500 "youths," mostly black, many girls, participate in pre-planned mob wilding attacks on Michigan Avenue's Mag Mile, CTA Red Line

As many as 500 young blacks, many of them girls, participated in pre-planned wilding attacks on Chicago's "Magnificent Mile" shopping and tourism area, attacking shoppers, tourists and even police. A community activist who witnessed the violence advises parents of these "youths"  against blaming the police.

 It has been reported that these attacks have been planned on social media for weeks. 

Teen Mob Action Takes Over Chicago’s Gold Coast

(CBS) — The warmest day of the year so far brings hundreds of mischievous teens to Michigan Avenue.

Police are calling it ‘mob action’.

CBS 2 is learning about multiple incidents in at least four different locations along the Magnificent Mile and in the Gold Coast, yielding a slew of arrests.

Things got pretty bad, very quickly with many innocent shoppers and tourists caught in the middle of a very chaotic situation.

Hundreds of teens littered Michigan Avenue and State Street near Chicago.
Things started to go bad around 6:00 p.m. Saturday, with teens purposely bumping into people, and causing fights among themselves.

Fifteen juveniles and two adults were arrested and charged with Reckless Conduct— a misdemeanor.

Community activist, Andrew Holmes witnessed some of the problems, while shopping with his family.

“You had a group of teens, close to maybe 500. They assaulted a Chicago police officer that was on a mounted on a horse and all of a sudden they assaulted a citizen walking the streets, just a normal citizen shopping and enjoying the weather,” said Holmes.

Later that night, a man was attacked around 10:45 p.m. while walking near Chicago and Dearborn. Sources tell us he was jumped and punched in the face by a group of teens. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

In a separate incident, a group of woman say they were attacked by a mob of girls on the CTA Red Line. The women reported a robbery once they got off the train at the State and Monroe station. Eleven females were arrested—10 juveniles and one adult—and charged with battery. Two of the teens were charged with strong- armed robbery.

“I caution those parents if their child has been arrested which numerous teenagers have been arrested tonight, that you need to think about your child. Just don’t say the Chicago police picked on your child, when we were watching all the assault going on, especially by teen women,” said Holmes.

A total of 28 arrests were made last night surrounding downtown disturbances involving teens. Of those arrests, 25 were juveniles.

Charges range from Battery and Strong Armed Robbery to Reckless Conduct.
CBS 2 has learned since these charges are misdemeanors, many of those arrested have already been released on I-bonds.

Sources tell CBS 2 that much of this activity was planned weeks ago through social media.

This type of pre-planned mob violence has become a regular happening in Chicago for the past few years, which the media has failed to adequately report under threat from city hall. God forbid we scare away any tourists. 

Message to Rahm: Your chickens have come home to roost. These mob violence actions are the result of years of poor leadership at city hall, amateurs and political hacks managing CPD, and decades of misguided liberal social policy. But it's a secret no more. It's top-line news on Drudge, and the national media has taken serious notice of Chicago's violence problems. 

The whole nation is aware of what Chicago has become, and they're taking their tourism dollars elsewhere.

Gun industry sales soar: East Dundee officials predict G.A.T. Guns will be the second largest generator of sales tax dollars in the village only behind Walmart.

For you folks not familiar with the Chicago area retail firearms landscape, GAT Guns has been in business selling guns, ammo and fishing tackle, along with operating an indoor shooting range since the '80s. Located in Dundee IL, just a stone's throw from the border of Cook County, GAT just recently finished a major renovation and expansion which includes additional indoor range space, more than doubling the number of shooting lanes. 

It's no coincidence they chose to locate just across the county border line. Cook County liberals, look hard at the tax revenues you have forsaken:

G.A.T. Guns now a part of East Dundee

The village of East Dundee has annexed several properties on Route 25, including G.A.T. Guns, which officials predict will be the second-largest generator of tax revenue in town behind Walmart.

East Dundee officials sweetened the deal by agreeing to finance G.A.T. Guns' $5.5 million expansion.

The expansion would add 24 indoor shooting-range lanes for high-caliber rifles and 10 indoor lanes for handguns, where there are now 24.

The money, which would come from a tax increment finance district — where property taxes that go to local governments are frozen at a certain point and taxes above that point go back into development — also would improve the building and its parking lot. As part of the agreement, the business has to stay in town for 12 years.

G.A.T. Guns sells firearms and gun accessories and offers shooting ranges for practice. Its clientele is a mix of civilians and law-enforcement officers.

