Elmwood park , What is happing to it? (Oak Park, Maywood: renting, low crime)

[concerned resident]

the police were called and each incident was reported, however, like so many other violent crimes here, they were not cited in our weekly newspaper. The town keeps much of this quiet, hoping it will disappear, therefore, manipulating these laughable stats that you mention.

[BJT83]

Originally Posted by concerned resident

Both incidents were Spanish gangs fighting with other Spanish gangs.

Sounds like these conquistadors are trying to prove something...

[concerned resident]

People just dont run from their neighborhoods due to prejudices. When the govt. forced section down our throats and when the projects were all condemned, Elmwood Parks location was doomed because it borders Chicago and it is not as expensive as River Forst and Oak Park- so riff raff gets in easier. Lets face it- suburbs are not what they were due to Government intervention of section 8.

[ndfmnlf]

First of all, living in Elmwood Park my entire life, I have first hand seen crime rise in the past 2 years. The problem with these stats, is the elmwood park p.d. is messing with these stats. There was an attempteddrive by shooting on 2200 75th avenue last month and again there was an attempted drive by last week off of Fullerton/73rd. And yes, there was never these problems when the town was dominated by hard working Italian Americans. This my friend is called Gang Infestation. Both incidents were Spanish gangs fighting with other Spanish gangs. These folks are all newcomers to this town and many are apartment dwellers. However, you cannot condemn all apartment dwellers, but it is reasonable to say that people who live in section 8 housing and that dont pay for these

1. you are claiming that the police dept is manipulating the statistics; where's your proof of this?

2. you claim to know the ethnicity of the perpetrators of the attempted drive by-shooting; how did you know that? where you a witness to the event? how did you know they were "Spanish"; did you talk to them in Spanish?

3. you use the term "attempted shooting"; you mean, nobody actually fired any shots? so how the heck did you know there was even such an attempt? did you happen to read the would-be shooters' minds?

3. where's your proof that these perpetrators are apartment dwellers? do you know all their addresses?

The problem with your argument is you are basing it on anecdotes, presumptions, paranoia, and conspiracy theories. Yet the hard data doesn't lie: the crime rate in Elmwood Park has been cut in half over the last 10 years.

[cubssoxfan]

And the graffitti mentioned in one of the earlier post is just a way to say "Won't you be my neighbor?" by very creative and law-abiding citizens who are only denied a structured art class or two to display their "artistic" side ?!!

[vester72]

In case you were not aware, there are major problems with Latino and African-American gangs in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. That's not a racist statement, just a fact - ask anyone in the Chicago, Waukegan, Calumet City, Berwyn, Maywood, Aurora, etc. (and yes, Elmwood Park) police departments.

Not sure why this is new news or the decline of suburbs due to this infiltration is even being argued.

[ndfmnlf]

the police were called and each incident was reported, however, like so many other violent crimes here, they were not cited in our weekly newspaper. The town keeps much of this quiet, hoping it will disappear, therefore, manipulating these laughable stats that you mention.

Listen, Elmwood Park is 85% white. The police department is predominantly white. The local government is predominantly white. And yet you are concocting a picture of an inept white establishment incapable of controlling crime (as you allege). Who should you blame for this supposed mess? You have no one else to blame but yourself.

[illinoisboy]

ndfmnlf, Have you ever had to expirience what citygrl, Johnny Northside, and concerned resident have? I am sure that if you had lived in a certain town for an extented amount of time, you would be able to tell if and why the crime has gone up. I assume you dont and never have lived in Elmwood Park, so don't tell these people that they're lying. They know what is happening to their town and have witnessed the crime themselves. Increased graffiti? Drive by shootings? You can't tell me that that is not a sign of increased crime.

Sadly, this is happening to cities all across the country. Omaha, Portland, Salt Lake City, Des Moines, just to name a few. Cities no one would ever think to have a crime problem. But, it's there and it is only going to get worse as time goes by.

[concerned resident]

Moderator cut: no name calling You can again and again read stats that are manipulated, but my proof is my eyes or my neighbors eyes. My neigbors have verified these attempted drivebys-meaning shots were fired but nobody was hit. I personally spoke with an officer who Ive known for many years who confirmed both shootings were Spanish Gangs who came from the city. And by the way, when the 2010 census comes out you will see that E.P. is not even close to 85% white anymore.

[Humboldt1]

NDF,

If you think you can post stats showing Elmwood Park is getting better you need a reality check. It is not popular to say areas with white flight are going downhill but it is the case almost universally. It is not that good whites are leaving and being replaced by minorities, but the type of minorities that are replacing them (low income, Sec 8, etc.). Usually, the first wave is much better than the later waves of new residents.

Just look at Humboldt Park, the area used to be a solid working-class, mostly Bohemian neighborhood and then Puerto Ricans moved in, starting in the 1960s and 1970s as many were forced west with gentrification of areas to the east. It is not Puerto Rican that makes them bad, but the poverty and gangs associated with it. Many of the best and brightest amongst the Puerto Ricans have moved on to more affluent parts of the city and even the suburbs. I work with a lady who grew up in Humboldt Park (Puerto Rican) and now lives with her husband and family in Park Ridge. She wants nothing to do with those hanging out on California and Division smoking weed at all hours.

Now, this riff raff is being forced west into areas like Cragin and Hermosa and then Galewood is next. Guess what is after that? That's right, Elmwood Park. I don't see Elmwood Park getting better anytime soon as it is facing downward pressure from multiple fronts (Maywood, Melrose Park, Northlake, and Galewood & Austin)

That comment about renters btw was not necessary. Not everyone who rents is bad because they cannot afford to buy. At least renters are paying their fair share, vs. Sec 8 renters who unfortunately are more mooching off the system than not, though obviously there are many that truly need this service.