During a Lunar New Year parade, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was criticized for dancing merrily in the streets, while violent crime increased and big-box stores abandoned the Windy City’s main strip.
At the parade on Sunday, Lightfoot, who is up for re-election next month, was seen on camera busting moves while being surrounded by a drumline.
She was criticized as being “removed from reality” by a Chicago news station because of her careless dancing.
2,278 killings and more than 9,000 shootings have occurred in Chicago since the start of the current mayor’s tenure. 41 killings and 194 shootings have occurred in the city since January 1st, according to a tweet from the Chicago Contrarian media organization.
It continued, “Yet here Lightfoot is joyously dancing and pleading with people to keep her in office.”
According to figures from the Chicago Police, crime rates in the city have surged by 61% in the first three weeks of 2023 compared to the same period last year. 4,844 complaints of crimes were reported to the authorities, up from 3,013 during the same time previous year.
This past weekend, gunshots occurred all across the city, leaving two people dead and 13 others injured, including a 3-year-old kid, according to ABC7. Seven individuals lost their lives and at least 23 others had comparable injuries during the last weekend.
In the meanwhile, NBC Chicago reported that 13 robberies took place over the course of two hours on the city’s South and West sides on Saturday night into early Sunday. Each time, a person or persons driving a car approached the victims.
During a mayoral debate earlier this month, Lightfoot made the controversial claim that street sellers should accept alternative forms of payment in addition to cash to deter robbery.
In order to reduce crime in Chicago, Mayor @LoriLightfoot advises “not using money, (using) other types of transactions to carry… Next, what? Legislation requiring “monetary control” Later on Twitter, conservative talk radio presenter Larry Elder.
Chicago’s “Magnificent Mile” has taken a battering, with some high-profile retailers leaving the famed strip in addition to a steep increase in crime.
According to NBC Chicago, among the companies that have shut their doors or declared their demise include Banana Republic, Old Navy, Timberland, Uniqlo, Gap, and Macy’s.
According to Crain’s, the vacancy rate in the less-than-magnificent Mile has risen to around 30%. It apparently stood at less than 5% only six years ago.
Journalist William Kelly published a video showing State Street establishments that were closed on Sunday.
The Citizen Kelly podcaster tweeted, “Not even Old Blue Eyes could salvage this and Chicagoans have @lorilightfoot to thank.
Last week, Kelly said on Fox News with Steve Doocy, “The policies that really decimated State Street and honestly, Michigan Avenue, the Magnificent Mile, was the one-two punch of the lockdowns, the looting, but also the policies that persist to this day.”
“Believe it or not, there are no penalties for shoplifting under $1,000. Imagine, Steve, how long you could continue operating if someone were to take $1,000 from you daily.
“That amounts to $30,000 every month, or $3 million per year. You won’t be allowed to continue operating your firm, Kelly said.
In light of the city’s rife crime, Lightfoot’s detractors have also charged her of controlling the media.
She made no efforts to halt the plunder. Up to and including today, she did nothing to stop the stealing, Kelly said on Fox News.
“She took away my media pass. I sued Mayor Lightfoot in federal court for violating my right to free press. I’ll be asking her the questions on oath at City Hall that she asked me not to ask her,” he stated.
Kelly said, “I plan to obtain these answers, and I intend to cover this mayoral election, and I aim to uncover what is really driving the devastation of our city.
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