Bring back the Outdoor Roll Call

The outdoor roll call. It's where the officers start their shift on a street corner where bad juju has been going down. Like a gang occupied territory, a shooting, murder. No major studies have proven they stop crime altogether, but they give the resident's a sense of security.

And, it puts the fear of arrest by the police if the gangbangers act like wise-guys anywhere near the Police outdoor roll call.

 It's a symbolic statement saying - "We own this area, not you."

Outdoor roll calls were used by past commander's in the 24th District, and are used in other neighborhood's where crime and mayhem are prevalent. Some tonier neighborhoods such as Lincoln Park use them for simple things like purse snatchings.

It's time to bring back a few of these outdoor roll calls and give the citizen's a sense of protection by our Chicago Police Department. After the last few months, we need it.

(photos by Craig Gernhardt)

Disturbances and a fight at Sullivan today *UPDATED

Bumped (again):
Good afternoon, everyone. I was pretty sure I wasn't going to make a post about summer school @ Sullivan High, but that changed today. I saw a couple of things. For one, this morning, when my class and I were in the cafeteria for breakfast, one of the students from our class chose to sit near a table of a bunch rough looking in-coming freshmen (why he chose to remains unanswered to me, but I think he wanted to sit by the girls). They said a bad word, which made the student say "watch your mouth!" (I guess he doesn't like when people swear). They laughed at him and looked like they were talking about him.

That personally made me angry because he's got Autism (he's not as high functioning as I am, but he is pretty smart), so he didn't deserved to be laughed at. That's just one of his habits (and it's not his fault), to tell others what to do. So, anyway, these kids started getting loud and rowdy. This pissed off a couple of the teachers who were monitoring their activities before their classes started (well, they weren't in there when the first incident happened). The kids were yelled at.

That's not all that happened today. I personally witnessed a fight between two in-coming freshmen getting broken up. I don't know if they were arrested or punished for their actions. I kind of hope they were, so that can show them our staff at Sullivan doesn't take none of that nonsense from kids. Our staff has had to break up fights the whole 2008-2009 school year, so I'm sure they're sick of it by now.

To the Sullivan staff (I know you're reading this): Please, tell these 8th graders about our Autism program. They need to know that we're not "weird" or "stupid". If these 8th graders thought they were coming to a school with no Special needs kids, they were wrong. Dead wrong. Our school consists of two Autism rooms. So, to the school staff, take the time to explain to the 8th graders about us. Better yet, to the staff, you should let them sit in on us for a day. Maybe then they'll realize that we're none of the names that we're called.

If anybody asks why I didn't say anything to these kids, it's because that's not my job. That's the staff's responsibility. I feel that my teachers would've addressed it, but I forgot to tell them (since there were like 100 things going on at once, LOL). If this happens again tomorrow, I'll tell the teachers/aides or I'll say something myself. This does not deserve to happen. These kids should be focusing on their own business/school work rather than picking on a group of disabled kids.

UPDATE, 7/15/09: Yet another incident of kids in our class being made fun of happened this morning. This time, it happened as the kids, along with myself, on my bus route were waiting for a security guard to open the door so we could come into the school. One of the kids likes to sing in Spanish, and another kid in the program likes to as well but picks up on it slowly. I guess for whatever reason, it made a girl standing nearby to say "Man, they're SLOW!" followed by something I couldn't hear. Two other girls standing with her laughed. I shot them a very nasty glare and that shut them up. I was half tempted to cuss them out, but I had three other disabled kids with me who don't need to hear any foul language. Like I said last time, the staff really needs to say something to these 8th graders (yes, they were 8th graders) who think they're "tough" or "cool" by making fun of kids with Autism. How would they like it if they had our disability and were made fun of? I'm sure they wouldn't like it one bit. I may sound whiny to some here, but this is how I feel. It just makes me so angry when disabled people are made fun of. These 8th graders need to mind their own business and focus on becoming a freshmen in high school. But, that's ok. If I see an 8th grader who has made fun of my classmates get in trouble by a staff member, I'm going to laugh at them, right in front of them, to show them how we feel when we're teased. Now, I wouldn't of care if I were by myself and they laughed at only me because I usually don't care what people think of me, but due to the fact they made fun of my classmates is what makes me mad. And my classmates (most of them) can't even defend theirselves to say anything back. They don't know how to.

UPDATE, 7/22/09: A student that has been laughing at kids in my class got what was coming to him today. At around 10:30am, he was sitting in the disciplinarian's office, arms folded and looking mad. As I walked past, I noticed him, laughed at him because he was in there and he got what was coming to him, then continued onto my business.

