A Better Place

As published in Crain Chicago's Business by William J. Booker 3/6/20  

There are too many guns on the streets, too many cases of senseless violence and too many innocent young people dying. The violence and crime in Chicago has gotten out of hand. Our communities aren't safe anymore, and young people have lost their way. It would seem that most young men in the inner city have given up on trying to do anything positive with their lives.

Quite frankly, they want what they see on television: quick cash, promiscuous women, cars and drugs. It's the American Dream for a generation of kids living in poverty with no future to think of, nothing seems to matter anymore.

Mayor Lightfoot's recent anti-poverty summit was a great first step in opening discussions about helping impoverished neighborhoods and Chicago's youth by putting badly needed resources in neighbors on the South and West side.

"Her new Invest South/West program will hopefully breathe new life in many of the neglected & distressed neighborhoods like Englewood where I grew up."

If communities fail to meet the needs of the people who live in them--we all fail. Chicagoans can not afford to close their eyes to what's not happening in their neighborhood because the reality is crime is getting worse and is taking place all over the city. Our neighbors aren't safe anymore, and there are too many innocent people dying to senseless violence.

To deter crime people need employment opportunities that support a living wage, and programs that help them improve their daily lives. We also need better schools. People don't won't handouts. What they need is simply a hand up. It’s time to stop blaming the poor for being poor. Thankfully, the mayor is committed to delivering on her plan of economic equity for impoverished neighborhoods, and support for families trapped in a generation of poverty. It’s time we work together to make Chicago a better place to live for everyone.

10 Reasons Why Chicago is the Greatest City in America…Seriously

we don't claim to be the greatest city in country, we just are. Tourists love us for our deep dish pizza, Chance the Rapper, 5 Star Hotels, and state-of-the-arts hospitals and trauma centers. Let's face it, our mayor is not the only thing that sinks in our beautiful city, just ask any one of our 50 rats...I mean aldermen. 

Chicago is the only city where our star quarterback makes losing look easy. No sense in wasting millions of dollars on a seasoned QB when we got Khalil Mack leading our defense; that $141 million will be well spent way after we win the Super Bowl. Go Bears! 

Our freeways are open to anyone who don't mind getting shot while driving, anytime of the day, because that's just how we roll. Unfortunately, carjacking will cost you extra. 

"We love our sugary drinks tax free, and any president who can shoot basketball, save the economy and look damn good doing it." 

In Chicago, you'll find a camera on every street corner, bus and train because in our fair city crime is like an in-law visiting you for the first time--while you're away at work. You knew the chances of them visiting you one day were high, you just didn't know when. And once you're no longer a virgin to being a victim of our notorious crime, in the city best-known for its crooked politicians, you can sit back and enjoy listening to some good blues music. Chicago and blues, just seems to go hand-to-hand for some auspicious reason.

Yep, I guess you can say we're the city that works, with or without a state budget. Of course we wouldn't be Chicago if we didn't have at least one snowstorm to remind us why we truly love this city. Our kids get to stay home from school, because being a knucklehead is kind of patriotic these days. 

"We're the only metropolis that when we say Netflix and chill we really mean Netflix and freaking chill, because it's cold as hell outside." 

All I'm saying is no matter where you're from, Chicago will always be home to the people who know and love this city for the good parts as well as the bad. And if you're ever planning on visiting the windy-city, make damn sure you're wearing a clean pair of underoos because God knows anything can happen here.