Extra Security at Wrigley Could Fall on Backs of Local Businesses

New details regarding the Chicago Cubs’ plan to renovate Wrigley Field suggest the city and local businesses would share the cost of the 30 extra security guards planned to patrol the ballpark, unnamed sources told the Chicago Tribune.

Framework for the $500 million investment planned for Wrigleyville was released Monday morning, with extra security during games a priority for both the Cubs and neighbors. Adding 30 more officers would essentially double the amount of security personnel currently at the field.

Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts addressed the media at Wrigley Field Monday morning, explaining the new security measures the team planned for Lake View. He explained the Cubs would pay for 10 of those officers, but when asked who would pay for the additional 20, Ricketts said, “I’m going to defer that, because I think I may know, but I could be wrong.”

Sources for the Tribune say another 10 officers would come from a special team at the 19th Police District, with the last 10 funded by the special taxing district controlled by the local business owners who pay into it. They would also need to approve the move to fund extra security.

A similar taxing district in East Lake View uses funds to for things like additional street cleaning.

While Executive Director of the Central Lakeview Merchants Gus Isacson told the Tribune he has yet to see a proposal for the potential security expenditure, other neighborhood officials say they’re disappointed because they were hoping for 50 additional officers.

Read the Chicago Tribune’s full story here, and more about the proposed plan for Wrigleyville here. 

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