tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688871896061751645.post8547419219321413452..comments2023-04-25T11:26:25.994-05:00Comments on Avondale and Logan Square Crime Blotter: Two Women Attacked With Bat In Logan SquareAvondaleLoganSquareCrimeBlotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16265055037044651064noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688871896061751645.post-86122401565717267202010-04-25T13:08:14.722-05:002010-04-25T13:08:14.722-05:00Its no wonder that some have called for action by ...Its no wonder that some have called for action by the Illinois National Guard given the violence that prevails so early in the good weather season.<br /><br />Its important to remind residents, especially young folks, that they should be ever vigilant and careful. It is not wise to walk city streets after dark; and no amount of police presence is really going to make it safe to wander streets in a big city late at night.<br /><br />Residents should also not be shy to report suspicious people in their neighborhood. The situation will never improve unless everyone helps.<br /><br />Thanks for the awareness check.ProdigalOnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04044912408972819601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688871896061751645.post-3916597617381011342010-04-25T12:18:41.123-05:002010-04-25T12:18:41.123-05:00Faculty member of UIC, thank you for forwarding th...Faculty member of UIC, thank you for forwarding the letter.<br /><br />Anonymous, I definately agree with a lot of what you said. We do need to start taking/teaching responsibility in homes and in schools. We also do need to build real communities like you said. We do need to go to CAPS meetings and not only complain, but to also find a resolution to the problems occurring in our neighborhoods. We do need to also start holding ourselves and others accountable for our actions. I agree that kids need to learn the true meaning of success. I will continue to do my part to build awareness in our neighborhood(s).AvondaleLoganSquareCrimeBlotterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16265055037044651064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688871896061751645.post-539049301835386992010-04-25T11:39:06.655-05:002010-04-25T11:39:06.655-05:00Crimeblotter, you posed the question, "What c...Crimeblotter, you posed the question, "What can we do?". My answer is long and multi-faceted, but I'll do my best to summarize my position. <br /><br />For the long term, we immediately need to begin taking and teaching personal responsibility- at home and in the school. This can be achieved by implementing and enforcing simple "rules" and "consequences" in either venue. This could be as simple as a gold star on for helping a fellow student, sibling, or neighbor. Other venues for this sort of teaching are community groups- Boy Scouts of America, Boy & Girls Club, church groups, community events, mentor programs, etc. The effects of our efforts will not be realized for quite some time, but it is only when we make these efforts that we can we hope to prevent at least some people from resorting to such violent action in order to gain what they seek. <br /><br />Additionally, we need to teach and demonstrate for the children (maybe some adults, too) of our communities that true power and respect are not acquired by instilling fear in people and that true success is not defined by financial wealth. The fight for power/respect and wealth seems to be ultimately a fight for what we perceive to be happiness. True happiness will never be known by those who constantly fight for it as an end rather than recognize it as a way of life.<br /><br />In the short term, we need to build communities- real communities where people know they can depend on and trust their neighbors for help. (Chicago used to be populated widely with communities of this sort.) Part of building those communities is a commitment to finding and committing to resolutions of community issues. In our current climate, it seems so many people arrive at CAPS meetings with complaints but no true inquiry or proposal with regard to a resolution. Representative of this fact is the number of people that complain at neighborhood association meetings, but never seem to committ to programs (i.e., a neighborhood clean up day) that will help resolve the matters at hand. If we are to build a community, we have to work together, and contribute either time, talent, or treasure (everyone's capacity to contribute is different).<br /><br />In summary, it is not until members of our communities decide to hold others and themselves accountable for their actions and decisions, families/schools/community organizations begin to educate kids on how to live happily and learn the true meaning of success, and members of each community committ to becoming part of the resolution instead of simply a bullhorn loudly complaining about the problem.<br /><br />To be clear, Crimeblotter, your efforts on this website are building awareness of the problems mounting in our communities. So long as you don't sensationalize these events, your efforts will help build a community of activists that can help solve problems. Keep up the good work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8688871896061751645.post-25593899346450638012010-04-25T09:45:27.435-05:002010-04-25T09:45:27.435-05:00I am a faculty member at the UIC College of Urban ...I am a faculty member at the UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. I just got this email from our dean:<br /><br />"I am saddened to report to the CUPPA community of a senseless and brutal attack on two women early Friday morning, one of whom is a student. Natasha McShane, from Ireland, is a student in the Department of Urban Planning and Policy who is taking classes as part of an exchange agreement with University College Dublin. She was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital where her condition at latest report is critical. The other woman is Stacy Jurich, a friend of Natasha's from Chicago.<br /><br />Natasha's parents arrived yesterday (Saturday) afternoon from Ireland and were met at the airport by the consul general of Ireland. Many people, including ... have been at the hospital since Friday. <br /><br />Because of her condition, we have been advised not to visit her at the hospital until further notice. It is not known at this time what the financial burden on the family might be due to this brutal attack. Nor are the costs to the family for caring Natasha known. In the expectation that there will be significant costs, the Urban Planning and Policy Student Association (UPPSA) has set up a website for voluntary contributions to support Natasha and the family. The link from UPPSA's website can be found at: http://www.uppsa.org/<br /><br />Please keep Natasha McShane in your thoughts and prayers, especially during the next few critical days as the medical staff monitors her condition and cares for her. <br /><br />The care, concern, support and genuine love that the CUPPA community have offered Natasha and her family are truly inspirational, and a mark of a community that genuinely sees itself as a community. Thank you."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com