Would Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Let his Daughter Ride the CTA?
By John Kass
June 4, 2023
This is a simple question really, a straightforward question from a father who once loved Chicago, to another father who is mayor of Chicago, yet who defends the violent lest they be “demonized” by those troublesome law-abiding taxpayers:
Mayor Johnson, would you let your daughter ride unaccompanied on the CTA?
I don’t mean riding with an escort of armed Chicago police bodyguards with those cop faces that tell everyone thinking about approaching to stay away. Or a city limousine ride with the mayor’s ample bodyguard detail.
I mean alone on the rapid transit, with no advance warning to the CTA, just like thousands of poor women and girls must do so every day and night. They ride CTA rapid transit and the buses to get to and from work and school. Ridership plummets, even as crime increases. And women and girls are constantly subject to the threat of violence and real violence of beatings and robbery, of sexual assault.
Many thousands of poor women and girls are forced to run the gauntlet to get to school and work. No one rides the CTA if they don’t have to. No woman rides unless she must. The poor have no choice. They are constantly subject to violence and the threat of violence, of beatings, robbery, sexual assault. And violent men know that women and girls are soft targets.
In his inaugural speech even the mayor himself has said the CTA is not safe.
“Too many Chicagoans fear for their safety…when they walk down the streets, to get groceries or drive to the gas station, because our city’s homicide and violent crime rates have consistently outpace our peer cities,” said Johnson. “Our public transit is unreliable and unsafe. So much so, that many parents refuse to let their children ride even when the CTA could be the pathway to opportunity and enrichment.”
The reason I bring this up involves something the newspapers avoid for political reasons: Women and girls being assaulted on the CTA. There are two stories I want you to think about from the all-important crime website CWB Chicago. One involves Lorenzo Jones. Another involves Marvin Bugg, who was arrested 76 times since 2014.
If it wasn’t for CWB Chicago, with the newspapers having gone squishy and politically correct, we wouldn’t know enough about crime and the way the court system keeps failing taxpayers. I am a paid supporter of CWB Chicago. The work they do is worth it.
Jones, 34, was charged the other day with repeatedly punching a woman during an alleged rape on a CTA Blue-line train and touching another woman on the train hours later while pleasuring himself. According to CWB Chicago, Jones sat next to a woman Sunday afternoon on an O’Hare-bound blue-line train near Irving Park station. According to Assistant State’s Attorney Domenica Devitt, Jones said:
“You need to s*** my d***”
“Absolutely not” the woman reportedly responded, and Jones punched her in the face.
“You need to s*** my d*** or I’ll hit you again,” Jones said, according to the assistant prosecutor.
The woman refused and so Jones punched her in the face again. And feminist groups didn’t make a sound in the media.
Then, the next day after 8 p.m. Monday, a woman boarded a Blue Line train. Jones began commentating about her legs and her private parts. He reached between her legs. She pushed him away.
“You better give me that p**** or I’ll f*** you up.
He charged at the woman, tried to grab her private area but she fought him off, exited the train and called police.
And Marvin Bragg, 32, starring in his own story—arrested 76 times since 2014, finally received five years for trying to sexually assault a woman at the Roosevelt station.
CWB Chicago reported that habitual criminal Marvin Bragg, 45, grabbed a woman who suffered from cerebral palsy. He said she was pretty, then he grabbed her.
As he grabbed her, prosecutors said he was touching his privates with his other hand. She pushed back trying to get away.
Why was he allowed to harass women for so long? Why was Jones allowed to assault other women and not land in prison? His lawyers said years ago, after another arrest, that he had mental health issues. That’s terrible, but I really don’t care. Get him help if that makes you feel better, but first get him and and all others like him off the street. That’s what jail is for.
Women read newspapers, too. But why don’t the newspapers cover crime as they once did? I suppose it’s a hassle for them. Mayor Johnson’s activists will call and complain, as will others.
They’ll complain that the lack of middle-class white men and women from Wilmette and Hinsdale who were not listed among the alleged offenders. Some will complain about the use of mug shots depicting troubled men. They’ll complain about the lack of “solutions.” One solution might be to have strong prosecutors, and strong editors to stand up to the leftists of the CTU.
But they’ve all gone squishy.
You know who won’t complain much? The victims. They’re ignored by media that does not want them to voice grievances they can’t handle.
Broken Chicago corporate media that has ceded editorial control to Marxist billionaire George Soros won’t want to focus on women challenging the most progressive black mayor Chicago has had in years.
But there is one solution: Lock up those arrested for CTA violence. And if you want to help them, then get a group of helpers together and go visit them, in the Cook County Jail.
Put them in the Cook County Jail that Mayor Johnson’s political boss—Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle along with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx have been emptying. The vibe Chicago gets from them is that they don’t want to prosecute racial minorities. There’s enough room in the jail now thanks to Boss Toni, State’s Atty. Kim Foxx, and their servile Chief Judge Tim Evans.
Get the offenders off the CTA and off the street have them stand trial before a judge. If they’re found guilty, lock them up.
