Illinois Governor JB Pritzker: “Leave Chicago Alone”

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1. Roy Turrentine says:

   August 31, 2025 at 10:43 am

   I had read this earlier, and this post induced me to read it again. Pritzger appears in the middle of the country as the voice of reason, somewhat contradicting the trump banners that occasionally appear in the rural areas of his state, just like the rural areas of most mid-America states. Jess Piper is right. Democrats need to appeal to the rural people who feel left out. There are a lot of them.

   His comments on crime rates in Memphis and Hattiesburg, however, show why stats do not always lead to the truth. Those of us who understand the weaknesses of educational statistics know that poor test performance is correlated to poverty stronger than any other identifying factor. Crime is the same way. Trouble with particular geographic areas are generally associated with poverty, whether it be in New Mexico where places like Espanola sees a high crime rate, or my own county, which had a civil district filled with rocks and cedar trees that became known as “the bloody 18th” during the days of prohibition. Hattiesburg, where my kid attends college, has a high crime rate because of the amount of marginal housing there. So also with Memphis. Places where there is an abundance of cheap places to rent are home to people living on the edge of society. Most of the people living in those houses are competing for a few lower-paying jobs. Some lack the infrastructure to widen their search. Cars are too expensive, and public transportation is no longer the way the rich side of town imports labor as it did when Rosa Parks famously refused to yield her seat. In Hattiesburg, the money moved outside of town to West Hattiesburg, a sprawling maze of suburban communities and man made lakes. Retail has grown like strip malls everywhere, and the old town of Hattiesburg is home to older homes and old businesses that need lower property values to compete. Hence the statistics.

   Pritzger is smart enough to understand that long-winded explanations are not good press. I am sure he would agree with me. He reminds me of John Peter Altgelt, Illinois political leader during the Haymarket Riot in 1886. A voice of reason during that part of the Gilded Age, he never achieved national stature, but he correctly espoused the ideals associated with Abraham Lincoln, and infused the national conversation with them.

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   • dienne77 says:

     August 31, 2025 at 12:59 pm

     It’s almost like the best way to fight crime would be to reduce poverty. I wish Democrats would make that argument rather than trying to out-right the right with “tough on crime” nonsense that causes further harm and, hence, further crime.

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   • dianeravitch says:

     August 31, 2025 at 9:46 pm

     Roy, thank you for your wise comment.

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2. ECE Professional says:

   August 31, 2025 at 1:28 pm

   Pritzker knows very well that crime in Chicago is highest in areas where there’s a lot of poverty. He even sent his own personal funds to save a program for young children who are from poor families in those neighborhoods, when the former IL (GOP) governor was going to shut it down. That governor’s own (Democratic) wife was the president of the program, too, and along with leaders of similar programs, sued the former governor for withholding their funds! (Pritzker’s funds did save her program –and then Pritzker beat th former governor in the next election!)

   If this administration does send troops to Chicago, it will no doubt be to the high poverty areas. My guess is, if that happens, Pritzker will have a WHOLE LOT to say about the need for sending funds to increase opportunities for the poor, instead of deploying unnecessary military troops to poverty stricken neighborhoods.

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   • ECE Professional says:

     August 31, 2025 at 2:38 pm

     If troops are sent to Chicago, I think Pritzker is likely to jump at the chance to talk about how much it cost to send unneeded troops to poor neighborhoods, which could have been going to aid the poor people in those impoverished areas instead, such as by helping with food, rent, job training, etc.

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3. Joe Jersey says:

   August 31, 2025 at 2:17 pm

   Trump is just demonstrating his power by sending troops all over the map to Democratic run districts. He doesn’t really give a damn about safety, he only cares about his appearance as a strong man and authoritarian. I hope significant numbers of people who voted for this evil toad are having feelings of regret and voter remorse.

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   • dianeravitch says:

     August 31, 2025 at 9:48 pm

     Trump is expecting to get lots of mileage out of sending troops to Democratic cities. He’s a coward and a draft dodger but loves to play tough guy.

     Also he needs to stop the talk about Jeffrey Epstein.

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     • gitapik says:

       September 1, 2025 at 7:33 am

       ”Also he needs to stop the talk about Jeffrey Epstein.”

       We watched “Wag the Dog” for the second time since it first came out in the ‘90s. It was relevant at that time in relation to the sex scandal that Clinton was enmeshed in. It’s relevant now in relation to the constant outlandish statements and actions that the administration makes and does.

       “But…the IS no B3 Bomber…?”

       “Exactly.”

       Yes: these moves are designed to intimidate and divide. And to subvert. They’re also meant to divert attention away from some very ugly and more and more obvious truths. How could anyone not read into the transfer of a convicted child sex trafficker from a maximum security facility to a country club cake walk?

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