YSEALI PFP Day 33: City of North Chicago

22 May 2019

We walked to the Ogilvie Transportation Center and embarked on the Union Pacific North line (UP-N) train.

Train Conductor slots the Metra tickets in these sleeves after payment

While doing our pre-reading of the City of North Chicago, we happened to find a media advisory on our visit, titled "North Chicago to host future political leaders." We were flattered!

Arrival at Great Lakes Station

From the station, one could have a glimpse of the Naval Station Great Lakes, the home of the one and only boot camp of the US Navy, which meant that if you wanted to be in the Navy, you would definitely start of your training here.

We met up with Chief Lazaro Perez, Police Chief of North Chicago Police Department.

Our ride to the Police Department - an unmarked Police vehicle

Arrival at North Chicago City Hall 

Entrance to North Chicago Police Department

Placed our bags in the Police Chief room

Chief Perez then took us for a tour of the Police Department.

A useful reminder

We checked out the command centre where 911 phone calls are picked up. For cases involving fire/ambulance incidents, phone conversations could be broadcasted live to the Fire Department so that personnel could assess and shorten their response time.

Police officers are organised with the SEIU Local 73

Next, we checked out the Interview Room, where suspects get interrogated by Police officers. 

The door to the interview room

No one-way mirrors in the interview room as seen on Hollywood films. Police officers rely on their body cameras to record the interview.

Suspects can be chained to the black anchors on the wall if they display violent traits

Jail cell for juvenile. Adults and juveniles are jailed separately

One could be detained for 48 hours, prior to filing a charge

Holding area before one is taken to have their fingerprints printed and photographs taken

Police Chief showing us the breathalyser machine

Taking of photographs and fingerprints. Suspects no longer hold a card in front of them when they have their photographs taken since the numbers could be added digitally

Manual fingerprinting, should IT fails

Office space for Police officers to write their reports

Bureau of Identification

Next, we were showed some of the weapons that Police uses in their course of work.

Sniper rifle

Civilian version of M16

Glock pistol - Police in Singapore is switching their revolvers to Glock

A gun that could fire various types of projectiles, including tear gas

Meet the Villain

Police Officer Gary Grayer shared about the use of taser guns

The Taser gun

The Taser gun has two sets of lasers that help officers aim

Small slips of paper fired out together with the cables. These papers are unique to the cartridge and identifies the gun that fired it

Charlie and Charlie's Angels?

A photo with Officer Gary Grayer

Officer Grayer leading us to complete the tour of the Police Department

Lockers for those spending time in jail

An adult jail

Jail cells

Evidence Room

The Garage

Officer Gary Grayer is the only officer that rides the Police bike in the entire City of North Chicago!

Police vehicle. The back seats are plastic to prevent suspects from stuffing items into the seats; and for easy cleaning

Next, we visited the North Chicago Fire Department.

North Chicago Firefighters work 24-hour shifts, 7am - 7pm, with 2 days off after each shift. Upon activation, Firefighters respond to incidents occurring in their jurisdiction (i.e. City of North Chicago) within 5 minutes. They receive an average of 8 calls a day.

Incidents which require divers would be routed to the County Police.

We briefly discussed about the mental wellness support of firefighters who might come into contact with traumatic incidents, as well as the training that firefighters need to undertake. 

Besides attending to fires and medical rescues, firefighters also conduct outreach to the public at ward meetings and schools; and assist residents in the installation of fire detectors.

Dining area

Resting area

911 calls are broadcasted to the Fire Department so that firefighters could prepare the necessary equipment before moving out

Donning the Batallion Chief suit with the Batallion Chief

Group photo with North Chicago Fire Department

We returned to the North Chicago City Hall to meet the Chief of Staff Deb Waszak, who's also an alumnus of ACYPL.

North Chicago City Council Meeting Chamber

The People's Chambers

This was the first time we saw the display of President's portrait in a government unit. We learnt that it was a tradition in North Chicago City Hall (which is majority democrat)

With Chief of Staff Deb Waszak

Mayor's Office

Next, we visited the North Chicago's Water Treatment Plant, which had roads managed by the Park District (a separate governing body) leading to it. Water treatment is a revenue item for the City, with water supply going to manufacturers like Abbvie and Abbott. 

The Water Treatment plant in the old days

Water is drawn from Lake Michigan. The Water Treatment Plant does not store water in its facility as Lake Michigan provides a constant supply of freshwater.

Water Treatment Process 

Control Centre

4 pumps generate 60 gallons of water, while another set of 4 pumps generate 90 gallons of water every day.

Filtering Process

Backflush

Screeners - screening out solids from raw water drawn in from Lake Michigan

Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide) and Alumninium Sulphate added into the water

Fluoride tank

Foreman DeWayne sharing about Lake Michigan

With Lake Michigan in our background

Lake Michigan is the only lake in US that has the entire lake within the US borders.

