For Chicago’s South Loop and Near South Side, crime is up compared to 2019. And by more than a bit. – Wirepoints

By: Matt Rosenberg

Keep an eye on Chicago’s South Loop and Near South Side. According to fresh police data released this week, overall District 1 crime this year is up by 142 percent compared to the same stretch last year. A fairer measure is likely versus the pre-Covid year of 2019. But even then, it’s up 30 percent. The city needs to act decisively to stanch the bleeding in District 1 while at the same time doubling down on crime in outlying neighborhoods.

Chicago’s Police District 1, together with District 18 to its immediate north, is the face of Chicago to the world. District 1 runs from the Chicago River south to 31st Street and from the lakefront west to roughly Halsted Street. It includes the southern half of the historic old downtown or Loop; plus hotels, restaurants, nightlife; the tourist mecca of Millenium and Grant Parks; the downtown lakefront; paths for bikers, walkers, and joggers; and major museums.

Chicago Police District 1 includes Grant Park and part of South Michigan Avenue. Seen here is the park and to the south, high-rise apartment buildings on East Roosevelt Road.

District 1 also encompasses dense apartment and townhouse clusters; filigreed residential areas such as the Prairie Avenue Historic District and Printer’s Row; a prominent redeveloped residential and Big Box retail swath along Roosevelt Road; parts of Chicago’s vital Chinatown and Bronzeville communities; and the McCormick Place convention center complex.

For residents and visitors alike, not getting beaten up, sexually assaulted, stolen from, burgled, or robbed is a definite selling point. Kind of a baseline requirement for viability.

In District 1 this year compared to 2019, motor vehicle theft is up 254 percent, burglary 54 percent, aggravated battery up 20 percent, robbery 41 percent, and criminal sexual assault 23 percent. Theft is down 24 percent, shooting incidents are level and murders are up from 1 to 3.

The 30 percent overall jump in District 1 crime complaints versus 2019 contrasts with an 11 percent climb citywide.

District 1 is not the only police district in Chicago seeing a marked increase in crime compared to the pre-Covid baseline year of 2019. Reported crimes this year-to-date versus the same period in 2019 are also up: 

  • 44 percent in District 2, covering the South Side Chicago communities of Douglas, Grand Boulevard and Kenwood;
  • 34 percent in District 9, covering the Southwest Side neighborhoods of Brighton Park, McKinley Park, Bridgeport, and New City;
  • 33 percent in District 4, a large Southeast Side district including South Chicago, South Deering, and Calumet Heights;
  • 29 percent in District 12, covering the Near West Side and part of the Lower West Side;
  • 28 percent in District 22, covering Beverly, Washington Heights, and Morgan Park;
  • 26 percent in District 16, a large Northwest Side district including the communities of Edison Park, Norwood Park, Jefferson Park, Portage Park, and Dunning.

Rising crime in Chicago – from the lakefront to all ends of the city – matters. The city has had more than enough since 2019. Now that Covid is easing and warm weather is beginning, Chicagoans want to enjoy their beautiful city without fear. Will that be possible? This is not a marketing challenge. It is a public safety challenge.

It’s a tall order made tougher by a hostile political and professional environment for Chicago cops. They continue to head for the exits. 

We recently wrote:

CPD lost 900 officers in 2021 but graduated only 247 from its training academy. Chief David Brown wants to see another 520 to 600 Chicago police recruits graduating this year while some aldermen are calling for as many as 1,200 or 2,000 new cops to fight a growing “sense of lawlessness.” At just shy of 12,000 now, CPD is down 1,000 from approved officer staffing levels even after 614 vacancies were disappeared by Lightfoot to help balance the city’s 2021 budget.

In the end Chicago’s worsening crime problem is about political leadership in the city, Cook County and the statehouse. Reversing Chicago’s continuing slide on public safety will be the central issue in the contest for Chicago Mayor in 2023. With a first round of voting in late February of next year, we are sure to learn more by this summer and autumn about who will challenge incumbent Lori Lightfoot and how they propose to make the city’s streets safe once again.

