Minutes, Nov. 20, 2006, beat meeting

Officiates:
Kevin O’Neil, Facilitator, CAPS Beat 2431.
Sergeant Baranowski, Beat Team Leader, Chicago Police Department.
Jayne M. Hoffman, Notes Recorder.

Meeting notes are paraphrased, and quotations marked accordingly.

I. Welcome and introductions.

7:04pm: Kevin opened with comments and welcomed everyone. Introductions went around the room.

II. CAPS Year in Review.

Kevin: “We’re on a good path … it’s always hard to do better than last year.” Here are some of the accomplishments we made this year:

1. Both index and non-index crime reported in beat is lower than 2005 level;
2. Successful completions of major drug busts: one in February (2005), and this year Operation Morse Code, broke up a drug dealing ring operating within a block radius of the Morse police camera;
3. Both of these major arrests were prompted by us, the citizens, who informed the police that drug dealing was going on away from the camera;
4. “Operation Clean” has taken care of tree trimming; whatever 311 requests come in; and tries to mitigate graffiti, etc.;
5. We have more lights along Farwell and Lunt avenues that are embellished with the arm that hangs over the sidewalk;
6. More lights were also installed along Glenwood between the Red Line EL stop;
7. At 1237-43 Lunt we have been talking to some of the neighbors there to help facilitate building improvements;
8. Additionally, a Special Service Area in the neighborhood is installing more security cameras on Morse and Clark; and,
9. Operation Morse Code at 1340 Morse/1345 Lunt: This rental complex is now under the authority of the City, Municipal Code 8-4-090 , which covers drug and gang houses, and prostitution houses. Let’s welcome Troy Amber, the new building manager.

Challenges for 2007:

1. Get more people to attend meetings.
2. Moreover, we will strive to balance the ethnic make-up at beat meetings with Beat 2431.
3. Combat gang loitering.
4. Focus on continuing the improvements at 1340 Morse Avenue. Are there any others?

Citizen: The empty lot at northeast corner of Greenview and Morse (1446-48 W. Morse), an eyesore and dangerous. Sgt. Baranowski will file a report, and strongly encourages citizens to call 311.

III. Police crime report. Click here to go to September crime stats. For ICAM reports, click here. Kevin pointed out that the most frequent crime reported in our beat area is domestic violence. With the different types of crime in our area, domestic violence is still the number one crime.

Citizen: Pointed out that an article from Chicago Tribune, this morning’s edition, sent a motivational message. This citizen insisted that more people must report all crimes. The minor crimes need to make the statistics lists in order to be addressed.

IV. Updates on problems from last meeting.

• 1340 W. Morse/1345 W. Lunt. Kevin: The drug bust earlier this year was a result of the tenants and other citizens who worked with the police. When a building has experienced a drug bust, the City becomes custodian of the property, and comprises a “Resolution Agreement” with the building owners. The agreement is negotiative effort to remedy issues with tenants, lighting, security, and in this case, they are looking into hiring security guards to patrol every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

  Troy Amber, Building Manager: I took over within the last 45 days or so. I would like to address the last point about security: I just contracted with off duty police officers for Friday and Saturday of the upcoming weekend. Then we will have them on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for the next few weekends on a trial basis. Some of the other items on the City’s list have already been taken care of. Such as, more signage is going up; we have increased the screening of tenants and background checks of prospective tenants; we have already evicted many tenants for months and months of back rent; we replaced all the locks at the ground level.

  Citizen: We need a camera in the stairwell: someone was mugged last July and left unconscious. Troy: We are trying to get more cameras throughout the building. Kevin: Can you give details on the security contract? Troy: An armed security officer will be on duty from 1600 – 0600 for one month. Citizen: How many tenants have you evicted? Troy: We have evicted about 10 percent in each building since I have been on the job. Citizen: Will they wait to evict anyone else until next spring? Troy: We are doing our best to ensure that as many of the vagrant tenants are out before the weather falls below the regulated temperature. Additionally, we have narrowed some of the problems to two particular units, and we are working on that. Citizen: Just after midnight several police cars surrounded the building and would not tell anyone (of us citizens) why they were there. Troy will check for a police report. If no one signed a report then there may be no way of officially finding out why the police showed up that time.

  Citizen: People are keeping the outside gate from locking by sticking tissue paper between the lock. Sgt.: When does it happen? Citizen: Between 8pm and 3am, everyday. Three months ago I called the police. People who had been evicted were returning and able to enter the units with old keys!

