Public Shaming for Grafitti Artists

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The city of Chicago plans to publicly shame graffiti artists convicted of vandalizing property.
Under a program Mayor Daley is expected to unveil today, taggers would be forced to ride with Streets and Sanitation workers to the neighborhoods they defaced.
They'll clear weeds from vacant lots, pick up trash and paint over graffiti -- similar to the convicts who perform community service for the Cook County sheriff, according to Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Michael Picardi.
But Streets and San workers also will videotape convicted graffiti artists when they are doing their clean-up service. More from Sun Times..
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"Crime Is Down But Ignore The Police Blue Light Cameras Going Up"

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If you wanted to keep a watchful electronic eye on a busy 49th Ward commercial strip that is "owned" by Rogers Park's Latino gangs and drug dealers, where would you put it? If you guessed that a good spot would be just two blocks north of our very own police station headquarters you'd be right on target.












Yes, at 6700 N. Clark St., up high on a light pole and smack dab on the corner of North Shore and Clark Street, is the fourth and latest entry in our "Crime Is Down But Ignore The Police Blue Light Cameras Going Up" design competition. Compared to the three others that have been installed during the past year or so, this new one has a slightly less garish flashing blue beacon. It's got a tiny disco blinker that is barely visible. New technology or just a smaller, cost-saving light bulb? Anyway, the other police cameras - one on Morse Avenue and two on Howard - still shine brightly.

Did the Howard/Ashland camera catch the shootings Monday night?

When will we get to watch the 24/ video transmissions from these cameras live, in real time on Chicago's cable access television?

Note: Sent to the Rogers Park Review via e mail by a Neighbor
Pics by gf yesterday.

Would You Sign This Petition?

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To Mayor Daley, the Chicago Police Department and Alderman Joe Moore:

We, the undersigned, the citizens of Rogers Park and Chicago are interested in the betterment of Rogers Park and it’s image.

We no longer want the 24th District Police Station to be referred to as “The Rogers Park Police Station”. The actual boundaries of the district are Peterson Ave. 5900 North to the south and Kedzie Ave. 3400 West to the west. Rogers Park is only 20% of the 24th district work load yet we get 100% of the bad press.

Please help our tarnished image and change the name to simply the “24th District Station”

Thank you in advance.

The undersigned:

Note: Petition Being Circulated in Rogers Park. Sent to the Rogers park Review by a Neighbor.

Protesters blast police in gay-book arson investigation

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About three dozen people gathered outside a Lakeview library Tuesday night, brandishing gay-rights flags, signs and angry words as they protested how Chicago police handled the burning of about 100 gay and lesbian and African-American history books in the building last week.Organizer Andy Thayer said that what he views as police reluctance to quickly label the incident at the Merlo Branch Library, 644 W. Belmont Ave., a hate crime was shameful.

"We will not stand by idly while this kind of hate infests our community," Thayer said. "Attacks on any groups ... are against my principles," Asidao said as he waved an anti-discrimination placard. "We're going to try to connect it to other struggles in the community, like immigration.

More from the Tribune.

Files shredded in mayor's office

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"It was something that was not supposed to be done in the office. "

A secretary in Mayor Richard Daley's office testified today that she shredded two file drawers of documents related to hiring in 2002 at the direction of the mayor's patronage chief, Robert Sorich.
Patricia Molloy, who has worked in the mayor's office since shortly after Daley's election in 1989, said she used a shredder in the mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
The destroyed documents contained lists of people seeking city jobs or promotions and their political sponsors, Molloy told jurors in the City Hall corruption trial.

'I just remember [Sorich] coming in and saying I should shred the files,' she said. More from the Tribune...
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Residents Not Pleased With Pleasure Chest Sex Store

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Alderman: Store Is Zoned Properly

NBC News--Some residents are concerned because the store is located within blocks of a church and a school.
"I have a child. There are children everywhere. They're building a park 100 feet away from the store's entrance," area resident Rob Gregg said.

Video: Outraged Residents
Images: Pleasure Chest
Survey: Would You Protest?
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Do You Have a Moonroof on Your Car?

