By: Mark Glennon*
From Hyde Park to the Gold Coast to Edgewater, residents across the city are adjusting their daily routines out of fear. They’re avoiding neighborhood walks after 6:00 p.m. At night, they don’t stand too close to their windows or dare to enjoy their outdoor balconies or terraces. Their children, who will likely be homebound for the remainder of the year, are forced to play indoors because local parks and playgrounds have been inhabited with litter, vandalism, and crime,” This is not a way to live, and I can’t fault homeowners when they tell me they’re considering leaving Chicago.
That’s from an open letter sent Wednesday by the president of Sudler, one of the biggest property management companies in Chicago, to Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
He’s hardly alone. A chorus of similar voices arose after Sunday night’s riots from a broad sector of Chicagoans. A few examples:
- “The fear is spreading, the anxiety is spreading and we’re seeing individuals who used to see the downtown areas, like the crown jewel of our city, now wanting to leave…and stores who were just starting to get past the main riots and looting thinking that they may not stay on the Magnificent Mile anymore,” said Alderman Ray Lopez.
- “The streets are empty and this time of year hotels would be full and the streets would be full. The rioting and violence have stopped people from coming downtown,” a Chicago business owner told “America’s Newsroom.”
- “It has to stop,” Ashley Jones, a Gold Coast resident, said. “It has to come from the highest level up top. We can’t have our city looking like this.”
- The head of Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police wrote to U.S. Attorney John Lausch and Attorney General William Barr Wednesday, calling on federal officials to intervene, saying Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx applies a “presumption of dismissal” for charges related to looting.
Black Chicagoans are perhaps more fed up than anybody. Englewood residents told Black Lives Matter members to get lost when they tried to stage a protest there and, nationally, a whopping 81% of black Americans don’t want less police presence, which BLM wants.
Maybe the city got at least got some comfort Monday when Lightfoot finally showed no sympathy for the rioters and called for tougher prosecutions.
But a different Lightfoot went on national television Wednesday, resorting to partisan blather that was entirely unresponsive to people’s fears and against the city’s interest.
On MSNBC, she was shown a clip of President Trump’s reaction to the riots which, uncharacteristically, was restrained, polite and non-accusatory. He said Chicago had the resources to handle its own problems – which is exactly what Lightfoot has often said – and he added,
I’m offering all available federal support requested to stop the violence and arrest the criminals. We have to be asked by the governors or the mayors, and we’ll be there very rapidly. It’s ready, willing and able. We’re all ready, willing and able to go these jurisdictions and take care of them. We’ll do them very quickly.
That, too, is consistent with what Lightfoot has always said about federal aid.
But what was her response to Trump’s new tone and message?
“You know, those are the words of somebody who doesn’t understand the first thing about local policing, doesn’t understand the first thing about building authentic relationships with members of the community,” she said.
She went on to criticize Trump’s handling of Portland and blamed lack of tougher federal gun control measures for Chicago’s problems. Portland and guns had nothing to do with Sunday’s riots or Trump’s offer.
What good does a response like that do for the Chicago? The city desperately needs federal money to make ends meet, as Lightfoot herself has said. So does the State of Illinois and Chicago Public Schools, whose new budget assumes it will get a whopping $343 million in new federal help.
With an attitude like Lightfoot’s in response to an offer for help, it should be no surprise that Congress was unable to agree on any federal relief package for states and cities. Many GOP Senators, whose votes are needed for an aid package, represent states still in reasonably good shape and they are loath to asking their taxpayers bail out places like Chicago. Congress has now gone on recess until after Labor Day.
Lightfoot added not a single comment that might be constructive towards resolving the impasse. The relevant potion of her interview is below.
Chicagoans terrified about the city’s future will take no solace hearing their mayor put national politics over their interests.
That’s particularly true of business owners who also worry about workers who commute into Chicago. That letter from Sudler’s president to Lightfoot also said this:
Staff have fearfully traveled through downtown in the middle of looting sprees just to report to their shifts on time. They’ve dragged dumpsters in front of doorways as additional blockades, rehearsed and implemented lockdown procedures, called 911 on repeat, and for some, have been face-to-face with criminals threatening violence.
