Latest news with #SamanthaNugent
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Construction underway at Gompers Park amid ongoing safety concerns
CHICAGO (WGN) — Gompers Park has proven problematic for Northwest Side residents over the past several months. Planned construction is underway, but other issues are still presenting a problem. 'The residents of Mayfair have every right to feel upset,' Ald. Samantha Nugent said, whose ward encompasses Gompers Park. 'They are the last ones to be heard now on issues affecting them day to day As of early Monday evening, no tents appeared to be set up in Gompers Park, but that's due to a large construction project that was set into motion earlier in the day. On Monday morning, city crews arrived to clear any tents or encampments from where construction was set to begin on relining the park's lagoon and building an acorn-shaped play area. 'It's an acorn that they are going to make with a pliable wood. It allows children to have a lot of free play and use their imagination,' Nugent said. While no tents were set up in Gompers Park as of Monday evening, there were tents seen across Pulaski Road in Eugene Field Park. In a statement released to WGN News, the Chicago Park District said it will continue to collaborate with the City on finding amicable means to resettle tent inhabitants. 'Residents (as in, those who lived in the tent encampment) were asked to relocate to another area of the park by Sunday, May 11th to allow construction to begin Park District will continue to work with DFSS and other service organizations to connect residents with resources, including housing.' There have been previous efforts from the city to house people who set up camp in the park, which city officials have called actions taken as part of an 'Accelerated Moving Event' that began back in March. City agencies showed up and offered housing services to anyone who wanted them, but some of those living in the Gompers Park tent encampment refused, due to available shelters being located in other areas of Chicago. WGN News has documented the ongoing situation at Gompers Park, where tent encampments have been a source of frustration for those who live nearby. There have been reports of fires, drinking, drug-related incidents and even dog attacks in the park, causing safety concerns that the local athletic association cited as reasons to move youth baseball and softball games to other Chicago parks. Delay of Gompers Park homeless encampment removal prompts little league to move games from park 'We had 36 calls to the fire department within a 12-month period,' Nugent said. 'At one point, we had two fires within six days out of this encampment.' In California, Gov. Gavin Newsome has unveiled a blueprint for dealing with tent encampments, and while the encampments in Chicago are illegal in code, Nugent said she has yet to hear plans from the city on how to properly address them. 'The Chief Homelessness Officer is working on a plan to address homelessness? I have yet to see it,' Nugent said. More info: Tents still in place at Gompers Park weeks after moving event began The construction projects and updates at Gompers Park are set to last 3-4 months. Mayor Brandon Johnson's office and the Chicago Parks District have not responded to inquiries from WGN News on code enforcement at Chicago Parks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protest planned outside Chicago alderwoman's office over Gompers Park homeless encampment removal
The Brief Community members are holding a rally outside Ald. Samantha Nugent's office, calling for an end to what they describe as the "criminalization of homelessness." A long-standing homeless encampment at Gompers Park in the 39th Ward was cleared during a recent cold snap. Rally organizers say last week's "accelerated moving event" lacked the safety measures promised by the city. CHICAGO - Community leaders are set to gather outside the office of 39th Ward Alderwoman Samantha Nugent on Tuesday to protest what they call the "criminalization of homelessness" following the removal of a homeless encampment at Gompers Park. What we know The encampment, which had been in place for an extended period, was taken down during a brutal cold snap last month. Rally organizers claim the city's actions put vulnerable individuals at greater risk during the extreme weather. They also allege that an "accelerated moving event" held last week lacked the promised safety precautions, further endangering those displaced from the encampment. The backstory The homeless encampment at Gompers Park had been a point of contention among community members for months. Neighbors expressed concerns about safety issues, including reports of drug use, fires, and off-leash dog attacks. The Gompers Park Athletic Association also faced potential disruptions to youth baseball games and practices due to the encampment. What they're saying The Restore Gompers Park Coalition released a statement criticizing the protest. "The Restore Gompers Park Coalition has worked tirelessly for months to push for an Accelerated Moving Event; we are glad that 100 percent of AME participants are