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The
mayor held a news event this week to announce a proposed
infrastructure plan for Chicago Works. She also discussed crime
in the city. Lightfoot urged residents to feel safe in the city
despite some reports of rampant crime.
Lightfoot said crime is down and that residents should not
worry.
"We work hard every single day to make sure people feel safe
because they are safe," Lightfoot said. "That is why year over
year we are down 17% in homicides, 19% in shootings, and we
continue to look for ways in which we can improve."
Lightfoot said some reports of rampant crime in the city are
fabricated.
"Everything that you read on news blogs is not truthful,"
Lightfoot said. "I have seen things on there many times that
have no bearing on reality."
According to Chicago Police statistics, homicides are up 31%
since 2019, shootings are up 34% since 2019, and total crime has
increased by 38% in that period.
On Thursday, Chicago's 4th Ward Alderman Sophia King, who will
be running against Lightfoot in February's primary election,
laid out her plan for reducing crime in the city.
The plan includes hiring over 1,000 retired officers to work
large events, using drones to follow carjacking suspects, and
offering $5,000 signing bonuses for law enforcement.
Chicago mayoral candidate and businessman Willie Wilson has also
discussed a plan to tackle crime. At a campaign fundraiser
earlier this summer, Wilson said his plan includes
re-establishing the CTA's in-house police unit, rehiring retired
cops, and adding more police officers to each patrol vehicle.
City elections include a primary in February with the election
in April of next year.
Andrew Hensel has years of experience as a
reporter and pre-game host for the Joliet Slammers, and as a
producer for the Windy City Bulls. A graduate of Iowa Wesleyan
University and Illinois Media School, Andrew lives in the south
suburbs of Chicago.
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