Citizen Suburban Times Weekly 7-3-2019

Citizen Week of July 3, 2019

| Vol. 2 | No. 47 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

The South Suburban Humane Society recently celebrated the opening of their Homewood Adoption Center. Photo Credit: South Suburban Humane Society

SOUTH SUBURBAN HUMANE SOCIETY OPENS NEW ADOPTION CENTER

The South Suburban Humane Society recently celebrated the grand opening of their new Adoption Center located on 2207 183rd St. in Homewood. The new location will help the organization provide care for over 500 more animals per year, according to information provided by the South Suburban Humane Society. SEE PAGE 2

POLITISCOPE

NEWS

Privacy concerns don’t stop people from putting their DNA on the internet to help solve crimes PAGE 2

USF Earns U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grant Worth Close to $1.5 Million PAGE 4

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NEWS

Duckworth, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Invest in Communities with Stranded Nuclear Waste PAGE 4

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NEWS

Gov. Pritzker Signs Most Equity-Centric Law in Nation to Legalize AdultUse Cannabis PAGE 4

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2 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of July 3, 2019

COMMUNITY

South Suburban Humane Society Opens New Adoption Center Continued from page 1

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

The South Suburban Humane Society recently celebrated the grand opening of their new Adoption Center located on 2207 183rd St. in Homewood. The new location will help the organization provide care for over 500 more animals per year, according to information provided by the South Suburbn Humane Society.

“This has been a plan of the organization for many years, to have a more visible adoption space in a vibrant community,” said Emily Klehm, CEO of the South Suburban Humane Society. “This adoption center is right in downtown Homewood on a very busy street, 183rd Street, and gives us that opportunity to

put homeless pets and their needs right into the view of the community.”

Prior to becoming the Homewood Adoption Center, the building housed the Homewood Animal Hospital and thanks to a generous donor, who bought the building and gifted it to the South Suburban Humane Society, the organization was finally able to open a second facility.

The main location for the South Suburban Humane Society is at 1103 West End Ave. in Chicago Heights which Klehm said is tucked away in a neighborhood and somewhat hidden.

The new adoption center will give them some added visibility and additional space to house animals until they are able to be adopted.

The Homewood Adoption Center will be

able to house 30 to 45 dogs and 20 cats at a time. There is also an in-house surgical suite for spaying and neutering which will allow them to move animals through the adoption process faster which is important because “the faster they get to adoption, the happier and healthier they are,” according to Klehm.

“We operate a low-cost spay and neuter clinic in Chicago Heights but there’s so much demand from the public for the low-cost services that it’s challenging to meet all the needs. This is going to allow us to serve more of the public’s needs for spay and neuter while still moving pets through to adoption faster,” said Klehm.

In the first weekend that the Homewood Adoption Center was open, 19 animals found their new homes through adoption.

By expanding its footprint with the second facility, the organization’s need for donations and volunteers has also expanded. The South Suburban Humane Society is relying heavily on the support of volunteers to help operate the Homewood Adoption Center. They are also in need of both physical and financial donations.

“It’s a tremendous leap to make a move to having another building so we have started out with pretty minimal staffing and a high reliance upon volunteers. We’ve had a good response so far from the Homewood community but we definitely need more volunteers,” said Klehm.

To learn more about the South Suburban Humane Society, volunteering opportunities, and needed donations, visit www.southsuburbanhumane.org.

POLITISCOPE

Can parks help cities fight crime?

BY LINCOLN LARSON AND S. SCOTT OGLETREE

nearby neighborhoods – not outright eliminating it.

The relationship between parks and crime remains the subject of debate.

Some scholars say parks and other urban green spaces prevent violence.

When vacant lots and deteriorating urban spaces are transformed into more appealing and useful places for residents, violence and crime typically decline in the immediate vicinity.

In a study of public housing developments in Chicago, researchers found 52% fewer crimes reported near buildings surrounded by trees and other vegetation. In New York City, neighborhoods with higher investment in public green space see an average of 213 fewer felonies per year.

