BLOGGER THREATENED IN 49TH WARD

It's getting rough for bloggers in Rogers Park, the nation's "fifth bloggiest" neighborhood (according to Outside.in). The local political elite are scary enough. Now, threats of violence are allegedly coming from construction workers. Between DevCorp North employees lying to local restaurant managers to Ald. Joe Moore's staffers denying all media access to meetings, to intimidating photographers at public events, the local powers in Chicago's 49th Ward have been ramping up their anti-democratic behavior. Now, however, it's gotten downright dangerous. While local bloggers here quickly develop a habit of looking over their shoulders, one blogger cannot be accused of paranoia for being more concerned for his safety than most. Craig Gernhardt, who operates the well-known "Broken Heart of Rogers Park" blog, has been challenging the local power elite for about five years now. He recently did a story about child labor being used at a building that is undergoing a major rehab at 1340 W. Morse Avenue (a former gang-infested complex). I saw those kids myself, under the age of 13 to be sure, hauling fiberglass and other materials with no protective clothing whatsoever. I know that Craig is not making this up. (See his story links, with video, below.) After he reported the story, he says he began to get threats from the construction crew. Today, Craig wrote this: Well, the third mark of intimidation came last night in the form of a comment on the blog from a person named Simon Baker. Here's what Simon sez. I HAVE THE CONNECTION THAT WILL HAVE YOU KNOCKED OFF THIS WORLD REAL QUICK. I KNOW WERE YOU LIVE WELL WE CAN SAY THIS WE ALL KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU AND WHILE YOU THINK YOURE THE WATCHER TRUST YOUR THE WATCHED.... Quite frankly, I take this as a death threat. Now, as my loyal long time readers know, it wouldn't be the first time I've been threatened or intimidated. Nonetheless, it still has me concerned. This threat from Simon was all in CAPS. He must be SERIOUS? Let us hope not. Read Craig's entire post here. Note to Craig: Forward all of that stuff to the FBI and the IL Atty General right now. (Don't bother with Alderman Moore's office. He'd just as soon see the bloggers dead.) And speaking of Joe Moore and his Liberal fans, why aren't they out there protesting the use of these little kids for hazardous work? RELATED: * Child Labor Used in Rogers Park Rehab * Child Labor Worksite Hi-jinx Reside on Morse (the development/rental company)