By Jim Sterne
News Editor
Sandra Reed, 46th Ward Democratic Committeeman and aldermanic candidate, called for a coordinated clean-up and needed security improvements at the 46th Ward’s Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) stations.
According to Reed, this action is needed immediately to reduce crime levels and increase ridership at 46th Ward stations. Nearly one-fourth of all crime committed on CTA property for the North Side Red Line and the entire Brown Line occurred at the Wilson Ave. el station; there were 363 arrests at that one el stop in one year.
According to police Information Collection for Automated Mapping (ICAM) records, statistics show there were 57 arrests for crimes at the Wilson Ave. el station in the last three months of 2002, more than double any other station between Fullerton Ave. and Howard St. Coming in second, yet still ahead of any other North Side Red Line station, was Lawrence Ave., with 21 arrests. The Wilson Ave. stop accounted for nine times more crime than the average of all North Side Red Line stations and all Brown Line stations in 2002.
“Can it be coincidence that one of the most unsafe CTA stations on the north side is less than 400 feet from the current alderman’s office,” Reed said addressing a crowd of supports huddled in the cold outside the Wilson Ave. station. “I think not. While crime is dropping across the City, crime rates at the Wilson Ave. station continue to soar.”
This outrage was what Richard Thale wanted to hear from his candidate. Thale has been assaulted numerous times within a two block area of the station, the most recent being on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 5:30 p.m.
“I was walking down Wilson Ave. to the park with my dog and I saw a prostitute soliciting. I got out my cell phone and called 911. She saw me and crossed the street, grabbed it out of my hand, smashed it on the ground, and shoved me and my dog into the street.” Thale said that a security guard from a nearby store saw the incident and called 911. Both of them followed the offender until police came and arrested her.
“It took six cops to put her in the back seat of the police car. I have seen her many times in the neighborhood, hanging around with the crack dealers. I’m sure she was hopped up on something... she had no fear.” Thale said. “It’s no wonder that the needle exchange van sets up shop on weekends around the corner from the el station.”
Thale was approached by a young woman in tears who said that just moments before she assaulted Thale, the same offender assaulted her. According to Thale, the victim was inside the CTA station and gave money to a homeless person. The offender came up to her and was mad that the victim did not give her money.
Reed called for improved lighting and security fencing on parts of CTA property, a request that has been made by residents numerous times in the last two years through Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) monthly meetings with little response from CTA officials or the alderman’s office. Reed vowed she would work with the CTA and CAPS to ensure these issues were addressed.
While hailing the significant improvements that have been made to CTA service in recent years, Reed said that much of it has bypassed the 46th Ward. Reed called for additional security in and around both the Wilson and Lawrence avenue stations until public safety statistics are brought in line with those of other stations.
Reed also noted that she would work with CTA to immediately rectify physical problems at stations, including platform canopies that severely leak during rainstorms. “I am proposing common-sense solutions where the benefits significantly support the cost,” Reed said. It’s surprising that the current alderman has ignored this situation, especially since she sees the negative effects of these run-down stations on a daily basis. The Red Line should be a tremendous asset to our community,” Reed continued. “Unfortunately, the disrepair and lack of safety at stations in the 46th Ward drive away thousands of potential customers. This undermines the value of mass transit to the community, especially to the working poor and students who need public transportation to get to Truman College.”
Reed also called on the CTA to immediately add a stop at Sheridan Rd. on the Purple Line (formerly the Evanston Express). She noted that the CTA has added stops in Lincoln Park and Lake View to the Purple Line in recent years while ignoring other lakefront communities. Currently the Purple Line runs express through numerous stops including Sheridan. |
