Tuesday, July 15, 2008
News / Clout City Advice for Jody Weis: stop the cycle of violence
Posted by Mick Dumke on Tue, Jul 15, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Police chief Jody Weis told aldermen Tuesday that he's looking into reorganizing and re-energizing police coverage across the city, possibly with strategies ranging from drawing up new police beats to reminding officers to be aggressive to creating new squads that could be mobilized in gang-infested and crime-plagued neighborhoods. But that all sounds a bit too familiar to John Hagedorn, a criminal justice professor at UIC whose extensive writings on gangs and crime include the new A World of Gangs: Armed Young Men and Gangsta Culture (University of Minnesota Press). The rookie police chief, Hagedorn says, is essentially continuing an anti-gang policy that's been ineffective since the first Mayor Daley introduced it in 1969.
MD: The Chicago police superintendent has just told aldermen that a poor economy and gang culture are provoking the city’s problems with violence. In your newest book, though, you downplay joblessness as a cause of gangs and gang violence. Instead, you say gangs are a response to racism and “social exclusion.”
JH: I’m from Milwaukee, and one of the differences between Milwaukee and Chicago was that up there we watched the gangs form along with deindustrialization. But here the gangs preceded deindustrialization--they’ve been around for decades! Something else is at work.
Since the beginning of globalization you see a reaction of all sorts of armed groups around the world saying, “We’ve got to get our own.” And in this country it’s very deeply tied to race--in other places to ethnicity, religion, or tribe. As the state withdraws a lot of social services, the gangs work to fill in the vacuum.
You argue that the best approach to gangs is to try to reach out to them and change them into community assets. Is that practical? The superintendent's not going to pitch that to the City Council.
It’s not what people want to hear. It may be that in this climate it isn’t possible to say, “We want to work with the gang structure.” But if you don’t work with these guys, who’s going to stop the violence?
And do you think the gangs aren’t already involved with politics in Chicago? Lots have ties to local aldermen. They’re very aware of the gangs. There’s been an official policy here for 40 years of not including anybody in a community project who’s involved with gangs, but that’s not really the way it works.
So you don’t think that any new, aggressive police tactics will end gang violence.
There’s been a 40 years’ war on gangs that we’ve had in Chicago. Instead of the police getting assault weapons, maybe we should reevaluate that war. The police are at war with the gangs, and the gangs are institutions with deep roots in their community. [The police] don’t seek to convert them and it’s one side against another. That war mentality is what needs to change here, but the new police chief has bought into it. War is a funny way to confront violence.
When I came here 12 years ago I was invited to a meeting with people doing community policing and all the evaluations of it, and they asked me what I thought. I suggested they invite young people and gang members and ask them what’s going on. That was the last meeting I was invited to.
You argue that the Vice Lords tried to become a community organization in the 1960s but were targeted by the police and eventually turned to the drug trade. What are you seeing on the west side now?
Because I’ve developed relationships with the Vice Lords guys from the 1960s I’ve been trying to bring them together with some of the younger people out there. We’ve had like four generations of the Vice Lords sitting down and talking. A lot of these guys have never heard those stories of the 60s. Young people today can be influenced by the past. It’s important for young people to see that the gang has been different things through the years, and the only route isn’t the drug deal.
Have you seen progress?
Hopefully some things are coming together. A lot of people are involved with their little hustles or whatever, but that doesn’t mean they’re stuck there. There’s a reason why the drug trade is so big--there aren’t any jobs. The issue is how you see it and treat it--do you see everyone in it as evil? Well, then, you can just fill the prisons.
You try to keep organizing. I think giving up and waging war are two sides of the same coin. What’s needed is some quiet diplomacy—sitting down with these young people and saying, “What do you need?” And then acting on it.
But I think Chicago’s going to continue to get hot. The city wants the Olympic bid and they don’t want to be seen having a problem with gang violence. They’re going to try to crack down, but that’s just going to end up hurting their bid.
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I'd be interested to know what John Hagedorn thinks of the perspectives expressed on: http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/ as well as what you think, Mick.
