Can Holiday Shopping Co-Exist With Violent Crime?
By John Kass
November 19, 2023
The young woman wasn’t thinking about what would happen to her as she walked through Chicago’s elite shopping district on the Magnificent Mile.
The world was beautiful. It was just after 2 p.m. on Monday. People were out, shopping, getting into the holiday season. She was walking, talking with a friend on a beautiful day. She is just 23-years-old, an airline flight attendant, and here’s what she wasn’t thinking about:
She wasn’t thinking about brain damage, or being in a coma at Northwestern Hospital. She wasn’t thinking of her family weeping through Thanksgiving.
I read about the savage crime at CWB Chicago, the indispensable crime web site. It was under the headline, “Charges filed, victim remains unresponsive following log attack on the Mag Mile”
I’ve put a link to the CWB Chicago story in the first sentence of this column. And I urge you to share it with your friends, especially now.
I’m a subscriber. Why? Crime is a major issue, when downtown real estate fails, the city will fail. And the metropolitan newspapers went woke years ago, around the time of the Black Lives Matter riots that destroyed downtown. The papers stopped caring about crime, even to the point of refusing to run police mug shots of suspects. They were afraid of being called racist. Like other important institutions, the papers neutered themselves. I know. I was there.
Downtown has never recovered. I took the lede image from the website with permission from CWB Chicago managing partner Tim Hecke, who wrote the riveting story about the attack.
That young woman had everything in front of her, right there in front of the Burberry Store, 633 N. Michigan Avenue. I loved that store. I worked for 40 years on Boul Mich, when that store was an island of civility, a store that still speaks to excellent, classic British good taste and tradition.
That’s when the violent savage, reportedly a career criminal by the name of Bruce Diamond, made his move.
Yes, a savage. She didn’t know him. He came at her unprovoked to ruin her life. He rushed at her impulsively, without thought, in a completely savage act. Please don’t play the politically correct snowflake with me. If we can’t name the thing, then how can we responsibly deal with it, like adults? I use the word only based on his behavior. It was incredibly savage.
His weapon was a thick log that he threw at her “like a javelin,” as she chatted with her friend, police and witnesses said. She never saw him coming. He used that log, taken from a holiday display outside a local Starbucks. It was about 3 feet long and a witness said it was thick about, 8 to 10 inches in diameter.
He used it to smash her in the face. He threw it at her head from a short distance away. He just walked up and unleashed on her. She went down. Immediately. Police saw it happen.
There was blood running from her ears and her nose. As I write this, she is still in intensive care unresponsive, as the chattering idiots of local TV news are doing their happy-talk bit, excited about the Michigan Avenue “Festival of Lights” parade. When I was a boy it was called the Christmas parade. But that was deemed offensive to some. It got in the way of commerce. Now it is a holiday festival of lights, with minor celebrities and politicians waving to the crowd of shoppers.
She wasn’t one of them.
The happy-talk TV journos were too preoccupied with satisfying their bosses and advertisers to bother mentioning the 23-year-old flight attendant hit in the face with the log or worry about her family or her friends.
In Heck’s CWB Chicago story, prosecutors said she “sustained bruising, swelling and bleeding to her brain, a hemorrhage, and a fracture to her left mastoid.”
CWB reported that court records show Diamond had been “AWOL for more than two years from a misdemeanor battery case” against him in 2022. He beat someone inside a store in the 200 block of North Dearborn. How badly? We don’t know. Records were incomplete.
And recently he had been in Ohio, where he achieved 21 criminal convictions there since 2011. How many young women did he smash in the face? How many men? It’s unclear.
What is clear is Chicago and Cook County are sanctuaries for violent repeat offender criminals, ever since Kim Foxx was elected Cook County State’s Attorney in 2016. She ran as the anti-cop Democrat who was backed with millions of political dollars by hard leftist George Soros.
She and her political partner and mentor, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, chair of the county Democrats, promised to lower the population of the Cook County Jail.
Theirs was a racial argument, the basis of which was that that racial minorities (meaning black and brown people) were being unfairly targeted by police for arrests. This, even though racial minorities were involved in most of the violent crime, and their victims were racial minorities.
