Crime Is Driving Chicago Into Crisis—And the Mayor Is Still Playing Politics
Yesterday’s horrific mass shooting in River North, which claimed four lives and injured fourteen more, should have prompted more than grief statements and symbolic gestures. Instead, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s response echoed the familiar script — heartfelt words, promises of unity, and the deployment of extra patrols for the weekend — but offered little in the way of genuine commitment to confronting the root causes of violence plaguing our city.
The Grim Statistics
In 2023, Chicago once again led the nation in homicides, with 617 recorded killings — the 12th consecutive year as America’s "murder capital."
While homicides have dropped slightly in 2024–25, violent crime remains at alarmingly high levels. Aggravated assaults, robberies, and burglaries continue to burden neighborhoods across the city.
The effect is visible everywhere: Black families are leaving in droves; affluent residents are relocating; businesses are closing or fleeing; and pharmacies, grocery stores, and restaurants in once-thriving neighborhoods are shuttering under the weight of the so-called “retail apocalypse.”
The Police Crisis
The Chicago Police Department has lost more than 3,300 officers since 2019 and now stands at its lowest staffing levels in recent history — down over 1,700 sworn officers from its peak.
Today, CPD fields just under 11,700 officers, down from over 13,299 in 2020.
As a result, only 50% of high-priority 911 calls are receiving a police response, virtually unchanged from 2019—even amid surging crime.
Without enough boots on the ground, violence continues unchecked — and with predictable consequences.
The Missing Elements in Johnson’s Response
Mayor Johnson has cited improvements, crediting his team’s Fourth of July safety strategy and the deployment of Deputy Mayor Garien Gatewood. But words and tactics matter less than structural solutions.
The city needs:
A robust plan to recruit and retain officers, especially in underserved neighborhoods — not more academy cancellations or layoff lists.
Accountability for violent offenders, not repeated efforts to downplay or defund policing.
Long-term safe neighborhoods, where families and businesses feel secure staying, investing, and thriving — not relocating to surer suburbs.
Families, Trust, and the Future
Policy alone won’t fix everything, but it’s a start. What Chicago needs isn’t just more helicopters or weekend patrols — it’s a serious investment in public safety infrastructure, accountability for justice, and trust-building between police and communities across all 77 wards.
Mayor Johnson’s words were heartfelt. His public displays were visible. But when the cameras leave, our neighborhoods still wrestle with fear, frustration, and loss.
Chicago needs more than declarations. We need resolve — backed by real action that stops the hemorrhage of families and businesses and begins the true hard work of restoring safety and faith in our city.