You think I’m cruel or lacking in compassion? So be it. I’m thinking of the victims. All those women who aren’t given a voice, women who’ve been abandoned by the criminal justice system, and abandoned by feminists who fear being called racists. Every woman who has to run that gauntlet because she doesn’t have the money to drive and pay for parking.
Those white feminists who keep their mouths shut rather than demand prison? The silence shouldn’t be surprising to anyone who’s followed urban Democratic politics. That’s identity politics for you, and that’s how cities will die, with a whimper.
Because if you don’t have safe streets or a safe public transportation system, you don’t really have a city, do you?
Democrat Paul Vallas warned you, but perhaps he was too white for many of you to listen to. It really doesn’t matter now, does it? Johnson, backed by Preckwinkle, Foxx and the rest of the Soros Criminal Justice crew is the mayor now.
I’ve been doing this a long time, and just as I know about the cowardly corporate Chicago media ignoring the roots of the Chicago crime issue and why, I also sense political sacrifices coming at CTA. But burning embattled CTA president Dorval Carter only buys a short bit of time before Johnson begins to play Identity Musical Chairs and sits a hard-left Latino or Latina in Carter’s spot when the music stops.
What would that do to address assaults on the CTA? Not much. All that is identity politics.
Without demanding justice and criminal trials, without loudly demanding that Foxx, Preckwinkle, Evans and their token white guy and resident weakling Democrat Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart do their jobs and maintain law and order nothing will change. Sloppy sentimental hugs won’t change things. And without change, the city will die if it’s not dead already.
The crime is bad enough. The silence is worse. Women are ignored. The papers won’t run the mug shots of habitual offenders lest they be accused of racism by the race hustlers. You know the drill.
The feminists who built careers on saying they were independent keep their mouths shut rather than stand up to habitual assaulters who are routinely excused by prosecutors, time after time. Yeah, the Intersectionality Highway can be a heartbreaker. It is the scene of many crashes, although race trumps gender almost every time.
This is how a great city commits suicide.
And women and girls remain as silent victims in the city that is quickly dying, as broken corporate media sodden with corruption ignore the victims and their families to curry political favor with other constituencies.
It isn’t just happening in Chicago. It is happening in every major city, every place where Soros’s billions have funded his cadre of left-wing prosecutors who decide for themselves what laws they will follow and what laws to ignore. And those civilians who stand up against the thugs run the real risk of being sent to prison, like that U.S. Marine veteran in New York, dealing with another Soros-backed prosecutor, the unctuous Alvin Bragg.
That is how American cities are demoralized, as it were all set forth in some twisted Saul Alinsky Bolshevik playbook. This is how urban suicide is accomplished and all taxpayers with the means to leave are long gone. The spine of the city has already been removed.
The wealthy, with the mobility of wealth, play at virtue signaling and hire private security for their neighborhoods. They come up with grandiose anti-crime plans that involve paying off the tough guys in exchange for temporary peace. Their drivers drive their daughters to school. Their wives aren’t subject to groping demands that they satisfy sexual urges or have their faces beaten to a pulp. And when their grandiose peace plans fail–and buying off the violent always fails–they’ll leave too and hide out in Naples or Napa Valley, perhaps even the Greek Islands.
And Mayor Brandon Johnson?
He keeps doing what he’s been doing, talking and talking, and making excuses lest the violent youth are themselves demonized. And we can’t have that, can we? Their feelings matter, don’t they? He keeps avoiding the issue of maintaining law and order as public transportation, like public safety and public schools keep failing those who need them the most.
And those remaining middle class taxpayers–if they can afford to leave–well, they’re gone, too.
Urban suicide takes time. But you have eyes. You can see.
Time for the great cities is running out.
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Comments 73
Brandon Johnson, George Soros, Stalin, Jessie Sharkey, Jon Loevy, G. Flints Taylor would never allow a child of their own seed, a child of the Revolution, to ride CTA in 2023.
John Kass, sums up the long and short of the Marxist hypocrisy that eats what is left in the Blue City.
The long and the short of it is this, ” Without demanding justice and criminal trials, without loudly demanding that Foxx, Preckwinkle, Evans and their token white guy and resident weakling Democrat Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart do their jobs and maintain law and order nothing will change. Sloppy sentimental hugs won’t change things. And without change, the city will die if it’s not dead already.
The crime is bad enough. The silence is worse. Women are ignored. The papers won’t run the mug shots of habitual offenders lest they be accused of racism by the race hustlers. You know the drill.”
All hail the Revolution!
The people of chicago unfortunately voted or as we all know didn’t come out to vote so in a sense as bad as it sounds the majority spoke. Those who voted don’t want people locked up, don’t believe in victims rights and believed in the new mayor. The question for all who read john is why? We can blame the media for not reporting, but why as john states aren’t the corporations asking for this to stop and why didn’t around 65% of the registered voters in chicago go to the polls and ask for it to stop? Why was ctu smarter than everyone else by getting their beliefs and candidates in office and the people like us who are concerned about crime, the cta, life in general in chicago unable to win? Maybe we are wrong and life in chicago as they tell us is really great and safe?
