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You shouldn't have to make a decision between your safety
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2005 AN OPINIONATED VIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENING & WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING!
~ CHRONOLOGICAL POSTINGS - NEWEST INFO AT THE TOP ~
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11/15/05 CITY HALL MEETING ABOUT CHROMIUM
On November 15, 2005 a meeting was held at Chicago's City Hall to discuss neighborhood issues concerning the Chromium Nightclub. The meeting was initiated by Citizen Complaint Forms submitted by area businesses and residents who cited problems they've encountered regarding Chromium. (see #2 on the "WHAT CAN WE DO?" page, for more info)
In attendance from the 12th District Police Department were Commander Sodini, Lieutenant Susan Moss and Officers Eduardo Nodal & Joseph Corbett. Representatives from the West Loop Community Organization, Randolph/Fulton Market Association as well as several local business owners, employees and residents were also present.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. Scott Bruner, Director of the Department of Business Affairs & Licensing, Local Liquor Control Commission, to provide an opportunity for all concerned to voice their opinions and perspective. Mr. Bruner showed excerpts from videotape documenting past incidents recorded on the street, directly in front of Chromium. After hearing from those who wanted to make statements, Mr. Bruner provided recommendations to Mr. Percy "Tony" Perez, Chromium's Manager and his wife, Jehad Shehade, Chromium's Owner.
Mr. Bruner also asked two successful club owners, present at the meeting, to offer their insight and suggestions. In summary, Mr. Bruner eloquently spoke of his strategies for bringing about changes, and also suggested it would be beneficial to have Chromium's and Reunion's management meet with him conjointly, as the clubs are adjacent and share some of the same responsibilities.
It was determined that all those involved return for a follow-up meeting on January 10, 2006.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
We detected some inconsistencies in statements made during the meeting. As Oscar Wilde noted, however, "The truth is rarely pure,
and never simple". Following are some guidelines that we hope will make the truth a little easier to discern:
* Regarding nightclub patrons who were videotaped leaving Chromium with open bottles of beer, Tony Perez, Chromium's manager,
suggested the bottles were actually WATER.
BEVERAGE CLARIFICATION
* Regarding Mr. Perez's statement that Chromium had been closed the previous SIX Friday nights.
HISTORY CLARIFICATION
* A local business spokesperson also refuted Mr. Perez's statement that Chromium was closed the last SIX Friday nights
when they pointed out Chromium hosted a Frankie J. Concert on 11/11/05, the PREVIOUS Friday night. Mr. Perez conceded
that it was an oversight because the concert was mainly for the "girls".
GENDER CLARIFICATION
* Regarding discussion concerning Chromium's clientele: In a 8/12/05 letter addressed to the neighboring community, Jehad Shehade,
Chromium's owner and Tony Perez's wife, wrote: "... For the improved safety of our patrons, staff and neighbors we have decided to change Chromium Night Club's minimum
age limit so we may have more control over our clientele and generate a more mature crowd. The age limit for entry on Saturdays
has been changed from 21 years old to 23 years old. ..."
MATH CLARIFICATION
and one final thought... innocent young children are not props.
9/22/05
"As a former Club Manager, I just would like to know YOUR reason for having such a web site? 10 years ago there wasn't nothing over there, just smelly meat packing companies that stink up the place with Bleach and Blood day in and day out. Now, theres a few night Clubs over there that serves to Black's and Latinos ( open legally) along with a hundred or so Job's they give combined.
As I look over and over again at the web site, it seems that you concentrate more on Chromium Night Club than any other club yet I wonder why..? What is your reason for doing so? Do you have a Grudge against the owner? Maybe you don't like the fact that Chromium caters to a mostly Black and Latino crowd, and by you being who you are, you fell as if there bringing a Criminal Element to your neighborhood for whatever reason's that comes to your mind?
