Staff Reports
In the windy city of Chicago, the political winds seem to be swirling with the fierceness of a winter storm, and not in a good way. As the Trump administration seeks to curb crime by proposing a stronger federal hand, local leaders are firmly planting their feet in the ground, apparently more interested in making a political statement than actually protecting their citizens. They’re rejecting any thoughts of federal intervention, even if those thoughts could potentially lead to a safer city. It’s almost like watching someone refuse an umbrella in a rainstorm because it doesn’t match their outfit.
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane to late 2016. At that time, Chicago briefly flirted with federal assistance, and what a success that was! A stark reduction in crime and gunfire silenced the usual weekend noise, bringing down city-wide crime by an imposing 41%. But alas, those optics weren’t trendy enough for the trendsetters in charge, so they turned it down faster than a day-old deep dish pizza.
Meanwhile, Chicago seems to be living in a fantasy that blames its problems on everything but the kitchen sink. A popular diversion? Blaming “red states” for the violence rooted in illegal firearms. Yet, data suggests that most of the retrieved weapons are from Illinois itself, poking a gaping hole in that worn-out narrative. The real problem might lie with recidivism, the revolving door of crime where convicted criminals return to their old tricks. It’s the same song on repeat, and it seems nobody has bothered to change the tune.
What’s even more perplexing is the steadfast refusal from Chicago’s leadership to accept the help that could make a world of difference for those who need it most. Communities in Chicago, particularly those with significant black populations, are literally crying out for assistance. People are seeking protection from the kind of violence that marks the daily news. It’s not hard to find those parents who’ve had to make the heart-wrenching decision to pull their kids out of public schools, not because of education standards, but for their children’s safety.
The burning question remains: Why are leaders so opposed to accepting help from those they politically disagree with? Could it be the fear of being ousted from their political purgatory? Or have they caught a severe case of what some are calling “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” where anything proposed by Trump is dismissed out of sheer habit, regardless of its merit? While politics play their usual game of chess, it is the citizens of Chicago who continue to pay the ultimate price. It’s about time to put aside the egos and the theatrics because the real losers in this stand-off of obstinance are ordinary Chicagoans yearning for some peace and security.
