IS CHICAGO SAFE?

It's a question I get asked in the comments frequently, Is Chicago Safe? I'm never sure how to answer it. We've lived in Chicago for over a dozen years. We had our wedding here, I went to school here, we started our family here, and we still live here.
I've had a couple of encounters with crime, one involved two wheels getting stolen off a car I used to have. And I came very close to getting mugged. (another story I forgot to mention in the video is the time my in-laws' car was vandalized).
Even though I've lived here long enough to give an opinion, I ultimately think though that I am very sequestered from where a lot of the headline-making events are happening. So it's hard to say.
Thanks for watching. Leave a comment to let me know you stopped by!
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[@kofuzi]

If you liked this video, check out my follow up: Chicago Gun Crime. I was interviewed on the news regarding a gun homicide near where I live. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmqVfpV3hMytq5I

[@MondoBeno]

I've been to Chicago many times and had no trouble. There are neighborhoods that I avoided, as you have to in any city. There are places where you should not go at night, but that's the case all over the world.

[@andreiplane8380]

@Marie Kondo That fact you said Vancouver shows how unaware you are about the city. Try walking in East Hastings after sunset and you will probably be robbed. Most other places are fine though except a few sketchy areas in Surrey which is a totally different city anyway.

[@vaishx]

@Marie Kondo here’s a better word for ya! There are places to avoid in Chicago like in any other US city!

[@monkeydui7241]

@VAISH X what was the comment? He deleted it or something

[@karinbrtv508]

In Switzerland I can walk everywhere, day and night, there are no places where it is unsafe lol :D In the USA I learned to avoid certain places at a certain time and I would never walk home alone at night. So sad.

[@MrBlackFox2001]

@@karinbrtv508 Switzerland is as big as my town in Texas. You can’t compare like that. Look at UK for example, there are many areas that are more dangerous than some areas in USA.

[@retrodude5424]

I’m from NYC and Chicago like any city has great parts and bad parts, people are really nice and the city is pretty.

[@kofuzi]

I agree. Thanks for watching!

[@DrivingMeCrazy]

Thanks for offering this perspective. I grew up in a city about half the size of Chicago and there were years when I was young that our crime rate was worse than NYC. The media amplifies the stories that fit a narrative that will sell ads and generate revenue. Its my belief (along with ever present political considerations) that this is why Chicago is being portrayed the way it is in the media.

[@kofuzi]

+Driving Me Crazy chicago is a strange city in that, at times, it is nothing like it is portrayed. But other times, it's like a bad cliche in terms of how closely it lives up to its negative expectations. There used to be a saying around here, we don't want nobody that nobody sent. It was only in the last year that Chicago was able to get out of federal oversight in terms of pay-to-play and patronage hiring. So, there is still much work to do

[@timothybryce1948]

Agreed. I live in those sparkly squeaky clean conservative neighborhoods on the Northwest SIde.

[@Knicks1992]

Moved to Chicago from Bushwick Brooklyn Nyc. And I love chi town. It’s safe no doubt. It’s not safe if your out in the sketchy neighborhoods or affiliated with any gang activity

[@kofuzi]

i'd agree that being affiliated with any gang activity is typically not associated with being safe

[@lupeavalos9342]

Mike Gonzalez I live in California California too expensive . Honestly Gangs in Los Angeles is too expensive a lot of gangs . LA is trashy

[@lupeavalos9342]

I am think to move to Chicago

[@lupeavalos9342]

I need opinions Yes or no on Chicago it looks cleaner than NYC and LA and it’s cheaper to buy a home

[@lupeavalos9342]

You have the city life SF too expensive all people rent here

[@jose162204]

Crime in Chicago is highly concentrated in specific neighborhoods in the south and west region. Downtown Chicago and it’s neighboring neighborhoods are typically safe.

[@er1417]

Chicago is the best city in America, it has bad areas like every major city in the world. People from the rest of the country love to talk sht about it but that gang violence and shootings are limited to the south and west. I’ve felt way more unsafe visiting Downtown Miami, south Beach, Manhattan and LA.

[@curtainsRcool]

I'm looking into moving to Chicago here soon because a friend from college wants me to move in with her. I visited once and we walked Everywhere, never did I feel unsafe. I was cautious because you just have been be everywhere you go TBH. but all in all I loved Chicago!

[@kofuzi]

It's a great place to visit and/or live

[@MondoBeno]

Most of Chicago is fine. The areas south of Cermak Road aren't great, and the areas with a lot of abandoned houses and empty lots (like North Lawndale) are worse. But housing north of Wicker Park isn't through the roof, and most of the jobs are north of Cermak Road. Every city has areas to stay away from.

