Chicago remembers #September11th

I just wanted to share this article from the Sun-Times. Mayor Lori Lightfoot was at a downtown fire station - Engine 42 - to mark today which is believe it or not the 18th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on NYC and the Pentagon. Many of us likely will remember where we were when those tragic events unfolded on that day back in 2001. Here's hoping we don't forget the victims on that day.

Tribune: Emanuel plan to get police to buy homes in more violent neighborhoods hasn't netted many sales yet

You know I sort of get the point of this program. How likely is it criminal activity would take place in front of a first responder like a police officer or a fire fighter? Though it's good to know that city workers will still choose Chatham :)

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s latest attempt to get Chicago cops and firefighters to spread out into the city’s struggling neighborhoods has yet to draw much interest.

Six months after the mayor dangled a monetary carrot to try to get them to purchase homes in high-crime parts of the South and West sides, just two police officers have taken advantage, according to the city Department of Planning and Development. And both closed on houses in the South Side Chatham neighborhood that’s already known as a favorite landing spot for first responders and other city workers.

Emanuel’s program offers $30,000 loans to police officers and firefighters to buy a home in certain more violent areas of the city. If they stay for at least 10 years, they don’t have to pay the city back. It’s an idea employed by former Mayor Richard M. Daley in previous decades that Emanuel restarted last year.

Because of the low participation so far, some aldermen are suggesting changes. But the mayor’s administration wants to see if the program gains steam as the weather warms up and more young officers enter the homebuying market.

The proposal set aside $3 million to pay for the loans and passed the City Council easily last year, but not without skepticism from some aldermen about whether it would spur investment in areas that need it most.

The program was organized to promote homebuying by police, firefighters and paramedics in parts of Chicago’s six most statistically violent police districts, which include portions of several neighborhoods beset by crime and disinvestment like South Lawndale and Englewood. The districts, though, also include less violent parts of the city, notably Chatham.

Sun Times: 2 CPD officers among 4 hurt in Chatham blaze

Piggybacking off of JP's breaking news regarding a fire on 79th Street this morning which blocked traffic from Cottage Grove to St. Lawrence, the Sun-Times offers an update.

Four people were injured, including two Chicago Police officers, in a residential fire Thursday morning in the Chatham neighborhood on the South Side.

Firefighters and a warming bus responded at 5:12 a.m. to the three-story building in the 600 block of East 79th Street, according to Chicago Police.

About 6:10 a.m. the fire was upgraded from a still and box fire to a two alarm fire, the Chicago Fire Department said. The flames were being fought defensively with three hose lines.

Two officers and two other people were taken to hospitals, police said. The officers were treated and released, but conditions for the two other people were not immediately available.

Thankfully there were no fatalities!

Here's a pic from the Chicago Fire Dept. on twitter:

The 2 11 now struck out. One police officer taken by police to hospital for minor smoke issues. Adult building occupant to jackson park for smoke inhalation. pic.twitter.com/ElNO9fE79g

— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) February 8, 2018

They also found a cause:

The Cfd office of fire investigation (OFI) reported a preliminary finding of accidental electrical as cause of fire on 79 street and origin is second floor.

— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) February 8, 2018

Chicago Stars Ep. 2 - The Great Chicago Fire // MBMHMC tv

[VIDEO] I really like how the officials at the Chicago Fire Department Academy literally had to kick Jahmal Cole out of their training exercise. That is understandable at they are in training and surely there is an element of danger in their training.

Either way that segment is fitting as we explore another meaning for one of the stars on Chicago's flag - the Great Chicago Fire. We learn that there wasn't a fire started by a cow, but several fires near Lake Michigan which due to the buildings of the city at the time with wood and tar just spread all over the city.

Also ironically the alleged farm where the Great Chicago Fire started is exactly at the Chicago Fire Academy located at 558 W De Koven St.

Tribune: 4 hurt in Chatham extra alarm fire

[VIDEO] Worlee alerted us to this Tribune on his FB page this morning. The Sun-Times had reported on it as well. The video above is from WGN. Here's an excerpt from the Tribune write-up:

At least four people were injured and others were rescued down ladders when an extra-alarm blaze broke out at a courtyard apartment building in the Chatham neighborhood this morning, authorities say.

The fire started shortly after 5 a.m. in the building in the 700 block of East 82nd Street, possibly in a stairwell of the four-story building, and burned through the top floor, officials said.

The fire was quickly raised to a 3-11 alarm, the second of the early morning, and extra ambulances were called. The fire was struck out shortly before 7 a.m.
When firefighters pulled up, flames were shooting from third- and fourth-floor windows. Firefighters quickly raised ladders to rescue residents, he said.

"They had people hanging out the windows," Fire Chief Michael Fox told reporters. "And they had one person who already jumped into the alley." 

Worlee had also stated that no one was seriously hurt in this fire! Thank goodness!

Chatham: It's Time to Save Brown Park

 

Last year I wrote a blog post about the parks in the 6th ward and one was Brown Memorial Park.

Brown Memorial Park was established as the last parcel of a large lot of land formerly owned by the Nation of Islam. The land was foreclosed and sold in parcels. The Chicago Park District purchased nearly 7 acres of a 14 acre for the playground in 1967. When park development began the following year, the site was picketed by angry residents, who had expected a park double the size. Though the park district was unable to acquire the additional land, improvements went forward. In 1990, the park district named the site for Sidney Brown (1951-1983), the first African-American firefighter to die in the line of duty in Chicago. Brown, who began his career as a firefighter in 1978, served with Engine Company 75 on the city's south side. As a "hydrant man" who connected hoses to fire hydrants, he was often the last firefighter to enter an engulfed building. Brown died on August 9, 1983, when he rushed into a burning house, hoping to save three children believed to be trapped there.

 Brown Memorial Park(636 E. 86th St) has been in a state of disrepair, the basketball courts were removed, the tennis courts are beat and the only major improvement the Chicago Park District has planned is to build a playlot that is fully funded at this point. The playlot is woefully insufficient as the park has no fieldhouse and no bathroom facilities. The community has had enough and is planning a meeting to address the current situation of Brown Memorial Park. The meeting information: May 2, 2012 Wednesday 6:30 pm Cole Park Fieldhouse 361 E. 85th For more information contact Rev. Dr. Marc Robertson at upliftsomeone@sbcglobal.net