With the Coronavirus dominating the news, of course, the ongoing soaring violence is taking a quiet back seat, but it is rolling along unabated and ignored for the most part. For this reason, I decided to revisit the horrendous toll Chicago’s violence has on its citizens, not only the grief of loved ones and victims but the expense that is involved that affects every single taxpayer in the city.
As I revisit this on 22 April, it was just reported that the Mayor has awarded 7.5 million dollars to be used in the communities to fight the soaring violence. What the hell are they going to do about it is baffling since the gangs are not the least bit given to listening to reason? It strikes of rewarding communities who are ignoring the killers among them. Fear is a powerful silencer no matter how much bribe money is offered. One would think leadership has figured that out by now.
Alexis de Tocqueville, the French scientist, and historian said back 170 years ago in a quote that seems almost prophetic today, “THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC WILL ENDURE UNTL THE DAY CONGRESS DISCOVERS THAT IT CAN BRIBE THE PUBLIC WITH THE PUBLIC’S MONEY.” Now the city taxpayers are on the hook as Mayor Lightfoot, who seemingly has no clue how to stop the horrendous surge of violence, doles out money to communities who are being devoured by gang violence. So far her only solution, except for throwing money out there was to keep the libraries open longer. Well, let’s face it, that’s just what the gangs needed — some downtime in between killings and shootings.
You may think it doesn’t involve you or your community but think again. A Bloomberg News analysis in December of 2017 put the cost of Chicago’s violence at a staggering 2.5 billion dollars a year. The multi-billion-dollar figure breaks down to an average of $15,500 per household according to Jens Ludwig and Craig Futterman of the University of Chicago crime lab.
The analysis includes $900-$1,200 for the cost of a typical ambulance ride to the ER, $800-$1,200 for “incremental costs” for an autopsy by the medical examiner, $52,000 which is the average cost for trauma care of gunshot victims, (70% of whom are uninsured) and $35,000 which is the average cost of care at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago where 1/20th of the patients are gunshot victims. Added to this is the cost of the city’s resources through police overhead. Every murder and shooting incurs overtime with extreme cases consuming 1,000 to 1,500 hours of premium pay.
No amount of money can assuage the loss and devastation suffered by victims and loved ones who are personally impacted by the violence. However, it is the elephant in the room and its impact is affecting every single taxpayer in Chicago and Cook County. Everett Dirksen, a U.S. Senator from Illinois back in the 1960s, was to have famously said, “A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon. you’re talking real money.” If the current trend of violence continues these figures will certainly escalate. From 2012 through April 2020, Chicago has endured over 24,000 people shot and 4,710 homicides.
A study from the Center of American Progress estimated that overall violence, not just that of guns, puts a $5.3 billion “ANNUAL” dent (hello!) in the collective wallet of Chicago. The study postulates reducing homicides by 25% would boost home values in Chicago by $5.5 billion. I realize there is no magic wand that will extricate Chicago from its epidemic of violence, but as we can clearly see by the cost it has a secondary devastating effect. PBS News Hour produced a show called “Gun Violence is a Public Health Crisis in Chicago.” Indeed.
Chicago has over 59 main gangs and over 2,500 affiliates. The Chicago Crime Commission has identified over 1,000 gang leaders. Members of the communities are literally afraid to go about their normal lives for fear of being shot or killed. Over 70 children under 16 have been shot this year. The Chicago Police Department has less than a 15% clearance rate on homicides and shootings. The court system and prosecutors are not utilizing the tougher gun laws that they were so desperately calling for. Since the much-publicized march on July 7th on the Dan Ryan Expressway led by Priest activist Father Michael Pfleger, supposedly to call attention to the city’s violence, there have been 50 people shot over 5 days and 11 murders mostly fueled by “gang thugs” in the neighborhoods. There has been no contact from the c city’s politicians. Father Pfleger said he is waiting.
At some point, those community members are going to have to demand help and realize the people who you entrusted with your vote are not your leaders, they are your representatives. They are representatives of the people. I have a humble suggestion for Father Pfleger and those beleaguered folks who are trying to live in peace and make a decent life for their families without fear or harm. Forget shutting down traffic. SHUT DOWN the power.
The government represents you. John Locke said it best, “REVOLT is the right of the people.” Go to City Hall and the County Building and demand and shout until you are heard. Tell them enough is enough. You want solutions and help or you will find others who will. Chicago, you have tyrants among you. It’s not anything new in the world. Thomas Paine uttered these words to describe a call to action, “O Ye that loves mankind, Ye that dare opposes not only the tyranny but the tyrant, “STAND FORTH.” Old words but they never get old. Join together or more innocence will continue to die.
Chicago is fighting a war on two fronts — one deadly virus and the other an old and lethal killer, gang violence. It’s often been said that the first casualty of any war is truth. Violence and crime unchallenged spreads like a virus. Both are killing our people. No amount of bribe money is ever going to resolve that virus.
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