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All signs point to a rousing, rowdy time in the Windy City starting on Monday for the Democratic National Convention.
Business owners near the convention center and around the loop seem like «ye of little faith» in the mayor’s ability to control the incoming protesters, judging by the way one local ‘we board your business» firm is suddenly going gangbusters.
Looks like downtown Pensacola with a Cat 3 or stronger coming in, only these are bodies instead of wind and waves. For the damage that could result, it kind of might well be hurricane force.
«.As we know, this city has a poor track record when it comes to protecting businesses», said Scott Shapiro, owner of Syd Jerome.
The looming unknowns ahead of next week’s convention are why Shapiro said he knew he had to take precautions to keep his decades-old business safe.
«We felt it was more prudent to board up, since our customers and their employers have told them to stay home throughout the convention for their own safety», Shapiro said.
That’s why his downtown storefront at Syd Jerome on Clark Street is shielded by plywood, as thousands of protesters plan to descend on Chicago for the DNC.
About that «safety» thing — the Chicago Police Department is down about 2000 officers (!). They have a plan of sorts in place to try to keep neighborhoods covered, using outside «mutual aide officers» drawn from around Illinois and Cook County itself. The bulk of the force will be downtown trying to keep a lid on the loons.
The chief also realizes criminals know the force is stretched even further.
Hundreds of extra law enforcement officers from across Illinois will be in Chicago later this month to assist the Chicago Police Department during the four days of the Democratic National Convention. But with the gathering less than three weeks away, it’s still not known which police departments will be sending personnel to Chicago or how many officers they will provide.
Police Superintendent Larry Snelling has said that the city will have as many as 500 extra officers on hand to guard “infrastructure” throughout the city during the DNC. And while activities around the United Center and McCormick Place will no doubt require significant manpower, the superintendent has pledged not to drain police resources from the CPD’s 22 patrol districts.
“Based on our assessment, we have a very good complement of officers who will be out there,” Snelling told reporters recently. “They’re highly trained, they will be responding professionally. And we’re going to make sure that as we work with our partners … we will make whatever adjustments we need to make as things change.”
Although what officer in his right mind would want to be on the hook enforcing the «law» in cop-hating Chicago, I have no idea.
So maybe they won’t be, if certain rumors running rampant are true.
Two issues: 1. Liability.
