There’s much wonderful reporting in Monica Davey’s front-page New York Times’ piece on Chicago’s current homicide challenge. But I hate the headline: “In a Soaring Homicide Rate, a Divide in Chicago.†To be more precise, I hate the first half of the headline. The second is on the money.
There’s much wonderful reporting in Monica Davey’s front-page New York Times’ piece on Chicago’s current homicide challenge. But I hate the headline: “In a Soaring Homicide Rate, a Divide in Chicago.†To be more precise, I hate the first half of the headline. Chicago’s homicide rate ticked up in 2012, but remains far below rates of any year 1985-2002. The second half of Davey’s headline is right on the money, though.
More here.
For those who want more, barring last-minute schedule changes I’ll be on Up with Chris Hayes tomorrow talking crime issues. Yeah, I am a little nervous.
Author: Harold Pollack
Harold Pollack is Helen Ross Professor of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. He has served on three expert committees of the National Academies of Science. His recent research appears in such journals as Addiction, Journal of the American Medical Association, and American Journal of Public Health. He writes regularly on HIV prevention, crime and drug policy, health reform, and disability policy for American Prospect, tnr.com, and other news outlets. His essay, "Lessons from an Emergency Room Nightmare" was selected for the collection The Best American Medical Writing, 2009. He recently participated, with zero critical acclaim, in the University of Chicago's annual Latke-Hamentaschen debate.
View all posts by Harold Pollack
We have the same problems in my small Southern city: too much violent crime, but much less than 20 years ago. Which is encouraging, given that the local economy is in a shambles with no real relief imaginable. When I ask one of the complainers where these young (mostly) men, who are generally dismissed as “thugs” and “takers,” are supposed to get that job they are too lazy to take, I am greeted with a blank stare that would do a cow proud. Break a leg tomorrow. You’ll do great! Almost wish I had a TV.
Good luck tomorrow, Harold.
It’s also true that while roughly the first quarter of 2012 was very bad in Chicago, homicide then eased considerably over the rest of the year, with an actual reduction in thas last quarter. More here as well:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/28/after-a-horrific-summer-of-murder-chicago-trying-a-bold-new-approach.html
Yes, but the per capita homicide rate among young black men in Chicago is soaring as the Establishment pushes blacks out of town.