Poll shows our city’s new reality: Chicagoans feel unsafe

In a recent poll by the SunTimes, likely voters in Chicago’s mayoral race cited crime as their No. 1 issue, and 63% said they do not feel safe.

These results shouldn’t come as a surprise, and attempting to minimize the crime problem won’t make it go away.

That’s why recent comments from Gov. J.B. Pritzker are so out of touch. Rather than acknowledging families’ fears, he claims, “Crime is coming down gradually in the city and across the state. It’s going to take a little while.”

Every Chicago family deserves to feel safe. Not someday in the future, not when politicians get around to it, not gradually, but right now.

The Sun-Times pointed out that murders have actually gone down year over year, though they remain at historic highs. Yet, many other crimes have gone up. Should families feel comfort they are more likely to be victims of a host of violent crimes just short of murder?

The rampant crime is having a ripple effect on people’s behaviors and the long-term success of Chicago.

For example, River North restaurant owner Steve Hartenstein told CBS Chicago businesses are forced to close early because workers are declining late shifts due to fears of crime, and some restaurants are paying out-ofpocket for increased security. They know diners won’t show up if they don’t feel safe.

Same for small-business owners Teresa Ging, owner of Sugar Bliss in the Loop, and Uzma Sharif, owner of Chocolat Uzma in Pilsen, who are ready to move out of Chicago to protect themselves, their employees and their customers. Ging says she has become numb to the monthly burglaries at her shop, and Sharif says unless she hires 24/7 security guards, there’s no way she could stay in Chicago.

Just because Chicago is a big city doesn’t mean we should become accustomed and desensitized to the tragedy that unfolds every week. Just because politicians are content to see historic levels of violent crime for “a little while” doesn’t mean we should be.

Backed by public opinion, it’s time for media outlets like the Sun-Times to demand urgency and results from our elected officials.

Katie Clancy, marketing and communications manager, Illinois Opportunity Project