Facing that, and hearing Lightfoot on MSNBC, how could anybody choose to work or live in Chicago?
The next big problem may be Saturday when radicals plan to shut down the Dan Ryan Expressway at Noon. If they succeed, will Lightfoot again blame Portland, federal gun laws and Trump?
*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.
A set of state lawmakers want to extend CPS’ current school closing moratorium to February 1, 2027 – the same year CPS is set to transition to a fully-elected school board. That means schools like Manley High School, with capacity for more than 1,000 students but enrollment of just 78, can’t be closed for anther three years. The school spends $45,000 per student, but just 2.4% of students read at grade level.
Hopefully, all media will get the message, in Illinois, too.
Ted joined Tom Miller of WJPF to talk about Illinois’ highest-in-the-nation property taxes, why lawmakers don’t want to touch the tax’s cost drivers, just how much Illinoisans’ tax burden has grown over the decades, why Gov. Pritzker failed to meet his promise to reform property taxes, and more.
Behold the “spoils” of helicopter governing. These self-righteous, lawyering rationalizers likely feel they are doing good. And here lies the real issue; lawyers (democrats) are in the real world, technicians of a theoretical sort who operate in either gate-keeping (compliance) or defensive roles, like after-the-fact division of monies when everyone is already screwed. They are undertakers, not healers. By engaging incessantly in activities like the meaning of the word “is”, they of course eschew accountability, as their target is always adjustable. They never face the realities of anything, never admit defeat, define their failure and take corrective action, like those… Read more »
Second crappiest mayor in the entire country, why is she getting so much airtime? You all know the answer
Wait until astronomical insurance premiums appear from all the property damage losses. Profitable businesses will flee Chicago even faster.
It’s hard to embarrass Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois but that moron does it beautifully. Hard to believe but she is even more stupid than she looks! Nice going, Democrat voters!
The choice was between her and Preckwinkle. At the time, Preckwinkle was considered a machine candidate. Would Preckwinkle have been a better mayor? Do we prefer the machine candidate for the job?
I do not know what people were thinking when they elected Lori Lightfoot. She could give our Bill De Blasio a run for his money for incompetence. It is sad that things seem out of control there as I love Chicago and think that is a wonderful city. I have no sense of when or if anyone with the political will to kick some ass and crack down on lawlessness will arrive. Looking at this from the standpoint of Brooklyn, NY is quite troubling. I would hate to see a great city brought down on account of this.
Lightwoot was the lesser of many evils. Mostly, she wasn’t a Chicago Democrat Machine politician – no longer evident considering her worship and obedience to the Chicago Teachers Union – but that’s how she got elected.
And this leads to the question: Would we have been better off with machine cog Tony Preckwinkle as Mayor?
Exactly what I just commented on
The Machine and the NWO are practically the same.
Hate to say it but we would have been better off will Bill Daily, cant believe I just had to admit that. sad times
Obama came from Chicago.
Chicago is a corrupt demonRAT sh*t hole.
Coincidence?
I think not!
Don’t be Fooled, Lightfoot is no way on the side of a CIVIL SOCIETY!
Harden your Brains!
Dear Mayor LightWeight and Governor Gravy, Please, please split the state because southern IL wants nothing to do with your socialist policies and out of control gun laws which infringe on our 2nd Amendment rights. The libtards of IL have spent and taxed the citizens into the ground and so many are leaving the state due to your draconian policies. You, and the rest of the Dem-o-craps and you alone are responsible for the financial mess we are in. Nice deflection trying to blame Trump but WRONG again! Trump had nothing to do with your wasteful spending, mismanagement of tax… Read more »
Sadly, she is incompetent and incapable of getting out of her own way.
Worst part? Our local media lack the nerve to challenge our pols, JB to LL to TP, etc… I don’t know how they can sleep at night – they’re pathetic.. Carol Marine, Mary Ann Ahern, Greg Hinz, etc. – they should stop referring to themselves as reporters and start calling themselves marketers…Ventriloquist’s dummies, one and all…
Only Democrats run for Chicago Mayor. A Republican last won in 1927. ☹️?
Lightfoot is a complete incompetent.
Sacrificing the City and Residents so she can play politics.
She should be removed from office as soon as possible.
