North Avenue Beach Assaults?

I've been hearing rumors that North Avenue Beach was closed do to out of control thugs  and gangbangers groping and assaulting people, not due to heat, as has been widely reported.  Rumors of cyclists knocked from their bikes... I know a few cyclists were picked up and dropped in the lake by some thugs early last month. The sources are somewhat suspect, but I wanted to know if anyone had heard or experienced anything.  Generally my least favorite part of the trail, but I'm debating whether to avoid it completely this summer. As the CPD is undergoing regime change, we should be diligent about reporting incidents like this, even if front-line CPD staff are dismissive... so that resources get allotted appropriately.

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Permalink Reply by Little Phil on June 9, 2011 at 2:37pm
I rode last night from Oak Street to Belmont from about starting at Oak Street around 10:20pm.... Ya there were some thugs on the lake front path but I noticed most of them on Michigan Avenue between the river and Oak
Permalink Reply by Chris B on June 9, 2011 at 3:27pm

I rode from grant park up to belmont last night at 9pm and didn't see much, i saw lots of kids still out between Oak and North, and stayed clear of any groups, but no one that really worried me. I check out #CHILFT before getting on the path every night now.

 

I talked to my s.o. who is an attorney, and she has a friend use used to be a public defender, who told her flashmobs assaulting and robbing people has been happening for many years, but mainly "in the neighborhoods those kids come from" in his words.  It just made me think of what will happen if more police are moved to the wealthier and heavier tourist areas, and that more police there may just the kids will move to victims somewhere else.

Permalink Reply by David on June 10, 2011 at 3:12am
By world standards, I think it's safe to say that everyone participating in this thread is extremely wealthy. 

Mike Zumwalt said:

Wealthy/rich people are paranoid,out of touch, belligerent and behave in a far more Heinous way than thugs but then again the wealthy use the same fear, aggresive tacticts to gain wealth and the are afraid someone will do the same to them.

 

Maybe someday we'll learn this mutual respect thing. Oh yeah LOL! Keep dreaming.

 

Now there are a few really rich people who came up with a great idea and got rich that way but it's not the rule.

 

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 10, 2011 at 3:13am
By world standards, perhaps.  By Chicago standards, far from it.

David said:
By world standards, I think it's safe to say that everyone participating in this thread is extremely wealthy. 

Mike Zumwalt said:

Wealthy/rich people are paranoid,out of touch, belligerent and behave in a far more Heinous way than thugs but then again the wealthy use the same fear, aggresive tacticts to gain wealth and the are afraid someone will do the same to them.

 

Maybe someday we'll learn this mutual respect thing. Oh yeah LOL! Keep dreaming.

 

Now there are a few really rich people who came up with a great idea and got rich that way but it's not the rule.

Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on June 10, 2011 at 3:54am


David said:
By world standards, I think it's safe to say that everyone participating in this thread is extremely wealthy. 


By world standards the people commiting these crimes are extremely wealthy.
Permalink Reply by John Krause on June 10, 2011 at 3:59am

I think Liz and Vando are both right. We should be doing what we can to eliminate the social forces that cause crime, and we should hold the individuals who commit crime under any circumstances responsible for their actions. I think we should expect more of society and also expect more of our individual citizens. 

Jane Jacobs's concept of "eyes on the street" is that people are less likely to attack others when they know they're being seen, more likely to feel the weight of social pressures to behave ethically when they know they're not anonymous and invisible. Watchful neighbors are more effective than police presence, but only if the neighbors aren't afraid or unwilling to help the police. Bring your phone with you to the lakefront. Know how to use the camera. Take pictures of crime in action and call the police. Stay close enough to help out. Make sure these kids know that people are watching and aren't afraid to take pictures and help the police.

 

Permalink Reply by Joel on June 10, 2011 at 4:02am
And the "other people are even worse than us, so what we do is ok" defense doesn't hold up.  

envane x said:


David said:
By world standards, I think it's safe to say that everyone participating in this thread is extremely wealthy. 


By world standards the people commiting these crimes are extremely wealthy.
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 10, 2011 at 4:08am

There are two kinds of people in this world:

  • Net Creditor
  • Net Debtor
Rich or poor it doesn't matter -it's not really that applicable.  Using any standard that counts one can put all people in one or the other of the above categories.
Permalink Reply by John S. on June 10, 2011 at 6:42am

What an incredibly ignorant comment Mike.  I've always told my children that it's okay to dislike someone, but first you have to meet them.  You can't dislike them from a distance, you have to know the person.  Once you've met them, you can make your decision.  Racism, sexism and in this case classism (if there's such a thing) are all the product of pure ignorance.  

