Chicago politicians won't care until tourism is hurt by this. I try to get up to Wrigley at least once a year. I'm seriously considering not going this year.

 

Ironically, when discussing a road trip to see a game next NFL season, Chicago is the only destination of the 8 that I already told the fam I won't consider.

 

I lived close to the Chicago area in the late 90s and it was easy to stay out of the trouble areas. At the same time I understand this sentiment and I don't see us taking any family vacations to Chicago in the near future and safety is definitely one of the reasons why. No ocean is a large part though. Can't deny that.

Fighting over land they don't own. Utter stupidity.

 

So they can push poison in the streets. Agreed its pretty messed up.

I lived close to the Chicago area in the late 90s and it was easy to stay out of the trouble areas. At the same time I understand this sentiment and I don't see us taking any family vacations to Chicago in the near future and safety is definitely one of the reasons why. No ocean is a large part though. Can't deny that.

 

Lake Michigan is beautiful during the summer!

Lake Michigan is beautiful during the summer!

 

Truth. Beautiful in the winter too. The Great Lakes fascinate me.

I love Chicago. Can you imagine living in one of those three neighborhoods where most the violence is? I can't imagine leaving my home.

Chicago is my favorite northern city to visit. I normally go once or twice a year. But i'd be lying if I said I wasn't having second thoughts this year .

 

I'm going to drop a bomb on this conversation. It all goes back to my position on legalizing drugs. Legalize them and these gangs have no need to fight over turf to sell them on.

I love Chicago. Can you imagine living in one of those three neighborhoods where most the violence is? I can't imagine leaving my home.

 

Those neighborhoods mentioned above are basically war zones. That said, Chicago is a great city as long as you know the areas to stay away from. I've been numerous times and there has only been once instance where I felt uncomfortable.

 

I was around 14 years old and was in a car with my mom and my aunt, they took the wrong exit off from the highway and ended up in one of the South Chicago neighborhoods. Stopped at a sketchy gas station for directions and were basically given bad info, ended up on a one way residential street and mom knew that didn't seem right so she asked an elderly couple that was coming out of their house how to get back to the highway, the old man said you need to turn around in my driveway and go back to the road you just turned off from (followed by real directions to get to the highway) and mom said can't I just turn right on the next street then make another right to get back (to the main road), he was emphatic in saying "no you need to get back to the main road now." We found out later that night that there was a family of four (tourists) that were killed in that same area the night before. For their car of all things.

 

I do love Chicago though and honestly if you stay out of the west end or southside, your likely not going to have any issues that couldn't happen in any other decent sized city in the country.