Thank you Pat Hickey. The silence of the corrupt broken corporate media astounds me still.
And the women are unfortunately on their own. Democrats turn their faces away, rather than demand law and order and civility, lest the women be accused of racism. pathetic but its right before our eyes.
Feminist groups have been ignoring the cries of women attacked by their favored classes ever since the days of Bill Clinton.
Great article John. And in answer to your question, of course he would not. The liberal hypocrisy thing of course. And a warning John. Be careful of criticizing of George Soros. Otherwise you’ll be accused of you know what. The liberal double standard thing will apply.
I’ll be careful, thanks David
Good morning. Today is Holy Pentocost and tomorrow is the Feast of Holy Trinity. Please if you are not familiar with these Holy Days google them and you will be enlightened in the Lord. Our Country and Christianity are in Peril, due to the lack of most Americans not seem to care what is happening around them. Thugs and thugs in the Government are running our City Streets and Government Houses, for power and greed. The woman that runs the National Schools teachers Unions should be fired, the Blue Cities must come to the reality that the people they Voter for are Marxist and want to destroy the American children like Hitler did. When a Supreme Court Judge does not know what a woman is we are in danger of losing our identity as Americans. Men that are weak and cannot make it into Society they become women to Win and make money. Everyone knows that is bogus. WOKE is a Political gang that wants to destroy America and most Americans born in this Country but Illegals get all the benefits that our Service Man and Women that have fought for the freedoms we enjoy today are taken away. The Newspapers are paid by the Government to lie along with the News Stations that is why I do not watch TV anymore just the weather channel. When Department stores push products for LGBT and transgenders what do you think they are doing to the young. If you listen to a woman in MINN say that Christianity is a Racist Religion only for White people and the Press reports this Evil, when a Muslim Woman in a University in New York is the main speaker and calls for the destruction of Israel what do you thing the young are doing. Our Universities are pushing hatred for the White people in America blame the Grandparents of the young for their laziness and not realizing that those people built America and we the Immigrants of the past worked hard for the Freedoms the kids are enjoying today. I would love to write a book. Be proud of being a Man or a Woman God chose us not Hitler or the Government of today. The destruction of America has been going on for many years now just sad that Americans are still asleep not realizing they have lost our Cities, and our Country to Socialist and Marxists.
Thanks for telling the hard truths the Trib and Sun Times are ignoring. Anyone on social media can see CWB and others report the true level of thug violence in Chicago. Is there any wonder the legacy media is losing subscribers right and left? The @CTguild knows but attacks the messenger instead.
Teachers run Chicago. What are they teaching the people who still live there?
CHICAGO. Born-1837, Died-2023
Beloved home to millions, she succumbed to her injuries in April of 2023 after a long illness.
Even though her death was not unexpected, she leaves behind grieving masses who are still in shock at her passing. There will be a protracted legal battle among the unscrupulous executors of her will who have been accused of corruption and mishandling her affairs, so her estate will not be settled anytime soon.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the moving company of your choice to help her survivors are requested. Memorial services pending.
Well done. I’m going to use it with modifications for non publications.
I grew up riding the CTA everywhere. I was 11 the first time I took the bus and the Lake Street El to meet my mom at her downtown office. Reading this is utterly horrifying. I have no words for the deep sense of anger and betrayal. My poor city.
democrats elected states attorney kim foxx, she promised to empty the jails and she’s done so. Soros most important cheerleader
Can’t wait to see what she runs for next!
I ageee with you John, the crime is out of control, and our officials need to do their jobs. Johnson, or any of them for that matter, would NEVER let their daughter ride the CTA unaccompanied. That is one thing you can bet on. I’ve said it before here and no one has ever countered it. The black pols seem to care even less for the black poor than the racist white elites and the meatballs like the Daleys and their cronies. At least Daley kept most of the depravity in the colored neighborhoods, like they said in Godfather 1. “Their animals anyway, let them lose their souls”. Only now, the animals actually run shit because the Daleys ran the city and the county into the ground.
On the surface, and that may be all that we can do right now, in the short term to help save the city, enhanced police presence and criminal enforcement is badly needed, the city’s elites have sold their souls for power, access, and influence and sacrificed countless poor and young people of color that they supposedly champion. But you are being a simpleton to describe this complex issue in so few words.
The criminal justice system has never been on the square. It’s just now the Democrats are going easy on the poor, and criminally insane instead of pink guys connected to the Daleys and the mob. This has problem has festered for years. You remember Jon Burge? How about Richard M Daley they Cook County States attorney who locked up how many people beaten in to confessions by CPD?
The chickens have come home to roost John. The white guys who ran things for years on deficit spending, scoop and toss financing, no bid contracts, and “how you doin’” intimidation are old, dead, in jail, or in Florida now, and we are all left with the fall out. And now the token blacks have used this corrupt machine to take over, aided by big money, Soros types, who also would never let their daughter ride the CTA either.
