Month: August 2022

“I know it’s tough times right now, but I love this town,” he said. “This is where I was born and raised. I love the good, the bad, I love it all.” (Former Cook County prosecutor James Murphy/Chicago Tribune)

If you want to know who a real Chicagoan is, look no further than James Murphy.

James Murphy is a true son of Chicago. He has a sense of place. He loves Chicago. Murphy resigned from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office last week after 25 years of service. He sent what the media described as a “blistering” criticism of Kim Foxx’s management of the prosecutor’s office.

“If this administration was truly concerned with effectively fighting violent crime, then they would fully staff those courtrooms and units. Not create more useless policy positions on the executive staff at the expense of hiring more (assistant state’s attorneys) who can work in the trenches.” (Chicago Tribune)

When a respected veteran prosecutor implies that enough is enough, you know there are serious issues. According to the Chicago Tribune, the turnover rate at the State’s Attorney’s office is high and morale is at “rock bottom.” Only morale in the Chicago Police Department is lower.

“However, I can no longer work for this administration. I have zero confidence in their leadership.” He later added: “This administration is more concerned with political narratives and agendas than with victims and prosecuting violent crime. That is why I can’t stay any longer.” (Chicago Tribune/Emphasis mine)

As a police officer, I witnessed how hard prosecutors worked to get justice for the victims of crimes or their families. They fought battles every day in the courts. They spent long hours day after day building cases to take to trial.  

Under Kim Foxx, and Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle, Chicago no longer has a criminal justice system. It was turned into a criminal system. There is little justice for the victims. No one speaks for them. Not Kim Foxx, not Superintendent David Brown, not mayor Lori Lightfoot, not Chief Judge Tim Evans.

The system’s policies are not working. People are suffering, grieving, and mourning. People all over this city live in fear. Neighborhoods are not safe. Public transit is not safe. There is no safe in Chicago.

There is only the narrative, driven by politicians, the police superintendent, and their water carrier, the Chicago news media. It appears public criticism of failing policies is taboo in this city.

Elections have consequences. Chicago is suffering the consequences of elections and the people politicians appoint. Even if Chicago had a competent Superintendent of Police, and morale was high, it would make no difference.

No matter how hard they work or how many people they arrest, if cases are not prosecuted and violent criminals are released on low or no bail, public safety is futile. Cops are now fly fishermen. Criminals are caught and released so other cops can have the joy to catch and release them.

I served in the Chicago Police Department for almost thirty years. I never witnessed this level of incompetence and failure in the criminal justice system. Incompetence and failure are the public safety policy in Chicago.

I firmly believe in people living their best life, especially during Chicago’s Summer of Joy. I found this great PSA for getting true joy out of your urban life.

I got on the El Saturday to attend an event on the Near Northside. The car was full of boisterous obnoxious young people drinking alcoholic beverages. They were so loud, at the first stop, I switched cars. It did no good. At every stop, more half-drunk loud obnoxious people boarded the train, with their alcoholic beverages. They all had one thing in common. They were going to Lollapalooza.

The Department of Public Health issued warnings about fentanyl-laced illegal drugs sold at the music festival and on the beaches. There were fentanyl test kits available so concert and beachgoers could test the illegal drugs they bought. They could experience a safe, “higher” sense of Chicago joy.

Then Her Royal Mayorship, Lori Lightfoot, the Queen of Joy, announced another ten-year deal for the music festival. Oh, joy. Just what Chicago needs, another ten-year bread and circus.

Before that, she announced NASCAR would hold a street race in Chicago next year. More Joy. Unfortunately, she told no one of her plot, not even the aldermen of the two wards affected by that joyful event. She did it all in secret, behind closed doors, in the proverbial smoke-filled back rooms. It was the old-school Chicago Way wheeling and dealing. Maybe we should nickname Lori Lightfoot “Old School.”

There was the announcement about the various plans, plots, and schemes to remodel Soldier Field, in dashed hopes to keep the cheapskate and chiseling McCaskey Bears in Chicago or to turn the stadium into some other type of venue. More Joy.

While Mayor Old School is providing bread and circuses, the city is burning around her. She threw public safety under the bus. The Chicago Police Department is being led by a total incompetent who is a legend in his own cowpoke mind.

What will she dream up next for her PR firm, the Chicago news media, to glorify? They too threw public safety under the bus for the crumbs of bread and the circus animal droppings coming from Her Mayorship. They eagerly eat and fight over those joyful crumbs and droppings like Chicago’s flying rats, the pigeons.

Armed robberies and carjackings are rising. Other violent crimes are up. Arrests are way down. People do not feel safe. Anyone in any neighborhood can be an innocent victim of a violent crime. There is no safe in Chicago. But there is plenty of joy to spread around. I bet the families and mourners of violent crime victims are not feeling joyful about Lightfoot’s imperial proclamations of future joy to come to Chicago.

In the early hours, muscle cars take streets over doing donut contests on weekends. Now, hundreds of motorcycles take over the streets and sidewalks in broad daylight. Chicago is a lawless city. Anything goes as long as it creates joy.

Since she is acting like a bread and circus Roman empress, maybe she should start dressing like one. She should acquire a closet full of bespoke togas and sandals to wear in public. Maybe even a few crowns of realistic faux laurel leaves instead of those pork pie hats she sports.

Her City Council dais could be raised high above the alderpersons, also known as the Corydon*  Circus Maximus. The Alderpersons and gallery should rise at the start of every meeting, as she makes her grand entrance, and sing her praises. “Hail Lightfoot, Hail Lightfoot, All Hail the Harbinger of Joy.” Hell, blue toga-clad police officers and firefighters should carry her to the dais on a palanquin, while pipers play.

Hail Imperial Mayor Maximus Gaudium, the mayor of Great Joy.

*Corydon is Latin for clown.