Chicago Alderman Blames Suburbanites For St. Patrick's Day Mess

CHICAGO, IL — Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) has stirred up controversy after blaming Chicago's St. Patrick's Day mess on kids from the suburbs. Thanking the city's streets and sanitation cleanup crew, he said that "drunk" suburbanites used the city's neighborhoods like "a giant toilet bowl." While many people tweeted that they agreed with the alderman, others said he shouldn't be placing all the blame on suburban kids.

"Good thing those suburbanites didn’t inject millions of dollars into the Chicago economy for you over the weekend," one person tweeted back.

In an interview with ABC 7, Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) said he understood Reilly's irritation. Waguespack said it was hard for residents in his ward to wake up Sunday morning to the St. Paddy's Day aftermath.

"The violent activity, the broken bottles, the garbage, the puke, the everything that is littering the streets — I can imagine his frustration because the next morning, he is the one who is taking all the phone calls," Waguespack told ABC 7.

Chicago police only reported four arrests on St. Patrick's Day and overnight, however said there were many minor issues they had to deal with.

Chicago police Supt. Eddie Johnson said he doesn't place blame on suburbanites — he said local Chicagoans also played their part.

Photo by Amber Fisher