Chicago curfew ordinance approved by city council committee to address teen takeover incidents

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago City Council committee gave the green light on Tuesday to a contentious ordinance allowing officials to enforce immediate curfews known as “snap curfews.”

The proposed ordinance grants authority to the Chicago police superintendent and deputy mayor to impose a curfew immediately in case of deemed “unruly” youth gatherings.

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“This measure provides the Chicago police with an additional strategy to prevent these large, violent youth gatherings. In case preventive measures fail, they will have the power to disperse the crowd,” explained 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins.

This has been a sensitive topic for many city leaders, including some who have advocated for focusing on youth-center programs as a means to cut down on violence.

But Hopkins, who led the charge on the controversial proposed curfew ordinance, says “snap curfews” would be in addition to supporting youth programs.

“We have to support our youth. We have to give them alternatives. We have to give them recreation. But when laws are being broken, we have to enforce the law. It’s not either/or; it’s both/and,” Hopkins said.

In a 10-7 vote Tuesday, the curfew ordinance passed the council’s Committee on Public Safety, putting the city one step closer to being able to implement “snap curfews.”

But it did not pass without debate.

“We have to think about the safety of all people in the city and start putting aside, maybe, feelings and start putting at the forefront, public safety,” said 45th Ward Ald. Jim Gardiner.

“I truly believe that we need to double down on the investment on prevention. I do believe that it works. I don’t believe a snap curfew will,” said 26th Ward Ald. Jessie Fuentes.

The proposed ordinance is in direct response to the increase of violent large teen gatherings in the downtown area.

READ MORE | Chicago police use new tactics in Streeterville to prevent violence during ‘teen takeovers’

Most recently, a tourist and a teenager were shot in two separate incidents in Streeterville following recent teen takeovers in the neighborhood.

Now, the ordinance will move forward to a full city council vote.

Chicago’s mayor, however, questions the constitutionality of the ordinance.

Earlier Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson invited youth leaders to showcase their work in supporting community safety and safe summer activities.

“Maybe, we create programs and give them jobs, so we can send peacekeepers to those events to keep the violence down, and stuff like that. So, I just really feel like we should focus more on giving them things to do in the summertime, and stuff like that, to keep them busy, so where they don’t have to feel like they have to plan team takeovers to have fun,” said GoodKids MadCity Youth Peacekeeper James Robinson.

The ordinance will move forward to a full city council vote on Wednesday.

Hopkins says, if passed, it would be implemented in time for the summer months.