AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/chicago-police-department/)
The mayor and other city officials shared their plans to address the root causes of violence at a West Side public safety town hall meeting held recently. It’s one of six town halls being held across the city in March and April.
Members of the Leaders Network discussed the challenges and responsibilities of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability with its new chief, Andrea Kersten.
One of the six virtual meetings will be held specifically for West Side residents. That meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 10. Participants are encouraged to register in advance.
Participants are being sought for violence-prevention workshops that will begin soon. Organizers hope representatives from 30 to 35 groups will participate.
A six- to 12-month program is being considered by Ald. Chris Taliaferro. The high-definition cameras could be installed at any place in the ward, and residents would be able to monitor them.
The Central Austin Neighborhood Association has reached a settlement with the city of Chicago aimed at addressing the chronic disparity in police response times to calls from white neighborhoods compared to primarily Black and Brown neighborhoods. CANA, led by Serethea and Ron Reid, filed the lawsuit 10 years ago.
At their monthly meeting, West Side faith leaders discussed the collaborative efforts community groups are taking with the 15th District Police to reduce violence in Austin.
It’s been nearly 14 years since 15-year-old Yasmin Acree went missing from her Austin home, yet the family still has no answers about her whereabouts. Rev. Ira Acree, one of Yasmin’s relatives, is pushing for answers once again. The family and West Side faith leaders are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to Yasmin.
Religious leaders will be going door to door Thursday in the 1200 block of North Mason Avenue, where there was a deadly shootout last week in the middle of the day. The goal is to show love and give support to the community.
The Chicago Police Department’s 15th District will hold a virtual Zoom meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 5. It’s part of an ongoing conversation about the district’s 2022 strategic plan. Register through EventBrite.