In the week following the June 29 Chicago Pride Parade, which over a million people watched and took part in, duel petitions—one demanding the parade be moved to downtown, the other asking that it stay in place in Lake View—appeared online.
The first petition, posted at chn.ge/1mwLo8Q, petitions Pride Parade organizer Richard Pfeiffer to move the parade to downtown. As of the morning of July 6, it had 69 signatures.
"Chicago takes downtown safety seriously with tourists, attractions and keeping up with appearances...this could only work in our favor with the amount of people that attend," according to the petition, which was posted by Curtis Bumgarner. "Emergency escape routes would be better utilized, more Police Officers can be dispatched, etc. What the gay community needs to understand is we have been fighting for equality, inclusiveness and integration. Now that we clearly have it in Chicago-—why not SHARE?"
The petition acknowledges that many small business owners in Lake View might be apprehensive about such a change: "But having a parade in another location will not keep people from coming to Boystown afterwards … I feel this could be good for those businesses as it would allow owners to create a better atmosphere and allow for more safety precautions, not to mention there's still Pride Fest, which has grown in popularity."
The opposing petition, posted at chn.ge/1qL1n50, was initiated by the organization Uptown Uprising, and had 425 signatures as of the morning of July 6.
"The Chicago Pride Parade has had vice and noise for decades," the petition said. "It still brings in 1 million people and millions more in revenue to local neighborhood businesses. However, NIMBY [not in my backyard] residents have put their biases above all reason and wish to cancel the Pride Parade in our neighborhoods. This is a hindrance on small local businesses and really shows a NIMBY attitude towards marginalized groups that needs to be put to a halt."
Ald. Tom Tunney told WBBM-Radio that "he is not afraid" to consider a change of venue for the Chicago Pride Parade.
"We hear from our residents that they don't feel safe in their neighborhood," said Tunney on the June 30 broadcast. He added, "If there is an option to go downtown, will that make the conduct of the fans more reasonable? I'm not afraid to look at it."
On July 1, Tunney told Windy City Times, that "I'm not saying 'yes' and I'm not saying 'no,'" about a potential change of venue.
At the July 2 CAPS meeting for the 19th Police District, some audience members described serious problems throughout the neighborhood at the time of the parade. Craig Nolden, who lives near Roscoe and Halsted, said the area around his home was a mess by time Sunday's festivities were over.
"I don't think the parade is being a good neighbor … My neighborhood is trashed," Nolden said, adding that the most serious problems were not during the parade itself but during "the mayhem that goes on afterwards." He added that he likely was putting his home up for sale, which another woman said she likely would do as well. Nolden and others called on Tunney, who was at the meeting, to survey area residents about the parade and accused him of being too non-committal.
"I think you're going to get an earful on the subject," Nolden said.
Tunney answered that he and other city officials have a wrap-up meeting about Pride two or three weeks after the parade, and added, "I'm not hedging or being politically correct. The decision is not made by me unilaterally."
He further encouraged participants to email his office with feedback. "One year ago we sat here and had this same discussion. …There were many more post-parade resources than ever before [this year]."
Police officials at the meeting said that there were about 45 arrests made in the area between 5 a.m. June 29-5 a.m. June 30.
Tressa Feher, chief of staff for Ald. James Cappleman, said July 1 that Cappleman would have to see a plan of any proposed changes before commenting.
Sidetrack owner Art Johnston was firm that the parade should stay in Lake View, adding that a shift in venue would ultimately be "the end of the parade." He said that the parade plays a critical role in the life of the neighborhood, and that "geography is important" for it to retain its character.
"Anytime you get a number of people together, there will be some problems," Johnston added. "But the city has done an excellent job, and the organizers, and the 44th and 46th ward aldermen have as well. We have this issue every year, and I don't ever hear any real compelling reasons that it should be moved."
One incident that sparked widespread attention was the vandalism of a CPD squad car at Halsted and Broadway on Sunday afternoon. One man involved in the episode, Dionte Rice, 19, of the 11600 block of South Church Street, was charged with criminal damage to property June 30. He was ordered held on $25,000 bail by a Cook County judge, DNAInfo reported. Another woman, Petronial Donaldson, 28, was also charged June 30 for aggravated battery against a police officer during the parade. She was released on her own recognizance.
