Tempers flared and chaos ensued during a tumultuous Harvey City Council meeting this week after residents were allegedly boarded up inside their apartments, with some claiming they were trapped with no prior notice. The viral controversy drew harsh public criticism, leading to passionate remarks from council members and residents alike, and even resulted in two aldermen being escorted out by law enforcement.
As reported by the Chicago Tribune, the situation sparked outrage following the release of social media videos showing a senior citizen among the residents who authorities said were boarded up inside the building at 14437 S. Halsted St. The building had been declared uninhabitable, yet no clear procedure for relocation of the vulnerable residents, including seniors and the disabled, was in place.
"There has got to be some kind of procedure put in place, especially when we are talking about seniors and people that are handicapped, when you are getting ready to shut down a facility," Mauzkie Ervin, a former Harvey Public Library trustee, told the Chicago Tribune.
The finger-pointing between city officials and property managers intensified as emotions ran high. Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark defended his administration, blaming property managers and a board-up company for the actions taken against the residents. However, Mayor Clark also found himself in a heated exchange with two alderpeople, 4th Ward Alderman Tracy Key and 2nd Ward Alderman Colby Chapman, who were ultimately escorted from the meeting. Key apologized, stating, "I didn't make the call, I didn't make the decisions, even though I wasn't aware, I'm still an alderman, and that makes me just as responsible, too," according to a WLS interview.
In the aftermath, Mayor Clark continued to plead for municipality forgiveness and urged the council to revisit and amend city ordinances to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. Meanwhile, affected residents, like a 73-year-old veteran Rudolph Williams, recounted being boarded in without warning, relayed by the Chicago Tribune. As of now, a small number of residents remain in the once populous building, uncertain about their future living arrangements, with city spokesperson Archie Tolar signaling that those remaining can stay for the short term while long term solutions are sought in collaboration with Cook County officials.
