Mark Albers, president of the Niles Township Republicans, said Democratic leaders continue promising improvements to public safety while violence on Chicago streets and transit rises, leaving residents without meaningful accountability or action. Albers made the remarks to North Cook News.
The issue of public safety remains a concern for many Chicago residents as crime rates on city transit have increased in recent years. Albers said, “I am tired of watching Democrat leadership talk about safety while Chicagoans keep dealing with crime on our streets and trains… Year after year we hear promises, but riders and families still don’t feel safe getting where they need to go… Instead of decisive action, we get more statements and more studies while the problem grows… Chicago deserves leaders who will finally treat public safety like the urgent priority it is.”
Aggravated assaults and batteries on the Chicago Transit Authority reached a 24-year high in 2025, with 469 incidents, continuing a steady rise since 2021. The trend has worsened in early 2026, with such crimes up 33% compared with the same period last year, even as citywide violent crime fell 15%. The surge has drawn scrutiny from the administration of Donald Trump, which has threatened to withhold $50 million in federal transit funding unless the CTA strengthens its safety plan. CTA interim president Nora Leerhsen says the agency is expanding police patrols and other measures, but officials acknowledge more work is needed to improve rider safety and federal confidence, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Albers is a resident of Morton Grove, Illinois and was appointed as president of the Niles Township Republican organization early in 2024. He has also recently run for Illinois House seat #15. Albers is committed to boosting Republican voter turnout in Niles Township, growing membership, and communicating Republican positions on issues that matter to local voters, according to his campaign website.