V. Identify new problem areas.

• 1416 W. Farwell: Sgt.: We made two arrests a couple of weeks ago. The garage is boarded up and we talked to the owner who said that it will be razed to construct a five unit condominium building.
• Citizen: There have been several of burglaries on the 6800 block of Lakewood between Farwell and Pratt over the last three weeks. Someone stated that a slender Puerto Rican male was breaking into the buildings during the day. Officer Cohen will check for reports on these burglaries.
• Citizen: How effective is the blue camera stationed at the EL? Sgt. Baranowski: Quite effective. All of our complaints are now outside of the range of that camera.

VI. Other items of business. Beat 2431 meetings are popular may require larger meeting spaces. Here are a couple of ideas:

• Jackie Hui: Manager of the Rogers Park branch of the Chicago Public Library, 6907 N. Clark Street 60626, complimented the CAPS and the Chicago Police. She has experienced good changes around the library and on its grounds. She no longer sees the kids who were harassing patrons and library personnel. Police have been very responsive. She also offered meeting space if the CAPS needed more room.

• Mary Jane Haggerty: A coffeehouse will be opening at the southwest corner of Greenview and Morse. The date TBD. It is a possibility for the new meeting space.

VII. Announcements. Due to the many holidays in December, there will be no beat meeting. Accordingly, the next three beat meetings will be on

• Monday, January 8th, 2007;
• Monday, February 12, 2007; and
• Monday, March 19, 2007.

VIII. 8:10pm: meeting adjourned. Happy Holidays!

Minutes, Oct. 16, 2006, beat meeting

Officiates:
Kevin O’Neil, Facilitator, CAPS Beat 2431
Sergeant Baranowski, sitting in for Sergeant Cooper, Beat Team Leader, Chicago Police Department
Jayne M. Hoffman, Notes Recorder

Meeting notes are paraphrased, and quotations marked accordingly.

I. Welcome and introductions.

7:04pm: Kevin opened with comments and welcomed everyone. Sgt. Baranowski announced that Sgt. Cooper transferred to another location. Coop , as she preferred to be called, was very influential and effective with CAPS Beat 2431 in the short time that she was with us, and will be missed. CPD is currently seeking a new Beat Team Leader. Introductions went around the room.

II. Update on 1345 W. Lunt/1340 W. Morse.

Kevin: Jacob B. Handelman, Esq. is the Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago (City), Department of Law. We have invited Jacob to this meeting because the City has taken over remediation and abatement efforts of 1340 W. Morse/1345 W. Lunt buildings since the Operation Morse Code drug bust a few weeks ago. Jacob: The building code requires that building owners and managers must be responsible for maintaining the buildings at a reasonable level for building function and safety of the tenants. While Operation Morse Code was in process, I contacted the building manager/owner I requested abatement measures. Now we must pursue more formal action by taking this to court, essentially suing the owner(s) of the buildings. Kevin: over the past 5-6 months, working with the manager of the building, new lights, cameras, sign complaints, and despite of the efforts, criminal activity continues. We’re asking Jacob to assign 24-hour security guards at the building checking that tenants live in the buildings. Jacob: We can ask, but that is not regulated. Negotiating with owner may bring a100% abatement. Citizen: Why you don’t take a “heavy hand with them?” Jacob: We have found that the most successful method of achieving a win/win situation has been through communicating (including the application of stringent technique such as a law suit). Kevin: So you have a meeting within the next week/half: what can we expect from you? Jacob: I will memorialize the meeting by setting a court date. Citizen: How much of the agreement is public? Jacob: The negotiations order is not public. The Court Order, when issued, will be public. Citizen: Are the recordings from those cameras on the building available to the police? Jacob: The recordings can be given to the police.

