Facts all to often get in the way of political agendas, the exploitation of violence for political again, and just plain opportunism. Unfortunately in Chicago we have all of these in spades. The continual finger pointing and scapegoating by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Superintendent Brown regarding violence in Chicago and who is responsible is horrific. They just cannot help themselves but do it every time they are questioned about violence in Chicago and they are routinely refuted by the facts in short order.

Brown and Lightfoot have a true villain that is responsible for the increases is violence in urban centers around the country and its culpability is supported by the facts but for some reason they just keep pointing at Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx. She then regularly trots out the facts that are all too easily obtained and wins the day, and then the next day, and the next. Soon Foxx is going to have an entire section of her office dedicated to refuting bullshit claims made by Brown and Lightfoot. The real sad part is the facts Foxx brings out are not unknowable. In fact, Brown and Lightfoot know the facts exist and have the same access Foxx does they just seem to choose to ignore the facts when they open their mouths. They probably get in the way of the political exploitation and finger pointing that they have become so practiced in.

We are now in a city where despite all the political rhetoric about being anti-Trumpism and hating all his lying many politicians cannot help themselves but use the same tactics over and over again. Regarding criminal justice matters, and criminal justice reform, during the entirety of the Lightfoot / Brown tenures this is how they have operated regardless of what the facts say. We are moving very aggressively towards being a city where facts just don't matter. That is a very scary proposition.

Rex Huppke Column

ABC News Repot