I read Boss by Mike Royko years ago. Do you think old man Daley let his girls ride the CTA? How many were put to death by lazy cops and corrupt prosecutors who used coerced confessions to make numbers look good to further their own careers? DO you remember the “Willis Wagons”? The red lining? I think the people running things now see all minorities as victims and while they care even less for them than the Daleys, they see it as advantageous to virtue signal to their donors who live in the suburbs and also would not let their daughter ride the CTA.
Dan Proft’s “champagne socialists” also would never let their daughters ride the CTA, nor would Dan himself, who, coincidentally, doesn’t have daughters, nor is ever mentioned with a woman.
Even the Catholic Church is corrupt John. How many kids have been raped by the priests and they cover it up? Disgusting.
The lack of political reform is the biggest reason for the mess we are in now. The corruption is so endemic, and has festered to such an extent, and the citizenry has been rendered so numb to it, that we likely need to bottom out before we can start climbing back up.
Instead of begging Ken Griffin to finance an opponent to Pritzker as you once did, maybe CWB and the like should go to an much larger scale and point out the crime, corruption, and the hypocrisy of our officials. Honest, factual reporting instead of this left/right, blue/ red bulls it which we’ve all. Been duped by. This has been created to divstract and divide us to such an extent that we ignore the depravity and venality just outside our doors.
Public financing of campaigns. Take the money out as best we can.
Term limits
No pension for elected officials
School choice for parents who want it.
Strict ethics rules, transparent audits and harsh penalties for violation.
End nepotism, cronyism, as best we can. There must be a way to do this.
The lobbyists, get rid of them, especially the public employees unions, but not exclusively them. Cut their legs off so they cannot buy candidates like the race hustling Johnson.
I’m sorry to be so disrespectful, but I just don’t see the intellectual heft here. Do you think in our broken political system, that by merely electing people from Theo other morally spiritually and ethically bankrupt party would really solve anything? The system right now gives us people like Biden and Trump. Is this the best we can come up with John?
I’d have liked to have seen your Greek friend Paul win the mayoralty too, but much more is needed,
Mr. Maitino, you write: “I’m sorry to be so disrespectful, but I just don’t see the intellectual heft here.” sorry to disappoint, you but thanks for reading
JK
The comment about lack of “intellectual heft” was unwarranted. Your subject matter is so basic that big words and big concepts are not needed.
Thank you, John. As always, no one can make the truth be known as you can. Outstanding article, and, unfortunately, right on the money. The media has become useless crap as crime runs rampant, so they are now part of the problem.
Hope you’re feeling better. Stay well, we need you more than ever!
thanks Mr. Gordon. You might do what I’ve done. abandon corporate legacy papers, and subscribe to CWB Chicago.
Thank you John. Do this again, soon.
….and the storied ‘pink hat brigade’ is nowhere to be found! Wonder what they’re using those goofy hats for these days? Not ONE of them has the moral fortitude to stand up to the people in power in Cook County and just tell them to STOP IT!! Because, they COULD stop it. Ms. Taxwinkle only needs to arch an eyebrow or nod in someone’s direction, and it would be done….no questions asked.
The big news on the radio this a.m.? The extra thousands of dollars some local “charity” is having to shell out because hotel rates in Chicago are sky-high this weekend. All the “Swifties” in town paying big bucks for the rooms the abortion industry needs to house young women coming in from out of state so they can leave the dregs of their ‘indiscretion’ in a plastic bag somewhere here in Chicago. No mention at all of any of those young women taking the CTA – – – they are likely cared for ‘some other way’.
This is one mixed up place – – – Mayor Lightfoot never seemed willing to let her daughter roam on the CTA, and John is correct: Mayor Johnson won’t, either. Taxwinkle hasn’t given the nod yet.
Today’s takeaway line: “The crime is bad enough. The silence is worse.”
Watching a place die is sad, watching the (sic) “media”assist in its death is even sadder. But, as you pointed out, publishing the truth is not only unpopular, it can get you cancelled.
Keep making your Greek ancestors proud and take care of your health.
John, you always make a point about the two Chicago newspapers ignoring reality. In reality nobody reads the newspapers anymore. What, the Tribune in down to about an 85,000 circulation, which is less than the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. What was it when you started? Both papers are insignificant at this point and if they wrote the truth, no one would still read them.
Your website, along with CWB and some of the other Illinois based sites is where the news is getting out. The Tribune and Sun-Times even after their future merger will eventually disappear.
Stay well.
thanks for subscribing to johnkassnews.com
Your right. When I walk the dog in the morning I do see a Tribune in one of the neighbor’s driveway.
When you call to cancel, they basically give it away so that they can claim subscribers to their advertisers. I haven’t read it in months, and then only select articles which were one sided and worthless. So sad…
Gone are the days when: advertising managers/buyers at Marshall Fields, Carsons, Saks would tell the ad space reps from the Sun_Times, Daily News etc, ” your paper is read by my shoplifters” and I won’t place ads that would bring more of them to my stores. • Doubtful any of them would attempt to read any paper • Shoplifters were dealt with. Today, just double park out front, and tell driver ” I’ll just run in and grab a couple dozen shirts and coats. Won’t be but a minute.”
