So, the governor even thinks downtown is "Out of Control"

So how would we as a city hold a successful Olympics, games that would quite possibly bankrupt the city, all while the National Guard and state police run the streets?

The violence is out of control downtown and it's high time SOMEBODY did something about it. We NEED the National Guard downtown and in the neighborhoods (on the south side). What we don't need is the globe looking at our bloodshed.



Gov. says Chicago 'out of control'
NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN? | Gov offers to send state troopers and National Guard copters to fight gang violence

July 17, 2008 Recommend (18)
BY FRAN SPIELMAN, DAVE MCKINNEY, FRANK MAIN AND ANNIE SWEENEY Staff Reporters
Calling violence in Chicago "out of control," Gov. Blagojevich on Wednesday offered to lend state troopers and National Guard helicopters to the city to augment the Chicago Police.

The governor is considering forming an "elite tactical team" to help the Chicago Police fight gang problems, a source said, adding that the unit could later be sent across the state to deal with gang problems at any city's request.


Gov. Blagojevich has offered to "loan" state troopers and National Guard equipment to the city to augment the work of Chicago Police officers. The image of state troopers and National Guard helicopters patrolling the streets of Chicago is certain to embarrass Mayor Daley.
(Sun-Times/AP files)


"It's fair to say that violent crime in Chicago is out of control. In certain communities in the city of Chicago, it is reaching epidemic proportions," Blagojevich told reporters at a bill-signing ceremony in Chicago.

The governor noted 16 children -- "almost one child a day" -- have been gunned down in Chicago since June 26. The shooting death toll for Chicago Public School students stands at 29 since last fall.

"Twenty-eight of those kids are African-American and Latino. Hard to imagine that that would be acceptable if that were, in fact, the case in other parts of the city or in a middle-class suburb somewhere. . . . Something is wrong, and this violence has to stop," he said.

The governor's surprise offer also comes at a time when his $34 billion state construction program is in a deep freeze, largely because Mayor Daley is unwilling to go along with a Chicago casino to finance it. Daley is aligned with state House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) against a massive gambling expansion.

The image -- or even the possibility -- of state troopers and National Guard helicopters patrolling Chicago is certain to embarrass Daley at a time when the city is one of four finalists to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Still, City Hall did not automatically reject the governor's sketchy offer.