Triangle Neighbors to Draw Attention to Safety Concerns with Offbeat Timing of CAPs Meeting

Sept. 16, 2008 – Residents concerned about their safety in a Northside neighborhood will have an unorthodox opportunity to show their concern about crime in the area.

Residents of the Triangle Neighborhood, which is bounded by Clark Street, Halsted Street and Addison Street, will have an opportunity to meet with their local police officers at 1 a.m. on an upcoming Saturday, Oct. 4.

In an effort to draw more attention to the problem of crime in the area, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) proposed Beat 2331’s next Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) meeting be held during the area’s problem hours.

"The CAPS meeting will focus on the activity on Halsted," said Mary Kate Rohan, director of community outreach in the 44th Ward. "Tom’s going to be there; the police are going to be there."

By holding the meeting at 1 a.m. on a Saturday, the community and CAPS officers will be able to address the neighborhood’s nighttime and weekend safety concerns on Halsted Street. 

"The street dramatically changes after 11 p.m.," said Stu Zirin, a resident and business owner in the Triangle Neighborhood. "Our street is being taken over by hoodlums and drug dealers and prostitutes."

Some residents have experienced firsthand some of the issues that will be addressed at the upcoming CAPS meeting. Joe Ader, a neighborhood resident, expressed his concern about illegal activities that have occurred near his condo.

"I've seen drug dealers on the corners when I take my dogs out for a walk at night," said Ader. "The police haven’t been responding to my calls when I try to report it."

While Zirin and others report that the district commander and police officers have done a good job patrolling the streets, they say that community support and involvement is also a necessity to help decrease criminal activity.

"The officers don't believe it's a community issue in the sense that the community doesn’t care about it," said Zirin.

Involved residents hope that by attending the late night CAPS meeting, they will make it known that the presence of illegal activity is something the neighborhood is very concerned about.

"The only way to stop this – to take the street back – is to show the commander and the police that we care about our street," said Zirin, who added he hopes to see a large turnout at the unconventional meeting.

While residents had two opportunities to "walk the beat" at night with police officers over the summer, this is the first time that a CAPS meeting will be held during late night hours.

Information about the upcoming CAPS meeting’s location, when confirmed, will be posted on the Lake View Citizens' Council website .