Reside on Morse (1340 West Morse Avenue) has been off my radar since the building has been going through construction. For the most part they've been pretty decent with the construction and noise. That's until today.
What I saw was most disturbing. Just a bit shocking... and I'd dare to say - maybe illegal?
So, I called their office out of courtesy. I waiting a reasonable amount of time considering the health and employment implications involved in this matter. They didn't return my call for two and a half hours. They didn't seem all that concerned about the situation when they did call back.
That's when I got the camera and camcorder out and started filming the work procedures Reside on Morse was using to remove old insulation.
Here's what the kids were picking up with the bare hands. Very old fiberglass Insulation and moldy dry-wall. This is what they were throwing into a near-by dumpster, nasty fiberglass particles flying in the air. No air-protection masks were used. No protective gear whatsoever.
Nothing but their bare hands. And these kids couldn't be a day over than 13 years old. Talk about third world country labor! Right here in the grand ole' progressive neighborhood of Rogers Park. United States of America.
How can a major construction project like this have no supervision to it's subcontractors? Not one person seemed to mind these kids were working under these conditions. If this were a "Mom-and-Pop" operation, I'd cut them some slack. But it's not. This is a big ticket job. Someone's head should roll for this!
They can't say this just happened for a few minutes. I video taped this happening too. This two kids were working for at least 5 hours straight. Five hours of hauling a fiberglass type material with their bare hands and no protective masks. On a weekend no less. I wonder what OSHA would think?
Small snippet clips of the kids working on the major construction site. Any bets they don't have a union cards.
49 comments:
I realize it's late in the now (almost 4:30 as I post this) but if they're still there can you call 311? I apoligize for sounding ignorant of my own neighborhood, but I haven't been on Morse in a dog's age - what is the address of the building you're observing? Thanks.
The old Block/RIder building at 1340 West Morse/1345 West Lunt.
It's a total gut rehab of two- 4 plus one buildings.
I think you can contact DCFS and should. This is absolutely illegal. Plus these children appear homeless and probably aren't in school, again illegal. Do you have the number to the construction company. I will call too!!! Absolutely ridiculous and sad! The poor kids probably do it just to get food.
Craig, I just called 311 to report your video. The operator immediately put me through to 911 and I gave them the information. They are sending someone over there now to see if the kids are still there. It is now 6:08. Let me know if anything about this comes back - maybe over the scanner or something. THANK YOU so much for reporting this.
LOL. I heard the 911 dispatch at 6:11 PM.
The kids knocked off work around quitting time. 5 PM tonight.
OK! I just got a call BACK from the police saying they were on their way and asking if I was going to be at the site to meet them. I live on Fargo and don't have a car so I said no. They said they were on their way over there and they'd be happy to talk to anyone who would like to talk to them at the site. Craig, I didn't give them your name but if you see them and you want to tell them what you saw . . .
- PEACE -
At a Mom & Pop store, I might expect to see children this young trying to sweep or bag groceries, under the watchful eye of pop/mom.
Did the demolition contractor think it would be a nice gesture to give some local kids a few bucks to help out? It's not skilled, union card labor, but it is serious and DANGEROUS work. It's ADULT work. It's not just the immediate endangerment to their health from the debris and materials (respiratory?). Look at what they are throwing into the dumpster: the stuff is larger and heavier than they are! How much of this demolition debris came crashing back down into their eyes, faces, and heads as they tried to launch it up into the dumpster?
The police have authority to stop this if the work crew shows up tomorrow or next week. Child endangerment and neglect should be on the list of charges against whatever numbskull assigned these kids to perform such a task.
This is really disturbing. No one was able to call the police as it was actually happening? So many contractors consider certain jobs unskilled labor when in fact there are oftentimes serious risks that are involved. This is really serious and child welfare should get involved to determine what happened and what adult is responsible for this job site.
What are they building there?
well not a lot of jobs exist for kids in RP. what do you expect.
manwithmasterplan is being facetious, I hope.
Folks:
I don't know here, but let's be logical:
The kid's dad works on site. School is out. A baby sitter costs sufficiently enough to nullify one half of a dual parent income.
So dad takes the kids to work. Rather than letting them run nuts in a gutted building, he puts them to good use picking up scraps and sticking it in the dumpster.
I'm not saying not to be vigilant, just saying that what you're seeing here isn't a sweat shop. And - probably a far better situation for these kids than some of the alternatives. Want to help? Go to Ace Hardware and bring them a couple pairs of 3 dollar gardening gloves.
Logic. Yeah, that's it, Dan.
