Monday, April 17, 2023

Mayor-elect Johnson, you're asking for more of the same with that rhetoric

 Honest, I'm not going to turn LITD into a one-note Johnny, but this is a significant addendum to yesterday's post about the health - or lack thereof - of our society, as exemplified by the concentrations of folks getting shot at gatherings the purpose of which is ostensibly for people to enjoy themselves:

Hundreds of teenagers flooded into Downtown Chicago on Saturday night, smashing car windows, trying to get into Millennium Park, and prompting a major police response. At least one person in a car was attacked.

Shots were fired near the corner of Madison and Michigan, and FOX 32 Chicago decided that it was unsafe to keep our news crew on the scene.

Two teens were wounded by gunfire in the crowds in the first block of East Washington Street. A 16 and 17-year-old boy were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in fair condition with gunshot wounds. 

A woman whose car was smashed by people jumping on the windshield said her husband was beaten as he sat in the driver's seat. He's been taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

SUBSCRIBE TO FOX 32 CHICAGO ON YOUTUBE

Police were escorting tourists and others back to their cars in the Millennium Park garage.

The crowd was trying to get into Millennium Park, but there are checkpoints around the perimeter and people under 21 are not allowed without an adult.

Video posted on social media shows people standing on top of a CTA bus and dancing. The CTA said that some service through the downtown area was disrupted on Saturday night because of police activity.

Chicago police said nine adults and six juveniles were arrested. Most were charged with reckless conduct. A 16-year-old boy was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, and two people were charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. 

The incoming mayor took the opportunity of his obligatory statement to get all sociological:

Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson said the city needs a "comprehensive approach to improve public safety."

"In no way do I condone the destructive activity we saw in the Loop and lakefront this weekend," Johnson said in a statement. "It is unacceptable and has no place in our city. However, it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities."

Notice the "have been starved" passive voice. Some outside force made these kids do this. Is it up to someone else to take up the slack for these hooligans' lack of self-restraint?

At least the current mayor asked the right question: Where are their parents?  

No comments:

Post a Comment