Crime in Chicago is outrageous and out of control. Downtown Chicago has become a dangerous place. The “bean” sits in Chicago’s living room and is for tourists and residents of the city to enjoy.
The city is in trouble when teens engage in what is now known as “trending,” which is the spot to hang out and have fun on a nice summer day or summer night. As a result, we see the kids running like wild animals, sometimes running from the gun of their peers and police officers.
We see the disruption of McDonald’s on Chicago Avenue, directly across the street from Holy Name Cathedral, million-dollar condos, and Chicago’s newest Whole Foods. So what’s on the menu at McDonald’s on a beautiful spring night? MURDER.
Teens will be teens, and young folks going downtown is a traditional pastime. For enjoyment, one may take in a concert or movie, ride a bike, or take a stroll downtown. It’s nice to meet at Buckingham Fountain when the lights come on or watch the fireworks at Navy Pier. Downtown Chicago is not the place for murder, and neither are the neighborhoods. The crime has to stop. The long hot summer has begun, and school is not yet out.
The Blame Game…
The politicians get blamed. The government gets the blame; the police get the blame. The schools get the blame for what the children do. The mayor gets the most blame. But none of them are at fault.
The responsibility goes to the parent (s) of the children. It is up to parents to keep up with their children, night and day, 24 hours around the clock. Parents are responsible for their children at all times. Where are the parents? We can’t keep excusing or not talking about the role of the parent in youth crime? How does an 18-year-old Payton S. Gendron of Conklin, New York, bring home a war (assault) weapon and go unchecked? The same kid, heavily armed and wearing tactical gear, killed ten Black people and injured three. According to an online journal entry of the shooter, he once killed a cat and decapitated it, and his mother provided the box to bury the animal in their backyard. What kind of mother is this? Didn’t she see the sickness of her child? Did she care?
My Teen Years…
When I was a teen, the unspoken but well-known rule was that you had to come inside when the street lights came on. This rule was enforced with a belt, a shoe, or a switch. And the spoken word was, “don’t let me have to come to find you.” The home curfew was the dawning of the day.
I called friends to ask, do you remember the family rules about curfew when you were a teen? They all remembered, as did I. This was standard summer activity. And also in the days of old, every weeknight at 10 pm, every newscaster on every TV station, asked, “Do you know where your child is?
Children live under the direction and guise of their parents. So where are the parents? The crime in Chicago will not stop with policing or with government laws. Crime in Chicago will stop when parents say enough is enough. Parents have the power over their children. So, parents take control and charge their children with real discipline and constructive activity. Laws will come forth soon for a parent to be arrested with their child for misbehavior. Fine the parent and watch what happens when the child goes bad. Parents are responsible.
And by the way, where are the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, the YMCA‘s, the Boys and Girls Club, the community center, the park district events, museums, and the art programs?
And FYI, Chicago has introduced an app just for teens and activities. The initiation is from Mayor Lori Lightfoot. My CHI.My Future. (MCMF) a mobile app, a significant investment, and a resource designed to help teens easily find out-of-school programs, events, resources, jobs, etc. This is the first app of its kind nationwide created by a city government. The app is available now on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store.
The latest project of Mayor Lightfoot and First Lady Eshleman’s initiative, “My CHI. My Future.” is a multi-year, youth-focused initiative designed to connect youth across Chicago to meaningful out-of-school experiences. The My CHI. My Future., a family of more than 250 organizations designed the initiative with a focus on organizing and connecting the opportunity ecosystem in Chicago. Supported by the Department of Family and Support Services, the initiative has worked with thousands of caring adults from public, private, and civic institutions all over the city to ensure that every young person has a plan for out-of-school engagement.
Parents Step Up.
