Posted on 12/08/2021 7:07:16 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Residents of Wicker Park, a Chicago neighborhood with enough cachet to have a major mystery movie named after it, are worried about the closing of their local convenience store due to unsustainable levels of shoplifting. It is already too late for their 7-11 – its owner is closing and there is a Walgreens nearby that they fear for.
They seem to see the possibility that the expression “food deserts,” referring to urban neighborhoods that lack supermarkets or other venues to buy nourishing food, will soon be replaced by “retail deserts” (my expression) where there are no stores to buy anything. As a result, a local activist has launched a postcard writing campaign to their alderman and especially Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and Chief Judge Timothy Evans, urging a crackdown on looters and thieves. CWB Chicago reports:
A long-time community activist in Wicker Park and Bucktown hopes neighbors will get involved in a letter-writing campaign to Cook County leaders as a neighborhood convenience store prepared to close its doors for good.
“The 7-Eleven at 1658 North Milwaukee is closing permanent after being pilfered daily by shoplifters the last year,” Steve Jensen said in a Facebook group post over the weekend. “We fear the Walgreens at 1601 North Milwaukee is next.” (snip)
Jensen told us that the staff told him theft was the reason for the store’s closure. He encouraged neighbors to pick up postcards from some local businesses and an alderman’s office to contact local leaders, especially Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and Chief Judge Timothy Evans, about what’s happening.
“We cannot bear more empty storefronts,” Jensen said on Facebook.
In a crisp “how-to” guide, Jensen provided neighbors with some pointers for effective letter-writing.
“Be sure to describe your personal experience(s) while living in the neighborhood pertaining to your safety.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Another CWBChicago Story:
[EXCERPT]
Jaheim Jackson smiled widely for his mugshot as police officers booked him for allegedly participating in a mob shoplifting raid on an Ulta Beauty store in Lakeview last week. A judge allowed him to go home by posting a $500 deposit in that case, which involved allegations of taking $8,500 worth of fragrances.
Cops arrested Jackson again late last week after investigators connected him to a similar raid on an Ulta store in suburban Berwyn two months ago.
While his bond court hearing on Saturday did not provide images of Jackson’s face, he sure didn’t sound like he was smiling as a different judge slammed him with a much higher bail.
“The alleged value of the goods that were taken was $2,865,” Judge Maryam Ahmad said after hearing allegations about the Berwyn case. “With that amount in mind, bail is set in the amount of $30,000-D.”
“That’s … That’s $3,000?” Jackson stammered in a stunned tone.
“You need $3,000 to be released from custody, Mr. Jackson,” the judge confirmed. A so-called “D bond” requires a 10% deposit for release.
“I’m not going to be able to be bonded out!” Jackson whined.
“You need $3,000 to be released from custody, Mr. Jackson,” Ahmad repeated as she asked prosecutors to name Jackson’s next court date.
Mayor groot will get right on it.
Wicker Park is the leftist, professional, vegan, homosexual, yuppie, neighborhood in Chicago.
Maybe they should not have re-elected the prosecutor that refuses to prosecute criminals......
Need to go back to the super old fashioned stores where practically everything was behind the counter. You had to ask for it.
I'm guessing a sternly worded postcard will have ZERO effect.........
here is a novel solution: dont vote democrat
Nah!
Didn't the term for activists used to be "busybodies" or maybe trouble makers?
Vote for stupid you get stupid.
maybe if losses to theft were deductible from property taxes the local government would be a bit more inclines to stop pandering to criminals.
This makes me laugh. They vote for this garbage, they wrap themselves in leftist peddled victimhood, and now, when it hurts, they ask the very people hurting them to stop.
Embrace the suck folks.
“I’m not going to be able to be bonded out!” Jackson whined.
That was so easy. Enforcing the law can empty the jails AND protect the law-abiding over time.
Pro-tip: When crime doesn’t pay criminals do less of it.
They voted for it. They are reaping the rewards of their idiocy.
Some people need to learn by experience.
Surely this wave of petty theft has nothing to do with Bidenflation! When the peasants can’t afford bread...well, we all knows what happens from there.
Just think how much better things would be in the country had the residents and business owners of Ferguson shot the rioters and looters?
The best time to pull weeds is when they first appear, not when they’re everywhere.
Yep. That way, only the employees can steal from you.
Maybe, just maybe ,they should write letters to the shoplifters asking them to stop.🤧
Tangential anecdote:
There’s a notable poor area near here. By the main road, there was (!) a convenience store; small, but seemed to supply a need for the community and the loitering workers waiting to get picked up for random jobs. Something about the scene struck me as I occasionally drove past.
The store burned down. I have no idea why, but there was the charred rubble.
Shortly after, a “food truck” type store parked next to the remains, obviously an expedient attempt to fill the existing need for a convenience store of sorts.
Shortly after, the truck burned down, similar charred remains of vehicle & products further scarring the scene.
The stores have not been replaced.
Poor workers, awaiting pick-up jobs, continue loitering there years later. The foundations remain, a reminder of what services were and won’t be.
Progressives, incredibly, encourage this.
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