moving forward with the housing process, per the press release issued by the Mayor's Press Office on March 7. We have heard from numerous local residents who are happy to hear about this win-win solution for everyone. However, many in the local community have expressed their disdain for this protest today. Protesting the alderman's office does not help the unhoused. Spewing extreme rhetoric is a distraction and an affront to the efforts underway to provide housing and wraparound services to those in Gompers Park. We denounce the continued attempts to create chaos and disruption by this vocal minority of individuals." What's next The rally is expected to draw advocates, residents, and possibly city officials. Organizers say they are calling for more compassionate and safety-focused approaches to handling homeless encampments in Chicago. The Source The information from this article was provided by rally organizers and FOX 32 Chicago.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Protesters say Gompers Park unhoused were unjustly displaced
CHICAGO (WGN) — A small group of activists gathered Monday evening in protest outside a northwest side alderman's office, upset about the city's actions in moving people facing homelessness from Gompers Park. The members of the independent political organization 39th Ward Neighbors United say actions at the park are criminalizing the unhoused, while the city says it's helping dozens find a path to permanent housing. The protest follow last week's outreach effort called an 'Accelerated Moving Event,' which the city hails a success with 100 percent of participants continuing the optional process to find stable housing. While the demonstrators acknowledge the progress of the event, they say people prior to it were unjustly displaced. Members say they want affordable housing and emergency shelter space in the area. Until the solutions are ample, they say, public parks must remain free and available to all. Nearly 30 at Gompers Park homeless encampment enroll with housing providers Agencies dismantle smoke stacks, propane tanks at Gompers Park encampment The city and Ald. Samantha Nugent's (39th Ward) office both emphasize that no one was forced to leave the park during the AME. 'Protesting the alderman's office does not help the unhoused,' a statement from the group Restore Gompers Park said, in part. 'Spewing extreme rhetoric is a distraction and an affront to the efforts underway to provide housing and wraparound services to those in Gompers Park. We denounce the continued attempts to create chaos and disruption by this vocal minority of individuals.' For months, neighbors raised concerns about the growing encampment at the park on the 4200 block of West Foster Avenue, saying it creates an unsafe environment. Residents and officials say used needles, weapons and drug paraphernalia have been found. There have also been reports of alcohol use and fires, including two in six-day span last month. The fire department has been called to the park at least 36 times since January 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
'Accelerated Moving Event' unfolds at Gompers Park encampment, housing assistance offered
The Brief After months of community members asking for the city to intervene, an Accelerated Moving Event (AME) unfolded at Gompers Park. Many of the unhoused individuals living in tents accepted permanent housing on Wednesday. Safety concerns and disruptions to youth sports prompted calls for city intervention. CHICAGO - After months of debate, a long-standing homeless encampment in Gompers Park on Chicago's Northwest Side is in the process of coming down. Still, those living in tents will not be forced to leave, according to city officials. While tensions have run high over the issue, many of the individuals living in the encampment walked away with permanent housing on Wednesday. What we know The City of Chicago's Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) hosted an "Accelerated Moving Event" in partnership with All Chicago on Wednesday to quickly connect unhoused individuals with shelter and other services. The scheduled event helped speed up and fund the process of placing individuals into housing, allowing them to complete multiple complicated steps at once. They were brought to a nearby building where they met with housing case managers, selected apartments, and even chose furniture. "It's pretty much a one-stop-shop for housing and it's very comprehensive," said 39th Ward Alderman Samantha Nugent. "This has proven to be the most successful way to get the unhoused into housing and actually stay in housing and youth services. Also, I do support the restoration of the park, and I understand the concerns of our community." Since last year, residents have raised concern about safety, citing recent incidents involving an off-leash dog attacking community members, as well as indecent behavior and reports of drug paraphernalia and knives found in the park. The fire department has also responded to multiple fires at the encampment. "The fire department was called out roughly 35 times over the last year," Nugent said. Youth baseball