Thanks,
- Timmy AKA AvondaleLoganSquareCrimeBlotter

Mayor Hosts "Dog & Pony Show" This Morning

Presser:

SAY NO TO GANGS AND GUNS: Help Keep Our Children and Neighborhoods Safe

Join Mayor Richard M. Daley, Alderman Patrick J. O’Connor, The 24th Police District and Your Friends, Neighbors and the 40th Ward Democratic Organization for an Anti-Violence March and Rally Saturday, July 11, 2009 - 9:30 a.m., Pratt and Ashland, Southeast Corner. Let’s Put Unity Back in the Community.

For more information, Please call the 24th District Community Policing Office, 1-312-744-6321

A Mother's Plea

Bumped:
From the writers tone, I'm taking this plea to be serious.

Songia Brown said... Hello! I would like to thank you the commenters on this page for not writing more hurtful opinions or comments on my son's behalf. Thank You!

This is his mother again and as I said before to the shooter if you are out there and you're reading this please turn yourself in don't let my son take the fall for a crime he didn't commit because I need my son here with me he is my life so why are you doing this to me, you have a mother who I'm sure you love and wouldn't want to see this happen to her.

He has a three year old sister who is very close to him and everyday she ask me where is her brother and starts crying when she don't see him, if you let him go to jail he will miss precious moments in her life that can't be replaced.

I know you have a heart! This has taken a toll on his whole family lives because we have to not only endure his pain but ours as well and my mother is in her 60's so she can't have too much stress on her at this time.

Please turn yourself in immediately. I hold no grudge because I was taught to forgive, so I beg you to please turn yourself in, PLEASE!

Blognotes: I'm believing we have a parent who is deeply distraught. She, along with a few commenters, are raising serious doubts as to her son being the actual shooter.

Then again, maybe mom is in denial? A mom wanting to believe her son is innocent. It wouldn't be the first time a parent didn't want to believe her son shot a 9 year old child in the leg for no reason.

Comments on this topic will be highly regulated. Any tips (anonymous or not) will be forwarded to Area 3 Chief Rottner. I will keep all anonymous tips just that. Anonymous.

Will Ginderske Buy a City Sticker for 2009?

Razldazlrr said...> I just saw this come across my email from Moore's office: Last Chance to Get Your City Vehicle Sticker at Alderman Moore's Office - I wonder if they sent this same mail to this guy with the truck!

* Gale Community Center Delayed. Again

Joe Moore Email Blast:

The Gale Community Center which was to be opened by July 1st, has been delayed. Once again. Park District Superintendent Tim Mitchell said, "the gymnasium floor is buckling in several places and will need to be repaired by the contractor before the Park District will accept delivery of the building."

The problem will delay the building opening for several weeks.

Place your bets. How many weeks is "several weeks?"

* Assault on Freedom of the Press - The Video

Fellow Chicago Tribune "Best Neighborhood Blog" award winning citizen journalist Tom Mannis files his video report.

Here's the set-up: Highly trained first responders from the Police Department, Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service Paramedics all pull up on a 'man down' call at Jarvis and Greenview.

Using their finely honed skills, they search for the 'man down' in broad daylight. The search proved futile. With the completeness of failure to find the said man down' on the corner of Greenview and Jarvis, the first responders report their non-findings back to dispatch - and they drive away. (This is all public record if the public actually could get their hands on it.)

Tom Mannis makes the second 911 call to report the first responders missed the 'man down' the first time and asked if they can respond for a second time. Click the video to see what happens next.
A Perfect Cover Photo for the Chicago Journal

If you look back at the situation from this one photo, it's absolutely comical.

While EMS and the Police are worried about two photographers covering two 911 calls for a 'man down' - the 'man down' in question, gets up, walks over to the second cameraman and hams it up like some cartoon creature wanting a shot in the frame.

Clearly, in the background, you can see the EMS personal struggling to take my camera away from me as the officer turns his back on the assault on freedom of the press.

* 'Big Brother' Doesn't Want 'Little Brother' Monitoring Them

Why are there two sets of rules when it comes to recording public events in Rogers Park?

There's 'Big Brother' Rules. And then there's 'Big Brother' Rules.

'Big Brother' can place cameras all over the place - recording our every move. And, from last check, we pay for them. But, they won't show us what we pay for until we do something wrong.

Like the cameras that are on the CTA buses. If you get rowdy inside the bus, you're likely to get arrested, go to court - and pay a fine. If you park along a bus route and the 'Big Brother' camera catches you, they mail you a ticket for your wrong-doing.

And those new cameras on the street sweepers. They're photo-enforcing this improper fraction now also. They'll simply mail you a fine with the proof.