How long have you been living there? Can't be over 10 years and if so i'm sure you remember the Pimps and Prostitutes that walk the streets and still is. I wonder if you have pictures of them..?
I don't think that it's fair for you to take pictures of a club on a monday night ( when it's closed ) of the garbage and other debris on the street when it could been put there by anyone. If you have such an abundance of pictures, then why didn't you take any of the people who thru the garbage down in the first place?!?!
There are Job's at stake! Every since Condo's and livable Lofts been built over there, it seems as the Majority don't want any part of the Minority over there. It's a shame that it has to be like this since some people would like to find any reason what so ever and close an establishment that is doing there VERY BEST to keep the peace along with picking up the trash every night. I know, i'm there every other week as a paying guest and I see them doing so when they closed. Tell me, if Chromium closed down would YOU find there Employees work, or could they come work for you?
I've talk to several patrons that was there over the weekend. There was a fight (big) outside the club, but the first fight started from patrons of Club Reunion. And also, Security ( Chromium ) along with the Police was there trying to break it up, putting there own lifes in danger side by side with the Police. Even though I think that what your doing is applaudable, wouldn't it be more productive for a Community to come together than segregate a few for there own personal gain?
Everytme I visit your website it only brings up more questions that I wish could be answered. I'm still trying to figure out why would someone even come up with such just to justify reasons only in the end to destroy a establishment. Please give me your insight for reasonings, I would like to understand more on the dilemmas that you all face along with a positive conclusion to our e-mail correspondence."
~Patrick Hatley
EDITOR'S NOTE: Patrick,
I appreciate your letter as you've raised several important issues that should be addressed.
Following each of your questions, however, you've speculated on answers, perhaps based on your personal experience.
I can't speak to issues you encountered as Manager at the former Polly Esthers nightclub since I've no knowledge of
its history or background. And just as you probably wouldn't appreciate my making assumptions about you, I'd ask the
same consideration by not making assumptions about me. I'm more than willing to explain my motivation, so let's start
from the beginning of your letter.
You asked, "I just would like to know YOUR reason for having such a web site?"
Good question...Initially, lakeandhalsted.com was never intended to be a "website". On 8/28/05 I wrote a letter to
City Officials voicing neighborhood concerns and wanted to supplement the letter with several color photos. The most
expedient and economical method was placing the photos on-line, for the cost of a $4.95 domain name, which was forwarded
to a free Geocities homepage. After my letter letter was forwarded several times, I began receiving calls and letters with
comments and questions from others who had similar concerns. To exchange information, I added the "What can we do?" page
and the original photo documentation expanded into the "website" as you see it today. Once the videotapes were added and
more people were accessing the site, the free homepage couldn't handle the data transfer required. This past weekend it
was upgraded to a "real" web host for a whopping cost of $11.95.
You asked why it seems I "concentrate more on Chromium Night Club than any other club".
That's a VERY good question...I'm located in the immediate vicinity of both Chromium and Reunion and unfortunately
have a front row seat to the nightly incidents outside both clubs. There are more photos of Chromium for the simple fact
that Chromium patrons have been responsible for the fighting. I've not excluded any photos of Reunion fights because,
till lately, there weren't any. You'll find the two recent Reunion fights are represented on the website as well.
I've no interest in founding any sort of anti-nightclub movement. What occurs at other clubs along Lake Street and elsewhere
is not my concern and a matter for the local residents near those clubs to address if they believe there are unresolved problems.
My goals are basic:
- I'd like to be able to sleep through the night and not be awakened by ambulances, police car sirens, people screaming and
calling for help during fights or the Police entering my building though vandalized storefront windows.
- I'd like to be able to open my front door and not have to wash down the smell of urine collected during the previous night.
- I'd like to not have to scrub human blood off my front sidewalk.
- I'd like to not have graffiti covering the side of my building and etched into my front door glass.
- I'd like to not have to spend every weekend morning sweeping broken glass from my driveway and parking lot so my dog won't cut his paws.
