Statistics show increase in crime during Brandon Johnson's first 90 days
Send a link to a friend
[August 18, 2023]
By Andrew Hensel | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said his work in
public safety has been tremendous so far, but figures show an increase
in crime through his first 90 days in office compared to previous
administrations.
Johnson assumed office on May 15 of this year. Through his first 90 days
in office, numbers show 38 more people have been shot and killed, 41
more murders, and motor vehicle theft has increased by 4,341 thefts
compared to Lori Lightfoot's first 90 days in office.
According to Wirepoints data, major crimes committed in the city through
July is 34% higher than in 2022, which in turn was 33% higher than in
2021.
Johnson recently described his approach to crime as being tremendous.
"Some of the trends that we are witnessing, the number of trends that we
have intercepted over the course of these first 12 weeks, has been
tremendous," Johnson said. "That's because there has been a real
strategic effort on the part of my administration to coordinate with
civic leaders, community-based organizations, again with city
departments. We are seeing some of the fruit of that labor."
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Aug/18/images/ads/current/topflight_sda_FAIR_2023.png)
Ted Dabrowski of Wirepoints told The Center Square that robberies were
up 49% in Chicago last month compared to the same period a year ago. He
said many in Chicago are testing Johnson's response and taking advantage
of a lack of control.
"I don't see him doing anything to tamp down on that crime to protect
ordinary residents in Chicago. I do not see it," Dabrowski said. "He
talks about root causes, but that could take years if not decades. What
you are seeing is some new attempts at things like robberies; you have
almost 400 new robberies in the last 30 days."
In early July, a group committed 62 armed robberies across the city. The
armed robberies have taken place downtown and on the North, Northwest,
and West sides.
[to top of second column]
|
![](../images/081823PIX/news_e9.jpg)
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
ChicagoMayorsOffice Facebook
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Aug/18/images/ads/current/zachs_quarter_FAIR_2023.png)
Johnson has also protected large youth gatherings and pushed back on
them being called anything negative and has often referred to the
gatherings as "silly decisions."
"You all know I've been a public school teacher, and sometimes you have
a number of students who want to find spaces where they can cut up,"
Johnson said. "You have to Google that. It's like Black terminology for
doing things potentially harmful to someone else or themselves."
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 president John Catanzara said this is
who Johnson is and that crime will continue to increase under his
leadership.
"You're proving yourself to be exactly who we were afraid you were going
to be," Catanzara said of Johnson. "You are taking CTU lead and making
excuses for bad behavior like they have done for many years now in the
school system, not giving quality education, doctoring kids, and making
them victims where they think they are entitled to behave any way they
want."
Dabrowski said Johnson has failed as a leader.
"In 90 days, I think it is hard for a mayor to actually have results, so
what we are looking for from the mayor is leadership and action as to
what he is going to do," Dabrowski said. "If you grade him on that, it
is really hard to see anything."
According to the numbers, every one of the six major crimes is up in
Johnson's first 90 days. Robberies are up 18%, aggravated battery is up
9% and theft over $500 are up 10%, and car thefts have increased by
113%.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Aug/18/images/ads/current/charrons_bch_2022.png) |