On brining the National Guard to Chicago, for or against

Unfortunately, I hadn't been on top of the discussion regarding Pres. Trump sending the National Guard to Chicago as I should've been. It proved to be part of the contentious back and forth between the President and Gov. J.B. Pritzker especially and our ineffective Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Rich Miller wrote a column about the dynamics of the battle between Gov. Pritzker and Pres. Trump. One question to be asked if whether or not Gov. Pritzker could ever call the President to lower the temperature? Just bear in mind our Governor is running for re-election next year and may run for President in 2028.

One other comment I may add is that there were within at least the past 20 years been calls from people in some south side neighborhoods asking for the National Guard to come in. Often I've been opposed to this at least because of the idea that our neighborhoods could be under martial law.

The National Guard is a dramatic solution as opposed to requesting more law enforcement resources to come into these crime hotspots. Over the years I do believe some neighborhoods had the benefit of the Cook County Sheriff coming into crime hotspots. So this is where my support would go more than bringing in the National Guard short of an outright insurrection.

Meanwhile the President is opting to send the National Guard and federal law enforcement resources to Memphis, Tennessee.

Another focus of the contention was the Presidents emphasis on expelling undocumented aliens from this county. Chicago is a sanctuary city and I've always supported expelling especially violent criminals and support those efforts.

In the news in the past week was that ICE was pursuing an undocumented alien and was killed by an ICE agent. He was said to have resisted arrest and attempted to run down the pursuing ICE Agents.

Let's start a discussion here. Would you like the National Guard to come to our neighborhoods? Would you like more law enforcement resources in our neighborhoods (city, county, state, & federal)?

Upcoming CAPS beat 511 meeting

 Here are some more immediate events. There's a CAPS beat 511 meeting today at Rose Haven Manor at 10220 S. Michigan Avenue. Too short notice for you - in case you're not following the Rosemoor Community Association on FB then there's another one schedule for November 4, 2025.

 

Perhaps you're wonder where Beat 511 is. Here's a map!

Via CityofChicago.org

Beat 511 is as far as west as the railroad tracks by Trinity Church (rough guess) to 95th Street on the north to Stony Island on the east and then 103rd Street to the south. The northern most portion of Police District 5.

#Ward09 events

A portion of future events received through email blasts from Ald. Anthony A. Beale flyers are below each bulleted event.

2nd City Cop blog is back!

2nd City Cop

On July 1st they returned to service, if you want to see the perspective of anonymous sworn Chicago Police officers check out 2nd City Cop. They stopped posting and made their blog private on January 13, 2021 due to concerns with using the Google-owned Blogger platform. I only wonder what changed by July of this year.

How many of you out there read that blog?

4th of July violence

 To be honest I don't really want to add to the perception that Chicago is a dangerous place. Late last month a group of teens converged in the north side's Lakeview neighborhood and the stories became that neighborhood was destroyed. I'm sure there was damages to property whether a car, a bus or a storefront that was a bit of a stretch. Though behavior that resulted in property damages or any injuries or concern for safety is unacceptable.

So anyway, I want to share a couple of videos with regards to the 4th of July violence and we can start with WGN which reported 61 shot with 15 fatal over the past holiday weekend. [VIDEO]

The Mayor on crime #ChiMayor23

 

[VIDEO] I wanted to share this ad you probably have seen somewhere - perhaps on TV or perhaps while watching YouTube. This ad touting Mayor Lori Lightfoot's accomplishments on policing and crime. I can believe that she has been taking a beating on the crime issue at least since 2020.

I like to save videos like this to a playlist, however, I can't save this one because this ad has been set to content made for kids. Interesting....

Then I found this article from April 2020 - at the time David Brown had just become police superintendent - via Block Club Chicago. I didn't know this, however, some detective areas had been closed down. In 2020 two of those areas that had been shut down had been re-opened.

That structure was slashed to three Areas — referred to as Areas North, South and Central — under Emanuel.

But Lightfoot revamped the former map, adding back Areas at 5101 S. Wentworth Ave. and 3151 W. Harrison Ave. All five of the old Areas return to their former names: Areas 1-5.

The three Police Areas were “too big” and weren’t “functionally working … as effectively as [they] could be,” Lightfoot said.

The restructuring had been in the works for months. The city rehabbed the two re-opened Area buildings that were closed and redrew their boundaries as part of the project.

With the changes, parts of the city hit hard by crime now no longer have to share resources and officers with as many other neighborhoods.