But those racial minorities who were victims of the thugs weren’t important to the Cook County Democrats.
The Preckwinkle Foxx argument won favor among the hard left of the Chicago media, and from most Democrats. Even former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who vowed to stop Foxx, buckled under the racial pressure and backed Foxx for reelection.
Voters were tired of Lightfoot, and Preckwinkle’s other protege, Brandon Johnson, was elected mayor with muscle from the Chicago Teacher’s Union, which serves as Boss Toni Preckwinkle’s new machine.
Now, Johnson too is under pressure on account of the crime issue. In a recent poll two out of three voters give him unfavorable ratings. He’s as low as Rahm Emanuel and Lightfoot. He’s under pressure to deal with crime, but his progressive hard-left politics are in the way. The pressure builds on him.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s having more of his panic attacks.
The new Illinois Policy Institute poll gives Johnson only a 28 percent approval rating. He talks and his speeches threaten his political critics, and he blusters and postures, but the city is still awash in crime. He’s done little if anything about it.
Who is going to shop downtown now?
Without sales revenues, the downtown business district will wither away. It happened years ago in Detroit. It is happening now in Chicago. People won’t spend money if they’re not safe.
I suppose there are some who will go. My wife won’t go downtown. A friend’s wife–she was a flight attendant and a ballet dancer–won’t pay for the privilege of being a victim of brutal violent crime.
I worry about my sons’ girlfriends, both lovely young women. I think that most fathers are concerned. I won’t spend a dime down there. If Mayor Johnson can’t protect the people, why should we help him fill the city revenue treasure box?
The Christmas shopping season can’t co-exist with people like Bruce Diamond pouncing on 23-year-old women on Michigan Avenue. Sales will die and so too, downtown real estate.
Still, when I post this, I’m certain that Johnson’s hard left Bolshevik cadre will come out and attack from the safety of the social media shadow.
I’m also certain that Chicago media will not link Boss Toni Preckwinkle to the growing epidemic of crime, or connect the dots to Soros and Kim Foxx. Those who are responsible for the anarchy and chaos won’t be held to account. And that is how a city dies.
And I’m also certain that media will ignore the young woman in the coma at Northwestern Hospital, as her family and loved ones gather and think of the bleak Thanksgiving holiday to come.
God bless and protect her, that young girl in the coma, a victim of Chicago’s savagery.
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Comments 60
Oh John what a way to wake up on Sunday morning? A log to the face, just senseless.
I think your next column should go toward how to achieve crispy skin on our smoked turkeys this week.
Excellent column, but right now I just sort of in shock with the violence.
I will do so Mr. Reedy. Am I not a river to my people?
You are correct about CWB. I feel so bad for this young woman. I refuse to completely curtail my movements but I am more vigilant now than ever in my life. There truly are some people not fit to move around in society and this perpetrator is one of them. He moves among jurisdictions freely. I hope they keep him “inside.”
John,
You are all that, and more!
May you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Marianne
Thy mother mated with a scorpion.
John I could not agree with you more. But it not just downtown! Let’s remember how Drew Halburt lost his life just 5 days ago outside the HOUSE of BLUES! I understand this area of River North is a haunt of some of our worst savages that prey on people as a matter of routine.
How about Caesar Patino, a 72 year old grandfather gunned down just 2 days ago in Logan Square. The video is heart breaking. Just shot down in cold blood walking to his car. After attending his grandson’s birthday.
Also my sincere appreciation to CWBCHICAGO for their excellent work.
I would encourage everyone to support them.
Maybe the totally oblivious population of our city will wake up and vote in the next mayor election. Only 33% of registered voters turned out in the last election. SHAME!!
Chicago’s many Bruce Diamonds have the Freedom of the City! “Reparations by Any Means” includes the freedom to hurl a log in the face of a tiny woman. Chicago is finished, because most Chicagoans will shrug, like they do in Beverly after a neighbor gets terrorized twice by local Bruce Diamonds.
