More Guns at North Avenue Beach

Safety Walk Saturday on Lakeview

Dear Neighbors,

I am disturbed to report that more guns have been recovered from North Avenue Beach. Even more disturbing is that there was also a shooting last night that left a person seriously injured. According to police:

Police received notice via social media that another unlicensed event was going to happen on the beach. Police established checkpoints at all the access points on the beach and initiated bag checks at approximately 2 p.m. During these bag checks, almost everyone voluntarily complied. Police made their first gun seizure and arrest shortly after 5 pm at a checkpoint. They made a second gun seizure and arrest shortly after that.

Police had a heavy presence on the beach as promised, including:

Bike patrols from both local police districts and the Critical Response Team
Large numbers of foot police and cars on the beach and neighborhood streets
All terrain vehicles patrolled up and down the lakefront
Bag checks at various entrances to the beach

Police stated that the events were peaceful until later in the evening, after the crowd had thinned. At about 9:30 p.m., an argument broke out among a group on the beach. Gunfire erupted at 9:48 which left one person shot multiple times. Police immediately pursued the offenders, arrested one person and recovered a fanny pack with a Glock with an extended magazine. Charges are pending. It is unclear what circumstance led to the shooting.

The 19-year old victim remains in the hospital in serious condition.

After the shooting, about sixty people descended into the neighborhood. This was generally for people to get rideshares (Ubers and Lyfts) out our community. However, a fight broke out among several women at North and Wells. As police attempted to break up the fight, several participants resisted and hit the police. Three juveniles were arrested for various charges, including resisting arrest and aggravated battery to a police officer.

Between Monday and Tuesday, seven weapons (six guns and one knife) were recovered from the beach or entrances to the beach and a total of four juveniles and five adults have been charged.

Police are seeking support from the State's Attorney to pursue charges against the person who initiated the social media post that drew the people to the beach.

Our Demands

We Demand Security from the City:

A tightened perimeter around North Avenue Beach
Private security to supplement Chicago police at entrances to the beach
Metal detectors or metal detecting wands at all entrances
Maintenance of the promised manpower at the beach as long as necessary
A designated rideshare area for pickup with better organization of people leaving the park.

We Seek Justice:

I have been arguing for years that crime must have consequences . Our right to life and safety outweighs the rights of the reckless individuals who are carrying guns. The strategy being pursued by our State's Attorney and by our State legislature to allow gun defendants to go free pending trial and for gun crimes to be unpunished offends common sense.

It must be obvious by now that the lack of enforcement and meaningful deterrence is putting innocent victims at risk.

We demand that the State's Attorney make the request in court that those with illegal guns are a danger to the community, justifying pre-trial detention. We also continued to believe that illegal possession or use of a gun deserves mandatory prison time.

We demand that the State's Attorney pursue civil and criminal charges against the promoters of the illegal event at the beach. Posting these events is, in our judgment, is similar to inciting a riot, and can be prohibited under Brandenburg v. Ohio, as inciting “imminent lawless action."

We will report back to you as soon as we have information about next steps.

Robbery Pattern on Lakeview

Safety Walk this Saturday, 3:00 p.m.

The 19th District has informed us that the pattern of robberiers we reported in our June 10th newsletter is continuing and the matter is being intensely investigated, with good progress. These cases involve 2-3 people accosting and often knocking down a woman and then seizing her purse, in mid-afternoon.

As a resident of Lakeview Avenue for several years and a Lincoln Park resident for over forty, this is outrageous conduct. I will be out walking on Lakeview, purse in hand, this Saturday at 3 p.m. starting at Fullerton and Lakeview. We will be joined by 19th District officers who will discuss your concerns.

Thank you to everyone who has sent video to the Chicago Police in aid of this investigation.

Pride Parade 2022

12 p.m.

For more information, click here.

This Sunday, June 26th at 12 p.m. will see the return of the Chicago Pride Parade to the city. As always, the northeast corner of the 43rd Ward is a part of the Parade route and will see some street closures due to this.

Neighbors will see temporary signs indicating “NO PARKING ON SUNDAY JUNE 26th, FROM 5:00 a.m. TO 8:00 p.m." on both sides of the street, unless otherwise indicated. Due to the volume of vehicles involved, the issuing of parking citations and towing will begin promptly at 5:00 am on the 26th. Here is the updated list of impacted streets:

Diversey Parkway from Broadway to Cannon Drive
Cannon Drive from Diversey to Fullerton

Please Note: Rideshare Restrictions

The City is also taking precautionary traffic control measures with a rideshare restriction zone that will take place from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the day of the parade. Sheffield Ave to the Lake and from Diversey down to Fullerton will be within this restriction zone and will make calling a rideshare in this area impossible.

City departments and the Chicago Police Department are taking countless safety precautions and you will see heightened police presence in the Ward for the day preceding, the day of the parade, and after the parade to ensure the safety of the neighborhood and all those celebrating.

Happy Pride!

Street Sweeping Schedule

The Department of Streets and Sanitation is hard at work this summer cleaning streets in our ward. Click here to access the street sweeping schedule. For other questions or concerns regarding garbage collection, rodent control and recycling contact our office at yourvoice@ward43.org.

Public Safety Updates

City of Chicago Home and Business Protection Program

Apply here.

If you live in or operate a business in Chicago you can now apply to receive reimbursement for your security cameras and other security devices. Since the offer is "first-come, first serve", we encourage people who want to buy cameras to do so now.

The rebate includes:

Up to $225 per camera for a maximum of 2 cameras
Up to $150 per one year of subscription costs for cloud-based video storage systems
Up to $100 per light for a maximum of 2 lights
Up to $50 per vehicle GPS tracking device for a maximum of 2 devices
Up to $120 per one year of subscription costs for GPS tracking applications

To get reimbursed, you must provide:

Proof of address
Proof of purchase
Photo of installed device

Learn more here.

City of Chicago Camera Registration

Anyone who lives or operates a business in Chicago can now register private security cameras that captures the public way with the Chicago Police Department to help solve crime faster.

When you register the location of your camera, you simply allow the Chicago Police Department to contact you if a crime occurs on your block.

CPD will not have direct access to your camera system.
CPD cannot access camera footage without your consent.
There is no requirement to provide footage to CPD at any time.

Learn more here.

Community Events

University of Chicago Gardening Class at Fire Station Park

June 28th

3 p.m.

Larrabee St and Armitage Ave behind the Fire Station

University of Illinois Horticulture Educators will be on site to answer questions, demonstrate garden tools, troubleshoot, and offer advice.

Come prepared with questions and handouts will be provided!

Pride Parade

March with Us

June 26th

Join us to march in the Pride Parade, which will take place on Sunday, June 26th. The parade is always a wonderful celebration for the entire community.

All are welcome at this exciting event. Please email us at yourvoice@ward43.org to let us know if you want to attend.