 

I wonder why some drivers believe that all cyclists deserve to be doored?  Or some drivers believe all cyclists deserve to be "taught a lesson".   If you think about the number of drivers that pass us everyday, without hitting us, without shouting at us, giving us ample room and respect, it's the small minority of drivers that make life dangerous for us.   What would this world be like if ALL drivers looked at ALL cyclists with the same prejudiced eye you have for the rich.  We wouldn't live very long would we? 

 

You certainly didn't tell us anything about the rich, but you sure showed us who you are.

 

 

Mike Zumwalt said:

Wealthy/rich people are paranoid,out of touch, belligerent and behave in a far more Heinous way than thugs but then again the wealthy use the same fear, aggresive tacticts to gain wealth and the are afraid someone will do the same to them.

 

Maybe someday we'll learn this mutual respect thing. Oh yeah LOL! Keep dreaming.

 

Now there are a few really rich people who came up with a great idea and got rich that way but it's not the rule.

 

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by dan brown on June 10, 2011 at 8:27am

John S. - I completely agree with your comments here below.

 

FWIW - one of the (many) definitions of the word 'idiot' is this :

 

"Idiot : A person that comments about something that they are unfamiliar with".

 

Mike's comment reminds reminds me of just that....

 

Dan (my $.021 (adjusted for inflation))

John S. said:

What an incredibly ignorant comment Mike.  I've always told my children that it's okay to dislike someone, but first you have to meet them.  You can't dislike them from a distance, you have to know the person.  Once you've met them, you can make your decision.  Racism, sexism and in this case classism (if there's such a thing) are all the product of pure ignorance.  

 

I wonder why some drivers believe that all cyclists deserve to be doored?  Or some drivers believe all cyclists deserve to be "taught a lesson".   If you think about the number of drivers that pass us everyday, without hitting us, without shouting at us, giving us ample room and respect, it's the small minority of drivers that make life dangerous for us.   What would this world be like if ALL drivers looked at ALL cyclists with the same prejudiced eye you have for the rich.  We wouldn't live very long would we? 

 

You certainly didn't tell us anything about the rich, but you sure showed us who you are.

 

 

Mike Zumwalt said:

Wealthy/rich people are paranoid,out of touch, belligerent and behave in a far more Heinous way than thugs but then again the wealthy use the same fear, aggresive tacticts to gain wealth and the are afraid someone will do the same to them.

 

Maybe someday we'll learn this mutual respect thing. Oh yeah LOL! Keep dreaming.

 

Now there are a few really rich people who came up with a great idea and got rich that way but it's not the rule.

 

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Moc Artsy on June 10, 2011 at 11:59am

Unfortunately?


Dr. Doom said:

Unfortunately, none of the commenters in this thread are (as far as I know) policymakers.
Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on June 10, 2011 at 1:05pm

Oh of course let me rise up to the social circle they're in then make an informed decision. Maybe you haven't been watching the news the past few years.


GM exec's asking for Taxpayer money after flying to Washington in private jets. Enron, AIG, BP passing the buck and now reports of the claims they said they were going to pay being delayed or caught up in litigation...etc.

 

I'm much less worried about a group of kids/thugs/gangbangers beating me up and taking my (whatever) than I am of a giant Corporation of snakes/sharks ripping me off, firing me, denying benefits to me just so their tax rate doesn't go up next year while I lose my car,house and whatever else.

 

I'm sure that not all people who are wealthy are like that but Philanthropy usually is self serving as well.

 

 


John S. said:

What an incredibly ignorant comment Mike.  I've always told my children that it's okay to dislike someone, but first you have to meet them.  You can't dislike them from a distance, you have to know the person.  Once you've met them, you can make your decision.  Racism, sexism and in this case classism (if there's such a thing) are all the product of pure ignorance.  

 

I wonder why some drivers believe that all cyclists deserve to be doored?  Or some drivers believe all cyclists deserve to be "taught a lesson".   If you think about the number of drivers that pass us everyday, without hitting us, without shouting at us, giving us ample room and respect, it's the small minority of drivers that make life dangerous for us.   What would this world be like if ALL drivers looked at ALL cyclists with the same prejudiced eye you have for the rich.  We wouldn't live very long would we? 

 

You certainly didn't tell us anything about the rich, but you sure showed us who you are.

 

 

Mike Zumwalt said:

Wealthy/rich people are paranoid,out of touch, belligerent and behave in a far more Heinous way than thugs but then again the wealthy use the same fear, aggresive tacticts to gain wealth and the are afraid someone will do the same to them.

 

Maybe someday we'll learn this mutual respect thing. Oh yeah LOL! Keep dreaming.

 

Now there are a few really rich people who came up with a great idea and got rich that way but it's not the rule.

 

 

 

 

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