Not incompetent!
She has an Agenda,she knows exactly what she is doing and it is not for the good of America’s Republic!
Chicago voters got exactly what they voted for. I’m not even going to ask if they will vote Democrat next time because, there is no doubt they will. Liberalism IS a mental disease, all this is proof. Sadly, the people who voted for this insanity will not be required to STAY and DEAL WITH IT. They will just move away and destroy their new homes with the same old terrible ideas.
10000000+++++++++s
Right on Bill. The problem can’t be corrected because the people/voters of Chicago themselves are the problem.
I never supported Lori. ?
It isn’t my fault that Republicans gave up on Chicago and Suburban Cook County decades ago, for DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties, which they’re slowly losing anyway. ☹️
To no avail, I’ve tried very hard to recruit strong Republican candidates, for various offices. Others and I have contacted these (and previous Republican Chairs) who rarely respond:
Illinois GOP Chair:
Tim Schneider
Cook County GOP Chair:
Sean Morrison
(Also a Cook County Commissioner, R-15, township Committeeperson & state central Committeeperson)
Chicago GOP Chair
Steve Boulton
Chicago Northwest GOP Chair
Matt Podgorski
?☹️?
Wow. Lightfoot thinks that Federal officers “exacerbated” Portland? Does she live under a rock? Dose she not realize there have been +70 days of violent insurrection in Portland? Honestly the Portland insurrection should be treated as it is – an armed insurrection against the US government – and dealt with by the US Army.Then she stumps for Joe Biden? How dumb is this woman?
pretty dumb……has no idea what to do cause she never listens to any one but her own blubbering
She is guiding her sheep actually. She know none of her sheep will question anything. Facts are whatever little Lori makes up and spews out.
Lightfoots agenda is wholly with the Communist/Democratic Party!
Never be fooled by these people.
Excellent article, excellent concise points.
I ask again, where are the powerful, rich private folks with major interests (we know they’re out there, I can name some)….the Anti-Pricksters if you will, working to drive this Crazy Commie out of office.
If there can be cronyism propping up failed politicians, certainly this is an option to smash ’em when suitable.
It needs to happen and happen soon! Chicago is going to look like Detroit and the state is a broken mess. What business or person would want to reside in IL? The best option is to split the state, anything south of I-80 becomes Southern IL which is all Republican and Northern IL can slide off into Lake Michigan. A lot of Chicago people are smug aholes that think they know everything but you are clueless. Great work with your voting you clowns!
Lightfoot needs to be FIRED
The fake progressives–progressive alderman, ctu, seiu, united working familes ,etc who in reallity are part of and completely dependent on the machine & papa $madigan$ have wanted her gone from the get go and install prekwinkle in her place. and are happy to use blm/woke kids & pandemic to do so…she’s all alone. Just like us chump tax payers. Im probably alone, but i kind of feel sorry for her
She is in over her head. Remember why she was elected—>she was anti-Machine and elected even though she is far far left economically. She took on the Machine. But, she didn’t KILL IT. Then COVID hit, and she is on an island. If Chicago would have elected a Rudy Guiliani type Republican who installed like minded people into the city bureaucracy that they controlled it would be slightly different. The Machine would have an entrenched competitor that thought very differently than them. Instead, it has a appeaser.
She’s an idiot. It is she who doesn’t even understand (or care to) anything about the responsibility of officials to protect businesses and citizens and to preserve law and order.
It’s pander, pander, pander and hide!
Lightfoot has lost Chicago. One thing no one is talking about is the fact that people form the Suburbs will not go back to the city. I used to think nothing of driving down North ave or Madison Street to the City. My extended family would spend a couple weekends a year in Streeterville and walk to the loop and sometimes be out walking at 2:00 am with no fear only the occasional hustler. Never again. The city cannot survive without suburban shoppers and diners.
The city cannot survive without wealthy residents living in wealthy neighborhoods, nor can it survive without gentrification. They are leaving in droves.
The “activists” want the sales tax generated from downtown tourists, but they don’t want the downtown stores or tourists that generate the revenue because “they’re not here for us.” The neighborhoods want more funding for schools but they don’t want upper middle class families that pay the high property taxes that fund the schools.
