You probably know this, but 95% of the ‘disenfranchised’ in the loop are part time residents of the Pacific Garden mission, 1400 block south Canal St.. A scourge on the center of the city.
Here's the irony: I used to work near Roosevelt and Canal, a few short blocks to Pacific Garden Mission. I used to walk from Union Station south on Canal on a daily basis for 5 years to get to work. Not exactly a pleasant walk having to go under Congress Parkway and past the old and new Post offices. Occasionally I'd have some homeless/drunk ask for money, but in those 5 years I never felt threatened or came close to being mugged. Heck there were times I'd walk over to the last Maxwell Street Polish stand over by Roosevelt and I-94 to get a Polish, fries and a coke for a whopping $4.50. Even during that walk I felt safe, never once got eyeballed or felt uncomfortable in the neighborhood.
Ironic that my office moved last Friday to the south Loop and on only my third day in the new office some stupid bastard tries mugging me literally outside the very building I now work in.
I haven't told my wife yet that it happened, waiting for the kids to go to bed for the evening so they don't get upset.
Personally, I can't wait to get out of this God forsaken state. I hate Illinois. I can't stand it. We're headed for Texas as soon as the kids are done with high school in another 3 years.