In June, despite fierce and popular opposition from city residents, the mayor and city council of Urbana, IL voted to fund a new police station. The city is planning to impose the substation in the vicinity of the Silver & Vawter neighborhood, near Philo Road in East Urbana.
The reason why police expansion in Urbana has even been a conversation over the last year is mainly due to the Urbana Police Department’s insistence on more funding, even with reported crime in Urbana in 2022 and 2023 being at its lowest in 10 years. Like police departments in cities around the country, UPD is blatantly ignoring the demands from 2020’s mass protests to defund police and imagine a new system of public safety.
In writing this article, the Champaign-Urbana branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation wants to add to the work which numerous CU locals, including folks at The Well Experience, have done in amplifying voices of those most impacted by the Philo Road substation. Therefore, we spoke to several people with connections to East Urbana, offering folks a platform to share their thoughts on public safety and the forthcoming substation.
Chicainha Griffin shared that it feels like “a whole nother side of anything” in the area, and stated that “it’s different over here on this side of the block.” Griffin continued, “Motherfuckers gotta pay $1000 for rent and still don’t have peace of mind. Kids don’t have anywhere safe to play. There is a lot that needs to be done.” Griffin shared that folks “believe that most police are racist,” and that “residents can keep each other safe by working together.”
Mario agreed that the area needs to feel more safe and secure. “I’ve lived in Urbana my whole life and in this area 6 years.” Mario said “every year I’ve seen someone shot, someone stabbed. There are things here that could warrant a substation, but there could also be outreach.” Mario pointed out the lack of community resources. “There are no YMCAs or Boys and Girls clubs out here.” Mario continued, “You can have more police and more security, but unless the community comes together to get things done, it won’t happen.” This seems to be a popular sentiment.
Most residents did not express an ideological opposition to or support for more police funding. But many thought there were more logical causes for taxpayer dollars to be spent on. When asked if city funding should go towards increasing the police budget or towards education, East Urbana resident Carolyn said, “do the police make enough money? I don’t know, but we need more funding for education and housing.”
One resident who didn’t want to be named said “I don’t fuck with the police, but if kids are in danger, someone has got to keep them safe. The kids are all I care about. I’m okay with the ones that do their job, but many officers just want to fuck with people.”
When asked what they think about the substation, another resident who didn’t want to be named stated that they hope it “makes things better, not worse. There are lots of bad people around here and lots of good ones, and the police often can’t tell the difference or don’t respect the difference.”
An additional resident rendered first aid to a shooting victim in the neighborhood last summer. Even though they told police that they didn’t want their name or address to be included in the police report, those pieces of information were made public. This could have put them in danger of retaliation, they said.
Another resident shared multiple instances where they and their child have experienced racist policing. “Police presence escalates the situation”, they said. “So many people think the police are the biggest gang in the world.” Instead of police, they stated that “Mental health and social work should be considered a lot more.” The resident went on to say “I’m to the point where I don’t go anywhere but work and home. Champaign police pulled a gun on me. I’ve literally had to tell a rookie Champaign cop to put me in handcuffs because he was looking nervous, his hand creeping toward his gun.” They ended our conversation by sharing that they “just want a neighborhood where our kids can come out and just play safely.”
Karen Simms has lots of organizing experience in East Urbana, and says the root causes of violence must be addressed before anything else.
Shamar Betts, an East Urbana resident, shared that “There isn’t as much for the teen and young adult crowd to do in Urbana. They should have more in their neighborhood.” After sharing about racist experiences he has had with local police, he says that “for me, my generation, my race: it causes nervousness if a cop is there” “The funding they gave to cops should go to build the Black community.”
If we boiled down the responses of everyone we talked to into a single paragraph, it might read like this:
I want to feel safer in my neighborhood. A well-trained and anti-oppressive public safety organization would likely make me feel safer here. However, the police typically contribute to my sense of insecurity. Funding housing, schools, after-school programs, and more opportunities for residents of East Urbana would help address the root causes of much of the insecurity I feel in this neighborhood. Our neighborhood should work together to keep each other safe.
As it has always been across the US, majority-Black working class communities in Urbana continue to live under the twin threats of poverty and racist policing. Urbana has long been a Democratic stronghold, and Democrats have largely run the city for more than 50 years. Democratic leadership is unfortunately unable or unwilling to facilitate safety and dignity for all Urbana residents.
This is because the government – whether local, state, or federal – serves the interests of capital. Under capitalism, the role of the police is to protect the system, not the people. The working class is dominated by those who own the means of production and who subsequently are able to buy our governments. The main functions of US police are to protect the property of the capitalist class through armed force, and to attempt to divide the diverse working class through racist, sexist, queerphobic, ableist policing. Republicans and Democrats continue to prioritize profit over people’s basic needs.
The only system in which the working class can pursue their interest is one where they have complete political and economic power. Working and oppressed people understand best what is harming them and what they need to thrive. We know what we have to do: unite around an agenda that centers working and oppressed people, so that we can all live safe, dignified lives regardless of which capitalist party has power.
