If the city is going to go after stores selling loose cigarettes, they have a lot of work to do. They can start by shutting down the CTA, because they sell loose cigs like crazy on the train.

I don't think further destroying neighborhood economies are an effective way of combating crime. Criminal behavior is learned at an early age. The key to stopping crime is parenting and cultural influence. Instead of shutting down stores to keep kids from loitering, how about parents take a more active role in their lives and keep their kids from hanging on the corner?

More police and more gun laws are not going to solve crime in Chicago. Responsible behavior has to be taught not in enforced.