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Greetings!
Increasing public safety in the 46th Ward was one of the main reasons that I decided to run for alderman. Since I have been in office, I have focused on 3 areas of this issue in our ward: hot spots, problem buildings, and chronic offenders. Through focusing our efforts in all 3 areas, we, as community, will do a better job of addressing crime.
Hot spots are areas where there are higher rates of drug sales and violence due to gang activity. Gangs thrive because of drug sales so focusing on those areas of higher rates of drug sales is key to curbing violent crime. Six months ago, we secured a foot police officer to walk the beat to get to know the residents and the business owners in the area. On numerous occasions, I have walked with the Police Commander and members of the Community Justice Center to educate businesses about what they can do to curb drug sales in front of their stores. Businesses are responding by increasing their camera surveillance and unblocking their windows so that they can more easily spot any illegal activity out on the street. To continue this dialog, I am sponsoring business meetings with Uptown's Business Partners and the Mayor's office specifically for businesses that are within these hot spot locations.
In 2011, we identified 13 problem buildings with high rates of 911 calls in the 46th Ward. Today, that number has gone down to 6. That number went down for a couple of reasons. First, I started a building managers' group that meets monthly to share best practices in building management in conjunction with the 19th District Police. I made it clear to the problem building owners that I would make their lives miserable if they didn't clean up their act. Building owners either complied or they sold. Case in point: the Hotel Chateau at 3838 N. Broadway. I received a recent email from a business owner near the Chateau who remarked that for the first time ever after a theater event, the attendees hung around the area and visited local establishments because they felt comfortable in the area.
The issue of chronic offenders was highlighted last August when a woman with a history of 396 arrests was again arrested for an alleged attempt to harm me. Earlier that day, business owners were voicing their complaints to me about this one individual who was scaring away their customers with her aggressive panhandling and public drinking. This incident highlighted a very broken system that does not address individuals with serious mental illness who also have ongoing addictions. When they leave the prison system, often times without referrals to necessary social services, they have no access to their psychiatric medications and SSI to pay for a place to live or food to eat. We are using this situation and others like it to make some changes in the way we deal with chronic repeat offenders as well as working with the Department of Family and Support Services to hold correctional facilities accountable for their release planning.
However, the most important way we can reduce crime is to involve you
. I believe in the CAPS Program because I've seen it work. It not only helps by giving police information, but it gets neighbors together and that builds community. It's a strong sense of community that works well to curb crime. I've heard neighbors complain that CAPS doesn't work, and my response is this: If you find it isn't working, then work with us to improve the CAPS meetings in your beat. It's up to each one of us to do our part to address crime.
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46th Ward Events
(Check out the Ward Calendar for more events by clicking here.)
Neighborhood Nights
Neighborhood Nights in the Ward's parks and playlots returns on Wednesday evenings. These events will allow any resident to meet with Ald. Cappleman and discuss any issue or just come to chat. Call Chris Jessup with any questions: 773-878-4646 or email at Chris@James46.org.
When: Wednesday, May 22 from 5pm - 7pm
Where: Gill Park at 825 W Sheridan
Welcoming School Enrollment CPS is hosting an enrollment campaign for all students schools that will be consolidated for the next school year. All proposed "sending" and "welcoming" schools will conduct in-person enrollment registration for parents. While every child in a current "sending" school is guaranteed spot in their new "welcoming" school, parents must register them in-person and in advance of the start of the new school year. When: May 23 - 24 and May 28 - 31 throughout the school day until 7pm Where: at your child's current school "Finding Faith" Movie with Movie Star Eric Estrada Uptown Baptist Church is hosting a free screening of the movie Finding Faith, based on a true story of efforts of a task force to rescue children from Internet predators. Movie star Eric Estrada will be on hand to sign autographs.
When: Friday, May 24 at 6:30pm
Where: Uptown Baptist Church at 1011 W. Wilson
Bicycle Safety Workshop The City of Chicago's Bicycling Ambassadors will be providing a bicycle safety program. Learn more about cycling safety in the city, practice with some drills, and have your helmet fitted. This free event is hosted by Graceland Wilson Neighbors and all ages are welcome to attend. To learn more about the Bicycling Ambassadors, click here.
When: Saturday, June 1 from 10am - Noon
Where: Sunnyside Mall between Magnolia and Malden
Condo Law Workshop The Association of Condominium, Townhouse and Homeowners' Association is hosting the workshop "A Primer on Condo Law & Practices. This is a great program for condo homeowners to learn about their rights and responsibilities. The program is free but you must register by calling 312-987-1906 or email: gael@actha.org. When: Tuesday, June 4 from 6pm - 8:30pm Where: Bridgeview Bank at 4753 N. Broadway
CAPS (Community Policing)
The CAPS Beat meetings are the best forum to address chronic public safety issues. Community members, businesses and organizations are encouraged to attend or have a representative attend this meeting. Ald. Cappleman or a representative from the ward office will be available to answer further questions. Not sure where or when your police beat meeting is? You can find your police beat and CAPS meeting information here.
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46th Ward News
46th Ward Office Will Be Closed Over Memorial Day Weekend
The office will be closed on Saturday, May 25 through Monday, May 27 as we commemorate all those who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The office will reopen on Tuesday, May 28 at 9am.
New Guest Parking Passes are Here
Our office has received the new guest parking passes for all zoned parking areas in the ward. The new passes (bright green) will expire in June of 2014. If you have been waiting until the new passes arrived, feel free to come to our office to purchase them during our open office hours (same price of $8 for 15, $16 for 30, max purchase is 30/month). Please be aware that the light blue passes will expire at the end of next month, June 2013.
Great Source of Information for Support Assistance
People sometimes complain that there are not enough resources in the area, but we're finding one of the real issues is that people don't know how to access where these services are located. A great source for information is Purple Binder. It lists services by area or by type of program. If you want to learn more about resources that assist with day care, job training, or locating an affordable apartment, click here. Bronco Billy Playlot
At our last 2 Ward Nights at Bronco Billy Playlot, a number of residents expressed concerns about the playlot having access to kids older than 12 years of age. Ald. Cappleman will be working with area residents, the Parks Dept. and CAPS to identify the issues and come up with a plan of action. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks. (Fun Fact: Did you know that Bronco Billy Playlot got its name from one of the first silent movie stars? Bronco Billy Anderson's real name was Maxwell Henry Aronson. The film industry had its start in the Uptown neighborhood.)Government Funding for FloodingIf you experienced flood damage between April 16 - May 5, FEMA has announced that federal assistance has been made available to IL residents. For information about this program, click here.
Activities for Kids for the Summer
Chicago has a lot of free activities for kids. For more information about places in your neighborhood or anywhere in Chicago, click here. Curfew Reminder
12 years and under: 9pm on Friday, Saturday and 8:30pm on all other days
Ages 12 through 16: 11pm on Friday, Saturday and 10:30pm on all other days
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