Chicago is the City That Shrugs. Gee, I’ll bet Justin Fields has a great day today.
Yessir, as long as “The Monsters of the Midway” win, what does anything else matter????
Speaking of, how is “The Midway” faring these days?
A year from now we will be long gone from what was once the city and state I truly loved and was proud of being a resident of. We will watch as Chicagoans continue to elect incompetents and vote along identity politics guidelines…because they deserve the chance to run things after so many years right? See San Francisco. Washington D.C., New York, Philadelphia, Detriot, New Orleans and so on to see how that’s been working out!
The chinese are no longer so inscrutable – they are laughing openly at us.
Go Bears. 🙄
Keep exposing the truth the media lie about, John. Sad to see Chicago spiraling downward like this. Bari Weiss recently delivered a speech to the Federalist Society and, while the main subject was a call to the West regarding October 7th, her comments found their way to also address the progressive prosecutor movement. For the survival of western society and for the Chicago’s of our nation, it is time to see the evil and call it what it is for the ruinous impact it has on our culture and our freedom.
With the 147 bus and the red line nearby, Michigan Av and State St became my shopping mall. When the streets and public transportation became dangerous I fled 60660 for good. Now in 46373 with everything needed or wanted nearby.
Jim Farrell
Monstrous crimes like the one Monday sometimes make me wonder about “hate crimes.” Interest in hate crimes surged briefly after actor Jussie Smollett reported one in Chicago almost four years ago.
It’s easy to find statistics on several categories of hate crimes — with one categorical exception. Chicago media hardly ever note this exception. Anyone feel comfortable mentioning it? No, neither do I.
Reporting in painful detail on crimes like this one takes guts. It’s especially challenging in the cities whose district attorneys are sponsored by billionaire crime benefactor Soros and whose politics corrupt justice. Such reporting once didn’t require special courage, but it does now. In 2023 it takes a journalist like the one fired in 2021 by the Tribune, who now reports on the war zone Chicago has become.
100% agree, John. It’s a savage crime that only a savage could carry out.
When people understand the consequences of their vote, perhaps Chicago will have better leadership but how and why does mainstream media continue to ignore these stories? I guess if the truth is reported by mainstream media, a once great city will just die too quickly. That wouldn’t be good for business, would it!?!
Please God, protect the young lady that this sick savage & career criminal has inflicted.
Yessir, as long as “The Monsters of the Midway” win, what does anything else matter????
Speaking of, how is “The Midway” faring these days?
A year from now we will be long gone from what was once the city and state I truly loved and was proud of being a resident of. We will watch as Chicagoans continue to elect incompetents and vote along identity politics guidelines…because they deserve the chance to run things after so many years right? See San Francisco. Washington D.C., New York, Philadelphia, Detriot, New Orleans and so on to see how that’s been working out!
The chinese are no longer so inscrutable – they are laughing openly at us.
Go Bears. 🙄
Welcome to the world of “reparations by other means” as your friend Mike ftom Evanston so eloquently put it as referenced in a recent column.
No!
Holiday shopping cannot exist with violent crime. Chicago cannot exist with violent crime. It can’t.
My family and I almost never go into Chicago now. We are fearful.
No more Mag Mile, no more museums, no more Navy Pier, no more dining. No more money spent.
NO MORE MONEY SPENT!!!
This is what Chicago voted for. Right?
We did attend a Cubs game in May. Based on our observations of the demographics in the area and neighborhoods to the north, we felt safe. But we only did that for one game.
When will it improve? Probably never.
To answer your title question: No, no it cannot.
A friend’s husband works in commercial insurance underwriting in Chicago. After the summer of BLM/”mostly peaceful but fiery protests,” he told her that many of the high-end boutique stores would not be back in Chicago, because their insurance costs would outweigh their income. He also predicted that the larger stores would also, in relatively quick time, be reducing their footprint and ultimately leaving.
They sold their Gold Coast condo, he switched his territory to Kane County areas, and they escaped.
He absolutely knew what he was talking about.
