Safety first
VIOLENCE IN CHI TOWN: IN MY OPINION, parents should be given back the power to discipline their kids and teens without being afraid they will call the police and have the parents arrested for no good reason.
It is good that the police are allowed to stop and search vehicles when there is probable cause. Many of us have been near cars with suspicious-looking guys riding four deep, slouched down at each window as if they are up to no good. In most cases, I am sure there is a gun or two somewhere in the car or on someone.
(Al Podgorski, Sun-Times/AP)
The police must be allowed to do their job to serve and protect without endangering themselves or the innocent. There are good cops and bad ones. The bad ones, which would be the ones with numerous citizen complaints, need to be re-evaluated. Let's face it ... the police are all we have, and it is not right that all policemen are painted in a bad light because of the many who are belligerent and just don't treat people right. Police have been known to save folks ... and who you gonna call, Ghostbusters? I think not.
And when it comes to racial profiling ... folks have to understand that if the cops are policing African-American neighborhoods, most likely anyone that is stopped would be black ... so folks can't automatically scream "racial profiling." You can't have it both ways. The police should exercise a certain amount of sensitivity, not being abusive, out of control or using any type of racial slurs.
And I think the city should spend money on passing out air conditioners to every home in poor neighborhoods ... folks get mean and agitated when they are hot!
THE NOTORIOUS PARTY-CRASHER Jerry Berliant was thrown out by Donald Trump's bodyguards after The Donald pointed to Berliant and said "He's a crasher" at the new Trump Tower reception last night. The bodyguards got Berliant's coat and escorted him to the street.
ON OPRAH'S show on Monday, she revisited a question that was asked, but didn't make it on the air, after the show the "pregnant man," aka Thomas Beatie and his wife, Nancy, were on recently. A lady in the audience wanted to know would Thomas be delivering "her" baby vaginally or by C-section? Thomas said vaginally. My question is: Since when does a man have a vagina, or a Vajayjay????
THE "WORLD VISION Experience: AIDS,'' a free to the public interactive exhibit, will be at the Apostolic Faith Church (38th & Indiana Avenue) from Friday through Monday. Bishop Horace Smith will host a kick-off breakfast and a tour Friday. The purpose of this touring exhibit is to raise awareness about the effects of the AIDS pandemic on children in Africa. For more info, call (773) 373-8500.
HANGING OUT: THE NEW PARK 52 in Hyde Park owned by restaurateurs Jerry Kleiner and Marc Brooks has been busy with fun folks since its recent opening. Chef/owner Art Smith of Table 52, actress Dawn Lewis, formerly of "A Different World," former NBA star Jimmy Jackson and radio's Herb Kent all stopped in ... The New England Patriots' Tedy Bruschi dined at the Chicago Chop House ... The Cubs' Geovany Soto, Jon Lieber, Ryan Theriot and the Pirates' Matt Capps and John Grabow were all seen chowing down at Harry Caray's on various evenings and posing for pictures by Harry's statue ... Actor Harold Ramis eatin' at Petterino's after catching comic Margaret Cho's show at the Chicago Theatre.
WELCOME: A dinner was held recently to welcome Curtis Duffy as the new chef de cuisine for the Peninsula Hotel's Avenues restaurant. The guests included WMAQ-Channel 5's Larry Wert, photog Vic Skrebneski, Mike Kutza, Tiffani Kim and Brad Griffith, Joy Germont, Helen Melchior, Candace Jordan and Judy Niedermaier. The evening was hosted by Chicago Social mag's Jon Carroll and the hotel's Maria Zec.
THE BEARS' COACH Lovie Smith will keynote the Fellowship of Christian Athletes' dinner May 22 at Soldier Field ... The mayor's chief of staff, Lori Healy, will be honored as the "Woman of the Year" by the Advancing Women in Transportation organization May 20 at the Metropolitan Club. Norman Mineta, the former U.S. secretary of transportation, will speak.
A STELLAR REMINDER: Tyler Perry's "The Marriage Counselor" at the Arie Crown Thursday through Sunday ... Talker Jerry Springer singing at McCormick & Schmick eatery on Chestnut today.
SMOOTH BIRTHDAYS: WLS-Channel 7 boss Emily Barr and Jerry Seinfeld. On Wednesday: WFLD-Channel 32's Anne Kavanagh, radio's Chet Coppock, Jerry Mickelson, and anniversary wishes to Matt and Ruth Rodriguez.
Well, that's Stella in the City!
