* I really don’t like these sorts of videos…
Transcript…
Well, here I am on the path on the lakefront at 6am on Monday, and we got a lot of people running having a great time. Doesn’t feel like a hell hole here. In fact, everybody’s having a great time and enjoying themselves. So I don’t know who in Washington thinks that Chicago is some sort of hell hole, but you may need to look inward.
C’mon. Reporting “all is well” at sunrise on the lakefront? Of course it doesn’t feel unsafe there. Maybe try taking an evening walk through Englewood without an Illinois State Police executive detail and then report back to us?
However, if DC provides us a good preview, I seriously doubt we’ll see a major federal presence in Englewood or other troubled Chicago neighborhoods. They’ll mainly stick to the high-profile spots like downtown, or the lakefront. So maybe Pritzker’s video is of some use.
* Let’s be clear: Imposing the National Guard on a city without any sort of advance cooperation and planning is simply just bad policy.
And President Trump gave away the game today when he said…
You know, I hate to barge in on a city and then be treated horribly by corrupt politicians and bad politicians, like a guy like Pritzker.
Well, then maybe don’t “barge in.”
But even the president himself acknowledges this is not ideal…
During the lengthy session with reporters this morning, the president repeatedly said he would prefer that federal intervention be requested by local officials, such as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat.
“Look, Chicago, everybody knows how bad it is,” Trump said. “They should be saying, ‘Please come in.’ Pritzker should be saying that.”
But…
And I feel the same way about crime. We go in, we will solve Chicago within one week, maybe less. But within one week, we will have no crime in Chicago, just like we have no crime in D.C.”
Please.
It seems the whole point is to make this look like an invasion instead of an actual attempt to solve a very real problem. Simple solutions are almost always neither, and this will be no exception, unless the feds plan to make this a permanent encampment. And even then, that’s gonna cause other huge problems. Permanent military occupations are not a popular thing.
* In my own opinion, Mayor Brandon Johnson framed it best…
We know that our communities are safest when we fully invest in housing, community safety, and education. The National Guard will not alleviate the housing crisis. It will not put food in the stomachs of the 1 in 4 children that go to bed hungry every night in Chicago. The National Guard will not fully-fund our public schools or provide mental healthcare or substance abuse treatment to Chicagoans in need. The National Guard is no substitute for dedicated local law enforcement and community violence interrupters who know and serve our communities every day. There are many things the federal government could do to help us reduce crime and violence in Chicago, but sending in the military is not one of them.
His message is spot-on. Unfortunately, the messenger is deeply flawed.
* In other news, President Trump issue a press release today entitled “‘Cashless Bail’ Is a Government-Backed Crime Spree.” From that release…
In 2024, an Illinois murder suspect walked free under the state’s new no-cash-bail system, endangering the community.
If you read the appellate court’s decision upholding the pretrial release (with lots of supervisory conditions), you’ll see the evidence connecting the defendant to the crime was pretty thin.
And the defendant’s court docket indicates he’s been showing up for his hearings.
Also, remember that considering the not-strong case initially presented, he probably would’ve been released on cash bail anyway.
* More from that press release…
Just this month, a man who hurled a sandwich at a Federal officer was released on his own recognizance despite being charged with a serious crime punishable by up to eight years in Federal prison.
OK, first of all, the man was released by a federal judge, not a local judge. And, secondly, can you imagine the reaction you’d get if you called 911 and reported that somebody threw a sandwich at you?
* President Trump also issued an executive order…
Consequences for Cashless Bail Jurisdictions. (a) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall submit to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, a list of States and local jurisdictions that have, in the Attorney General’s opinion, substantially eliminated cash bail as a potential condition of pretrial release from custody for crimes that pose a clear threat to public safety and order, including offenses involving violent, sexual, or indecent acts, or burglary, looting, or vandalism. The Attorney General shall update this list as necessary.
(b) The head of each executive department and agency, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall identify Federal funds, including grants and contracts, currently provided to cashless bail jurisdictions identified pursuant to subsection (a) of this section that may be suspended or terminated, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law.
Gonna be another court case.
Click here for the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice’s press release on this topic.
- Leo from Dolton - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:21 pm:
Forever, everyone was screaming how bad things were in Chicago. All of a sudden, they have gone to glorious. Stop the self-serving political B.S. on both sides. Enough.
- New Day - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:24 pm:
“I really don’t like these sorts of videos…”
Really disagree with you on this one. The purpose of the video is to highlight the absurdity of what may be about to happen. Because as you and many others have commented, he ain’t going to Englewood or other parts of the City that need help. It’s a photo op stunt. Nothing more. And it deserves the mockery that video provides.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:25 pm:
===And it deserves the mockery that video provides===
Imagine trying to raise a family in Englewood and seeing that video.
