Greater Tri-Taylor community residents
voice concerns; new web page created
By Julie Sammarco
Tri-Taylor business owners and residents revisited some ongoing community issues and explored new ones during a May 11 meeting convened by the Greater Tri- Taylor Business Association at Granddaddy’s Subs, 2343 W. Taylor St.
Meeting attendees announced a new web page, www.TriTaylor.org, designed to support neighborhood businesses. The web page, directed by Joey Airdo, owner of Granddaddy’s Subs, gives Tri- Taylor businesses a free place to advertise, display photos and announcements, and publicize other information.
Many businesses including Bacci Pizzeria, Damenzo’s Pizza, Geralex Cleaning Services, Taylor Heating and Cooling, Rick’s, Lulu’s Hot Dogs, and Airdo’s Granddaddy’s Subs already have posted business information on the web page, and according to Airdo, the page “looks really nice.”
More positive news came during discussion of the recently installed security surveillance pod.
Residents and business owners at the meeting agreed the device has helped keep crime out of the neighborhood. The pod, under the auspices of the Chicago Police Department, flashes a blue light and contains a fully rotating camera that sends footage to police laptops in squad cars. The camera can zoom in on activity several blocks away, allowing police to respond more quickly to suspicious activity. The pod, along with a wrought iron fence erected around a local stairwell, has lessened unwanted loitering and criminal activity in the area.
Weather affects crime Despite such improvements, residents and business owners remain leery that crime might only be stagnant because of recent cold temperatures and worry it may increase as the weather warms.
Alderman Danny Solis of the 25th Ward and Police Sergeant Greg Noncz attended and addressed neighborhood concerns on crime and garbage. One resident reported garbage cans were being stolen or simply disappearing; this resident also commented that the City’s Department of Streets and Sanitation workers were not picking up garbage on
time. Spotty pickup has caused residents to pile waste on top of garbage cans, forcing the lids to be kept open. Open lids, said one resident, “are just an invitation for rodents.”
Blue bins coming In addressing that issue, Solis announced that blue recycling garbage cans will come to Tri- Taylor in the near future. The Department of Streets and Sanitation will distribute the blue bins so residents can deposit recyclable materials including paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, tin, and aluminum. Workers will pick up recyclable garbage separately from other garbage.
Material placed in the blue cans can be loose or bagged, and no sorting is needed. Yard waste such as grass clippings, leaves, and weeds should be placed in paper or plastic bags and put next to the garbage can; workers will pick up the yard waste separately from garbage and recyclables and transport it to a special recycling facility.
Solis noted that having an extra garbage receptacle in the form of the blue can will help resolve the problem of open cans and overpiled garbage. He added that “blue carts will be ready in three to nine months.”
The meeting also covered possible new speed humps in Tri- Taylor alleys. One resident said, “We really don’t need some of those speed bumps… and those new ones can really ruin your car.”
The City has begun installing yellow and black rubber speed humps in place of asphalt ones to achieve the same slowing effect of vehicles while helping rainwater flow in the middle of alleys—all at a lower cost. Solis promised to look into the situation.
A variety of other issues brought up during the meeting including the need for new or better care of trees on neighborhood sidewalks, the problem of disruptive loitering, and the dangers of an abandoned house possibly being used as a drug house.
The next meeting date will be posted on the Greater Tri-Taylor Business Association’s web page. All residents and business owners are welcome and encouraged to attend.
