Is there even such a thing^^^ in Chicago???
Been busy all day, and wasn't going to get involved in this today.
But yes, there is such a thing as the "wrong house". There are some good people that for whatever reason have to live in some rough areas. Redlining in the past, lack of financial ability, etc.
They have had to live with this crap forever, but the trash has been emboldened by the politicians like Kim Foxx and the political climate in general. This is all on people like Foxx and Lightfoot.
Back in the day, they were actually a tad more careful on how they did hits because there might be a price to pay and tried to keep things amongst themselves. No more it seems. And quite frankly a lot of us didn't care much as long as they were eliminating themselves.
People like to
live, and as you know, "snitches get stitches"
at best, so they didn't see anything.
A lot of the cops can't be trusted, even if none of the LEO's themselves aren't affiliated, there is likely plenty of civilian staff that are who will tip off the leaders of these gangs and boom boom out go the lights for those that will tip off the cops. Collateral damage means nothing to them these days.
In fact, years ago, if the wrong person/people got injured, robbed or whatever, if the family spoke to the right guy, the person responsible would have a problem with his bosses.
A little story... I worked at a Job Corps (Mob Corps) facility south of the city. Many of the students were there or jail. Like when the judge would tell someone to go to the local recruiting office and join the military. A lot of these guys were so bad they didn't have the military option. If they weren't gangsters, real deal gangsters, they would get at least marginally involved at the center, just to get by. We had to know what the tats and signs all meant, and keep them separated as much as possible in the dormitory. One of the guys on my dorm, who was a shot caller, was the one of the few that I never had to write up for any infractions. He made it clear to me that he was going to keep his official nose clean and had every intention of becoming a LEO of some sort. Hopefully federal. But the gang would always be his family and have his loyalty. He wasn't first generation, had no tats, everyone knew who he was, and was impeccably groomed and dressed at all times. He came back from a weekend pass a week late because he got shot in a drive-by in his hood. It's complicated to say the least. He warned me one night not to stand in front of any windows because some locals were gunning for a member of a rival gang.
I tried to make a difference, and hope that for some I did.
I have respect for you Billy, but if you haven't dealt with it, or lived around it, It's difficult to explain. I'm not saying it was all good in the good old days, but not like now. Not to mention this crap gets nationwide press, when it didn't in the past because there was no such thing as "mutual combatants" Someone or more than just one were going to pay. The good cops would make sure of it if the system didn't.
Sorry, but I get a little testy when someone is damned because of geography. I also don't like it when big city types act like a country boy is a stupid yokel. I know you and the guys around here don't fit that mold.
chicago.suntimes.com