Dems are being bashed for elitism. Maybe try to be less so.
- DuPage Saint - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:28 pm:
* In my own opinion, Mayor Brandon Johnson framed it best…
I think that maybe the first time you said something hateful Rich
I would think like state law might be a state thing?
I am so tired of hearing about cashless bail. These people are arrested and charged they are not convicted of anything they are not guilty they can be detained under contain circumstances what is so hard about that to understand?
- NIU Grad - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:28 pm:
I understand your argument about the video, but the audience is two-fold: 1)Chicago residents who hear the “Why are you living in that city” from family members constantly who hear it’s a war zone on FOX and 2) Non-Chicago/Non-Illinois residents who hear that every inch of the city is a war zone constantly. I’ve been seeing both audiences engage with that video on social media today. When the troops are deployed, they won’t be sent anywhere where crime is a real problem. They’ll be in highly visible locations, standing around and looking bored (just like CPD looked whenever mayors would send a surge of them to the Mag Mile after a shoplifting spree).
- Pundent - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:31 pm:
Pritzker knows that the National Guard won’t be going into neighborhoods. They’ll be standing around the bean, maybe posing in front of Trump tower, or walking the streets of Wrigleyville. Because if you’re going to claim our cities are being “taken over” by immigrants and criminals you need to show people the areas of the city they recognize. And when all they see in these photos are National Guardsmen and no crime to speak of you can claim your efforts were successful. Pritzker is merely showing that the “before” picture is no different than the “after.”
- Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:34 pm:
===Pritzker is merely showing===
He’s showing a Potemkin village.
- DakNo Thing - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:34 pm:
Dems are being accused of not fighting fire with fire. Trump plays for the cameras. JB should too and this does that. Trump is trying to make an argument that he needs to send in the military because the city is burning down. It’s not. Having the governor be like - yeah this is not an insane emergency that requires insane action and demonstrate it on social media is what we need to be doing. I like it and I think the theater of it is appropriate to the moment.
- Oklahoma - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:35 pm:
If anything like DC, expect a big show for the news media around Michigan Ave or the federal building, while ICE and other posse members start swarming little village, pilsen, etc. to round people up.
- Oklahoma - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:35 pm:
Also, separately, I believe Trump now “owns” crime in DC
- DakNo Thing - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:37 pm:
Well that “Potemkin village” is right near why l live so agree to disagree. Chicago is all its parts - and if you are going to threaten to occupy us then you better have a lot of justification.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:39 pm:
=== is right near why l live===
Which is kinda my point. Lots of people can’t live there. Lots of people worry all the time about crime in their neighborhoods, for good reason.
- Occasionally Moderated - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:43 pm:
I could not agree with Rich’s assessment.
I feel like this is a trap. A big, super obvious Scooby Doo trap. It feels like Trump sets traps and the mayors and governors elbow their way to the front to insert themselves into the grips of it.
Leaders can say “this isn’t how to fix our crime problem.” What uninformed people hear is “we deny that there is a crime problem and we support criminals.”
- Michael McLean - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:44 pm:
I’ve been really impressed by Mayor Johnson’s response to the Trump regime. He is really good on the stump in these situations.
- Pot calling kettle - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:44 pm:
=== If anything like DC, expect a big show for the news media around Michigan Ave===
And, like DC, Chicago businesses can expect to take a hit as people avoid the occupation troops. If anything, Mayor Johnson will be able to use his response to turn around his administration’s horrible favorability numbers.
- low level - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:45 pm:
==I seriously doubt we’ll see a major federal presence in Englewood or other troubled Chicago neighborhoods. They’ll mainly stick to the high-profile spots like downtown, or the lakefront.==
100% spot on, Rich
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:48 pm:
“Imagine trying to raise a family in Englewood and seeing that video.”
Wow.
Imagine living in a place and journalists decide it’s going to forever be the shorthand for “****hole neighborhood you couldn’t walk through.”
Imagine writing this sentence about a town in Mary Miller’s district.
Imagine if Darren Bailey was governor, touting the beauty of cornfield America and a journo wrote “imagine living in a shack in Arcadia and seeing this video.”
- I have no idea - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:54 pm:
BUT- were there any shootings this weekend?
Was anyone killed?
maybe the numbers are down, but isn’t one too many?
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:54 pm:
“…corrupt politicians and bad politicians,”
Project much?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:55 pm:
===but isn’t one too many? ===
What did Ben Franklin say about that very argument?
- Banish Misfortune - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:56 pm:
I disagree, Chicago is all its parts. And the lakefront is part of it. It’s free and open to all. A recent Sunday I was driving up Lake Shore drive, it was like 100 out and the beaches were packed all along the lake. Chicagoans from all parts of the city were enjoying what it has to offer. To say that’s fake is as dishonest as saying it’s all crime and violence. We can do better but don’t dismiss what we have now.