Suggest that newly identified women, like Lia Thomas, ride the CTA and see if they are up to the task!
Traveling to Chicago next week and my son won’t let me ride the CTA train from Midway to the Loop during the day. Unused mass transit won’t save the planet!
Thanks, John… Excellent…especially…
Why was Jones allowed to assault other women and not land in prison? His lawyers said years ago, after another arrest, that he had mental health issues. That’s terrible, but I really don’t care. Get him help if that makes you feel better, but first get him and and all others like him off the street. That’s what jail is for.
Women read newspapers, too. But why don’t the newspapers cover crime as they once did? I suppose it’s a hassle for them. Mayor Johnson’s activists will call and complain, as will others.
Thanks Bill. Institutional cowardice is difficult to watch, but the death of blue cities is worse.
The REALLY sad part about all of this is Chicago had a choice. When ONLY 35% get out and vote this is what you get. Elections have consequences and Chicago will sadly realize it too late, if at all. We left reluctantly.
What is so sad about today’s piece is that it’s all so true. We are, or have already, witnessed the death of Chicago. Why the folks most effected by it, those in the poor black communities, keep voting for “more of the same” is beyond me. As my Dad used to say: “You make your bed, now lie in it.” Terrible city I no longer visit.
Keep on taking care of yourself John. The world needs your insight for a very long time. I pray for all of us.
Enough complaining. Chicago had a chance to actually do something but chose the path of continuing destruction.
Just move. Leave it all to the fools. All one can do is follow a path toward a better life. That path leads out of Illinois.
Great truthful column John. Spot on as always.
They are emptying CC Jail to save money! Leg monitors and wussy Judges save them money. They are so deep in debt that they will screw the citizens in any way they can to try to pay off their debt. And this Mayor couldn’t pay off his own debt when he was running for Mayor.
as for mental health help, check out this link and remember who closed the institutions to save money! Certainly sad that they listened to the CTU and elected “Smiley Big Johnson!”
https://www.thearcofil.org/arc-and-governor-quinn-to-close-four-state-institutions/
I am so happy we do not live in Chicago! I was reading where the comment was made about “demonizing” the youth of Chicago. My thought immediately went to “the youth of Chicago are demonizing themselves!” Then someone was stating, pity-patting, about the young people will be young people….what a crazy situation Chicago is in ….nobody seems to want to correct the situation because it might hurt someone’s feelings? There is a sickness in Chicago and it starts at the top of the ladder, not in the streets where youths alongside of the other criminals NEED to be held in JAIL and tried to the max. That is the only way to do things as the fear of justice is needed once again in Chicago and when that happens, people will be able to ride the CTA without fear!
I feel sorry for all the victims as they have no place to go but remain in Chicago. With that thought in mind, Brandon has to wake up and recognize that FACT and take care of the victims in stead of taking care of the criminal element.
Yes, not living in Chicago and making it known I will never set a foot inside of that border line creates safety for myself and my wife as we push forward towards our 90’s.
Our prayers continue to go out to you John and of course for the victims in Chicago also.
God bless you John Kass and keep on keeping on.
After reading your column today, as a resident of Chicago who is rattled daily because of the crime here, I didn’t realize until now that I can become even more numb.
It’s John Kass News, but cults and echo chambers like this are actually doing the bidding of the oligarchs, the true owners of this country.
You don’t really want to be challenged. I dislike the “hard left” probably as much as you do. I just don’t see much virtue on the other side.
Both political parties and the media are bought and paid for.
Respectfully,
Robett
I’m doing the bidding of the oligarchs? ok. thanks. you say “you (john kas) don’t want to be challenged.” but I do let you pop off. wish you’d write your own column though. thanks for reading,
Yes, you do ‘let” me pop off. And I paid my 50, not like so many others. I just happen to think our problems are much bigger than this right/left/woke garbage.
We are being manipulated, played like a harp by the oligarchs. What you say about the “hard left”, the Democrats, the wokesters, it’s all true. It’s just objectively I don’t see how the Republic benefits by having the other side in charge.
Look at the people who are running. Not one of them has laid out detailed plans for concrete issues like Paul Vallas did in the Mayors race. That’s what was so sad about his loss. Only Ive read where some think he was sabotaged, which I would not doubt. He was going to ask too many questions and maybe expose too many people who are benefitting from status quo.
At least if we elect more republicans, women only will be able to use the ladies room. I don’t like it either, but we’ve got much bigger fish to fry right now than Frank who wants to wear a dress and be called Francine.
The corporate duopoly that runs this nation and owns it must be dismantled.
Thanks for your post, John. Keep on writing.
as long as my health holds up. thanks Sharon!!!!
If one grew up in Chicago one has likely used public transportation. After graduating many of us found ourselves riding that transportation to work.
It would seem to me that which is allowed will continue. They don’t want us safe. They don’t want us comfortable. They continue to ignore the crimes and the wrongs.
I’m not sure if there is an answer or solution. People have long since left the city for the suburbs. And now those aren’t safe. Get on any scanner on the weekend and hear and see what’s happening.