Citizen: Is there a way to help out with catching the crime activity? Jacob: Keep a calendar on you to log the specific information when something happens. Kevin: It is empowering to show the authorities calendar logs. Tenant: We need a camera in the front stairwell by the front door. Another citizen was attacked in the stairwell. Tenant2: I call 311 and it takes a half hour for the cops to come. Kevin: Have you thought about giving the police your cell number so they can talk with you directly? Tenant2: No, but I have kept a detailed log of what happened. Sgt. Baranowski: You should call 911. Tenant2: It’s classified as an emergency? Sgt. Baranowski: Yes. Kevin: Bring your calendar logs to me. You can also email me with any information. Jacob: Let’s try this for one week. Date, time, exact place, as much of a description of what the perps looked like and what they were doing. Kevin: You can also call me and I’ll pick up the calendars: 773-704-8400. Citizen: Will you then be able to coordinate activity we log with the video tapes? Jacob: Yes, that is possible. Kevin: It will be more efficient to call or email me with lists. Officer Cohen: While you’re keeping the logs, list the name and unit number in which the perp resides, if you know those data. Kevin: And if you file a report that leads to a court appearance, and you do not want to go to court alone, there are court advocates who will attend court with you. These are fellow citizens volunteering as a companion for the court appearance. They are not lawyers. Citizen: How can we become court advocates? Officer Cohen: On the 2nd Thursday of every month at 3pm, at the District 24 headquarters. Call Office Kitover, he chairs the Court Advocacy meeting. 312-744-6321.

III. Police crime report. Click here to go to September crime stats. For ICAM reports, click here.

IV. Updates on problems from last meeting.

6921 N. Wayne: Kevin: Citizens and others from 6928 N. Wayne complained about this building. Mary Jane met with several tenants from the building. No one has been reporting by calling 911. They gave some good verbal details about the activity, but need to keep (calendar) logs.

1416 W. Farwell: Mary Jane: The building owner agreed to board up the garage and watch the property more closely. The demolition signs have gone up.

V. Identify new problems.

• 1412-1412 ½ Morse: At a meeting at the Alderman’s office, the developer promised to put up shades or boards while waiting on demolition. Kevin: Has there been any activity relative to the situation? Citizen: Yes, there were 30-40 males fighting out there at 12:15am Saturday and one was taken away in an ambulance. The camera should have caught the incident. Is there a way to find out if it was reported? Sgt. Baranowski: We need to find out if a report was filed. Sometimes the victims do not want to report it; at times they don’t give us their correct names. Citizen2: Is this a disruption of upstanding community citizens? Sgt. Baranowski: Yes, it can be considered disturbing the peace. Officer Cohen: it can be considered disorderly conduct, but we need a community member to file a report. Citizen3: Can a person file a report for disorderly conduct on the perp that beat up the victim? Sgt. Baranowski: Mob action is unconstitutional.

• Citizen: We are having a problem with loiterers on Lunt Avenue from the Red Line EL to Clark Street, they hang out and throw trash. I call it in. The police officer drives by. They move a half a block or so, and I call again. What can we do besides call in? Kevin: Be consistent, let the police talk to you, ask to speak to a police officer.

• 1619 W. Lunt: Citizen: Last Friday evening, a young female was robbed in her apartment. Door had not been forced. Apparently, the tenant walked in on the two males who were burglarizing her apartment. They assaulted her to point that she passed out. When she came to, she called the police, but they found no evidence. Sgt. Baranowski: The Evidence Technician’s supervisor is in charge of analyzing the parameters of the incident.

VI. Other items of business.

No other business this month.

VII. Announcements.

Legal workshop at the Rogers Park library branch next Tuesday at 10:00.

Become a Court Advocate: Accompany your fellow citizens at court appearances. This is not a counsel position. You are a neighbor befriending another citizen: no previous experience is necessary. Informational meetings on citizen court advocacy are on the 2nd Thursday of every month at 3:00pm, at the 24th District office. Contact Officer Kitover at 312-744-6321.

The next beat meeting is Monday, November 20, 2006.

VIII. 8:26 pm: meeting adjourned.

Minutes, Sept. 18, 2006, beat meeting

Officiates:

Kevin O’Neil, CAPS Beat Facilitator.

Sergeant Lori Cooper, Beat Team Leader from the Chicago Police Force.

Minutes recorded by Jayne M. Hoffman.

Minutes recorded by Jayne M. Hoffman.

Below is a recap from the meeting. Meeting notes are paraphrased. Quotations are marked accordingly.

I. Welcome: introductions and announcements.

7:04pm: Kevin opened with comments and welcomed everyone. Introductions went around the room, and participants also discussed their pets!

The following crime stats were reported for August 2006 at the Sept. 18 Beat 2431 meeting.

Minutes, July 17, 2006, beat meeting

Officiates:

Kevin O’Neil, CAPS Beat Facilitator.

Minutes recorded by Jayne M. Hoffman.

Below is a recap from the meeting. Meeting notes are paraphrased. Quotations are marked accordingly.

