Chicago City Wire

We pay some of the highest property and sales taxes in the country, so why is County government so increasingly dangerous and dysfunctional? One of the County’s core functions is public safety ,but misguided leadership from Cook County Prosecutor Kim Foxx and others undermine that critical responsibility.

Foxx and her staff often act and speak as if they are the County’s Public Defenders, which sends a clear message to both non-violent and violent criminals within the County: we’re not going to take prosecution seriously. 

Criminals feel emboldened when they and other lawbreakers do not face consequences. Law enforcers are demoralized and impaired when elected officials put their politics over public safety. 

One result: violent crime has spread from just a few predictable problem areas into city neighborhoods and suburbs that never before had concerns of serious criminal activity. 

County Commissioners must advocate to equip our sheriff’s deputies and municipal police departments with the crime fighting tools and support they need—not verbally attack or handcuff the very individuals who sacrifice their own lives, livelihoods, and families to hold the line between safety and chaos. 

Overuse of the County Jail’s electronic monitoring system puts our communities, crime victims, and witnesses at risk. Too many violent offenders have been released only to re- commit other violent crimes and/or create problems while they await trial. Foxx’s office also recently announced it would seek reduced sentences for those already incarcerated, some for violent acts. 

In 2017, Foxx raised the threshold for felony theft prosecutions to $1000 per incident. And not surprisingly, the National Retail Federation reports there’s been a huge uptick in theft in jurisdictions like Cook County. 

Such a lax attitude toward shoplifting is having devastating effects. 

When thieves steal, businesses must increase their prices to make up for losses. When stores have to increase security, those costs are passed along to consumers.

When stores close because they cannot operate profitably or safely, those empty buildings lose value. Property owners in every other part of the County have to pay higher property taxes to make up the difference. Consumers have to spend more time and money to travel farther to purchase goods. A neighborhood offers fewer job opportunities and less economic activity for its local residents.

Virtually every Cook County resident and business—regardless of its racial or economic status— suffers deeply if we are living and moving under constant threat of violence or theft. In just the past few years, we’ve seen a growing number of Cook County neighborhoods become increasingly unsafe, unaffordable, and unlivable. It’s unacceptable. 

April 24-30 is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Too often, our Cook County elected officials have taken the side of criminals—not the crime victims, not the community members who pay the bills, and not the cops who maintain order. 

County Commissioners must oversee and provide accountability for County operations, including its law enforcement responsibilities.Commonsense, conservative leadership is desperately needed.

– Matt Podgorski, Republican candidate for Cook County Commissioner, 9th District