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Young and restlessly blogging
For the past nine months, residents of Avondale and Logan Square have been reading about crime in their ’hoods as it happens: a gang disturbance on Drake Avenue at 12:33am, a person with a gun at 2400 North Monticello Avenue at 4:37pm. There’s even some news of the weird, like a report at 4:53pm of a drunk stumbling down Milwaukee Avenue asking passersby to pay $5 to see him eat a live goldfish.
It’s all thanks to a dauntless 16-year-old from Avondale known only as Timmy to the 300 or so devotees of his blog, Avondale and Logan Square Crime Blotter. Seven days a week, Timmy sits by a store-bought police scanner and live-blogs emergency calls—all from the confines of his bedroom in the house where he has lived all his life with his mother and 18-year-old sister.
In the summer, when school’s out, he does this for 15 hours a day, signing on at 9am with his trademark Ed McMahon–esque “Here’s crime for today” and stopping at midnight so he can sleep. Rarely do five minutes go by without a new post. The only thing that breaks Timmy away from the buzz and chatter of the police scanner is his mom’s call of “Dinner’s ready!” “My mom doesn’t let us eat in the rooms here, so I have to eat in the kitchen,” he says. “The whole time, I’m wondering what I’m missing.”
So what drives a 16-year-old boy to dedicate his life not to girls and a car but to a crime blotter? Timmy’s mom, Lisa, says his autism plays a part in the obsession. Repetitive, solitary behavior is, after all, a characteristic of the neurological disorder. “His school tells me if he finds interest in something, let him do it,” she says. “He used to like movies and stuff like that. He played video games. He doesn’t do stuff like that anymore. He’s constantly listening to [the police scanner].”
But frequent readers know Timmy is motivated by a sense of civic duty, a feeling that his blog is making a difference, however small. “Believe it or not, I’m concerned for the safety of all of you. You guys are my neighbors,” he wrote in a July post after reporting a stabbing. “I do it out of concern for all of you. Aldermen like Reboyras or Colon won’t address it, so someone has to, and I chose to.”
Raw information alone, like the kind on Avondale and Logan Square Crime Blotter, isn’t enough to prevent crime. Still, Timmy says, “if people take the information seriously and let the police and the alderman know what they think about it, they’re empowered.”
Timmy’s fans include the author of the blog the Broken Heart of Rogers Park, Craig Gerhardt (whom Timmy calls his “blog mentor”), and Brad Flora, founder of local news aggregator the Windy Citizen, which hosts Timmy’s blog. Originally, Timmy published via Blogger. But in June, when Timmy announced he would have to cease blogging due to lack of family funds for Internet access, Flora (alongside other readers) stepped up. “I think Timmy is the real deal,” Flora says. “Writing that blog is daunting, and [Timmy] is unflappable in his pursuit.”
With the summer coming to a close and classes starting in two weeks, Timmy says he feels some sadness about cutting down his blog time. During the school year, he’ll balance sophomore-level homework with four hours of blogging per day—3:30 to 7:30pm. “It’s something I need to do,” he says. “That’s how I feel.”
Time Out Chicago / Issue 235 : Aug 27–Sep 2, 2009
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That's the same thing my mom said. Thanks for the offer :), but I have too many accounts as it is.
Timmy needs a twitter account, start tweeting this stuff in real time! Love it.
the police scanner is public domain...can't imagine any copyright issues.
Wait a minute ... when the newspapers report shootings and the like, aren't they listening to scanners, too? Yes, they are. So what's wrong with a blogger doing almost the same thing they are?
There's also the online scanners. So there's another reason why I don't have to do this blog anymore.
So to my readers, I suggest you buy a scanner, or just accept the fact there's crime in Avondale/Logan Square. We went long enough without any information, so why is it going to be any different when I'm finished blogging? And, there's always the crime incidents map thing on the CPD website. It only shows reported crimes completed with a police report, though, so you won't know the non-reported crimes unless you buy a scanner.
j, I don't give out any personal information on the blog, like people's names when they call, or their numbers, or their apartments, etc. That's their personal info and I'm not messing around with that. But anyway, this is why I'm done with the blog beginning next Saturday. I'm not wasting my time on it anymore.
Actually, Anonymous brings up a good point. The fact that the information *should* be available and nobody *told* you it was wrong doesn't matter. I'm sure you are performing a great community service with your work, but if there is an instance of personal benefit - paid ads next to the blog content, for instance - it never hurts to be familiar with the law.
Timmy, this is a really impressive tool you've developed, and I really admire your "can do" attitude and community spirit. I hope you can find other people to help with it. Have you ever used the MCIC site? http://info.mcfol.org/web/index.aspx That has great Chicago information and they might know people who might be interested.
