Who could possibly have seen such a tragedy coming? I mean, talk about completely random and out of the blue! No one in their right mind could have predicted this. The City of Chicago in chaos? But they have such excellent political leaders! Yeah. We reap what we sow. -------------------------------------- 'I haven't seen s**t like this before': Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said rioters are 'f**ing lawless' in meeting with panicked officials who described gang members walking around with AK-47s during George Floyd unrest Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot briefed the city's 50 aldermen during an online conference call on May 31 about the civil unrest in the city In the audio, some aldermen are heard breaking down in tears while others voiced outrage that their communities have become 'the wild, wild west' Alderman Ed Burke said he had not seen such chaos since the Chicago riots of 1968, sparked by the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. and leaving 11 people dead Alderman Susan Sadlowski-Garza broke down in tears as she said she was 'scared' her ward had become a 's**t show' with rioters 'shooting at the police' Lightfoot admitted that 'people are just f**ing lawless right now' Others warned vulnerable residents will lose access to food and medicine as local businesses are destroyed The fraught call came the same day that Chicago recorded its most violent day in 60 years with 18 fatally shot in the city Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot blasted rioters as 'f**ing lawless' in a meeting with panicked officials who described gang members walking around with AK-47s and said the city is 'worse than it was in 1968' after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. 'I don't know about you, I haven't seen s**t like this before, not in Chicago,' Lightfoot said during an online conference call on May 31 to brief all 50 aldermen about the civil unrest which has broken out following the slaying of black man George Floyd by a white cop in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. In the audio, obtained by WTTW News, some alderman are heard breaking down in tears while others voiced outrage as they described how their communities have become 'the wild, wild west' and demanded action from the mayor's office. Officials gave a chilling warning that they have not seen such chaos in the city since the Chicago riots of 1968, which were sparked by the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. and left 11 dead and more than 2,000 arrested. +5 Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (pictured) has blasted rioters as 'f**ing lawless' in a meeting with panicked officials who described gang members walking around with AK-47s 'This is far worse than it was in 1968,' said Alderman Ed Burke, who was elected to the City Council in 1969, as he warned that vigilantes could take matters into their own hands. Alderman Mike Rodriguez also told how Little Village residents were forming their own vigilante groups to protect businesses in the shopping district of 26th Street. 'I'm talking about all segments of our community, including some on this call would prefer to be incarcerated,' Rodriguez said. 'I think there are people of all stripes coming together, and I pray that holds tonight.' Alderman Susan Sadlowski-Garza is heard breaking down in tears as she told how her ward had become a 's**t show.' 'They are shooting at the police,' she said of the rioters. She told how a group of about 40 looters with no connection to protests over Floyd's death broke into a marijuana dispensary at around 11 a.m. last Sunday. 'I have never seen the likes of this,' Sadlowski-Garza said. 'I'm scared.' Lightfoot admitted there was a 'massive, massive problem' and that 'people are just f**ing lawless right now.' +5 A Best Buy store is targeted by in Chicago. Lightfoot addressed all 50 aldermen on an online conference call on May 31 about the civil unrest which has broken out following the slaying of black man George Floyd by a white cop in Minneapolis on Memorial Day +5 Workers clean graffiti off a bank in Chicago as the unrest continues. Some alderman described how their communities have become 'the wild, wild west' Other officials issued grave warnings that the most vulnerable and elderly members of their communities will be hardest-hit by the unrest, as they risk losing access to much-needed food and medicine when local businesses are destroyed. Alderman Michelle Harris said she would struggle to convince retailers like Walmart and CVS to rebuild in her community after stores are targeted and ransacked by looters. 'It's like, what are we going to have left in our community?' Harris is heard saying, before answering: 'Nothing.' Harris added: 'I feel like I am at ground zero. My major business district is shattered. Why would Walmart or CVS come back to our communities?' Alderman Pat Dowell agreed, saying she felt helpless to ensuring the most vulnerable have access to essential supplies. 'I've worked really hard over the last seven years and now I feel like I am five feet back,' Dowell said. She pleaded with Lightfoot to send in the National Guard to protect grocery stores and pharmacies, but the mayor responded saying the Guard 'are not a magic tool' and that sending them in has made the situation worse in some areas. The call descended into a spat between Lightfoot and Alderman Raymond Lopez, with the mayor telling the alderman he is '100% full of s**t' and him responding she needs to 'check your f**ing attitude'. This came after Lopez lamented that his Southwest Side ward had become 'a virtual war zone' where gang members were walking around armed with AK-47's and threatening to shoot black people. He demanded Lightfoot put in place a plan to stabilize Chicago's neighborhoods for five days. The mayor ended the meeting on a note of concern as she asked the aldermen to 'pray for us all.' The fraught call came on the same day that Chicago witnessed its deadliest day in 60 years, with 18 people fatally shot on May 31. The University of Chicago Crime Lab said the 18 people killed in the single 24-hour period was the most violent day in the city since 1961, when the lab first started keeping track of the data. Six people were also fatally shot on May 30. Previously, the record was August 4, 1991, when 13 people were killed in Chicago, the lab said.
