Dear Rogers Park,
I came to you one morning on a windy August day, trying to find my place. I had spent days on end in this new metropolis looking at all the different neighborhoods and wondering why all the architecture was so stuck in the seventies. Well, on the eve of the return to the sticks, I found Rogers Park.
Tucked all the way at the northernmost side of the city. So close to the beach, inside a neighborhood with character, a place on the rise, and pulsing with diversity and change. Change was right.
I knew this was a perfect place for me. Trading in my mountains for the lake. No problem, even though it was a different landform. I got it. I waited until my time, and came as quickly as I could. Packed my things and drove away in the middle of the night.
I quickly came and things got real. I loved the charm, but began to notice the crumbling structure. Truthfully, nothing was better than a night at Leona’s followed by a stroll on the sand, or a really cheap beer at the oasis, movies much cheaper at the Village North, and the convenient double-edged sword that was the red line.
I felt very much at home. I finally became just another face, not the big fish anymore. I really took to anonymity, and felt part of the community. I took to the city with an open heart and wide-open eyes. So, in that need, I started to notice the shortcomings of the place I fell in love with. I took it all in stride.
I wanted to know how things click, so I went where anyone goes nowadays when they need answers, the internet. I found different websites and blogs both singing the praises and exposing ugly truths. I loved this. “Broken Heart” became my inside source. The place where I saw how the inside ran. I took to it, read it daily. Maybe too much.
I am so very proud of the 'Broken Heart', taking the daily risk to stand up for change, sometimes in the face of danger, speaking loudly into ears that do not want to listen. To that I applaud.
But maybe my young eyes were not ready to take what I saw. It made me grow paranoid and made me see the negative side of the diversity. Attitudes became of what they used to be, before me. Things that had just passed on, or simply vanished from my old life. I did not think much of these feelings, but my love for my new home was quickly souring. Then things began to heat up, spring was here.
Then these things came to my doorstep. First it was shoot-outs on my doorstep. The open air drug markets that creep closer. The homeless and drugs that took up my park, my beaches, my landscape that I took to when I first met this great neighborhood. My place to find solace that I cannot go to whenever I like, because of activities. It made me angry that someone who leads this neighborhood could take such a blind eye to what is happening around them.
I did my part, I contacted the offices, I voted against them, and still all the efforts came dry. And things kept getting worse. Now my new home is on the news for bank robberies, hate crimes, gooning, among other crimes and lawlessness, and then I knew, it was time to break up.
So, on the eve of the break up, I’m sad. I’m angry. To think on the year I’ve spent here, and how much I’ll miss doing the things that made this place so great, makes me upset. I know my new home will have different places, but there is an adjustment period, as there is with any new love, you got to get over the last one. This letter is my attempt at getting over leaving Rogers Park.
To all the ones who stay and fight against the things that are holding this neighborhood back, I salute you. I promise, if I return when things get better, I’ll never take that credit.
I plan to keep up with RP even when I move to my new neighborhood. Where I have my space, a clean and safe park, new restaurants, cheap beer, and a place where I can lay my head and sleep easy.
Goodbye Rogers Park
28 comments:
It's not hard to figure this one out. If Joe Moore and his band of goons would pay more attention to the ward, these stories wouldn't be published.
Maybe after a few developers start losing their shirts and stop contributing to the Joe Moore political campaign war-chest, things might start actually changing around here?
Dear "Goodbye, Rogers Park":
As Johnny Reno said to Wyatt Earp in the movie Tombstone, "Bye."
Seriously, after only one year you're ready to tuck your tail between your legs and book? Man, I just don't see this as that much of a loss to the neighborhood. Then, confessing before the fact to being a fair-weather friend, you plan to return when the neighborhood improves to the point of meeting your standards? Well, thank you very much. I'm sure we'll all know when the job is finally done when we hear the heralds of your return. How magnanimous of you to let us know you do not intend to take credit for the improvement. Wow, you mean you don't expect the loss of your citizenship to count as a tangible impetus inspiring those of us left behind to finally get the job done? Ah, you are so gracious sir/madam.
One year? Really? I just don't see the loss here. By the by, what neighborhood are you moving to, anyway? If it's a Chicago neighborhood, I imagine things won't be all that much different . . . or have you found a magical kingdom in Daley Land? If so, where? I'm always up for a visit to a new place.
Bye, see ya, don't let the door hit you where the sun don't shine.
- PEACE -
Sounds like you are moving to a fairy tale, because any where in chicago, the parks are not safe, beer is never cheap and there is noise in every neighborhood. But you probably have better restaurants because they are pretty shitty here.
fargo
such a high horse for just one of the troops?
