One Reason Chicago is Broke
The CTA is giving away services for free:
Cook County Sheriff’s Police have spent the last three months patrolling Chicago Transit Authority trains and platforms, the result of a state legislature mandate to assess what’s really happening on Chicago’s rail system.
[ couple of paragraph of crime stats - go read it at the link]
One of the most striking findings: on some CTA lines, 80 to 90 percent of riders were not paying their fares. Sheriff Thomas Dart says the problem goes beyond crime — it’s a culture of disregard for basic rules.
Eighty-to-ninety percent of people (and folks) not even paying the fare? We're going to take a wild guess and say, "Red Line." We're also going to wonder why the CTA isn't looking at those ten-foot iron and plexiglass barriers that reduced San Francisco subway crime by nearly 50% and vandalism costs by multiple millions of dollars.
We'll leave the guess about "culture of disregard for basic rules" to you, the readers.
Labels: crime, money questions
posted by SCC at 12:05 AM
90 Comments:
Even certain city politicians and bosses on the department have that cultural disregard for rules, like paying debts, taxes, defrauding the government, not paying contractors for work completed. Seems to be a pattern here.
They will be the death of a civilized society when they take full control.
Working special employment one day along with three other officers I never met before. We witnessed the vast majority of train riders approaching CTA workers who would “tap” them in for free. We didn’t even bother counting because it was 90% of the riders getting on the 95th redline stop. It happens all the damn time. CTA runs the show, falls on them if you ask me.
"culture of disregard for basic rules"
I resemble that ⬆️ remark
I worked for the CTA in the early 70s. A lot of the stations did not have locking turnstiles so one could just walk thru without paying the fare. In other stations with the locking turnstiles they would just jump over them. And you’re right it was rampant on the red line and on the west side. In those days the fare was 30 cents. It’s a cultural practice, it’s been going on for years. Since the automated fare cards they still jump over the turnstiles. This City has bred the best pole vaulters in the world. The CTA & the City doesn’t care, they have lost millions, but it’s paid for by you in higher taxes even if you never ride the CTA.
Well after years of "serving the citizens of Illinois" in different government positions Tommy boy finally says something true. Disregard for basic rules. Hhmmmm you mean like good evening sir the reason I stopped is. You MFer your just racist, no sir you were driving at 70MPH, & went through 3 stop lights! You still a MFing racist & shows zero respect for authority, has no concept of community spirit & has a chip on their shoulder since they were babies & heard their older brothers/sisters MF the police & authority. Instead of their mama's teaching them right from wrong, they just watch mama & whoever she be datin & see it's OK to treat police like shit. Hey Tommy way to have the stones to say it, now DO SOMETHING
They won’t spend the money on those barriers because blm Brandon is spending 100 million on something the police should be doing anyways so people can line their pockets. Looking at this group none of them has police experience so how is a bunch of teachers gonna solve gun problems.
Add in the.Culture of Entitlement and Culture of Reparations
To quote a great character, “you need to nip it in the bud.” This nonsense has been going on for a very long time, good luck trying to right this ship.
Did Dart just come out as a republican?
paying the fare is racist,,, math is racist,,,, being treated equal is racist,,blah,blah,blah
Wait, more fees coming how about the fee to go downtown in Chicago? Just keep raising all the taxes and the fees, let’s make more of the good people that actually pay the bills fully. This corruption filled shit hole!
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/06/25/mayor-financial-task-force-chicago-fiscal-outlook-downtown-congestion-fee-service-tax
So, every CPD officer that works special employment has been saying that for years. The nose dive happened when the CPD use of force general order changed accompanied by the CTA policy change of non discrimination against those without economic means.
Solution.....no pay=no ride.....freeze to death m-faker. When 10,000 freeze to death the city will be safer.
As Paddy Bauler once famously proclaimed, "Chicago ain't ready for reform yet"
Culture of changing consumer habits? Culture of socioeconomic factors?
I had a commander once tell me that the Department rules and policies are rules for me, but only guidelines for him. That is the attitude of many of these exempts. And, you will find out or have found out that way too many exempts do not have a basic understanding of Department Orders, hence the reason for " merit".
So, the unofficial policy of Chicago is exactly what the mayor of New York has openly proclaimed ; Free public transportation. Looks like only the white people are paying to ride the CTA.
Chicago values have always included a free train ride or two. CTA is also losing money because people dont want to get doused with gasoline and set on fire, or stabbed in the neck. We know how the predators selct their victims. They watch as they pay to ride the trains. Then follow them for a chance to kill or maim them.
Aren't there cameras at the platforms? Isn't it easy to see how this is happening? The CTA is just as guilty for letting it go on when the evidence is right in front of them. The public also knows full well who the perpetrators are and also say nothing out of fear of being called "racist." The race card is a lovely little badge to wear, and it let's this garbage go on without repercussions. It's pathetic!
Same in Milwaukee.
https://www.fox6now.com/video/1701918
They claim it's been since the PLAN-DEMIC where rides were free.
