Shootings, robberies, and criminal sexual assaults are up in Chicago's 48th ward, but Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth doesn't think her constituents need to hear about crime anymore.
Crime might be perceived as racist, and as an "anti-racist," Leni just can't be sending out her regular crime updates on social media anymore, lest someone assume she's a racist herself.
Yes, according to Leni, she decided to ditch her regular crime updates due to "feedback from our neighbors and commitment to our values of empowerment, anti-racism and community." And since crime is up in Chicago (don't tell liberals), Leni informs us that "over-reporting of crime leads to an inaccurate public perception about crime rates" and also "negatively impacts our most marginalized and underserved neighbors."
In English: "Crimes are committed by minorities, and if we report on crime we're technically being racist."
Man, it must be so tough to be a progressive Democrat like Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth!
According to the Chicago Sun Times, shootings are at a nine-year high in the 48th ward, robberies are up 78% year-over-year, and sexual assaults are at levels not seen since 2012.
So you'd expect to see more crime updates from Leni, but you'll receive only imminent crime updates, unless you specifically ask for them as part of her email newsletter.
For the next six months, Manaa-Hoppenworth said she will send crime alerts only to those residents and business owners who 'opt in.' Everyone on her email address list will continue to receive alerts about imminent crime threats, like bomb threats or active shooters. But other alerts about violent crime in a ward that includes Edgewater and Uptown will go only to those who choose to receive them.
Crime is up, 48th ward residents, but I don't think Leni wants you to know about it. Great news, though: you can get crime updates from other places.
Manaa-Hoppenworth said her constituents 'absolutely' need to know about violent crime, even if it makes them uncomfortable. But, she said those statistics are readily available on the Chicago Police Department's website. They're also discussed at CAPS meetings, beat meetings and at meetings of local police district councils.
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In a follow-up text, Manaa-Hoppenworth said she has 6,864 email subscribers. Of those, so far 1,080 have opted to receive the regular crime alerts.
Remember: Crime is down, at least if you believe it is.
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