about 50 people gathered last week to walk against violence
photo credit // jay shaff
Chicago, IL -
Nearly 50 people gathered last Saturday in the 7-Eleven parking lot, Halsted and Roscoe, to join District 23 Police Commander Kathleen Boehmer for an impromptu walk through the Boystown to send a message to those criminals who are targeting Lakeview and Lincoln Park residents.
The walk was in response to an emotional Community Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) meeting last week when more than 200 concerned Lakeview residents and business owners crowded into Nookie's Tree Restaurant, Halsted and Buckingham.
The larger-than-usual crowd at the monthly CAPS meeting was concerned about rising violence and crime in the Boystown neighborhood, including the brutal assault of a local bar employee on August 3. During the meeting, the community demanded more police presence in the neighborhood.
"This is a very safe neighborhood," Alderman Tom Tunney told ChicagoPride.com last week before the CAPS meeting. "We're getting 150% response from the police."
Since the CAPS meeting, some concerned citizens collaborated to launch the Lakeview 911 Facebook page to help disseminate community news and information in a more timely fashion.
The walk last week preceded an already scheduled Neighborhood Walk for this Friday. Police Commander Boehmer and Alderman Tunney will meet in the 7-Eleven parking lot, Roscoe and Halsted. The event, originally planned for 11:55 p.m. on Friday, August 14, has been shifted to 2:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Organizers say that is the more "active" time when crimes are apt to occur.
Neighbors and concerned citizens are encouraging Chicago's lesbian and gay community to make a large showing to help disperse the unwanted loitering and crime that has been recently plaguing the neighborhood.
The walk was in response to an emotional Community Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) meeting last week when more than 200 concerned Lakeview residents and business owners crowded into Nookie's Tree Restaurant, Halsted and Buckingham.
The larger-than-usual crowd at the monthly CAPS meeting was concerned about rising violence and crime in the Boystown neighborhood, including the brutal assault of a local bar employee on August 3. During the meeting, the community demanded more police presence in the neighborhood.
"This is a very safe neighborhood," Alderman Tom Tunney told ChicagoPride.com last week before the CAPS meeting. "We're getting 150% response from the police."
Since the CAPS meeting, some concerned citizens collaborated to launch the Lakeview 911 Facebook page to help disseminate community news and information in a more timely fashion.
The walk last week preceded an already scheduled Neighborhood Walk for this Friday. Police Commander Boehmer and Alderman Tunney will meet in the 7-Eleven parking lot, Roscoe and Halsted. The event, originally planned for 11:55 p.m. on Friday, August 14, has been shifted to 2:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Organizers say that is the more "active" time when crimes are apt to occur.
Neighbors and concerned citizens are encouraging Chicago's lesbian and gay community to make a large showing to help disperse the unwanted loitering and crime that has been recently plaguing the neighborhood.