Amazing how people can have $8 Starbuck and no fare for the bus.
Fares go up, service cut and they wonder why!!!!
"Common sense is not that common."
You are dealing with a culture of crud!
Anything that hinds folks freedom of movement is racist.
Thank you Sheriff Dart for those words of wisdom and all you have done for the county over the years.
Just make the whole thing free and forget about it. Chalk it up to reparations or something. Take it out of Dart’s budget.
The only problem is ... you guys last elected ErnestT. Bass as your mayor.
Charge bicyclists a regitration fee to pay for all of the concrete curbed bike lanes. $151.00 annually. And a city sticker too.
carry forward from during COVID when the rides were free to justify not laying off the brothers and sisters driving the empty buses and trains.
Making the Great Unwashed Democrat Welfare Voters pay for their rides is racist.
C’mon man, it’s just another openly acknowledged perk for The Free Shit Army. And since there are NO consequences for any/all crimes the FSA commits, it will continue.
OT: Anyone working in 016 on 3rd watch yesterday (27Jun26) know what was going on at Schiller Woods(Irving Park/Cumberland)? Saw a bunch of CPD units in the parking lot helping forest preserve police. Looked like one of those "takeovers" we keep hearing about. Parking lot packed full of cars. Cars pulled off on both sides of Irving Park rd between Cumberland and River Rd blocking right lane traffic.
It's worse on buses : "Hey blood, I'm short today .." and they are waved on
A few years ago the Metra Electric Line was forced to remove its turn styles. They prevented theft of services. Guess where the Electric Line serves? Harvey, Riverdale, Dolton, Hazel Crest, etc., because they "was racist an-sheet". Now all sorts of thuggery occurs along with panhandlers, loosie sales, scam stories and theft-ilizin'.
Geee! I wonder who?
Correct. CTA’s unofficial policy is that if someone “can’t afford” to pay the fat they let them ride anyways. Remember the mental with the stolen CFD axe that chopped up a bunch of the fireman’s cars at their firehouses? He boarded a CTA train while openly carrying that axe and has waved to the worker to buzz him through the turnstile without paying. No call to 911 about a guy getting on the platform and train with an axe. Just business as usual.
Stop demonizing black and brown people until find the root causes.
We could probably save
$2 million a year if Pride Parade was cancelled instead of canceling days off for 2000 cops
Ask any CTA bus driver! They are not allowed to ask passesgers to pay, more than twice.
Then the democRATS ride free!
CTA = Crime Transportation Authority
And the City and Federal Govt. is spending how many billions to extend the Red Line down to 130th Street in front of Alligator Gardens so that the "residents have more access to Downtown Chicago for work opportunities". Might as well make it free for these entitled shitbirds. It is only going to get much, much worse.
How come spell check doesn’t capitalize TRUMP but it shows capitulation for biden clinton and obamma
It’s gonna get even better when the CTA gets through wasting hundreds of millions of dollars expanding the Red line out to 130 th Street Altgeld Gardens CHA projects ! The Ghetto Savages are gonna have a free ride to all parts of the city to rob, rape, murder, and terrorize ! You think downtown is bad now ? You ain’t seen nothing yet !
How about every connected boss who retires and goes to work for CTA security? Why haven’t they addressed anything?
So stopping the CTA after 9pm should be no problem.
I wonder so many people are getting out of here. I blame them consistently between him and the trust fund, baby governor constantly it’s ridiculous.
Gee, who ever thought that culture could be so bad.
They don’t face the same discipline as us. That one commander rule 14 himself and the department only give him a week suspension.
Come to 016 we pay the most taxes! You ride the blue it's a mental and homeless mess. Cumberland,Harlem, and Jefferson Park you got Hypes wandering the streets. Get the officers inside to make some sort of presence and do some late night premise checks. The days of leaving at 1400hrs are over.
Civilian here who frequently uses the California Pink Line stop. CTA staff there do this routinely… provided passengers are of the correct race. Everyone else? Pay your $2.50!
Because to be connected you have to tow the party line Comrade
For Dart to make those types of comments he has to be making the big play for mayor or even governor
Yet officers still go out there and risk their careers to make these aholes look good. Your number one job is to back up other officers, drive around and smile, hand out reports then go home.
Ask on the Ring app. That's where all the stupid questions that don't concern you go.
It’s a hard problem to fix….but the county has been laying the hammer down on the shitbirds. I worked special employment last week and talked to some of them, they’ve received so much positive coverage and feedback they can get away with telling the savages to get lost or get a free ride to Maywood. Even the social media videos that would crucify coppers are 99 percent supportive of what the county guys have been doing
Red line 5 billion extension. Using Obama Math it will cost 15 billion.
The cameras on / at CTA stations are alot better than the cameras in SDSC rooms! CTA knows and sees the thugs jumping turnstile, they dont care either.
Same as in NYC. Even tourist stop paying. Honestly, the subway there is a homeless encampment and mentally ill asylum. At some point people will ask themselves why they are still paying?
Give them license plates too so they can get ticketed please.
