What exactly is the PHA doing about crime and safety

There is a great deal of the crime happening in Peoria's housing projects (Taft Homes, RiverWest, Harrison Homes), Section 8 properties and scattered site housing areas. These are all housing types that are managed by the Peoria Housing Authority (PHA).

As we continue to hear about crime throughout the city on PHA property or involving PHA residents, I began to wonder what exactly is the PHA, as a management company, doing about crime to make the clients who do abide by the law safe. Are they going into their pockets to provide extra security? Are they updating their No Trespass List on the regular and expunging old information?

I went to the website, hoping to take a look at the minutes of the Peoria Housing Authority Board to see how they are currently addressing these issues. Unfortunately, the last minutes from a Peoria Housing Authority Board meeting published on the Internet are dated March 28, 2011. The minutes are shown at the bottom of this post, notice there is no mention of crime, security or safety, even though the following was happening at the time...

I took a look at the Trespass List after Elaine Hopkins posted about it and made the following observations: 

                         

Apparently there are names on the list of several people who are now deceased. There are names of people on the list who have children named after them - but there is no distinction as to age, or any descriptors other than M/B or F/B (black male or black female). The lack of updating of the list would seem to indicate that there is no dedicated knowledgeable security person working with the the Housing Authority.

Remember this article in the local newspaper talking about the Housing Authority buying security cameras? If they purchased security cameras, how come they aren't solving more of their own crimes? If they got the grant in October of 2010, they should have had the cameras in July of 2011 - how come they didn't have more information about exactly who had fireworks and was starting trouble?

What I did notice from the minutes of the Peoria Housing Authority Board is that there is a lot of discussion about getting money from the government and spending money (tax dollars), but there is little to no discussion about safety or quality of life of the people who reside on the properties.

Peoria Housing Authority Board Minutes

Local voting rights historian: “…cumulative voting worked.”

The thought of Peoria deciding to “reform” the current voting process should be a cause of concern for all Peorians, especially minorities.

The forums being held to give citizens a chance to offer input are a must, but getting a good representative sample of citizens who know enough about the process is a challenge.

I'm pleased to see that local civil rights leader, Joyce Banks is taking part in the discussions. Mrs. Banks is a part of the history of Peoria’s voting rights process, her involvement gives me some hope that the fairest system will prevail.

Peoria voting forum raises questions

Questions about the effectiveness of the process in reforming Peoria city government and how its members are elected surfaced during a public forum Wednesday, where about 30 people gathered at the Frank Campbell Community Room at RiverWest.

The goal is to see whether cumulative voting should continue as a way to elect the city's five at-large council members.

Some people questioned if a federal judge's opinion would be sought by city leaders if the City Council opts to move away from cumulative voting. In return, the council could endorse increasing the number of districts from the current five.

The meeting at RiverWest was the second of two public forums on cumulative voting and the future political makeup of the council.

The City Council on Nov. 15 will likely decide if the city should pursue an opinion from a federal judge on whether a new political map - and the potential for increased districts, along with the elimination of cumulative voting - should be allowed to move forward.

If so, the council could endorse a referendum for the March 20 election.

Cumulative voting has been the way the public has voted for at-large candidates since 1991.

Its unique style allows a voter to potentially cast five votes for one candidate, or to divide the votes proportionally.

It was instituted after a 1987 federal lawsuit was brought by black voters against the City Council, District 150 and the Peoria Park Board aimed at increasing the number of minorities elected to public office.

Debates have ensued in recent years about whether cumulative voting has actually attracted more minority political representation.

Joyce Banks, a plaintiff in that 1987 lawsuit, said she once felt that going to 10 districts, and eliminating the at-large council seats, might produce a more fair council. She said she hopes a political scientist could examine the prospects of 10 districts to see if it could produce a better opportunity for greater minority representation on the Horesehoe. Source

Related articles: BANKS v. BD. OF ED., CITY OF PEORIA, SCH. D. 150; Rewind: History of City Council election process

Riverwest parents turn their children in to police for looting

Would you turn your child in if you knew they were terrorizing the community? A parent who turned her children in after seeing them looting a gas station after a 4th of July celebration is being taken to taken to task by members of her community for turning her children over to "the man".

July 6, 2011, WITI-TV, MILWAUKEE—
At least four parents turned in their children to police after seeing surveillance video of teens looting a gas station in Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood. The teens stormed the gas station and began looting shortly after the lakefront fireworks show ended on Sunday, July 3rd. FOX6 spoke with one mom who saw her 15-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter on video.

A woman who asked only to be identified as Kizzy told FOX6 her story. "I was just watching the news and I seen a picture of my son. I kind of rewinded it a couple of times to make sure that was him. Then I went on the website, because there were more pictures and that's when I seen my daughter on there."

FOX6 repeatedly aired surveillance video of the looting incident at a BP gas station in Milwaukee's Riverwest community. Many teens in that video may have continued on to rob several people a few blocks away.

Stealing chips was enough for Kizzy. "It was kind of heartbreaking to see that, but I knew I would have to bring them to the police station in the morning," she said, "What kind of kids are being raised? I'm thinking that, I'm watching it and then I see my son. I'm like something's got to be done."

Kizzy said when her kids got back from Summerfest she confronted them about what she saw. At first her son denied it, but then confessed. "I slept on it then I woke up this morning and we talked about it and I said this is the decision I made."

Kizzy brought her two children to police district five and turned them in. "I have provided a stable loving home and it's disappointing to see my children on the television and I advise any parent, if you're raising you children to go into the right direction come forward, because it's going to continue to happen. I've seen it with other family members, they get away with it once they'll do it again."

Kizzy recognized another kid on the video and is trying to reach his parents. FOX6 posted still photos of the people involved in this looting incident.

Police release still photos of the looting asking for community help...