The Chicago Police Department has busted two West Side drug markets — and arrested 45 members of the Traveling Vice Lords and Four Corner Hustlers street gangs — but it won’t mean a thing unless area residents reclaim that turf, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Monday.
The Harrison District market allegedly operated by the Four Corner Hustlers was busted as part of a city-federal investigation that resulted in the seizure of $1 million in cash, $1.5 million worth of narcotics and eight firearms.
An international narcotics cartel has been identified as the source of the drugs, according to Police Supt. Garry McCarthy. Thirty-six “gang targets” have been charged. Twenty-eight of them are already in custody.
A good long term investigation by the officers. If it's airtight, some people will be headed to prison for some extensive time.
On the flip side, nature abhors a vacuum - and so does the drug trade. Dealers are going to be jockeying for the spots vacated by the arrested and the cycle will begin again. Rahm saying it's up to the community to reclaim that turf means that (A) in contradiction to what Rahm said a few days ago, the gangs do run the streets and (B) if the effort fails (which it will - it's been the same for 60 years now), then it's the citizens' fault and Rahm can't be held responsible as he runs for the White House.
And the Tribune has this report:
- One week after dozens of people were shot in a deadly outburst of street violence, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy held a news conference today to highlight efforts to crack down on gangs.
Emanuel and McCarthy sought to assure the public they are focused on new strategies for dealing with the city's seemingly intractable gang problem. - McCarthy hinted at a comprehensive gang-related strategy, but provided few details. Police will identify gang conflicts, new territories and factions, focus on gang-related violence and share that information throughout the department to prevent retaliation, McCarthy said.
Again.