Powerful perceptions

Add comment May 8th, 2008 10:07am Geri Nikolai

A study released this week by sociology staff and students at Rock Valley College reveals interesting perceptions of our hometown. RVC says the phone survey of 450 people reflects the population. Keep in mind is that the survey was done in February 2007, before the economy sunk and gas prices reached for the sky.

Some results: 54% think crime here is no worse than other cities this size. That’s down from 69% in ‘97.

63% said the city’s economy was progressing, down from 72%.

Here’s a surprise: 39% said education in the city is better than it’s been in the past few years. That’s still low, as Prof. Jerry Crane pointed out, but it’s up from 21% in ‘97, perhaps because the deseg suit still was going on then.

And, the ones I’m most interested in for this 180 Degrees project:

73% said the city has improved its arts and leisure offereings, down from 81%.

47% said public/private agencies support arts adequately; down from 73%.

58% said our arts/leisure programs are as good as other cities out size, down from 68%.

Crane said some of the survey results are supported by facts; others are not. But the perception, right or wrong, is a powerful influence on a community.

Chief ‘appalled’ by gun crime

2 comments May 8th, 2008 06:17am Anna Voelker

Rockford Police Chief Chet Epperson talked on camera about crime in our city. Watch the video.

Heroin use in area

Add comment May 7th, 2008 10:37am Judy Emerson

Law enforcement officials say heroin use is rising in this area because the drug is cheap and readily available. I’m reporting on this issue for our next installment in the 180 Degrees project. Has heroin affected your life? E-mail me at jemerson@rrstar.com or comment here.

But … is living here fun?

Add comment May 6th, 2008 04:36pm Geri Nikolai

We all know Rockford is a great place to raise a family. It’s a generous community, a church-going community, place you can round up volunteers for a worthy cause quicker than the weather changes in April.

But, how much fun is our region? Are you, and/or your family, happy with the arts-entertainment-cultural-recreation scene in the Rock River Valley? Has that part of our lifestyle gotten better, or worse, in the past 30 years.

We know NAT went off the map but look what happened at the Coronado, and the MetroCentre, and Burpee, and Discovery Center, to name a few success stories. Or, are you not impressed?

I’m interested in your view of our after-work life in Rockford, and your attitude about the city? Optimistic? Pessimistic? Sure nothing will ever change? Convinced we’re on the brink of a renaissance?

 Please share your thoughts with me at  gnikolai@rrstar.com or 815-987-1337. Leave a message if I’m not available, with your name and number, please.

Thanks.

How has crime affected you?

Add comment May 6th, 2008 03:00pm Anna Voelker

We met this afternoon to talk about the 180 Degrees campaign. We’re looking at five areas that are essential to this community’s way of life: Crime, education, local economy, government and culture/our sense of place. We kicked off the project last week online and have been posting your comments as we get them. We’re now focusing on crime.

Crime affects us all. Some directly. Some indirectly. Though the crime rate remains high, it has declined in Rockford and across the nation. Still, the perception in Rockford is that crime has spread to formerly safe neighborhoods. We would like to know what role crime has played in your life. How has crime affected you?

Write a brief essay, 500 words or less, and tell us what you think. Feel free to send photos, letters or anything else explains your situation. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you want the items returned.

Write to us at the Rockford Register Star, Rockford Crime, 99 E. State St., Rockford, IL 61104. Or e-mail us at onlinenews@rrstar.com. Please put Rockford Crime in the subject line. Also, include your full name, address and telephone number in case we have any questions. All submissions may be edited for length, accuracy and clarity and may be published or distributed in print or electronic forms.

rockford moments in time: the biggies

Add comment May 6th, 2008 07:34am Jennie Pollock

we’ve been working on a timeline of notable points in rockford history for this project, from the metrocentre opening in 1981 to the deseg case ending in 2002.

while people who have lived here a long time will remember all of them, those of us non-natives sometimes remember things from the first year we moved here.

for me it was 1995. the homicide rate was high, for sure, as gang warfare exploded. i also, oddly enough, remember serial killer ray lee stewart’s execution in 1996, waiting by the phone to hear the news.

on a happier note, i remember the coronado opening in 2001 and rockford winning the america in bloom contest in 2005.

do you have suggestions for other milestones to include?

What’s up next?

Add comment May 5th, 2008 04:49pm Lil Swanson

We started talking in depth this morning about the next piece of the project, a look at crime and how we got to where we are over the last three decades.

Judy Emerson has been digging into the topic for a couple of months, and we’ve outlined the main stories she’ll write. We want the online experience to be all that and a whole lot more, so tomorrow we will be plotting that strategy.

Already, we have one video in hand, with Police Chief Chet Epperson, and we will be producing many more.

What would you most like to know about crime in Rockford?

Make a difference; join our campaign

Add comment May 5th, 2008 10:06am Anna Voelker

We’ve already gotten some response from readers who want to help turn Rockford around. Do you want to help? Find out how here.

We also asked you for your hopes and dreams for Rockford. Here’s what Terry Carl of Loves Park had to say.

Kicking off 180 Degrees

Add comment May 2nd, 2008 02:10pm Anna Voelker

We officially introduced our campaign this morning on rrstar.com. And the response (based on page views) has been strong.

The highlights for me are the video stories produced by videographer Alan Leon. There’s this one about retired police officer Sherri Glover, who was shot in her squad car while she filled out reports. And this one featuring Rockford residents Amy Hill and Willie Ashford, who have watched their west-side neighborhood deteriorate. You’ll also find links to videos of the key staffers behind this effort here.

In Sunday’s paper, look for our print coverage in the Opinions section.

Visuals for the project

2 comments May 2nd, 2008 12:38pm chris soprych

Here the video opening that Brian Rieder, the WREX guru worked up for us. Brian was really great to work with. I hope we didn’t kill him with last minute changes. In fact, I notice one small problem. Watch the video and see if you can see it.