# Is Chicago "out of control" and is it a sanctuary city **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [August 20, 2025, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334 "2025-08-20T19:07:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/61 "2025-08-22T15:37:23Z")
> **Off-topic, hidden** > > > [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > > > My questions are, is Chicago out of control? > > Depends on who you ask, and define out of control. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/62 "2025-08-22T15:42:01Z")
> **Off-topic, hidden** > > Looks like he’s asking us. Under what definition of “out of control” would you say Chicago qualifies? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/63 "2025-08-22T15:50:32Z")
At 15 for this year, It has less than half the murder rate it had in 1992, when it was 34 per 100,000. No murder numbers are “great”, and we could always be doing better, but I overall have seen things get better here, not worse, though there was a spate about seven or eight or so years ago when it was trending badly. Social media and selective reporting make it sometimes sound like the city is on fire or some shit like that. We could have a murder rate of \<10 per 100000 and some people will still tag it a shithole city. We don’t want them anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/64 "2025-08-22T16:03:55Z")
> **Off-topic, hidden** > > Anyone who says Chicago is out of control and needs the national guard to restore order is a delusional racist asshole. Period. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/65 "2025-08-22T16:29:00Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > St. Louis is one of the few cities in the U.S. that is its own county (Baltimore is another.) > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Not really. St Louis and Baltimore are [independent cities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_city_(United_States)), meaning that they are not in any county. This is especially confusing as there is a “St. Louis County” but the _City_ of St. Louis is not part of it. This has occasionally been a source of both amusement and frustration when filling out forms related to my place of birth. [Although, apparently, not as troublesome as having been born in Guam](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664). ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/66 "2025-08-22T16:36:27Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > As we know from the Blues Brothers, Chicago is Cook County, but I don’t think it’s all of Cook County. This is correct. > [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > And I believe bits of Chicago extend into a neighboring county or two so this works both ways. This is not. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Confusing the matter is that there are cities named North Chicago, West Chicago, and East Chicago, none of which are contiguous with the City of Chicago, and all of which are outside of Cook County: they are in Lake County, DuPage County, and Lake County (Indiana), respectively. ^ This. > [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > I took a closer look and while there’s a bit of the city limits that extends to DuPage county, nobody actually lives there, it’s just some outlying bits of O’Hare. The bits of Chicago that protrude into DuPage County are actually gerrymandered into Cook County. O’Hare airport is in Cook County as a peninsula surrounded by DuPage County. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I stand corrected, too. I knew that Chicago annexed the O’Hare land decades ago, and didn’t realize that a small amount of that land is in DuPage. Although the southwest corner of O’Hare is in DuPage county functionally it’s all within Cook County. The road and train access to the airport is gerrymandered where necessary to make it all Cook County as well. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/67 "2025-08-22T16:43:39Z")
The same thing is true of Baltimore; there is a Baltimore County but that does _not_ contain the city of Baltimore. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/68 "2025-08-22T16:45:34Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Confusing the matter is that there are cities named North Chicago, West Chicago, and East Chicago, none of which are contiguous with the City of Chicago, and all of which are outside of Cook County: they are in Lake County, DuPage County, and Lake County (Indiana), respectively. Meanwhile, East New York is a neighborhood in Brooklyn, but West New York is a town in New Jersey. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/69 "2025-08-22T17:05:56Z")
And, for completeness’ sake, there’s a neighborhood in Chicago called South Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/70 "2025-08-22T18:10:29Z")
Is that where the baddest man in the whole downtown lived? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/71 "2025-08-22T18:43:10Z")
Well, Sourh Chicago is on the South Side (more accurately, I would call it the Southeast Side—it’s one of four neighborhoods comprising such), but many neighborhoods make up the South Side. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/72 "2025-08-22T21:39:36Z")
> **Off-topic, hidden** > > > [@RitterSport](#): > > > > Under what definition of “out of control” would you say Chicago qualifies? > > I know their local flooding issues can seem out of control, The never ever ending expansion of the suburbs seems out of control. All the way to Joliet I believe. > > It’s not a dystopian nightmare of marauding misfits swarming the entire city every night. It’s safe enough for my single twenty something daughter who lives alone and relies on public transportation. Oh wait there’s the gangs of swallowtail butterflies laying eggs in her windowsill garden and the cats then eat the parsley to nibs. That’s out of control. That’s a fact. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/73 "2025-08-22T21:46:28Z")
> **Off-topic, hidden** > > > [@chela](#): > > > > It’s not a dystopian nightmare of marauding misfits swarming the entire city every night. It’s safe enough for my single twenty something daughter who lives alone and relies on public transportation. Oh wait there’s the gangs of swallowtail butterflies laying eggs in her windowsill garden and the cats then eat the parsley to nibs. That’s out of control. That’s a fact. > > Thanks for that Friday afternoon laugh, I really needed it today. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/74 "2025-08-22T22:03:16Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > This is especially confusing as there is a “St. Louis County” but the _City_ of St. Louis is not part of it. This has occasionally been a source of both amusement and frustration when filling out forms related to my place of birth. I consider the City of St. Louis to be “its own county” because it elects county officials (Sheriff and Assessor) as well as municipal officials. We can debate the intricacies of the differences between a county-city and an independent city, but my point remains that St. Louis can’t jiggle crime rates or population decline as easily as some other cities. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/75 "2025-08-22T23:07:26Z")
> **[2025 Worst Cities For Bed Bugs | Orkin](https://www.orkin.com/press-room/worst-cities-for-bed-bugs-annual-rankings)** > > Discover which U.S. cities top the list for bed bug infestations in our latest annual ranking. Find tips on how to help stay protected against bed bugs with Orkin. This may clinch it. Chicago has topped the list for the last 5 years for the worst city with bed bugs!!! ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/76 "2025-08-23T22:20:52Z")
> **Off-topic, hidden** > > > [@Omar\_Little](#): > > > > This may clinch it. Chicago has topped the list for the last 5 years for the worst city with bed bugs!!! > > That includes Trump Cowerd Send in the national guard ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2025, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/77 "2025-08-23T22:37:47Z")
---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/78 "2025-08-23T22:38:29Z")
[Moderating] 32 out of the 51 posts since I reminded everyone to stay factual have been factual. This is closed temporarily while I clean things up. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2025, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/79 "2025-08-23T22:45:53Z")
OK, I think that’s the worst of it taken care of, now. But the next person to post something like “I was there last week, and it seemed fine” is getting a Warning. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2025, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334/80 "2025-08-23T22:45:59Z")
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334.md?page=5)