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| Almost ready to punch out on 2017 |
A
year ago, it was being reported how the number of slayings took a significant
rise compared to recent years. Some 760 slayings in Chicago – which may be less
than the days of the late 1980s when the city could have nearly 1,000 killings
in a year.
BUT
CONSIDERING CHICAGO had experienced a significant drop in murder during the 1990s
and 2000s, it had some of us concerned that the bad ol’ days were coming back.
And
also gave ammunition to those ideologically-inclined to want to use Chicago as
their example of a hellhole that they could use to blame for everything!
The
Chicago Tribune reported Friday that 2017 is likely to see about 100 fewer
slayings in the city compared to the year before. That’s about a 15 percent
drop.
Although
it should be noted we won’t know the final murder tally until some time next
week most likely – on account that anybody who gets shot before Sunday night
but doesn’t die until after Monday morning will still be counted as part of
2017 violence, rather than 2018.
ALSO,
THE NEWSPAPER noted that arrests for gun crimes were up 28 percent this year,
compared to last.
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| This kind of nonsense will still be spewed in 2018 |
Perhaps
we’ve just been luckier in surviving the wounds inflicted upon ourselves in
various incidents scattered around Chicago. Or maybe the Chicago police are
correct when they imply that changing technology is making it possible for them
to keep better tabs on what is happening on the streets – making it possible
for them to fight violent crime more efficiently.
Not
that I believe any of this will matter one bit to the ideologues of a conservative
bent. We still have Donald J. Trump as our president, and I won’t be surprised
if he manages to find some reason this weekend to issue one of his Tweets from
a Twit-type messages to further lambast Chicago.
We’ve
become a punching bag for a man whose literary style doesn’t extend beyond the
280-character limit of Twitter – which is perfect for espousing the incredibly
trivial aspects of life.
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| Were still busy despite apparent homicide drop |
PERHAPS
THIS MEANS there’s legitimate reason to think in accordance with the results of
a new Morning Consult poll – one that shows many of us are pessimistic about
our government officials as we enter a new year.
The
poll shows some 48 percent don’t think positively about government these days,
with both Democrats (54 percent) and political independents (50 percent) having
negative thoughts.
It
seems only 37 percent of Republicans are pessimistic about government, but then
again they’re the ones going about spewing the rhetorical nonsense about the
majority of us.
Perhaps
going on rants such as about how violent and decrepit Chicago has become is
what makes them feel better about their lot in life.
PERSONALLY,
I’D FIND such a line of thought to be depressing. But perhaps we’d all be
better off ignoring the nitwits of our society as they try to drag us all down
to their level.
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| ORR: Soon to perform 'first' for final time |
Not
that it means I think we ought to ignore the conditions that create violence in
our urban area. Just that we shouldn’t exaggerate them for personal or
political gain. That’s just sick!
So
here’s hoping that when we get the final death tally for Chicago some time next
week, it will be the beginning of a declining trend in the city’s body count. That would be a pleasant New Year's thought!
Then,
we could move on to the other official stats for Chicago – the first baby born
in the new year and the first couple to be issued a marriage license. Which
Cook County Clerk David Orr says will be the last “first” license he issues,
since he is not seeking re-election and plans retirement when his term ends
next December.
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