This year’s increase in gun violence isn’t unique to Chicago. The number of homicides has jumped more than 30 percent midway through the year in Milwaukee, St. Louis and Houston.

Yet, Chicago’s slaughter has been incessant. During the Fourth of July weekend, 62 people were shot, nine fatally. One victim, 7-year-old Amari Brown, was killed by a bullet to his chest. Hundreds attended his funeral.

Chicago officials have been sensitive to the city’s image. Emanuel said he expressed his unhappiness to director Spike Lee about his upcoming movie “Chiraq,” which examines gun violence in the city.

“I was clear that I was not happy with the title,” Emanuel told the Chicago Tribune for an April story.

Emanuel and McCarthy point out that the 2014 murder total of 407 was the lowest since the mid-1960s. They blame the proliferation of guns, citing the police recovery of 3,500 illegal firearms this year.

“As much as I am an advocate for better gun-control laws and getting these guns off the street, that’s not going to dramatically reduce the violence,” said Ira Acree, a West Side pastor and chairman of Leaders Network, a community development organization. “There must be more interest and focus on reviving the economic engine here.”

That revival depends, in part, on Chicago stabilizing its fiscal affairs. While officials reject comparisons to formerly bankrupt Detroit, Rauner is blunt.

“Chicago is in deep, deep yogurt,” he said in April.

Violence continues to weigh down city finances. A 13-month- old was killed earlier this month after a shooting suspect fleeing the police ran him down during a chase in a South Side neighborhood. Last week, his mother said she’s suing the city and police.

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