"don't let the door hit you where the sun don't shine."
it's; don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya
i'll be your daisy
Aw he/she/it couldnt hack it, thats so sweet
I love you Rogers Park, but I am a wimp and isntead of trying to help improve things I will evacuate with my tail between my legs for some fratty burg of boredom,
aw well, i guess sissy pants,
needs a more gentrified neigborhood, you might find wickerpark safe enough, maybe, there are no perfect burgs,
try roscoe village, it has hardly any vestige of grime or filth
and its boring as all hell,
but it is beautiful,
>Craig said: "Maybe after a few developers start losing their shirts and stop contributing to the Joe Moore political campaign war-chest, things might start actually changing around here?"
I'm very confused (???) How will developers losing their shirts improve Rogers Park?
How will developers losing their shirts stop people from using the CTA stations as a public toilet?
How will developers losing their shirts stop the petty drug dealing?
How will developers losing their shirts stop goonings?
Im very sorry that this person can't hack it up here. But what really strikes me as funny is the level of expections.
People want to live cheap. They cant afford Lincoln Park, Lakeview or the Gold Coast, but in RP they can still have lakefront accessability, good transportaton resources and reasonably priced rents and condos.
With living on the cheap comes some of the same challenges like crime, drugs and people who do not follow the customs of civil life. However, if you were to suddenly remove some of these challenges, people who in the past would not have thought to move to RP will move here in droves. The prices will go up.
So what is it that people want Craig? Certainly cleaning up the neighborhood of all the miscreants would be desirable. However, will the police (and the alderman) do this when there are neighborhoods in Chicago that are much more dangerous an much more in need of police services?
What about quality development? Well to some, the idea that developers might come here and buying buildings to convert or land to build new developments that can attract more people with higher incomes seems to be a threat. Many people rail over the "loss of affordable housing" in RP.
Honestly, I think there is this bi-polar attitude about RP and some of the bloggers here believe that they can have both affordable housing for all and somehow exclude some of the people with the same social problems dipicted here who use affordable housing.
To the original poster: I wish you all the best in finding this Utopia you want to live in. As for me, I will work to make my neighborhood better and I will concentrate on enjoying the good things in life.
I don't see the need to spew so much venom on the origianl poster. He/she has chosen not to live in a place that includes the worst things about Rogers Park. Many, many, many people would never tolerate such things as regular gun fire, violent gangs, drug addicts, personal crime and shit in public transportation hubs.
It's ok to not tolerate these things, even though some of us stay here in spite of them.
VERY NICE LETTER AND VERY TRUE-
YES OUR ALDERMAN STINKS FROM ROTTEN GOOSE LVER-
SEEMS ALL HE IS INTERESTEDIN IS POLITICAL DONATIONS AND BEING A PUPPET OF THE UNION-
In full agreement with Rogersparking...
"Many, many, many people would never tolerate such things as regular gun fire, violent gangs, drug addicts, personal crime and shit in public transportation hubs."
makes ya wonder huh?
endlessly complain instead of leaving, and then make a routine of being bitten by the 'fun' of being in a political gang, and gang-bangin each other on a daily basis
and then, like psychiatrists that claim that they 'hang out' with troubled/emotionally disturbed people strictly out of altruism
Here's a classic example of the mindset of our Alderman and his staff.
I attended the 2422 CAPS meeting last night. While discussing problem areas and streets, a neighbor brought up the Greenview/Rogers/Howard intersection. Recently, the used furniture store at that location closed. The owner of the store was very diligent about keeping that corner clean, and he had no problem chasing away the prostitutes, drug dealers and gang bangers. He also made it a point to call 911.
The Alderman’s representative at the CAPS meeting was Alicia. She was not aware that another local business had closed, and when she was told he had closed and moved to another location, she said "GOOD RIDDANCE." She said he was a pain because he had "stuff" on the sidewalk and blocked the public way.
I guess it's ok for prostitutes to block the public way. It's ok for gang bangers to stake their turf and make people cross the street to avoid them. It's ok for the drug runners to run you down on their bicycles when they ride them on the sidewalks. It's ok for the drug dealers and their customers to deal openly on the streets, hang out at the el stops, and stand on every corner. It's ok for the homeless to hassle you for money all hours of the day and night. It's ok that irresponsible dog owners let their dogs shit wherever they like and not clean it up. It's ok for residents to trash and litter the neighborhood. It's ok that our parks are trashed on a nightly basis. It's ok that landlords don't maintain their buildings or screen their tenants properly.
But it's not ok for an honest, licensed business man to try and make a living in Rogers Park and clean up a problem corner. It causes problems for the Alderman’s office.