- I'd like to not have bullet holes in my front windows.
- But more than anything, I'd like to feel safe again.
You asked "How long have you been living there? Can't be over 10 years..."
Actually, I've lived and worked here THIRTEEN years...long before any "Condo's and livable Lofts", Dominick's,
Starbucks... and before the nightclubs. So yes, I do remember the "Pimps and Prostitutes" and frankly, I felt much safer then.
You stated "I don't think that it's fair for you to take pictures of a club on a monday night ( when it's closed ) of the
garbage and other debris on the street when it could been put there by anyone."
I couldn't agree more. That's why you'll notice all photos with street trash on the "Neighborhood" page (with one exception),
were taken early Saturday or Sunday morning after accumulating from the nightclubs the previous night. The street trash problem,
however, is only a supplementary transgression. As for your witnessing Chromium "picking up the trash every night",
this has been a very recent metamorphoses prompted by the Department of Streets and Sanitation earlier this month. While this
newfound zeal may not be completely voluntary, I appreciate both Chromium's and Reunion's current diligence and hope it continues.
Of all your comments, Patrick, I find most distressing your innuendos suggesting any of this involves someone's ethnicity.
And I must say that I find your comment correlating "Black and Latino crowd" with "bringing a Criminal Element to your neighborhood" particularly offensive, as should anyone of ANY ethnicity. You also wrote that "the Majority don't want any part of the Minority over there " and I'm not even sure what the heck that means. There's no "majority" of anyone or anything in this neighborhood and that's one of the qualities that attracted me here over 13 years ago. MY neighborhood accepts you as you are.
You can walk down the street and step over forklifts, skirt around joggers, get the best gyros in the city, all to the sound of
the green line train whizzing overhead. It's a melting pot rich with diversity and a spirit all its own. You mentioned the
"smelly meat packing companies" yet they're ambrosial to me. From the fish market to the chocolate factory, the aromas
are as diverse as the neighborhood and its habitants. And if you haven't figured it out by now, I love this neighborhood and all
its energy.
Yes, the West Loop is evolving, as most neighborhoods inevitably do. And change often brings about conflict and disputes.
While I can't address how any "Condo's and livable Lofts" are, or will be, affecting any preexisting businesses,
undoubtedly there will be conflicts of interest. But for now, there are no half million-dollar condos in this immediate area.
When Chromium first arrived they were accepted into the neighborhood just as I, with the only expectation that we be good neighbors.
When you suggest "it be more productive for a Community to come together", you should know that the community HAS come together;
residents, business owners and those "smelly meat packing companies". There are no "new condo owners" among us and all of
the businesses have been here much longer than myself. We are Chromium's neighbors. And as a neighbor, Chromium is, and has been,
behaving badly...disrespectful of its surroundings and most consequentially, jeopardizing citizen's safety. I can't imagine any
decent person witnessing young people, including girls, routinely being beaten and kicked in the street and NOT attempting to do
something about it.
You write that you spoke with "several patrons that was there over the weekend". I'm sorry, but it appears the information
you received was not completely accurate. There has been a great deal of false information circulating about what is actually happening,
which is why I started videotaping the occurrences. The website video clips must be kept relatively small to download, but the unedited
full length tapes, all turned over to the 12th District Police Department, provide the details. The videotapes don't lie.
- There is no documented fighting between CHROMIUM and REUNION patrons, nor documented fights between either CHROMIUM or REUNION
patrons and patrons of OTHER area nightclubs.
- All of the CHROMIUM fights have been among CHROMIUM patrons. Besides random fights on Fridays and weeknights, fighting has occurred
most every Sunday morning and recently multiple fights often occur.
- Until 2 weeks ago, there were no documented fights at REUNION. Unfortunately there have been two recent fights, occurring the past
two Saturday mornings after Friday night's closing.
