Prepare yourself for what must be the most blatantly misleading crime statistic to be released by a local politician this year.
Uptown Alderman James Cappleman on Tuesday Tweeted a “5-year trend of violent crime in Uptown for [the] month of July, when violent crime tends to be highest.”
Just look at that declining bar graph! Good old James! He’s getting the job done.
One problem: Violent crime in Uptown this year was up 33% through July.
Murders are up from two last year to eight. Robberies are up from 47 to 65. Aggravated batteries are up from 32 to 37. Aggravated assaults are up from 27 to 39. Rape’s flat at 16.
How embarrassing. Our elected officials are so desperate to continue the “crime is down” narrative, they will actually cherry pick a one-month statistic to make it look like things are going great. Even when violent crime is up 33%.
We’ve given Lakeview alderman Tom Tunney a lot of grief over the past couple of years. And it’s been some well-deserved grief. But Cappleman is running away with the Bullshitter of the Year Award.
THE TRUTH: Uptown Violent Crime Totals Through July Annually
Source: Chicago Police Department via Chicago Data Portal