And don’t you dare try to defend yourself you’ll be the one punished. It’s the old shut up and take it.
Thanks for a great column.
Democrats want us gone. it’s that simple
A tour de force! No one writes on this subject as well as John Kass.
mr. simon!!! we really should have that lunch I owe you, Thanks!!!
My question is why is Soros doing this? What purpose does all the crime and disfunction serve?? Has anyone done a deep dive into George Soros since he’s ultimately responsible?
Same question we ask about serial killers.
Heaven forbid that we offend the criminals perpetrating all this crime on unsuspecting victims!!! Alas, I have given up all hope and patience that Chicago will “see the light” in my lifetime, and emerge from the depths of stupidity and Marxism. I fear it’s over Yianni. So many voters stayed home, and thus, by default, elected this Marxist talking head into office, who has absolutely no clue about his job. Another community organizer, like you know who, that was thrust into office, as inept as our now office holder in DC! George Soros and his son must be laughing their heads off at the voters of Chicago, SanFran, LA, NYC, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis. We now have the trifecta of socialists in Illinois, gov, mayor, and cook county board pres. With the financial assistance of the CTU, this city is doomed….it’s over. And as Forest Gump said – stupid is as stupid does! So true….
bingo
But wait, I was there Memorial Day. No violence at all around Millennium Park. Of course, there was a massive police present constant on the streets in squad cars with their flashers going on each east/west street heading to the park in the Loop. Of course, the entire park had fencing erected around it’s perimeter, with green jacketed guards posted (must be a good patronage summer job) at various points around the park telling you to move along. Then, there were the two long lines with families waiting to go through metal detectors and get their bags checked for weapons to gain entry to the park.
In my opinion, the thugs won. But, there was no violence there at the armed camp of Millennium Park
Gloria Steinem’s “kneepad” editorial in 1998 explained the radical feminist’s affinity for overlooking sexual transgressions of favored political actors. Apparently that yet extends to their worst class of patrons as well.
Please stop the unfounded and unjournalistic Soros bashing. It’s beneath you to continually refer to Soros as shorthand for a political epithet. Absent evidence that links Soros to the specific policies that underlie the flaws in the criminal justice system in Chicago, let’s give the man a break for merely holding and supporting progressive or left-leaning ideas.
Nah, Soros is a louse of the first waters and he is linked to every bad States Attorney in the nation. It is hardly “beneath” a genuine journalist to out a louse like George Soros.
Great Column Mr. Kass!
Politics (and money) make strange bedfellows. That’s the reason women’s groups ignore what happens on the CTA or elsewhere is that they want a seat at the political table where the money is. Soros knows this. So some women get raped, oh well. Ditto for the AMA ABA or any other alphabet soup organization. Break a few eggs to make their political omelet. If any (and I’m stretching here) leader starts forcing the criminally insane into actual mental health institutions they would be denounced as “demonizing the mentally ill”. And so it goes.
Would Mayor Johnson let his daughter ride the CTA-Absolutely not! And there is the rub: if our politicians actually rode the CTA, sent their child to a regular CPS school, and eschewed the Praetorian guard following them around like they are Ceasar you would have a different landscape. It’s not going to happen. Small degenerate minds want the trappings of power; it makes them feel accomplished and normal.
Excellent article, John. Glad to see you up and writing.
Blue cities are very much beyond help at this point. The Rudy Giulianis who fix big cities are too few and the system too against them.
GREAT COLUMN. I left Chicago for one reason. I came to the realization WE ARE OUTNUMBERED BY THE STUPID. While I appreciate and understand John’s sentiment and concerns YOU CAN’T SAVE THOSE WHO ARE TOO STUPID TO SAVE THEMSELVES. If you were a soldier on the battlefield trying to carry someone to safety and they are fighting you and drawing enemy fire in your direction you would have to leave him behind to save yourself. The only complaints from anyone in that city are over the illegals being sent from Texas taking the free stuff the complainers used to get. Strangely enough if it were white people doing the complaining they would have immediately been branded as racists. Since the loudest complainers aren’t white I guess they’renot racists. You won’t see anything in the media about the rampant violence in the city. None of the television “news” stations even address the actual numbers of people being shot every weekend. Not one will even talk about the actual numbers. I guess its not news. You wouldn’t want to scare the populace. Not to worry. They have more important things to report. This is Chicago’s “Swifties” weekend after all.
Thanks, John, for another truthful but sad, sad column about the decline of a once great city.
Chicago is like many others–SanFrancisco, Portland, etc, ect. When will those that live there rise up?
They try, lose to racial liberal politics and give up and move away making change even less likely.
It is just so depressing! Greg Ganske
BTW…our favorite Communist/ Democratic Socialist/ Fake Persona Operative “RigaTony” hasn’t posted here in a while. Maybe we’ve succeeded in chasing the idiot away. But in case we haven’t…YOU ARE STILL A MORON. AN IDIOT. AND AN IMBECILE. Nothing has changed. Same shit, different day. SAME IDIOT.