Big ticket rehab, multi-million dollar operation - and they can't buy the kid's gloves themselves? Then you tell me to run to the hardware store buy the gloves for them.
I'm guessing you run on a 10 watt light bulb. You dim-wit. There's NO defense for this type of child labor - or parenting.
Funny. Why don't all the people that are so upset go and volunteer on their Saturdays and Sundays to make this a better world for kids like this. It's so easy to be outraged. It's much harder to get off your butts and really do something that makes a difference in these kids lives.
You're so quick to make judgements. Perhaps these kids are learning a vital lesson. Hard work. Life is about hardwork. And perhaps when they do see the drunks laying on the sidewalk on Morse, they will at least know the dignity of having a family with a job and a parent who cares enough to show them the value of hardwork at an early age.
I got this from the osha.gov web site:
Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR)
General safety and health provisions. - 1926.20
Section 107 of the Act requires that it shall be a condition of each contract which is entered into under legislation subject to Reorganization Plan Number 14 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1267), as defined in 1926.12, and is for construction, alteration, and/or repair, including painting and decorating, that no contractor or subcontractor for any part of the contract work shall require any laborer or mechanic employed in the performance of the contract to work in surroundings or under working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to his health or safety.
...and then there's also this:
Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR)
Personal protective equipment. - 1926.28
The employer is responsible for requiring the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment in all operations where there is an exposure to hazardous conditions or where this part indicates the need for using such equipment to reduce the hazards to the employees.
There’s a lot more but I think you get my drift.
Dan I, please spare me the refutable logic of hypothesizing about a construction worker who brings his children to work to avoid the cost of childcare. Any parent who brings their child to an open construction site and then exposes them to even more danger by actually exploiting their labor is using questionable judgment if not out right abusive. Either way, there's a good chance his/her parenting days should be numbered. I have no problem letting the courts decide.
Craig, please let me know when/if they come back. I'll happily call 911 all over again. As it is, I would like your permission to use the videos in complaint reports to both OSHA and DCFS. May I?
- PEACE -
Well gee Craig,
Then you tell me to run to the hardware store buy the gloves for them.
Wow, with that attitude, one might be led to believe that your concern for the kids is entirely fake - perhaps only being stated because somebody has an axe to grind.
Look dude, nobody is looking to have blogging warz with you. I'm just saying that maybe you shouldn't waste the 311's time (let alone OSHA's time) with this silliness.
Fargo Woman:
Are you seriously going to waste 911's time with a complaint about child labor?
what, you never had a summer job? Its some kids picking up trash, so what. I shoveled poop at a rabbit farm at that age - for $. Im glad no one called 911 on me.
Ah well. I just called 911. There's a kid cutting lawns over on Pratt.
The 911 operator says she's sending the SWAT team out.
I'm glad you're getting a chuckle out of this blatant use child labor on a major construction site, Dan.
Now, you want a funny one?
Yesterday an "anonymous neighbor" called 911 on the church fund-raiser, car wash at Greenleaf and Greenview. He/she didn't this that was a right place to run a business of that nature.
How's that for a quality 911 call?
It is really interesting to me to see that some people don't either understand child labor/labor laws in the US, are pretending that they don't understand or simply don't care. Likewise with OSHA protections. People have died so we could have such protections in this country.
The fact of the matter is that any adult involved in putting a child to work for a commercial purpose must be held responsible for following the laws of the land. I am not even sure if children under the age of 16 can even work on a construction site. Further, it appears that certain safety hazards were not being addressed. By the logic of some of the posters here, I should just go down to my local middle school and round up some kids to see if they might like to rip the old asbestos off the pipes in my basement. I can always say "Oh, I didn't know it was against the law. We all agreed that hard work never hurt anyone and it looked like such an easy job that any kid could do it."
I am glad that fargo woman called. If I had checked in again I would have called too. What is this world coming to? We're adults. If other adults are not working in the best interest of children, we need to hold other adults responsible when it is appropriate. I, for one, look forward to hearing exactly what was going on on this construction site.
How's that for a quality 911 call?
About as "quality" as the one that goes like this:
Operator: "911, what's your emergency?"
Caller: "Hi, I'd like to report an emergency situation at a building rehab on Morse Avenue. It's a Saturday and there's a work crew here, and two guys on the work crew brought their kids work and are having them throw trash in the dumpster."
Operator: "Ok, so what's the emergency?"
Caller: "Well I went to OSHA's web site and I think it violates their standards. Oh yeah, and I think you should get DCFS, ISO, NSA, CSI, and the ACLU involved"
Operator: "I still don't know what the emergency is"
Caller: There's kids!! throwing stuff int he dumpster!! You dont' know what they could be throwing away there! It could be dangerous!!