To all the woe is me crowd, here is another company that is going to call Chicago home and selected us over other cities. Guess they don't read Ben and Mick's rants..... MillerCoor to set up HQ in downtown Chicago Tribune staff 5:05 PM CDT, July 15, 2008 MillerCoors, the joint venture between SABMiller PLC and Molson Coors, will locate its headquarters in downtown Chicago, World Business Chicago, the economic development organization for the city said Tuesday. The company, which also was considering Dallas, will bring 300 to 400 executive and management jobs to the city beginning in June 2009, the organization said. "The decision to select Chicago as the location for our corporate headquarters was made to achieve our goal of becoming the best beer company in America by having access to an attractive base of talent, transportation and business resources," said Tom Long President MillerCoors. "We are grateful to the State of Illinois and City of Chicago for their support."
SOME PEOPLE HAVE THE INTELLIGENCE TO REALIZE CHICAGO IS A GREAT CITY WITH A GREAT MAYOR. TO ALL THE POVERTY PIMPS AND DALEY HATERS, THERE ARE TRAINS,AIR PLANES ,AND BUSES THAT LEAVE CHICAGO EVERY DAY. IF YOU HATE THE TOWN SO MUCH MAYBE I CAN HAVE A FUND RAISER TO GET MICK,BEN,AND LEMONHEAD OUT OF HERE.
Jody Weis rocks. He is like burger king he does it his way.
Re: "There’s a reason why the drug trade is so big--there aren’t any jobs." The government hasn't reduced (and probably can't effectively reduce) Americans' appetite for drugs. What would the gangs do to replace their income stream and their ability to hire young people if the most popular drugs were legalized and sold over the counter? What would all the thousands of gangmembers do with the many hours they now spend selling drugs in such a world? I know legalization seems politically unlikely in the near future. That's the choice of the people we elect to represent us--we'd rather insist on legislating a particular morality that we can't effectively enforce, while enduring a violent black market on our streets. But I can't imagine there being nearly as much economic opportunity peddling other vices. Wouldn't gangs have greater difficulty recruiting young people without the ability to offer a quick way out of a seemingly hopeless economic situation?
"Holy More Candles in the Wind Batman!!! It is a horrific waste of life to have young children tragically murdered by gang bangers who are mislead into a subculture of criminal enterprise, hate, greed and jealously. Most of these senseless killings could have been prevented if only da mayor and alderman would initiate the hiring of the proper balance of police officers, detectives and supervisors needed to effectively protect and serve the citizens of this city. We need competent and knowledgeable police managers who are leaders! We need a superintendent who is experienced, knowledgeable and tested as a law enforcement professional. We need commonsense policies and procedures to manage an organization that has been historically dysfunctional, ineffective and unwilling to change were change is needed the most. Our citizens need to rise up to the occasion and send a clear and unmistakable message to career politicians that they must support honest hard working police officers and provide them with the necessary resources to get the job done! If necessary, as a citizen you must demand accountability of your elected officials. As that citizen you must act accordingly within the law. ALWAYS remember which elected officials who fail or refused to help and support working police officers. To be honest NONE of them have supported the police in the way that is most needed as evidence of recent scandals, lack of creditability when hiring a superintendent and placement of incompetent political hacks as police managers who are in charge of your safety. The fate of all our children is at stake, their future is in our hands, even if only one child's life could be saved your effort could make all the difference in the world. Remember all these politicians and vote them out of office! You only see and hear from them around election time when their cronies come a knocking on your door once every four years- asking for your vote. Tell them that their arrogance and ignorance has allowed the criminal element to win by victimizing our city! I have spent my entire career protecting and serving the people of Chicago. I never asked for anything in return. But, now I need your help! Please if not for me for someone else you love. We can't allow one more innocent child to be murdered in our streets while these insane politicians argue about what to do with the police department. If they have to ask that question then THEY DON'T DESERVE TO REPRESENT THE HONEST PEOPLE OF CHICAGO! 7/14/2008 11:35:00 PM" A bit more of the truth, courtesy of: http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/
"....I can't imagine there being nearly as much economic opportunity peddling other vices." Then you don't have much of an imagination. Gambling, Prostitution and Recreational Substance use can be incredibly profitable, even when decriminalized, even especially when decriminalized. I would elaborate on this, but, at this time, I won't deprive you of the challenge of using your own mind to imagine just how many jobs would be created, and tax revenues developed, were the three vices mentioned to be removed from the status of criminal acts. As for "Wouldn't gangs have greater difficulty recruiting young people without the ability to offer a quick way out of a seemingly hopeless economic situation?", well, the answer to this question involves understanding the various attractions and motivations behind a given young person becoming involved with the gangs, one of which is the seemingly easy money, (though not nearly as much for the street level soldiers as you'd think), and others which I will also, for now, leave to you to attempt to figure out. You seem to be a thoughtful person, give some more thought to this subject and check back if and/or when you've imagined more of what is actually there to perceive.