G.A.T. stands for "guns, ammo, training." The company has been around since 1979 but in its current location since 1988. The business has more than 6,000 firearms on hand at any given time and has been honored for recruiting members for the National Rifle Association, said Greg Tropino Jr., who runs it with his father.

"We already are one of the largest private facilities in the country and this (expansion) allows us to be at least the largest gun range in the country that's privately held and allows us to be much bigger and better," Tropino said.
The expansion should start within the next two weeks and end this winter, Tropino said.

Without the expansion, the business was expected to generate $365,000 in combined sales and amusement tax revenues in the first year, interim Village Administrator Bob Skurla said.

"That would be the size of a small- to medium-size car dealer," Skurla said, adding that the number should grow as the business expands. "I think you can see, going down the road, that the sales tax and the amusement tax to the village could conceivably get to $1 million."

East Dundee officials have agreed not to interfere with G.A.T. Guns' daily operations.

The vote took place Saturday, so the village could start collecting sales taxes and the 5 percent amusement tax on the first of the month, Skurla said.

But East Dundee Trustee Allen Skillicorn said the meeting should have been held Monday to give the public a chance to attend and give input.

"It would be nice if it was a little transparent," Skillicorn said. "The legal requirements were there, but it was a little fast-paced."

Other properties annexed into East Dundee on Saturday were Pampered Pets, MAS Accounting, The Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation and a pair of private residential properties. As a result, East Dundee's limits have been extended another half mile south on Route 25.

The village is still in talks to annex the Milk Pail and Sierra Studio.

I've spent may hours in the range at GAT back when there were few places to shoot in the Chicago area. I will always stop in when I'm in the area. Congratulations to GAT on your expansion, and thanks for keeping the faith during the hard times. And congratulations to the officials of East Dundee IL for making a smart choice for the future of your village and it's taxpayers.

Sandi Jackson was right. Her husband did throw her under the bus.

Sandi Jackson knew what was coming when she said last week that her husband Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. had "thrown her under the bus." This story does get better and better every day:

Jesse Jackson Jr. Plea Deal Could Be Filed As Soon As Friday
February 14, 2013 10:01 PM

(CBS) – Federal prosecutors are now ready to file their plea agreement with Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., CBS 2 has learned.

Jackson’s wife, Sandi, faces legal troubles under the arrangement.

Formal charges against Jesse Jackson Jr. could be filed as soon as Friday and Tuesday at the latest. His plea has also implicated his wife, leading to tax fraud charges against her.

The filing at the U.S District Courthouse in Washington will not require a court appearance by either Jackson. Plea agreements will be submitted to the court clerk and assigned to judges, who will set initial court dates.

As CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reported last week, Jesse Jackson Jr. will plead guilty to one felony count of misuse of campaign funds and then let a federal judge determine his punishment, which according to the agreement could range from probation to five year in prison.

Jackson’s deal calls for him to repay hundreds of thousands of dollars spent for things like travel and meals with a mistress and a $40,000 men’s Rolex watch he bought for himself. Jackson’s resignation from Congress was also part of the deal.

But Jackson’s pleading guilty to using campaign funds for personal expenses could expose Sandi, his campaign manager, to tax-fraud charges.

The congressman’s guilty plea says Sandi knew about improper purchases that apparently include breakfast snacks, cosmetic services, even beds purchased for campaign workers.
Sandi Jackson is expected to accept responsibility for some things because, as the congressman’s campaign manager, she signed the tax returns.

Both Jacksons could face penalties ranging from probation to jail time.
But it’s hard to believe that, with two young children at home, both would be sent to prison.

Chicago attorney Dan Webb is representing Sandi Jackson.

In your future: Jail time. And divorce.

Under the bus today: The Head of Cook County's Probation Department

Nobody seems to care when it's the usual "honor student" being put into the ground, but when it's by all accounts a genuine honor student, and one that was at the inauguration of the "Chosen One", you're damn right somebody is getting thrown under.

Today's victim is Jesus Reyes, director of the Cook County Adult Probation Department.

