This Will Do It, For Sure

A sternly worded letter ought to solve all Chicago's weekend problems!

• The Chicago Police Department is looking at ways to try and prevent teen takeovers as warmer weather moves in, and police are hoping for help from CPS.

  Scenes of hundreds of teenagers descending upon downtown have become all too familiar, blocking the streets and sidewalks, dancing on cars, and now in two recent incidents have turned violent.

  The Chicago Police Department sent an email to Chicago Public School parents overnight strongly encouraging them to refrain from allowing their kids to attend such events. CPD said in the letter in part, "In instances of large gatherings, we will use de-escalation and dispersal techniques to encourage our young people to comply with the law."

  If they do not comply, CPD warns, teens will be subject to arrest.

And upon "arrest" they will be either (A) released to the nearest upright being claiming to be related or (B) escorted to the nearest CTA station and put on board (free of charge!) and dismissed from the area....whereupon the accused will exit at the next available station and return to downtown.

We don't know how many times we have to say this: 

• without immediate, consistent, direct and painful consequences (physical or financial), then you are granting them free reign to continue the mayhem

And it's not a "takeover," it's what it has always been - wilding.

And just to let the politicians know what might be coming - one of these days, a shopkeeper or a tourist or a retired cop out for a pleasant evening is going to shoot one or more of these ne'er-do-wells. It might not even be downtown.

Our last decade on the job, we told people to get a gun, because cops weren't able to protect them. The last five, we told people to stay away from downtown. Now, we tell the neighbors keep the sidearm handy and don't stick around to answer questions.