Thread: Gov. says Chicago 'out of control'

Gov. says Chicago 'out of control'
NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN? | Gov offers to send state troopers and National Guard copters to fight gang violence

July 17, 2008
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BY FRAN SPIELMAN, DAVE MCKINNEY, FRANK MAIN AND ANNIE SWEENEY Staff Reporters

Calling violence in Chicago "out of control," Gov. Blagojevich on Wednesday offered to lend state troopers and National Guard helicopters to the city to augment the Chicago Police.

The governor is considering forming an "elite tactical team" to help the Chicago Police fight gang problems, a source said, adding that the unit could later be sent across the state to deal with gang problems at any city's request.
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Gov. Blagojevich has offered to "loan" state troopers and National Guard equipment to the city to augment the work of Chicago Police officers. The image of state troopers and National Guard helicopters patrolling the streets of Chicago is certain to embarrass Mayor Daley.
(Sun-Times/AP files)


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"It's fair to say that violent crime in Chicago is out of control. In certain communities in the city of Chicago, it is reaching epidemic proportions," Blagojevich told reporters at a bill-signing ceremony in Chicago.

The governor noted 16 children -- "almost one child a day" -- have been gunned down in Chicago since June 26. The shooting death toll for Chicago Public School students stands at 29 since last fall.

"Twenty-eight of those kids are African-American and Latino. Hard to imagine that that would be acceptable if that were, in fact, the case in other parts of the city or in a middle-class suburb somewhere. . . . Something is wrong, and this violence has to stop," he said.

The governor's surprise offer also comes at a time when his $34 billion state construction program is in a deep freeze, largely because Mayor Daley is unwilling to go along with a Chicago casino to finance it. Daley is aligned with state House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) against a massive gambling expansion.

The image -- or even the possibility -- of state troopers and National Guard helicopters patrolling Chicago is certain to embarrass Daley at a time when the city is one of four finalists to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Still, City Hall did not automatically reject the governor's sketchy offer.

"Obviously, we welcome partnerships with the state -- not just on this issue, but on a variety of issues. In the same vein, the mayor earlier this season reached out to the governor to try and craft a partnership to try and occupy young people during the summer with jobs," mayoral press secretary Jacquelyn Heard said, noting that the city has yet to receive that summer jobs funding.

"It is, at the very least, a little disconcerting that we're only hearing about this as the media does," she said.

Cooperation between Chicago and State Police would not be unprecedented. In 1999, the agencies joined forces on holiday traffic patrols and roadside safety checks on the Chicago Skyway and Lake Shore Drive. Both roadways are normally the exclusive purview of Chicago Police. They have continued to work together on roadside checks and other operations in the city.

"The CPD is a great friend of the State Police and does a great job helping us," a State Police source said. "We have a great deal of respect for them. Our working relationship has always been good. I think this will work out just fine."

But Madigan's spokesman, Steve Brown, said the governor's motives are political. Even as he offered state help, Blagojevich urged the mayor to "get off the sidelines" and help him pass the stalled capital bill.

"My guess is the governor may be smarting because the mayor was quoted publicly as saying he tried to convince [Blagojevich] to have a more common-sense approach to the capital plan, and that advice was ignored," Brown said.

Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero fired back that the governor's plan is not a stunt.

"Making sure that kids aren't shot and guns aren't in the hands of bad guys is far from political," he said.



http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1060 ... 17.article

Obama's kinda town.

Vote Obama '08 if you too want to be like Chicago!