CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Before workers pressure washed the walls and sidewalks at the Clinton and Lake Streets viaduct in West Loop, the tents and belongings of the homeless individuals who lived there were tossed into garbage trucks and taken away by Chicago streets and sanitation crews.
“It was, at one time, a peaceful homeless encampment, but it’s now really become a magnet for a lot of drug dealing and criminal activity,” said local Ald. Bill Conway (34th).
Conway, who led Monday’s cleanup effort based on concerns from his constituents, said the people living under these viaducts are being offered services, treatment and housing — which he added should benefit everyone, including the surrounding community.
“We just, sadly, had a fatal shooting last week at Clinton and Lake,” Conway said. “We’ve had two other shootings nearby. We’ve had multiple fatal drug overdoses close by, multiple armed robberies at the convenience store, not to mention someone who was arrested with $60,000 worth of heroin and crack cocaine and a loaded gun and $1,200 last week.”
A man who had been living in one of the tents under the viaduct, who wished to remain anonymous, told WBBM that this power washing was just a power play.
“Show us that they can make us move when they want to: ‘Do this, do that,’” he said. “They don’t have s---, honestly, and it doesn’t matter. I can pop my tent up in 60 seconds. I don’t need nobody. Pop it up, and I can go anywhere I want.”
He was asked if he would return once the cleanup crews had gone.
“I might, just for s---- and giggles, just to show them that they can’t do s--- to me,” he said.
In addition to the city officials and workers, several community organizations were also on site to offer resources.
Herman Thomas, with the Salvation Army, came to the viaduct with a transport van after he and his partner received a crisis response call from the City.
“What we normally do: We bring them back to 10 S. Kedzie, where we are located, and they sit in a warming area until we find shelter,” he said.
He added that not all will choose to go with him.
“Some people, sometimes, they would gravitate to it, and then sometimes, they would just be stubborn,” he said. “They’re used to being out in the open, in the streets.”
Other community groups on hand included the West Loop-based Haymarket Center. Conway said more than 20 people who had been living here have already been taken to local shelters.
As for the response from his constituents, Conway said he has not received much blowback for the tent removals.
“Because I think people recognize that this is not some kind of peaceful homeless encampment, it’s really become something that’s much, much more dangerous than that — for them, as well as the people living around here,” he said.
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