When gunshots were heard outside a Rogers Park grade school–the guns fired by drug dealers, some barely in their teens–nearby residents were convinced that they had to take control of their community.
The call for what activists term “safe school zone” signs goes back to antidrug efforts initiated several years ago by the National Training and Information Center, a national coalition of community groups that’s based in Chicago. Given the increase in drug-related crimes, ranging from robbery to murder, in the summer of 1988 NTIC organized a citywide coalition called Communities Linked for Education and Action Against Narcotics (CLEAN for short).
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One clear, simple proposal was to post the signs. “The state had toughened the laws dealing with drugs and weapon activity within 1,000 feet of a school, so we felt everyone should know it,” says Harry Armstrong, an organizer for the Rogers Park Tenants Committee. “You should let the criminals know that you intend to crack down.”
When asked why he hadn’t reported it out, Beavers replies “Because we haven’t found the money for the signs. It would cost $1 million–probably half a million as a minimum–to erect those signs. Where’s the money going to come from? I talked to the Budget Department, and they say they’re working to find the revenue.”
Despite the order from the Department of Human Services, opposition to the signs may be hardening. In particular, Beavers is peeved at CLEAN for demonstrating outside his neighborhood ward office.
Hobson mentions the gunshots heard outside of Gale. And for a while, drug dealers operated freely in Kiwanis Playground.
Administration officials say Daley plans to have the signs installed as soon as he figures out exactly how many signs are needed and how much money they will cost.