Walmart, Target, Walgreens, and Best Buy are just basic chain box stores but - when viewed from another level- they help to bring the same consumer/shopping opportunities to marginal areas that whitey and others have throughout the rest of the country- so there is that and there is an equality there and it is a good thing. And we should have in mind that many minority communities or at least neighborhoods complain that they are "food deserts" ie. there is not place to buy groceries unless it is some rip-off corner store that mostly sells beer, cigarettes and lotto tickets and food consists of microwave sandwiches. I sure hope that all the stores that were looted and burned will hope to re-open based on the risks. The locals might want to think about that a bit because more rounds of looting are coming.
A choice was made, a decision to allow Walmart, Target, Walgreens and Best Buy to be looted. There were no police present. There was no fire fighters present. If I'm, say, Walgreens I'm not going to reopen in cities where the cops ran away from the looting. If that is a bad look for Walgreens then so be it. When cities make the decision to stop enforcing the law the problem becomes theirs. The cops were ordered to stay back. The people who issued those orders are responsible for the resulting retail deserts. Let them appreciate what they have done. Let them hear from people in the city who have to drive 10+ miles to pick up prescriptions and have to wait in long lines at the pharmacies that are left. Its medicine, gas, groceries, hardware stores, doctors offices and all the little things you need that you don't really think about. Ever live in a place with no food delivery? I mean, none? Want thai food? Order it on the phone and then drive 20 minutes to get it. The new normal in some areas.
Agreed. And then you will hear them cry why only dollar stores and liquor stores open in their neighborhoods. These folks will lament that they have to drive 30 minutes to get to the nearest Walmart.
Indeed. When I said "I sure hope the stores will re-open after being looted" it was tongue in cheek. We all know what the outcome will be. I will say though- and I can go decades without saying anything good about Chicago aldermen- that I was somewhat enlightened by that audio that was released that showed the rift between the mayor and the aldermen, many of them. Usually those fuckers band together to screw everyone on the plantation. Mayor Dyke there is going to pay a price at some point.
Make no mistake, the most frightening thing to these politicians is that the businesses move out, taxes bottom out as a result and their salaries and financial situation is threatened.
I have to admit, I started liking Lightfoot when she told that alderman that he was "100% full of shit". I'm from Bunker Hill, about a half mile east of the vacant lot gang scene in Falling Down. To us that was "no man's land". It was equally dangerous to all. My point is that I know what its like to have no retail. I drove to South Pasadena for groceries at Bristol Farms, maybe 15 miles from home. I bought gas ANYWHERE except the one gas station uptown which was a bad idea to visit day or night. The one shining exception was Little Tokyo which i miss badly. Safe and alluring, no problem making a sortie there at 2:00 AM for a giant bowl of Udon and a big cold Kirin when I was in school. It is next to the main police station, maybe that is why it has been safe there. Little Tokyo never seems to get torn up.
Well, it was a vigorous discussion , and I have to admit that I started liking the Aldermen when he replied back to Lightfoot to wit: “I think you’re 100% full of shit, is what I think,” Lightfoot responded. “No offense — Fuck you, then. Who are you to tell me I’m full of shit? Maybe you should come out here and see what’s going on,” Lopez told Lightfoot. "Mayor, you need to check your fucking attitude. That’s what you need to do,” Lopez interjected. As I said, "a vigorous discussion."