God forbid you run a red light. Flash. Snap. There you are - on tax payer funded film. Caught for all to see and view.

Special Service area Street tax public view cameras are being praised by the powers-that-be. And paid for us - the tax payer. Yet, we never get to see what's being recorded with our money.

And let's not forget all the blue light cameras. Everywhere you turn these day's, you're being recorded. Or so they say. But what are they recording on those cameras with our money? We never really get to see those public tapes.

So, that's where citizen journalists come in. Like our various styles or not - citizen journalists are the 21st century news.

Communication between the new media and the powers-that-be in Rogers Park are not going well. Citizen journalists are under attack.

For the record, they've never been good in the first place with any media outlet.

On two different occasions yesterday I had conversations with the police that went along the lines of telling me to stop blogging. Or else.

The first warning came from Offficer Acquilly. She's the CAPS beat 2431 officer. She pulled me over yesterday (profiling) and started questioning me like a perp. The only thing she didn't do was run a contact card on me.

She claimed someone brought to her attention I took some inappropriate child photos and put them on my web site. She said this was raised at a CAPS June meeting. (although I couldn't find this on any official CAPS 2431 meeting minute notes.)

I told her if I did anything wrong she could take me in right 'then and there.' She drove off without arresting me, but gave me a warning and a nasty glare.

A warning? For what? For taking photos in public like 'big-brother' does to us.

Then, yesterday, in front of the Alderman's office, car number 2422 pulled up on the scene and berated the photographers -- telling us to go do something else. Telling us to not cover a 911 call. Then he stood back and allowed an EMS worker to physically try to remove a camera from a photographer. Me.
EMS Attempts to Physically take Away Photographers Camera

They want to monitor us with cameras, using our money. But they don't want us to monitor them with cameras on how they're spending our money? What the fuck is that all about?

Blognotes: Other than the exact time frame, (I don't wear a watch and wasn't near my trusty solar clock), these facts can be verified by the 911 call records from 6:40 PM to 7:20 PM. If anyone wants to FOIA these documents, go right ahead. They should be public record too.

Related: JOURNALISTS ASSAULTED IN ROGERS PARK

* Joe Moore Hijacks Gale Park Advisory Council

"Pay to Play" and a "Hint of Possible Influence" in one story.
No wonder "Out of District" Senator Steans Supports the Plan.
Only "Progressive Democrats" could pull this stunt off.

Eva McCann, president of the Gale Park Advisory Council, said she was disappointed that the North of Howard community was not allowed to give input into whether it wanted a Boys and Girls Club in the new community center.

"I'm pretty pissed off actually," said McCann, who with other park advisory council members, is scheduled to meet sometime this week with Moore and Tim Mitchell, park district CEO, to discuss bringing the Boys and Girls Club to the new community center.

"All this stuff went on behind our backs. It's robbed the voice of community members," said McCann.

It's just not Eva McCann.

Sr. Cecilia Fandel, who sits on the Gale Park Advisory Council, said that news of a Boys and Girls Club possibly opening in the new community center caught members by surprise. Source.

So, here's what happened. Like Mayor Daley's Children's Museum push in Grant Park, Joe Moore used his "white entitlement club" to ramrod his political appointees to run the show North of Howard.

Forget the fact McCann donates her time year round to the CAPS program North of Howard. Forget the fact McCann is the President of the Gale Park Advisory Council.

The problem with Eva McCann is; She doesn't go out every four years and race-bait the public on behalf of Joe Moore's re-election campaigns.

Eva McCann spends her volunteer time helping out on REAL neighborhood issues that effect ALL of the community. So does Sister Cecilia. That doesn't cut it with Joe Moore. His policy is; help those chosen few that help him get elected. Screw the rest. Don't believe me? Keep reading.

Joe Moore said negotiations with the Chicago Boys and Girls Club began last April, when Rogers Park resident Dick Gregory, a board member for the Cotter Boys and Girls Club in the Chicago Housing Authority's Lathrop Homes, told Moore that Lathrop may be losing its club in the next few years and was looking for a new location.

"Jim Ginderske was one of the first people that I called," Moore said. "I knew this was something that he and his organization (Neighbors for a Healthy Rogers Park) were committed to doing."

Ah, there we go. Now we're getting to the gist of things. Politics. Joe's political "Golden boy", Jimmy G., is now Joe's closest political advisor on all issues great and small. Don't believe me? Keep reading.

* Health care? Joe says let's ask Doctor Jim. He's the 49th ward resident physician.

* Zoning? Plumber Jim's the building expert now. Joe says let's put him on the ZULAC board.

