Get ready for G8 madness

11/02/2011 10:00 PM

Editorial

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There are lots of great things about living close to the Loop. You’re just a few minutes from some of the best things Chicago has to offer, from the Museum Campus and Soldier Field to skyscrapers and amazing dining.

But next May, living near the Loop is likely to be awful, at least for a short period of time.

Eight of the leaders of the free world will be here for the G8 summit, discussing how to save the planet (in theory). It’s a great honor for the city to be chosen, but this event won’t be a cakewalk.

It’ll probably be centered between downtown and McCormick Place. Hello, chaos in the South Loop.

Protestors will descend on the city from all corners of the planet, and many of them won’t be as polite as the Occupy Chicago protestors. There’s almost guaranteed to be an anarchic, anti-establishment effort. They will be trouble.

The U.S. Secret Service will be in charge of security for the event, and the Chicago Police say they’re training thousands of officers. But no matter how well-trained law enforcement is, security will be incredibly tight, and getting to and from apartments and condos near the heart of the action will likely be difficult.

There have been a litany of horror stories from G8 protests in other nations, but let’s hope that all we have to worry about is increased security.



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