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1/ This thread is about the professional party poopers that are tasked with breaking up large gatherings in Chicago during the pandemic.
2/ On July 31, the city launched a joint task force from the Dept of Business Affairs, police, fire and Dept of Buildings to enforce restrictions.
3/ I FOIAed what they did through Nov. It’s essential, risky, and sometimes quite colorful work. Allow me to share some highlights.
4/ Sun, Nov 29 around 1am. Task force hears through social media of a party in Wicker Park. An investigator goes undercover.
5/ The party is at “The Vault.” It’s crowded 2x capacity. Folks are maskless, dancing to live DJ. Investigator calls his team. They arrive.
6/ Amazingly, 300 ppl isn’t the largest party they’ve busted. Another, two weeks earlier in Greater Grand Crossing, had >400.
7/ Let’s talk about another party in Wicker Park. It’s 12:20a on North Ave. Outside, the biz looks closed. But noise is coming from inside.
8/ Granted, I’m a rule follower. But for an investigator to show up, and your first reaction is to PHYSICALLY PUSH HIM OUT… who does that?!
9/ OK, here’s my fave because the writing in the report is SO DRAMATIC. Little Village, 12:30a, another undercover operation.
10/ So then…
11/ I just love: “The door slowly opened the music stopped and all the customers froze as the vice unit poured into the room.” More, please!
12/ OK, some other tidbits from analyzing the nearly 800 investigations this task force did in Aug, Sep, Oct and Nov.
13/ The task force works mainly Thu, Fri, Sat and Sun late nights/early mornings. Sept 5 and Oct 3 - both Sat - were busiest. 37 each night.
14/ A lot of investigations are duds. They go to the spot, and it’s locked. Or there’s no activity.
15/ At least one spot was a repeat offender. Sep 4 the task force issued citations and cease and desists to a location in Grand Boulevard.
16/ The next day they went again and found it was still operating! In two days it racked up 27 citations.
17/17 Oh - one last thing. 800 investigations in 4 months is a lot. Esp because Dept of Biz Affairs says it’s only 7-8 people! Thx for reading.
