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Alderman Brian Hopkins’ plan for unaccompanied minors in the
downtown area would have begun curfew at 8 p.m. instead of 10
p.m.
After two recent shootings in her neighborhood, Streeterville
resident Kathy Gregg urged city officials to act.
“We are facing a crisis that cannot wait. Teen takeovers in our
city have escalated into gun violence. People are being shot,
and the safety of our community is rapidly deteriorating,” Gregg
said Wednesday.
Two shootings with injuries were reported in recent weeks as
crowds of teenagers met downtown, blocked streets, jumped on
cars and engaged in altercations. Teens were charged in
connection with both shootings.
Hopkins’ new proposal would allow police commanders to impose
emergency curfews at any hour and at any location in the city.
“It’s not a substitute resolution. It’s actually a replacement
resolution which has been duly submitted to the public safety
committee. A hearing will be held promptly on that, so there’s
no need for a Rule 41 vote today,” Hopkins said Wednesday
afternoon.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said the revised curfew plan was
an improvement and showed the benefit of bringing people
together.
“What’s most important is, as I’ve said from the very beginning,
we cannot just shift the problem into a different neighborhood,
and we have to make sure that we are creating spaces for
accountability and opportunities. It’s a holistic approach, and
this is clearly a step in the right direction as more voices and
stakeholders get to play a part in the development of a
solution,” Johnson said.
The mayor spoke after a meeting of the Chicago City Council on
Wednesday. |
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