Violence is a hot topic in Chicago as summer weekends end with new deaths and shootings to add on an already too-long list. But is focusing on gangs and baggy pants, as city officials begin to take action, the best way to address the issue? Chi-raq and Saggin' The city has drawn national attention after recent research highlighted that the number of Chicagoans murdered in the city since 2001 is more than twice the number of Americans killed in Afghanistan in that period. With 250 homicides recorded June 27 since January (compared to last year's 169) Chicago also has a murder rate almost four times that of New York City . This increase in murders has prompted a series of calls by city officials and law enforcement to end the violence. Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy recently announced a new Gang Violence Reduction Strategy which plans to use new technology to target not just high crime areas but 'hot' people as well. Mayor Emmanuel has s...
By Crystal Vance Guerra