I. Welcome: introductions and announcements.

7:03pm: Kevin opened with comments. Kevin welcomed everyone. Neither Sgt. Cooper nor the representative from the Alderman’s office could be here this evening.

Kevin: The 24th District Advisory committee holds a fund pool containing monies donated by Allstate Insurance for safety programs. We decided to purchase personal-safety devices for the beat meeting attendees. We’re also giving away “The Club,” (anti-auto-theft device). There will be a drawing to give away four at the ending of the meeting, so hold on to those numbers given to you at the door.

The following crime stats were reported for June 2006 at the July 17 Beat 2431 meeting.

Current situation

Police calls for service: Police report 174 and 138 calls for service to these addresses (respectively), for an average of almost one call every two days. By comparison the nearby address of 1257 W. Lunt (55 units) had just 13 calls in one year’s time. Of those calls, 11/2 (respectively) were related to “Domestic Disturbance,” and another 80/50 were about a disturbance, narcotics, theft, batteries and assaults in progress (though perhaps related to domestics), or suspicious person. A meeting was held June 21 to devise the following solutions. Another meeting was held July 12 with building manager Harris Block and his on-site manager Chris Hill at Alderman Joe Moore’s office. Attending were Kevin O’Neil, Don Gordon, Alicia Lopez, Tom Westgard, Francis Scudellari, Craig Gernhardt, James Ginderske. Minutes by O'Neil.

Proposed solutions, response

1. Mr. Block must use credit and criminal background checks on potential renters, month-to-month renters, and renters on a lease that is up for renewal.
Response: Block said he already does credit and criminal background checks on potential renters. In addition, he promised to do criminal checks on renewals.

2. Mr. Block should require security deposits for his buildings.
Response: Block promised to begin requiring security deposits immediately. He said he would change his Sun-Times ad immediately and change his Web site by July 21.

3. Mr. Block should make certain all exterior lights are always in good working order. Some have been reported to be out. It was suggested that he get better lights. Replace the ballasts. Remove timers and replace with light sensors.
Response: Chris first said all the lights were working, but meeting attendees said two of three Lunt Avenue lights were out. Block and Chris promised all lights would be replaced by July 14, and that Block would install light sensors by July 21.

4. Actively invite tenants to beat meeting. Mary Jane Haggerty and Alicia Lopez will help do this. We’ll need Mr. Block’s and Chris’ help on this.
Response: Mary Jane Haggerty and Alicia were scheduled to go door-to-door with beat meeting flyers at both buildings on July 13. Chris promised to meet them and escort them through the buildings.

5. Check to make sure tenant signs are still posted in the buildings.
Response: Alicia promised she would check on these signs July 13. She would work on Spanish translations also.

6. Mr. Block should immediately schedule an interior inspection for the Building Dept. Exterior building violations have already been noted in April. Interior inspection has been requested.
Response: Meg Gillman of the CAPS office reported via email before the meeting that tenants in the Morse building had call 311 to complain about bugs and other issues in the building. Block said he would call Meg July 14 to work with her on getting an interior inspection scheduled.

7. CTA needs to clean the viaduct. Tree, weed and trash trimming on viaduct. Alicia to handle request.
Response: Alicia promised to call the CTA about this on July 13.

8. Someone from this group should review the videotapes every week, but we’ll look at time/dates where specific complaints have been made. We should rotate the job. Mr. Block should change tape length date to 8 days.
Response: Block promised to ask his video provider about changing the tape length to 8 days. Group members then promised they would check tapes if they saw disturbances.

9. Mr. Block and Chris should work with police to aggressively combat trespassing by non-residents. Signs should be posted if they are not already.
Response: We explained to Chris the importance of signing police complaints about loitering. He promised to sign some complaints by the Aug. 21 beat meeting. Chris told us and his uncle had been walking the hallways and exteriors on Friday and Saturday nights from 1 am till 5 am.

10. Mr. Block should attend landlord workshop held at police stations around the city on a regular basis.
Response: Block said he had previously attended these seminars, and didn’t find them very useful. Nonetheless, Tom Westgard said he would give Block a pamphlet with seminar dates.

11. Continue to work with police on addressing problem tenants, and evict them.
Response: Block said there were a total of 9 evictions in process – 2-3 for illegal activities such as loitering, the others for non-payment of rent. He said he would call the alderman’s office for assistance with speedy evictions when the court writs come through.

