GOLD COAST — Gold Coast residents and Near North District police officers gathered in the Jewel-Osco parking lot Friday to do something that many residents have complained about — loiter.
On Friday, Near North District officers hosted a positive loitering event at Clark Street and Division streets to celebrate a decline in area crime and distribute fliers offering tips on safety and how to handle aggressive panhandling.
Chicago Police Sgt. Cynthia Schumann said the events began a year ago as littering, loitering, panhandling and drug sales became a problem in the area.
“This was a great location, but people weren’t feeling safe,” Schumann said. “We’re looking to come in and make this more livable for everybody. Everybody looking out for one another has gone a long way.”
Information sharing by court advocacy program participants, an increased presence of police cars and efforts to help residents know when to call 311 and when to call 911 also helped police to track and address crime in the area, Schumann added.
Mary DeLaney, a Gold Coast resident for 30 years, said residents should continue to be friendly with one another and take notice of what’s happening in the neighborhood. She said she thinks the positive loitering strategy has effectively deterred crime in the community and the neighborhood has greatly improved since she moved here years ago.
“We noticed the very first night that we did this, the minute we walked with these signs to the corners, it was like turning on the lights,” DeLaney said. “[Clark and Division] is the only bad corner, really, but I think it’ll clean up eventually.”
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