[@micovideos1857]

Glad you were able to address this, I have seen comments on your videos of people who have been obviously affected by what the media portraits, I used to go to Chicago plenty and I never personally encountered crime and we used to go to "La villita" and downtown on Michigan ave in the middle of the night. thanks for your input on this.

[@kofuzi]

+Mico Videos I can understand people's concerns. One of my nephews doesn't like to visit because he thinks he will get shot.

[@hothotheat3000]

I visited the city solo and never felt unsafe, but I was in The Loop and Wrigleyville for the most part. Stay alert and stay out of the bad neighborhoods and you’ll be ok.

[@shaylanewlife]

I am from Chicago I grew up in Logan square. The south side and the west side is bad. That's what you have to watch out for. Downtown is ok but, you still have to becareful.

[@KennyboyGM]

You got blinders on. Go to englewood or the south side and your perspective will change.

[@kofuzi]

do you have experience in those communities?

[@KennyboyGM]

Ask your beatle juice mayor whats going on.

[@kofuzi]

are you sure she was even mayor when this video was filmed and published?

[@brythecreater1547]

I feel like almost every state has that one bad part that makes people say it’s dangerous, it all depends on where u live. I live in California and there r certain parts that I wouldn’t recommend and there r parts I would recommend. I want to move to the east coast but I just don’t know where I want to go🤷🏽‍♀️anyone have suggestions

[@DonGivani]

With Lightfoot and Kim Foxx , this is not the place to be. I've heard it is very corrupt and the taxes are too high. And all those looting, no. I am from Europe and was planning a Chicago Marathon , but no...not motivated anymore. Think they will lose lots of potential tourists. Maybe in 5 years it will be better

[@kofuzi]

For what it’s worth, this video was made long before either Lightfoot or Foxx

[@shawningram182]

Good video, but the one thing you left out is Chicago is one of the most separated cities in the u.s.

[@kofuzi]

Is it? More than St Louis or Seattle or Los Angeles?

[@shawningram182]

@@kofuzi I go by what my friends that have and still live there say, that the communities are pretty separated by race and nationality, I'm sure there's a few nationalities mixed in here and there, just saying! Love the video's and keep up the good work and you just gained a subscriber!

[@kofuzi]

thanks so much for watching and subscribing!

[@jackyagustin2937]

Born and raised. And live in a chill neighborhood in the south. Chicago is the best city. And the shootings happen not often you guys think. But still happen quite a bit

[@yuph6848]

Let me tell you this. The blue line/train in the cleanest and not that crazy so always take the blue line. Like the pink, purple, red, brown, green line are disgusting.

[@kofuzi]

i most frequently ride the red

[@JournalOfAPudgyMan]

I always loved riding the train from Indiana into Soldier Field

[@kofuzi]

+Journal Of A Pudgy Man I wish we had more trains

[@sameasiteverwas9742]

I'm going to a convention at McCormick Place in a few months and have been worried sick about the area so this video helped me feel a little better so thanks for that. I was curious if you knew of the area around the convention center or if you know of the new east side area which is where my hotel is going to be to give me a better sense of what I'm getting into that would be awesome.

[@kofuzi]

there's more going into that area, but it's pretty boring, frankly. it's relatively safe, but it can drop off quickly and mind your surroundings at night. new east side is very safe and very boring. sterile and manufactured, but very pretty. close to the lake for running, if you're into that. and close to a lot of touristy things.

[@cokolada6039]

My dream was always to live in Chicago but yet I'm here in Germany..

[@LoneWolf2k1_minis]

Moved here from Münster 5 years ago. It's neat, but a lot of tiny differences (besides the few large ones) :)

[@kofuzi]

hopefully you can at least visit some day?

[@spagboi1268]

Nice city to live

[@dennischen8887]

When I was in university, I had to do an internship at a high school in the south side of Chicago for 3 months. There were boarded up windows and what I would assume as bullet holes on parked cars as I walked to the school from the train station. But nothing really to me except I got a lot of stares.

[@ardi3363]

I grew up not that far from Chicago & lived there a short time! But I've been there many times growing up! I have friends & cousins there! You sound like a real smart guy! I know no one is perfect & we all make mistakes but you should know better than to walk around late at night with a phone in your hand?

[@kofuzi]

how else would i walk and vlog

[@kurtld758]

Any advice for me being an asian in the us? Coz il be studying this upcoming year in chicago

[@kofuzi]

If you want to be where all the other Asians are, go to the suburbs. Maybe Chinatown.