12. Attend Beat 2431 meetings for the duration of the problem-solving process.
Response: Block said he would attend beat meeting through the rest of the year, though he would not be able to on July 17. Chris would attend July 17. Block also promised to plant flowers and make other beautification efforts, particularly on the Lunt side.

We will get monthly call-for-service stats from police as one gauge of progress on building improvements.

The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. The meeting adjourned at about 7:10 pm.

Current situation

Police calls for service: Police report 155 calls for service to these addresses, for an average of almost one call every two days. By comparison the nearby address of 1257 W. Lunt (55 units) had just 13 calls in one year’s time.

Of those calls, 45 were related to “Domestic Disturbance,” and another 50 were about a disturbance, narcotics, theft, batteries and assaults in progress (though perhaps related to domestics), or suspicious person.

A meeting was held June 21 to devise the following solutions. Another meeting was held July 6 with building owner Alex Mindea at Alderman Joe Moore’s office. Attending were Moore, Kevin O’Neil, Don Gordon, Alicia Lopez, Tom Westgard, Francis Scudellari, Craig Gernhardt, Dan Sullivan, Meg Gillman of the CAPS Implementation Office, and Mary Jane Haggerty of the Rogers Park Community Council. Minutes by O'Neil.

Proposed solutions, responses

1. Mr. Mindea must use credit and criminal background checks on potential renters, month-to-month renters, and renters on a lease that is up for renewal.
Response: Mindea has not yet done any criminal background checks. Meeting participants demanded to know why. Mindea said he has 4-5 month-to-month tenants. He promised he will make the checks on these by Aug. 1 and report back on them at that time. Mary Jane reminded that he must get tenants permission for these checks. Mary Jane also reminded that she gave Mindea names of firms last year to do the background checks.

2. Mr. Mindea needs to secure the building with buzzer system.
Response: Mindea promised to install the new lock and interior cuff on the knob by July 13. He also will give us the name of the contractor for the buzzer system.

3. Mr. Mindea could rent an apartment to someone on-site who can keep an eye out on the building. This person could sweep building and do limited maintenance. This guy could sign complaints of trespassing, etc.
Response: Mindea said he will work with the alderman’s staff, who will identify some people to do the job. Wayne gave him the resume of one potential caretaker at the meeting. Mindea will give us an update on this by July 13.

4. Actively invite tenants to beat meeting. Mary Jane Haggerty and Alicia Lopez will help do this.
Response: Mindea will work with Mary Jane and Alicia to let them in the building so they can distribute beat meeting flyers and post the tenant notices. This will happen by July 14.

5. Check to make sure tenant signs are still posted in the buildings.
Response: Mindea says these are still posted. Mary Jane and Alicia will confirm and post others as needed.

6. Ask Mr. Mindea to put up flowers and keep exterior clean.
Response: Mindea promised to keep the exterior clean. He at first balked at planting perennials such as impatiens, but then relented and agreed, when we reminded him that more renters might want to rent if the place had flowers.

7. Police could use Don Gordon’s home (1228 W. Lunt) for building watch of potential dealers.
Response: We will work with the police on this. Plus, Mindea will attend the July 17 beat meeting and give Sgt. Cooper a key to his front gate and to a vacant apartment.

8. Mr. Mindea should attend landlord workshop held at police stations around the city on a regular basis.
Response: Meg Gillman will give Mindea information on the workshops.

9. Continue to work with police on addressing problem tenants, and evict them.
Response: Mindea reported that he recently evicted three tenants, and has another eviction in progress. The alderman told Mindea to give his staff the information on that eviction  in process by July 7 so the staff can ask the sheriff to expedite the eviction.

10. Attend Beat 2431 meetings for the duration of the problem-solving process.
Response: Mindea promised to attend the July 17 meeting.

11. Post a sign on the building stating who to contact in emergency.
Response: Mindea promised to do this by July 13.

Minutes, June 19, 2006, beat meeting

Officiates:

Kevin O’Neil, CAPS Beat Facilitator.

Sergeant Lori Cooper, Beat Team Leader from the Chicago Police Force.

Minutes recorded by Jayne M. Hoffman.

Below is a recap from the meeting. Meeting notes are paraphrased. Quotations are marked accordingly.

I. Welcome: introductions and announcements.

7:03pm: Kevin opened with comments. Kevin welcomed everyone and new neighbors who are present. Attendees made introductions, which included citizens, police officers, and CAPS officiates.