Similar relationships between green space and crime have been observed in Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia and Portland, as well as in cities outside the U.S. In many cities, however, people see parks as dangerous – magnets for illicit activities like drug dealing and places for criminals to access potential victims who, while engaged in recreation, may be less vigilant about their belongings and personal safety.

Research supports this idea, too.

One 2015 study of multiple U.S. cities found that property crime rates are two to four times higher in neighborhoods near parks. Violent crimes rates were up to 11 times worse.

So do parks make cities safer or more dangerous? The short answer is: It depends on the park.

Parks: Crime hot spots or safe havens?

In the second step of our study, we narrowed the focus of our analysis to just urban parks. The results were less positive.

Examining four cities in different U.S. regions – Austin, Philadelphia, Phoenix and San Francisco – we found that violent crime was 28% to 64% higher in neighborhoods adjacent to parks than in neighborhoods located a mile from the same parks. Property crime was 38% to 63% higher in areas close to parks.

The only exception was Phoenix, where proximity to parks had no impact on property crime.

Zooming out from our four-city sample, we found evidence that some parks actually do a good job of deterring crime. Design and maintenance are critical if parks are to reduce, rather than attract, crime.

New York’s Bryant Park, in Midtown Manhattan, was once a notorious haven for criminal activity – a place office workers avoided walking through after dark. In 1985, Bryant Park was closed for a massive renovation effort that included the addition of activities and events there. When it reopened in 1992, police reported a 92% decrease in local crime.

In Los Angeles, a citywide Summer Night Lights program started in 2007 to promote positive activities in parks after dark is credited with reducing crime in nearby neighborhoods by 40% over three years.

And construction of a new elevated trail in Chicago seems to have made the neighborhoods it runs through safer. Between 2011 and 2015, areas on

Green space leads to lower crime One reason that evidence on the relationship between parks and crime is so mixed is that most studies on this

Lincoln Larson

S. Scott Ogletree

subject have focused on a single city or location.

In an effort to identify nationwide trends, our team of researchers at Clemson and North Carolina State universities in 2017 began gathering information on crime, green space and parks in the 300 largest cities in the United States.

Unlike many studies that use the terms “parks” and “green space” interchangeably, our analysis distinguished between these two urban environments.

Green space was measured by the amount of grass, plants, tree canopy cover and other greenery on the landscape. We defined urban parks as designated open spaces managed by a public agency – a subset of green space.

To distinguish the impact of green spaces from social factors typically linked to crime – population density, income, education, diversity and social disadvantage – we controlled for those factors when evaluating crime data.

We learned that more green space was associated with lower risk of crime across neighborhoods in all 300 cities we studied.

Burglaries, larceny, auto theft and other property crimes occur less often in greener neighborhoods in every

city in our sample. Violent crimes like murder, assault and armed robbery were also less common in greener neighborhoods in nearly all the cities we studied.

Only three cities in our sample did not benefit from green space. In Chicago, Detroit and Newark – all places with notoriously high and stubborn crime rates – more green space was associated with higher levels of violent crime.

Scholars have identified several reasons why the presence of green space may lead to lower crime.

Contact with nature reduces precursors to crime like stress and aggression, making people feel happier and less inclined to engage in criminal acts. By giving people a place to participate in outdoor activities together, parks also promote positive social interactions and neighborly connections within diverse urban communities.

And when people gather in parks and other green spaces, it puts more “eyes on the streets,” exposing criminals to constant community surveillance.

Finally, there’s some evidence that more green space makes nearby areas safer simply by pushing crime into www.thechicagocitizen.com

The 606 trail saw 2.8 times less violent crime and 1.6 times less property crime than comparable low-income Chicago neighborhoods over the same period.

Parks that are designed for safety, heavily programmed on an ongoing basis and well maintained tend to attract residents whose presence serves as a crime deterrent.

