A puzzler for the ages
Monday, Apr 6, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Republican US Senate nominee Don Tracy…
Two more “teen takeover” incidents rocked Chicago this weekend, one in Marquette Park and another in the South Loop. The incidents expose a dangerous pattern of Juliana Stratton and her allies’ extreme political agendas leading to uncontrollable chaos and violence.
According to CBS News, despite police responding to both scenes, no arrests were made and no reports were generated.
“This is becoming a weekly occurrence in Chicago, and it’s happening as a result of politicians like Juliana Stratton, who are more committed to the extreme agenda of their political allies than to keeping families safe,” said Tracy. “Large crowds shutting down intersections, fireworks going off, and cars spinning in the middle of city streets, and no one is arrested. This is a political choice that sends a clear message: there are no consequences. And we’re watching the results play out on the streets of Chicago.
“Everyday Illinoisans just want to feel safe in their neighborhoods. They want leadership that takes public safety seriously, enforces the law, and puts families first, not politicians who look the other way as things spiral out of control.
“I’m running because Illinois deserves a strong leader who will stand up for common sense solutions and restore accountability. We cannot continue down this path.”
Emphasis added because apparently it was no big deal to the cops. And I’m not sure why a lt. governor would have any control over how a local police force handles people having a bit too much fun.
Also, along those same “too much fun” lines, I don’t recall seeing any Don Tracy press releases about the drunken alley brawling, drunken train brawling and the mass police seizures of “black-out rage gallons” in Chicago during St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
I wonder why.
- here we go again - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 1:54 pm:
Easy to see why Don Tracy has failed as a candidate for public office in the past as both a Republican AND a Democrat. Go ahead and add 2026 to the resume of failure.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 2:04 pm:
===I wonder why. ===
Don Tracy (R), Pleasantville, is afraid of color and plans to run on a platform banning colors from public accommodations.
- H-W - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 2:06 pm:
I am at a loss. What does Candidate Tracy expect from the police? Surely he is not suggesting every kid needs to be incarcerated or shot with rubber bullets. If the report says no one was arrested, I am going to assume the police felt they could manage the incident without escalating the “crisis” and initiating a police state.
- Iron Duke - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 2:09 pm:
Doing donuts in intersections while lighting off fireworks is having a bit too much fun?
Gee that seems like it could get out of hand pretty quickly and result in some serious injuries for innocent bystanders.
The Chicago Police don’t think arrests are warranted?
- Norseman - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 2:14 pm:
Contrived crisis. As the commercial says: it’s what they do.
- Earnest - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 2:30 pm:
He’s just reinforcing the narrative. Lawlessness, they and Stratton as political extremists, Antifa and Iran as terrorist threats, need the military and ICE to clamp down on these terrorists who will destroy America and to make sure the right people vote. It seems like a clear strategy intended to ensure midterm success. Unfortunately, were I to place a bet or sign a contract or whatever the terms are now, I’d probably bet that it was going to be fairly successful.
- Hoosier Daddy - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 2:34 pm:
Candy
You ok with this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkE2rVBVnqI
- Rich Miller - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 2:35 pm:
Hoosier Daddy, you didn’t mention the St. Patrick’s Day stuff, so I assume you’re ok with drunken street fighting.
- Big Dipper - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 2:40 pm:
How much time has he even spent in Chicago in his lifetime? He is clueless.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 2:40 pm:
Tracy on teen takeovers:
“They want leadership that takes public safety seriously, enforces the law, and puts families first, not politicians who look the other way as things spiral out of control.”
Tracy on the lawless and reckless Trump Administration:
*crickets*
More selective outrage from the party of law and order.
- H-W - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 2:41 pm:
@ Hoosier Daddy
I would prefer teens and young adults not do this, but it doesn’t scare me. At most, perhaps reckless driving charges (assuming Flock was on the scene).
- Steve - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 2:44 pm:
-What does Candidate Tracy expect from the police?-
Those who take over the intersections need to be arrested. There are safety issues. What if an ambulance has to get to a hospital?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 2:47 pm:
===What if an ambulance has to get to a hospital? ===
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/09/federal-officers-blocked-medics-from-scene-of-ice-shooting-witnesses-say
and
https://www.wweek.com/news/2025/10/12/documents-allege-a-federal-agent-at-portland-ice-threatened-to-shoot-an-ambulance-driver/
- Rich Miller - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 2:48 pm:
My point here is not to excuse any of the stuff I posted above. My point is about questionably selective outrage.
- train111 - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 3:11 pm:
In all honesty, I want to give the Illinois GOP a chance. I even linked up to some of their social media sites to hear their proposals.