Below are transcripts of some of our conversations with East Urbana residents and others with connections to the area.
Chicainha Griffin:
“I haven’t heard anything about the police station. I like that, we need more security over here, a safer environment. It’s real crazy over here. You’d think this is a whole nother side of anything. It’s different over here on this side of the block.
We need to improve the whole area, it needs to be more kid-friendly. We need gates where only residents and people residents invite can come inside. Having it where everyone is welcome and doing whatever they want to do is not cool. Motherfuckers gotta pay $1000 for rent and still don’t have peace of mind. Kids don’t have anywhere safe to play. There is a lot that needs to be done.
We believe that most police are racist. They feel like they have this authority, like they have a badge and a gun and can treat us any way. That’s not fair. If police make us feel like they are really here to protect and serve, and not abuse your authority or make us feel like dirt, we’ll feel like it’s worth it for the police to be here and that we need them. They need to do more research and background checks into who they hire, to do this for our kids and us. We don’t want to die. We don’t want to feel like getting pulled over by the police is bad. Or if we call, that we’ll be the one… We wanna feel like you’re working for us. We don’t want to feel like the police are pigs, or bad guys.
The City of Urbana is able to help its East Side residents, for sure. Are they willing? It doesn’t seem like it. Y’all aren’t putting in too much effort into the East Side of Urbana, because look at it compared to the other parts of Urbana. Residents can keep each other safe by working together. Stop going against each other, for one. Work together, it takes a team. Talk, communicate, take a minute to learn someone else. Think about people other than themselves.
I appreciate you. We don’t get heard often. I really like this. I really appreciate someone giving a damn about us, about this side of town, about anything.”
Mario:
“If we just eradicated the department, that would create tyranny. Where I live, I wouldn’t mind having a police officer. If someone disagrees, come live over here for a week. You may get robbed. Law enforcement follows the law, criminals don’t. When the Urbana police chief recently released the crime heat maps, there were 27 gun crimes just right here on these blocks. If I was in a gated community, I might feel more comfortable allocating funds away from cops. But I’m not; I’m here.
Because there is no stable base here for 3 or 4 years, the community is always changing and in flux and can’t come together. So many people coming in and out. The community itself has to make itself safer. The city needs to notice how things move here in order to come up with a solution. I’ll try to move across the street to philo, where this doesn’t happen. You move a street or two down, it doesn’t happen. It’s all right here.
I’ve lived in Urbana my whole life, and in this area 6 years. Since I’ve been in this area, every year I’ve seen someone shot, someone stabbed. There are things here that could warrant a substation, but there could also be outreach. There are no YMCAs or Boys and Girls clubs out here. You can have more police and more security, but unless the community comes together to get things done, it won’t happen.”
We heard from several residents who didn’t want to be named.
Resident 1:
“I don’t fuck with the police, but if kids are in danger, someone has got to keep them safe. The kids are all I care about. I’m okay with the ones that do their job, but many officers just want to fuck with people. Many in Champaign County and Chicago. It doesn’t matter who is doing the crimes, they’ll fuck with you if you’re connected with certain people.”
Resident 2:
I don’t care much one way or the other about the substation. I’m glad they put a new fire station in.
Resident 3:
My only thought is that I hope the police substation makes things better, not worse. There are lots of bad people around here and lots of good ones, and the police often can’t tell the difference or don’t respect the difference.
An alternative response could be neighborhood watch, neighborhood members patrolling on foot or in a car. They could call cops if something happens.”
Resident 4:
I hadn’t heard about a new police station. It could be negative or positive. We just don’t want to be profiled just because we live in this neighborhood. There are a lot of good people in this neighborhood. I don’t want to be profiled for just walking down the street.
I want the neighborhood to be safe enough for my kids. Since we’ve moved over here, they haven’t been able to run around and play outside. We moved here a few years ago from over by the [original] police station because they could walk to school and there were lots of neighborhood kids to play with. They played out here at first, but recently no.
There was a shooting here this past summer and I rendered first aid to the victim. My name was put in the police report, even after I told them I didn’t want to be named or my address to be included. They put our residence and my vehicle on TV, and people recognized it and called. If people think I snitched, I would have been in danger. I was the only person to give any info at that point.
During the shooting when I rendered aid, a man came out and talked to police, and immediately put his house up for sale the next day for fear of retaliation.
If police are here, they could see things first hand instead of relying on witnesses. He had to instantly get off and come home because if people in the neighborhood knew I talked to the police, I’d get in trouble. Witnesses must be protected.”
Resident 5:
“My kids saw someone pull a gun out. It’s literally this line [of apartment buildings] around.
Police don’t need to be there for every situation. Our kids have a vendetta against the police because of what they see on tv. When the police come, the neighborhood kids run. The police always come for every call, and everyone walks away. Police presence escalates the situation. I don’t want to talk to the police because 20 people across the street will be watching and now I’m labeled as a snitch going forward. They just want to finish their case. When they get me, are you gonna solve my case?
