Champaign’s woke, ‘Mayors Against Guns’ Mayor Deb Feinen ignores gang violence, cautions against fireworks instead

Champaign, IL’s uber-woke Mayor Lil Debbie Feinen used her “Meet the Mayor” segment on The Morning Show (whatever that is) to tsk tsk Champaign’s residents that they shouldn’t light off fireworks. Apparently that’s her biggest priority, even though gangs are shooting it out on the streets of her city which just happens to host the University of Illinois.

They had two “mass shootings” just a couple of weeks ago in a single weekend…

What’s more, I used to live right next door in Savoy. I worked in Champaign and spent a lot of time there. I attended the fireworks when they were at Parkland… which they stopped because of all of the gang violence from the less affluent neighborhood just east of Parkland during and after the fireworks.

How bad was it? People were shot – and some killed. Gang bangers, who didn’t have a job and lived with their moms in Section 8 rentals, would effectively block the streets to fire off thousands of dollars in mortar rounds in displays that were rightfully impressive.

What irked me was when one of the thugs said, “Hey Whitey, you don’t belong here.” So much for welcoming diversity and opposing racism in Champaign, right?

But Mayor Lil Debbie is worried about fireworks, when streets in Garden Hills have been ground zero for illegal “displays” for years now. Huge displays and you don’t dare drive through those streets for fear of getting a mortar tossed into your car, fired at your car or maybe, if you’re really lucky, bullets fired at your car.

From WCIA:

CHAMPAIGN, Ill (WCIA) – Today on The Morning Show, Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen came on in this week’s Meet The Mayor Segment. With the Fourth of July holiday coming up, she wanted to make sure everyone knew of a “No Fireworks” ordinance in Champaign.

“People really need to be mindful of our fireworks ordinance. It’s going to be really strictly enforced this year,” Feinen said. “We try to every year, but our chiefs, both fire and police, have made it very clear that it’s very a dangerous thing to be engaging in.”

The ordinance prohibits people in Champaign without licenses from setting off fireworks except for sparklers and smoke bombs. Feinen cited safety concerns as a major reason for the ordinance. Also, with the dry weather in Central Illinois, it is even more dangerous.

“You don’t want to injure yourself or your family and certainly you don’t want to set your house on fire,” Feinen said.In order to be allowed to set off fireworks, Feinen said, you need a permit. Also, it is illegal to purchase fireworks in Indiana and bring them back to Champaign. So, it’s best to watch the shows made by licensed professionals.

“Please go enjoy the fireworks celebration on campus,” Feinen said. “But do not light off your own fireworks.”

This is the same woman who many years ago when she ran for city council (as a law-and-order candidate) said she wanted to take my concealed carry class. This was long before Illinois got carry. She wanted it because she wanted to get a gun to protect herself and maybe get a Florida license.

Of course, she never called me back or attended.

Must have been too scary to think she might have to shoot a real gun. It’s a lot easier to jawbone than learn new skills.

Now she’s an uber-woke politician who panders to the low-information voters to keep her job. She’s just pathetic.

Oh yeah, and when one couple went to the Champaign City Council to complain about their house getting shot up by errant rounds from gang bangers having a shootout, Lil Debbie did nothing as a couple of leftists chastised the couple for complaining their house got shot up.

Really. Here. From Check CU:

Champaign City Council member Alicia Beck bangs her fist on the table as she castigates two residents who raised concerns about gun violence.

Albert Morr and his wife Claudia attended the Tuesday night Champaign City Council meeting to address the increasing gun violence in the City. Morr described a recent shooting incident on University Avenue which resulted in one or more bullets penetrating the front window of their home.

The Morrs went on to express concern for their family’s safety and that of their neighbors and the children playing outside, noting that Champaign Police found 35 shell casings from this one shooting incident.

Instead of receiving sympathy and concern from the Council, after taking their seats, the Morrs were berated for nearly two minutes straight by Council member Alicia Beck, along with Council member Michael Foellmer. Beck told the Morrs not to come back.

It is unclear what invited such a harsh lecture – or perhaps “moral grandstanding” may better describe the fury that Beck rained down upon the unsuspecting couple.