I feel excited to be starting at such a historic time for our criminal law system in Illinois.

I hope we continue to think about community safety outside of a punitive and carceral lens.

Real community safety will take a lot more work and imagination than mass incarceration.

What we thought was a very embarrassing event actually turned into a way to build community. I think that is pretty neat.

The power of dogs, I guess.

He thanked me for the note, introduced his name and his dog's name.

My dog ofc sat like an angel and watched them lovingly from afar...

Today I came out with our dog, Darya to the balcony. He and his dog happened to be there.

He looked up at me, smiled, and spoke!

We felt compelled to write a note to this neighbor and stick it in his door.

It explained our new puppy loves dogs but is a bit leash reactive. It expressed or apologies for the encounter and a number to message us if he needed.

And yet, I feel a close neighborly connection, as we have spent many cigarette breaks together, or passed each other in the building on a frequent basis.

I never pushed the relationship because I got the sense they enjoy their peace.

This neighbor has been our neighbor for years. We see him frequently with his old dog one offset balcony below ours.

He never speaks to us and his dog never barks.

Why are we this way 🤦‍♂️

My Cane Corso puppy, Darya, is a naughty walker. But when we put this contraption on her she walks like a pro 😂

Darya has many admirers.

Thank you for this.