing with each other over neighborhood issues and signing our first names. But whatever.
You think the hate runs deep on this blog? This blog is pretty tame, relatively speaking. People speaking their minds scares and offends some and they'll try to shut down discourse by saying it's hateful, negative and counterproductive. Yes, some of the comments are of questionable quality. But a lot of them aren't. Its the sum that counts here, not the parts.
To my mind the best thing that could happen on this blog is simply that a lot more of you who read start to comment from time to time. The most important part of this blog isn't what Craig says - he's just the catalyst for the comments and other information sharing and he knows it.
I think we should show some appreciation to Craig and other longtime bloggers for providing this venue to the community. Running one of these blogs, with original content, day after day for years is a lot harder than it looks.
I agree with Craig's take on bloggerdaddy and other commenters like him. He's a coward and he himself hides and hurls hate. I can sense it when I read his comments very clearly. I don't read any hate from Michael Harrington. I think bloggerdaddy should turn that critical eye on himself and take a good honest look.
What does this person contribute to any meaningful discussion anyway? What is he saying to MH, that he has no place at the table? Who is he to say that?
It really does seem at times that certain people are trying to bully other commenters out of commenting by attacking them personally. And then they point fingers and say "look what Craig says." How childish. And they seem to have ZERO sense of humour either.
Now, go ahead, hurl your childish insults at me -you little babies.
I believe Bloggerdaddy is just a little confused about just who is posting as Paradise these days.
I have not posted under that name in many, many months.
Someone else is using the name now.
As for my comments while I did post under that name, I don't disown a single one.
Laura Louzader
Post a Comment