Timmy, your blog is awesome. You're doing a public service for those of us who are invested in Logan Square. Don't listen to people who post all these obtuse criticisms. The bottom line is, I want to know what the heck is going on in my neighborhood, period, and you do this for us. We don't hear all this stuff at the CAPS meetings. I repeat: THANK YOU HONEY and I love your little comments you make on your posts! xxoo Keep it up!
liza g, I do need help with the blog. I was hoping to have one person mointor the 14th district for me, another person do 17th, and two others to fill in for me (well, one person to take over basically, because I don't really feel like doing the blog anymore, due to my age though). I like doing the blog and all, but I feel it's taking away all of my time. Now, how do we get more people (residents, not media. One interview is enough for me) aware of the blog?
timmy, maybe the blog could be a collaborative effort if you ever feel like you need help? i think if more people in logan/avondale knew about it, you'd have even more support. when i first stumbled across your blog i found it relieving to know others care about our community and crime prevention. it didn't make me more frightened. everyone should know what's going on-- not be blissfuly in denial. your blog may even motivate witnesses who heard or saw something to go to police! thanks!!
(no thuggish activity, of course =D). I want to be able to hang out with my friends, go shopping, etc. So, if any of you officals are reading, do us a favor and create a page with all police calls so people don't have to do these blogs.
Amy, thanks for the support :). You're right, I shouldn't have to listen to this anonymous person [why don't you come out and tell us your name?], but when FCC was mentioned, I didn't want to get into trouble for doing something that, yes, should be available to the public anyway. I don't understand why these calls can't be released to the public by our officals. I would be all for the blog if I were older and everything, but I'm 16. I feel I should be doing teenage stuff (like I said, ...)
Mike, I don't think Logan Square is a "crime infested dump". Sure, it's got it's issues, but there are MUCH worser neighborhoods in this city. Like Rogers Park, Uptown, Englewood, etc.
I love your blog Timmy! I read it every day and share it with my friends. I live in the neighborhood and am really interested in what's happening. Please don't stop if it's what you want to do. If you are sick of it, of course we all will respect that. Don't listen to anonymous! This should be free public information! Thanks!
Countless reasons why Logan Square remains a crime infested dump.
Oh, and anonymous? Why don't you go after the other blogs that publish this kind of stuff too? I'm certainly not the only one who does this kind of thing in this city.
Lastly, I'm just about ready to quit this blog or to hand it over to someone else anyway. What I said before about our elected officals not informing (and I chose to) is true, but I'm doing this blog to see the calls in the area. Truth be told, I'd be happy to hand the blog over. After all, this is kind of a burden for a 16 year old, don't you think? I want to be able to live my life again. I would still be worried about crime and everything, but not blogging about it would be better for me.
CONTINUATION ... ... to this blog. After all, I'm a teenager. Shouldn't I be doing what our teens are doing (no, not the thug ones, of course)? I think so. Third, if these "rules" were in effect, why is the scanner available to listen to on the internet? They wouldn't have put out there if they didn't want anybody listening. Four, the police should put ALL calls online somewhere. THEY should have the blotter. But, of course, officals are hiding this stuff from everyone. We've got a right to know.
Anonymous, first of all, you shouldn't be anonymous then stating these "rules". Why didn't you come out and tell us your name? Second, if these "rules" were in effect, why didn't anybody tell me this when I first started the blog? I could've saved myself from blogging at litterally all hours of the day doing a job for what our elected officals should be doing. I could have better things to do, and maybe I should start doing those things. After all, I'm 16. I shouldn't have to devote my life ...
Sorry, my previous Google Books link appears to not work. But you can find the same text here: http://library.findlaw.com/1996/Mar/7/130663.html
What are the FCC rules regarding publishing what you hear on a police scanner, as outlined in FCC's Section 705? "...if you listen to radio transmissions on your scanner, such as emergency service reports, you are not in violation of Section 705. However, a violation of Section 705 would occur if you divulge or publish what you hear or use it for your own or someone else's benefit." Desktop encyclopedia of telecommunications: http://books.google.com/books?id=tUypCbNAXQUC&pg=PA874&lpg=PA874&dq=fcc+s
Hi Timmy! I don't like Crime shows on TV either, but I know lots of other people do :)
You are amazing kid.
Thanks, Jamaal :). Everyone, this is a close friend of mine. Rimu, I'm sorry you feel that way. However, I'm not trying to make people scared. I'm not about that. I'm just here to inform everyone on what the aldermen in the wards here fail to do. I am also somewhat here to entertain as well. But, it's fine if you feel that way.
You Rock, Timmy!
It's nice that he's found something that inspires him. But personally, the last thing I need is one more source of news about horrible stuff that just increases the level of unreasonably fear people have of one another.
Timmy is awesome, I share this with everyone I know.
Timmy's blog offers more vivid coverage of those neighborhoods than any of the mainstream press in Chicago. He's tapping into a rich source of information and sharing it in a way that the average Joe can follow along. We're pretty darn proud to be publishing his blog and helping him get his stuff out there.
Thank you Time Out Magazine for featuring Timmy. Who know's, one day he may be writing a column for you?