But, the casino and the crowds that it attracts might possibly exacerbate it. There haven't been any issues so far, but the alderman said some are nervous for what the casino could bring to an already increasingly high-crime area. 'We wanted to start with a strong police presence, because you can always scale back from there if need be,' Hopkins said. Alderman Brian Hopkins said that was intentional. OEMC was also there to help with traffic control on the first day.
'It's pretty hard to imagine thousands of casino goers going back and forth through neighborhood at all hours to gamble is going to make that situation better,' said River North Residents Association Director Emeritus Brian Israel.Ībout a dozen officers were seen outside the building at all times on Saturday. The area has struggled with increased crime including carjackings, armed robberies and shootings over the past year. Others are a bit concerned about any new traffic congestion and crime.
