Weis: "Safety at the Taste is Undisputed"
By Prescott Carlson in News on Jul 5, 2008 6:27PM
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.