CHICAGO | Politics and Current Events

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by Rizzo

Well per Wikipedia and WGN there was about 1700 less officers in 2022 from 2017. That’s in essence 1 patrol per shift per day on every street in this city end to end. That’s where the enforcement went - attrition. Crime is up citywide the last few years, reducing resources of routine traffic enforcement. Oh and there’s the cameras. They work, but the current administration has said they oppose speed and red light cameras. It shows lack of priority for passive enforcement

This doesn't match up with the actual data on traffic stops:

Illinois Traffic and Pedestrian Stop Study data shows traffic stops conducted by Chicago police have nearly quadrupled in recent years, from around 85,000 stops in 2015 to 327,224 traffic stops in 2020.

The problem is they are stopping people based on skin color and looking for guns/drugs. They aren't stopping people for actually violating the law, which is why the number of tickets issued is so low.

But many stops don’t result in tickets. In 91.2 percent of stops last year, Chicago cops didn’t issue any citations. On the West Side, cops didn’t issue tickets in 93.8 percent of stops.

Chicago cops ticketed drivers in 8.8 percent of stops citywide. Statewide, cops gave out tickets in 34.2 percent of stops. In suburban Aurora, it’s 29 percent. In Joliet, the ticket rate is 69 percent, according to state data.

Meanwhile, they aren't even finding the contraband they are looking for.

Most traffic stops don’t result in guns, drugs or drug paraphernalia being taken off the streets, either. Of the 327,224 traffic stops last year, contraband was found in 1,379 of them — just .42 percent of stops.

Of the 11,273 guns taken in by police last year, 370 were found in traffic stops.

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by Kngkyle

Cyclists can't win. They get yelled at when on the road. They get yelled at when on sidewalks. If there happens to be a bike lane it's full of delivery vehicles, parked cars, and pedestrians. Then you have a tiny minority of Tour de Chads that makes everyone hate cyclists.

Just constantly fucked.

My heart aches for them. Truly, the world's smallest violin. Just like so many motorists are pricks, a large number of bicyclists are as well. The problem is that pedestrians are literally fucked no matter what. And I happen to be a pedestrian the vast majority of the time since I don't ride a bike.

Seriously, whatever happened to everyone having some common fucking courtesy and decency?

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Klippenstein]

Bikers and pedestrians are in a similar boat. Not sure why this isn't common sense. Considering drivers, bikers and pedestrians, the latter 2 have the most in common and are the most vulnerable. They would both benefit from better, separated infrastructure that deprioritizes cars.

[marothisu]

Shooting victims per week, every week up til last complete week (ending 8/27/2023) for 2013 to 2023. Red bolded numbers mean it's a peak and orange mean it's the 2nd highest. 2023 has no peaks for any week in that range, although it does have 3 in 2nd place. The highest year is a tie between 2016 and 2020, with 2021 after that and then 2017. There were no peak weeks at all 2013 to 2015.

2021 has the most weeks at #1 or #2, followed by 2016, and then 2020. 2023 so far has the same amount as 2018. We'll see how the rest of the year goes.

[Halsted & Villagio]

MSNBC just ran a segment interviewing Mayor Johnson. According to statistics sited by MSNBC "hate crime" is up in Chicago — up, in fact, to the #1 position nationwide. While crime itself in Chicago is down 51% overall over what it was last year.

That hate crime number is sickening. Should not be happening in 2023 but all we have to do look at the division that exists in our country — one party, flawed, not perfect, but remaining sensible — while the other party seems to be a party of grievance and hate mongering — that surely would spike hate crime nationwide… but why the spike in Chicago in particular?? I am asking that question because I don’t know the answer. Any theories?

As for crime in general being 51% down… I knew Mayor Johnson’s plan of getting to the “root cause” would work… but the speed in which it is working has me pleasantly surprised. If we stay on this track we have a real shot at it being just as I once predicted it COULD be under Mayor Johnson’s plan… with Chicago (one day) having the lowest crime rate of any big city in America.

.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Halsted & Villagio

MSNBC just ran a segment interviewing Mayor Johnson. According to statistics sited by MSNBC "hate crime" is up in Chicago — up, in fact, to the #1 position nationwide. While crime itself in Chicago is down 51% overall over what it was last year.

That hate crime number is sickening. Should not be happening in 2023 but all we have to do look at the division that exists in our country — one party, flawed, not perfect, but remaining sensible — while the other party seems to be a party of grievance and hate mongering — that surely would spike hate crime nationwide… but why the spike in Chicago in particular?? I am asking that question because I don’t know the answer. Any theories?

