Latest news with #BrianHopkins
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chicago alderman pledges to fight Mayor Brandon Johnson's vowed curfew veto, won't ‘twist arms'
CHICAGO — As Mayor Brandon Johnson promises to veto the teen curfew ordinance passed by aldermen, the measure's lead sponsor says he will keep fighting to make it law. Alderman Brian Hopkins, 2nd, won out over Johnson in the City Council on Wednesday when his plan to give Chicago's police superintendent power to declare teen curfews anytime, anywhere passed in a 27-22 vote. But his victory could be fleeting. Johnson quickly pledged to cast a rare mayoral veto, the city's first since 2006. The planned move means Hopkins must garner votes from 34 aldermen to overrule the mayor, a high bar that would require him to flip as many as seven council members. Still, Hopkins said Thursday morning he will move ahead in July with a City Council vote on Johnson's anticipated veto. He plans to keep making the case for his ordinance but added that he will not be heavy-handed. 'I'm going to keep pushing back on the deceptive spin, but I'm not going to call my colleagues and twist arms. Everyone is going to vote their conscience on this,' the downtown alderman said. The Wednesday vote and veto pledge marked decisive steps in Hopkins' two-year push to give police more power to curb the so-called 'teen takeover' youth gatherings that have sometimes ended in high-profile violence, including two Streeterville shootings in Hopkins' ward in recent months. Youth activists and civil rights groups have criticized the curfew measure as an unfair and unconstitutional crackdown that especially harms Black and Latino teens from poor neighborhoods that offer little safe fun. They also argue that those same teens have been left out of the debate and that aldermen should instead invest money in youth jobs, violence prevention and safe activities. 'Our children are gathering to escape the violence in their neighborhoods, the trouble at home and other conditions that they have no control over,' said Abierre Minor, a 25-year-old appointed by Johnson last year to the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. Minor recalled speaking after the vote with her 15-year-old sister, who argued media coverage of 'teen takeovers' has been sensationalized and that all people should have the right to gather as they see fit. The police oversight commissioner said she was 'disheartened' by the City Council majority's decision, but praised Johnson's 'swift and strong' response. 'Every year, our decision-makers propose repressive, ineffective policies to address community violence that does nothing but cause confusion and community harm,' Minor said. 'This year, something different happened. We had a leader who decided to break the cycle.' The Cook County public defender's office and progressive groups have also backed Johnson's stance. Just after the measure passed, Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates urged the mayor, formerly a CTU organizer, to veto it, likening the curfew ordinance to Jim Crow segregation laws. 'The people of Streeterville don't need the police to keep Black youth out of their neighborhood. The people of Chicago need policies and programs that serve and center Black youth,' Davis Gates wrote. Johnson's administration is currently drafting language and plans to officially veto the measure soon. The mayor had long shared tentative criticism of the potential curfew, but ramped up his opposition to the proposal this week. He argued after pledging a veto that the curfew ordinance would harm 'trust within communities' as the city's violent crime rates sharply drop, and compared the measure to crime laws 'that have overwhelmingly led to the criminalization and the incarceration of poor people and particularly people of color.' 'Offering up extended police power, without any check or balance, has not boded well for Black people and brown people in this country,' he said. Hopkins argued Thursday the 'snap curfew' label Johnson and others have used to describe the measure is a misnomer. The measure requires police to give 30 minutes notice onsite before a curfew is implemented. It also requires the superintendent to consult others to declare a curfew, but gives the top cop final say. Superintendent Larry Snelling said in court last week he would not use any power allowing him to declare sudden curfews, but suggested he could use the ordinance to declare preemptive curfews days in advance when police learn of planned, potentially chaotic gatherings. He has carefully distanced himself from the political debate in statements. Johnson has argued he and Snelling are aligned on the matter, but said future superintendents should not have the technical ability to quickly declare curfews with little or no oversight. A final vote ought to move forward in July, without legislative trickery from either side, Hopkins said. 'That'll put the matter to bed, and I'd rather do that briefly than have it degrade into a parliamentary mud fight,' he said. 'I think at this point I am done having persuasive conversations with my colleagues.' Much could happen before a mid-July vote that might pressure aldermen to change sides, he added. He cited, as he did during City Council floor debate Wednesday, reports of a large and chaotic teen gathering at North Avenue Beach earlier this week. Police said they arrested five teens at the beach Tuesday, including three minors, for misdemeanors and citations including battery, resisting arrest and possessing alcohol. ____
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Chicago City Council committee to resume debate of controversial "snap curfew" ordinance