Spot on, John. I like seeing my colleagues, but I go to my office in the Loop only one morning a week. I’m gone by the time the car-jackers are awake. The thought of going into Chicago to shop, or do anything else for recreation, is ludicrous to me.
A heartbreaking failure of government. Unlike the 15 minute scrubbing given San Francisco for DNC chairman Xi’s visit, Chicago’s violence won’t be adequately sanitized ahead of the DNC convention. This has become the city’s superbug.
The five-time felon is just as evil as any baby-beheading Hamas terrorist. Perhaps one of the wokies can please educate me as to the difference (but let’s keep me out of the re-education camp you are dreaming up for me okay)? Kim Foxx, Preckwinkle, the CTU and Brandon Johnson are no different than the Hamas leaders who are safely protected in Qatar. The media is no different than the old Soviet mouthpiece, TASS.
Theirs was a racial argument, the basis of which was that that racial minorities (meaning black and brown people) were being unfairly targeted by police for arrests.
Using this line of reasoning one could conclude the criminal justice system is extremely sexist since it disproportionately affects males. I wonder why. Must be man haters.
Also what would be George Soros’ goal in helping elect these public servants? I mean what’s in it for him? Creative destruction ?
“Chicago: hog butcherer to the world”.
“My kind of town, Chicago is…”
“Sweet home, Chicago”.
Familiar lines, huh?
Having lived in west central Illinois my entire life, I only have a scholastic knowledge of our state’s largest city.
It used to be that we would come into Chicago for shopping or a Bears game or a Cubs game on an annual basis, but that all changed with the George Floyd riots. I felt that any senior citizen with money to spend would be a sitting duck for the criminal elements that controls the once great city.
It wasn’t that long ago that Chicagoans were the best city ambassadors; friendly and engaging.
But, crime is also at the front of their minds now.
Resilience? Not anymore. It has given way to recidivism.
So, Preckwinkle has accomplished her goal of reducing the population of the county jail.
Unfortunately, for law-abiding Chicagoans, that means that the criminals are being left on the streets to offend again and again and again.
We can pretend that it’s still safe to come and spend money in Chicago, but getting a fractured skull and a brain bleed isn’t on my bucket list.
And how many Salvation Army red kettles will be stolen in Chicago this year?
Thank you, John for sharing. I am a concerned father. My daughter is 25, lives in Wicker Park. We are going to a show at the Cadillac Palace next Sunday. It would be more convenient if she could meet me there. But I can’t take that risk. I will pick her up at her apartment.
Remember when patronage was evil? The idea that you did political work in return for jobs, promotions, and golf outing tickets. It was tolerated in return for a “city that works.” Pick up the garbage, keep the streets sort of safe, etc. You paid a corruption tax to keep things going but politicians were nervous that local papers might expose them enough to make the politicians sweat. Politicians had to balance the citizens’ demands with the demands of the public sector unions. They also listened to corporate types (in exchange for insurance or legal services). Now we have public sector unions, like the teachers union, that have job security the average patronage worker could only dream of achieving. These unions do political work in return for generous compensation and job security. They view soaking the businesses as reparations for them being too white and too successful. The outfit wanted to dip their beak. These unions want to leave only crumbs to the citizens. These Social Democrats share a worldview with the media. They are smarter, wiser, and more moral than the riff-raff who try to do their best for their families. Those that can, of all colors, flee the collapsing system. Street gangs gain greater control as the police are forced to retreat. The tipping point is reached where even the rich in Chicago can’t keep the illusion of safety even as their taxes go up. Patronage was evil, politicians controlling a workforce that worked for politicians. Now, we have public sector unions that control politicians who work for the unions. And the Social Democrats praise the changes.
Just read the CWB report. “… a charge of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm.” Really? How about attempted murder?
I agree. And this story is likely to just get even more tragic if that is even remotely possible. The worst may still be yet to come. If this poor victim makes it – and does not die – she likely will have a very long and expensive rehab period. And even if rehab is deemed “successful” she will likely have major disabilities for the rest of her life: effecting every aspect of her life … never mind her ability to ever work again as a flight attendant. The medical bills will be astronomical and likely financially overwhelming … even with insurance.
