Today is a beautiful day, so I decided to grab my sammich and walk down to Buckingham Fountain during lunch to see if the fountain was turned on yet. I've done this walk hundreds of times over the years I've been working downtown (26) and have never had a problem.
Until today.
During my walk back, two "urban youths" (read that black males in their late teens perhaps early 20's) tried a bump and pick on me at Jackson and State St. This is where one bumps into you and the other tries picking your pocket. As soon as I felt the bump I put my left hand over my wallet.
"Excuse me sir, can you ..." I put my hand up to stop him and shook my head no at him.
"This is why black people hate white people you ......" One said as the other attempted to intimidate me while others around us who were also stopped at the corner waiting to cross looked at what was going on.
At that point I figured if I was going down I was taking one of them with me so I raised up my fist and lunged at the one who was talking. The two cowardly urban youth's turned and ran from this 54 year old white man.
In the 26 years I've been working in downtown Chicago, this is now the 4th time that I've had to defend myself from these street urchins. It's getting ridiculous.
The worst part is, when crap like this happens, all people do is stand and watch. No one comes to anyone's aid anymore.
I used to work downtown. I am retired almost four years now. It is hard to believe that no one will help, anymore but it is true. Disgusting! Walking down Adams or Monroe may be safer than Jackson. One or two streets over makes a difference in this crazy city. I am sure you figured that out already. It is a beautiful day today in Chicago. Sorry about those Obama sons of so and sos.
Good luck to you. There is no way in hell that I could live around that kind of garbage.
I would sooner sell everything I had and move several states away and start a chicken farm.
It is so sad what has happened to Chicago. Neighborhoods like Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Boystown,etc are high in crime. There is a terrific blog called “Crime in Wrigleyville and Boystown” - which tells the truth of what is going on. People are attacked on the trains in the middle of the day - no one steps in to help. Same on the buses. Glad you were able to escape the two thugs. As a woman, I find this very upsetting. All the best to you.
This lack of concern was first manifest in NYC in 1964: was her name Kitty Genovese? They might help if they knew you were a fellow liberal.
I’ve seen the same degeneration over the last few years. Before it was bothersome. Now it’s much worse.
L
I've had the same experiences in Chicago which is definitely a town you don't want to take a wrong turn in. I made the mistake once of taking a non-highway GPS route out of the city to get to Naperville and I literally felt like my life was in danger in some of those neighborhoods. I had to lock the doors, close the windows, and pray for green lights. I work in New York City and consider that much safer, Bronx and all.
I don't know why Chicago has turned into such a war zone. It has so much going for it otherwise. Hopefully it can get turned around.