That means not just amenities like ball fields and cultural facilities but also the active involvement of the local community and sources of sustainable, ongoing funding.

When parks are allowed to deteriorate, the decaying infrastructure and bad reputation of parks can turn them into magnets for crime.

Critically, both program and landscape design must also reflect the broader community in which a park sits, creating public spaces where everyone from office workers to local teens can appreciate and enjoy the entire range of social, economic and health benefits that parks offer.

More legitimate park users means increased monitoring and sense of ownership over a public space. This process known as “territorial reinforcement” is a key tenet of crime prevention through environmental design.

Urban parks and green space enhance the well-being of city residents, promoting physical activity, mental health and a sense of community.

Whether they also reduce crime depends on the park, city, the neighborhood and, critically, how well an urban green space is managed.

Lincoln Larson is an Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University.

S. Scott Ogletree is a PhD Candidate and Researcher in Parks and Conservation at Clemson University.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of July 3, 2019

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NEWS

Gov. Pritzker Signs Most Equity-Centric Law in Nation to Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis Surrounded by a bipartisan group of lawmakers and criminal justice reform advocates, Governor JB Pritzker signed the most equity-centric law in the nation to legalize adult-use cannabis in Illinois, beginning Jan. 1, 2020.

House Bill 1438 promotes equity and invests in the communities that suffered through the war on drugs, serving as a model for the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis.

“As the first state in the nation to fully legalize adult-use cannabis through the legislative process, Illinois exemplifies the best of democracy: a bipartisan and deep commitment to better the lives of all of our people,” said Gov. JB Pritzker.

“Legalizing adult-use cannabis brings an important and overdue change to our state, and it’s the right thing to do. This legislation will clear the cannabis-related records of nonviolent offenders through an efficient combination of automatic expungement, gubernatorial pardon and individual court action. I’m so proud that our state is leading with equity and justice in its approach to cannabis legalization and its regulatory framework. Because of the work of the people here today and so many more all across our state, Illinois is moving forward with empathy and hope.”

“This legislation lives true to the promise to bring justice, equity and

“One of the things that we wanted to make sure we accomplished with legalization was ensuring we put social equity at the center and the heart of our efforts, acknowledging that while we normalize and legalize something that is happening across the country, that we tie the direct nexus to the communities that the prohibition has hurt the most,” said Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights). opportunity throughout our state,” said Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. “By including components focused on repairing the harm caused by the failed war on drugs and decades of policies that caused mass incarceration — Illinois is a national leader with policy that’s a national model.”

“I am proud to say that, by working with hundreds of stakeholders and spending years seeking community input, we have crafted the most just, well-regulated cannabis plan in the country,” said Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago). “This law keeps our children safe by prioritizing public safety, includes extensive restorative justice measures and brings in much-needed revenue for our state.

I am thankful to all of my colleagues who stayed with me in this fight and to Gov. JB Pritzker for making it law.”

“This team effort sets a new

standard for what cannabis reform can look like when undertaken with an openness to tough discussions, a commitment to strong outcomes and a willingness to do the hard work together,” said Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago). “We set out to do this differently and we did, because we stuck to those principles. The result is historic and full of promise that I intend to ensure we deliver on.”

“This historic legislation will right the wrongs of the past and truly serve as a model for other state legislatures as they look for an equity-centric approach to legalize and regulate recreational cannabis,” said Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria).

“The communities that have suffered through the war on drugs will now have an opportunity to enter a new market and be successful. This is nothing short of a landmark moment

Village of Matteson Announces Summer Music Festival Darrell Garth

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The Village of Matteson announces its Summer Music Festival on Saturday, July 6th on the Village Hall grounds with line-ups from three musical acts. This special event is a part of the Village’s summer “Concerts at the Hall” series and will be headlined by renowned neo-soul duo Kindred The Family Soul. The festival will also feature performances by NBC’s “The Voice” finalist and Matteson resident Sandy Redd, and popular Chicagoland based group, The Associates Band.

