Hmmmm. I know of that huge liquor store by the train. They will reapply - and probably get approved so I don't know how this will help, really. BUT the 'Entertainment Detail" - if it is what I think it is - hopefully it will breakup the gangs of Wildebeests roaming Halsted between 2-6AM and bring back sanity to the neighborhood.

Andy, I'm confused by the "moratorium on new licenses" vs. 6-month grace period for existing businesses. Are license renewals included in the ban on new licenses? In other words, a ban on new licenses would seem to imply that existing businesses could remain, but the paragraph re. a 6-month grace period for existing businesses seems to imply that they will be forced to close or seriously change their business model.

Will someone explain why there are so many bong shops and yogurt stores in the neighborhood?

That packaged liquor store on the corner near the CTA train station is a hoot. I remember I had to slide my drivers license to enter. There's 36 ways to thwart entry and one I can think of is to bop Courtney over the head, take her i.d. come on in and buy or take whatever you want. They never checked my i.d. at the counter when buying liquor. I just thought this was the wierdest procedure I've ever encountered. In Detroit they have bullet proof glass at the counter. I knew I didn't belong their either.

That Leona's restaurant is above average but I never patronized that corner again.

And yeah, why are there so many bong shops and hookah lounges in an area that loathes cigarette smokers yet I've never smelled so much weed in my entire life 24/7 (including in the common areas of the fancy "condo" I was renting).

This is a start Lakeview. Sounds like you're finally getting your minds right.

I personally think that the gang presence in this area has more of an effect on the crime than the liquor stores.

I agree with Colin; I do not think that the liquor stores are the root cause.

Someone posted something recently on another website, that summarized a lot of the problems that the area has been having for the past couple of years...basically, a perfect storm was created, that criminals have been taking advantage of. This "storm" was created when Rahm Emmanuel came into office in Spring 2011. Right after being sworn in, Rahm ordered the police to change strategies and deployments. This change essentially was to move police from the "safer" areas of town, to the more high-crime areas. A good idea on paper, but in reality, what happened was the criminals (especially the more career criminals and gang types) who pay attention to this stuff, took notice of this and started to target areas like Lakeview. Why this area? Well look at the "perfect storm" factors:

1. Highly walkable
2. Lots of intoxicated late night partyers
3. Lots of pedestrians with expensive iphones that can be easily pawned
4. A generally "passive", non-violence, dont fight back demeanor to the local residents
5. No conceal carry allowed by those residents
6. A high demand for party drugs (coke, crystal meth etc) by a certain segment of the local populace
6. Quick getaway to the South Side via the Belmont Station

etc etc.

All of these factors helped to contribute to the rise in street crime (muggings, Disturbance of the Peace, etc).

(Cont'd)

Not to mention, the effect that places like the Center on Halsted have. The COH, as a social services center, is needed, but they actively attract teenagers who have serious problems. These kids do need help, but a lot of them bring their dramas and problems with them into the neighborhood, and these problems are being dumped all over us, as residents. Many of these teenagers have behaviors that, in other cities, would put them into a Juvenile Hall Detention center...robbing, mugging, stabbing, public disturbance, even attempted (and comitted) rapes. So, this has been another factor that is affecting the quality of life in the neighborhood to the negative.

The CCH is nothing more than a baby-sitting facility. The "youths" in there do nothing except lounge and play basketball. None of the rooms seem to be open. All the outlets are covered up so you can't even bring a laptop to use their electricity...and if you aren't vigilant, you're laptop would get stolen as well. But that's my two cents.

This statement is total b.s.; Tunney’s Chief of Staff Bennett Lawson said "the ward’s been discouraging liquor in this area now for 10 years." Yeah right. That's why there is 10-15 NEW bars in the hood where there was an empty vanilla box? Also, how about all the hookers walking around at 5-6am every morning too on that Belmont/Sheffield corner? The cops drive around; then they move to School Street~ Duh!