From the Chicago Tribune:

Alleged gunman in Hadiya Pendleton slaying was on probation for weapons conviction

By Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune reporter
7:27 a.m. CST, February 12, 2013
The reputed gang member accused of gunning down 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton last month was on the street even though he had been arrested three times in connection with break-ins and trespassing while on probation for a weapons conviction in recent months, the Tribune has learned.
In two of those arrests, including one just 2 1/2 months ago, Cook County probation officials failed to notify prosecutors or the judge that Michael Ward had been arrested on the new misdemeanor charges and allegedly violated his probation.
The head of the county's probation department acknowledged Monday that his office fell short in its responsibilities and vowed to find out what went wrong.
Reyes emphasized, though, that it was unclear whether any of Ward's alleged probation violations would have led to his being sent to prison for an extended time. The probation department handles thousands of cases each year, and often alleged violations lead only to short jail stints — especially on misdemeanor arrests or if the new charges are soon dropped, as happened in two of Ward's arrests, he said."There should have been a violation filed, but for some reason there was not," said Jesus Reyes, director of the Cook County Adult Probation Department. "Absolutely, we will investigate."
"I don't know if something that minor would have taken him off the street for very long," Reyes said.
Bob Loeb, a veteran criminal defense attorney and former county prosecutor, said many judges are reluctant to clog up their calls with probation violations.
"They'll hold them for a while to show them the inside of the jail," Loeb said. "If the new charge is dismissed, then often they don't proceed on the (violation of probation) because they've already accomplished scaring the guy. So nothing else happens."
Ward, then 17, was arrested in October 2011 after Chicago police officers responding to a call of a person with a gun in the 3700 block of South Langley Avenue spotted him running away in clothing matching the description of the suspect, according to court records.
Officers chased Ward and saw him throw a handgun into a grassy area behind a building, the records say. The weapon, a loaded Cobra .38 Special, was later found under a bush, according to court records. Ward told the officers that he had the gun "because the boys from Lake Park were after me," apparently a reference to gang members from a nearby neighborhood.
Ward pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in January 2012 and was sentenced to two years of probation by Judge Nicholas Ford. As part of his probation, Ward was ordered confined to his home at night for the first six months, court records show. He also was instructed to complete his high school diploma and attend an anti-violence forum.
Less than three months later, Ward was arrested on the South Side and charged with breaking into a car, but probation officials didn't notify prosecutors that constituted a violation of his probation, Reyes said. At his next court date, prosecutors dropped the charge, records show.
In July, Ward was again arrested on charges he broke into a vehicle. This time, the probation office alerted the state's attorney's office, prompting prosecutors to ask that his probation be rescinded. In August, Ford ordered Ward held without bail, according to the records.
But the break-in charges were dropped the next month when the complaining witness did not appear in court. Three days later, Ford ordered Ward released from custody, records show.
Court records show Ward, now 18, picked up his third arrest in late November. He was charged with misdemeanor trespassing, but probation officials again failed to notify prosecutors, according to Reyes. The charge was dropped in December when a witness failed to show up in court, records show.
Police also arrested Ward numerous times as a juvenile on charges ranging from robbery to battery to marijuana possession, court records show. At least two of those arrests resulted in convictions, and Ward spent time in 2011 on juvenile probation.
Tribune reporter Carlos Sadovi contributed

Director Jesus Reyes, here comes the EXPRESS bus to the end of your career as a county bureaucrat, driven by Supt. McNotMyFault:

Jesse Jackson Jr. used campaign funds to buy himself a $40K Rolex.

and furniture for his home and expenses for a "social acquaintance" and.....

I was just sayin' this story gets better every day. 

Reported by NBC Chicago:

It’s been nearly three months since Jesse Jackson Jr. resigned from Congress, but now NBC News confirms that Jackson has signed papers in a plea deal within the past several days.

Jackson’s case is being handled by the US Attorney’s office in Washington DC. While no public announcement is expected today, those with knowledge of the investigation believe the loose ends now deal with Jackson’s wife, former Alderman Sandi Jackson, and whether or not she is ultimately charged.
Under the terms of the deal Jackson signed, he pleads guilty and his fate – as to jail time – would be in the hands of a federal judge, not yet assigned. He would repay the government hundreds of thousands of dollars – for items like the $40,000 Rolex watch, travel expenses for a woman he described as a “social acquaintance” and furniture purchased for his home.
Converting campaign contributions for personal use is strictly prohibited by federal law. It opens Jackson up to “not more than 5 years” in prison.

It’s clear Jackson’s move to resign from Congress works in his favor as his attorneys negotiate this plea deal.
Just last month his wife also resigned from her elected position as Chicago’s 7th Ward alderman, however her role in the alleged misuse of campaign funds still may land her in legal trouble. For years she received a $5,000 a month check from her husband as his political consultant.

"Sandi Jackson now feels she was “thrown under the bus by her husband” now that she’s being investigated."

Oh yeah, I'm enjoying this story, and it gets better every day.

