Last night's CAPS meeting was epic. And I am not using that word lightly.
There were at least 5 news crews there, and a couple of reporters. Both Mells made an appearance (Ald Mell left after his speech/an interview with a reporter, but don't you start harping, he is very old now...), and a crowd of angry 50+ residents, mostly from Ravenswood Manor, the section of Albany Park where the recent violent mugging took place. Commander Mealer was present, as was number of police officers (3 of which were women, woot!) and detectives.
The meeting began with everyone introducing themselves and Mell giving a speech emphasizing that he did not call all of these news crews here and issue all those alerts to cause a panic, but to make everyone aware of the situation. Perhaps that wasn't his intention, but most of the people there were in a state of panic. Perhaps mass alerts are not the way to go?
Ravenwood Manor is the safest neighborhood in Albany Park. It really shouldn't even be considered Albany Park because it's pretty homogenous, but who am I to just throw out a section? Commander Mealer even stressed that beat 1713 is one of the quietest in the city (Ravenwood Manor makes up half of that beat). That section of Albany Park does have poor lighting (what part doesn't?), and getting more lamp posts and even a camera are currently in the works.
North of Lawrence, the section that I live is, is like a shithole compared to Ravenswood Manor. A couple months after I moved into this neighborhood (2 years ago), I watched a man exit his apartment and then get shot by two males on bikes. He crawled around on the sidewalk before dying. The cops were called, his stiff body was thrown into the ambulance, and after a couple of days his blood stain was washed away. I am not saying the Ravenswood Manor people have nothing to complain about- they just need to relax. They live in the city. Shit happens in the city.
Much of what was talked about at the CAPS meeting was common sense (I guess I am being harsh, I did grow up in NYC after all) . All of the smashed car windows in that area can be prevented if people stop leaving their laptops, ipods, cell phone chargers, and loose change in their cars. People should not be listening to their ipods while they are walking. The shiny white headphones tucked into your ears means you have money.
Rep Deb Mell asked some good questions, on little tips people can use to avoid being a victim. The officers mentioned: appear confident, make eye contact, hold your head up high, do not appear "mousy". Victims are victims because they look like victims; people with low self-esteem, push-overs, pansies. If you are being followed, don't go home right away, go to a local business.
The garages being broken into can be prevented by locking your garage doors, by locking your basements, by locking your gates. Yes, it is bad to waste energy, but always leave a small light on somewhere. Most crimes are crimes of opportunity!
Sergeant Barker (one of the female cops) said something I never considered; the over the shoulder bags are actually more dangerous, as you cannot just throw the purse at the mugger, you can actually get tangled or choked by the purse strap if the muggers try to take it from you. This is disconcerting, as I prefer these types of bags so I don't forget and leave my purse somewhere.
Sergeant Baker is now my new favorite hero; she was very skilled in using jokes to dissipate the unruly crowd. One man was kind enough to buy a bunch of whistles, and handed them out to the women. Brian, a regular, made it a point to say that normally, only 5 people come to these meetings (a sentiment echoed by the police officers) and that "it shouldn't take a tragedy to get this many people of here". Commander Mealer also mentioned that during the 4th of July celebrations in Ravenswood Manor, he tried talking to residents to get them to come out to the CAPS meetings, but no one was interested. After the meeting he told me some people were actually obnoxious to him, and he was very frustrated by the whole incident.
Hopefully next month there will be just as many people at next months CAPS meeting. The CAPS program is a great way for citizens to exchange information with the police, and in all honesty, we really need to be working together (like the positive loitering movement over at Eugene Field Park called "Dads at Dusk"). I don't know if this will happen though..... everyone is so lazy. Look what happened with Obama! So many citizens working together, involved in the political process, and then once he was elected everyone just went back to their entertainment machines and forgot about being responsible citizens. Remember that saying of his, you are the change you've been waiting for?
Read More:
- 4th of July
- Albany Park
- cellular telephone
- commander
- Deb Mell
- energy
- Eugene Field Park
- Mealer
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- Sergeant
- Neighborhoods
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FruzsE
I'm an immigrant, lazy citizen activist, and freelance writer/blogger. I also write for Wallet Pop, Chicago Art Magazine and Trueslant. Check it out!
http://trueslant.com/fruzsinaeordogh/
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I agree that we all need to become more active and connected as a community and that it SHOULD NOT take a tragedy to bring out so many concerned community members. I disagree with the idea that we should blame the victim, though, or use words like "pushover" and "pansy" in describing the type of appearance that might lead to being mugged.
Thank you for sharing this portrait of a community meeting -- we're fortunate that you care enough write about the neighborhoods that comprise Albany Park.
Research suggest that crime victims may have much in common in their gates walking down the street.
Best advice is to walk down the street in purposeful manner, mindful of your surroundings. The old school, small town approach of greeting strangers blankets the neighborhood with familiarity & challenges visitors to express their intent. Such small town behavior isolates criminals & makes it harder for perpetrators to move about unnoticed.
Park you iPods, keep your eyes pinned on the passerby. Adopt a businesslike way of walking down the street. It's empowering & will reduce your vulnerability to street crime.
Oh my.
It was not my intention to call a victim a pansy or a pushover.... you don't want a mugger to look at you and THINK that.... as Q said below, and Sgt Barker stressed at the meeting, you want to appear confident and assertive, not "mousy" to use her term....
thanks for your comment!
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