Numerous businesses in Chicago have barricaded their storefronts to guard against possible disruptions and unrest during the Democratic National Convention.
The Garland Building, at the corner of Wabash Avenue and Washington Street, was decked out in plywood and beams on Friday — as were several other buildings in the Loop. One business owner, who said he was no stranger to looting and break-ins, also decided to take precautionary measures.
“You get a call in the middle of the night and your heart stops,” says Scott Schapiro, owner of Syd Jerome, a men’s clothing store at 20 N. Clark Street.
Schapiro said he had to pick up the pieces four times after his store was hit by looters and vandals.
“We want to be able to sleep more peacefully at night, that gives us a little security. Of course we hope that no incidents occur, but if they do, we want the greatest possible protection,” he explained.
The owner said his store will remain open and continue to operate under heightened measures during the week of the DNC, and if the situation gets out of control, he is not afraid to temporarily close the store.
Schapiro urges other business owners to take the safety of their business and their employees into their own hands.
“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” he said. “Most retailers are eternal optimists. They always think that tomorrow will be better than today and always hope for the best, but that doesn’t always work out.”
Despite all the concerns, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed confidence that the city will strive to host a safe and productive convention.
“There’s a reason Time Out magazine rated Chicago the best city for conventions, because we’re good at it,” he said at a news conference Friday morning. “Are there people out there who want to destroy the beauty of Chicago? Of course there are.”
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, in a one-on-one interview with NBC Chicago political reporter Mary Ann Ahern, rejected comparisons to the 1968 convention and pointed to changes in law enforcement tactics over the past decades.
“That’s not going to happen here…” Pritzker said, referring to 1968, saying the problems were caused by the police. “I feel pretty good about the situation, and of course the only concern is whether we have provided enough space and whether there is enough protection in certain parts of the city. Those are all things that Superintendent Snelling and the people who organized this convention have been thinking about and planning for the last year and a quarter.”