By Matt Simonette
In the week following the June 29 Chicago Pride Parade, which over a million people watched and took part in, duel petitions—one demanding the parade be moved to downtown, the other asking that it stay in place in Lake View—appeared online.
The first petition, posted at chn.ge/1mwLo8Q, petitions Pride Parade organizer Richard Pfeiffer to move the parade to downtown. As of the morning of July 6, it had 69 signatures.
"Chicago takes downtown safety seriously with tourists, attractions and keeping up with appearances...this could only work in our favor with the amount of people that attend," according to the petition, which was posted by Curtis Bumgarner. "Emergency escape routes would be better utilized, more Police Officers can be dispatched, etc. What the gay community needs to understand is we have been fighting for equality, inclusiveness and integration. Now that we clearly have it in Chicago-—why not SHARE?"
The petition acknowledges that many small business owners in Lake View might be apprehensive about such a change: "But having a parade in another location will not keep people from coming to Boystown afterwards … I feel this could be good for those businesses as it would allow owners to create a better atmosphere and allow for more safety precautions, not to mention there's still Pride Fest, which has grown in popularity."
The opposing petition, posted at chn.ge/1qL1n50, was initiated by the organization Uptown Uprising, and had 425 signatures as of the morning of July 6.
"The Chicago Pride Parade has had vice and noise for decades," the petition said. "It still brings in 1 million people and millions more in revenue to local neighborhood businesses. However, NIMBY [not in my backyard] residents have put their biases above all reason and wish to cancel the Pride Parade in our neighborhoods. This is a hindrance on small local businesses and really shows a NIMBY attitude towards marginalized groups that needs to be put to a halt."
Ald. Tom Tunney told WBBM-Radio that "he is not afraid" to consider a change of venue for the Chicago Pride Parade.
"We hear from our residents that they don't feel safe in their neighborhood," said Tunney on the June 30 broadcast. He added, "If there is an option to go downtown, will that make the conduct of the fans more reasonable? I'm not afraid to look at it."
On July 1, Tunney told Windy City Times, that "I'm not saying 'yes' and I'm not saying 'no,'" about a potential change of venue.
At the July 2 CAPS meeting for the 19th Police District, some audience members described serious problems throughout the neighborhood at the time of the parade. Craig Nolden, who lives near Roscoe and Halsted, said the area around his home was a mess by time Sunday's festivities were over.
"I don't think the parade is being a good neighbor … My neighborhood is trashed," Nolden said, adding that the most serious problems were not during the parade itself but during "the mayhem that goes on afterwards." He added that he likely was putting his home up for sale, which another woman said she likely would do as well. Nolden and others called on Tunney, who was at the meeting, to survey area residents about the parade and accused him of being too non-committal.
"I think you're going to get an earful on the subject," Nolden said.
Tunney answered that he and other city officials have a wrap-up meeting about Pride two or three weeks after the parade, and added, "I'm not hedging or being politically correct. The decision is not made by me unilaterally."
He further encouraged participants to email his office with feedback. "One year ago we sat here and had this same discussion. …There were many more post-parade resources than ever before [this year]."
Police officials at the meeting said that there were about 45 arrests made in the area between 5 a.m. June 29-5 a.m. June 30.
Tressa Feher, chief of staff for Ald. James Cappleman, said July 1 that Cappleman would have to see a plan of any proposed changes before commenting.
Sidetrack owner Art Johnston was firm that the parade should stay in Lake View, adding that a shift in venue would ultimately be "the end of the parade." He said that the parade plays a critical role in the life of the neighborhood, and that "geography is important" for it to retain its character.
"Anytime you get a number of people together, there will be some problems," Johnston added. "But the city has done an excellent job, and the organizers, and the 44th and 46th ward aldermen have as well. We have this issue every year, and I don't ever hear any real compelling reasons that it should be moved."
One incident that sparked widespread attention was the vandalism of a CPD squad car at Halsted and Broadway on Sunday afternoon. One man involved in the episode, Dionte Rice, 19, of the 11600 block of South Church Street, was charged with criminal damage to property June 30. He was ordered held on $25,000 bail by a Cook County judge, DNAInfo reported. Another woman, Petronial Donaldson, 28, was also charged June 30 for aggravated battery against a police officer during the parade. She was released on her own recognizance.