The free community event starts at 5pm and will end with a firework show at dusk. This special event will also include food vendors, activities for children, areas for relaxing and lounging to enjoy the music festival. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets.

“We invite our residents and neighbors from surrounding communities to come out and enjoy a memorable evening in Matteson,” said Village President Sheila Chalmers-Currin. “Bring out the lawn chairs and picnic baskets for a fun night with great music, food, fireworks and summer fun for the whole family.”

The final “Concert at the Hall” series will take place on Friday, August 9th at 6pm and will be highlighted by local favorite Delivery Point Band, The Eric Mantel Band and food vendors.

For any questions, please call the Village of Matteson at (708) 283-4900.

for criminal justice reform in the state of Illinois that took years to reach. I thank my colleagues in both chambers for making today a reality.”

“One of the things that we wanted to make sure we accomplished with legalization was ensuring we put social equity at the center and the heart of our efforts, acknowledging that while we normalize and legalize something that is happening across the country, that we tie the direct nexus to the communities that the prohibition has hurt the most,” said Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights).

“Legalizing cannabis and ushering in the expungement of 700,000 records will bring justice to the communities that have been hardest hit by its senseless prohibition,” said Rep. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago). “This monumental step forward shows what’s possible when public policy is centered around equity in every step of the way. After years of hard work, I’m proud that Illinois will lead the nation in bringing justice and fairness to the cannabis marketplace.”

“Today is an affirmation of individual liberty. Adult use of cannabis should be a personal choice,” said Rep. David Welter (R-Morris). “Beyond that, I am proud of our commitment that 20% of the revenue generated by legalization will go toward funding for mental health and substance abuse

services in Illinois. An additional 10% will go to pay down the state’s backlog of unpaid bills; which directly benefits hospitals, health care and social service providers in every community across the state.”

“My office is proud to have helped develop this historic legislation, which will provide conviction relief to hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents in the most extensive and equitable way possible,” said Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.

“The time for justice is now, especially for communities of color who have long been disproportionately impacted by low-level cannabis convictions and the failed war on drugs. We look forward to continuing our efforts to ensure the broadest relief possible under this revolutionary law.”

“This legislation recognizes that to move forward and create a new cannabis industry, we have to mend the historic inequalities that have torn communities apart,” said Esther Franco-Payne, executive director of Cabrini Green Legal Aid. “Expunging the records of hundreds of thousands of people and making social equity at the center of this bill will change lives and revitalize communities. Cabrini Green Legal Aid thanks Governor Pritzker for his leadership and members of the General Assembly who made this day possible.”

USF Earns U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grant Worth Close to $1.5 Million The University of St. Francis (USF) recently announced that it has been awarded a grant through the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) program. The grant, which will provide $1,452,947 in funding, will bring together USF and the Will County Community Health Center (WCCHC) to offer high-quality clinical experiences for USF students in the Family Nurse Practitioner

(FNP) and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) programs, according to a press release.

The grant will also place USF graduates at WCCHC or in another rural or undeserved community within Illinois and expand the availability of primary care and mental health services for residents of Will County in northeastern Illinois and, through the introduction of telehealth services, residents in rural Illinois.

Duckworth, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Invest in Communities with Stranded Nuclear Waste U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) recently introduced the Sensible, Timely Relief for America’s Nuclear Districts’ Economic Development (STRANDED) Act to address the impacts of stranded nuclear waste by providing federal assistance to communities around the country that are burdened with storing this waste.

The Senators’ bipartisan legislation would award economic impact grants to local government entities to offset the economic

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impacts of stranded nuclear waste, establish a task force to identify existing funding that could benefit these communities and create a competitive grant program to help these communities find alternatives to nuclear facilities, generating sites and waste sites. Under their legislation, affected communities would be eligible for $15 per kilogram of spent nuclear fuel stored, which is consistent with the rate for impact assistance established under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of July 3, 2019

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