We headed back to North Chicago City Hall for a lunch meeting.

Office of the City Clerk

At lunch, we met Aldermen Carl Evans and Bonny Mayfield, Chief of Staff Deb Waszak, Heads of Departments and staff of North Chicago City.

We discussed on a wide range of topics and learnt more about the City.

North Chicago City is a full service municipality. Out of a population of about 30,000, about half are Navy personnel. The City is currently busy with the population census, which would determine the allocation of federal funding.

The North Chicago City Council comprises 7 elected Aldermen, and led by Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. The backgrounds of the current Council include a retired police, former Navy personnel, nurse, pastor, retired Army personnel. Some of the issues campaigned by Aldermen include public safety, taxes, and the economy. The City Clerk and City Treasurer are both elected positions.

The Chief of Staff and HR department negotiate with several unions, including the Illinois FOP Labor Council, International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) on collective agreements (which are published online). 

In terms of economy, North Chicago is home of Abbott, Jelly Belly, Dr Scholes and Abbvie. The long-term plans on the City are charted out in strategic and comprehensive plans of 20-50 years. The City has two Metra stations, and the City intends to enhance their aesthetics.

Some of the challenges faced by North Chicago City include:

1. Pension
2. Economic Development - some buildings are not in productive use, and more could be done to enhance property value
3. With 39,000 Navy recruits graduating every week, the City could do more to attract and retain the visiting families within North Chicago City instead of having them be staying in hotels outside the City.
4. As a suburban community, youths who study in universities elsewhere rarely return. The City is looking at creating more entertainment outlets and better quality housing to retain residents.

In terms of gun violence, the City has fewer than 100 shootings annually.

Fun Shot

Next, we headed to the Naval Station Great Lakes.

An anchor sited outside the base camp

The base is a town within a town

Morale, Welfare & Recreation Center

The camp has its own Fire Department

Various fast food outlets

Our final place of visit before heading for the train station was the National Museum of the American Sailor.

The place where many parents sent off and saw their sons for the last time during World War II

Binnacle

Civilian to Sailor

Animals in Navy

Uniform for canine

US Naval Academy Milk Carton

Dolphin Training

And with that, we conclude our North Chicago experience.

Goodbye North Chicago City

Return train tickets

Since the Haymarket statue was near the Ogilvie Transportation Center, I got the team to visit the statue with me. 

Department of Coffee and Social Affairs - sounds legit

The Batcolumn

Wheels on the bus go round and round

The Haymarket Statue:

Had learnt about the Chicago Teachers' Union from Singapore Teachers' Union General Secretary Mike Thiruman. We were supposed to meet CTU leaders during our programme but due to unforeseen circumstances, it didn't quite work out. So when I happened to find out that Chicago Teachers' Union is holding a rally, I immediately signed up for it.

Red apples, representing Education, replaced the stars in the Chicago Flag

The Rally's theme was "United for Our Contract, Our Schools." Chicago Teachers' Union represents teachers and allied teachers from the Chicago Public Schools. While in the case of Barrington and other cities, the school district board is elected, in Chicago City, the Mayor appoints the board members. It has been a contention within some quarters who feel that an elected board would be more accountable and beneficial to overhauling the education system and schools.

Placard stating: CPS Counsellors should be allowed to work with kids

"The Force is strong with CTU"

Students giving a speech in support of teachers

Placard stating: Lori (the new Mayor), Back-paddling already? Elected School Board

Every CPS student deserves a LIBRARIAN

It was rather unbelievable that not all schools had a library and librarian.

A parent speaks in support of teachers

Parents stand with Teachers

Librarians are the love and spine of the school!

 "Modern cynics and skeptics see no harm in paying those to whom they entrust the minds of their children a smaller wage than is paid to those to whom they entrust the care of their plumbing," John F. Kennedy

I wonder where the ruler came from :p

"Only 12% of CPS Elementary Schools have the recommended student to counsellor ratio"

Allied Teacher speaks in support of teachers

Mass singing of "We Always Win"

Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers speaking at the rally

Bob Reiter, President, Chicago Federation of Labor speaking at the rally

Chicago Teachers Union is affiliated to both the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL).

Borrowing a placard for a photo

I would later learn that the rally was held as Mayor Lori Lightfoot was in a closed door discussion to chart "forthcoming attacks on teachers and public education".

Interestingly, no teachers spoke during the Rally. Student, parent, allied teachers, fraternal partners all spoke in support of teachers. CTU actively cultivates its relationship with parents, and even organises parent and educator meet-up sessions to orientate parents on pre-school registration processes, etc.

Left the rally for Water Tower Place.

Checking out an Amazon collection centre

Interesting road name

Last burst of shopping