Aug 27, 2009 10:43 pm US/Central
Ald. Shiller Defends Herself Via The Internet
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Uptown Alderman Helen Shiller was accosted by reporters and angry constituents Monday, following reports of brazen violence in the neighborhood.
CBS
Remember when angry residents confronted Ald. Helen Shiller about the violence in her 26th Ward? Shiller dodged their questions -- and our questions, too.
But CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports the alderman is finally responding, but not in person.
A home video that hit the Internet earlier this month shows men in the streets throwing bottles, yelling and fighting in Uptown.
After it aired, people who live there took their crime concerns to a meeting where they knew their alderman, Shiller, would be. When her 46th Ward critics confronted her, she left.
She didn't say anything more to residents, until Thursday.
On Shiller's website, you'll find a statement from her on recent events. In it, the alderman says the street-fighting case has come to symbolize safety in Uptown. She calls the resulting discussion about crime "emotional, high-pitched and polarizing."
Shiller also defends her and her staff's efforts in the ward. She claims they regularly exchange information with the police about dangerous situations and how to prevent violence.
She says criminal incidents in her area are among the lowest in Chicago. We couldn't confirm that after office hours, but CBS 2 has reported stats show violent crime is down in Shiller's 23rd Police District.
Speaking of crime, Shiller says as bad as the Uptown fight was, "on any given week, there are far more violent events ... in other Chicago communities that have received far less attention."
She says she understands ward interest in the tape, but she doesn't get the media interest -- unless, in her words, it's driven by other motives.
We simply covered the many constituent complaints that Shiller wasn't listening to them about the street-fighting incident or other crime concerns.
Back to Shiller's two-page statement: It also outlined solutions, including continuing to work closely with police and continuing improvements to parks and public schools.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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