After 70ish years in Chicago and voting in e-ver-y primary and election once we could vote, we packed up and left. Tired of the corruption and creeping decay of one party rule. In Florida, where woke goes to die. Best wishes to those left behind. We hope this mayor will wake up the Democrat zombies.
The offered defense of mental illness is trash. Most criminals are mentally unstable to begin with. They have the capacity to understand right from wrong, but, with no consequence from the current sitting SA, Chief Judge, and the liberal loud voices, the criminals will continue to prey on what the perception of weak is.
Defend yourself and the “media” will crucify you, then they defend the actions of the criminal as being from a poor upbringing.
Restore law and order and respect to all would be a good start.
Coddling the criminal in the name of virtue signaling will only make the City’s continued downward spiral continue until the no longer is a City.
John,
This column is great! A strong statement that you can once again deliver the truth, warts and all, just as you did before.
Thank God!
John
Keep on fighting. Unfortunately, too many of your fellow Chicagoans aren’t paying attention. It’s not that they don’t care necessarily. It’s that they don’t think they can have an impact. They know the teachers unions and big corporate media control the debate in the city. We have to lessen the power of money. Public financing doesn’t do it because super Pacs and unions will still be able to put their thumbs on the scale to either support candidates they want or go after ones they don’t with negative ads or mailers.
How to do it? Reduce the size of districts or ward races. Make them a small as a neighborhood – a few thousand homes. Then let those representatives of those small districts designate a representative to serve in the larger body.
Less than half of registered voters in Chicago bothered to cast a vote. They don’t think their vote matters. Reduce the size of districts so campaigning is person to person and people will care again enough to vote.
Mr. “Johnny Goes National” Kass has done it again with this powerful piece! Once again, John Kass is featured where no Tribune Guild goof surfaces – Real Clear Politics.
I am proud be in John Kass’s stable of writers.
Way to go, John Kass!
When I first saw this headline, I thought, oh no, he’s doing another Chicago crime piece, and unfortunately, it will lack gravitas because he, and perhaps most of his readers, including yours truly, no longer live there. But this was excellent. My 25 year old daughter lives in Wicker Park and takes the blue line. I will forward this column, and the CWEB articles, to her. “Intersectionality is a heartbreaker.” That is a classic line. Too many liberal women don’t understand and/or don’t accept that they will sometimes need the rough and tough good guys to protect them from the truly bad guys.
Thanks, John. I hope your recovery is going well. I doubt your observations will make a difference, but it is important to bear truthful witness.
Great piece! Where are the feminists on a variety of issues but especially sexual assault? Silent. And Chicago news organizations are more interested in leading with sports. It makes no sense.
Meanwhile, Leftist politicians placate those that voted for them with meaningless speeches. Obama taught them well.
Great article, Thank you Mr. Kass.
I grew-up in West Pullman in the 60’s and 70″s.
My family moved to the Western Suburburbs in 76, where I still reside. My aspiration, until a few years ago, was to move to a condo on / near the lake. That dream is dead.
I have a daughter that lives on the northside. She takes the Blue Line a few times a week into and out of the city. This concerns me a great deal. Given the state of our criminal justice system, nobody seems to be protected except the criminals.
To hear Mayor Johnson say of the violence in the city “If you dont live in the city of Chicago, stop talking about the city of Chicago” He went on to criticize the “media” for their Demonization of Chicago’s young people. I think that the so called demonized ones, did a fairly good job of labeling themselves without the assistance of the news media. I dont know where The Mayor gets his news, but, it does not seem to me that its from the local network affiliations, the Trib or Sun-Times. They do little less than pander to Preckwinkel, Foxx and Evans.
I don’t know how the news here could be any less critical of the trifecta of prejudice that governs the Criminals of Cook County.
Mayor Johnson, the situation at hand needs decisive action, not less attention to the truth. It affects more than folks inside the city limits. It killed a life-long dream of mine.
John, well done ! The comments post article are quite interesting and also, for the most part, spot on too !
One line did stand out to me and the obvious reply/retort was missed.
“ Every woman who has to run that gauntlet because she doesn’t have the money to drive and pay for parking.”
Unfortunately if every woman drove (or anyone for that matter), they’d probably get carjacked ! It is after all 2023 in Chicago. So that’s not a good option either.
Some day I’d love to sit down for a chat with you….I’ll buy. Just not within the city (or preferably not the county either).
My grandmother supported the family during the Depression as a professional monogrammer. My mother was her messenger and brought monogrammed tablecloths and napkins via the El from Berwyn to downtown Chicago when she was as young as 8 years of age. She told colorful stories about the men who “felt her up” as she traveled. I guess nothing has changed very much, but I hope we don’t hear stories about children being treated this way.
No, I don’t think Brandon Johnson would let his children ride the most dangerous Chicago CTA trains like the Red Line, nor would he let them attend a regular, dysfunctional CPS public school.