The dirt bag who did this monstrous crime should be sued for everything he is worth. Of course he is likely worth nothing, so that would be a waste of time. However, suing Mayor Johnson and his idiot partner in crime State’s Attorney Foxx, would be more than justified. Of course I know that is just a fantasy on my part.
I hope CWB follows up on the terms of his plea bargain.
I live across the street from Burberry and never worry about walking around on Michigan Avenue. However, I always worry about my father, wife, and son when he’s home from college, walking around without me. Lots of nice people around, but too many obviously crazy and violent people around as well. It’s not a normal way to live. My son goes to school in Ann Arbor and I never worry about his safety, even when he’s out and about late at night.
This is beyond tragic, beyond words.
That killer is not even an animal. Perhaps a virus is a better description, a disease. These criminals are all over Michigan avenue, I would see them when I lived a few blocks east, in Streeterville.
The democrats have succeeded- they’ve turned social order upside down, the viruses are more important than the host. Chicago is diseased, dying. Get out while you can.
I will never go downtown again, where white lives don’t matter.
On one of my occasional visits back to Chicago (from Jacksonville, FL–a safe space for people fleeing Chicago and Illinois who can’t it anymore) I told my daughter and son-in-law that I thought I’d drive down to the Loop just to visit it again. They warned me in no uncertain terms not to go. It’s just too dangerous. So, I didn’t go to a cherished place where I worked for more than 40 years.
On using pictures of arrested suspects: In the early 1960s when I was a journalism student at Marquette University, there was a serious debate over whether those pictures should be published. As I recall the Milwaukee Journal used those pictures. “But it’s racist!” we were told by some. Because most of the pictures were of black men. So here it was in a journalism school, some people (not the faculty) were already arguing that journalists should hold back information because it was racist! Even, some 60 years ago, this crap was already incubating.
Well, Dennis, once the Sun Times makes sure that the South and West sides of Chicago are no longer “dog park deserts” systemic racism will come to a $hit screaming halt, or maybe not. After all, The Sun Times and WBEZ are invested in outing every last member of the Proud Boys, who kept people of color from walking their puppies for decades.
The Sun Times – Marxism for thecommute. Easy to open but impossible to finish!
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/11/20/23939314/dog-bites-dog-parks-chicago-311-complaints
I was a cop for 32 years and have a concealed carry permit…..my wife was an RN at northwestern memorial hospital for 30 years.
We lived in the south loop for 15 years…….haven’t been back to city in over 7 years and will never go back….
Mayor is a moron,states atty is incompetent and Preckwinkle is an accomplice to
Destruction of Chicago.
How many citizens didn’t vote in last election? 65%
Hope you like what you got
That lovely young woman could one day be my son, who is driving out tonight to make sure my router works properly, and is secure, and then has to drive home, alone, late at night, and park on the street in Chicago. His neighborhood may not be a famous place like Michigan Avenue, but every part of Chicago is dangerous now, in my opinion. Especially at night. I follow every one of these “armed car theft/carjacking/robbery/battery” organized crime sprees which occur almost every day now. Some are close enough to where my son has to walk at night that I shudder as I compulsively read their progress from victim to victim. Hardly any have been arrested for these chilling attacks. It doesn’t help that he drives a Hyundai!
My prayers for that young woman in a coma, and for every one of the terrorized souls who inhabit Chicago, which includes all races, colors and creeds. My son’s neighborhood is particularly diverse, with seemingly happy families of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian people; all skin colors, all manner of dress. That used to be something I pointed to with some pride. May they pull through and, hopefully, may they emerge from this ordeal alive, without lasting physical or mental scars.
I can’t wait for my son to get away from Chicago — it’s slowly eating me up with worry.
Keep those articles coming, John — you’re one of our only hopes!
As usual John, your column is spot on. As long as criminals know or can expect there will be minimal or no consequences for their actions, crime will continue to worsen in Chicago. The police are hamstrung by the mayor and states attorney for fear they will accused of racism, they can no longer do their jobs. Businesses and citizens will continue to exit and economic life of the city will decline. The town of my birthplace will soon resemble Detroit unless something is done. It might help if there was better voter participation in Chicago.
