Chicago City Council takes radical step to fight against ‘teen takeovers'
A last-minute curfew designed to keep 'teen takeovers' at bay has been passed in Chicago , but it's expected to be vetoed by the city's mayor.
The city council measure passed 27 to 22 on Wednesday, according to ABC7. Mayor Brandon Johnson called the ordinance a 'politicized knee-jerk reaction.' It's unclear if council members have the necessary numbers to override a veto.
"Offering up police power, extended police power without any check or balance has not bode well for Black people and brown people in this country," said Johnson.
If enacted, the measure would give Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling the ability to implement a last-minute curfew to disperse teenage gatherings across the city. Snelling would also need to consult with the Chicago deputy mayor of public safety before issuing a curfew.
Police would be able to enforce the restriction for gatherings of 20 people or more starting 30 minutes after a curfew is issued.
"I have a 17-year-old daughter that I have restricted, 'Do not go downtown.' She's not going downtown because it's safe. She can't go because it's unsafe," Alderwoman Monique Scott said, according to the outlet.
Ahead of Wednesday's debate, demonstrators protested outside City Hall. Many young people said they were concerned the ordinance would unintentionally target them. Others said such a measure is unconstitutional and could result in the criminalization of teenagers and young children.
"We say no to the snap curfew because again it defunds our youth, criminalizes our youth and destroys our narrative and perception of this city," said Commissioner for Public Safety and Accountability Abierre Minor.
Brian Hopkins, Public Safety Committee chairman, told the outlet, the intent behind the ordinance was to keep everyone safe during the summer months.
"The intent of this ordinance is to prevent teen trends. How long does it take to prevent a teen trend? However long it takes, the more opportunity we have to prevent it, the better off it is, and that's what the superintendent is going to do," he said.
"This will be used in a constitutional and effective manner, and all the notice requirements that are in the ordinance will be adhered to... No one here thinks it's perfectly acceptable for large groups of teenagers, some as young as 12, to gather anywhere in the city, downtown or anywhere, and get out of control and to take guns out of their backpacks and to engage in violent behavior and mayhem and chaos."
Local governments are dealing with similar issues in other parts of the country. Last month, officials in Charleston, South Carolina, entertained the idea of implementing a curfew to lower violent incidents downtown.
This week in Washington, D.C., officials considered a 7 p.m. curfew for teenagers in certain parts of the city. Emergency legislation would need to pass the council to take effect.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
U.S. Soccer Star Dishes On 'Weird' Oval Office Moment With Donald Trump
U.S. Men's National Soccer Team star Timothy Weah has opened up about what he described as the 'weird' experience of standing behind Donald Trump in the Oval Office while the president fielded questions on the Iran-Israel war and attacked the idea of transgender women competing in women's sports. Weah was at the White House with his Juventus teammates on Wednesday as part of a promotional event for the FIFA Club World Cup, ahead of the Italian side's 5-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates' Al-Ain FC. Advertisement Trump invited questions from reporters about the game and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the U.S. will host alongside Mexico and Canada. But the Juventus players stood uncomfortably behind POTUS as he instead answered queries about the more pressing political questions of the day. Weah, the son of former Liberian soccer star-turned-former president George Weah, later told reporters that the players had been made to attend the event. 'They told us that we have to go and I had no choice but to go,' he explained, reported The Athletic. 'I was caught by surprise, honestly. It was a bit weird,' he added. 'When he started talking about the politics with Iran and everything, it's kind of like, I just want to play football, man.' Related...
Forbes
13 minutes ago
- Forbes
Trump Can Retain Control Of National Guard In LA, Appeals Court Rules
A federal appeals court on Thursday night ruled that the California National Guard troops—deployed in Los Angeles last week amid protests against the federal government's crackdown on immigrants—can remain under President Donald Trump's control while the state's legal challenge against the deployment moves forward. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that on matters such as federalizing the California National Guard, any decision must be 'highly deferential' towards the president, and the court concluded that ' it is likely that the President lawfully exercised his statutory authority.' However, the ruling disagreed with the White House's primary argument that such a matter 'is completely insulated from judicial review.' The appellate court ruling blocks an already paused ruling issued by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer that ordered the president to 'return control of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith.' The ruling only focused on the issue of presidential authority and did not address the claim made in Trump's order that the protests amounted to a 'form of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.' California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement saying, 'While it is disappointing that our temporary restraining order has been stayed pending the federal government's appeal, this case is far from over…our state and local law enforcement officers responded effectively to isolated episodes of violence at otherwise peaceful protests and the President deliberately sought to create the very chaos and crises he claimed to be addressing.' Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on X: 'The court rightly rejected Trump's claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court. The President is not a king and is not above the law. We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump's authoritarian use of U.S. military soldiers against citizens.' In a post on his Truth Social platform, the president hailed the ruling as a 'BIG WIN,' and attacked the California Governor, saying: 'The Judges obviously realized that Gavin Newscum is incompetent and ill prepared.' Trump then signaled he could deploy forces to tackle protests in other states, saying: 'this is much bigger than Gavin, because all over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done.' The appeals court ruling noted that precedent from earlier rulings cited by the Trump administration, 'does not compel us to accept the federal government's position that the President could federalize the National Guard based on no evidence whatsoever, and that courts would be unable to review a decision that was obviously absurd or made in bad faith.' Trump Keeps Control Of National Guard In Los Angeles After Appeals Court Pauses Ruling (Forbes)
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hank Winchester, WDIV reporter, placed on leave amid police investigation
WDIV-TV (Channel 4) placed Hank Winchester on leave amid an investigation involving the consumer investigative reporter. "We here at Local 4 have been made aware of an external investigation regarding Hank Winchester. As of this time, he has been placed on administrative leave. While the investigation is ongoing — we won't make any further comments," wrote WDIV Vice President and General Manager Bob Ellis in a statement June 18. Stephen Huber, public information officer for the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, said that the sheriff's office provided assistance in executing a search warrant June 13 at Winchester's Beverly Hills home. Huber deferred questions about the investigation to Beverly Hills police. "This is their case," Huber said. Beverly Hills Deputy Police Chief Lee Davis did not immediately respond to a voice message left by the Detroit Free Press. Winchester's attorney, Todd Flood, said Winchester is not taking any interviews, but provided a June 18 statement, saying: "Hank has spent decades bringing truth to our community and fighting for our citizens. Because he holds a high-profile position in our community, that can at times generate false accusations. This investigation will end where it began — nowhere." Winchester began working at WDIV in 2001, according to his biography on the station's website. Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@ or 313-296-5743. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: WDIV's Hank Winchester placed on leave amid investigation
