Column: How they view us: Out-of-towners’ thoughts on Chicago

The past few years, I have been spending more and more time away from our beloved city and “wintering” down in Southwest Florida.

Yes, I have become a snowbird! Guilty as charged. It is interesting though, down in these parts, the people you meet.

It seems nobody here was actually born in Southwest Florida. Everyone is from “somewhere else,” including New York, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Boston, Philadelphia, New Jersey and even Canada and Europe.

Maybe the first original settlers down here were actually looking for metropolitan Detroit, got lost, went south instead of north (MapQuest back then was full of glitches), saw the lovely Gulf of Mexico and decided to live here, start a family, multiply and prosper.

When I mention I am from Chicago, many will say that they have been there and what a wonderful city it is. This makes me smile and feel proud. But when the discussion progresses a bit further, and I explain that we recently sold our suburban house and moved downtown, the reaction becomes quite different. A look of not-so-veiled horror comes across the other person’s face, accompanied by one of the following questions (or variations of them):

“Ooohh, really? Downtown, isn’t it dangerous?” “Aren’t you afraid to go out? It seems so scary!” “Wow, don’t you get nervous when you walk the streets?” “You moved to the city? Really? I thought everyone was moving out of Chicago!”

I especially love to see the looks on their faces when I respond with something like, “Oh no, it’s great downtown, and still largely a very safe and clean city to walk and be around. I love living there!”

Upon saying that, I usually get the same look from them as my kids did when I served them broccoli for the first time. I gently explain to these fine, fellow out-of-towners that, yes, our city has problems, and the violence, shooting, robberies and carjackings are real and not to be minimized.

But I also tell them that when you walk the streets of Chicago on a nice summer day, or the beautiful autumnal days soon to come, or even on those wintry days when the city of broad shoulders really tests your mettle, you will see plenty of people out and about, all having a good time and all enjoying the wonders of our great city.

I try to pass that message on to all I meet down here. I’m not sure how many I convince, but I try. Chicago Bureau of Tourism? You’re welcome.

Jon Cohn is a New Eastside resident. Email ideas for Jon to info@chicagostarmedia.com