SiriusXM host Stephen A. Smith pressed Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday over the “incredibly alarming” history of bloodshed in Chicago, prompting the governor to defend his record while acknowledging the need for further progress.
Appearing on Smith’s “Straight Shooter,” the outspoken sports commentator shifted focus to the pervasive issue of violence plaguing the Windy City for years, despite more recent reported drops in crime.
“I can’t tell you on how many occasions I’ve been incredibly alarmed by hearing one thing after another about the violence in the city of Chicago,” Smith stated, referencing the city’s murder rates, which, according to the Council on Criminal Justice, have ranged from 7 to 17.3 per 100,000 in six-month periods since 2018.
While acknowledging that Chicago is not the “murder capital,” Smith questioned Pritzker on his level of concern and how he addresses residents pleading for safety.
“It still alarms me that so much stuff has gone on in the streets of Chicago spanning decades,” Smith said, even as he cited recent statistics showing homicides down 32% and shooting incidents decreased by 37%. He pressed Pritzker, “How do you address local families asking for ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and local law enforcement just to keep them safe?”
Governor Pritzker responded by citing his administration’s efforts, including increasing state police and investing in community violence intervention.
“It’s working,” Pritzker asserted, claiming the homicide rate is “down 50% now from four years ago.” He added, however, “There’s a lot more work to do. I don’t want to suggest to you that we’re done. We’re not.”
The exchange comes after Pritzker faced scrutiny for describing Chicago’s summer as “amazing” earlier this month, despite 123 murders occurring in June, July, and August—the lowest number for that period since 1965, but still averaging more than one murder per day. Furthermore, the governor previously seemed to minimize violent crime in September, calling it an “inevitability” in large cities following a deadly Labor Day weekend.
As of mid-October, Chicago has seen 453 homicides over the last 12 months, according to ABC7 Chicago, underscoring the ongoing challenge facing the city and its leaders.
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