Dispatches from Chicago's south side.
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| The Chicago Neighborhoods |
The clinic, Nuway Community Services, 110 E. 79th St., was the subject of a neighborhood meeting in January, where residents complained of clients loitering and littering, which is bringing down the overall quality of the community. Violence is also a concern.Here's hoping some progress will continue to made on this issue. Here's hoping that the community knows more about what this clinic does for their clients.
Jerry Davis-EL, a certified alcohol and drug addiction counselor at Nuway, said he has been meeting with a group organized by the Greater Chatham Alliance since April.
Davis-EL said that the clinic has addressed the early morning loitering problem but added that if the community knew the clients better there would be less tension.
“We need to let [neighbors] know these people are human,” he said referring to the clinic’s clients. “We have to show them some love, be transparent and let them know we’re here for them.”
Davis-EL, who has been meeting with Greater Chatham Alliance vice presdent Cee Powell, wants to see a health screening bus as well as a back-to-school drive to benefit the area. He wants to have both toward the end of August.
“My thing is, if you’re in this community, you need to give back; let’s look at the real issue, which is these people need some hope,” Davis-EL said.
Hello, Greater Chatham Alliance Members,Chatham and other 6th Ward Neighbors:
If you are still undecided about your votefor our 6th Ward Alderman, GCA is proud
to present an on-line video viewing, for 5 days,to present an on-line video viewing, for 5 days,of our Aldermanic forum held on Saturday,January 31st at Crerar Memorial Presbyterian Church.
We had hoped to have it also featuredon CAN-TV, but we may not make theirschedule.
In any case, click on the link below toview our Aldermanic forum:
https://vimeo.com/119695699
JP Paulus posted information regarding the Greater Chatham Alliance's 6th ward alderman forum. The three candidates for Alderman - posted to the 2015 page - Richard Wooten, Brian Garner, and incumbent Roderick Sawyer will be there.
Our Aldermanic Forum is set forSaturday, January 31st.
Location is still being finalized! But get ready for it!
You will be able to see all three of the candidates running for office (in alphabetical order) since we are playing fair here: Brian Garner, Alderman Roderick Sawyer and Richard Wooten. No word if Jerry Pierce is on the ballot yet.
This will be your opportunity to hear the issues, insights, and to really assess who can lead our ward for the next 4 years.
We plan to invite the entire 6th ward communities and want this event to be all-inclusive.
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| Via Progress IL |
A group of Chatham residents pushed back against a South Side methadone clinic, that serves sex offenders and drug users, during a protest Saturday. The South Siders would like to see the facility relocated; and if that doesn't happen, they want increased supervision of the clinic's patients.Read the whole thing and lets us know your thoughts.
Clarence Collins III has lived in Chatham for 22 years and is concerned about the close proximity of the clinic, located at 110 E. 79th St., to nearby schools.
King's Kiddie Kingdom III, a daycare center, is located across the street from the clinic at 207 E. 79th St., and Martha Ruggles Elementary School, 7831 S. Prairie Ave, is just three blocks away.
"That's too close for me. I would not want my children attending a school this close to a clinic that treats substance abusers," Collins said. "We [Chatham residents] have reached out to management on more than one occasion, but have not heard back from them regarding a meeting."
He added that the protest was meant to bring awareness to the growing problem of patients loitering in the neighborhood after leaving the clinic.
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| 110 E. 79th street |
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| 110 E. 79th Street |
CHICAGO--Members of the Greater Chatham Alliance Community Organization (GCA), area residents, local educators, parents and business owners will hold a march and rally to demandthat owners of the Nuway Community Services Methadone Clinic, (79th and Michigan), finallyresolve the ever-growing, public nuisance, disturbance and loitering complaints created by their patients receiving treatment.
The demonstration will take place on Saturday, November 1st starting at 10:30 am in front of the Chatham Avalon Medical Center, located at 110 E. 79th street. Area residents from both Chatham and Park Manor, local school educators and parents, and 79th street business owners will discuss how the loitering and disturbance situation has created conflict on the 79th street corridor all the way to 76th street from Michigan Avenue to King Drive).
Residents will discuss examples of morning incidents where methadone patients hide in their backyards or side entrances, or stand in front of their garages and alleys to avoid police detection as early as 5:00 am--one hour before the clinic opens.Ruggles elementary school parents and teachers will cite occasions like naked manfound sleeping in the nearby school park or patients lingering all day on and near schoolgrounds after receiving treatment.
Area business owners will be asked to discuss examples of how ill-tempered patients loiter in their stores, which often lead to confrontations with their staff and customers.
GCA has repeatedly asked to meet with Olajide Solola, President of the Nuway CommunityServices Methadone Clinic, to ask him to provide a patrolling security service that would marshal non-resident methadone patients to leave the area after receiving their treatments.
The organization feels that this would not only be a reasonable and fair negotiated step toavoid patient and resident / business confrontations, but also stem sales by some patientsto other methadone clients in order to buy heroin from local drug dealers who canvass the area.GCA, as a spokesman for the community, will seek other options to help press for the relocationof the clinic if the clinic owners do not provide a comprehensive security patrol.
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| Methadone Clinic at 110 E. 79th Street |
Karen Lewis is the current President of the Chicago Teachers Union. She was the main opponent of Mayor Rahm Emanuel especially during the teacher's strike of 2012. It's certainly that which is compelling her to consider a run for the mayor's office. This info you will find at DNA Info:The president of a South Side nonprofit said his organization is bringing Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis to Chatham so its residents, who include a lot of retired teachers, can hear her views on education and her possible run for mayor.Also noted that in January, GCA hopes to host an Aldermanic forum with 6th Ward Alderman Roderick Sawyer.
The Greater Chatham Alliance will sponsor a community forum at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, at Crerar Memorial Presbyterian Church, 8100 S. Calumet Ave., for Lewis, who said she is strongly considering running for mayor next year.
"Personally, I would vote for her if she decided to run for mayor," said Roosevelt Vonil, president of the Greater Chatham Alliance. "A lot of our residents want to hear Lewis' views on issues like education and crime."
