Grundy Reporter

State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) is warning the surge of violence across much of the state now has many residents feeling less than safe in their own neighborhoods.

“I recently held a series of town halls and the #1 issue was the ongoing violence in Chicago and suburbs,” Rezin posted on Twitter. “People rightfully don’t feel safe.”

Rezin points to the recent violent attack on a CTA bus driver as a startling example of just how out-of-control things have gotten.

“It’s terrible that this CTA driver, who was just doing his job, was violently attacked,” she said. “Do you think downtown Chicago is safe at night?”

ABC7 News reports the 49-year-old driver was hospitalized at Northwestern Memorial with bruises to his face and body after being attacked and beaten by at least two people in the Loop area while inspecting his bus after hearing a loud noise in the 100 block of North Michigan Avenue.

Police have since charged a 15-year-old boy with a felony count of aggravated battery of a transit employee and disorderly conduct stemming from the incident.

That brazen attack follows another that took place earlier this month involving a 62-year-old CTA train operator, who was hospitalized after two teenagers beat him and then ran away onto the Dan Ryan Expressway. Investigators said the employee got into an argument with two female teens while the train was stalled near the Garfield station, 220 W. Garfield Ave.

With violence on the rise across much of the city and showing few signs of dissipating anytime soon, Chicago Police authorities recently took the drastic step of canceling days off for officers.

"To enhance public safety and to address current crime patterns, all full-duty sworn members will have one regular day off cancelled," Sgt. Rocco Alioto said in a statement.

On the same night when the bus driver was attacked in the downtown area, at least 22 juveniles were arrested after crowds swarmed Millennium Park, ending in a 15-year-old boy being shot and two replica firearms being recovered.

"We do have some folks who are acting a fool and we will not tolerate that and I'm calling on the parents and guardians to step up and do your part. We want our young people to enjoy the city – it is their city after all, but they’ve got to do it in a way that is respectful to the rights of others," Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.

CTA union president Keith Hill said he wants to see more police presence and stiffer penalties.

"Our drivers are furious," Hill said, according to Fox32 "They are beyond scared, they are upset they are sitting ducks in that seat. The most important thing is we need police presence, we need stiffer penalties. You can ban a person from going into a store or a sports event, but we can’t ban nobody from taking public transportation no matter how many times they assault us?"

Illinois Valley Times reports Rezin has also been busy sounding off against legislation aimed at repealing the Parental Notice of Abortion Act (PNA) of 1995.

“Today I'm joined by my colleagues, and not just any colleagues, those of us standing here today are mothers and fathers, mothers of daughters, and once young girls ourselves,” Rezin said at an Oct. 19 press conference on the PNA and the legislation that would repeal it. “We're standing up for the rights of parents all across the state of Illinois so that we can provide the support that our daughters need. There's been strong indication that some Illinois legislators plan to use the veto session to advance legislation that would repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act.”

Rezin, who also serves as Senate Republican deputy leader, said she fails to see the logic in outlawing policy that requires that parents of minors be notified before their daughter undergoes an abortion procedure.

“To be clear, the act doesn't require consent, just notification,” she added. “So, what we're talking about is repealing the law that requires parents to be notified when their young 13- or 14-year-old daughter decides to have a medical procedure. This issue goes beyond the typical pro-life vs. pro-choice debate. We're way past just discussing our views on abortion. We are literally now discussing if a parent has a right to know about their child's pregnancy and abortion.”