Several Chicago businesses have boarded up their storefronts in preparation for possible disruption and violence during the Democratic National Convention.
The Garland Building at the intersection of Wabash and Washington streets was decked out in plywood and 2-by-4s on Friday, as were several other buildings in the Loop on Friday. One business owner who said he’s accustomed to looting and burglaries decided to take similar precautions.
“When I get a call in the middle of the night, my heart pounds,” said Scott Shapiro, owner of Sid Jerome, a men’s clothing store at 20 North Clark Street.
Shapiro said he’s had to pick up the pieces four times after his store was attacked by looters and vandals.
“We want to sleep a little better at night and this gives us a little bit of peace of mind. Of course, we hope that an incident never happens, but if it does happen, we want the maximum protection,” he explained.
The owner said the restaurant will remain open during the week of the Democratic National Convention under enhanced measures, and that he is open to temporarily closing if the situation gets out of control.
Shapiro urges other business owners to take the safety of their stores and employees into their own hands.
“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” he said. “Most retailers are eternal optimists. They always think tomorrow will be better than today, and they always hope for the best, but that doesn’t always happen.”
Despite the concerns, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed confidence in the city’s efforts to stage a safe and productive convention.
“There’s a reason Time Out magazine rated Chicago the best city for conventions: because Chicago excels at conventions,” he said at a press conference Friday morning. “Who wants to ruin the beauty of Chicago? Of course.”
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, in a separate interview with NBC Chicago political reporter Mary Ann Ahern, rejected comparisons to the 1968 convention, noting changes in law enforcement tactics over the past few decades.
“That’s not going to happen here…” Pritzker said, pointing to 1968, saying the problems then were caused by police. “I feel pretty comfortable with the way things are going. The only concern, of course, is whether there’s enough space, whether there’s enough security in certain parts of the city. All of that has been thought out and planned by Superintendent Snelling and the people who have been organizing this for the last year and a half.”