DO you feel safe in Chicago? (Madison, Manhattan: neighborhood, live, restaurant)

[glass_of_merlot]

Originally Posted by Z68359

Do people feel safe in the city and the surrounding areas? it's always in the news shots, shootings and murders.

Yes, I'm fine.

[Justabystander]

Originally Posted by Z68359

Do people feel safe in the city and the surrounding areas? it's always in the news shots, shootings and murders.

Absolutely. Now more than ever. I used to go to Bulls games in the West Loop when I was much younger, and felt unsafe there at times. There are now million dollar condos in that neighborhood. The two towns that I have felt unsafe in are Cleveland and Detroit, even though I am tall and in shape and not an easy target.

[glass_of_merlot]

I dont feel unsafe driving by, running errands, and so on in the bad neighborhoods. Especially during the day. I work in North Lawndale, so I am down those neighborhoods 5 days a week on average. But the key thing is...I dont live there. I bet if I did live there I would see and hear more trouble than I would want to.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by Justabystander

Absolutely. Now more than ever. I used to go to Bulls games in the West Loop when I was much younger, and felt unsafe there at times. There are now million dollar condos in that neighborhood. The two towns that I have felt unsafe in are Cleveland and Detroit, even though I am tall and in shape and not an easy target.

I feel more unsafe in Cleveland than I ever did in Chicago... although I feel less unsafe in today's Cleveland than I did in the Cleveland of the 1980s.

[dtcbnd03]

We need to collectively stop responding to OP like these. It's a dumb question and there's a sticky thread at the top addressing this.

[Master Jay]

dtcbnd03, in a way, I agree. Theres been a ton of great advice offered on similar posts: if you go ANYwhere, be polite yet confident. Dont walk alone when it's dark. Dont wear earbuds or have a phone attached to the ear, etc. Follow these basis rules and one can be safe ANYWHERE.. that said, HOW MANY " what neighborhood should I live" posts can you stand? Theres ALMOST an answer to that with 2 or 3 examples. But these questions keeeeeep coming! Master Jay in Milwaukee

[emathias]

I feel safe in most of the parts of the city that have things which attract people to visit from outside of the neighborhood. There are a few such places where I maintain a heightened sense of awareness while there - I guess you could describe that as feeling less safe.

The parts of the city that don't have things that attract outsiders and suffer from a visible lack of investment can make me nervous, as can areas that have a visibly high rate of unemployment.

For the most part, though, I feel mostly safe in the parts of the city I travel in and to. I have seen a shooting up close in Uptown (I was literally across the street from it), which is considered marginal by many people. I have a friend's who was forcibly raped by a stranger in Lincoln Park, which is generally considered safe by most people. I share those just to show that I don't have blinders on about the city and crime.

I've also ridden my bike all over the city, as far north as through and past Evanston, as far South as Indiana, as far West via Lake Street, Fullerton Avenue, Jackson Street, and Roosevelt Road, as Berwyn and Oak Park, as far northwest as Harlem and Irving Park Rd, and as far southwest as Gage Park. I've visited friends in Chatham and Canaryville and Humboldt Park and South Lawndale and Douglas Park, attended birthday parties in Austin, spent time volunteering with a halfway house in Englewood, and been to shop for private sale cars with a friend in Auburn Gresham and Roseland. I've seen movies in Ford City, and I've walked around on foot in Garfield Park day and night.

It's a big city, and there is a lot going on. Parts are safe, other parts aren't. Some parts I would recommend be avoided by people not experienced with large, American cities, others I'd be comfortable recommending to even the most sheltered people.

Overall, though, when people ask, "Do you feel safe in Chicago," I say yes. There are parts of Paris I've felt less safe in than Chicago, and certainly parts of Madrid and Panama City and cities in Mexico.

[Master Jay]

emathias, VERY WELL written, Sir! Thank you for sharing! Master Jay in Milwaukee

[damba]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

Why don’t I live in my home town ?
Am I allowed to post open and honest answers on this forum ?
Let me know when that is ok
For what it is worth Chicago is beautiful just beautiful right about now

Why not be honest? Polite, but honest regarding why you don’t live here.

[Master Jay]

Huckleberry, of course you're in ownership of your feelings and opinions. Go ahead and be honest and share away!!! Master Jay in Milwaukee