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When ex-con, Four Corner Hustler and would-be carjacker Malcolm Lofton spotted a 5-foot-1-inch, 125-pound woman at the wheel of a new $25,000 SUV on Wednesday night, he probably thought he'd found an easy mark.
It was the last bad decision he made.

As Lofton attempted to climb into the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder via the moonroof, shouting "I am going to kill you," the 41-year-old woman, an off-duty nine-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, plugged him with bullets from a 9mm handgun, police said Thursday.
He was pronounced dead at the scene less than two hours later on the 10900 block of South Wentworth Avenue. More from the Daily Southtown
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24 new schools..........

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Mayor Daley said using money that has already been collected from these specialized tax districts means this project can be done without any increase in the city's tax rate.

From the Tribune.

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"Quote of the Day"

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“Paul Vallas promised everybody a new school. All 50 wards. If he saw you, he would build one wherever you live,” Daley said. Sun Times.

Will Mayor Extend Central Loop TIF?

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$1 bil. building plan calls for 24 new schools

......using $400 million in school bond funds and $600 million generated by existing tax-increment financing (TIF) districts.

Now that local aldermen have signed off on the use of TIF funds, new schools will be built in the Chicago neighborhoods of South Chicago, Washington Heights, Chicago Lawn, Lawndale, McKinley Park, Back of the Yards, South Shore, Roseland, Englewood and Garfield.

In April 2000, Daley agreed to borrow $170 million against the windfall of cash expected when the Central Loop TIF expires at the end of this year. TIFs freeze property taxes within the boundaries of a defined district for 23 years, but there is a bonanza of new revenue when the freeze is lifted.

City Hall has not yet decided whether to extend the life of all or parts of the Central Loop TIF, .or allow the district to expire. More from Sun Times.....
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Doggy Heaven

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you can
Get Fit With Fido At A Doggie Yoga Class
CBS- The classic yoga pose called downward facing dog is taking on a whole new meaning. CBS 2's Vince Gerasole reports on the newest way to get fit with Fido.
A new class aims to clam and strengthen man's best friend through yoga. It's the invention of West Loop dog trainer Ami Moor.

"I like to keep the more advanced dogs in this position so they are in your chakra and aligned with your energy path and you are sharing your energy back and forth," Moor said. More....

and then after class you could ask the waiter to
Put One of Those Double Latte's in a Bowl?
The ostrich country pate? To drool for. The bone marrow gateau? Delightfully crunchy. The grilled steak hache? Gone in a gulp.















Durand and other chefs across the city are preparing to serve a canine clientele as the Chicago City Council considers an ordinance this month that would let dogs eat next to people in outdoor cafes.

"When spring comes, everyone wants to be outside with their pets," said Alderman Walter Burnett Jr., who owns Star, a Shih Tzu, and a pit bull named Shadow.

"It seems ridiculous that people can't stop off at a cafe for a sandwich and get their pet some water to drink or something to nibble on too." More from the Tribune
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TIF's - Robin Hoods in reverse?

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The corruption of TIF's is like the corruption of copyrights - something originally intended for a limited time and defined purpose that high-powered lobbyists have hijacked into a perpetual entitlement.

Connected developers and contractors get the feast, while the bungalow owners get stuck with the check. Public purposes such as schools, pensions and the CTA face seemingly unending financial crisis even as hundreds of millions of dollars of TIF funds accumulate unspent. This is not sound fiscal management; this is your government on crack.
More from ArchitectureChicago PLUS

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"Quote of the Day"

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'We can't sit around idly and wait for funding that never seems to come,' said one official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

According to a report from the Neighborhood Capital Budget Group, a not-for-profit group that has been critical of the city's oversight of the program, the city's 131 TIF districts collected a total of $329 million last year. That was up 15 percent from 2004.

Here's the rest of the article Tribune

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News Flash! Property Taxes, Costs Burden Chicago

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“The Roosevelt University report points to an inescapable fact: Illinois’ dependence on property taxes, especially to bear the primary burden of school funding, puts Chicago at a competitive disadvantage when compared to other cities and jeopardizes Chicago’s long-term economic prospects,” members of BOMA/Chicago caution in the report’s introduction.