They want money magically to appear for them with no one else having a say in how much is needed or how it’s spent. Gimme, gimme, gimme with no accountability. That ain’t how it works.
Lightfoot is a leader and winner in the eyes of the Communist, SJW party!
Bring out the snow plows and keep the roads open.
What can individual victims do to protect themselves?
Civil litigation.
Look at what works: SPLC(for 1 example) was able to bankrupt racial hate groups through targeted litigation.
This scenario is identical: incitement, of imminent violence, using interstate methods of communication, facilitating and aiding immediate execution of violence, racism as a rationale.
Citizens can arm themselves. ?
Right. Honestly I’m astounded that a small business owner hasn’t yet camped out in their business armed to the teeth and asserted their 2nd amendment rights against looters and rioters attacking their business.
That’s fine if you have YEARS. But, The City is already DEAD. It will be decades before it recovers, if at all.
I would guess that a legitimate threat to the deep pockets of a racial hate group would have a chilling effect on contributions going forward. And if they cannot pay for looting caravans, arrange bail, or provide weapons such as sharpened pvc pipes filled with combustibles, they may not be able to sustain their army.
Also, the discovery process would illuminate inner workings of a racial hate group, which may make affiliation with the group less attractive to mainstream supporters.
It’s an illusion to think the judges will favour common sense or the Right the way they favour the ultra-left groups, we are seeing that nationally now. The law really doesn’t matter anymore, the judges are favouring one side and not the other.
If we have lost rule of law, all is lost.
clearly she’s the one who doesn’t understand the first thing about local policing
Exactly. But she does know how to use Oprah-isms well. “building authentic relationships with the community” who says garbage like that except fool ?
She has just turned out to be like the employee you hired who looked great in interviews and then a was bust from the first day on the job. Only in the private sector you can admit your mistake, fire the employee and move on. She just can’t do anything correctly– handle the riots, get tough with the Chicago Teachers Union, develop a policy to handle street crime, set a sensible policy re Covid management in restaurants and beaches. She just isn’t up to the job and we are all suffering for it.
Old Spartan,
what you are missing is that just like Obozo was a successful president, Lightfoot is a successful mayor.
Only one way to change this…these people want a war. Lightfoot thinks she can write a stern speech and these people will listen. These people are emboldened and have no fear of arrest, jail or prosecution. Their only fear is personal injury and as crass as that is, it may be the only way to win.
My God, I just rewatched that video from MSNBC and Lightfoot is clueless. She actually thinks that writing new laws will have an effect. She says Trump has no idea about how to do community Policing…ok, but you clearly do not have a solution either – something needs to be done – right -wrong – whatever.
and what did obama do for 8 years…….ignore and no one said anything……..they just don’t like Republicans!!!!!!! Trump has busted his hump to help people and this mayor is a fool!!!!!!!!!!!!
Obeying laws is free will. If people aren’t obeying current laws, they won’t obey new laws either. ☹️??
People who disobey God’s Laws won’t obey people made laws euther6. ?☹️?
The police need to tape over their badges and name tags and administer an old time mahogany shampoo. The snowflakes will disappear like on an early Spring morning
KIND OF LIKE OLE’ MAN DALEY…HE WAS THE END ALL…….LOVED HIM!!!!
lori is only interested in using her big mouth to get senile Biden and domestic terrorist organization blm approved vp elected. She needs more federal handouts from senile joe , the shadow president, to bail out decades of democratic machine patronage, mismanagement and corruption.
YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD………….BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!
I’m too embarrassed to go back there with the idiots in control.
She had a really nice haircut for the comrades on May Souls Nationaly Be Communistic (msnbc).
I expect good behavior to be rewarded and bad behavior to be punished. It’s a simple concept and many still seem to agree with this viewpoint. Liberals do not. In their eyes, it’s not that simple. The judgment of good or bad varies, depending upon people’s gender, ethnicity, sexual preference, and religion. We all find ourselves in a country divided by drastically different values. Living among each other seems to be making us all unhappy. Open dialog often isn’t possible as liberals seek confrontation and increasingly reject attempts at polite discussion. Where does that leave the rest of us? Using… Read more »
And a U Haul