The carnage and savagery here is no better than Hamas today. Evil is rampant. Two years ago my wife was present at that same Burberry as a person of color barged past the “security” guard, grabbed a few purses and attempted to flee when he got trapped in the revolving door. Dropped the purses and was let go. We have a condo not far from there and after 12 years the value is nearly flat. Going on the market sooner than later. Taxes assessments and CRIME are the reasons.
Keep up the good work. CWB and JKN is an important bellweather. The CTU and Toni of the sensible shoes pushed an absolute idiot into office. He has panic attacks as he well should. In way way way over his head.
I am shocked the Left have not blamed the act on Strabucks, for displaying a “Log” that tempted this Degenerate to commit this criminal Act…
Exactly! Or maybe the the “elite” nanny-state politicians will blame and ban logs & firewood in Chicago. It’s interesting how politicians hold inanimate objects accountable instead of people (who should & need to be held accountable)…
First LA burned but luckily it came back. The Detroit burned and still hasn’t fully recovered. Minneapolis has burned but will it recover ? I fear Chicago is a tinder box waiting to explode. These cities all have one thing in common, rampant black crime and a citizenry ready to riot at the slightest provocation while the police department that is treated like the enemy. The Floyd riots were just a taste. So very sad.
This behavior is just savage and brutal..it is not disaffected young people expressing their frustration with how they think that they are being treated by society. Along with the savages who are breaking into the retail stores or carjacking innocent people, we have to call it what it is. THEY ARE CRIMINALS ALL!!!!!! We sold our place in the city as we were worried about ourselves and our children and friends coming in to the city for a fun day or evening. It is not safe and you can read about it in the English and Irish papers in Europe; they say it like it is….
Thankyou John for writing about this sad story. I have wondered why we have not heard more of this despicable crime. That so easily hits home for me. Monday afternoon on Michigan Ave. How many times I have walked that and now I feel so differently about it. I am so sorry for this woman. I agree the Chicago local media has failed the city. Keep writing John!
2 out of 3 voters rate Johnson unfavorable. 2 out of 3 voters didn’t VOTE!
More of the same from this morning’s paper (not on the front page, BTW):
“Sunday night should have been a joyful evening for Cesar Patino, as friends and relatives gathered in Logan Square to celebrate his grandson’s 20th birthday.
Instead, 72-year-old Patino was fatally shot while leaving the party.”
A drive-by shooter from some anonymous unidentified SUV, killed Mr. Patino as he carried a tray of party left-overs out the front door.
Barbarous, unprovoked murder. No suspects, no arrests (like that would matter). From a 23 year old to a 72 year old grandpa… the savagery of these animals knows no limits.
How long will it before those law-abiding good citizens that are left here take matters into their own hands and mete out the justice to these thugs that their victims’ blood cries out for? The day is coming and it will be terrible.
As soon as they do, Kim Foxx or whatever Social Justice Whiner that replaces her will throw the book at them and get them lengthy prison sentences for protecting themselves.
It is frightening to go in to the Loop. I was waiting for you to write a comment about Mayor Johnson not able to attend the funeral service of a fire fighter killed in the line of duty. May only hope is that Johnson was sick. Wonder what the family of the firefighter felt or what message was sent to the Fire Dapartment.
It appears that Chicago is in its death throes, as the socialist agenda has taken root, giving more rights to criminals than victims. The Greeks have a phrase – “the fish smells from the head,” which really tells us all we need to know – and who to blame for this catastrophe. Look at the individual at the top, and you’ll see how things are – or are not – being run. Start with Mr. Bumbles in DC, and our “Chicago Way Mayor” of doing things here. Chicago’s “own” Obama took the Chicago Way to DC and decimated the entire structure of our government. He doesn’t even dare to come back to live in Chicago! What does that tell us? His “library” will end up becoming an albatross around the neck of Chicago, as its location deters tourists from venturing that far south. The “Mag Mile” is history. Is it any wonder so many concealed carry permits are being issued here? No one dares going around anymore unless they’re packing! Such a sad state of affairs, which I don’t see ending anytime soon….