I too left Roger's Park after a year.
does it make me a wimp?
fine. I'm a wimp.
but in a year I'd also been mugged, jumped and seen countless things I'd like to un-see.
I applaud this poster for his eloquence and honesty.
I feel like he understands me.
bosworth said: "The Alderman’s representative at the CAPS meeting was Alicia. She was not aware that another local business had closed, and when she was told he had closed and moved to another location, she said "GOOD RIDDANCE." She said he was a pain because he had "stuff" on the sidewalk and blocked the public way."
Ha! Alicia's reaction is not surprising, (but typical of the Alderman's office) since the business owner who moved was a vocal supporter of Don Gordon during the election. Of course that's all they're concerned about.
I too am sad to see his shop go. I've stopped in numerous times looking for assorted furniture and accessories and just to see what he'd gotten in. He was a good neighbor and a thoughtful man. I wish him well, and I hope that storefront will get an equally responsible new tenant. Conversely, it would be nice if Eddy's liquors would disappear into the ground in a sudden, very localized earthquake.
@ Little Betty
With living on the cheap comes some of the same challenges like crime, drugs and people who do not follow the customs of civil life. However, if you were to suddenly remove some of these challenges, people who in the past would not have thought to move to RP will move here in droves. The prices will go up.
I am here because I wanted to live where I could afford the cost of a home, in my case a condo, and still enjoy some of the basic amenities of Chicago; specifically the lake and the public transportation. I don't consider RP living on the cheap. The criminal element that refuses to change their ways need to find a more accepting neighborhood. The vulnerable among us need help and support to at least have a stable life if possible. I am not bailing out of RP anytime soon but I understand why someone would leave if their expectations were too high. Removing the criminal element will improve the community and make it more attractive to others and I would expect prices to rise. That's how evolution works in the neighborhoods. Or would you rather keep the criminal element in place so prices will stay low?
I agree some people are being hard on the defector :oP
This neighborhood isn't for everyone- no neighborhood is. I haven't been over in Wicker Park much lately, but I remember it having it's seedier elements and street people too.
When I was single and looking for an apt. 8 years ago, I wouldn't live near Morse. I didn't feel safe. Things have improved since then and I live near Morse now, but not alone.
If someone has bad experiences in a neighborhood like being mugged or just frightened a few times, that is enough (I would think) to make one leave. You need to feel relatively safe in your neighborhood to live there.
spew venom?
thats what everyone else does about rogers park, if you cant hack it get the hell out, its not like there isnt enough negativity when it comes to peoples views on rogers park, and usually those are people that are boring as hell,
A love not to RP?
more like fuck you very much,
excuse me while im not very accepting of the wimp out/ me first soliloqy,
that was a crappy furniture store,
the great antique store is still there on howard,
that is the same type of furniture stor on glenwood by morse, that sells ticky tack furniture,
and go to la pratt furniture or countless other fly by night enterprises,
there is no loss in losing that store at howard, rogers and greenview,
probably the coolest intersection in chicago,
it will get a better business,
those type of furniture stores are just placeholders in the rung of gentrification, i remember place like that in lincoln park back in the eighties,
yeah rogers park will never improve,
the sky is falling,
the sky is falling,
i think this defeatist attitude
is lame and tired,
if you arent helping this place get better we dont need you,
I am working my ass off to make Rogers Park better,
and so are alot of other people,
if you dont see that the area is improving than you are blind, impatient and ignorant,
Re: "howard, rogers and greenview,
probably the coolest intersection in chicago"...
Man, you don't get out much.
I can understand anyone's frustration with Rogers Park and the powers that be. I felt that same frustration several years ago as I watched some areas of RP start to go from sugar to shit. But after living here since July, 1982, I'll be damned if I'll allow undesirables to run me from my home. That's why I continue to make phone calls and write letters to voice my concerns. Also, concerned RPers should crowd Morse Avenue at every opportunity to show our disgust for them. Just stand around and watch them. Hell, call it a Stand Out. Force them to take their bullshit elsewhere. There really is power in numbers. Or if someone has a different/better idea, then share it. But if we have no possible solutions, we should stop bitching about the problem. By the way, I recall going to Morse Avenue with my daughter when she was a little girl (she's 30 years old now) and sitting on one of the nice benches (yes, there were benches all along the Avenue) and eating ice cream until we grew tired. I recall walking on Morse Avenue after dark just because I could. I miss those times, yet I've adjusted to the change, albeit reluctantly. Safe haven in Chicago? Hell, if Lincoln Park is no longer safe, where is that safe haven? And if anyone thinks he/she can sleep at night with ease anywhere in Chicago, then he/she is engaged in delusional thinking. Still, farewell to anyone who wishes to try.
