Safety Committee Minutes of 8/23/06

The meeting started promptly at 3:00 pm with 20 to 23 people in attendance. Greg Harris, Nancy Meyerson and Alex represented Mary Ann Smith's office, with Alex chairing the meeting. Jeremy represented the Argyle-Winmore Block Club. Attending the meeting: Cory Muldoon and Shannon Bade - Neighbor/ONE, Steve Silverman, Matt Smith - CHA, Felicia Wilson - CHA/IGA, Steve Brown - HRC, Joyce Dugan - Uptown United, Pat Bunetta - Carmen/Winona Block Club, Annie Johnson and Elliott Hill - CAC, Judy Dener - LAW, Meg Gillman - CAPS, Pamela Brandt - CPS (Goudy), 20th Districk Police Commander Boehmer, Officer Battaglia?, Officer Collins and Officer G. Liberti. Please note: I will make a copy of the attendance sheet for Carmen/Winona records.

The meeting was started with the commander sharing what has taken place since the first meeting. An operation called the "Rolling Stones", directed against the P-Stones gang, netted 19 arrests which occurred in an area under surveillance from Sheridan Rd. to Broadway and Ainslie to Foster. These arrests dealt with people dealing/transporting drugs for sale. In addition to these arrests, another 18 to 20 people were arrested for selling, buying and gambling. The commander noted most of the dealers had multiple addresses for a residence in various areas of the city, including an address of residence for this area. The commander stated it is a good possibility most of the dealers do not have a "real" residence in this neighborhood. Also, at this time, there is no drug connection to the CHA buildings located on the 5000 Block of N. Winthrop.

The Drug and Gang Area 3 attorney is currently in the process of filing a case against the 5053-57 CHA buildings on N. Winthrop and another property located at 4857 N. Kenmore (which I believe is managed by the Voice of the People). These cases are being filed because it is believed there are code violations as well as a history of 2 or more criminal arrests that have been made in one year. Mr. Silverman took exception to this but was not inclined to talk publicly regarding this situation in front of everyone. Pat Bunetta, for the Carmen-Winona Block Club, asked "how many years have 5053 and 5057 N. Winthrop been CHA properties?" Mr. Silverman deferred to another CHA representative who stated 18 years.

Mr. Silverman for the CHA stated that the current food program operating out of the 5057 Winthrop building will end as of next week. Several minutes of discussion regarding this program ended with an agreement that further talks would take place before the CHA would make a final decision. Commander Boehmer stated that there is need for a tightening up of security for 5057 if this program is to continue, for the police have noted seeing the front door to 5057 wide open very late into the evening hours. Currently the door is open for people to come and go for this program during the hours of 9 -11 am and 12 - 3 pm.

Jeremy, for the Argyle-Winmore Block Club, noted the positive tone to the first meeting, especially with the group learning about the arrest of 16 individuals for selling and buying drugs. Jeremy indicated that the steering committee for the Argyle/Winmore Block Club would defer to the newly established Argyle-Winmore Block Club Safety Committee to develop a set of working procedures which would include discussion of other block club neighbors participating in the safety committee. It was noted that close to 100 people attended the last Argyle/Winmore Block Club meeting and that between 30 to 40 people at the meeting signed up for the safety committee. Jeremy feels this is a very good start.

Here are some possible solutions, discussed at today's meeting, to help our neighborhood rid itself of the gangs and drug activity:

1. Mr. Silverman, CHA, recommended permit parking on the streets, brighter lights in the alley and streets, as well as a police camera at Winthrop and Winona.
2. Pamela Brandt, Goudy School, shared that the 48th ward will be paying for and installing 6 outside cameras which will be mounted to the school building and that the new school play ground/park will be open to the public for use up until 11:00 pm.
3. Move the police camera to Winona and Winthrop and or add more police cameras.
4. Greg Harris, Alderman's office, stated a request will be made to Com Ed to take an inventory of what wattage bulbs are currently being used in our neighborhood city light fixtures and to request a much higher wattage bulb, if possible, to be used. Also attention will be given to make sure these lights impact people in their homes as little as possible, ie: bedrooms.
5. Develop a well-working court advocacy program for our neighborhood.
6. Tap safe school zone laws to be used against drug dealers and gang members.
7. Add ped lights or acorn lights to existing light poles...if possible, and/or install new light poles which can incorporate the use of the ped lights. Ped lights are the small additional lights fixed to a light pole to add additional light to city sidewalks and parkways.
8. Consider a formal request that the Major Jenkins and the Delmar, both SRO buildings known as Mercy Lakefront Housing, install a drug testing program for their residents.

Submitted by: Pat Bunetta