ValueMags is a marketing and distribution company that is based out of Chicago, Illinois. Company employees have recently feared taking public transportation to work. At the center of Chicago, it is inevitable that some employees at ValueMags and neighbouring companies will have to take public transportation to work. Why are city employees and citizens feeling discouraged about the safety of Chicago? Because Memorial Day weekend was filled with shootings again. This past weekend, Chicago police reported that there was twenty-four wounded and one dead in Chicago shootings. Despite the shootings, Chicago police are reporting that this is progress from last year. Last Memorial Day, there were six killed and sixty-nine wounded. As a result of Last Memorial Day’s disaster, Chicago police issued 1300 more patrolling police for this past weekend. The extra patrol is likely the reason why there was less violence on Chicago streets this Memorial Day. With their physical presence, gangs are scared away.
ValueMags employees are among many that are beginning to feel safer the more police presence they see. To elaborate, the consequences for shooting or any violence are becoming stricter and harsher which is also scaring local gangs. Gang members are not willing to risk the punishment of their actions when the punishment is ten times worse than it was a couple of years ago. As a result though, gang members are getting smarter and sneakier making police’s jobs more demanding.
Increasing a police presence anywhere will make individuals feel safer and scare away violence. Not only are they scaring away violence and gangs with an increased presence, they could respond quicker if and when something does break out. With the thirteen hundred more police the city has issued for this past weekend, Chicago police can cover more surface area decreasing their response time significantly. It is up to local authorities to maintain the peace in Chicago. Although Chicago is home to many gangs, the gang activity is decreasing. ValueMags employees still feel unsafe but they applaud the local police for their efforts and urge them to continue to restore safety in Chicago.
