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Police Supt. Jody Weis went on damage control yesterday, assuring reporters that "[the Chicago Police Department] will do everything we can to keep this place safe for our visitors and our friends. The safety at the Taste is undisputed." Well, besides the shooting the other night. Or the two other incidents of gun violence at the Taste in the past four years. Or the reports of gang fights during the fireworks. But other than that, uh, it's undisputed. Obviously Friday's press conference was not just to appease the Taste masses, but also to calm any concerns from another select group of folks. Expect further comforting words from Weis in the coming months if we keep reading more nuggets like this:
But police sources said there was an undeniable gang presence at the annual food fest Thursday. Many gang members openly flashed gang signs. The problem has grown worse in recent years, the source said.
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We must protect the turkey leg stand at all costs. This aggression will not stand.
wow you are going to protect the taste a day late and dollar short, what about the areas of the city that are overrun with gangs everyday of the week.
I wonder if he will slip into double-speak and say that the shooting was doubleplusungood.
They really should not let Jody out to speak, seems he's taking lessons in public speech from Daley Jr.
I'm a lifelong Chicagoan and I've been to the Taste exactly once. It's a clusterfuck.
You have this big dumb waste of time and money that draws in the bored and gullible. I'm shocked there isn't MORE violence.
I'm still not going, Jody. If the bullets don't get you, the salmonella will.
To be fair, wouldn't there be a shooting among any group of 1-1/2 million Chicagoans over a ten day period on average? Hell, the Taste may actually be slightly safer than just living here.
I've been doing some reading on the current state of the police in Chicago since the violence at the Taste on July 3rd, and let me just say it is frightening to learn how understaffed the police department is right now. Working without a contract. I read on second city cop blogspot (which appears to have plenty of anonymous police offers posting) that there are only about 4,300 active police officers in the city right now working regularly. That is 4,300 when the required level is 13,000!
A few years ago there were many incidents surrounding NYC's Puerto Rican Day Parade where groups of young men were sexually attacking
women, right out in the open.
There were people who were filming with their own cameras...not only were there not enough police, but the ones that were there were not doing anything to stop it.
There was footage of a French tourist couple, the woman had her clothes ripped off, she was literally naked as her husband was holding her in his arms.
I think it was 20/20 or some show like that where I saw this report.
It was just harrowing.
I don't understand how the police don't anticipate this kind of think ahead of time.
I mean, masses of people, heat, drinking, partying...it's just a recipe for shit to happen.
I have been to the Taste once since I've been here. I don't understand it. You only need to go once, why do people go back year after year?
If the salmonella or bullets aren't enough to keep me away, the thought of the heat!
Body heat, the sun and the fire from the outdoor grills. Ack!!!!!
Just so unappealing.
Richie: What am I paying you for you sonuvabitch?
Weis: I'm sorry boss, it's not my fault, I wasn't even there when the trouble happened.
Is this the first time that Wies has really gotten a Taste of what it is like to be one of Richie's flunkies?
I can picture Richie jumping up and down, face all red, fists waving around, demanding that all the guns be made to disappear and that all the people ruining his party go with them.
How come Richie didn't show up to deliver the message himself?
Honestly, I'd question whether you even need to go once.
I was there on the 3rd and it was just terrible. So many punk asses who needed to be thrown in jail. It was clear they all came out to start trouble and they did and now 1 person is dead. Happy birthday America, here's the worst this country has to offer. It's one of those rare times in which I wish we could throw due process out the window and round up anyone throwing signs, wearing baseball caps cocked to the side with unbent brims and pants around their knees.
Safety is not disputed? That's not what I've heard from people who went there. Just look at the comments from people who went to Taste of Chicago posted on the Sun-Times: http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/1040278,fireworkshooting070308.article
You can write them off as "frightened suburbanites" but their description of the fest and how they felt there cannot be ignored.
And as someone else mentioned, you can read the postings by Chicago cops who worked the event and they don't sound any better. In fact, it sounds more frightening to hear Chicago Police talk about out of control gangs, muggings, groping, fighting and fireworks thrown into crowds of people: https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13350456&postID=1470859418249865591
Now that I have kids, I think I've gone to my last Taste of Chicago. Daley - DO SOMETHING!!! Your precious Olympic bid is in jeopardy.