Chicago’s Little Village recorded a rise of 14% in robberies from 2021 to 2022.
It has been suggested by Chicago’s mayor, Lori Lightfoot, that street sellers in areas with a rise in thefts switch to accepting credit cards instead of cash.
At a mayoral discussion presented by ABC7 Chicago on Thursday night, Lightfoot remarked.
“There was a lot of talking and soundbites but not many actual ideas on getting things done and keeping everyone safe. We do that repeatedly every day, “Lightfoot said. “We’ve been in Little Village, coordinating with street vendors to assess the scope of the problem, learn how best to assist them, and guarantee the safety of their cash. Not rely on monetary transactions and instead employ alternative means of exchange.”
To avoid theft, Chicago’s mayor recommended that Little Village’s street merchants stop accepting cash payments.
In addition, Lightfoot stated, “We have been working for hand in glove with those sellers in Little Village to ensure that they are doing everything that they can do to protect themselves, such as not utilizing cash and making sure that the currency that they do take in is secure.”
Public records show that there were 477 robberies committed in Chicago’s 10th police district in 2022, a 13% increase from the 445 reported in 2021. This area includes the Little Village neighborhood.
There have been 30 robberies in the 10th district so far in 2023, an increase of 114% over the same point in 2022.
While gunshots declined by 20% in 2022 compared to 2021, overall violent crime increased by 41%.
The reported robberies increased to 8,996 in 2022 from 7,911 the previous year.
Even McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson gave a speech to Chicago’s Economic Club in September to express his concern about the city’s crime epidemic.
A question that follows Chris Kempczinski wherever he goes, he said. “Someone asked, “What the heck is going on in Chicago?” Throughout the country, people have the impression that our city is in peril.”
The CEO of McDonald’s recently stated that the public needed to “face realities” and realize that businesses are leaving Chicago because of the city’s escalating crime rate.
Lightfoot responded to Kempczinski by telling him to “educate himself.”
Lightfoot opined that the McDonald’s CEO would have been better served by researching before making his comments.