Vandals, CTA Attack Uptown Parking Meters

Vandals Try to Destroy Meters and CTA Removes Perfectly Good Meters Once again, the big media and another local blog got local coverage wrong. The big media might be forgiven; they don't live in Uptown. Chicago News Bench saw a parking meter that was spray painted gold yesterday (Wednesday, June 3) near N. Sheridan and W. Wilson. According to Chicago Breaking News, "About 50 coin-fed parking meters were vandalized today in the three adjacent North Side neighborhoods of Uptown and Ravenswood, according to Chicago police." Wrong. They were vandalized yesterday. Chicago Breaking News was quoted without question by Uptown Update, which ran a photo of a non-vandalized, expired but perfectly funtional meter (which had nothing to do with vandalism) in their version of the story today. (Click photos to enlarge them.) As so often happens, Uptown Update ran none of their own photos. Chicago News Bench actually put down our tub of ice cream and got off our Lazy-Boy recliner to visit the streets of Uptown. We walked around and found the vandalized meters pictured here. The meter that was spray painted gold yesterday (above) is still functional. We watched a woman plug coins into it. No problem. It just looks nicer than it did before the new paint job. CTA Removes Perfectly Good Meters While the media are all aflutter about a few "vandalized" (but still functional) meters, they seem to have missed the fact that CTA has effectively destroyed more than 30 meters. As we walked the filthy streets of Alderman Shiller's 46th Ward, we noticed that all of the parking meters have been removed from the triangular parking lot behind the Wilson Broadway Mall. That's in the heart of a business district that needs all the help it can get, where parking is badly needed. The CTA has claimed that lot for its own "Under the L Monthly Parking Program." The program started on June 1, but the lot was empty this afternoon when we took these photos. Now, a public parking lot that used to help local merchants and their customers is vacant. Nice use of land, City of Chicago. Way to go, CTA. Leave a Comment Here... See our cool merchandise... Chicago News Bench RSS Feed Hey! ChiNewsBench is on Twitter

Anger in Rogers Park Over Police Protection of Gang Graffiti, Shrines

The following open email letter was received today at 12:11 p.m. It was sent to various Chicago police and elected officials is a response to the recent revelation that police officers are following policy when they allow gang graffiti and "shrines" to remain undisturbed on public property as makeshift memorials to murdered gang members. In my opinion, this would be like allowing the Hatfields and McCoys to deface and a litter on public or private property to memorialize one of their murdered kinfolk. It is bad policy because it allows the legitimization of murderous gang activity, it allows the gangster punks to believe that the cops are afraid of them, and it allows vandals to deface public and often private property without fear of legal consequence. It is ironic that the average person would be fined and/or arrested for spraying graffit on a wall not owned by them, yet the authorities tacitly bless the same activity if it is preceded by a murder. That's the logic of our local elected and police officials. From: Michael Luckenbach <luckenbach@rcn.com>" To: ward49@cityofchicago.org>, "David Sobczyk" <david.sobczyk@chicagopolice.org>, "Jody Weis" <police@cityofchicago.org> Cc: "Julie Hamos" <julie@juliehamos.org>, "Jen Walling" <jen@heathersteans.com>, "Jan Schakowsky" <jan.schakowsky@mail.house.gov>, "Jeffery Schoenberg" <senator@jschoenberg.org>, "Heather Steans" <hsteans@senatedem.ilga.gov>, "Ben Joravosky" <joravben@aol.com>, "Bruce Rottner" <bruce.rottner@chicagopolice.org>, "John Kass" <jskass@tribune.com>, "Tom Mannis", "Craig Gernhardt", "Grammar Gal", "Lorraine Swanson" <lswanson@chicagojournal.com> An Open Letter to: Police Superintendent Jody Weis 24th District Commander Dave Sobczyk Alderman Joe Moore Gentlemen: A response to this concern, which was e-mailed to each of you last week, has not yet been received. The residents of the 24th District and 49th Ward await your response and clarification on this matter. Sincerely, Michael Luckenbach North Howard Neighbors Association Bcc: NHNA Membership 'GANG SHRINES' AND THE 24th POLICE DISTRICT In regard to the crime situation in our community, I want to relate the following to all 49th Ward residents: I attended a meeting the evening of Friday, Jan.16th, as a member of the NoH Parks' Advisory Council's Security Committee. In addition to Chicago Park District personnel (program, facilities and security), Sergeant John Delgado, 24th District, was in attendance. When the subject of 'gang shrines' came up, Sgt. Delgado informed us that it was the 'policy' of the 24th District to allow 'gang shrines' to remain, in place on public property, for up to 48 hours. I was dumbfounded by this revelation, as I'm sure all law abiding RP residents will be. I strongly voiced my objection to this 'policy' as completely absurd and ridiculous on a number of levels, from enabling and glorifying to coddling the gang lifestyle and activity in our community. This 'attitude'/policy is a serious affront to our residents and our community. It should be OFFICIALLY discontinued immediately. There must be ZERO tolerance to glorification or tolerance of ANY gang activity, period, particularly on the part of our 24th District Police officers. I intend to pursue this matter further, with STRONG objections, to Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis, 24th District Commander David Sobczyk, as well as 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore. I strongly urge ALL residents of our community to do the same. Voice your feelings and opinion now to: jody.weis@chicagopolice.org David.Sobczyk@chicagopolice.org ward49@cityofchicago.org

Is Alderman Joe Moore a "Tool of Hamas?"