As for crime in general being 51% down… I knew Mayor Johnson’s plan of getting to the “root cause” would work… but the speed in which it is working has me pleasantly surprised. If we stay on this track we have a real shot at it being just as I once predicted it COULD be under Mayor Johnson’s plan… with Chicago (one day) having the lowest crime rate of any big city in America.

.

Where are they getting the 51% decrease figure from? That's not true or even close. Every single reported crime is up 12% YOY from last year. They must be talking about something else.

https://data.cityofchicago.org/Publi...ijzp-q8t2/data

[Handro]

Originally Posted by Halsted & Villagio

MSNBC just ran a segment interviewing Mayor Johnson. According to statistics sited by MSNBC "hate crime" is up in Chicago — up, in fact, to the #1 position nationwide. While crime itself in Chicago is down 51% overall over what it was last year.

That hate crime number is sickening. Should not be happening in 2023 but all we have to do look at the division that exists in our country — one party, flawed, not perfect, but remaining sensible — while the other party seems to be a party of grievance and hate mongering — that surely would spike hate crime nationwide… but why the spike in Chicago in particular?? I am asking that question because I don’t know the answer. Any theories?

As for crime in general being 51% down… I knew Mayor Johnson’s plan of getting to the “root cause” would work… but the speed in which it is working has me pleasantly surprised. If we stay on this track we have a real shot at it being just as I once predicted it COULD be under Mayor Johnson’s plan… with Chicago (one day) having the lowest crime rate of any big city in America.

.

All of this seems... dubious.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by Halsted & Villagio

MSNBC just ran a segment interviewing Mayor Johnson. According to statistics sited by MSNBC "hate crime" is up in Chicago — up, in fact, to the #1 position nationwide. While crime itself in Chicago is down 51% overall over what it was last year.

That hate crime number is sickening. Should not be happening in 2023 but all we have to do look at the division that exists in our country — one party, flawed, not perfect, but remaining sensible — while the other party seems to be a party of grievance and hate mongering — that surely would spike hate crime nationwide… but why the spike in Chicago in particular?? I am asking that question because I don’t know the answer. Any theories?

As for crime in general being 51% down… I knew Mayor Johnson’s plan of getting to the “root cause” would work… but the speed in which it is working has me pleasantly surprised. If we stay on this track we have a real shot at it being just as I once predicted it COULD be under Mayor Johnson’s plan… with Chicago (one day) having the lowest crime rate of any big city in America.

.

Lol, complete bullshit. Crime is up 32% Is this the propaganda of Mayor BJ?

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Lol, complete bullshit. Crime is up 32% Is this the propaganda of Mayor BJ?

All crime is actually up 12% YOY, not 32%. I linked above to the actuals. Its up 32% of only the ones reported via a weekly police PDF. Theres many more crimes they dont put in that PDF, though.

But also, as I've posted and you continue to ignore - a lot of the crimes totals are coming up to their pre 2019 levels. 2020, 2021, and most of 2022 had the lowest reported of many crimes in forever. Saying its up X% means nothing without zooming out and looking at the entire picture. Not sure where that 51% comes from though - both that and the 32% figure are wrong. Overall crime is up 12%, not 32%.

[moorhosj1]

I found this amusing. The Republican Legislative Campaign Committee - Fall Meeting is taking place in Chicago this week. Proving that even they don't believe their constant FUD about the city.

[marothisu]

Robberies by week for Chicago, includes carjacking. 2013 has the most peak weeks followed by 2016, then 2017....then 2023.

Again, these numbers are basically just coming up to what they were before 2019 or 2018. Pre 2013 the numbers were quite a bit higher. If you look at the numbers for 2020-2022, you'll notice they were fairly low. Anyone who claims "we've never seen this before in the city" is full of shit even just going back to 2016 thru 2018. None of these numbers are acceptable for ANY year and ANY week, but again the trend is pretty obvious here.

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Robberies by week for Chicago, includes carjacking. 2013 has the most peak weeks followed by 2016, then 2017....then 2023.

Worth noting that Rahm Emmanuel was in office during those 2013, 2016, and 2017 peaks.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by moorhosj1

Worth noting that Rahm Emmanuel was in office during those 2013, 2016, and 2017 peaks.

To be fair, I think people vastly overrated who is in executive office for these types of things. Unless they really, really make it a point to address in the correct way. These issues are decades old. In no way is Chicago's crime issues new or even close. Anyone who thinks so either is new to the city or completely oblivious/ignorant.

[Klippenstein]

Zoning veteran picked to run city's planning department

One of the longest serving members of the city's Department of Planning & Development has been picked to run it as former Mayor Lori Lightfoot's choice for the role heads for the exit.