And then if it gets past that point (and let's hope it dismissed out of hand) there's some poor copper out on the street who's going to get handed this dumb call, which - right or wrong - is going to amount to harassing this poor construction worker who's trying to earn a living. Thankfully, as soon as the cops get there though, they'll figure out that the kids dad is inside they'll decide that discretion and judgment is one of the finer points of their job and be on their way to the next call, hoping it's a real one not a BS one like this.
Meanwhile, your DCFS complaint will start the whole bureaucracy moving. They'll talk to the building owners, and the general - probably only to find out it's a sub who was employing the kid's dad - and the sub might not know who the worker was - you never know there might be a "lack of documentation" if ya know what I mean.
And then, congrats you've just sent the dogs out on something that you know is BS and dedicated a whole ton of public resource to your beef with housing developers.
All that, for a situation that you're genuinely not concerned about - less you'd have gone and spent the 6 bucks on gardening gloves and maybe, if you were really concerned, a couple of disposable masks.
Dan, I did call 911 both yesterday and today. They sent a car over. The operator agreed that this constitutes child endangerment.
As for your comment, manwiththemasterplan, you're comparing apples to oranges by equating a summer job scooping rabbit poop with scooping asbestos and other construction trash.
Fargo Woman:
Are 911 operators who haven't seen what's going on, investigated it, or umm.....have any information short of the information you have given her in the business of determining what is the legal definition of child endangerment?
Who was the 911 operator? Horatio Kane?
And, let's be clear here, you calling this a "violation of child labor laws" is about has apples and oranges as you get. It's some sub contractor having "take your kids to work day" because they couldn't find a sitter.
Dan, let's be clear.
These kids LIVE - that's right - they're living in the building - although the owners claim in the CAPS meeting the buildings vacant.
And there's reasonable evidence to substantiate this?
911 Transcript
FW: There's kids! Hauling a material that I have no reason to believe is dangerous, other than I heard that maybe it could be on a web site!
Operator: Yes!!! It must be child endangerment. Tactical response units en route!!!
/end transcript
This is fun.
Direct contact with fiberglass materials or exposure to airborne fiberglass dust may irritate the skin, eyes, nose and throat. Fiberglass can cause itching due to mechanical irritation from the fibers. This is not an allergic reaction to the material. Breathing fibers may irritate the airways resulting in coughing and a scratchy throat. Some people are sensitive to the fibers, while others are not. Fiberglass insulation packages display cancer warning labels. These labels are required by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) based on determinations made by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP).
The American Lung Association
Fiberglass - The new Asbestos.
As asbestos has been phased out because of health concerns, fiber glass production in the U.S. has been rising.....
....Fiber glass is now causing serious health concerns among U.S. officials and health researchers.
Craig,
I was questioning your assertion that the kids actually live in the building.
Question my assertion all you want, Dan. It won't change the actual facts. These kids have been living in this building with their mom for over 6 months on the top floor. They also have a small dog that lives with them.
I've also video taped these same kids sledding in the same parking lot this past winter.
Are they homeless? What exactly is going on here? The original post made it look like they were hired to be extra hands on the job. If some contractor is not managing his site well and is profiting off of child labor adults need to be held responsible for that. On the other hand if there is a larger context here (the family is homeless) then something more needs to be done to help the kids.
While I always support people who are willing to put "an eagle eye" on local communities, it seems to me that you have to do more than just blog when something is amiss.
Craig, can you just come out and say what you think is going on here? If there is a family in trouble, people want to do the right thing and not just peer voyeuristically into snippets of their lives.
Here's what I know. There is one unit of this building (the Morse side, back side facing parking lot, top floor, near Glenwood) that has been occupied since the beginning of demolition. Every night you can see all the electricity working from that one single unit.
Everyone and anyone who's worked or been on the property has to know about it. I can't tell you what kind of monetary arrangement is going on, but they live in the full demolition building that was say by the powers-that-be to be vacant.
I don't call that homeless. Squatting. Maybe? Homeless. No way.
One more thing about this building. I've done my share for this property and only got spit in the face by the powers-that-be for going to court and trying to help. (CAPS and Joe Moore)
If you guys are bothered by this, knock your socks off. Feel free to help. But I'm finished doing it their way and calling 311 or 911 - and then being the one they blame for the problems of the ward. Joe and his flunkies created this divide, not me.
I'll just continue to report what I see from now on. If that's being the problem, I'm cool with that.