For example, the newly created Area 4 will focus solely on crime in the 10th, 11th and 15th police districts, which are in parts of the West Side that struggle with gun violence.

Now, detectives working out of the Police Areas will be closer to the neighborhoods where they work, which means it will be easier for them to work with witnesses and victims and they’ll be able to get to crime scenes quicker, Lightfoot said. She said it also means detectives will be able to collaborate more often with officers.

 Anyone out there thinks this reorganization has been helpful?

Meanwhile almost three years later during the mayoral race, it seems the latest news about David Brown is that he is on the verge of leaving. Lightfoot running for re-election had pledged to keep Brown as Superintendent if she wins another term. Polls seem to suggest it's not likely that she will win another term, however, if she does time to start looking again for another police chief.

Capitol Fax: Chicago and crime #ChicagoElections

 The mayoral candidates in Chicago and hopefully those who want to join the City Council have crime on their minds right now. On the CapFax we hear about some historical states with regards to crime. Will these stats be on your mind when you vote next month?

Chicago and crime https://t.co/6bDLNNjbjP

— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) January 25, 2023

WGN: Man fatally shot at South Side gas station #Ward09

 

[VIDEO] As you see in this clip Ward 9 Ald. Anthony Beale is upset about a lack of resources in the community to address the gun crime in the Roseland community. 

Wednesday morning a fatal shooting took place at a Citgo Station at 116th & Michigan. Then on Tuesday afternoon another fatal shooting on 113th & Michigan.

The right question is being asked if crime is down, who is the crime down for? Is it downtown? What about the neighborhoods.

Be careful on CTA

 

[VIDEO] FOX 32 reports on attacks by a mob (10 or 15) of teens near the 95th Street Red Line terminal. The attack was reported to have happened an hour before the remote by reporter Elizabeth Matthews. Matthews was broadcasting inside Abbott Park across from the terminal.

So an incident happened before Matthews was broadcasting and they reported another incident last night speaking with one of the victims wear a facemask and a bandage over her nose. The victim who was assaulted suffered a fractured nose.

So not only are they punching victims, they're also using pepper spray and engaging in strong arm robbery.

Be careful on the train, getting off the train, and perhaps even on the bus.

CapFax: Another day, another demand for using the Illinois National Guard

 This time the demand is from 2023 mayoral contender Ward 15 Alderman Ray Lopez via today's Capitol Fax blog. And after sharing the tweet I'll show you in part what this is in reference to.'

Another day, another demand for using the Illinois National Guard https://t.co/Ph69an2tYJ

— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) August 29, 2022

Be careful on CTA especially during the late night hours

 

[VIDEO] This report from FOX 32 discusses the many violent incidents on CTA recently. The focus seems to be on the red line especially. Most recently an attempted robbery at the 63rd Street L station resulted in a stabbing death noted in this video report.

There was another incident closer to downtown. Another attempted robbery had the victim fight off his attackers with a knife further north at the North/Clybourn L station. Most of these incidents take place after midnight to perhaps early rush hour which is about 5 or 6 AM.

If you have to take CTA especially to get to work be very careful out there. 

ABC 7: Private security firms to patrol Beverly, Morgan Park and Mt Greenwood

 

[VIDEO] Out of ward 19. Ald. Matt O'Shea wasn't seen in this report however he was quoted as stating that his part of the city is safe, but acknowledged that police are stretched thin. Security will be unarmed and if they see illegal activity will remain on scene and call police. This extra layer is appreciated by residents as you see in the above story.

CapFax: Please don't screw this up

 Rich Miller shared his recent syndicated column on the Capitol Fax blog today. BTW, I hope you all had a very happy and safe Memorial Day weekend.

Well the gist of this column is regards to the issue of crime and of course as you all know eyes are on the city of Chicago and the gun violence that's been making the news. And we have a sitting Democrat Governor running for re-election for whom the crime issue could become a major problem.

I don't know how many readers of this blog may view the crime issue however the headlines are mostly talking about gas prices, inflation, or even the prices for items at your local grocery store. However many of us might be worried about a carjacking and certainly the issue of roving gangs doing smash and grabs.

How many of you view crime as a major issue in this year's elections?