According to the study, Chicago had the highest property taxes during the past ten years, with an average of $6.98 in taxes per sf. This compares to $5.31 per sf for New York, $2.78 per sf for Dallas, $2.40 per sf for Atlanta and $1.98 for Los Angeles."
More from Globe St.

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"Quote of the Day"

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"Yes, we have to strengthen our border security, but we also have to protect the millions of immigrants who are already in America. Give them a fair chance, bring them out of the shadows. We're not talking about an amnesty,"

Bill Richardson said at the Rainbow / PUSH Coalition Conference. More....

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33 Parents Already Fined Under New Curfew Law

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The law states that children under the age of 17 may not be out after 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday or after 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Chicago police began implementing the revised policy last week. As of Wednesday, 33 parents whose children were charged with a crime have been fined, Cline said. The fines range from $50 to $500 and are determined by a judge at an administrative hearing. More.....
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NOH: Washington Playlot Issues

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From: Cecelia Fandel
To: Robert.Steele@ChicagoParkDistrict.com
Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 9:21 AM
Subject: Park Enhancement?
Dear Robert,

Please forward this on to the Park Enhancement Committee.

For three evenings running now, there has been a group of young teens in the Washington Playlot, playing Basketball, and dunkball eliminating any use of the baby swings, or the circular hanging equipment. In addition, for two nights, I chased them out because they were lighting fire crackers in the playlot. When they left, they spent 45 minutes lighting all types of fireworks on the parkway and in the street. All dangerous activities.

As it is now, when the parents of young children see them coming in the playlot, they leave with their tykes.

Last night I went out because they again were throwing a ball up against our building.
The night before they had climbed over our fence and trampled in our garden to get their ball. As I talked to them I noted that one took out a lighter and started to light litter on fire.

I said, that's it, out... They went over the fence. The fence is now being bent over and down on two sides because they are using that for exits and entrances. It needs repair.

As I exited the playlot I saw a police car parked at the end of Paulina on Juneway. I started to walk toward it, and flagged it down. I'm fortunate they stopped. Sometimes, they don't. I told them about the boys with the lighters and that they were starting down the alley.

The police DID enter the alley. By this time they had lit a box on fire in a neighbors' back yard. The garden site worker saw them, hollared at them and they were trapped between the police and the worker...

A long way to say that THIS IS NOT PARK ENHANCEMENT. THIS PARK DESTRUCTION. AND IT NEGATES THE PURPOSE THIS COMMUNITY ASKED FOR THIS PARK, that is, SO LITTLE CHILDREN COULD PLAY IN A BEAUTIFUL AND SAFE environment. This is PRECISELY why we asked for specific rules to be placed on the sign, and to be enforced.

PARENTS with small children ARE NOT ABLE to bring their children IN AT THEIR CONVENIENCE. Maybe they are able to sneak them in when the bullies are not around. THIS IS AN INSULT TO GOOD PARENTS.

Are these young teens supervised? ARE THEIR PARENTS BRINGING THEM IN?
NO!
Definitely, I AM ASKING THE PARK ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE to meet with parent and community reps to go over again WITH US, Here in the neighborhood, the suggested rules we offered in a collaborative spirit. And I want YOU as our laiason to make this happen as soon as possible, as the school term is over in a few weeks.

Our North of Howard Parks Advisory Council meets Tues, June 20. IT would be terrific if this could be accomplished before that meeting.

Sincerely,
Sr. Cecilia
Other Correspondence
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Quote of the Day

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1340 West Morse

"Gordon added that there's,
"not a concentration of poor people here,
just a concentration of poor management,"

49th Ward Aldermanic candidate Don Gordon from
'Gooning' worries Rogers Parkers article
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What's Next, Popeye's?

