Rogers Park Talks

* Morse Avenue Open Air Drug Market


Question for avid Hell Hole reader Nathan' I'm on summer vacation' Moore. Does your father Joe 'I'm always on vacation' Moore know we have a 24/7 open air drug market in front of the Harold Rider building at 1340 West Morse Avenue? What does he plan to do about this problem? . . . . More


Posted by Craig Gernhardt


Mr. Hell Hole returns to the premise that every crime is the result of the Alderman. Where exactly are the police in this theory. Why is it that every crime problem is a result of the Alderman not doing police work. If this building disappeared the fella's would move across the street. What needs to happen is much more comprehensive and requires real work to address these problems. I don't have the solution, but we need to address the problem to a greater source than a local Alderman. What I don't want is to just blame someone cause it feels better to know it isn't my fault. I don't want to move the guys two blocks over. Real answers are needed, not Moore bashing for the sake of attention.

Labels: 49th Ward, 60626, Crime, Morse, Rogers Park

Posted by RPT at 12:29 AM | Permalink | Comments

August 4, 2007
* Afraid to Walk on Morse Avenue Real Letter from a Real Reader

"And on that note, where the hell are all the cops? When we moved in a year ago, there was at least some cops driving around and pretending to work. This is turning into the fucking South Side of Chicago. Truly a shame, because it could be a really nice place to live. Somehow it doesn't strike me as a mystery why so many condos are for sale. Condoizing backfiring in the developers faces. Everything is stagnating, and the filth is rapidly taking over. Really a shame. I love being afraid for my well being when I walk to the grocery store. . . . More

Posted by Craig Gernhardt


Morse Ave. is the topic of the day on the Hellhole. The problems of Morse Ave. are well documented and absolutely need to be addressed. It seems as if the problems come back nearly immediately after the big bust goes down. To me that indicates two things, the police in conjunction with the rest of the legal community (which only marginally includes an Alderman) have not come to the right solution for the problem. Additionally, the problem is obviously far bigger than the individuals people involved on Morse. I don't think the solution is in a CAPS meeting either, not that people shouldn't participate in CAPS because it does have an important place. The role of an Alderman is predominantly to be an advocate and to bring the pressures of the public to those less directly involved with the general public

I also have some understanding for the frustration the letter writer must feel. I would take issue with the examples she is using and her general assessment of the problem. There are some very troubled neighborhoods on the south side, but there are some wonderful places there too. I also think that many, many neighborhoods in this nation experience more trouble and more street activity when it is hot outside. There is a direct relationship between the temperature and the number of people on the street. None of this is said to diminish the problem the writers addresses. Maybe in a better state of mind the phrasing would be different.

Labels: Morse

Posted by RPT at 9:48 AM | Permalink | Comments

* Mural Project Excites Bares (July 30)

Anyone can put lipstick on a pig - but it's still going to be a pig. That's exactly what DevCorp North did with the Morse Avenue EL stop. The big hoopla regarding the Mural has turned out to be nothing more than painting over a rotted piece of wood. Or in this case, crumbling concrete.

Still, when you listen to Kim Bares, she'll praise this 'glued-on creation' as if it were one of seven great wonders of the world. The skill of telling a bold faced lie in public must be one of the qualities DevCorp North looks for in a executive director. . . More


* 2007 Artist on the Wall (July 30)

A 'Broken Heart' tradition continues. This year with a twist. Hang on for a wild ride. It's the 2007 Artist on the Wall. . . . Post

Posted by Craig Gernhardt

Complete with video the hellhole both praises and bashes the art scene in Rogers Park. The comment section is full of personal attacks on the participants but towards the end one post makes a good point both about the taste of this video and his concern about his "pet" project. His initial comment is:

jeffo said...

i don't like this entry,

the el bridge is old and crumbling but its not a pig,

and it does look better after the paint job,
does this automatically mean the neighborhood is safe?
no, but it doesn't hurt
to invest in a project that makes things look better,


i also would like to know why
you are criticizing the betterment of morse
this is a cta issue,
and many stations are still crumbling it will take years to fix them all

He then continues to go forward with a complaint that has not been addressed. I assume he is speaking about Moore, but who knows for sure. It isn't clear. My suggestion to jeffo is to call in the complaint to the Alderman and 311, get a tracking number and follow up on it with the Alderman's office. The city takes for ever to fix stuff nowadays and there may be a reason you have not seen it repaired yet.

Labels: Art in Rogers Park, Helhole, Morse, Rogers Park

Posted by RPT at 6:31 AM | Permalink | Comments

Today is a new day in the 5th most blogging community in the U.S. I have heard and read enough. I like Joe Moore. I like David Fagus, Jan Schakowsky, David Orr, and I am really happy Joe Moore won in April. So now that I have made that clear lets get blogging!

There is one point of this blog: commentary and criticism of the one-sided blog. I have no personal interest in Hugh & Toni or Craig or anyone else with "their point of view". This blog is going to be the other side of your one sided stories. Readers, if you don't like what they wrote, why bother with trying to get by their comment moderation and editing. Come hear and speak your piece.

Its time to hear the other side neighbors!

Labels: 49th Ward, Broken Heart, Hellhole, Howard Watchers, Morse, Rogers Park

Posted by RPT at 12:17 AM | Permalink | Comments