- Jockey - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:57 pm:
I would like to see Gov. JB walk up State St. at 6:00a.m. from Van Buren and head North. There are plenty of empty store fronts to covey the message that there are challenges in Chicago.
- Loop Lady - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:57 pm:
Although this video is Kum Baya, Trump is sending out the National Guard to punish Chicago and its leaders for being a Sanctuary City.
That’s it in a nutshell.
He’s a convicted criminal himself. The irony.
.
- All Good - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 1:57 pm:
Keep walking Big Boy, keep walking. . . . .
- Stephanie Kollmann - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 2:01 pm:
It’s just bad rhetoric to allow the president to set the terms of the conversation. If crime in Chicago were uniformly high, it would not justify a military invasion and occupation.
I like when the governor says positive things about Illinois and Chicago in their own right, but “look at us, it’s nice here” just seems like a miscue as a response to authoritarian garbage. In addition to, yes, seeming out of touch or insensitive to people who are dealing with violence and live outside the wealthy and tourist zone.
Agree that the mayor’s approach is better on this round
- Amalia - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 2:01 pm:
whether the cashless bail jurisdiction is considered to be the state…cause of the law…the county…cause of implementation… denying funds will lead to more crime not less.
- Give Us Barabbas - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 2:20 pm:
See, for a few seconds, I thought it was another Tom Skilling video until I recognized the Governor’s voice.
- Downstate - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 2:23 pm:
Trump is finding the issue(s) that will divide Democrats. On this one, alone, he’s got them stating that “Chicago has no crime”, which only raises the ire of the 80% that are living it everyday.
I’m concerned about the long term play on the national guard approach. Like any “occupied” locale, how do you withdraw without the bad element returning?
The National Guard playbook has been used in other countries and it always ends up the same. The crime returns unless there is a new approach to criminals after the national guard departs.
- Pundent - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 2:52 pm:
=On this one, alone, he’s got them stating that “Chicago has no crime=
Who’s saying this? I get that the President’s supporters might be saying this a characterization of the response, but I don’t get that vibe from Democrats.
And there’s nothing wrong in pointing out the hypocrisy in targeting crime in Blue states while simultaneously ignoring it in Red ones. Newsom did a nice job of underscoring this with Arkansas. Personally I’d like to see all states own their challenges and problems with crime without the President picking and choosing where to intervene to score cheap political points.
- Excitable Boy - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 2:53 pm:
- can you imagine the reaction you’d get if you called 911 and reported that somebody threw a sandwich at you? -
I can, but then again I don’t have delicate sensibilities like an ICE agent.
- Dotnonymous x - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 2:57 pm:
Any of the athleticlly minded homeless population would catch that sandwich with their teeth.
- Dotnonymous x - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 3:07 pm:
I propose forming a, “I Hate Everything” club…our motto?…”You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad” - A. Huxley
- the647 - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 3:09 pm:
As a man who has thrown a lot of sandwiches in my life this post makes me very nervous.
- BornandRaised - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 3:16 pm:
Can we please stop throwing around Englewood everytime violence is mentioned in this city. The people of Englewood doesn’t deserve to have this thrown in their face all the time. They are not the gace of what’s wrong. Come up with something original, sir.
- Dotnonymous x - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 3:16 pm:
How long before “Reckless eyes” becomes a felony…Whatcho lookin’ at?…put your hands behind your back?
- Old Guy - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 3:17 pm:
Only in Trumplandia would a convicted felon oversee an attempt to prosecute a protestor for throwing a sandwich. Maybe it was “hard” salami??
- Dotnonymous x - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 3:28 pm:
Living on planet Earth has always been and will always be a dangerous proposition.
- Mean Streets - Monday, Aug 25, 25 @ 3:34 pm:
I question Trump’s ability to send actual troops to Chicago. The District of Columbia is a different matter as it is the seat of the Federal government. Nonetheless, I can appreciate how his comments have angered state and local leaders.
As a Chicago native, I grew up in a good residential community quite close to the suburbs. Four different university campuses were located within a few miles our home.
While everyone in local politics keeps insisting that crime is down, I am dismayed that four murders have been committed in our old neighborhood and two drive by shootings at a Chicago public high school that once prided itself on sending a significant number of its graduates to Champaign-Urbana. Two of the exceptionally brutal murders made headlines and received extensive coverage.
None of this happened in present day Englewood. The murders occurred in Edgewater and West Ridge where property values are high. Hate crimes have also occurred in which religious individuals were targeted while walking to houses of worship.
Others have commented on cashless bail. My pet peeve is how most convicted criminals serve so little time in prison. In Illinois, it seems as if most convicts serve no more than half of their sentences.
Last weekend, there were thirty shootings in Chicago and three victims died.