When a news crew and an Alderman visits the site of a homicide...

[VIDEO] I was quite slow to post this story that Worlee linked to on our FB page. On August 24, 2012, there was a shooting on the 7800 block of Champlain and it cost the life of 19 year old Jamal Clayton. That next Monday, Alderman Sawyer arrived on that block with CBS Chicago cameras to offer assistance and was rebuked by the other young men on this block. One of those young men who spoke - off camera - claimed to be the brother of the victim and claimed this violent act was no one's business.

Anyway you should check out the comments over at 2nd City Cop in a post about the CBS Chicago story regarding Ald. Sawyer. Also recognize that the comments there can be quite ugly and they certainly have a bias against elected officials in Chicago. Eric Zorn also took on this subject on his Chicago Tribune blog. The comments there are also very interesting.

Another angle was mentioned by Zack Isaacs on the FB page noting that he's complained about how the community was portrayed in this story.

BTW, I'm sure there are many who are growling about the fact that Ald. Sawyer may have just been looking for publicity by bringing the media with him on that day. I will err on the side of caution and say that he was looking to help and bring attention to this area and the need to provide help to stop the violence.

All that can be said on this subject is that, if it had been me or anyone else who isn't a politician they would be as rejecting to us as they were to him. In fact, I'm sure this story isn't the only example where the youth turns away from the cameras in any attempt to seek answers or solutions regarding the violence.

Still, what can be done here?

Chatham/Avalon Park Community Council: CHATHAM MOVES FORWARD

Chatham/Avalon Park Community Council: CHATHAM MOVES FORWARD

If only there was a "Like" button for this posting at the CAPCC blog. Hopefully it could be a lot of likes and views! This is their response to the recent violence over the past weekend:

Chatham is strong, Chatham is resilent and so are it’s residents. Chatham moves forward with new Education , Health & Wellness , Conservation , Economic Development plans,& a new “ NOT ON MY BLOCK “ campaign that has been instituted to inspire our Chatham residents to accept nothing less but a decent standard of living. (Quality of Life) which we all deserve. It is not where you live, it is how you live there.

Chatham Moves forward, what will you do? Will you be part of the problem or part of the solution? MOVE FORWARD & WORK TOWARD PEACE. Participate in your block club, don’t have one start one. Chatham Avalon Park Community Council hosts a Block Club Boot Camp every month at various locations in Chatham.

If you would like to volunteer for a Chatham Avalon Park Community Council Committee or participate with our “Not on My Block Campaign” please contact the CAPCC Officeat 1-866-272-1215. Stay informed and visit the CAPCC blog daily for community updates.

The Atlantic Cities: A Greener, Safer Empty Lot

Site of the former Rhodes Theater Fall 2009

 Something to consider with vacant lots in our area: 

Vacant lots in neighborhoods can mean trouble. Often overgrown and kind of creepy, these places can be magnets for crime, with tall grasses and bushes that can conceal criminal activity or serve as hiding places for weapons. They may even be good places to stash a body.

But not all empty lots breed crime. New research suggests that vacant lots that are cleaned up and maintained see reduced crime in their immediate surroundings. Cleaning and greening empty lots can even make people feel safer, according to the study from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, published this week in the journal Injury Prevention.

The research is based on two separate clusters of vacant lots in Philadelphia – one set that was eventually cleaned up and maintained and one that wasn't. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society helped by removing debris from some sites, planting grass and trees, building fences and doing maintenance every two weeks. The researchers analyzed police records for these areas for the three months before the empty lot greening and the three months after and found a decrease in total crime as well as drops in assaults with and without a gun. Residents living near the greened lots reported feeling significantly safer than those living near the untouched empty lots.

Read the rest!

Suggestions on how to make Wal-Mart work for the Chatham community

The concern about some citizens in Chatham about the Wal-Mart is in regards to a possible negative impact on existing businesses. From my viewpoint, it seems that Chatham businesses aren't getting the notice as they should. Wal-Mart could be used to help existing businesses.

Here are some things we could ask of Wal-Mart , to help our community's businesses:

- Have their security team patrol the neighborhood as well. At certain times, one person in a car could go into a side street & an alley, then circle back to Wal-Mart. In other words, have them look out for the neighborhood without comprimising security at Wal-Mart. They could also set up cameras (with residents' permission) to help secure the sorrounding neighborhod.

- In the check out line, have extended racks that not only sell stuff (like the typical candy), but also have racks in between that hold brochures & menus of local restaurants & businesses. The first few months may have long lines, and that time could be used helping customers look at other businesses. In addition, there could also be video commercials as well (using a monitor system that Jewel uses)

- Either fund, or have their foundation help find appropriate grant funding, to temporarily sponsor a shuttle bus that goes (of course) to Wal-Mart, but to several other businesses, such as Captain's Hard Time Dining, Army & Lou's, Mather's, Soul Vegtarian East, and others. Navy Pier has such a shuttle. Doesn't our neighborhood have a bigger economic need for shuttles than Navy Pier?

- Have Wal-Mart work with Univeristy of Chicago to use their buses to drive U. of Chicago students & staff out to Wal-Mart (adding money to the area as well as diversity). The 83rd street exit is perfect for those U of Chicago area residents who choose to drive instead.

The Chatham Business Association supports the Wal-Mart; could they and others use these ideas?