Residents and aldermen press North Chicago leaders over safety at public housing and Brookstone

Residents and several aldermen pressed North Chicago officials on Jan. 6 about safety and management at public housing properties including Kukla (also transcribed as “Coochla”) Towers and Thompson Manor and asked for follow‑up on Brookstone at Coles Park.

The concerns surfaced during the council’s public comment period and again in a later judiciary committee update on Brookstone. Speakers urged the city and the North Chicago Housing Authority to act after residents reported drug dealing, overdoses and threats inside those buildings.

The matter matters because residents described ongoing public‑safety risks inside city housing properties and aldermen said city officials need to coordinate with the housing authority and with state or federal partners when necessary.

During public comment, resident Deborah Richards said she felt mistreated in recent council business and called the situation a matter of principle. Charles January, a longtime North Chicago resident, said Kukla Towers “is not being run right” and argued that enough aldermen calling for change should trigger action to remove a director. Several residents described drug selling and other illegal activity inside those properties and said tenants are afraid to live there.

Alderman Jackson pressed for concrete steps, asking whether the city has a plan and whether outside agencies should be asked to assist if local police are unable to address the problems. Jackson asked the council to invite housing authority board members and the housing director to the next meeting or to a committee so the council can press for remedies.

Mayor Rockingham acknowledged shootings still occur “throughout the city” but said overall crime has fallen since 2019, and he listed tools the city has deployed, including ShotSpotter, license‑plate readers and surveillance cameras. He said the city is increasing patrols and that more weekend patrols are being scheduled at problem properties. Rockingham also said additional security would require budgeted dollars and that some costs are the responsibility of the agencies that operate the buildings.

Police and fire officials described current enforcement and response work. Chief Perez (Police) said the department has increased patrols, is conducting drug investigations and is working with Brookstone management on a formal public‑safety plan. The fire chief told the council the department tracks overdose responses and that, for 2024 at 1440 Jackson, records show one confirmed overdose death and three unconfirmed deaths that might be overdoses; he said EMS and fire records are kept and can be provided. The police chief also said the department currently holds a COPS grant of about $750,000 and is attempting to revive an opioid‑response grant.

Brookstone was addressed separately in the judiciary committee. Chief of staff Greg (presenting to the committee) said Brookstone has an administrative public‑safety plan and is working to hire private security. An administrative hearing officer approved the plan, the city has assessed a potential fine of $500 per day for missed milestones, and the city will update the adjudication officer in February. The council was told the fine is held in abeyance while Brookstone meets milestones; failure to meet them would trigger the daily fine.

Alderman January said he would meet with the housing director and board members to develop a strategy for Kukla Towers and Thompson Manor and return to the council with proposals at the next meeting. The council also discussed moving the issue into committee so staff, police and housing‑authority representatives can present details and plans.

Next steps recorded in the meeting: aldermen asked staff to invite the housing authority director and board to a future council or committee meeting; Alderman January committed to convene meetings with the director and commissioners and to bring recommended solutions back to the council. The judiciary committee will continue to receive updates on Brookstone’s compliance with the public‑safety plan and the adjudication process.

The council did not adopt new ordinances or vote to remove any housing‑authority officials during the meeting; the transcript records discussion, committee direction and an agreement that additional committee work and direct meetings with housing authority leadership are the appropriate next steps.