WICKER PARK — Wicker Park, Bucktown and West Town residents concerned about crime have four opportunities to speak with politicians and police leadership at public meetings this Monday and Wednesday, as well as Feb. 15 and 16.
"This is your chance to demand measures be taken at both the city and state levels, to offer ideas and to ask what more can we do together to make our community safe," members of the Chicago Grand Neighbors Association said in an email newsletter.
The "West Town Community Meeting on Public Safety," with Near West Police District (12th) Commdr. Ed Kulbida is set for 6 p.m. Monday in the basement of the Goldblatt's Building, 1613-35 W. Chicago Ave.
The West Town neighborhood group says that Ald. Joe Moreno (1st) and "Beat 1221" volunteer Community Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) facilitator Kim Shepherd organized the special meeting after the group expressed concern over shootings, burglaries and car break-ins, among other crimes.
Along with Moreno, Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26th), and Rep. Cynthia Soto (D-Chicago) are also planning to attend.
In Wicker Park, the bimonthly CAPS 1424 "beat" meeting will move from the field house to the auditorium of A.N. Pritzker School due to a larger crowd expected.
That meeting, set for 7 p.m. this Wednesday, will include participation from Shakespeare District Police, Chicago Park District officials, Moreno, Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) and Bucktown's Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd), whom last week called for more police patrols in areas that have been saturated with crime.
Beat 1424 is bordered by North Avenue on the north, Division Street on the south, Wood Street on the east and Western Avenue on the west.
Later in the month, there is a Beat 1434 meeting set for 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 at the Bucktown-Wicker Park library, 1701 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Beat 1434 is a bordered by Armitage Avenue on the north, North Avenue on the south, Wood Street on the east, and Rockwell Street on the west.
A meeting for Noble Square "Beat 1433" will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 at the Pulaski Park Field House, 1419 W. Blackhawk St.
Beat 1433 is bordered by Wood Street to the west, the Chicago River to the east, Division Street to the south and Armitage Avenue to the north.
For the full schedule of all CAPS meetings for February in the Shakespeare District, click here.
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