Troubled Areas

Below are a list of trouble spots within Uptown.

# Location: Issue/ Strategy/ Status/Update Options (Contact)

1: 4940 Winthrop: Drugs, gun fire on street, code violations, bad management practices. Pursuing landlord in court. Strategic Task Force reviewed building, many violations, court date expected early November 08. (10/14/08) Followed in Housing Court: 11 code violations, full compliance (February ’09).  Continuing to monitor. (Dana Fritz)

2: Sheridan & Lawrence: Liquor, loitering, aggressive panhandling, trash (10/14/08). Vote Dry (No one in charge). Police camera installed Spring ‘09.

3: Sheridan & Gunnison: Shootings, gang presence, drug dealing. Cameras, Neighborhood walks. Park layout changes. School renovation. Boys & Girls Club cameras out to bid, McCutheon cameras installed, Fall ’08. (10/14/08). Neighborhood watch (Ed Kuske), McCutheon School (Nancy Meyerson),  Sheridan Road Task Force organized for beautification and retail improvements (Dana Fritz) (11/21/09)

4: Buttercup Park: Gang presence, loitering, drinking. Redo park with redo of McCutheon school – more community facilities, better site lines. In planning – goal: Spring ‘09, maybe Spring ‘10.  (10/14/08) (Doug Fraser)

5: Somerset Nursing: Drug Rehab/ Nursing facility. Building in rough shape. Tenants misbehaving outside. Police/CAPS/Alderman met with Somerset 9/18/08, management trying to work with community, for full minutes of meeting email: Dana Fritz. Facility shuttered 11 March 2010, future uncertain (more information)

6: Winona & Winthrop/Kenmore: Gang presence, drug sales.  Sheridan & Kenmore police camera installed Spring ’09. Phone tree to call 911. Organize neighborhood watch. (No one in charge)

7: Goudy Park: Rowdy teenagers late nights, possible drug dealing, vandalism. Police patrols. Outreach to school. Better neighbor contacts. Improve lighting. Exterior cameras. Phone tree to call 911. Organize neighborhood watch. Target nearby bad buildings. (No one in charge)

Yard Signs

Safe neighborhoods are communities that talk to each other, inform each other and help each other.

This sign is intended to send a strong message of community concern and connection.  This is a community, not a collection of strangers, and we will look out for each other.  It’s also intended to link people not connected to the block clubs and safety efforts into this organizing drive.

E-mail your block club or info@actionuptown.com, we’ll either bring you a sign, or have it at your next block club for pick up.

Alderman Mary Ann Smith, 48th Ward, purchased the first 200 signs.  If you contribute $5 toward your sign, we can continue to supply new ones.  If you prefer not to pay, we will still give you a sign.

Court Advocacy

The Court Advocacy program is an integral part of CAPS. Each of the 25 police districts has a Court Advocacy Subcommittee. With input gathered at beat meetings or from other members of the community, the Court Advocacy Subcommittees, working with the Police Department, identify and track cases of interest to the community. Cases can range from violent crimes, such as murder or rape, to “quality of life” cases, such as drug dealing and public drinking, abandoned buildings and negligent landlords, and problem liquor establishments. Volunteers then attend court dates associated with those cases.

The presence of Court Advocacy volunteers sends a strong message to the defendant, the judge and all other interested parties in the criminal justice system: the community cares about the outcome of these cases and is willing to devote its time and energies to monitoring the workings of the judicial system.

For more information on upcoming Criminal Court cases in the 20th District, contact the 20th District CAPS office at 312-742-8770.

For more information on upcoming Housing Court cases in the 48th Ward, please contact Alderman Smith’s Service Office at 773-784-5277.

B*PAC meeting announcement

The ButterCup Playlot Advisory Council (B*PAC)

will meet on

Thursday, March 25, 2010

7pm

Officers will be elected

Meeting dates will be established

Nominations are open until March 19th

Nominees are:

President….PC Gooden-Smiley

Vice President….Dustin Hamilton

Treasurer….Mary Soeding

Secretary….OPEN***

Please reply to PC at goodnsmile@comcast.net if you are interested in nominating someone

or joining the advisory council…an application for membership is here

Sheridan Road Task Force

At a meeting held November 14th, 2009, community residents gathered to come up with ideas to help improve Sheridan Road between Lawrence Avenue and Foster Avenue.  The Sheridan Road Task Force (SRTF) is a group of volunteers, community organizations, and elected officials working together to improve Sheridan Road.  There are three working committees within the SRTF. For more information about a particular committee, use the links and emails below.  For other information about the SRTF, please contact sheridan@actionuptown.com.

Business Development Committee (BDC)
Next meeting: t/b/a
Primary contact: sheridan@actionuptown.com

Buttercup Park Advisory Committee (BPAC)
Next meeting: March 25th, 2010
Primary contact: sheridan@actionuptown.com

Temporary Public Art Committee (TPAC)
Next meeting: March 18th, 2010
Primary contact: sheridan@actionuptown.com

The SRTF is supported by Uptown neighbors, the Gunnison Block Club, the Margate Park Block Club, the Argyle-Winmore Block Club, the Carmen Winona Block Club, Uptown United, Uptown Business Partners, Alderman Helen Shiller (46), and Alderman Mary Ann Smith (48).