All signs point to a rousing, rowdy time in the Windy City starting on Monday for the Democratic National Convention.
Business owners near the convention center and around the loop seem like "ye of little faith" in the mayor's ability to control the incoming protesters, judging by the way one local 'we board your business' firm is suddenly going gangbusters.
Looks like downtown Pensacola with a Cat 3 or stronger coming in, only these are bodies instead of wind and waves. For the damage that could result, it kind of might well be hurricane force.
"...As we know, this city has a poor track record when it comes to protecting businesses," said Scott Shapiro, owner of Syd Jerome.
The looming unknowns ahead of next week's convention are why Shapiro said he knew he had to take precautions to keep his decades-old business safe.
"We felt it was more prudent to board up, since our customers and their employers have told them to stay home throughout the convention for their own safety," Shapiro said.
That's why his downtown storefront at Syd Jerome on Clark Street is shielded by plywood, as thousands of protesters plan to descend on Chicago for the DNC.
About that "safety" thing - the Chicago Police Department is down about 2000 officers (!). They have a plan of sorts in place to try to keep neighborhoods covered, using outside "mutual aide officers" drawn from around Illinois and Cook County itself. The bulk of the force will be downtown trying to keep a lid on the loons.
The chief also realizes criminals know the force is stretched even further.
Hundreds of extra law enforcement officers from across Illinois will be in Chicago later this month to assist the Chicago Police Department during the four days of the Democratic National Convention. But with the gathering less than three weeks away, it’s still not known which police departments will be sending personnel to Chicago or how many officers they will provide.
Police Superintendent Larry Snelling has said that the city will have as many as 500 extra officers on hand to guard “infrastructure” throughout the city during the DNC. And while activities around the United Center and McCormick Place will no doubt require significant manpower, the superintendent has pledged not to drain police resources from the CPD’s 22 patrol districts.
“Based on our assessment, we have a very good complement of officers who will be out there,” Snelling told reporters recently. “They’re highly trained, they will be responding professionally. And we’re going to make sure that as we work with our partners … we will make whatever adjustments we need to make as things change.”
Although what officer in his right mind would want to be on the hook enforcing the "law" in cop-hating Chicago, I have no idea.
So maybe they won't be, if certain rumors running rampant are true.
Two issues: 1. Liability. The suburban and out-of-state mayors don't want to be - and shouldn't be - on the financial hook for the inevitable law suits. 2. The visiting officers function under different procedures, policies regarding the use of force, laws and union contracts…
— Gene Roy (@GeneRoyChicago) August 16, 2024
...We've learned @ChicagosMayor refused to sign off on an authorization granting police powers to the visiting 375-man contingent.
This means dignitaries staying downtown for the DNC will not have adequate security for the duration of the convention.
The DNC hasn't even started, and Johnson is already mismanaging it.
And the loons are looking to rumble judging by rhetoric and actions in New York. I wonder if business owners boarding up today watched any of the footage I used in my post yesterday?
Lots of folks have decided they're just staying home.
Next week for the DNC convention some buildings will not be accepting deliveries until after the convention
— Goofies Of Chicago (@Chicago_Goofies) August 15, 2024
Lots of companies are also keeping their employees at home because they fear protestors will riot #Chicago pic.twitter.com/y2CkhAKJdI
Chicago has bent the knee repeatedly since October 7th to their own resident radical Palestinian population and the outside agitators who come with them. Even after approving most of their demonstration permits and completely dissing the Jewish group who had applied, the city's acquiescence has yet to satisfy any of the groups into promising to abide by protest rules for the convention.
...It remains to be seen if national Democrats will be confronted inside the convention on the ceasefire issue, including by Chicago leaders who are members of the party.
Chicago is one of the only cities to pass a ceasefire resolution. Alderpeople tied 23-23 in a final vote on the measure, forcing Mayor Brandon Johnson in January to cast a deciding tiebreaker in support.
The symbolic resolution came after City Council approved a resolution condemning Hamas’ attack on Israel after a chaotic meeting that also saw Johnson clear the council chambers amid sustained protests. The resolution was criticized for not acknowledging the Palestinian death toll since Oct. 7.
Separately, Johnson has also called for a ceasefire.
“We would hope that those who have stood for ceasefire will speak out and will call for not just a ceasefire in theory, but an actual ceasefire that will be implemented and enforced,” Othman said.
And why would they stop pushing? Particularly if they heard the city just handed those same persistent agitators yet another victory. Chicago backed down on terrorist sympathizers erecting a stage and loudspeaker system in a park adjacent to the convention center. How'd that happen?
Well, the mayor himself intervened on behalf of the Hamas lovers. He loves himself a protest, that Brandon Johnson does.
How 'bout them apples, residents?
Mayor Brandon Johnson personally intervened in a dispute between his own administration and a coalition of activist groups set for a massive protest at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week, helping reverse the city’s denial of a permit to set up stages and sound systems for rallies in a park near the United Center, the coalition’s leader said Friday.
The agreement, which was reached after hours of back-room negotiations between the parties, nullified an emergency motion filed in U.S. District Court earlier this week alleging the city had violated protestors’ First Amendment rights by restricting how the rallies could be staged.
“We talked directly to the mayor,” Hatem Abudayyeh, executive director of the Arab American Action Network, said during a news conference in Federal Plaza after the deal was struck. “We knew that he supported us, our coalition and these protests and it’s proof positive that he called one of the top leaders of the coalition directly on his cell phone and said ‘We’re gonna make this happen. I’m gonna make sure that everybody’s rights are protected.'”
Elect a radical progressive ne'er do well and get 100K more tearing your city up.
The conservative estimate at the park - 50K - will also have seven city-provided port o' potties.
...Organizers are expecting the protests to draw over 50,000 people. The group now will be able to set up a stage and sound system for speeches in Union Park prior to their marches on the United Center on Monday and Thursday.
The city also is allowing the group to set up at least seven portable toilets, which organizers called “an almost absurd dispute.”
You're all in good hands.
Asked if a new CPD helicopter will be effective in the fight against crime, @ChicagosMayor congratulated himself for aging well, congratulated himself for his excellent performance as mayor, and, again, blamed President Nixon for jailing criminals.
— Chicago Contrarian (@ChicagoContrar1) August 16, 2024
Johnson is delusional. pic.twitter.com/qdEYhm0ARy
There's a list of eight attendees who have already accepted their permits and supposedly Antifa members have been sighted.
Besides them, there's also a movement afoot by disgruntled residents who have had it with the Democratic Party.
Protests at DNC Chicago “Crash the Party” pic.twitter.com/97AJR2ijsS
— Karli Bonne’ 🇺🇸 (@KarluskaP) August 10, 2024
I'm not sure Brandon Johson would be behind their right to protest.
The Democratic hierarchy is gonna love Brandon for not keeping a handle on the groups when - not if - things go way south, lemme tell you.
This could be their worst nightmare and it's all their own stormtroops doing it.
Delicious.
It's going to be interesting how much we see of it. You know guys like Julio Rosas and Brendan Gutenschwager will be out.
How truth to power do the networks show if the lid blows?
It might just be too insane even for them to ignore.
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