ChiKat

Well, it is not just me. Another southside blogger mentioned the rise in violence lately, and even emailed our alderman.

I receive police updates about our neighborhood. Here are snippets from the latest one:

"As the temperatures outside rise, typically so does Chicago-area crime. In recent days, there have been a number of reports of gun shots fired n surrounding community areas. Police believe the incidents, detailed below, are most likely related to gang violence:

A man, who may have been involved in a street gang, was fatally shot by another …

There were four reports of gun shots fired. Police responded to each incident and were not able to locate any victims or offenders…

A woman was walking when she passed a man who was standing at the open trunk of a car. She continued walking. The man then came up to her from behind, pushed her down, struggled with her for her purse, took same, and drove away. A nearby policeman saw the offender flee and then noticed the victim on the ground. After a car chase, the offender was arrested and the purse recovered…"

I love the notion that as temperatures rise, so does crime. Today's weather! Warm, with a chance of rain and muggings!

I'm also very impressed with the Chicago Police when they witness a crime. I believe they respond very quickly in our neighborhood to violent crime. But there is so much. And so often, the crimes are hidden from the police (i.e., "Police responded to each incident and were not able to locate any victims or offenders").

The more I live here, the fewer ideas I have to curb urban violence. The quick answers, more cops, after school programs, tougher gun laws, pale in light of the root problems: poverty, guns and drugs.

I keep hearing politicians talk about tougher gun laws, but guns are already illegal in the city. That seems like a pretty tough law to me. But I still hear gun fire several times a month.