Why is riding the CTA free? Because it's worth it.
Quick google: CTA Fare Revenue (2025) $34.5 million, Number of riders/trips 338 million. That's just over ten cents per passenger, while the average fare is $1.21 = only 8.5% are paying according to official CTA figures.
Because trump is an actual word
It’s not brown people. I wonder who it is then?
Because trump is a word and not just a name. Jeez. Calm down weirdo
Time to leave.They reaped what they sowed.
The residents in 016 don't mind paying. When you are stuck on stupid you just naturally vote for the Socialist Democrats. Hate has no home here, neither does common sense. Keep voting for slugs like Brandumb and by all means keep retaining the Judges. They are the best that money can buy.
true dat
This was an act of common courtesy. Nothing unusual waving through a man with an ax on the crime mover. What could possibly go wrong.
Stop it and watch crime in the loop plummet as well as teen takeovers.
Culture is the biggest reason this entire country is fucked up and the progressive dems are the ones that love this culture.
The union really needs step up its game when it comes to canceled days off and being held hostage on your RDO. The pride bull shit should be 8 hour tour and if they hold you over it’s double time and a half. I guarantee you this broke ass city won’t want to pay that type of money.,
It's raciissssssssst to collect fares.
why do you need police at a pride parade? most of them seem to be busy sucking on something or another to cause any problem
You are definitely correct. Nothing like wasting time being out there with these delusional mentally retarded idiots.
So let’s get this straight because they don’t have kids. They have tons of money to give to this clown governor and the Democratic evil crew so he signs three bills to help out the mentally delusional alphabet organization instead of fighting crime instead of signing bills to help the taxpayers nope he does this nonsense. I bet you a drug companies are handover fist handing him millions of dollars he thinks he’s gonna be President doing this. Could you imagine imagine how bad it would be.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/illinois-gov-jb-pritzker-bills-lgbtq-illinoisans/
seniors ride free thanks to Blago
Changes this week. I hear McGarry next Area 4 detective commander. Starks is done. Will be demoted and stripped if she doesn’t retire. Tarnished Dana’s legacy. Johnny Tate to Area 4 deputy chief. Commander being named in Area 1, 010, 011, 015. Commander of 014 to Area 5
Sheriff Dart is positioning himself to be the head of this new multi-transit law enforcement agency which he is now championing.
Speaking of broke how bout our Fop Lodge 7 ? They are under federal investigation and JCat will not reveal 1.) what are they looking for and , 2.) who is the subject of the investigation .as if we didn’t know .
Pretty good coming from someone who calls everyone out . Now last Friday he had an emergency zoom meeting with his compatriots to transfer money from the general fund into the PAC fund . When questioned why so much money which would be 1.1 million added to 1.9 million he argued with the 1st VP who he banished to a bear car and abruptly canceled the meeting . The clock is ticking on him and he knows it . You notice the weekly updates are not even monthly updates . Hey John eat all your burgers 🍔 you and get ready for some commissary snacks !
Shithead party permitted for 200 guests, had almost 1K. Call came in for person with gun. Forest preserve, county and cpd showed up. No guns seen
CTA's position is to have manned cubicles to collect fares, turnstiles that take fares, BUT they allow 90+% of the riders on for free. That means the offenders that commit their crimes on the CTA and busses probably ride for free. The tacit permission by the CTA to allow offenders that prey upon their victims on CTA busses or property should be held responsible by the victims and their families. If the CTA did their jobs preventing these offenders from riding their trains/buses crime may not have happened. Just a thought. Of course, that would mean any and all payouts would be with taxpayer money.
I just spent 7 hours on a fixed post stopping fare jumpers at the blue line on the west side because of this story. It’s not like any of them paid when I stopped them, they just got pissed off and left. Waste of everyone’s time, but maybe, just maybe, the train was slightly safer tonight. Except for all the hypes I saw getting off of the train, who were clearly jumping the turnstiles at the other stops I wasn’t at.
Money for illegals. Money for violence prevention bulldung.
Its funny how everyone dances around the race issue, the whole on certain lines part. Yes the black folks dont pay, they dont take care of their kids, dont have no job and shoot and kill each other in record numbers, why would you think they would pay a fare
Disregard for basic rules and an inbred sense of entitlement, and both of those traits seem to be displayed anywhere in the world a particular demographic is found.
That race card works better than Amex, at least with regard to riding on CTA.
"Work opportunities" - riiiiiiiight. Doubt that many of the jackholes from 95th south have any intention of working.
I truly hope this is your attempt at sarcasm. Let me rephrase it for you. Their culture IS the root cause. You can't play victim all of the time.
are you sure, that's a lot of movement during summer.
And u made 1.5
As the late and Great columnist Mike Royko said "Where's Mine?", and even designed a new City seal with those words in Latin on the seal:
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2015/06/06/wheres-mine
You did what you could. Stay safe out there.
They also have a rep for not tipping a waitress and for eating and running.
And treat the waitstaff like absolute sh*t just to run out on them.
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