Alderman wants to limit fatty, fried fast food

Sun Times- If the City Council can ban foie gras, a fatty liver delicacy that most Chicagoans have never tasted and cannot afford, why not ban a product that's known to cause obesity and heart disease? Chicago's most powerful alderman raised that question Wednesday, then began to answer it -- by thinking out loud. More.....
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Early Campaigning

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"Yep, while driving the kids to their school bus at 7:50am this morning I saw the "Joe Moore 49th Ward Satellite Service Office" set up at the Howard El, a giant poster and the candidate greeting commuters. Joe shook hands while his city staffer Wayne Frazier and a couple of $10 day-labor guys (sad, shabbily dressed guys, living on the edge, and thankful for the bucks) were handing out something. Maybe it was his new campaign literature or a flyer about the Dawson jobs program he's pushing? Many folks were gathered around their card table outside the entrance to the station"

Sent to Rogers Park Review yesterday by a neighbor
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$88Million in Budget Cuts for Schools. Why?

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Chicago School District Proposes Taxes, Cuts To Balance Budget
AP-- The nation's third-largest school district on Tuesday proposed a $4.7 billion budget for 2007 that would increase property taxes and slash spending for some programs to help overcome a yawning deficit.
The Chicago Public Schools' budget for next year would include $88 million in reductions - $25 million through job cuts, a pay freeze and by shaving consultant costs, as well as $63 million in cuts for school-based programs.
``The only thing left to cut would have been teachers, and that's absolutely the wrong thing to do,'' said the district's chief executive officer, Arne Duncan. More.....
Related Story:Sun Times-CPS proposes $55 mil. tax increase
Related Story:City planning to extend 1st TIF: no payday for schools
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Does Rogers Park Need A Similar Program?

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City Council Approves Ordinances Supporting the Preservation of 236 Units of Affordable Rental Housing

May 24,2006
The Chicago City Council today approved two ordinances,( Dept. of Housing, May 24 ) with a commitment of $25 million, supporting the preservation of 236 units of affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income families and seniors.

Britton Budd Apartments
The first ordinance approves the transfer of up to $20 million in tax-exempt bond financing to the Chicago Housing Authority, providing funds for the rehabilitation and preservation of 173 units of senior housing. The CHA will use the allocation to generate approximately $15.4 million in tax credit equity for the renovation of the Britton Budd Apartments at 501 W. Surf St. in the City's 44th Ward, furthering the CHA's redevelopment mission.
The $34.8 million project will include new apartment amenities, exterior work and a full scale renovation of plumbing, electrical and heating systems. Once the rehabilitation is completed, the project-based Section 8 development will have 36 studios and 137 one-bedroom apartments for low- to moderate-income seniors, ranging in size from 600 to 820 square feet. Britton Budd Apartments are located within the nationally registered Lakeview Historic District.

Note:Sent to Rogers Park Review from a neighbor.
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Quote of the Day

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Every once in awhile something is introduced that makes us wonder thoughtfully:
“Why the hell did it take so long for the ad wizards to come up with that one?”

More from the Chicagoist.....
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Quote of the Day

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"If you have any cash lying around, think about investing in some West Side speculation - it'll pay off in 20 years or so." More from Second City Cop....
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Letter to Crain's Chicago Business

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From: "Hugh J. Devlin"
To: editor@chicagobusiness.com
Subject: City planning to extend 1st TIF: no payday for schools
Crains Chicago Business, May 29, 2006

When our local politicians and the real estate developers who sponsor them, pitch Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts to our communities, we are told that we are investing in our future, that we are making sacrifices to grow our property tax base. But no TIF in Chicago has ever expired and now it looks like they never will. Our home town's first and most lucrativeTIF, the Central Loop TIF, was established in 1984, and is supposed to expire next year.

Central Loop TIF profile
http://ncbg.org/tifs/tifprofile.aspx?id=15

Since 1984 the Central Loop TIF has collected nearly $1B. Sure, Millennium Park looks mahvelous, but recall that in Chicago roughly half of every property tax dollar goes to our public schools. The Central Loop TIF has diverted roughly $500M from our schools to developers.