We left IL close to 15 years ago.
Still have family in the area, but I damned near break out in hives at the thought of visiting The City these days. Haven’t been back there in… what? Think it’s been 8 years now.
A month ago, we went to Minneapolis for a family funeral. It was bad there, very disappointing to see how far it’s fallen. But it seems that Chicago is far worse now.
The movie “Escape From New York” flashes through my mind from time to time…
I am praying for that poor young woman, and for her family.
I no longer pray for the The City I once loved. It is gone.
John,
An excellent description of what is happening in our city. What a terrible shame that this poor young women is now comatose after this senseless act. Shame on all who are skirting the law and order issue in our society.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Chicago needs another mayor,…like the original Richard J. Daley. Unfortunately,…that will never happen. As stated above,….Chicago is turning into another Detroit. A chilling sadness is slowly descenting upon the city that once worked.
Ah King Richard: “shoot to kill any one with a Molotov cocktail in their hands and shoot to maim any looter”. Those were the days, my friends.
1. The City is already dead. Never to return. Why?
2. No matter what the polls say, the CTU will get the vote out FOR WHO EVER THEY SUPPORT. CASE CLOSED.
3. There is no middle class of significant numbers left in Chgo. It’s poor and rich with the latter leaving.
4. I lived in city for 40 yrs. Moved for a job to Tony North Shore LaLa land. And it’s extremely safe where I live. There are women here that have NEVER been downtown! Luckily I am not in Cook County. I don’t know how Taxwinkle continues to get elected. How do all those wealthy Cook County suburban voters put that lazy ass beech in office!?
One more note. When I go downtown I carry bear spray. I kid you not! Especially on CTA!
Where is Catherine O’Leary when you need her?
Still in Mount Olivet last I hear, Steve. What that old broad could do with a cow and a lantern would make Jake from State Farm blush.
Excellent column, as always, John. Unfortunately our medical care is also downtown at Northwestern, several facilities in Streeterville. We generally drive one another back & forth from our appointments, but late last week I told my husband that I’d walk home since it was such a gorgeous day – &, although it used to be common practice, I honestly could not remember the last time I’d done so. Having just read the CWB article, my parting comment to him was, “Just pray I don’t get hit in the face with a log.” We also took a pass on going to the parade, which we love. We have not been since 2019, first with pandemic cancellations, then with crime. What a world. I’m so tired.
I posted the link to the CWB story to my Facebook page. I hope everyone does likewise.
Well, I don’t see any mention of the offender or the judge in the Tribune for the 19th through the 21st. Unbelievable. WTF? Born in Auburn Gresham but its time to go home to Vilas County.
Dan Bongino has a talk show on WLS AM 890 and he raises the topic on a regular basis. How bad does it have to get before we have meaningful pushback on the policies that have gotten us to where we are right now? His answer is consistently, “We are not there yet.” He is correct. The election of Brandon Johnson is proof of that. Will we be there in three years from now? I don’t know.
All I can offer are my prayers for this young woman.
I truly miss being able to wander down Michigan ave, and especially State st back in the 70’s at Christmas time.
I’ll probably never do it again.
John,
At some point Chicago voters will get out and vote and overcome the government union workers who vote as they’re told and vote out these irresponsible, incoimoetent, virtue signaling politicians. When that happens who will be accountable to the countless victims and their loved ones for horror and mayhem that the County Board President’s “social justice experiment” rained down on them? Who will be accountable to the property owners for their diminished property values?
John
is there any way to help this injured woman? go fund me? this must stop. Please share.
incarceration and/or mental health facilities are needed.
what I don’t understand…….is it incompetence or intentional?
how can city leadership allow this?
Charlie Connolly
John — this tragic story cannot be allowed to ‘go away’. CWB will be following the case as it proceeds in the courts. Is there any way you can follow the recovery of this young woman. We both know that the legacy ‘scriptwriters’ won’t.