Posted on 05/26/2022 3:11:25 AM PDT by nikos1121
I grew up on Chicago's Southside, a graduate of Morgan Park HS.
I'm returning to downtown Chicago after almost 5 years. What will I see? How safe is it? Can I walk safely down Rush street and Michigan Avenue at night, or do I take an Uber just to go three blocks.
Five years ago, you'd encounter a few homeless people sleeping in the street, and get hit on by a beggar or two, how is it now?
What kind of security downtown. Any festivals in Grant Park this weekend?
Thank you for the help.
I notice some are closed on Saturday and Sunday? Thank you.
There was that shooting up in Lincoln Park. Poor guy shot for his cell phone....
Not funny....
I live in West Georgia now. I would wager that 40 % of the people shopping in Walmart are carrying, esp the ladies.
If they had a concealed weapon law in Chicago it would be a lot safer. The worse thing for me is I can’t take a gun with me....
Thank you for this. Not surprised. I want to go to Kingston Mines Saturday night. Despite the seemingly dangerous appearance, the place is well secured. Obviously, you go taxi to taxi and you don’t walk, even a block from there in either direction now.
Did you see any mounted police? I’m going to be around Chestnut and Rush Street.
I wasn’t that far north (I was first along Randolph Street, then worked my way from Van Buren north to Madison and west), but I don’t recall seeing a single cop the whole time. The police force is down dramatically since 2019 with no signs of slowing.
Near-north like Chestnut and Rush is where a lot of the recent trouble has been. The “Red Line Raiders” come up from the south side in groups and cause trouble downtown and on the near north side. The latest rumor is that there’s a Twitter call out for a “gathering” at North Avenue Beach on Monday.
Don’t go. Not now
I lived in Uptown 1998-1999. Went back ten years after that and it had already changed a lot.
Argyle Street in Uptown where I once lived was Little Saigon back in the 90s. Not sure about now.
Just curious, is it faster getting to the UP through Wisconsin that Michigan? Maybe it depends on where in the UP you are going?
I think so. I would have went through Michigan if I had to do it over again on that trip. Sometimes I have to stop by Appleton, WI, on my way up to Iron Mountain, so through (around from now on) Chicago is the only choice for that.
“rash of muggings and beatings that have gone unreported”
Excellent point—crime statistics are way below the reality on the street.
They are best used for measuring trends.
I go to northern Wisconsin and unfortunately going thru or around Chicago is my only option.
The news doesn’t come close to reporting the actual situation on the street. Sites like cwbchicago and the “Chicago Scanner” and “16th and 17th District Chicago Police Scanner” twitter feeds (no need to have an account, you can read them online) give a better sense of what’s going on, especially for carjackings, street crime, and crime on the transit system.
Also look at the headlines on the Crain’s Chicago Business site (chicagobusiness.com) for additional economic pieces of the puzzle.
I see there are a couple restaurants there. I might check that out. Thank you.
I just checked in and you’re right. It’s a flourishing neighborhood Argyle and Broadway. I plan to go there as soon as I can. Thankyou.
When I posted this thread I didn’t expect much, but I’ve had several responses many private that have been very helpful.
Clearly, the city is not the same and is running in the same direction as Detroit and the blue state big cities.
I’ll be on around Chestnut and Rush street.
Just read your post again.... still not funny. lol
If you go to Uptown, after your dinner hit the Green Mill, the oldest jazz club in the city.
I’’m packing as we speak. Thank you for taking the time to post this. I forgot about Green Mill.
By chance were you a regular there by any chance? I had a dear HS friend who was a regular there, and wanted to know if you had listened to her. Gail Smith.
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