Can Chicago Be Salvaged?
What it will take to return Chicago to its glory days
Chicago is without a doubt one of our greatest American cities. At least it once was.
A surge in crime has made this classic gem less-inhabitable, evidenced by an exodus of both residents and businesses - both small ones and corporations like Boeing and United Airlines. Crime has also damaged tourism. Understandably. Who, after all, wants to take the risk of being shot at or attacked in broad daylight while strolling down upscale Mag Mile?
Considering the glory that once defined Chicago, its downfall is tragic to behold - especially for those of us born and bred there.
UPDATE!
The pro-police bill I’m working to get passed in Wisconsin is now on its way to the Legislative Research Bureau for a formal draft. And based on the enthusiasm I’ve received from a number of key police organizations and individuals, there is likely going to be a lot of support for it going forward. Stay tuned!
Chicago Then and Now
If you’ve ever visited Chicago, you can attest to its vibrancy and beauty. It’s a city that with rare exception, is unparalleled in its cultural offerings and history.
The downtown area houses some of the country’s best exhibits, museums, shopping venues, and eclectic mix of historic and modern architecture. It has the distinct advantage of being situated right next to beautiful Lake Michigan.
Surrounding the city center is a collection of neighborhoods, each notable in its own right. Lincoln Park for its upwardly mobile residents (We used the term Yuppies in the 1980s). Humboldt Park for its large Hispanic population. Lower Milwaukee Avenue for its equally large Polish population. The Gold Coast for its elegance and affluence. The Northwest side for its hard-working middle class.
Though my friends and family no longer live in Chicago, I’ve been feeling increasingly nostalgic for it. I so want to browse my favorite museums, shop Mag Mile and Water Tower Place, hit the beach (maybe Oak Street or Montrose) then hop an El and visit my old neighborhoods.
In the past, I would just up and go when the urge hit. Now I hesitate - because I don’t want to become a crime statistic. Chicago is not the same city I fondly remember, and that is an American tragedy.
Surging Crime Has Changed Chicago’s Fabric
Chicago has always had its issues with crime. The Mob’s influence, for example, was once much more prolific than it is now, as recently as the early 2000s. And in the 1980s and early 1990s, there was a surge in homicides, though those were isolated to known gang-inhabited areas.
Living in a major city has always required a certain level of street savvy and awareness. Taking the El / Subway alone at night (done that, duh!) has never been a good idea. And Lord knows I’ve had close, frightening calls.
The situation has spiraled into something completely unrecognizable, though.
The online journal Wirepoints reports that per Chicago PD data, murders are up 31% and shootings up by 33% when compared with 2019 (pre-summer riots).
It’s not just that crime in Chicago has surged. It’s that it’s become unmanageable, and has spread far and wide, even to neighborhoods -like Portage Park, Lincoln Park, and Mag Mile- that have historically been stable. This crime is pouring into the neighboring suburbs, disintegrating quality of life wherever it goes. There are fewer places left for people to run to.
This was all avoidable.
The Chicago PD is Severely Understaffed
The exodus of officers at the Chicago Police Department is a story that’s become all too common across the country.
“Since 2019, about 760 officers have resigned. More officers resigned in 2021 and so far in 2022 than any other year in two decades, according to city data,” reports CBS Chicago.
For a highly-populated city with a growing crime problem, coupled with a George Soros-backed district attorney who has routinely dropped cases (including those involving murders, shots fired, sex crimes, and attacks on police officers) the loss of this many police officers has been devastating.
There simply are not enough police officers available to fight crime.
In fact,
“…in 2021 there were 406,829 incidents of high-priority emergency service calls for which there were no police available to respond,” reported Wirepoints.
These are numbers none of us should have to tolerate. Not in the United States.
And it may get worse. With the Illinois SAFE-T Act -which essentially eliminates cash bail- going into effect in January, it’s hard to fathom how these numbers will improve.
