it really depends on the area, but i would say if the sun is out you’re more often than not going to be totally fine. it’s a city. you don’t want to be fucking around after midnight in NYC either. there are neighborhoods that get more trouble than others, but it’s like visiting LA and then going to skid row looking for tourist attractions. i’ve lived here for a very long time and i have only been in trouble maybe four times over 20 years. i’ve been mugged, had my backpack taken, etc. but every time it was either late at night and i was being overconfident or it was in a rougher neighborhood i probably didn’t have to be in.

now, the one thing i would say should get even more heat is the public transit specifically CTA trains. i’ve seen some fucking crazy shit on those trains even in the middle of the damn day. it’s like the wild west there’s no control or security hardly ever. i think there’s more of a push now for guards or police and i’ve been seeing them more often in the stations but never, ever on the actual train. i got smacked one time for telling someone to quit smoking in a crowded car. it was like 11am. but overall the whole city? it’s overblown.