Chicago Zoning Administrator Patrick Murphey, who has worked in various city planning roles across four administrations, will begin next week as DPD's acting commissioner, according to a memo sent today to department staff by outgoing DPD Commissioner Maurice Cox and reviewed by Crain's. Cox, who has run the department since 2019, announced his resignation last month and will serve his last day in the role tomorrow.

The move puts a Chicago planning veteran who knows the city's zoning code and review process as well as anyone atop a key role in Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration, at least for the foreseeable future. Murphey's appointment will likely be well-received by real estate developers, many of whom have criticized the department for being slow to review and approve projects under Cox.

[LouisVanDerWright]

Surprised everyone was so up in arms about Allison thing, but not a single groan from anyone here about Cox departing and being replaced by a long term beaurcrat?

Originally Posted by moorhosj1

I found this amusing. The Republican Legislative Campaign Committee - Fall Meeting is taking place in Chicago this week. Proving that even they don't believe their constant FUD about the city.

No, they are here to plan and commit more hate crimes!

Originally Posted by marothisu

To be fair, I think people vastly overrated who is in executive office for these types of things. Unless they really, really make it a point to address in the correct way. These issues are decades old. In no way is Chicago's crime issues new or even close. Anyone who thinks so either is new to the city or completely oblivious/ignorant.

Yeah, the problems this city has will never go away until the root causes are addressed. There will always be crime while we continue to allow racially and income segregated neighborhoods with 20%+ unemployment rates to continue to exist. There will always be crime when we just let huge numbers of people get and stay addicted to drugs and alcohol and then just let them live on the streets totally untreated.

Solving those problems will take a generation and it starts with finding some way to divert investment into these areas.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

Surprised everyone was so up in arms about Allison thing, but not a single groan from anyone here about Cox departing and being replaced by a long term beaurcrat?

I was hesitant about Cox at first (he was my professor in arch school and struck me as a little too lefty back then) but I think he did a good job at DPD. I don't think he meaningfully put any brakes on development. He may have brought in Committee on Design and increased costs a bit for the very largest projects, but he gave way more than he took away, with backdoor upzonings via TOD and Connected Communities.

Murphey seems to be a placeholder though and doesn't bother me. As Zoning Administrator he usually took a liberal interpretation of the zoning code in favor of being more permissive... I remember working with him to get a walkup window approved for a restaurant pre-Covid, even though we had to bend the rules a little bit. Under his leadership he will either continue the policies that Cox had (but less hands-on) or he will repeal some and we go back to how DPD was run under Reifman. Either way, Murphey's not gonna make waves.

I don't know when Johnson will pick his preferred man for the job, but the fact he hasn't done so yet tells me that he doesn't really have a vision for development in the city, and that part is not great. Say what you will about Lightfoot, but she had ideas for developing the South/West Sides and she put in a leader to support that vision. I don't know what Johnson even wants to do beyond the vague platitudes he mentioned during the campaign.

[marothisu]

I made a few graphs

This one should actually say thru 9/17 but the data is the correct. 4 of the 22 districts are basically at 10 year highs but the other 18 aren't. Most of the highs were either 2013, 2016, or 2017. If we go back further to 2010 then that changes it.

[west-town-brad]

Originally Posted by ardecila

I don't know what Johnson even wants to do beyond the vague platitudes he mentioned during the campaign.

vague platitudes and calling the other guy racist (or worse, a REPUBLICAN) seem to be all you need to do to turn out the vote... and a 300,000 member union backing you I guess helps a little too

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by west-town-brad

vague platitudes and calling the other guy racist (or worse, a REPUBLICAN) seem to be all you need to do to turn out the vote... and a 300,000 member union backing you I guess helps a little too

Is there a local union with 300k members? That's over 10% of the city's population.

[ebitdadada]

Originally Posted by marothisu

I made a few graphs

This one should actually say thru 9/17 but the data is the correct. 4 of the 22 districts are basically at 10 year highs but the other 18 aren't. Most of the highs were either 2013, 2016, or 2017. If we go back further to 2010 then that changes it.

Super interesting and thanks for all of the stuff you do!

Where do you get the data? Have been hoping to dig in myself a bit but all I can find is the PDF the police department publishes each week which, as you know only goes back to 2019 and also doesn’t have the weekly data you were showing (which was very encouraging). All I can really glean from the PDF is there seems to have been a pronounced drop off in shootings over the past 1-2 months.

Anyone have any theories on why the general impression is that robberies are out of controll? I’m not saying one answer or another is right or wrong (maybe they are) but I personally would walk around in 2016-17 most anywhere (admittedly in the north side / blue line neighborhoods) at night and not think twice. Maybe it’s valid or maybe it’s a perception thing driven by being bombarded with a stream of the latest bad s$:&t that’s happened (or maybe I’m just getting old haha) but it doesn’t seem to jive with the above.