This is happening, in brief, because Chicago police officers are burned out, and they don’t feel backed by the Mayor or the Police Superintendent. When tough-as-nails veteran narcotics cops fear making arrests, there’s clearly a problem.
Can Chicago be Salvaged?
It’s theoretically possible. Just look at how, in the 1990s, former New York City mayor, Rudy Giuliani stomped out the crime infestation that had gripped the city. He restored it to a place where residents and visitors again felt safe (though crime regrettably re-surfaced after Mike Bloomberg’s tenure).
Giuliani accomplished this feat by backing NYPD officers and instituting broken windows policing, a preemptive model where officers address “minor” crimes like vandalism and loitering; the theory is that when these less serious crimes are addressed, it’s more difficult for more serious crimes to proliferate.
A lot has changed since then, though. And a lot of things would have to occur in Chicago in order for it to be restored to its rightful place as one of America’s greatest cities.
A Desperate Need for New Leadership
Nothing will change if current city leadership is re-elected. Thankfully, a growing number of Chicagoans realize this. In a mayoral poll, Chuy Garcia lead Mayor Lori Lightfoot, despite reports of his possible donor malfeasance.
Honestly, I don’t know much about Garcia. I was holding out hope that sensible, tough-on-crime Alder Raymond Lopez would be Chicago’s next mayor. But he sadly dropped out of the race.
Even if a new Chicago mayor is elected (and nobody really knows how effective that new person will be), the city still has to contend with the state’s Safe-T-Act and a Soros-backed district attorney’s office. Yet having a strong voice in the city’s top leadership position who supports the police, prioritizes law and order, and who is willing to push back against political narratives, would no doubt help control crime.
It Takes Time to Build Confidence
Even with new city leadership, it would likely take months to years for residents to feel safe, businesses to return, and police officers to feel confident in their support from city hall. This type of trust doesn’t materialize after just one election cycle.
It would also take time for word on the streets to spread that Crime won’t be tolerated. Right now, criminals have the upper hand, and they know it.
And even if the city’s politics were to magically change right now, it would take about two years to recruit and train qualified police officers.
A Different Attitude is Needed
It’s not just the data and policies that have changed. As recently as a decade or so ago, there was a general understanding that the government had an obligation to protect us from crime; and that violent offenders would be held accountable. Instead, the law-abiding have been abandoned and betrayed. As if we don’t count.
Additionally, our country has fallen deeper into moral decay. Values that have traditionally upheld both the individual and country during challenging times -like the family unit, faith, service to others- have become obsolete or replaced by superficial things like Big Tech and government. Because of this, any external changes we try to make will be that much more difficult to create.
For now, I may just have to settle for memories of the city I so deeply love. The thing is, I shouldn’t have to settle. None of us should. As Americans, we shouldn’t have to think twice before visiting any town or city. That this sentiment exists is a sign that our country is broken - hopefully, just temporarily.
I would love to know what you think.
For the Blue is a solutions-based initiative. I’m just an American patriot asking questions. I don’t work with any political party and I answer to nobody. For me, the health of the nation, due process (including for police officers), the rule of law, and respect for individual liberties, will always transcend party affiliation. I welcome your thoughts, even if you disagree; though personal attacks will be ignored. You can reach me at fortheblue@substack.com.
Great article. I always appreciate when my home city is covered in an honest way. Since I moved to the Southwest 17 years ago - I travel back home to Chicago once a year or so. And when I take my wife + kids to the museum campus or Millennium Park - safety is a major issue that I never thought about when I lived there.
My dad + I would go to white Sox games and park several blocks away to save money on parking. I could not imagine doing that with my boys now.
In addition to electing smart, common sense politicians, who have the will to implement effective public safety policy, people in the local communities need to come together, and be involved, in turning this around. That goes for the head in the sand residents of the suburbs. The increase, and takeover of the city by violent criminals effects you too, increasingly coming out your way, with the kids of these suburban communities ending up in the city to party. Parents, wake up, the naive invincibility of youth will not prevent random acts of violence, as the violent become increasingly bold on where they go.