Understanding the impact of the intersection of the multiple problems that communities are facing on the south and west sides is not something that politicians and the media in Chicago have been very good at. The media has a systemic issue with allowing local alderman off the hook for their votes on financial issues that contribute to creating the conditions in these communities that drive crime.

On today's show we talk with three organizations that are doing the long-term work on the streets in these communities that have a chance of really making a difference. Sadly, until the mayor and city council step and do their part to realign the economics of these communities there will be a need for these organizations to do their work.

Leading up to 2020 Chicago had seen a few straight years of reductions in gun violence. It is not clear what those reductions should be contributed to. This is always the billion dollar question as deceitful police agencies and corrupt politicians take credit for these reductions absent any actual evidence they had anything to do with it. The media unfortunately just amplifies this propaganda rather than righteously criticizing it.

For those that are interested in trying to determine where 2020 fits in my advice is to not try to consider it at all. The reductions previously to 2020 have to be considered independent of 2020 because of the massive disruption in the social fabric of our society that was 2020 is not comparable to any year in American in the last 100 years. When you see the media and politicians trying talk about 2020 please be very skeptical. It is pretty clear that they will exploit what has happened in 2020 to their own ends.

Our guests for today's show discussing gun violence reductions are:

Vaughn Bryant, Executive Director, Communities Partnering for Peace CP4P

Eddie Bocanegra, Senior Director, Heartland Alliance READI Chicago,

Peter Cunningham, Senior Communications Consultant for Chicago CRED.