Recently, the Central Loop TIF is collecting nearly $100M a year. If the Central Loop TIF
were to expire next year as we were promised back in1984, our schools would see
roughly $50M a year in enhanced operating revenues.

TIF expiration is the pot of gold at the end of the TIF rainbow, the big pay-off we have all
been sacrificing for more than two decades toachieve. As a school funding crisis looms, our local politicians move to bolster their war chest for their developer pals. Our City's plans to extend their1st TIF expose TIFs for what they are: corporate welfare for campaign contributors. Our City has hijacked a temporary development tool and are poised to make City-awarded property tax rebates for big guys a permanent feature of our property tax landscape.

Our City made a pact with property owners back in 1984. We need to hold them to it.

Hugh J. Devlin

Note:Reprinted with Permission
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Quote of the Day

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"The National Assn. of Charter School Authorizers was drawn to Chicago’s central U.S. location and its deep reserves of not-for-profit talent, said President Greg Richmond, a former Chicago Public Schools (CPS) official. It will be based at 105 W. Adams St." More from Crain's....
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NOH Washington Play Lot Issue

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Sent to Rogers Park Review by a neighbor.
From Sister Cecilia
To: Steele, Robert
Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 4:49 PM
Subject: Fwd_RE_Washington PlayLot Sign.eml

Robert,
We were sadly disappointed to read that the community input to the making of the sign was discarded without speaking directly to us. As you know, when we first talked with you, we said that we wanted to be part of a conversation with the park district on the make up of the rules for this playlot, before the decision was made. That was your job, Robert, to be our advocate, and to see that we were included, not excluded, from the conversation and decision.

Who is this "Park Enhancement Committee"? Have they ever visited this neighborhood? Why were we not invited to be part of this conversation? I thought the community was something other than a rubber stamp. I thought the community was to be part of a collaborative effort to make our parks more effective and safe, livable, etc....use whatever words to want for "enhancement".

Certainly a trashed park, constantly having to repair equipment and thereby not having on-going usable equipment for the children, keeping a "threat" to the safety of little ones for whom this park was built by bigger children, and teens overrunning the park, not really caring for the little ones, and the sadness and disgust of parents who tell us, "I can no longer bring my children in here to play" is not "PARK ENHANCEMENT".

A few park rules, enforced (otherwise - why have rules, they mean NOTHING) consistantly and fairly, would make this new park something to be proud of.

I understand, in fact, you told me, that communities can have special rules put on the sign due to particular circumstances of the community. Robert, this is a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT, and almost a "slap in the face" to a community who have been trying to work with the park district to provide a quality park for the community.

I would ask that before that sign is made, that you as our laiason and advocate, make it possible for us to have a meeting with this "Park Enhancement Committee", here in our neighborhood, to go over our proposed rules with them.

Sister Cecilia

From NHNA
Sister Cecilia,
The North Howard Neighbors Association stands with the NoH Parks Advisory Council 100% on this matter! You can count on our support.
M Luckenbach
NHNA
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Quote of the Day

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Madigan asks court to block ComEd auction
In today’s filing, the Attorney General asks the Supreme Court to take up the issue on an expedited basis and halt the state’s preparation work on the auction in the meantime.

“It’s really an extraordinary request,” says Susan Hedman, senior assistant attorney general. “But this is an extraordinary situation.”
More...

Quote of the Day

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"These students and their families have shown a heroic commitment to their education, and they deserve to be recognized for that." CPS Chief Executive Officer Arne Duncan said. More...
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Do You Think the Police Bike Patrols Help ?

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Police Bike Patrols are Back
Two uniformed officers on bicycles stopped 4 young men on suspicion of selling drugs on the 7600 block of North Bosworth last night at approximately 10pm. The men had gathered on the west side of the street in front of the single family homes located between the Northpoint and the Broadmoor buildings. The four men were asked for their identification and searched. According to one officer, no drugs were found but one or more of the men had a large amount of cash. The officers explained to the four men and two passerby that loitering in this manner was illegal and were asked to disperse after the officers determined that the men did not live on the block.
Gary Fuschi
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