Business leaders are touting improved downtown safety in an effort to bring people back to the area this holiday season.

Why it matters: Downtown is still hurting from high office vacancies driven by the pandemic, along with a lingering perception of danger after unrest in 2020.

By the numbers: Chicago's office vacancy rate hit a record 23.7% this fall, Crain's reported, as businesses continue to shed office space and transition employees to remote work.

• Meanwhile, the Magnificent Mile district still packs a big economic punch. Last year it saw $3.8 billion in consumer spending, and it accounts for 17% of all Chicago jobs, according to the Magnificent Mile Association.

Yes, but: A new Harris Poll reported by Crain's found that only about 53% of Cook County respondents said they feel safe downtown.

What's happening: Robust downtown policing, better maintained surveillance cameras, more security guards, and a new type of non-shattering glass for storefronts have helped put the incidents of 2020 "in our rearview mirror," Kimberly Bares, CEO of the Magnificent Mile Association, told WBBM.

• "For some folks, no amount of me or anyone else saying it will convince them. They just have to come down and see it with their own two eyes."

The big picture: Chicago saw the nation's second- and third-highest levels of organized retail theft in 2019 and 2020, but dropped last year to seventh – tied with Sacramento.

What they're saying: Bares credits state legislation and cooperation with retailers often used to resell the stolen goods, in addition to the arrests of Tacarre Harper's crew, linked to hundreds of thousands of dollars in thefts on the Gold Coast.

• "They've been put away for 10-12 years, and when that crew was caught and stopped, we saw the number of those kinds of burglaries drop precipitously," Bares told WBBM.

Reality check: Last month the Louis Vuitton store on Michigan Avenue was robbed by a smash-and-grab crew.

• Year-over-year stats on overall crime in the 18th District, which covers the Mag Mile, remain mixed.

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Even though shoppers flooded local shops and malls this past weekend, a new survey suggests holiday spending in our area will be down this year.

Why it matters: Many small-business owners worry that this holiday season could be "make or break."

Details: Deloitte's new survey of more than 410 people, conducted from Aug. 30 to Sept. 18, suggests Chicagoans will spend $1,600 on average this holiday season, down 6% from last year.

Yes, but: Average holiday shopping is still up from pre-pandemic levels, per the report.

More stats:

• On average, Chicagoans buy nine gifts in the holiday season.
• Chicago consumers will visit only 4.2 brick-and-mortar stores this year, down from 6.1 last year. Visits to department stores are expected to be down 5%.
• Consumers will also spend less time shopping — 5.6 weeks in the holiday window, as opposed to 5.8 weeks in 2022.

The intrigue: It's not just gifts; consumers say they'll spend 16% less on holiday experiences.

Today is Giving Tuesday, when many Americans will donate money or clothes to those in need.

What's happening: Chicago nonprofits have already seen many charitable donations this year, particularly to groups collecting winter clothing for migrants.

• Some local collection programs, including efforts at St. Mary of the Lake in Uptown and Our Lady of Lourdes on Ashland, have become so overwhelmed they've put a pause on donations.

Yes, but: Other organizations could still use more.

• Cradles to Crayons executive director Dawn Melchiorre tells Axios they've delivered more than 20,000 donated coats across the area over the last three weeks, and aim to collect 50,000 total.
• The group is especially in need of new and gently worn coats in baby sizes 0-3 as well as adult sizes small and medium.

For those looking to donate, the group has more than 100 drop-off sites.

What's more: Local real estate agent — and our former WBEZ colleague — Jesse Treviño is hosting his second annual coat drive on Dec. 9 with a goal of collecting 150 coats.

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The downtown campus of Northwestern University was put on lockdown last night after shots were reportedly fired nearby. (CBS 2)

🤧 Ed Burke's corruption trial is being delayed again after another lawyer tested positive for COVID-19. (Tribune)

🚊 The CTA has yet to reopen the Yellow Line after a Nov. 16 crash injured almost 40 people. (Sun-Times)

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Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears did something they haven't done all season, orchestrating a game-winning drive to beat the Vikings in Minnesota 12-10.

What happened: The Bears dominated for most of the game, but gave up a late fourth-quarter touchdown to fall behind 10-9.

Yes, but: Fields led the Bears down the field and kicker Cairo Santos booted a game-winner with seconds to play.

MVP: Fields is the best player on the field, fumbles and all.

• The Bears defense should get all the credit though, holding the Vikings to just 10 points.

LVP: The Bears offensive play-calling strategy was questionable. Fields completed almost half of his passes behind the line of scrimmage.

Five-word review: Bears finally silence the horn.

Hundreds of readers voted in the first round of our quest to crown Chicago's best-ever local TV ad.

Biggest win: Empire Carpet made quick work of Eddie and Jobo's United Auto Insurance ads (94% to 6%).

Closest win: Bob Rohrman roared late to upset the Walter E. Smithe collection (51%-49%).

Most surprising: No love for Scottie Pippen's sub sandwich innuendo? Andriana Furs moves on easily (66%-34%).

The next round is tough. Vote here until 4pm.