A week ago in our “Editorial: Spectacle Chicago and the Death of the JISC,” our readers were provided several key insights regarding juvenile delinquency. First, the connection between early delinquency and the risks of future violence are clear. Second, the closing of the Juvenile Intervention and Support Center (JISC), without any alternative, weakened the city’s response to juvenile delinquency. It remains another spectacle Chicago moment. Yes, large social forces lay a complex macro-level foundation for crime – particularly juvenile crime. But, we should not be fooled, even in areas where crime and violence are the worst, most youth do not become gang members, and most do not engage in violence. Chicago loses children to gang activity, delinquency, and violence one young person at a time. The explosion of carjackings in Chicago provides us with an opportunity for some clarity relative to juvenile crime. [Click the link below to read more.]
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As we mentioned on 30 October in our post “More Spectacle Chicago, Not Remarkable,” a combined 26 members of the Chicago City Council have the power to be remarkable. Why twenty-six? Well, in a 50-member council, 26 is a majority vote. But, that alone is not remarkable. The council votes in every session. A measure gaining 26 votes happens regularly. In fact, Chicago mayors rely on at least 26 members consistently voting as the mayor desires. Not remarkable. This has been true for generations. Today 20 members of the council sent a letter to Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The issue, Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA). These 20 alderman expressed their assessment that Andrea Kersten should not continue to lead COPA. She is currently COPA’s interim chief administrator. She was also the chief investigator who approved COPA’s flawed report recommending slain Police Officer Ella French be suspended. [Click the link below to read more.]
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Fear is real. Otherwise intelligent people can become easily confused by fear. Fear is an emotion that can facilitate the worst of inhumanity. The antidote for fear and confusion is not a sheltered, ignorant existence of irrational obedience. What can break us free from fear and confusion? First, the ability to think critically, which requires both logic and study. Second, courage, which is far more than taking risks. Third, an adherence to a true faith. “Cops ask questions,” and cops recognize examples of clear-headed, acts of courage founded on higher principles when they see them. Here, on Veteran’s Day, we provide a message of inspiration in the actions of a World War II soldier. He was not confused. Even while captured by the enemy, he did not surrender to fear. He provided moral clarity. He led. [Click the link below to read more.]
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When Alice followed a rabbit down a hole, she ended up in Wonderland, a bizarre, mixed up place. Among the characters she met was the Cheshire Cat, who told her that everyone in Wonderland was “mad,” crazy, including her. When Alice asked how the cat knew she was “mad,” he responded: “You must be… or you wouldn’t have come here.” More than the king, the Queen of Hearts ruled in Wonderland. The queen sought executions before trials, and sentences before verdicts. The Queen of Hearts would likely agree that the lawlessness problem in Wonderland Chicago is caused by its victims. But in a sane world, a justice system that does not have victims as a priority is fundamentally unjust. But if, up is down and down is up, then welcome Alice to Wonderland Chicago. Lawlessness is madness. [Click the link below to read more.]
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Last week in our “Cops Ask Questions” series we asked whether the Chicago City Council would assert its authority. Whenever 26 or more members of the city’s council rise in opposition to a Chicago mayor, that is indeed remarkable. Well on Friday, the council for the second time in a week demonstrated it is not remarkable. The council could not muster enough votes to reverse the mayoral edict mandating the vaccination of city employees. The council did however muster enough votes to approve a 30% increase in the annual city budget. Now that qualifies as a spectacle for a lawless city, with huge financial problems. Several local violent crimes also provided more “spectacle Chicago” moments of another kind. Not in the exciting and impressive sense. No, in the “spectacular crash” kind of way. [Click the link below to read more.]
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Since 2015, Secure 1776 founder Thomas Lemmer has encouraged others in the public safety profession to ask themselves a core question. “Which is more important, perception or reality?” Determining the answer requires critical thinking. That truth alone points the way toward the answer, as critical thinking is an increasingly discouraged activity. Why? Because when we think critically, we are less vulnerable to nonsense and deliberate propaganda. Providing some context to the core question may help identify the answer. So, in the perception versus reality dynamic, which has more impact on public safety? Perception or reality? We ask you to think critically about this issue a moment or two. [Click the link below to read more.]
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The Chicago City Council has an interesting history. Since at least the days of King Richard I, a.k.a. Mayor Richard J. Daley, most often Chicago’s mayor, whoever the mayor is, exercises more authority than the city’s charter might suggest. In theory, the 50-member city council has the upper political hand, and the authority to direct city policy. In truth, the council rarely actually leads the way on important issues of local governance. In the discussion of Chicago’s public safety and the vaccine mandate ordered by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, as of this posting 13 members of the Chicago City Council have suggested that the council has a voice. Here is another “Cops Ask Questions” question. Will 13 more council members sign on to an interesting city ordinance proposal? [Click the link below to read more.]
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Yesterday we at Secure 1776 posted on the risk to public safety that is intertwined with Chicago’s vaccine mandate for city employees. In “Cops Ask Questions, Pandemic Politics,” we pointed out that of course, cops are among those that are asking questions. We strongly recommend reading that post and watching the associated videos. Chicago is among those places where the implementation of forced vaccination approaches raises grave concerns. Here we provide a reminder about the tie between public safety and the Constitution of the United States of America. A leaked telephone conversation involving a senior U.S. Department of Justice attorney provides another reason why cops ask questions. [Click the link below to read more.]
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Cops ask questions. It is how they are trained. It is what we expect of them. They are supposed to do more than accept things at face value. They are not supposed to simply believe everything that is told to them. Lying to the police is such a frequent reality, that the United States Congress made it a crime to lie to the Federal Bureau Investigation and other federal agents. While local police officers do not enjoy such legal protections, they are supposed to examine the evidence to see if it measures up before they act. So, why then are so many government officials and media “experts” frustrated that police officers are among those people asking questions about the efficacy, effectiveness, and risks of the experimental Covid-19 vaccines? Well, pandemic politics have spread at least as quickly as the virus associated with the Wuhan research lab. [Click the link below to read more.]
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