Rape prompts major meeting on Northwest Side
Neighborhood violence and how to alleviate it was the topic as residents of the Belmont-Cragin community met on Jan. 25, at 10:00 at Northwest Community Church in the 5300 block of West Diversey. Organized by the Northwestside Housing Center, the meeting drew around 50 members of the community, elected officials, and representatives of the Chicago Public Schools. Sergeant Weiglein representing Police Commander Navarro, who was in Washington on business, Alderman Ariel Reboyras (30th ward), Alderman Nicholas Sposato (Ward 36), and Jadine Chou, Chicago Public Schools Security also attended.
Alderman Nick Sposato (36th Ward) addresses the meeting. Substance photo by Jean Schwab.Nancy Gonzalez of the Northwest Housing Center opened the meeting with an update on the 15 year old girl who was brutally attacked and sexually assaulted while on her way to school on Tuesday, December 17, 2013. According to the girl�s father, she has been released from the hospital but the family needs of lots of support. The Housing Center is opening an account for the family. Gonzalez said, she hopes �that we will come together as a community and be there for them.�
The first speaker was Police Sergeant Weiglein, for the 25th district. He reported that the police have lived up to their commitment to catch the person responsible for the attack. The suspect, Luis Pantoja, is in custody on a $2.5 million bond. Judge James Brown will be in court next week. Weiglein stated that there were going to be safety seminars taught in the schools in the 25th district. He also mentioned a seminar on March 2 at the 25th district on safety. A parent mentioned that,�a girl was attacked at 6:00 am. and her own daughter has to be at school at 6:15am. What can we do?�
Sergeant Weiglein suggested that parents could walk their children to school; the daughter could vary her route, be aware of surroundings, students travel in groups and get neighbors to watch as the students walk to school. If anyone sees anything suspicious, call the police.
Another person asked how Judge Lorene Sullivan feels about dismissing the case against Pantoja?
Next speaker was Jadine Chou, who said that having these community meetings are CPS� dreams. Chou said she has met with area principals and put together a curriculum tailored to the students. For the younger students there is Stranger Danger and for the older students gang awareness and avoiding violence. Parents will get information about the program from the school.
Cho added, �It is not a clich� that safety is everyone�s responsibility. CPS will work with community based organizations so parents will get information from the school.�
Vanessa Valentin, Northwestside Housing center, asked about the Safe Passage workers at Fullerton and Long Streets, �who watch the kids standing in a building where it is warm and talking on the phone. How can they see if a child is grabbed?� Chou says to call her if you see a Safe Passage worker not doing their job. She also mentioned that each worker has a cell phone to call and report activity and it has been very cold. Chou stated that, �We have people that audit attendance and some people drive around to see that people are doing what they are supposed to be doing.� Chou asked that people call her and that she often drives around herself. �Chou mentioned that the budget for safe passage has increased. Safe passage has averted some crime in neighborhoods. There are jobs opened right now. Alderman Reboyas(30th ward) talked about the first responders. There were the names of 20 persons that first responded to the girl who was assaulted. Extraordinary Police Work!
Alderman Reboyras( 30th ward)and Alderman Sposato (36thward) gave the 20 first responders a $10 gift card to Panera Bread. Alderman Sposato (36th ward) stated that a simple solution is that we hire more policemen. We now have 12,500 police which is not enough for this city. We used to have 14,000 policemen and now we spend $93 million in overtime. The police have done extraordinary work.
Alderman Reboyras continued �Say hello to your neighbors. We need more security, more police. An active community is a safe community. Know your neighbors.�
Community Members then divided up into groups and picked 8 priorities.
1. Increase in number of police officers in the 25th district. 2. Extend safe passage hours to begin at 6:00 am.
3. Reexamine the hiring practices of Safe Passage and increase the percentage of safe passage workers hired from the Belmont Cragin community.
4. Extend safe passage routes to include the 2400 block of N. Long St. and the 2800-3000 block of N. Narragseet Ave. and 6000-6300 W. Diversey Ave.
5. Organize Neighborhood Block Clubs
6. Partner with the 25th Police District to create a Police Youth Mentoring Program.
7. Meeting with CPS regarding the new charter schools coming in to the neighborhood. Valentin told Substance, �The girl who was attacked was leaving the neighborhood to attend a school outside of the neighborhood. The Charter Schools must accept neighborhood attendance boundaries�
8. 8. Install Safety (blue light) cameras around Chicago Park Districts and Chicago Public Schools. Substance talked to Vanessa Valentin Organizer for Northwestside Housing Center, about Charter Schools. She stated that she saw no need for more schools in Belmont Craigin neighborhood. There are already six schools in the neighborhood. �How does that show you are interested in kids when you are adding new schools?� Valentin also mentioned that there are many reliable community members in the community who could serve as Safe Passage workers.
