In response to a couple of recent, over-the-top, raging parties around the Bradley area (well-reported by PeoriaIllinoisan), Second District Councilperson Barbara Van Auken is proposing raising the fines for noise violations and criminal activity to $1,000. She wrote in an e-mail to Uplands residents:
I want to update you on activities related to the riotous weekend you and your neighbors experienced. Uplands President Goitein has talked with Bradley Security Chief Baer who, in turn, is meeting with BU officials about what happened and why. I also spoke with VP Gary Anna who was very concerned about the events and promised to personally look into them. He is also supportive of […] hefty fines to property owners and party hosts. Additionally, Chief Settingsgaard is investigating the situation and plans to talk with Chief Baer about coordinating their efforts to put a halt to these raucous parties. He, too, is strongly supportive of the hefty fine suggestion.
I talked with both Randy Oliver and Randy Ray about fines to hosts and property owners. It cannot depend on how many calls we get about a party–one call is enough. If, in fact, there’s ordinance violations, e.g., noise, and/or criminal activity, e.g., underage drinking, at a party, I’m proposing a $1,000 fine for both the host(s) and the property owner if it’s owner-occupied. If the property owner is a landlord, I’m proposing that the individual–within 30 days– pay the $1,000 fine or present documentation to the Legal Department that eviction proceedings are in process or complete. While there are responsible landlords who almost never know about party activities at their property; once they know, they need to take immediate action–not just promise it won’t happen again. I’ve heard that too many times, and the problem goes on for months.
This is welcome news. I hope Van Auken’s proposal makes it to the council soon and is passed. There needs to be greater consequences for parties that involve “150 people fighting in the street” and require the use of pepperball guns to break them up.
The thing is, If we actually enforce these violations and raise the fines…this is a great idea. Peoria, would have much more money in the budget. Its free money, for the taking.
If I was City Manager, I would have these guys canvassing the area like crazy. Hey, the window and siding people do it every day, and they are getting plenty of clients.
You guys are just too tough. These are all just Bradley kids venting a little steam. So what? A little fight in the streets of our city. If it happened in the southend, it would have made the front page with 8×11 glossies with a paragraph on the back of each one explaning what the picture was of. As it was, it was buried in the JS. Just a paragraph. Just thank God our police were able to leave the doughnut shop and give Bradley PD a hand. They won’t do it again. That big fine will scare them. Hooey
College kids party, less now than years ago but still they party. I think it is nuts to buy a house 2 blocks from a large University and then bitch about college kids and their loud parties. Sell your house move 4 blocks down and pay twice the price and get twice the peace and quiet, don’t buy a big old house at a bargain basement price 2 blocks off campus and act like the whole loud music late-nite thing is a big fu**ing surprise.