I was just wondering why developers get the blame... I happen to think that as you attract a better class of people, you will get more attention from the alderman and more attention from the police.
Also, I noticed quite a few posters for this blog out on the street today. I'm sure new voices will log on soon. However, it seems to me that all this blog is, is a place for people to complain and not get anything really done.
Dear Jeffo, thank you for your comment. Please re-read my original post. I never said the furniture store was a jewel. I said it was a shame to lose the man that owned it because he was helping us clean that corner up. If you've walked by there in the early morning on the way to the el or late evening on your way home from work since he has moved out, you will notice the prostitutes, drug dealers and gang bangers on the corners again. They congregate in front of Eddy's and cross over to all the other corners as soon as the police drive by. I am aware of all the other 'ticky tack' stores you mentioned. The point is, Howard street has become nothing but empty storefront after empty storefront, with squatters and prostitutes living in them because the landlords did not properly lock them down.
And Lakewoodlady, for your information I have personally stood on those corners with my dog, having a 'stand out' as you suggested. I was told by one of the drug runners to get off his corner as I was interfering with his business. His customers were scared of my dog. When I contacted 911 and had an officer come by my home to take the report, he said he knew exactly who I was talking about from my description, but they have never been lucky enough to catch him with anything they could arrest him for. In case you are not aware, they use what they call 'steering' NOH. You contact one person for the drug purchase, they steer you to another location to drop off the money, and they steer you to yet another location for the product. How smart. Then on one gets caught with all the incriminating evidence.
I am a property owner that has lived here for 7 years. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon, but I have every right to live in a clean, safe neighborhood without having to tolerate all the nonesense that goes on NOH. Shootings, drug dealing & prostitution are the daily norm here. Enough is enough. I want the services my tax dollars pay for and I want action from my Alderman.
Bosworth, I applaud your efforts; however, I suggested that ALL "concerned" RPers group together and stand, not one. Again, there is power in numbers. It was a suggestion, not a command. Yes, I want Joe Moore to do his job, also. But has he? Will he? And what do we do in the meantime? Alert the news media, present the eye-opening evidence that Craig has posted here. There is surely enough of it to get "action" from the alderman, and especially if all of Chicago is watching. Shame him into submission, if you will. Have our local tv cameras there, although we don't know which ones are biased in his favor. It can be done IF enough people involve themselves. I am not looking for an argument with fellow RPers, I'm looking for the beginning of a solution.
I understand the poster's frustrations, but like the line in the Temptations' 1970s hit "Ball of Confusion" goes, run, run, run, but you sure can't hide.
No neighborhood in Chicago is free of crime. Remember the basketball player who was a victim of a home invasion? He lived in the Gold Coast area, a wealthy neighborhood. He might have thought he was safe because of where he lived. He was proved otherwise.
Criminals will boldly go into a so-called "safe" neighborhood, because the residents have been lulled into a false sense of security. The bad guys will use the residents' lack of awareness against them to commit crime.
what i mean by one of the coolest in not coolest intersections
of chicago is that
it is lesser known,
and has a reverse diagonal street
i.e. one that goes south west and north east
and its an irregular six point intersection at that,
most streets that are diagonal in chicago go north west,
the ones that go south west are usually on the south side
like blue island, or ogden,
ok i can understand bosworth not liking that business leaving,
but its not like hey that business left andt therefore a crucial lynch pin the "saving" the neigborhood has been lost,
it is at most a temporary set back,
have you guys seen the render for the building that is going up right next to the antique store on howard?
do you not see the highrise going up on the evanston side of howard just west of the el?
do you not see the dominicks finally getting renovated so that is not a class a shitburg grocery store?
and the old crappy building at ashland and greenview is biting the dust,
market forces will force out the riff raff, because ultimately
you get more money from people with money than just pay outs from section 8.
there is also lakeside cafe, which seems to be doing okay,
im no pollyanna, but im not blind to progress either.
its just a really damn tough area
and it will take a long time to change and settle down
Not all the people attracted by new development are a "better class of people." Many of them are whiners only want to complaint about the problems, not do anything help solve them.
When the large courtyard building on the 1600 block of Fargo was converted from section 8 to condos, the car horn doorbells were replaced by people who sit out on their new balconies and talk loudly on their phones, or walk their dogs on other people's lawns and don't pick up after them.
Some of the former tenants were problems, but most were decent people just trying to get by.
I know what building you are talking about fargo,
but the building was upgraded in the process, and there is more property taxes and when you own you give a shit about the community,
Im no fan of the stereotypical yuppie with a dog either, but I would take that over having lower socioeconomic element around,
I am a classist, sure I want affordable housing, but its damn hard to have section 8 and a safe neigborhood, as can be seen NOH
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