Downtown resident’s thoughts
I’ve lived in Chicago for 28 years and have been living near the Mag Mile for 18 years. When I was growing up in the 1970s and ‘80s, I often came downtown via the “L” or by car. Anyone who spent any time downtown during those decades knows how much worse it was compared to now.
I’ve also traveled to several countries and have been to cities all over the United States. So when I say that downtown Chicago is a pleasant, safe place to visit, I’m not being naive — nor do I have a provincial mindset. I am outside every day and work downtown, as well. I even walk around downtown at night.
When people use hyperbole — saying that downtown is a war zone or that it has been overtaken by criminals and consequently no one would ever come down here — have they really spent any time here at all? Most of the people who visit, live and work here are friendly, relaxed, hardworking people who want the best for their families and community.
Tens of thousands of people reside downtown; thus, the criminals are a tiny percentage of the many people who live here. To judge an entire area because of newsworthy incidents committed by a small fraction of people is disingenuous and unfair to those of us who live and work here, day in and day out.
Downtown Chicago is beautiful and clean, and again, I live here, so I know what I’m talking about; I’m not reciting text from a tourist brochure. There are luxurious parks and the best architecture in the world. The lake and riverfront are accessible to everyone. There are restaurants, museums and wide sidewalks, which I didn’t really appreciate until I went to some towns that have few sidewalks, if any. As I usually do, I walked around the neighborhood recently and then on to work, hearing birds chirping and feeling no insecurity about the surroundings or the people who were walking near me.
Bottom line: Instead of listening to the fearmongers and drawing inaccurate conclusions based on criminal reports, come downtown and see for yourself. We would love to have you.