Plea Deal For Jesse Jackson Jr. Includes 'Significant Jail Time'

Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed has learned that federal prosecutors have a plea deal for former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. that calls for what Sneed says is “significant jail time.”

Prosecutors and attorneys for phantom congressman, led by Dan Webb, have been negotiating a plea deal ever since Jackson discovered he was the subject of a federal investigation into how he spent his campaign funds. Webb, who earned his initial reputation in the Operation Greylord scandal, is no stranger to negotiating plea deals for elected officials, having helped negotiate the plea deal for former congressman Dan Rostenkowski in 1994. Prosecutors believe Jackson spent campaign funds on redecorating his home and on a Rolex watch for a female friend. It’s believed Jackson was tipped off on the investigation, which may be a reason why prosecutors are demanding an extended prison sentence

The transfer of campaign funds between his accounts and those of his wife, former 7th Ward Ald. Sandi Jackson, have also come under scrutiny. Sneed and Sun-Times reporter Natasha Korecki reported earlier this week that federal authorities have opened a separate investigation into Sandi Jackson’s campaign fund and her access to her husband’s fund. Sandi Jackson drew a $5,000 per month salary from her husband’s fund and filed a series of amended campaign disclosure forms in December that included $13,500 in previously undisclosed transfers from her husband’s campaign fund to hers.

Jackson Jr., in his November resignation letter, acknowledged the ongoing investigation and worded the letter to shield his wife from prosecutors. Sneed writes Sandi Jackson now feels she was “thrown under the bus by her husband” now that she’s being investigated.

Prosecutors maintain they’re uncertain on whether charges will eventually be filed against Sandi Jackson and will have to take into account the couple have school age children if they do pursue her.

This family has been stirring racial hatred and stealing from their people for decades. Karma can be one bad-ass bitch, can't she Rev Jackson.

Every day in Chicago: 1.5 murdered, 7.3 shot

Chicago, and surrounding areas of Cook County have some of the most restrictive gun ownership laws in the nation, yet last year:

532 people were murdered in the city of Chicago, according to statistics compiled by the Crime in Chicago website. The number of people murdered the year before was 441, meaning in the city of Chicago, murders have increased by 91 from 2011 to 2012.

The Chicago Police Department was not available to confirm these numbers today, which is New Year's Day.
The website also claims that, through December 25, 2012, there 2,670 people were shot in Chicago last year. That's also an increase from the year before, when 2,217 people were shot in Chicago that year.

That's 2,670 people shot in the city of Chicago during 2012. It just begs the question, hey Rahm, how are all those restrictive gun ownership laws workin' out? 

Another punative firearms tax aimed only at law abiding citizens.

The absence of logic in this is staggering. And they wonder why the busiest gun shops in the state are located just across the county lines.

Cook County is charging an additional $25 tax on every handgun sold inside county lines

With gangland shootings becoming an every-day occurrence in Chicago, the Board of Commissioners in surrounding Cook County is trying anew to tackle the deadly problem -- with another tax. But already, some are questioning whether the move is more about making a statement than addressing the violence. Under the new law, Cook County is charging an additional $25 tax on every handgun sold inside county lines. Gun shop owner Fred Lutger said this fee targets legal gun buyers, and not the gangsters responsible for many of Chicago's homicides. "They make it sound like it's a tax but it's actually a fight against the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms," he said. The new tax was sold to the public with the idea that it would offset the public cost of medical care for shooting victims. According to Board President Toni Preckwinkle's own numbers, that cost was just shy of $35 million. Yet the estimated revenue for the new tax will be roughly $600,000. Still, the tax might not be just about the money. Laurence Msall, president of The Civic Federation in Chicago, said "it's clear that the motivation for the tax is not revenue." "It is it is more of a public policy issue in terms of trying to deter people from buying firearms," Msall said. Opponents of the law, though, warn that the tax could backfire -- by driving buyers and even businesses out of Cook County. Preckwinkle said she would be "astonished" if businesses actually left Cook over the tax. But County Commissioner Tim Schneider said: "I think we're astonished many times when businesses leave the county, but they do." Cook County has been down this road before. There is a tax on bottled water -- one of the highest sales taxes in the country. An increase in the cigarette tax fell dramatically short of projected revenue because tobacco store owners hoarded up the tax stamps before the increase went into effect. The new fee in Cook County, though passed earlier in the year, comes as other jurisdictions are examining ways to curb gun violence in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting. While some have turned to taxes, others are calling for bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. In Congress, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., plans to introduce such a bill at the federal level during the next session.