CHICAGO — Businesses in downtown Chicago that survived the pandemic-related economic slump and two spasms of looting last summer should be ecstatic with Monday’s reopening of America’s third-largest city.
Yet, many are batting a new hardship — a surge in crime that is keeping customers, and their money, away.
“I’ve never felt more unsafe than I do now,” said Steve Burrows, a 48-year-old attorney who has called Chicago home his entire life.”I work downtown so I’m here every day during the day but I won’t come down here at night or on the weekend.”
If people like Burrows, suburbanites and the millions of tourists who normally visit the lakefro…
Keep on reading: Downtown Chicago emerges from pandemic — hobbled by crime wave