By Bob Seidenberg
The pastor and family members of an 86-year-old Evanston woman say she is being harassed by unfounded police calls and parking enforcement after a May 3 domestic-related shooting at her residence on the 2300 block of Greenwood Street.
During the public comment portion of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Pastor Ken Cherry and two of Juanita Ross’ granddaughters, as well as other family members, appeared before the council on Ross’ behalf.
“This is a homeowner who has been in this home for decades, has raised generations of children, grandchildren, and now, because of a mental health issue, is being bullied and harassed,” said Cherry, pastor of Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church. “We will not tolerate this bullying and this harassment, and we ask that this council instruct the Police Department and parking enforcement to check those involved.”
Juanita Ross’ granddaughters Dereka Ross and Laneca Ross also spoke to the council.
“We just feel like there’s a lot of indirect bullying,” Dereka Ross said. “For many years we’ve lived there, we’ve been able to wash cars. But recently someone called the police as my cousin was washing his car outside. … This is something that’s been done for decades, but they said he was disturbing the peace.”
“And when we come over now, when her children visit her,” added Laneca Ross, another granddaughter, “now it’s like too many of us coming over, like she can’t have company.
“This lady owns her home,” Leneca Ross told councilmembers. “She’s probably the only person [whose] home is paid off in this area … and for her to have to limit the company in which she keeps because she’s trying to pacify her neighbors is unfair.”
She said her grandmother has not complained when neighbors have done objectionable things affecting her property, such as installing a fence, leaving a tree or shrub inside her property for her to remove, or placing a camera that looks directly into her yard.