Regarding this past Sunday morning's fights at Chromium's closing, you wrote, " Security ( Chromium ) along with the Police was
there trying to break it up, putting there own lifes in danger side by side with the Police."
We don't want to see anyone, either the Chicago Police or Chromium's security "putting there own lifes in danger".
The situation needs to be aggressively managed so violence doesn't have a chance to start. Several City Offices, and particularly
the 12th Police District's Commander Sodini, have been attempting to work with Chromium's management to show them what needs to be
done to correct the problems. The 12th District has assigned extra Patrol Officers to the area and stationed Tactical Officers
directly in front of the nightclub. Squad cars have been assigned to help reroute traffic when the Lake Street clubs are closing.
In an August 30th meeting at Commander Sodini's office with Chromium's management and neighborhood representatives, Chromium was
given a firm warning and told, among other things, to have enough TRAINED security on hand to prevent the fighting from occurring. Chromium was counseled as to how they should organize their security force and how the building should be illuminated at night. They are only being asked to do what they should have been doing voluntarily all along.
Prior to the August 30th meeting, the videotaped documentation reveals Chromium's staff did nothing to deter the fighting, referee
the fighting or even assist those who'd been injured. When three consecutive fights broke out among Chromium patrons this past Sunday
morning, Chromium's security staff made a valiant attempt to subdue the fighting, although they appear insufficiently trained and
severely understaffed. They've been put in an unconscionably position, tossed into the arena to contend with inexcusable conditions
created by their employer who's allowed things to get out of control. Shame on Chromium's management for jeopardizing the welfare of
their own employees!
And finally you asked " ...if Chromium closed down would YOU find there Employees work, or could they come work for you?"
I don't know how you can justify allowing people to be violently beaten, punched, kicked and have their tires slashed to keep others
employed. Chromium's management, and no one else, shoulders the responsibility for the future of its employees. Chromium has been
given repeat warnings by the Police Department and various City Officials for almost TWO YEARS. Their employees might question why
their employers have failed to comply. I've grown weary of hearing Chromium's management trying to assume the "victim" role and blame
everyone else for their problems when they've had more than enough opportunities and assistance to correct them.
If there were no problems there'd be no website. If you were to film a robbery and the criminal was apprehended because of this,
would you expect to be criticized and questioned as to "why" you photographed the crime? No one is sneaking around corners or
digging through someone's garbage to get information. This website is only documenting what is actually happening on the public
street directly in front of the two nightclubs. If Chromium is embarrassed because of the photos and videos, it's obvious they
know this behavior is unacceptable...and yet it not only continued, it flourished. You shouldn't be outraged by the website, you should be outraged by what it portrays. In your writings, Patrick, you've never mentioned or so much as acknowledge the images depicting rampant violence. The primary issue here is public safety.
If you stop and think about it for a moment, I believe you'll find you've answered your own question when you wrote "I'm still
trying to figure out why would someone even come up with such just to justify reasons only in the end to destroy a establishment."
By your statement, you've implied that viewing the website photos and videos may provide reasons to "destroy a establishment."
You may be correct, but you're actually more judgmental of Chromium than I. Nowhere on this site is it implied or suggested what the
authorities should do to correct the situation. That's not my responsibility. Chromium's future is not in my hands, and never has been.
This website merely documents the problems. Chromium's neighbors have collectively expressed the same objective; that Chromium have
the integrity to deal with its own problems...and become a good neighbor. If Chromium remains indifferent, the responsibility for
disciplining the nightclub, or any other nightclub, is up to the City Officials.
This website is simply holding up a mirror so others can see what is happening. If either Chromium or Reunion doesn't like what
they see in the mirror, it's up to them to change what is being reflected.
9/18/05;
SUNDAY, 3:00 AM
Comments videotaped after THREE fights at Chromium's closing
JEFF; Promoter (Be sure to turn up your computer's sound!)