Where did you get all tis exclusive info from?
OK CRAIG, THIS IS A BULSHIT STORY SO YOU NEED TO REMOVE IT ASAP BEFORE I GET MY LAWYER ON YOU. And why dont you video tape the hookers that comes and go's from your apartment, and stop living off your dads money and go get a real job. I know these kids and the father and mother so why didnt you video tape the dad? i know he was there i agree they should have had on mask or something but its his kids and were just helping out. they help out in the building when needed trust me its better helping there dad than on the streets getting in trouble. so pull this bulshit story now or the next call will be from my lawyer and we know where you live so i will sent them there.
Getting your lawyer on me would require you to announce your construction company to the public. Thus drawing mainstream media to the case. This would be interesting to watch this grab more exposure to the issue of worker safety and how old is old enough to be on a major job site.
Also. Then you'd have to provide the courts with all your employment records, history of IRS employment records of employees, safety issues, contracts signed for the job at hand, etc. You know, the works.
All I've got is actual proof underage kids are working on a big construction site without proper safety equipment. Other than video and photographic proof, I've got other witnesses that have been by the site and documented the same thing.
Then after all this, we'd know who you are so I could counter sue about these alleged hookers you claim are visiting my apartment. That, I'm positive, you have no proof of happening.
I too know these kids and they are not homeless nor are they working as child laborers. How dare you think that it is ok to post someones children on the internet without their permission. What does that say for yourself...pedaphile maybe? i do agree that these kids should have protective wear on and that is something that I would gladly talk to the parents about. These kids could be in the streets selling drugs or doing all the things that the gang bangers and street pharmacuticals do everyday. Take a video of them and stop snooping in other peoples yard take care of your own.
Is it too hard for you guys to sign in with your real first and last name? I did.
This thread continues to amaze me. It appears from what the police decided to do that we didn't have a case of a contractor using child labor for profit. I, for one, was very concerned if that was going on. I guess we can call this poor judgment on behalf of a parent?
Still, we as a community have a responsibility to look out for the welfare of children. I am not interested in coming down needlessly hard on a parent when they make a questionable judgment (lord knows I have done it with my own children) but the reasons people are giving for why this is a non-issue are shocking.
"Hard work never hurt anyone"
"These kids could be in the streets selling drugs or doing all the things that the gang bangers and street pharmacuticals do everyday."
I'll just come out and say it---sounds like some of you folks think that those activities are the only other activities these kids might otherwise be engaged in. Is not their health and safety a concern to all of us---no matter whose kids they are? Because if working 4 hours straight on a construction site without any protections or a licensed contractor present (as Craig claims) is ok for these kids...it should be ok for all kids. The law says that is illegal no matter what opinions people here would like to offer. It is not like we are talking about kids helping their dad rake leaves or wash the car.
"d" is so angry about this post that he calls Craig a pedophile but it is exactly that kind of "its not my business" mentality that makes it possible for people to exploit children. Sheesh.
Hey Contractor. Don't just threaten Craig with your lawyer. Include all of us in on the fun! You're going to have to list me (Note: I have the guts to use my real name) and a lot of other residents as defendants in whatever lawsuit you propose. Why? Like Craig, we strenuously object to whatever child labor scam you are perpetrating in this community. Please, go earn your quick-and-dirty money elsewhere . . . and not on the backs of defenseless children!
It's really depressing to read the comments from "D" and those who defend the contractor and/or the parents who either instructed, allowed, or haven't a clue that their children are doing this work. The attitude is all too prevalent, and it speaks volumes about why there is so little interest in child welfare in our community and our society.
The child labor, endangerment, abuse, and neglect laws are clear. Everything about this story points to a crime taking place. If the Chicago Police did nothing, or didn't even bother to call in a DCFS investigator, then this reveals yet another problem in our community with law enforcement.
Unreal. One of the premier blogs in the "bloggiest neighborhood" and it's seriously about e-lawyers and threatening people with DCFS for bad parenting.
Dan, did you watch Craig's video? What don't you "get" here?
Did you not have a queasy feeling while seeing tiny kids try to hurl huge sheets of drywall & debris into a dumpster taller than themselves? If that did not grab your sensibilities, then I guess you'd have a similarly snarky remark to offer if one of these kids ended up in an emergency room with a crushed eye or head wound from a 50-pound piece of crap falling down on them.
The earlier comments about buying these kids a face mask, goggles, or gloves are no solution. The demolition contractor and/or the parents need to be put on notice. If this kind of "Daddy Daycare" (which somebody earlier suggested) happened for several hours, as Craig documented, I worry about what else occurs as a result of this level of "loving parental care."
