"National Guard Deployment and Bag Checks: Controversy Surrounds NYC Subway Security Measures"

The head of Chicago's largest transit workers' union, Keith Hill, has called for the deployment of Illinois National Guard members to conduct bag checks on trains and buses in the city to enhance security and make the transit system safer. This comes after New York announced a similar move to address a surge in crime in its subways. While violent crime on Chicago's transit system dropped in 2023, it remained above pre-pandemic levels, prompting calls for increased security measures. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have not indicated whether they are considering deploying the National Guard. Hill believes that the inconvenience of bag checks would be worth it to ensure passenger and worker safety.