games and practices, which were at risk of relocation due to the encampment, are now expected to return to the park. "Right now, things have been kind of quiet, and I think everyone is really hopeful that we are going to have games moved back here after things are back to normal," said Ryan Johnson, president of the Gompers Park Athletic Association. What's next Although many of the unhoused individuals have accepted services, tents remain in the park for now—as it could take between 30 to 90 days to move them into newly selected homes. As encampment members move into housing over the next several weeks, any abandoned property left behind will be removed during the next monthly park cleanup; however, city officials explain that the Accelerated Moving Event is not an encampment shutdown. "This isn't a closure, this isn't a sweep, but it is an opportunity for people to move out of housing and possibly, the park having less foot traffic," said Sendy Soto, Chief Homelessness Officer for the City of Chicago. "We would love to provide an opportunity where everyone can move into housing and receive the wraparound services but we don't have those resources, our partners don't have those resources, so until we can address the gap in availability of affordable housing or even the shelter beds we need, we cannot force people and we wouldn't be forcing people to leave a public space." City officials say they will continue working to restore the area while ensuring those in need receive ongoing support. In the coming months, the Chicago Park District is planning several projects at Gompers Park. According to Nugent, they include restoring the lagoon, building the Nature Play Space that was a winning Participatory Budget project from 2022, and resurfacing the basketball parking lot on Pulaski Avenue. Notices will be posted in advance of construction, and during that time those still living in tents will be asked to relocate to other areas.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Nearly 30 at Gompers Park homeless encampment register for city's offer for help
CHICAGO (WGN) — Nearly 30 people who'd been living in a homeless encampment at Gompers Park on the city's northwest side took advantage Wednesday of the city's effort to provide them a more stable environment. The effort — the city calls it an 'Accelerated Moving Event' — aims to persuade those living at the park on the 4200 block of West Foster Avenue to accept housing or shelter opportunities and provide them with support services. Living in the park, neighborhood residents and the local alderman say, has created an unsafe environment for everyone. Ald. Samantha Nugent (39th Ward) said the city has committed to a sustained effort to help those living in the encampment but also to address safety concerns among residents who've complained about finding weapons, knives, used needles and other drug paraphernalia. There are also concerns about alcohol use and fires in the park, with two February fires within six days. The Chicago Fire Department has been called to the park 36 times since January 2024. 'We're particularly excited about this opportunity,' Nugent told WGN. Smoke stacks, propane tanks removed at Gompers Park WGN Investigates: City, residents at odds over future of homeless encampments WGN Full Coverage: Homeless encampment at Gompers Park The encampment in the 42-acre park in recent months has grown in size, residents say, to the point where Little League teams can't use the nearby baseball and softball diamonds. 'We cannot play on that field in the current state with that encampment there,' said Ryan Johnson with the Gompers Park Athletic Association. Wednesday's massive outreach effort is not a closure of the encampment. Chief Homelessness Officer Sendy Soto said she's sympathetic to the surrounding community's concerns about the settlement and safety concerns but said crews can't order the residents to leave. 'They can continue to do what they're doing. We won't be enforcing anything. This is completely optional,' Soto said. The outreach effort was originally slated for late February but was delayed over a concern about federal funds, a fact Nugent referenced in an afternoon email to constituents. 'I know there is a lot of frustration about how long it took to get this AME,' she wrote. 'I share your frustration.' The city says it has moved about 3,000 people under the AME program since it started in 2020. Crews have been visiting Gompers Park since the fall to work with those staying at the encampment. Wednesday's action was the 35th time the city has taken volunteers from encampments and helped them find housing. Officials said they'll know Thursday how many of the Gompers Park residents accepted the city's housing offer. In a written statement, the Restore Gompers Park Coalition said it was 'hopeful these individuals will accept what is being offered to them so they can live in a warm and safe environment and receive assistance customized to their needs.' Gompers is not the only encampment location. Tents are visible at parks and open spaces throughout the city. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
