The Pride Parade will reportedly stay in Boystown, for now.
A confidential source confirmed to DNAInfo that the parade would remain in place and not be moved downtown after the Crime in Wrigleyville + Boystown blog broke the news, citing multiple confidential city sources.
Officials in Ald. Tom Tunney's office and Parade Coordinator Richard Pfeiffer could not be immediately reached for comment.
Erin Duffy, Tunney's director reportedly said at the April 13 meeting of South East Lake View Neighbors that Tunney was "very open" to the idea of moving the parade. "Honestly, he feels if it's not this year, it could be next year," DNAInfo reported. Duffy on April 17 told Windy City Times that a decision would likely be made this week.
But these reports suggest the parade is staying in place for now. A 2014 survey from Tunney's office found about 55 percent of the respondents saying that the parade should remain in place. But reports of unrest amidst spectators, and incidents after the parade was finished, led some to call for a new venue that would not overwhelm police and residents.
In January, Tunney told Windy City Times, "We have changed the route in the past, so I'm not afraid to work on that. I think we did a good job with it. We've also secured a lot more police resources there. The converse question is, Has it outgrown the neighborhood? [Others] say, it is a celebration of our neighborhood, on a national stage. … Two things that need more work are responsible patronage, with alcohol, and being a responsible community. Also, if it was moved to a different location, the post-parade activities come to Lakeview anyway. We have 10 times the amount of resources on that day. If they divert police downtown, what happens if they really need them [here]?"
DNAInfo's story is at dnain.fo/1J7rHz9 .
Crime in Wrigleyville + Boystown's story is at bit.ly/1HrDXbB .