CHICAGO (WLS) — A Chicago City Council committee is taking up a curfew compromise for young people downtown.
it comes after a teen and tourist were recently shot in Streeterville.
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At least 31 aldermen are on board with the controversial curfew ordinance.
It would give Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling the ability to suddenly call a curfew in the event of a large teen gathering, but there are now changes from the mayor’s office.
According to the proposed ordinance, both the Chicago police superintendent and the deputy mayor of community safety have to agree that a mass gathering is taking place or likely to take place.
RELATED: Chicago police use new tactics in Streeterville to prevent violence during ‘teen takeovers’
The superintendent then institutes the curfew, which will expire after three hours.
Minors have 30 minutes to clear a public place before the curfew goes into effect. Those violating the curfew, including parents, could be fined $250 and community service.
This all comes after recent teen takeovers in Streeterville, which turned violent. A tourist and teen were shot in separate gatherings.
Not everyone is on board with what’s being discussed, namely Mayor Brandon Johnson and other justice and civil rights groups.
Speaking Wednesday morning in Springfield, Johnson said he still has some concerns about the curfew, even with the changes, while 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins said this is a matter of keeping communities safe.
“Now what’s being proposed, in this instance, there are still concerns that I have about the constitutionality of it and what my ultimate goal is to ensure. and I brought people together to have these conversations .that we prevent these occurrences from happening,” Mayor Johnson said.
“It’s a fair compromise,” Alderman Brian Hopkins said. “It is a reasonable compromise. It has the full support of the police superintendent, his designees are here as well has his attorneys, the lawyers who actually work for the Chicago Police Department and are in charge of making sure that all of the laws of in city of Chicago are enforced in a constitutional manner.”
SEE ALSO: Compromise reached in City Council on curfew amid teen takeovers; vote expected next month
Both the police superintendent and deputy mayor of community safety will also have ‘designees’ in place if one of them is absent and a teen takeover is unfolding, constituting a possible. curfew
These are all issues being discussed right now.
If the ordinance clears Wednesday morning’s public safety meeting, it’ll head to the full City Council next week.
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