Appendix

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David Esau
2 years ago

Even if those in charge were to be merely keeping up appearances, the blight being visited on this city would find easement. It isn’t so because it isn’t so. But hope springs eternal.

Chad
2 years ago

Sorry, but Chicago gets the leaders it deserves. Even in the grips of an historic crime wave we saw Foxx re-elected in a landslide. There are just far too many woke progressives in this city that value placation over true progress. The voters are party-first ideologues and as long as they can virtue signal for ‘criminal justice’, that’s all that matters to them. I was the biggest Chicago booster in the world, enjoyed the city for 20 years, built my life and career there. Finally, moved to Indiana in 2020 and it pains me to say, but, I’ve never looked… Read more »

Doug MacGregor
2 years ago

This enormous rise in crime is unsustainable. Just the perception alone is enough to keep many suburbanites from coming into the city for shopping, a show, lunch or dinner. Why isn’t the business community storming city hall demanding change? How can they tolerate all the theft and crime driving away customers? Who is going to step up and provide the necessary leadership to save Chicago?

2 years ago
Reply to  Doug MacGregor

Spot-on, Doug. There’ve been a small handful of local business figures who’ve spoken out forcefully. But these have been one-off instances. The organized business lobby in Chicago – such as it is – needs to find its voice on this.

Lin Feddor Cappozzo
2 years ago

It’s sad. My once beautiful city is gone. It’s become a battleground. One has to ask just exactly how is this new woke world working? Boy if only we took down those offensive, racist statues things would be better. How did that work out? I ran across an article today I couldn’t read. It indicated a woman car jacked, dragged, ending in her death. Time for those empty headed, talking points politicians to get their heads out of their butts! I fear the days of longer days and warmer nights. I know I will read on my friends Bob Angone… Read more »

2 years ago

Thanks, Lin. We know crimes other than murder are a big factor here, but it’s good also to recall that the Mayor and City in a major 2020 report identified 177 murders per year as the Chicago’s ideal target. That would put our murder rate near to the annual rate of NYC and LA, the report stated. I applaud the city for having the courage to put that out there. Right now, double that 177 would be heralded as a dramatic improvement. So: just 354 murders in 2022 in Chicago. The city’s own target x 2. Let’s see how that… Read more »

Chad
2 years ago
Reply to  Matt Rosenberg

“That would put our murder rate near to the annual rate of NYC and LA.” Seriously? New York and LA are over three times the size of Chicago … and we think it will be a “win” if our murder averages are the same as theirs!?

2 years ago
Reply to  Chad

By virtue of their very large in-city populations, 300-400 murders a year in NYC and LA – the usual range now in both cities although NY hit about 485 last year – results in a citywide murder rate much lower than Chicago. So, yes, whether we’re talking about murder rates or numeric totals, 177 murders a year in Chicago would represent a *dramatic* decrease in the murder rate and the total (700-800 annually) in the last few years. Citywide murder rates are a useful general starting point. However, the real tell in Chicago is the neighborhood-by -neighborhood murder rates, and… Read more »

John
2 years ago

I lived in South Loop for several years including witnessing the Battle of Christopher Columbus at Grant Park. That area was up and coming with more vibrancy until Covid and it drastically regressed as crime from the south side has crept up to the South Loop neighborhood. Post-Covid it really has gone downhill, I would not want to be a property owner in that neighborhood. Plus the alderman is a total dope, Roosevelt stop is basically a war zone anymore.

2 years ago
Reply to  John

You see those imposing high-rise apartment buildings in the picture accompanying this article? On East Roosevelt Road. Overlooking Grant Park and the city’s awesome skyline. Walking distance to nightlife, restaurants, the lakefront, major museums, and of course the North Loop and Near North Sides. I’d have bought a unit in one of those structures already. If it weren’t for escalating crime. I’d even eat the big tax hit. It’s risk management. Apex predators everywhere now.