[@BarknoorZ]

Those crystals are really cool!

[@kofuzi]

+BarknoorZ they've gotten even bigger over the past few days. They're quite remarkable

[@museme9767]

Let’s ask lightfoot that question...

[@cfdmedicambo68relf7]

Chicago Is My City Love It, Chicago Best City Hands Down

[@kofuzi]

i love it, too

[@redrooster4092]

Rather live in the country.

[@kofuzi]

most of my favorite people live in towns with population less than 1,000

[@askingforafriend3574]

Interesting that Chicago is always on various top 5 most dangerous cities in the US lists. But you live there, so you have first hand knowledge. I am sure you have your own areas of familiarity and feel safe in those areas. And thankfully, even the most dangerous cities in the US are overall safe enough to live day to day life without being harmed.

[@vaishx]

Chicago comes in 25 on the most dangerous cities according to the FBI so it’s definitely not that high in terms of crime and danger

[@askingforafriend3574]

@@vaishx LOL.. 25th! That makes me want to move there for sure.

[@justdrive5327]

When factoring in per capita its 73 but America only has about 50 major metros. According to neighborhoodscoutdotcom its 73rd on the list. Not bad at all. Milwaukee, Detroit, St.Louis, Cleveland. All of Chicago's neighbors are more dangerous

[@naughtygamerold2553]

thanks really enjoy the relaxing music！

[@kofuzi]

I'm glad you enjoy

[@glittersilver7779]

I love the video and the music is wonderful what's the name of that song?

[@kofuzi]

Thanks for watching! The name of the song is DJ Quads - I Make Everything (Vlog Music No Copyright)

[@helloworld3943]

I can already tell the racists will be in the comments.

[@kofuzi]

they been here

[@mr.watersheep9824]

Who causes most of the crime, what kind of people take over downtown and beat up white people for no reason. Who are most of the people you feel worry some in downtown in the subway. Its not the race. Its the statistics. Be careful. Alot of these types of people are here in Chicago. Becareful

[@FaewoodVlogs]

I wanna grow crystals! Pretty cool you ride a train :-p Love the footage. Chicago is a big city, I'm sure there are lots of seedy areas. Good that generally you feel safe! Wooooow thank goodness for your uber driver showing up :-(

[@kofuzi]

thanks for watching!

[@AmbientMorality]

@Zanda Williams The train doesn't go everywhere, but it covers a good number of destinations. The bus system complements it well, though some routes can tend to have more sketchy passengers (though I've never been confronted or felt particularly unsafe on a bus).

[@AmbientMorality]

@Zanda Williams Depends on where you live and where you work. If you work downtown parking and congestion is terrible and a car would be a liability. Most places within city limits you wouldn't often feel like you needed a car, though it could be useful at some times. Many people don't have a car at all.

[@AmbientMorality]

​@Zanda Williams Chicago has 2.7 million people within city limits - I don't think there's much Chicago doesn't have. But yes, Chicago has nightlife. The most well-known area is probably Lakeview/Lincoln Park/Wrigleyville, which tends to be more sports-oriented. There's more indie type places west of the expressway: Wicker Park/Bucktown/Logan Square, as some examples. There are a number of other neighborhoods like that, and of course some are better than others and everyone has opinions on which places are best. But there's essentially zero chance you won't find what you're looking for soon enough. Also cheapest beer prices and most breweries of any US city, if you're into that. All of those neighborhoods I mentioned above are well-connected by transit, so even if you choose a place away from those neighborhoods you shouldn't have any problems getting around.

[@saoirsemorridanes]

0:14 What kind of crystals were that? Is that a science thingy? :-O

[@kofuzi]

+SaoirseMorridanes we mixed baking soda in water in two jars. Then we tied paper clips to each end of a piece of yarn. And then we waited overnight (with a plate under the yarn to catch drips)

[@koifishboy12]

Hey cool! You live in lake view, I live in Rogers Park.

[@kofuzi]

yup. been here for over a decade now

[@patricklorenzo870]

I grew up in switzerland and lived in NYC. Both very safe places. And now I’m going to chicago by myself for a couple of weeks. I’ll be staying in the loop. I am Male (22), can I go out at night. Clubs, bars and stuff? In areas like river north or downtown, millenium park etc.

[@kofuzi]

as in any city, be mindful of your surroundings, especially the later things get.

[@Cooldog3798]

Not the place I was born😪😪

[@teddyjordan8266]

LIKE 👍