Ray Hanania
Ready for your close-up, Chicago?
.
By Ray Hanania
I remember watching TV when protesters threw metal barrels through the windows of the Conrad Hilton Hotel and other buildings along Michigan Avenue during the 1968 Democratic Convention.
The convention resulted in clashes between anti-war protesters and an army of police driven by then Mayor Richard J. Daley’s anger at how his city was being disparaged.
That was when things were actually better.
Imagine today. Convention delegates driving through Chicago’s streets and getting carjacked. Delegates trying to enjoy a nice walk down the Magnificent Mile only to be accosted, brutalized and robbed by today’s empowered thugs.
It’s funny how Gov. JB “Daddy Warbucks” Pritzker and outgoing Mayor Lori “I never met a criminal I couldn’t forgive” Lightfoot are promising a strong police presence to protect outsiders who will come here from 49 states and the nation’s capital.
They can’t even protect the people who live here or in the neighboring suburbs, where crime continues to spill over and test the resolve of tougher suburban mayors who are more intolerant of criminal behavior that either Pritzker or Lightfoot, or Lightfoot’s successor, Mayor-elect Brandon “Defund the Police and Save the Looters” Johnson.
You think I am being unfair or “too mean” in my comments? Maybe you should go ask the relatives of victims like the wife of murdered Chicago Police Officer Andrés Vásquez Lasso, who was killed by a former gun-toting hoodlum who was arrested for gun violence and assault but then released on “community service” by Pritzker and Lightfoot’s buddy, Kim Foxx, the Cook County State’s Attorney who never met a gun-toting criminal she didn’t feel sorry for and release.
Why would anyone think the criminals, who have walked through Walmarts looting retail items in plastic garbage bags undaunted by our impotent criminal code, would be concerned about grabbing the purse, car or life of a delegate from any of the visiting states?
These politicians care more about themselves than they do about the people.
Yes, it is amazing that they managed to get the Democratic National Committee to bring the Democratic Convention to Chicago. Yet they can’t manage to find a solution to rising crime that is worsening not only in incident but in substance.
The boldness of the criminals continues to set new records.
How will Pritzker and Johnson explain wilding? Just a bunch of kids letting out steam, despite the violence and damage and brutality that seems to be played down.
Poor kids. They just need something to do. We need to address the “root causes of crime.” We need to understand the poor little 14-year-olds who wander the streets at 2 in the morning holding loaded guns for their older street gang mentors. Don’t “demonize” the criminal demons.
Most criminals carry around photos of their graduations in cap and gowns, just in case they get nailed, to help their inattentive parent or parents. Or their gangbanger relatives play the Chicago crime lottery and hire an activist and lawyer to file a multi-million lawsuit against the city. Which, by the way, the politicians would rather simply pay than have anyone dig deep into why the crimes took place and the criminals ended up dying.
In today’s bizarro world, a criminal who tries to kill you ends up dying—yet you become the criminal: punished, drummed out of the police department or society. Police kill the criminals and the police go to jail. The criminals kill police and we learn they have been cut so many breaks by our failed criminal justice system that they have been taught the odds are in their favor.
No. What we need to understand are the causes of political stupidity, this ignorant ideology and excuse that criminals steal, beat and kill people because, well, they were not loved enough. They had a single parent. They are poor with no sense of self-respect. What else could they do?
I can tell you right now that if the criminals band together and assault the convention, the police will be blamed for excessive violence if they respond forcefully, as they should. So why should they?
I don’t go downtown anymore. I stay away. I value my life. And I am on guard in the suburbs, too, where crime spillover continues to accelerate and worsen.
At least there are some suburbs that won’t tolerate criminal behavior and condemn the lax attitude of our governor, Chicago’s mayor and the Cook County State’s Attorney who is “living the dream” apparently, retiring to a cushy big-bucks pension rivaled only by the settlements being paid to the families of criminals whose crime sprees came to abrupt end.
Maybe we need a national spotlight on Chicago’s raging crime.
(Ray Hanania is a former Chicago City Hall reporter and award-winning columnist. Visit Hanania.com for more commentary.)
Local News
Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.
Neighbors
Year of growth | Evergreen Park enjoying inaugural boys volleyball season
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After almost 70 years of existence as a high school, Evergreen Park finally has a boys volleyball team. The Mustangs are playing their inaugural season with a junior varsity squad, with some matches being played at the varsity level. Head coach Brian Zofkie is leading this group with assistant…
‘Brazen and cowardly’: Police, community outraged by officer’s slaying
Spread the love. By Tim Hadac Police and others across the Southwest Side reacted with outrage this week over the slaying of a Chicago Police officer in the early morning hours on Sunday. Officer Luis M. Huesca was shot to death on the street in the 3100 block of West 56th Street at 2:53 a.m.…
Swanson scores, assists in Red Stars’ win over Reign
Spread the loveThe Red Stars improved to 3-1-1 by beating the Seattle Reign, 2-1, on the road on April 21. Mallory Swanson had an assist on an Ali Schlegel goal in the fourth minute and added a goal of her own in the 31st minute. Swanson missed last season after sustaining a knee injury on…
Red Stars’ Tatumn Milazzo has top Save of the Week
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Tatumn Milazzo called her achievement “funny.” The Chicago Red Stars defender and Orland Park native was awarded the NWSL’s Save of the Week after chasing down a ball in a loss to Angel City on April 13. The Save of the Week usually goes to a goalie. Milazzo laughed…
Men’s College Volleyball | Saint Xavier captures fifth straight conference tourney title
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The SXU men’s volleyball team won its fifth straight Chicagoland Christian Athletic Conference tournament championship after a 25-16, 25-17, 25-22 sweep of Calumet College of St. Joseph on April 20 at the Shannon Center. Jan Lopuch had 10 kills and nine digs for the Cougars. With the win, the…
College Baseball | Saint Xavier upsets Eastern Illinois
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Saint Xavier baseball team picked up a win that its players are going to remember for a long time. The Cougars stunned Eastern Illinois, 4-2, on April 17 in Charleston. It was the Cougars’ first win over the Panthers, a Division I program, since 2005. Lyons grad Troy…
St. Laurence hoops teams top honor roll
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Area basketball teams proved to be strong on the court and in the classroom this season, and St. Laurence was the leader of the pack. The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association compiled a list of the top academic teams, and the area did well. In Division 3 girls, St. Laurence…
Chicago Bears recognize St. Rita senior with All-Star award
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Chances are good that few outside of St. Rita football circles know who David Lyle is. With good reason. Lyle missed his senior season for the Mustangs last fall after sustaining a serious knee injury. He even postponed having knee surgery so that he could take care of his…