CHICAGO () — Several Chicago aldermen are urging police to take a tougher approach to “street takeovers” after a series of incidents unfolded across the city over the holiday weekend, including one that escalated into violence.
By Sunday, circular skid marks scarred the pavement at 47th Street and California Avenue and at 18th and Canal streets, two intersections where large crowds gathered for “street takeovers” late Saturday into early Sunday.
In South Shore, another gathering near Lake Shore Drive and Jeffrey Boulevard included fireworks and a large ring of fire set in the street during the takeover.
“The road rage or whatever you want to call it, I think it’s ridiculous,” one South Side resident said.
Another resident was even more blunt: “My message is stop doing stupid stuff. Grow up.”
The South Shore incident happened in the same neighborhood where 5th Ward Ald. Desmon Yancy lives. He said neighbors have grown tired of seeing the disruptions repeat.
“This isn’t the first time this has happened this summer; we’re hoping it’s the last. But you know, it’s unsafe. It’s noisy. It, you know, leaves damage along the roadway, and it’s just a lot for us to deal with,” Yancy said.
The takeover at 47th Street and California Avenue took place along the edge of Ald. Ray Lopez’s ward. Lopez said the city needs stronger enforcement to discourage people from taking part.
“What you need to do is you need to start impounding cars, taking under 18 crowd to the police station and finding their parents for this activity. That’s what’s going to get people’s attention. The moment the first person loses their car, all of this ends,” Lopez said.
READ MORE | Chicago City Council rejects proposed fine for parents in ‘teen takeover’ accountability ordinance
Lopez said the City Council should pass an ordinance aimed at holding teenagers and their parents accountable for “street takeover” activity.
According to Lopez, the measure has failed twice. He also called on the Chicago Police Department to take a more aggressive approach.
Retired Chicago Police First Deputy Superintendent Anthony Riccio said the department’s current strategy has focused on dispersing participants and reopening intersections.
“I think thus far the policy of the Chicago Police Department has been to just disperse them and get rid of them, clear up the intersection, restore peace and move on,” Riccio said.
Riccio said Chicago police should consider tactics used by the Los Angeles Police Department, which conducted a large enforcement operation over the weekend that resulted in nearly 70 arrests and about 600 citations related to “street takeovers”.
“They had helicopters in the air. They had drones. As people scattered, the drones followed them; so the police knew where they were going,” Riccio said.
While such operations require significant resources, Riccio said a large-scale enforcement effort could send a message to participants. He added that police are often alerted to planned “street takeovers” through social media, allowing operations to be coordinated in advance.
Lopez also questioned the city’s response to the weekend incidents.
“Where’s the salt trucks? Where are the tow trucks. Where were all of that Sunday night? That’s the question. And Brandon Johnson owes us all an answer for that,” Lopez said.
No arrests were made over the weekend.
Police will keep a close watch on “street takeover” activity as Mexican Independence Day celebrations approach.
Parade organizers are scheduled to join Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Police Department’s interim superintendent to discuss safety measures Tuesday morning.
Johnson has not spoken publicly about the “takeovers” as of Monday night.
INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood
