CHICAGO – In the wake of a mass shooting in the city’s bustling River North neighborhood, the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board on July 9, 2025, issued a pointed critique regarding official pronouncements on crime reduction, specifically questioning the appropriateness of mayoral “victory laps” amidst ongoing violence.
The editorial contends that while crime statistics may show some areas of positive movement, such improvements must be viewed in the broader context of Chicago’s persistent challenges. The piece highlights the fact that, despite any recent gains, Chicago continues to face significantly higher per capita violent crime rates when compared to other major U.S. metropolitan areas, notably New York and Los Angeles.
Impact of the River North Incident
The recent shooting in River North, a district known for its vibrant nightlife and tourism, garnered significant global attention. Such high-profile acts of violence, the editorial argues, serve to reinforce and exacerbate Chicago’s long-standing international reputation as a city grappling intensely with gun violence and often perceived as being “out of control.”
The editorial board emphasizes that this reputation is deeply entrenched and not easily dismissed by short-term statistical fluctuations. The River North incident, therefore, is presented not just as a tragic isolated event but as a stark reminder of the underlying conditions that challenge the narrative of substantial progress.
Scrutinizing the Data
The editorial acknowledges that crime statistics are complex and can be interpreted in various ways. While some categories of crime may indeed show decreases, the board cautions against selective use of data to declare premature victory. They stress that the lived experience of residents and the city’s overall standing on national and international crime metrics paint a more sobering picture.
The comparison drawn between Chicago and its peers, New York and Los Angeles, serves as a central pillar of the editorial’s argument. By highlighting the disparity in per capita violent crime rates, the Tribune board underscores that Chicago still has a considerable distance to go to reach the safety levels seen in these other major cities.
The Problem with “Victory Laps”
The phrase “mayoral victory laps” implies a public declaration of significant success in combating crime. The editorial board suggests that such pronouncements, especially when made against the backdrop of traumatic events like the River North shooting, can appear insensitive and disconnected from the reality faced by many Chicagoans.
They argue that focusing on celebrateable statistics while the city still experiences levels of violence that draw global negative attention misrepresents the scale of the problem. This, in turn, can undermine public trust and distract from the sustained, difficult work required to achieve genuinely transformative and lasting reductions in violent crime.
A Call for Perspective
The Chicago Tribune editorial board’s message is clear: while acknowledging any positive trends in crime data is appropriate, it is crucial to maintain perspective. The high per capita violent crime rate relative to other major cities and the indelible impact of incidents like the River North shooting mean that the time for declaring overall victory is premature.
The editorial serves as a call for civic leaders to adopt a more measured and humble approach when discussing crime, one that fully acknowledges the severity of ongoing violence and the significant challenges that remain, rather than focusing on celebratory narratives.
