The Coming Storm

If you wonder why I’ve expressed concern about violence in cities tomorrow or thereafter, consider this story from the Chicago Tribune:

The first time Potash Markets’ Gold Coast grocery stores were vandalized this summer, the boards covering both stores’ windows came down as soon as the damage was repaired.

The damage happened during the civil unrest that followed George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police in May. When one store was hit a second time in August, CEO Art Potash decided to leave the boards up through the election.

“If it can happen once, and then it can happen twice, the door’s wide open for how often this is going to happen,” he said.

Between the civil unrest this summer, the coronavirus pandemic and a divisive election whose outcome may not be known Tuesday, business owners are weighing the prospect of further unrest in a way they haven’t during past elections, said Eric White, executive vice president at security firm Brosnan Risk Consultants.

Many retailers including Macy’s are boarding up, some are not opening on Tuesday, some are closing early on Tuesday. That includes Chase Bank.

And Chicago isn’t alone. It’s true in New York, in Los Angeles, and, I have little doubt, of most major U. S. cities.