Michael Sacco
2 years ago

Good reporting on crime statistics, but wondering about the comment about police heading for the exits and how it relates to the story and it is supported.

2 years ago
Reply to  Michael Sacco

Thank you for reading and commenting, Mike. I’ll add a link to factually support the claim. Good suggestion. It has bearing, in my mind, because cops are spread thin all over the city. More feet on the street – and more cops in cars to back them up *and* respond to 911 calls – is likely to better help deter crime.

2 years ago
Reply to  Michael Sacco

This was added to the post. From another recent article here. The darker text is links (3 of them).

CPD lost 900 officers in 2021 but graduated only 247 from its training academy. Chief David Brown wants to see another 520 to 600 Chicago police recruits graduating this year while some aldermen are calling for as many as 1,200 or 2,000 new cops to fight a growing “sense of lawlessness.” At just shy of 12,000 now, CPD is down 1,000 from approved officer staffing levels even after 614 vacancies were disappeared by Lightfoot to help balance the city’s 2021 budget.

Last edited 2 years ago by Matt Rosenberg
David F
2 years ago

Maybe Illinois should follow Indiana and 23 other states (and 3 more coming shortly) allowing constitutional carry. If you can legally own it, you can carry it. ESPECIALLY on public transportation they are encouraging everyone to use now for the environment.

Ciesla Maria
2 years ago
Reply to  David F

With Chicago, County, and State progressive ‘leaders’ ? Ain’t gonna happen.

jajujon
2 years ago

Historically, mayors and other city officials primarily limited crime to the poorer neighborhoods south and west of downtown. That was so wrong. Those communities didn’t deserve any less protection than District 1 and others like it. Now there is a consistent migration of crime across most of the city and beyond. The police have one hand tied behind their back. Brainless bail reform measures and soft on crime prosecutors are fueling the fire. Visitors now hear weekly about criminal activity in places they want to visit, surely decreasing tourism and the economic benefits that accompany it. Chicago’s politicians have made… Read more »

Jay
2 years ago

What I’d like to know are the property value fluctuations in the last 6-7 years for that South Loop area between 16th to 18th, S. Prairie west to Michigan Ave. I’ve had friends that during the gentrification bought or leased some of the high-rise condos in that area back around 2014-2015. Don’t know if they’re still there or not. Even with the price appreciation in the rest of the city and suburbs, I would bet that those condos would be a tough sell right now.

2 years ago
Reply to  Jay

Those would be good data points to have, agree. I stayed in the Prairie Ave. Historic District for a while, and that whole larger slice of PD1 bordered by Roosevelt, Cermak, Michigan and the railroad tracks, is a vibrant piece of Chicago. The high-rises on East Roosevelt, east of Michigan, overlooking Grant Park, are prime for the views and walkability. The problem of course is crime, and it’s telling that the Roosevelt CTA Red Line station is now too often in the news as the site of beatings and muggings.

Last edited 2 years ago by Matt Rosenberg
Chad
2 years ago
Reply to  Jay

In 2016, I bought new construction in Bronzeville (close to the lake and just South of McCormick). When my office went virtual, we sold in 2020, made about 150k profit – so pretty darn good in a few short years. To be honest, that area is beautiful and has some of the best housing stock in Chicago, it just happens to be wrapped in a lot of poverty and crime. If you can get past that fact, there’s major money to be had. I will also say that most of the direct area is filled with Black professionals who love… Read more »

2 years ago
Reply to  Chad

Most of Bronzeville is beautiful, and the people are striving, and hard-working. The history and architecture of the place are remarkable. The section to the east of MLK, along Drexel Boulevard, has gorgeous residential building stock. Chicago’s historic boulevard system is also on full display there.

You just don’t get stuff like this in the suburbs, or Phoenix. But yes, that cost-benefit calculus is brutal.

The city suffers from a tyranny of the minority. It’s likely not more than five percent of the population – there are an estimated 100,000, some say 140,000 gangbangers – that is wreaking the havoc.

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