We in Illinois are harmed by there being no political competition.
That being said, what a mistake - giving them a chance means I have exposed myself to a never ending series of drive-by hyped over the top social media posts - and very very little of anything substantial.
Dear Illinois GOP - if you want to actually be taken seriously - stand for something. Propose some positive things you can do for the state.
The non-stop drive-by social media campaign will sway nobody - despite what your overpaid consultants may say.
train111
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 3:39 pm:
Rich -
I grew up in Southern Illinois.
It was not unusual for 400 high school kids to take over a McDonalds, commercial strip, grocery store parking lot, or corn field.
We did…way dumber stuff…than donuts and fireworks.
“American Graffiti” reminds us that teens have been doing stupid stuff in large numbers since atleast the 1960’s.
And I decided to watch the “Fast & Furious” saga this weekend and could not help notice A) 3-5 street takeovers in every movie and B) Not only no arrests, but no cops.
Let’s not call it “selective outrage.” Let’s call it what it is, “race baiting.”
As the weather warms up and graduation nears, teens across Illinois will engage in time-honored traditions of large gatherings that challenge adult authority and assert their independence.
If the participants are White, we will call it a “party” (or maybe a kegger) and if they are Black, the race baiters will call it a “lawless mob.”
Watch the street “celebration” from the NCAA men’s tournament tonight if you have any doubts.
- Pundent - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 3:50 pm:
The ILGOP is caught in this perpetual cycle of believing that their path to election success lies in dog whistles. I suppose their selective outrage over unruly mobs would be justified if they were winning races. They are not. But that doesn’t stop them from doubling down on a failed strategy or their defenders from being outraged when their hypocrisy is revealed.
- Jerry - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 3:56 pm:
Typical LBCODS from a Republican candidate.
- Moe Berg - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 4:08 pm:
Dear Don “You Kids Get Off My Lawn” Tracy,
Please do not waste your time. Trump’s War is increasing gasoline prices so much the problem will take care of itself.
Could you instead do something about that rap music and people wearing their pants too low?
Thank you.
Moe Berg, age 86
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 4:36 pm:
===You ok with this?===
You may not have caught my direct reference to the 1998 film Pleasantville, or if you did you perhaps preferred to argue with a straw opponent.
I think both hypocrisy and racism are a center focus on the film and done with the lack of subtly that Don Tracy would likely require.
However — since you have asked, I am always a little concerned about open violations of the Pyrotechnic Use Act because of my overall concerns about the risk of fires caused by fireworks, even when they are used correctly. In my tweens, teens, and maybe even a little older, I certainly violated state statues pertaining to fireworks but have come to understand the risk that they pose.
Unfortunately these fireworks are easy to get because of the irresponsible Republican lead governments of neighboring states that allow the sale of pyrotechnics with little or no regulation. at great risk and expense to the public.
That’s what I assume you were asking about — correct?
Do you think Don Tracy wants something done about all of those folks that gather throughout the summer, especially in July, and illegally light fireworks?
Some of them do it pretty openly and without regard proper fire safety.
I wonder if Don Tracy has ever participated in one of these illegal firework lightings himself.
- Benjamin - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 5:16 pm:
Look, most normal people don’t like street takeovers or crowds of rowdy teens converging on one place. But there’s only so much law enforcement can do here without resorting to police state tactics. The police want to do something, local government wants to do something, and the state government isn’t stopping anyone from trying to solve this problem. The connection between this kind of lawlessness and Stratton is incredibly tenuous.
And as Candy mentions above, it’s probably more fueled by decisions made in Indianapolis than those made in Springfield.
- ArchPundit - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 5:42 pm:
==It was not unusual for 400 high school kids to take over a McDonalds, commercial strip, grocery store parking lot, or corn field.
===We did…way dumber stuff…than donuts and fireworks.
Most of downstate has this experience. It’s not safe, but that’s what kids do and add a bit of density in Chicago and this is what you see on weekend nights. Should we discourage it? Sure, but let’s discourage it everywhere.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Apr 6, 26 @ 7:13 pm:
=== Most of downstate has this experience. It’s not safe ===
The least safe thing I ever saw at a large teen gathering was the police breaking them up. Drunk drivers fleeing in every direction at high speed.
Teenagers in Chicago face greater threats every day just walking home from school.
I do not think Tracy’s objection is about teens being unsafe.
His objection is that it makes White people feel unsafe.
Probably every large gathering of Black teenagers makes those same White people feel unsafe.
Like, they could be marching in straight lines protesting the Iran War and the same people would flip.