Chicago's Boystown organizes in response to mugging and robbery upsurge

News of strong-armed robberies, muggings and attacks on Chicago's north side has dominated the past month's headlines. These crimes renewed attention to issues of public safety in the Boystown area, where a number of the attacks have taken place. And the surge of violence has also resulted in community organizing meant to pressure public officials to address the problem.

A group of citizens founded the Lakeview 911 Facebook page earlier this month with the hopes of "[bringing] together the Lakeview community to promote safe living through the involvement of our residents and local businesses." On it, fans of the page-currently just more than 1,300 people-share news articles, tips and promote community meetings.

The online organizing further emboldens concerned citizens who turned out in record numbers for heated debate at the neighborhood's August CAPS meeting and marched in an evening community walk in the area on Aug. 15.

Gerald Farinas, a frequent poster on the Facebook page, is particularly troubled by the recent violence. In addition to the attacks in Lake View, he points to recent rioting and shootings in nearby Uptown as a sign of what he feels is to come should the current situation not improve.

"My biggest fear is that the crime will continue to grow," Farinas, who has lived in Lake View for the past eight years, said. "I'm concerned that people will become complacent again and stop coming to CAPS meetings."

He also expressed frustration with the current leadership in the area-particularly Alderman Helen Shiller in the 46th Ward [Uptown and north Lake View,] whom he noted has not been present at any CAPS meeting. And she has avoided publicly discussing the crime trend.

"[Shiller's] inaction and policies that breed poverty and crime in her ward is going to affect all of us in Lake View, too. And I think it already is," Farinas, who has been verbally harassed multiple times, added. "There is political grunge and grime holding up our neighborhoods. Progress has been backed up."

In response to the upsurge of crime, Alderman Tom Tunney of the 44th Ward and Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis have expressed frustration while also referencing the fact crime in both the neighborhood and city as a whole is down in all categories this year. Neither was available for comment at press time.

"This is not new news, so what we are asking for, is not more resources, just at times where we believe that there is an uptick in criminal activities," Tunney told CBS 2 earlier this month. "That would be the midnight to four. The crime stats in Lakeview are down."

But many wonder how many crimes, even those of the violent nature, are not reported to the police and, therefore, are invisible to city-wide crime statistics. One north side resident interviewed for this story reported being attacked in Lake View twice within the last year.

The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, was punched and nearly strangled last November after a man attempted to rob him near the Belmont and Clark area. He said was robbed again, at gunpoint, just two months ago. Both attacks happened around 3 a.m. And neither was reported to the police.

The Chicago Police Department is presenting two safety forums tonight. The Center on Halsted will offer a self-defense workshop. And the next CAPS meeting is on Sept. 2. Concerned Lake View residents, however, remain engaged.

"People are encouraged and excited to be more active in taking back their streets from crime," Farinas said. "They're willing to do more themselves rather than wait for others to raise awareness and take steps to changing the situation for the better."