West Cook News

Taking the fight against crime to social media, Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison (R-Palos Park) shared a report about recent statements made by the CEO of McDonald's regarding Chicago's violent crime problem.

The commissioner urged Illinoisans to vote for officials who will address the issue. He commented on the crime situation in a Facebook post this week. 

“Public Safety is on the ballot this election and you know who the elected officials/culprits are that have unleashed this crime epidemic on our communities,” Morrison said in the post. 

The crime problem garnered the attention of McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski, who spoke recently in Chicago, where the chain is headquartered; a CNN report said. The fast-food executive maintained that crime is impacting his restaurants in the city; with homelessness, violent crime and overdoses happening in McDonald’s establishments.

A Chicago-area McDonald’s was the site of a shooting in May, a WLS report said. Nine people were shot in the incident, and two died. Three men, ranging in age from 17 to 21, were charged in connection with the shooting spree. 

Rising crime rates are to blame for some businesses turning away from the Windy City, a June MarketWatch report said. Earlier this year, Ken Griffin—whose estimated net worth of $28.9 billion makes him one of the 50 wealthiest people in the world—announced plans to move his hedge-fund firm Citadel and market-maker Citadel Securities from Chicago to Miami. He noted in a letter that many of the company’s Chicago teams identified Miami, New York or other offices around the world as preferable locations. Company officials confirmed that crime was a motivating factor in the move.

Morrison was appointed commissioner of the 17th District in 2015, his website said. He was elected to a four-year term in 2018 and is seeking reelection this year.