* Arts? Jim knows art better than anyone. Joe says let's get him on the Glenwood Art Fair board.

Don't believe me? Keep reading.

The Bench, however, hears from several sources that the main reason for the RPGG exclusion is the influence of Jim Ginderske, former aldermanic candidate. (Ginderske is currently being groomed as Joe Moore's successor in the event of an Obama victory in November.) Ginderske, I am told, is the de facto GAAF gruppenfuehrer this year. Source.

That's right. Jim doesn't want the Rogers Park Garden Group to be at his Glenwood Art Fair. Why? Like Joe, Jimmy G. uses spite as a method of doing ward business. Because art critic Jim believes they don't support his political mentor, Joe Moore, he doesn't want the RPGG in his Art Fair. Just like the Gale Park Advisory Council.

With Joe, it's not about the communities best interest. It's about protecting those political donors best interests. Nothing more. Nothing less. Pony up, or you don't ride on the pony. This is Joe Moore's sad legacy.
Operation Board Games
Like Rezko, Levin and the Governor's illegal and corrupt Board Games, Joe Moore plays it the same way in the 49th ward. Here, a long time campaign contributor wants to bring his soon-to-be closed Boy's and Girl's Club to Rogers Park. Mr. Gregory won't be denied. Why? Keep reading.

Gregory, Richard (Dick) & Dorothy
1040 W. Albion Ave.
Chicago, IL 60626
$200.00
7/29/2004
Individual Contribution
Citizens for Joe Moore

Gregory, Dorothy
1040 W. Albion
Chicago, IL 60626
$250.00
3/10/2006
Individual Contribution
Citizens for Joe Moore
 
Gregory, Dorothy
1040 W. Albion
Chicago, IL 60626
$250.00
12/7/2006
Individual Contribution
Citizens for Joe Moore
 
Gregory, Dorothy
1040 W. Albion
Chicago, IL 60626
$250.00
12/7/2006
Individual Contribution
Citizens for Joe Moore
 
Gregory, Dorothy
1040 W. Albion
Chicago, IL 60626
$250.00
4/6/2007
Individual Contribution
Citizens for Joe Moore

Campaign cash and campaign workers are the fuel that keeps Joe Moore in power. How, you ask?

* It takes Joe Moore nearly a million dollars to secure a mere 4000 votes in a neighborhood that represents 55,000 residents. (What's that? About $250 A VOTE.)

* When it takes Joe Moore nearly a million dollars to beat a virtual unknown by a scant 250 votes.

* When it takes Joe Moore having lunatic surrogates running around the neighborhood screaming racism about your opponents.

That's how Joe Moore holds onto his seat in office. Without that, Joe Moore would be a ambulance chasing nobody. Just like Jimmy G. was before The "Broken Heart" of Rogers Park introduced him to the residents of the neighborhood. Good gawd, I created a two-headed monster.

Related - August 24, 2007: Attempted Hijacking.

Michael Luckenbach said...."As I understand it, the Chicago Park District establishes the 'organizational structure and membership requirements' for ALL Parks Advisory Councils throughout the city. End of Story!

WHAT A STUNT, JOE! In my opinion, the voters of the 49th Ward should mount a recall effort, and remove this really sorry excuse of an Alderman from office."

Chicago Journal Editorial - June 25, 2008: Gale Community Center should be for all North of Howard residents!

Park advisory council members who kept the community center from languishing on the back burner made sure that the Gale Community Center remained the center of focus after 12 years of construction problems, zoning oversights and budgetary shortfalls. When necessary, the park advisory council moved the community center to the front of the stove, and turned up the heat under the pot until it was boiling over.

And a "pearl of wisdom" from Pearl. Pearl said... "My read on Toni's complaints was that the Gale Advisory Council folks weren't invited to discussions, e.g., there seemed to be a lack of transparency and citizen inclusiveness. Whether one likes or enjoys working with said citizens is besides the point. In my JOB, I have to deal with people I consider jerks all the time. Too bad. That's part of life and work. I don't get to pick and choose partners, vendors, colleagues, bosses, and customers based on whether I consider them nice to work with.

Politicos and civil servants also don't get to choose. When they do choose to ignore folks because they don't like dealing with them or find them difficult or whatever, then they open the door to attack and to fostering anti-government sentiment. The reality is that the citizens are the bosses. People scream at the GOP White House for its lack of transparency -- and deservedly so -- but when fingers are pointed at a local level at Dems (we like) then it's viciousness and spite. If we seek open government then we hold ALL to the same standard whether they mean well or not; whether we like them or not; whether we like the critics or not."