More on the new Chicago Public Safety Training Academy
Excerpts from wgntv.com:
A nearly $100 million state-of-the-art facility on the West Side will simulate real-world scenarios to train police officers and firefighters.
Leaders also believe the facility will bring an economic boost to the area. For years Ald. Emma Mitts says she’s been fighting for a piece of Chicago’s economic growth to be built her ward that includes west Garfield Park.
The $96 million Public Safety Training Academy for both police and firefighters will be built on 30 acres of land near 4301 W. Chicago Ave. It will be big enough to mock up a two-flat, CTA trains and buses, and classrooms to study the latest techniques.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel believes not only will the city’s personnel be better trained, but also Chicago will become the destination for training for departments from nearby states.
“So it will be a real economic development; people from the suburbs come train here down state come stay here for small fee; we will let people from Wisconsin, Indiana come train here,” Emanuel said.
The mayor also believes this will help in security on the West Side of Chicago because there will be hundreds of police officers coming in and out of there on a daily basis.
The facility is expected to be up and running by 2020.
thanks Dan
#1 by Bill Post on August 5, 2017 - 11:35 PM
I mentioned in a previous comment that not only is the new police and fire academy going into one of the top three neighborhoods for shootings as of 2016 but the Department of Fleet Management is going to be moved into Englewood, which is also on that list.
At least with the police moving into Garfield Park I can understand the logic but having the fire academy move in there really doesn’t make as much sense. The current Chicago Fire Academy is still pretty modern by most standards. I remember when it was brand new in 1961. If they want to add a rail car and two-flat mockups they can be built at a location much closer to the current fire academy. There are plenty of railroad yards on the near west side where mock ups can be built. Even if they want to build a new fire academy they can still do it in a nicer area not that far from the current location and still be in a better area than Garfield Park.
Of course Mabas 21 if the politicians really want to make the neighborhood better they can do for the mayor and the aldermen what they are attempting to do for fire and police. They can build a new city hall in the Austin (shooting gallery) neighborhood so they be an example and practice what they preach.
http://chicagoareafire.com/blog/2017/07/chicago-fire-department-news-more-8/
#2 by LFD 543 on August 5, 2017 - 2:29 PM
But…but…the politician’s are trying to make the neighborhood better, MABAS 21.
#3 by MABAS 21 on August 5, 2017 - 9:01 AM
Are these politicians delusional? What fire or police employee in their right mind would want to eat, shop or hangout in that dangerous neighborhood?