A Chicago City Council committee may vote Tuesday on a highly-debated proposal to allow police officials to impose temporary curfews anywhere in the city on as little as 30 minutes' notice in an effort to curb teen takeovers. Tuesday's meeting comes after the Public Safety Committee last month delayed a planned vote on the proposal backed by the panel's chairman, Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), following several hours of intense debate. The ordinance would allow Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling, with the consent of Mayor Brandon Johnson's deputy mayor for community safety, to activate "snap curfews" anywhere in the city with at least 30 minutes' notice in order to curb teen takeovers. The goal would be to impose targeted curfews in specific areas when mass gatherings are expected or underway, and there is reason to believe they could result in criminal activity or otherwise pose a risk to public safety. Civil rights lawyers and other opponents of the measure have warned that the proposal is unconstitutional because the reasons for imposing targeted curfews are too vague, and the measure would invite costly lawsuits. Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) argued such targeted curfews "could potentially lead to profiling and lead to limitations of people just exercising their freedoms of speech." Hopkins and the ordinance's supporters disagree, but co-sponsors Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) and Jason Ervin (28th) – who chair the influential Finance Committee and Budget Committee, respectively – said last month that they wanted to give more time for critics of the measure to review the latest version of the ordinance before any vote. Hopkins agreed to put off a vote on his proposal last month in hopes of bringing alders back to hear from groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights advocates before voting on the ordinance in May. If the committee passes the ordinance on Tuesday, it would still have to go to the full council to be approved. Mayor Brandon Johnson has repeatedly said he is concerned about the constitutionality of Hopkins' proposal. "If the City Council moves forward with an ordinance that gives my administration and the Police Department the ability to implement a curfew, look, I'm not going to sit here and say that I'm not concerned about the constitutionality around it," Johnson said on Tuesday. The mayor said he wants to do more than simply prevent large teen gatherings from turning violent, "but that we're working together collectively to provide safe spaces for people to have an experience in Chicago that they should be able to enjoy. It's their right." "If we don't give young people real activity, if we don't help them find their purpose, we're just going to find ourselves in a tailspin. This is about not just prevention, but this is also about the investments, and that's why I'm very much focused on giving youth voices' power, but also that we're responding with resources as well," he said.
Business Wire
12-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
The Veterinary Cooperative (TVC) Announces New Partnership with Norbrook to Bring Felanorm™ to Independent Veterinary Practices
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Veterinary Cooperative (TVC), the largest group purchasing organization supporting independent veterinary practices, is excited to announce a new partnership with Norbrook Animal Health. This collaboration focuses on Felanorm™, Norbrook's innovative solution designed to support hyperthyroidism in cats. Felanorm™ is a game-changing product developed to help manage feline hyperthyroidism. It is easy to administer with a honey-flavored liquid formula allowing for more accurate dose titration. 'We are thrilled to partner with Norbrook to bring Felanorm™ to our members,' said Kim London, Director of Strategic Partnerships at TVC. 'Hyperthyroidism is a widespread condition that affects many cats, and Felanorm™ provides a trusted solution to help manage it effectively. This partnership continues our commitment to bringing high-quality, impactful products to the independent veterinary community.' 'Norbrook and TVC have established a new partnership to enhance support of independent veterinarians with differentiated and novel solutions like Felanorm™,' said Brian Hopkins, VP of North America Sales and Marketing. 'We're excited to work alongside a group that shares our commitment to accessible innovation and better patient outcomes.' About The Veterinary Cooperative (TVC) The Veterinary Cooperative (TVC) is the largest veterinary GPO, serving nearly 4,000 member locations across the United States. TVC is a member-owned organization dedicated to supporting independent veterinary practices. By leveraging the collective buying power and expertise of its members, TVC helps clinics reduce costs, access innovative resources, and strengthen their business operations. Focused on education, and community engagement, TVC empowers its members to thrive while maintaining their independence and values. For more information, visit About Norbrook Animal Health Norbrook® is a global leader in veterinary pharmaceuticals, committed to providing high-quality, affordable solutions for animal health. With a strong portfolio of products for both companion animals and livestock, Norbrook supports veterinarians with products to enhance patient care and practice success. For more information, visit
Chicago Tribune
25-04-2025
- Chicago Tribune
David Greising: The flaws in Chicago's throw-everything-at-it approach to crime
Nearly a month after a 14-year-old allegedly shot a 15-year-old during a 'teen takeover' in Streeterville, Chicago police last weekend were determined not to let the teens take over Streeterville again. They deployed tactics both analog and digital. The digital approach involved 'geo-fencing' the neighborhood, east of Michigan Avenue and just north of the Chicago River, so no ride-share services would pick up or drop off in the targeted zone. One analog tactic involved erecting crowd-control fencing overnight Thursday that was removed Friday morning — well before the expected teen takeover could even take place. Chicago police still have not explained the mystery behind the up-and-down barricades. Police working in groups patrolled Streeterville by foot. Officers also roamed the neighborhood in cars and transport vehicles. The visible and invisible defense measures evidently had their intended effect: A measure of peace reigned for the weekend — though the intense presence of police unsettled some residents. Point made by the Chicago Police Department: An all-hands-on-deck response evidently can inoculate one neighborhood, for one weekend. There was even no need for an earlier curfew, an idea pushed by Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd. Even so, such a response could not be sustainable over time, much less scalable to cover neighborhoods citywide. The Streeterville case study was on my mind this week as I read a new book by Jens Ludwig, co-founder of the University of Chicago Crime Lab. 