"We are grateful to the State of Illinois and City of Chicago for their support." Translation: "Chicago's politicians agreed to cut us a better deal than Dallas and we like working with politicians who know how to cut good deals."
Don't get me wrong some of these punks should be squashed. How many Gangbangers own and fly planes. How many of them own boat to transport the drugs they sell. The biggest drug dealer on the Northside was an undercover cop,and he was supervised by Phil Cline. I remember back in Woodlawn in the 60's Most of the gangbangers bought their guns from the police. Just like in the movie serpico,cops could clean up the street in months,is it not for political ,and Economic interests.
They should reach out to Urban Translator Wallace "Gator" Bradley who helped start 21st Century Vote, met with President Clinton with the gang summit, and stopped violence he recently helped Judges get elected and translate for attorney Frank Availa in the Jon Burge settlements with trials and monies with Aaron Patterosn and Leroy Orange and death row inmates who were tortured under police commmandante Jon Burge. If those who think that Gator is about drug dealing and violence they should know that he is a Hebrew Israelite and did aliyah in Israel where he was married and is a person of peace and well respected in the legal community.
www.chicagoclout.com McDonough knows how to handle the bad guys!
We will see how many Westside/Southside Chicagoans, Miller(MillerCoor) will Hire. Go to :http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/ to see how you get hired at MWRD or just like Boeing , all the hoopla and tax credits for NOTHING!!! We the taxpayers pay for this bull-shit! The 300 jobs will go to Jerry Joyces -Bill Daley-Pat Levar-Dick Mell-Tim Degnan-people.Most people with NO CLOUT, like usual ,will not benefit. In regards to Jody. You can't put a Federal Agent in Charge of one of the most Corrupt Police Departments in America and expect to clean it up in a year.It took the G 100 years to finally understand the Mob and it still is alive and well under Daley.
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/ Coco, Everyone should look at this FOXNEWS report . Than they will know why people are killing in the streets. NO JOBS, because they all go to the people with CLOUT!
What about the Budweiser division owned by the Jesse Jackson family????????????.
More like clout monkey business as usual: "The district I work in ran around 350 officers on the Strength Report 10 years ago. This is a hard number because I saw those reports. These days the same district runs around 270 officers. Ten years ago we had 2 man cars on everything and all cars were manned. today it is all one man cars. Were did those 80 officers go? The alderman never noticed but it was beat realignment without calling it that. Just run under strength and steal the bodies for other units, SOS and then TRU etc. Also the City leaves the department run under strength and under budget and it is a way to plug budget holes. consider this, 10 officers is about 1 million dollars in the budget, 100 officers is around 10 million, 1,000 officers is around 100 million, 1,500 officers is around 150 million dollars. That is why the department is running under strength. The former brain trust either told the Mayor, or were told by the Mayor, to do the job with less because there were budget holes. It isn't much of a mystery, that is it. Every department has their own shortages. Run shorthanded and perform under budget or the Mayor will get someone who will do your job with no complaining. I am surprised no reporter has gotten hold of the Strength Reports from around 10 years ago and from current times. These reports will tell the tale and show exactly how many bodies the department has. You can bet the mortgage that the department will not get up off these reports without being forced to do so. You can also bet that these reports are shredded exactly on their retention period and not allowed to linger. 7/16/2008 08:32:00 PM" Courtesy of: http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/
I imagine myself in bed with Orion and Frank!
Clout Monkeys. Because: Someone has to eat the politicians' shit and like it.
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