Saturday, March 15, 2008

* Shots Fired @ Birchwood and Damen/Seeley

The neighbors have lost control - and the gangs and thugs are running the neighborhood. All hell was breaking loose last night in CAPS beat 2424. And - it's not even spring yet.
* Bernard Garbo said...> "This evening, 3/14, around 9:20 pm neighbors spotted a group of 8 older-teen black males coming from the gang way of 7518 N. Winchester. This group was joined by about 6 more older-teen males coming north on Winchester from Birchwood. The group moved north on Winchester, then split at Howard with most going west on Howard. About 4 males stayed in front of 7545 N. Winchester. The group that headed west ended up at Birchwood and Hoyne. Neighbors there report that that group increased to about 30, all males. Though unconfirmed, this is believed to be gang related (not just another out-of-control teen party). Neighbors report that these guys looked like they were heading to a fight.

* Bernard Garbo Update 11:46 PM: - This now appears to be another out-of-control teen party at 2056 W. Birchwood. This is a case, from what we can see, of adults tenants charging teens to attend these parties. The tone of this party was different than prior ones (more males, more aggressive behaviour). 2056 Birchwood is going through foreclosure. No owner to contact.

Blognotes #1: Around 5 AM, a 911 call came in for shots fired near the Birchwood and Damen/Seeley area. No word if the call came in from Bernard Garbo or not.

Blognotes #2: Pay-to Play politics not paying off for the neighborhood. These foreclosures are being put to good use as gang hide-outs. Soon the scavengers will be taking out anything and everything that's attached to the property. Can you imagine all the 911 calls that Bernard Garbo is going to be made regarding this issue?

Blognotes #3: Here's a little morning exercise. Close your eyes and repeat after Joe Moore... Crime is down.... Crime is down... Crime is down.... Crime is down.

Okay... Now open your eyes. There... Crime is down 49%.

13 comments:

Fargo said...

Meanwhile, I just got news of a pedestrian hit and run victim here. Any info on this one?

bloglurker49 said...

If crime isn't down, then why do you have to keep going so far from Morse avenue to find it? What happened to your 'hellhole'?

Craig Gernhardt said...

Oh, Bloglurker 49, stop being silly. We've got plenty of crime is down on Morse too.

Check out what these bloggers had to say... and when.


Jocelyn said... "Man, not to focus on the negative, but it seemed like every derelict crawled out from under their respective rock tonight and was on Morse avenue. And to me, a grown man with no job wandering the streets in search of booze, drugs or worse is a derelict. 13/3/08 - 18:08

T. Westgard said... "J, I was just on Morse at around 9:00 and it was hopping with sleazebags." 13/3/08 - 21:47

Toni said...

Oh Bloglurker, get real. Do you write the Sun Times and Tribune and complain if they report on world news?

Come report to us what you see and hear on the first warm night on some RP Streets.

Walk those streets, don't drive.

Bosworth said...

There was a 17 and over event last night at the Paradise Cafe on Sheridan at Rogers. Perhaps that where these folks were headed? I walked by there at about 10:00 PM, and the sidewalk was full of teens and early 20's types. Pretty noisy group, and a large amount of brown bag drinking. Double parking on Sheridan Road, and parking in front of the fire hydrant. No police in sight. I hate to see nice weather get here. All goes to hell.

Toni said...

Bos, do you mean the old Biddy Mulligan's nka Island Groove? Have they changed their name?

The North Coast said...

We are once more beginning to get a lot of trouble at Pratt and Sheridan, as Craig's report of the knife fight and trail of blood evidence.

SouthEvanstonian said...

Craig, while I appreciate that you understand the gravity of the problems around Howard, I take issue with your proclamation that "the neighbors have lost control - and the gangs and thugs are running the neighborhood."

On the contrary, the neighborhood groups around here have never been stronger. The Chicago police seem to be responding well to the concerns raised at CAPS meetings, the Evanston side has determined neighborhood groups working with the Evanston Police Department, and the new Hands Across Howard effort (in which Chicago and Evanston neighborhood groups work together to address specific problems) has increased communication and awareness on both sides of the border.

Yes, we are dealing with the rise of some thuggish behavior, but that happens every spring when the weather gets nice and the "characters" come back out. I think I can safely say that all neighborhood groups involved are committed to pinpointing and proactively dealing with problem buildings, groups, and individuals.

With the help of strong leaders like Bernard this area will continue to improve. Please do not denigrate the efforts of him and many other wonderful people by suggesting that a bad night means that we "have lost control." We haven't -- we're working hard to take it back.

Craig Gernhardt said...

Bernard's a bozo. His lame mantra of telling people to call the alderman's office when there's a crime problem is a joke. I know first hand from years and years of dealing with Joe.

If the 2424 has improved, why do I hear problems on the scanner, daily?

Joe and his little asshats have mocked and discredited my efforts for years. I'm going to dish it out now.

It's every man for himself.

Craig Gernhardt said...

Saturday 5:35 PM: Somethings going down at Fargo and Hoyne. Police and Ambulance has been called to the scene.

Bosworth said...

My bad....I meant Island Groove, not Paradise. I must have been confused because living north of Howard is like Paradise!!! NOT!

lafew said...

In high density neighborhoods there are some that don't know the difference between fireworks. In addition, there are some that don't want to take any extra time to figure it out. Fireworks are illegal. If a neighbor says "shots fired," then Police come faster.

Many of us appreciate the Police presence. In rich north suburbs we used to have a Bearcat scanner. We heard these reports from neighbors, as well.

We also used to hear the phone calls between neighbors with old car phones and their mistresses.

In the past, things like this were not called in because people were on their stoops and they saw the kids playing with their fireworks.

Shots fired? Maybe not.

lafew said...

Well, I'd rather be among the optimists walking the streets than among the pessimists locked up in their homes.

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