I believe his children attend the elite, college prep school Kenwood, in my U Chicago Hyde Park/Kenwood neighborhood where he doesn’t live. Like the Obamas or Obama’s Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan (I wend to U Chicago Lab School with that idiot) these elite Lib Dems, BLM Dems don’t subject their own children to dangerous, failing public schools where the teachers and administrators (Brandon Johnson when he did a short classroom teaching stint) don’t even require students to pass basic reading and math tests – “THOSE TESTS ARE RACISTS”… (but our children will go to elite schools where they do teach math, reading, science, etc)
Mr John Kass and others here – Brandon Johnson is what he is – a BLM, racist, CTU Chicago/Commnist Teachers Union lobbyist. He is making his, CB Chairwoman Toni P, chief crime Judge Tim Evans (my former Kenwood alderman and he wasn’t that bad then, he is now) and of course bat sh** crazy, Soros Funded, BLM (That’s BlackLIESmatter) DA Kim Foxx another …
Chocolate City like Detroit under Coleman Young, New Orleans, Atlanta and Washington DC back in the 1980s. Most, all high paying city jobs in transportation, ($8 billion a year and growing) CPS public education, sanitation go to THEIR PEOPLE. Tests and standards are deemed RACISTS.
This unholy BLM Lib Leftist Democrat one party rule of Toni P, Tim E, Kim F and now Brandon J have ceased pretty much all political power in our Chicago the City.
We should have seen this coming and I DID SEE IT COMING.
Mr John Kass (my subscription to John KassNews was automatically renewed so I feel the right to express my true feelings):
I’m sorry to have to say “I Told You So” but I did tell you so.
We should have run a well known, well liked Chicago celebrity – an actor like Bill Muray, Jim Belushi or better yet a beloved retired Chicago Sports star like ’85 Bears hall of famers Mike Singletary or Garry Fencik. Regular Chicago voters, especially immigrants from Asia, Mexico, the Middle East did not know who Paul Vallas was/is. Yes, Paul Vallas was/is an honest, good government reformer – he did great work with our CPS. But Vallas wasn’t a well known celebrity and he didn’t play ethnic/racial/sexual identity politics – that’s always been “The Chicago Way” as you say Mr. John Kass.
Mayor Daley Sr. knew how to play identity, class, city job politics. That’s why Mayor Daley Sr. won pretty much every election here that counted from 1955 -1975 including fixing the 1960 Presidential Election for his Irish Catholic American kinsmen John F Kennedy.
“Vallas” could be an “Hispanic” name. Why didn’t Paul Vallas and his supporter – YOU try to target Hispanic voters.
We could have also gotten that wealthiest man in Illinois Hedge Fund $ billionaire “Griffin” (I think) to find some regular guy who was also named B Johnson on the ballot to split the B Johnson Black Vote.
That’s what Joe Kennedy – President Kennedy, RFK and Teddy Kennedy’s father would have done and he, we would have WON and not allowed this worst ever Black racist, Idi Amin, Robert Mugabe, Coleman Young, Marion Barry CTU Brandon Johnson to get elected with < 20 of Chicago registered voters vote.
Sorry for ranting.
But Mr. John Kass and others….
Just see what has happened. We now have a 1 party, Black racist, BLM, hard core Leftist, CTU City government that has legalized mass organized BLM riots, looting, car jacking even murder.
And these *&$@@ somehow managed to get the national Democrat Party to give them the 2024 Democrat National Convention – it could be like 1968 again even worse as we don't have Mayor Daley Sr's touch CPC Chicago Police Department or the National Guard to contain Antifa, LGBT, BLM Riots, terrorism.
Yes, Mr John Kass and others.
I told you so.
OK, lets regroup in the Du Page, Will and Lake County Suburbs and Chicago flight towns in North West Indiana.
Running against Mayor Brandon Johnson, Toni P, Tim E, Kim Foxx, Soros, B Gang terrorized Lib Dem BLM Chicago should be an easy sell in those places.
God bless and God protect us in these terrible times.
Mr John Kass,
I apologize for my prior long rant.
Here’s the short version:
We lost Chicago City – the City to BLM hard core Socialists Lib Leftists CTU lobbyist Brandon Johnson, Soros funded BLM DA Kim Foxx, Toni P, and top crime judge Tim Evans.
We lost the city.
We need to regroup, re-organized in the suburbs and Chicago flight towns in Indiana – where you fled.
Let’s you and others start promoting real mayors, DA’s Sheriffs, County Board Chairmen/women who are enforcing laws against car jackings, organized BLM looting, murder, who are working for decent schools one where they teach basic math, reading and have real tests. Brandon Johnson didn’t believe in teaching basic math and reading, he passed all his (POC poor) students in social promotion.
Mr. Kass and others, please find, promote tough, non nonsense leaders in the suburbs, Indiana who are holding the line against Chicago City murder and mayhem, collapse of civilization That Chicago gang mayhem just spread to Willowbrook in DuPage Cnty this Juneteenth Weekend.
Thank you sir.
JE
Left Behind in Chicago
My attorney dropped a telling phrase while explaining things as he set up my will: Without one, my heirs will have to start the probate process by placing a notice in the papers about my death… “That’s about the only thing the papers are used for these days… certainly the only thing they’re good for…”