By the way, calling in the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services more often than not leads to support and training for the parents (yes, mandatory) hopefully to prevent their children from being harmed again. Removing children from the home is a last resort measure. Neither DCFS, nor you, nor I want to add to the state's child welfare burden.
I was a foster dad for years before adopting our children. I've seen too many very tragic child neglect cases that could have been prevented if someone, some good neighbor, had not looked the other way.
Some of you people are the most nosey people I have ever seen in my life. Yes children can have other things to do besides help their father every once in a while but what gives any of you the right to judge someone who may make a choice that you may not agree with. This world is full of things that are done that may not be correct but to acuse a father of keeping his children near him rather than in the streets is appauling to say the least. like I stated before he should have used protective wear and i fully stand by that, but you people are bent on breaking up a home when there are worst things such as sexual and physical abuse cases. report that! Why isnt there a picture of the dad I know he was there. And yes I will continue to feel that anyone who video tapes children that are not their own and place it on the internet is sick. if you are concerned then the evidence should not have been made public. instead of talking about these people Craig.. why dont you go over there and talk to the father or ask if you can assist him in finding suitable summer programs that are affordable. Be productive not a problem. This man works for a living just like many of you. cut him alittle slack maybe offer some help. and as for using my real name, fargo woman can not be her real name.
Craig is a phony please do not belive this publicity stunt story I am a friend of the family and has been knowing them for many years now but please no this it is a fake story
BUT FOR YOU CRAIG BELIVE THIS A LAWYER DOSE NOT NEED TO SCARE YOU TRUST YOU SEEM TO DO BETTER TALKING THAN WALKING BUT I HAVE THE CONNECTION THAT WILL HAVE YOU KNOCKED OFF THIS WORLD REAL QUICK I KNOW WERE YOU LIVE WELL WE CAN SAY THIS WE ALL KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU [AND WHILE YOU THINK YOURE THE WATCHER TRUST YOUR THE WATCHED]
TAKE IT OFF NOW OR TRUST YOU'LL BE SORRY
Sounds like everyone needs to tone this down a notch. Craig, why don't you call local law enforcement? If it is illegal to be inhabiting a construction site while it is undergoing a full rehab, then that should be addressed. Likewise, kids should not be doing labor that directly or indirectly benefits a contractor. If this was just a one-time bad decision on the part of a parent then so be it. I can't imagine any readers are really interested in getting anyone in serious trouble or breaking up any families. These images took hold of people because some of us really do try to watch out for the welfare of children---ALL CHILDREN. We'll leave the actual judgments up to the police or DCFS but there is no need to go crazy when people refuse to ignore a situation that might be harmful to children. Think how many children have suffered because no adult was willing to "be nosey"?
If the story is such a "non-issue" why are some folks so inflamed by it? If there is nothing wrong going on then it all should blow over. Of course, that can't happen if threats keep mounting. If Craig whipped up something that wasn't there, why not set the record straight with something other than threats and insults? Again, most readers just want to make sure that laws are being followed and kids are ok. It's that simple.
dan l, if someone could make money by simply "not getting it" you would be richer than Bill Gates!
Gee, thanks for the threats. Might as well add me to it, now, too, because you've guaranteed that I will drive by the site every day or two and call 311 or 911 if I see anything.
Nickname unavailable,
Oh no, I get it. I just more get the part about you wasting a lot of people's time over what currently (and will eventually) amount to jack.
Saskia's response to the comments left are agreeable. We Should look out for the well being of the children, but this issue is being blown way out. I see these children often; I am a family member and they are not being abused or neglected in anyway. this was an isolated incident and if any of you are parents, and have made a parenting mistake would like it if someone threatened to have DCFS involved in your lives for one mistake? As i said before I have spoken with the family about this matter and we have agreed to somethings but all of you who feel that you are "holyier" than thou should leave this family alone and let them heal from the damage that has been caused. Craig.. you should remove those videos because it is wrong to benefit from the pain of others. These children can see themselves on this site and can become embarrased and ashamed, that is not right. They are young and should not have to experience this issue. Be conciderate of others and let the "powers that be" handle it if they see fit. as for the threats, i dont agree with that but you also must undrestand that they are looking at the other side of the issue, and thats children video taped and placed on the internet. This issue has caused enough termoil, let it go GOOD LORD!
Not to mention, I could understand how some could view taking pictures of their kids as, at the very least, a little creepy. Personally, if somebody were to do that to my daughter, I'd be tempted to report that to the police.
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