During a Lunar New Year parade, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was criticized for dancing merrily in the streets, as violent crime increased and big-box stores abandoned the Windy City’s main drag.
At the parade on Sunday, Lightfoot, who is running for re-election next month, was seen on camera busting moves while being surrounded by a drumline.
She was criticized as being “detached from reality” by a Chicago news station because of her careless dancing.
“Since @chicagosmayor’s term began, Chicago has suffered 2,278 homicides and over 9,000 shootings. Since January 1, the city has endured 41 homicides and 194 shot. Yet here Lightfoot is blissfully dancing and asking voters to return her to office,” tweeted the Chicago Contrarian news source.
According to figures from the Chicago police, crime rates in the city have surged by 61% in the first three weeks of 2023 compared to the same period last year. 4,844 complaints of crimes were reported to the authorities, up from 3,013 during the same period last year.
This past weekend, shootings occurred all across the city, leaving two people dead and 13 others injured, including a 3-year-old boy. Seven people lost their lives and at least 23 others sustained comparable injuries over the last weekend.
The South and West sections of the city saw 13 robberies occur during a two-hour period on Saturday night into early Sunday. Each time, a person or people driving a car approached the victims.
During a mayoral debate earlier this month, Lightfoot made the controversial claim that street sellers should accept alternative forms of payment in addition to cash to deter robbery.
Chicago’s “Magnificent Mile” has taken a beating, with some high-profile retailers leaving the iconic strip in addition to a steep increase in crime.
Banana Republic, Old Navy, Timberland, Uniqlo, Gap, and Macy’s are just a few of the companies that have shut their doors or announced their demise.
“The policies that really destroyed State Street and honestly, Michigan Avenue, the Magnificent Mile was the one-two punch of the lockdowns, the looting, but also the policies that continue to this day,” William Kelly said.
