Con-men in yellow vests are shaking down White Sox fans trying to park near Guaranteed Rate Field. These scammers ride scooters around the Dan Ryan Expressway exits, blocking cars and demanding $40 cash. Drivers who refuse get their cars kicked, spat on, or surrounded by angry men.
This parking extortion racket keeps happening because Chicago police aren’t stopping it. Fans say cops watch the scams unfold but don’t arrest anyone. Last year, fake attendants sold bogus parking permits that led to $75 tickets. The city makes money ticketing victims instead of cracking down on criminals.
The scammers work like a gang. They meet in parking lots before games, then swarm cars on side streets. They wear official-looking vests and wave wads of cash to trick drivers. If you say no, they curse at you and damage your vehicle. Families with kids in the car feel especially threatened.
This isn’t new. In 2021, fake parking attendants sold phony permits near the stadium. Over 60 cars got $40 permits that led to city tickets. Police stood nearby but let it happen. At United Center games, the same scam hit Blackhawks fans. Cops gave tickets to every car parked by the conmen.
Chicago’s leadership cares more about money than safety. The city just launched a ticket debt relief program, but it’s a band-aid solution. They’ll waive late fees if you pay old tickets by June 30. Meanwhile, lawlessness rules the streets. Drivers get squeezed twice – first by crooks, then by City Hall.
Conservatives see this as classic Democrat-run city failure. Soft-on-crime policies let thieves operate openly. Police focus on writing tickets instead of protecting citizens. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration prioritizes woke programs over basic public safety. Hardworking families suffer while criminals thrive.
The solution is clear: arrest the scammers, clean up corruption, and back the police. Until then, drivers should avoid unofficial parking spots, keep windows up, and report these thugs. Chicago needs leaders who’ll take crime seriously instead of coddling lawbreakers. The White Sox deserve fans who feel safe coming to games.