8/30/05
"Thank you so much for this incredible documentation. After a break-in Saturday night (where they drove a car through my front doors!), one officer said that 22 rounds had been fired on Lake Street, near the clubs, last week.
We have all known for a long time that the expansion of these clubs has got to stop. Hopefully your commitment to showing the true nature of these clubs
will be the catalyst we have needed. Thank you again."
~ INA PINKNEY; Chef/Owner, INA'S, 1235 West Randolph Street
8/30/05
"As the president of the Halsted Hubbard Condo Assn. (814-822 W. Hubbard & Green St.), we are only too well aware of this sort of activity from club-goers at Red No Five, the 5AM night club next door. Although I was out of town last weekend, upon my return yesterday morning, I was informed of a fight on Green St. while I was away that involved baseball bats and bricks.
About a month ago there was a carjacking on Hubbard St. just west of us where 11 shots were fired, miraculously nobody was hurt! I'm not sure just what it will take to wake the city up to the kind of people that these clubs are attracting, maybe another E2 disaster. You are certainly helping the cause with your actions! You have our gratitude!"
~ PETER; President of the Halsted Hubbard Condo Assn.
8/22/05
"814-822 West Hubbard Street
Chicago, IL 60622
Alderman Burnett:
City of Chicago Liquor Control Commission:
Chicago Police Department:
Office of the Mayor:
The Halsted Hubbard Condominium Association would like to file a formal complaint against the Red No. 5 nightclub (440 N. Halsted St., Chicago). For the past three years the residents in our building and other surrounding condominium buildings have dealt with property damage, litter, lude conduct, and noise disturbances. Several of our residents have had to call 911 because of late night disturbances, mostly fights, which spill out of Red No. 5. Residents have even moved from our building as a result of the nightclub. We have contacted nightclub management several times to complain about their security, but we are often ignored. As a result of the Red No. 5 nightclub, our residences have had to deal specifically with:
· Nightclub patrons having sex in the alley · Nightclub patrons urinating and vomiting on our sidewalks and in our landscaping · Several police dispatches to the establishment and immediate area · Property damage - graffiti, broken tree branches, removal of landscaping bricks · Noise disturbance in the form of bass music emanating from the nightclub · Noise disturbances at 2AM, 3AM, 4AM - whenever the bar closes · Fighting in the alley and the streets · Increase in trash from patrons who drink on their way to and from the nightclub · Increase in trash from fliers placed on cars for nightclub events · Increase in trash from the nightclub not closing their dumpsters
We would like the Alderman's office and the Liquor Control Commission to obtain a record of police dispatches to the nightclub and the immediate area for the past three years. Your offices will find several instances similar to last night's (8/26/05 2AM), where residents called 911 because of approximately 40 nightclub patrons fighting at the corner of Hubbard/Green, some with baseball bats, others throwing bricks obtained from our landscaping. The voting citizens of your district that share the area with Red No. 5 have had enough. We want the Red No. 5 nightclub shutdown immediately.
We are aware of the financial and political connections of the owners of Red No. 5, including the events that the nightclub has hosted for politicians and the Chicago Police Department. We understand that this is part of the nightclub's public relations, and they have that right. However, we are tax-paying citizens that respect and support our community. It is our belief that the Red No. 5 nightclub is the next E2, where 21 patrons lost their lives. We plead with you to act on this complaint before the City of Chicago is implicated in a costly lawsuit. Any lawsuits that are filed against the Red No. 5 nightclub, our residents would be more than happy to appear as plaintiffs to implicate both the nightclub and the City of Chicago for reckless endangerment and negligence. This bar should have already been shut down as a result of the several 911 calls and police dispatches over the past three years.
Please direct us if you need any assistance in revoking the Red No. 5 liquor license. We would be more than happy to distribute a petition. However, we feel that the police activity associated with this nightclub should be enough to warrant a suspension of their license.
Respectfully,
The voting and tax-paying citizens of Halsted Hubbard Condo Association"