Mental health and social work should be considered a lot more. Police thought our kid, who is biracial, was breaking and entering when he was locked in the garage and crying as he came out. I even told the dispatcher that no one is breaking and entering.
There are lot better ways for these things to be handled.
If police want more success for this neighborhood, they need to show that they’re here for the neighborhood. I’ve been told I fit a description when I look nothing like it. They need to be making connections with kids and families.
The City of Urbana could help this situation if they tried. Cops should connect with little kids and actually build trust early.
If I’m in danger, I’m not calling the police, I’m handling it myself. So many people think the police are the biggest gang in the world.
I’m to the point where I don’t go anywhere but work and home. Champaign police pulled a gun on me. I’ve literally had to tell a rookie Champaign cop to put me in handcuffs because he was looking nervous, his hand creeping toward his gun.
We just want a neighborhood where our kids can come out and just play safely.”
We heard from Shamar Betts:
I live in East Urbana. I like how calm it is, especially compared to Champaign. I think Urbana has a particular vibe. Most people are true to themselves.
My brother who lives here… on Washington and Lierman by the jail where the gas station is. That whole space with grass can fit a center. There could be resources for the community, especially compared to different parts of Urbana.
Police pulled me over as I was leaving DREAAM for a suspended license plate. Why did they run my license plate to see if it was suspended? What is the point of running somebody’s plate if they haven’t run any traffic violation? Statistically speaking, most school shooters are young white men. It would be wrong to search all young white men. I don’t think they’re going about it the right way. The funding they gave to cops should go to build the Black community. There isn’t as much for the teen and young adult crowd to do in Urbana. They should have more in their neighborhood. We know the areas not to go in near Philo because the police are there. They searched me and my car over a turn signal at McDonalds. There is a word for that: pretextual stops. You should just get your ticket and go on about your day. Like having a warrant to search a house.
It was good I found out my plates were suspended, but it shouldn’t go toward more arms. Maybe automatic readers that bill people at their house. Urbana is at a historic low crime rate I think. They should play more of a part in bettering the community. The money could be dropped to 8 or 9 million to cops, and just fund anything. Like schools! Just bettering education in our schools, not just crime and finding marijuana.
I don’t think they’re serving at the best of their ability. It seems like they’re building an enforcing station vs building a connection with the community. Every last one it seems comes off bad. When you’re talking to them, you’re on edge because it seems like they’re trying to get you to admit something.
Part of police training should be some type of sociology or law. If the arrest is unlawful, it starts a whole unlawful criminal process. Urbana has more domestic-type cases. They don’t try to diffuse the situation, they are trying to figure out who is at fault and who they can take to jail. In some cases, it is very necessary. They should know how to read people better, not just use brute force. Dealing with mentally ill people too: they’re using force.
If domestic situations do escalate, we would want responders to be safe. So maybe an officer could be on standby in case of escalation. I know for me, my generation, my race: it causes nervousness if a cop is there. I think ‘I’m in trouble.’ ”
We also heard from Karen Simms, Founding Executive Director Trauma & Resilience Initiative:
I don’t live in East Urbana. My massage therapist is there, so I’m there regularly for that. We’ve also done door-to-door canvassing with Silver Hearts during the pandemic in 2020. It’s a neighborhood that is near and dear to our hearts. We helped Giovanna set up Steer Place. We’ve done a lot of community work there.
It’s not a monolith; there is so much diversity and I appreciate that. The apartments behind salt and light, there are lots of folks from different countries, African Americans, to people of diverse ages and abilities. Then there are other sides where there are grad students and homeowners.
Regarding UPD’s strategy for fighting gun crime: this is an incomplete answer that would involve a conversation. I’m aware that Chief Boone is committed to what he conceptualizes as data-driven policing. I think we must make a distinction between cause and symptoms. If a neighborhood doesn’t have adequate housing, A/C, recreation, opportunity, etc., there is data that shows this is a cause. You’re chasing the fire instead of putting the fire out. The data says there are also innocent people rounded up along with the guilty ones because they are found in the wrong area. It increases disparities in arrests, sentencing, etc, and this means things can balloon if people can’t pay a fine or miss a court date.
The Well Experience is a phenomenal comprehensive program. If there was investment in a centralized, accessible one-stop community center that offered preventative opportunities, that would go a long way. Also, if we want people to live in livable, sustainable housing, anything we can do to that end is productive for families, kids, etc. Funding landlords to do better upkeep.
Yes, I do believe that people on the council are well-intentioned with conflicting priorities. They’re trying to speak with all members of the community. I believe the Urbana government and council is committed to making good decisions. All crime is bad, but sometimes there is a fear of crime that generates a fear response that keeps us all unsafe. Carrying guns and more policing often replace mediation and root causes. People I’ve come across say people walking up to their door or touching their car are real threats. Keep an open mind; our fates are interconnected. Let’s not just address symptoms, but address root causes. Law enforcement has its place in every community. Sometimes, people look to therapists and police to come and save them. Resilient communities help take care of themselves.
I am definitely not anti-Boone, or anti-police. We just need the resources to address the root causes instead of firefight.
Prairie Liberation Center 