Why shouldn't it be done?

Because, since it is not actually possible to do it, it would just shut the city down to focus on the attempt. It would be a black hole absorbing everything else, including all the good things going on there. Not to mention the innnocents that will get shot dead (literally) in the crossfire.

Chicago cannot be cleaned up because it is a linchpin in so many other messes; the system itself, without even meaning to do it awarely, will keep most of the mess in place no matter what octopus-arms are severed. ALso Chi is the "public" face of the messes that, elsewhere, are kept very quiet. It's fine to have a big-ole mess in Chi, these other places figger, because it takes the attention away from a lot of other back yards.

Just not a thing to be done. Much better to focus instead on the great things going on there that deserve ardent support. Best hope with the Chi variety of mess is to balance it as much as possible with positive alternatives to attract the next round of people who would otherwise be attracted into the mess. Oh, free will being what it is, there will always be those who choose the mess; but having options can reduce the total number of saps.

~Susan