Living in the Chicago area once filled me with pride. It was the “city that works” under Mayor Richard J. Daley. This city operated smoothly by maintaining order and addressing racial and ethnic tensions decisively. The Chicago police played a crucial role in keeping the peace and ensuring the city’s various communities coexisted without conflict.
In those days, Chicago was a grand place to visit. It was relatively safe to walk around most neighborhoods and enjoy the diverse ethnic cuisines the city proudly offered. However, the city’s decline began with the crack epidemic, followed by heroin, crystal meth, and finally fentanyl. While Chicago has not suffered from open-air drug markets like some other cities, its central location made it a natural hub for cartels and international gangs, leading to violent turf wars that transformed it into one of the most murderous cities in the U.S.
The situation worsened with a succession of ineffective city governments. Weak leaders like Rahm Emanuel and incompetent ones like Lori Lightfoot eventually gave way to the weakest and most inept mayor of all: Brandon Johnson. A tool of the teachers’ union, Johnson has been in over his head since day one, frequently blaming others, including the powerful governor of the state, J.B. Pritzker, for his own failures. With the Democratic convention set for August, Republicans have a prime opportunity to highlight Chicago’s issues as a case study of failed progressive policies.
The Wall Street Journal aptly noted that Chicago’s troubles—from the migrant crisis to violent crime and shuttered businesses—could overshadow the Democratic convention. Republicans plan to spotlight these issues, contrasting them with their own platform of law and order. Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has repeatedly criticized the city, reinforcing the GOP’s message that liberal policies have failed.
Compounding the Democrats’ problems, pro-Palestinian activists plan to attract 100,000 demonstrators to protest President Biden’s handling of the Gaza conflict. Such chaos could bolster Trump’s message of restoring order. As Republican consultant Alex Conant stated, “When a convention comes to a city, the city becomes part of the convention,” making Chicago’s problems a focal point of the event.
Just blocks from the United Center, where the convention’s main events will be held, are migrant shelters that have become cesspools. According to the Wall Street Journal, Colleen Cella, who manages a building near the United Center, reported, “The messes started showing up last fall after hundreds of migrants were moved into a property down the block.” This situation has fueled anger among long-time Chicago residents who see newcomers receiving benefits like free rent, food, and job assistance that they do not.
Democrats face a daunting task trying to spin these issues positively. Mayor Johnson will likely blame his predecessors and others for the city’s woes, and other Democrats will follow suit. Despite Johnson’s claims at a recent investor conference that none of the city’s current crises developed on his watch, the reality is evident to those living in and observing Chicago.
While some point to potential positive developments, like the transformation of a state office complex downtown into a high-tech space for Google and the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center, these do little to mask the city’s current struggles. Emily Soong, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Convention, optimistically claimed that the world would see a “world-class city” showcasing “the progress possible under President Biden.” However, this vision contrasts sharply with the reality of shuttered shops, excrement on the streets, and potential protests, painting a picture of a city grappling with chaos and mismanagement.