Capitol Fax: It’s time to try something besides simply reacting angrily to crises, Mayor Lightfoot

 Bear in mind she's talking about running for re-election, Lori Lightfoot has all but announced it. When she does officially throw her hat into the ring we'll have a decision to make. Via CapFax

It’s time to try something besides simply reacting angrily to crises, Mayor Lightfoot https://t.co/nnbORyxV6c

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) May 20, 2022

Sun-Times: CTA worker charged with shooting man at Red Line station

 This incident happened at the 95th terminal at 2 AM Saturday morning

A Chicago Transit Authority employee is accused of shooting a man multiple times during an argument at a Red Line station on the South Side, according to Chicago police and CTA officials.

Sylvester Adams, 53, was arrested moments after the shooting at the 95th/Dan Ryan station early Saturday morning and charged with attempted murder and unlawful use of a weapon, police said.

He was scheduled to appear in bond court Sunday.

Cell phone video that was posted to Twitter appears to show Adams arguing with the man just before the shooting, which police said happened just before 2 a.m. Saturday at the 95th/Dan Ryan station.

What led to the argument was not immediately clear.

The man is seen pushing Adams to the ground, who gets up and appears to reach into his pocket and pull out a gun.

The man who shoved Adams then walks away down a set of stairs, and the transit worker follows him, the video shows.

“He got his pipe, boy,” a bystander at the station says before the CTA worker appears to fire one shot from the top of the stairs, pauses and then fires off several more rounds in rapid succession down the stairs, the video shows.

I've seen video of an altercation taking place at 95th which involves a CTA worker being shoved on the ground by a customer. And this Sun-Times article cites that this same video was posted to @CPD1617Scanner. I won't embed that tweet here, however, I will link to it. All I saw was the shove and the worker following the man down the stairs.

CPD1617Scanner shares a lot of videos of things going down around the city and their vids have been shown on such cable outlets as FOX News.

WGN News: A final insult for a fallen officer

 

[VIDEO] Titus Moore died in his home of coronavirus or COVID-19 in November 2020 and one final insult has been that WGN reports that his home has been broken into. His family due to this pandemic hasn't been to enter his home to retrieve any of his belongings. The people who were caught breaking into his home have claimed when confronted by police there were there to secure and winterize his home. 

Thankfully the neighbors of West Chesterfield keeps an eye on suspicious activities at his home and unfortunately police were called but as you see in the story above police only just suggested they possibly "come back tomorrow". The home is said not to be in foreclosure and the implication is that there is no reason for any mortgage company to secure and winterize the home and of course some items have been stolen from the property.

Is this even verifiable?

I became aware of this image being passed around if anyone can verify this please email this blog. It's up there with the urban legend about flashing headlights. Perhaps this message should be taken with a grain of salt.

It's a message from a police department, however, is it from the Chicago Police? Is this an alert from a particular city police district? Perhaps it comes from C.A.P.S.? What is its origin?

CBS Chicago: Overnight carjacking in Roseland

 

[VIDEO] 91-year-old cab driver was shot in a carjacking near 107th & Langley. The victim is being treated at a hospital and police are looking for the carjacker. The victim had been shot after getting out of his Hyundai. 

Be careful out there everyone.

WGN: City leaders, council members debate ShotSpotter use

 

[VIDEO] There is further debate over whether or not ShotSpotter technology is effective in the city at curbing violence. In his report Paul Lisnek, especially notes the spat between Mayor Lori Lightfoot and State's Attorney Kim Foxx on a shooting that took place on the west side where no charges were filed citing "mutual combat". Neither Lightfoot nnor Foxx haven't polled very well on the issue of crime and what happened on the West Side over a week ago probably didn't help their poll numbers.

Supt. David Brown is seen in this report defending ShotSpotter in a city council hearing noting how in using the technology they were able to find wounded victims. Regardless the debate is over whether or not this technology has been a great help in gun violence in high crime areas.

FOX 32: Ald. Beale wants Nat'l Guard to patrol city #Ward09

 

[VIDEO] Ald. Anthony Beale proposes that the Nat'l Guard secure the perimeter of the Loop in the wake of unrest downtown. To be honest, this just seems to be a go to though at least we're not hearing anything about martial law which I think could set a dangerous precedent.

What's the point in this situation get some attention. What's wrong with suggesting that more resources are necessary with what happened the Fourth of July weekend?

Either way as you see in the above FOX 32 story we hear from Ald. Beale and we hear from Mayor Lightfoot. She's quoted as stating the Ald. Beale is a critic who likes to grandstand and lamented that reporters are covering him anyway.

Who's ready for the election for mayor and city council in 2023?