BELMONT CRAGIN — When Steven Paz, 10, heard about the Belmont Cragin community meeting, he asked his father if they could attend. The Schubert Elementary school student said he "wanted to make sure [his] ideas on education and health care for the community were heard," his dad said.
Michael Paz, who has been living in Belmont Cragin since 1987, said, along with his son, he came out to share his thoughts on crime and education in the neighborhood.
The Pazes were among more than 200 residents, business owners and representatives of elected officials who gathered for a meeting at Steinmetz High School, 3030 N. Mobile Ave., to discuss ways to improve life in Belmont Cragin Wednesday night.
Northwest Side Housing Center Executive Director James Rudyk said the organization has been reaching out to residents, attending block club meetings and CAPS meetings since January to better understand and narrow down the top concerns for the changing community.
Belmont Cragin has seen an influx of residents who have been pushed out of Logan Square and Humboldt Park because of gentrification, Rudyk said: "This has resulted in overcrowded schools, an increase in gang violence and a lack of affordable housing."
Community members also want to prioritize education, health services, safety and affordable housing, Rudyk said.
"This meeting is to introduce some goals we have regarding key issues, and discuss with the community how best to achieve these, but also to hear what other concerns the community might have," Rudyk said.
Olga Sanchez, 55, a longtime resident and business owner, attended the meeting to voice her concern about the high taxes that she said are driving businesses away from Belmont Cragin.
"I've had an auto mechanic shop for more than 20 years, and I pay almost $20,000 annually in taxes," Sanchez said. "If we want to grow and develop our community, we have to make our community more welcoming to small businesses."
Kelly Rauch, owner of Twice, 5450 W. Belmont Ave., echoed Sanchez' concerns of high taxes driving out small businesses. "There needs to be a strengthened Chamber of Commerce because small businesses are not coming to the neighborhood with such high taxes."
While residents addressed a wide range of topics concerning health care, education and business development, Milagros Burgos' main objective at Wednesday night's meeting was to call for greater attention and action to stem the increasing violence in the community. In the fall, Burgos' 18-year-old daughter Alexandria Burgos was shot and killed in Belmont Cragin.
"We need more community safety, more police on patrol," Burgos said. "We need to create a safer environment for our children, after all, they are our future. At the very least, we need to give them steady ground."
Attendees said the healthy turnout for the first community meeting is promising for the Belmont Cragin neighborhood. "The community is on the cusp of positive change," Rudyk said.
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