'Unforgiving Places,' which the Tribune excerpted two Sundays ago in the opinion section, is a primer on the roots of handgun violence in Chicago and other cities — as well as the mixed results from tactics intended to help address the urban bloodletting. Shootings are down in Chicago from their recent peak in 2021 — as reported by the Chicago Police Department, the 102 homicides this year through April 13 are down nearly 40% from 2021, and nonfatal shootings are down nearly 55%. Violent crime is down nationally since 2021. And Chicago's decline also coincides with a laudable citywide response to a surge that peaked that year: more than $200 million committed by the city, state and private sector to violence-intervention measures; an anti-violence strategy developed by police Superintendent Larry Snelling; and block-by-block activity by crime interrupters, neighborhood watch groups and others who bravely wrestle with the problem in the streets. Ambitious as all those measures are, though, the fact remains that Chicago still suffers from a far higher rate of violent crime per capita than either New York or Los Angeles — two urban centers with challenges not unlike Chicago's. In a sense, the chaotically choreographed show of force in Streeterville last weekend might serve as a metaphor for the state of the current response to Chicago's crime wave. There is a certain throw-everything-at-it aspect to the efforts to curb violent crime. Each measure is laudable, but they can lack coordination, are not always driven by reliable data and need to be undertaken more strategically than have been managed to date. At the heart of the challenge, as described by Ludwig, is the nature of violent crime itself. Common explanations for the causes of handgun violence — from 'super predators' and gang turf wars to retribution for past violence — all play some role. But those pathologies do not begin to explain the root causes of the problem. Getting to the causes starts with understanding how human nature factors in. The preponderance of shootings, Ludwig finds, result from impetuous, unplanned, almost reflexive responses by young people, mostly men, to the hostile environments they live in. In those unforgiving places, a single misstep can lead to violence and death. Especially in neighborhoods where young people commonly carry guns, a cross look from a stranger, a grudge carried into a street party or a challenge to a young person's pride can lead to what Ludwig and some social scientists have identified as the 10 minutes of a person's life that can lead to death for the victim — and a life-altering prison term for the assailant. A variety of crime-reduction tactics have worked, and nearly as many rational-sounding approaches have failed. Zero-tolerance policing often backfires, Ludwig writes. But the 'pocket parks' some cities use to replace vacant lots almost always reduce crime, data shows. To make his assessments, Ludwig uses behavioral economics, a field of study that seeks to determine the psychological reasons people make irrational decisions. He points out areas in which behavioral economics conflict with commonsense assumptions about crime: Police activity aimed at preventing violence is more effective than making arrests after a shooting; data does not establish a direct correlation between job creation and violence reduction; letters of apology and other restorative justice tactics effectively prevent subsequent violent acts. Perhaps Ludwig's most telling finding is his comparison of adjacent South Side neighborhoods separated by Dorchester Avenue — Greater Grand Crossing to the west, with one of the highest homicide rates in the city, and South Shore to the east, where the rate of violent crime is about half as high. The people living in the two neighborhoods have much in common. Household incomes are virtually identical, for example. The big difference: The concentration of housing and businesses in South Shore is higher than in Grand Crossing. There are more eyes on the street, more human activity, which creates social cues that prompt people to restrain impulses that lead to violent crime. Ludwig offers no magic wand to cure Chicago's violent crime problems. But his book makes clear that human connection, human interaction and the development of a sense of community could be among the most successful antidotes — and a good place to start. David Greising is president and CEO of the Better Government Association.
CBS News
18-04-2025
- CBS News
Ogden Plaza in Chicago's Streeterville section fenced off in case of teen takeover
Fencing has been installed at Ogden Plaza in Chicago's Streeeterville section to help deter potential teen takeovers. Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) said the fencing is precautionary, and will only be up through the weekend. Ogden Plaza is a multi-level concrete space with trees and benches, and features the large outdoor sculpture "Floor Clock II" by artist Vito Acconci. The plaza is bounded by Illinois Street on the north, North Water Street on the south, Park Drive on the east, and Columbus Drive on the west. The NBC Tower faces the plaza across Columbus Drive, while the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk and Loews Chicago hotels face the plaza across North Water Street and Park Drive, respectively. Hopkins said Ogden Plaza is a popular spot where teens gather, and the goal is to keep them from spilling out into the streets and traffic. Just last month, two teen takeover events led to shootings with injuries in Streeterville. On March 9, a 46-year-old woman and her son were caught up in a teen takeover near the AMC River East movie theater when the woman, a tourist, was shot in the arm. On March 28, a 15-year-old boy suffered a gunshot graze wound to the leg during a teen takeover in the same area, near Columbus Drive and Illinois Street. A 14-year-old boy has since been charged with shooting the 15-year-old. In an effort to curb teen takeovers, Hopkins this week had planned to force a vote Wednesday on a proposal to move the curfew for teens in the downtown area from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m. — despite opposition from Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has objected to a separate curfew for downtown from the rest of the city. Instead, before Wednesday's meeting, Hopkins informed his City Council colleagues that he might have found a workable middle ground with the mayor and the Chicago Police Department. Details need to be worked out on the potential compromise before a possible vote next month, but the deal would allow Police Supt. Larry Snelling or individual district commanders to activate earlier curfews in real time as situations change. Todd Feurer contributed to this report.