Some of the anti-Semitism sweeping Europe and North America has struck in Chicago in recent days, especially on the city's north side. In light of that, a flashback to May of 2008 seems appropriate. 50th Ward Alderman Bernard Stone (photo, right) called 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore (photo, below left) an "ignorant cry baby" who is "a tool of Hamas." Stone made his remarks in a live telephone interview with morning hosts "Don and Roma" on WLS 890 AM (photo, below right). FLASHBACK to May 15, 2008: Alderman Bernard Stone called Alderman Joe Moore an ignorant cry baby who is a tool of Hamas. Speaking live by phone on WLS 890 AM this morning with morning hosts Don Wade and Roma about the humiliating defeat of his two-year old foie gras ban, Moore said that the Chicago City Council has "lost even the pretense of a democracy." Moore went on to embarass himself for nearly 10 minutes. Hear the full Moore interview (6.6 mb mp3 file.) IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING MOORE'S PHONE INTERVIEW, 50th Ward Alderman Bernie Stone was interviewed.Stone, on the phone, said Moore was a "cry baby" who doesn't know proper procedure for City Council meetings. Stone said that had Moore followed procedure, he could have spoken, but Daley called the vote without Moore doing what was required. But that's not all that Stone said.Moore is a "tool of Hamas," Stone said. Stone said the particular anti-war resolution that Moore was proposing would serve as a propaganda tool for Hamas, which is sworn to destroy Israel.The end result of the exchange between Moore and Don Wade, then Stone and Don Wade, is that Joe Moore was painted as a boob who does not understand City Council procedures, is a cry baby who is whining about losing a battle, and he's a useful idiot for anti-American interests. ORIGINAL POST... Subscribe to Chicago News Bench

$20,000 Reward for Synagogue Vandals

In Chicago, Jewish houses of worship and schools have recently been vandalized. A Jewish group is offering a large reward to anybody who can help catch the bastards (my word), as Lorraine Swanson reports in a News-Star web extra report tonight: At a Martin Luther King Day press conference, the Anti-Defamation League of Chicago and the Jewish Federation today announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to arrests in hate crimes in West Ridge and Lake View. Standing with Chicago Police and the Commission on Human Relations at the commission's office at 740 N. Sedgewick, local Jewish leaders offered the reward for leads in the throwing a Molotov cocktail at Temple Sholom in Lake View last month and spray-painting and brick throwing this month at two synagogues and two high schools in West Ridge. Full Article at News-Star... RELATED: ALDERMAN CALLED "TOOL OF HAMAS" (May 2008) - Alderman Bernard Stone called Alderman Joe Moore an ignorant cry baby who is a tool of Hamas. Subscribe to Chicago News Bench

ARSON AT MORSE THEATRE

CHICAGO - AUG. 10, 2008 (RPB) - Arson nearly destroyed a major theater construction project, just weeks from its hoped-for opening. Gang graffiti on the walls An athletic shoe print on the inside of one of the rear doors. A fire in the middle of what will become the main seating area of the theater. A can of beer. All suspicious items in the midst of what was obviously arson in the greatest project yet to be accomplished on the run down W. Morse Avenue in Rogers Park. As I was getting dressed just after 3:00 a.m., I heard confusion on the police scanner over the address of the fire. I ran over to the Morse Theatre. I could smell smoke as I left home three blocks away, sirens screaming in the background. Arriving on the scene, there were six fire trucks on the street and one in the alley west of the theater. The police made no attempt to secure what was obviously a crime scene, and it was not until 4:30 a.m. that a cop put a thin yellow across the three open rear doors. He left immediately, leaving nobody to stand guard, evidence within easy reach of anybody walking by. I could see gang graffiti scrawled on a rear wall and door, as well as on the rim of the mezzanine. A fire official on the scene later said that the graffiti looked like authentic gang tagging. Police crime scene tape covers the back of the building to preserve the evidence. City of Chicago and State of Illinois Fire Investigators are on scene also. Footprints and gang tags were also left behind. Theater owner-partner Andy McGhee said that the kitchen and restaurant were not entered or damaged directly. However, Mr. McGhee said the heavy smoke from the intense but short lived fire caused "some damage" throughout the theater. The vandals also broke two glass windows on the sound booth on the second level. The Morse Theatre was hoping to open in mid-September. Mr. McGhee said that this will "put us back a month or two, but we'll continue on. This won't stop us." At 6:30 a.m., Mr. McGhee was still speaking with the arson investigation team on the scene. Hookers walked by with their johns. A crack whore sat motionless on a front stoop half a block away. 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore did not bother to show up. Neither did 49th Ward Democrat Committeeman David Fagus.

About a Thousand Words

Window Smashed at Rogers Park Pizzeria

Howard Street, 49th Ward, Chicago - Vandalism struck a pizzeria around 8:20 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2 when a lunatic "slammed his fist through the window for no good reason."

The man was standing in front of a large plate glass window of Rogers Park Pizzeria's dining room at 1632 W. Howard Street (at Marshfield).

An employee of the restaurant told The Bench that the man punched out the window "for no good reason."

The vandal apparently cut himself on the thick, sharp glass - a small amount of blood was on the sidewalk, but left no trail to see.

"This is gonna cost over a thousand dollars to replace," the employee said as he swept up the shards. "Damned shame."

Latino Gang Vandalizes War Memorial

The post heading is Racist MS-13 Gang Defaces Viet Nam War Memorial, Sprays “Kill Whites” and it's incendiary. Hat tip to rantnation.com for this. Watch the video for a report from News Channel 8 in New Haven, CT.

What I saw en route to a CAPS meeting

Grafitti - big, spray painted graffiti - on a CTA Red Line car, northbound near Jarvis. I was on my way to cover a CAPS Beat 2422 meeting. One wonders: Which CAPS beat does one report this kind of vandalism to?