My Kind of Town: Chicago on Edge
Today marks the official start of the Democratic National Convention hosted by my home city of Chicago.
Chicago is one of the “bluest” cities in the country. I’ve said it dozens of times, there hasn’t been a Republican mayor in Chicago in over a century. The default for the city is blue, there is no question, but the city is on edge.
The convention itself is going to be hosted at TWO locations. The big stuff at night with all the speeches and all the celebrities, is being held at the United Center which is the home of the Blackhawks and Bulls. Oddly enough, the Blackhawks are one of the last sports organizations that uses a Native American tribal name and imagery in opposition to the ongoing trend of erasing those things. And the United Center is known as “The House that Michael Built” complete with a statue of His Airness outside the stadium. Michael has remained famously non-political throughout his career, even through plenty of pressure to “take a position”. Mildly ironic his “house” was chosen for a political event.
The other location is McCormick Place, which is a massive venue and home of the Chicago Auto Show. This is where the daytime activities will occur, including panels, polling briefings, skills building workshops, free manicures, friendship bracelet making areas, and performances by various artists. They are referring to this as “DemPalooza”. Wouldn’t giving away manicures that can go for hundreds of dollars be considered buying votes and maybe election interference? Just a thought.
As you can imagine, the city started shutting down streets in and around these two venues a few days ago. Last night, “someone” projected messages on the side of Trump Tower. “Trump-Vance Weird as Hell” and “Project 2025 HQ”, along with messages supporting VP Harris and Gov Walz were in lights. It was the Democrats. They admitted it. They trolled President Trump on his own building after complaining about name calling and mean tweets for the last eight years. Hypocrisy to start the week.
Planned Parenthood is also making an appearance at the DNC. There is a bus on Monday and Tuesday that will offer “Free Medical Abortion, emergency contraceptives, and vasectomies” for your convenience. It’s weird. I don’t care what your beliefs are on these things, it’s just weird. Again, this is the party that is calling Senator Vance “weird”.
Just like the RNC, there are designated demonstration and protest areas. Interesting, the City of Chicago APPROVED a Pro-Palestine/Anti-Israel group but DENIED a Pro-Israel group. Huh. Wonder why that is? I wonder how the people who live in Skokie feel about that? If you don’t know about Skokie, IL it is probably the major pocket of Jews in the City. I bet they are really happy about the equal representation. I bet they are less happy about the nervous tension in the city as a whole.
Chicago has been aware of planned protests for months. Since the city has been taking in so many migrants and redirecting resources AWAY from low income and poverty-stricken communities to support the illegals, many in Chicago are PISSED. There is only so much free stuff to go around and the people that LIVE here and VOTE here aren’t happy they are losing their entitlements. So, they are going to “express their feelings” like so many did back in 2020 and 2021.
You remember those days, right? George Flyod protests. Back when protests were “mostly peaceful” and “non-violent”. The ones where stores were getting ransacked and looted, police were being attacked with bricks and frozen water bottles. When buildings were being lit on fire and cars flipped over. Some people, like Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, don’t think there will be ANY violent protests during the convention.
You know who disagrees with him? Dozens and dozens of store and shop owners. Buildings have been boarded up. Shops closed. Business and revenue already lost. FOR THE WHOLE WEEK. You know why? Because they KNOW what is coming. The party of peace is about to do some damage to Chicago and those business owners can’t afford to HOPE everything goes OK. They didn’t sign up for this.
Do you remember President Trump was shot just a couple of days before the RNC? There was LESS tension in Milwaukee after an assassination attempt than there is in Chicago right now. Why is that? In a Democratic run city that hasn’t seen a Republican mayor in 100 years, it should be a utopia by now, right? There are super strict gun laws in Illinois and in Chicago. That should tamp down the violence, right?
The RNC was a boon to local businesses in Milwaukee. Nice “jolt” to the city in tourism revenue. Hotels, restaurants, local shops. Chicago will get very little of that same benefit. Watch and see. Chicago will reap what the Democrats have sowed for decades. You will see anger and violence. You will see racial division. You will see social divisions. You will see a city on edge for a week.
I don’t hope for violence or damage or destruction. I am fearful for the safety of the officers in the Chicago Police Department. Some are friends. I know those store owners are going to lose some sleep this week, crossing fingers that revenue is all they lose. I hope this isn’t 1968 all over again.
This is what we are in for with the DNC. This is what you’re voting for or against. For the next four years it is the nation, but this week it is Chicago on Edge.