Mentally unstable homeless (Chicago: buying, camping, licensed)

[LucianoPavarotti]

NY has a number of mentally unstable homeless men who periodically terrorize pedestrians. I know that Chicago has homeless people, but does it have mentally unstable homeless men too?

One other QOL question: Does Chicago have guys selling fake products on the streets? In NY, they display tons of fake purses on the sidewalk, and it looks terrible.

[Kmanshouse]

Yes to the first question. No to the 2nd question.

[ChiGuy2.5]

Originally Posted by LucianoPavarotti

NY has a number of mentally unstable homeless men who periodically terrorize pedestrians. I know that Chicago has homeless people, but does it have mentally unstable homeless men too?

One other QOL question: Does Chicago have guys selling fake products on the streets? In NY, they display tons of fake purses on the sidewalk, and it looks terrible.

Our homeless usually has mental health issues. However, I feel they are a lot less aggressive than other cities, especially west coast cities. I've been yelled at by homeless in NYC more than I have in Chicago. I consider homeless people in Chicago the die hards because they have to endure very tough winters.

[MarianRavenwood]

It depends on where you are. In the viaducts along Canal Street, there are some pretty aggressive individuals. About two years ago, several unhoused persons camping in D'Angelo Park attacked women on nearby sidewalks. So it happens occasionally. In my own experience, it's just drugged-out people who are more of an issue.

I've never seen anyone selling fake purses or anything else on the street. That's just a city culture thing. Chicagoans aren't prone to buying cheap knockoffs. The weather is inhospitable to open-air business. The city has chosen to enforce municipal regulations that prohibit unlicensed merchants, using the public way without a permit, and possession of stolen or counterfeit merchandise. Plenty of other ways people make a fast buck, though.