This Memorial Day weekend will kick off summer for the City of Chicago, and Brandon Johnson has a plan to keep all Chicagoans safe.
Grant for Violence Prevention
Brandon Johnson and his interim police superintendent Fred Waller spoke at a press conference on Thursday at 63rd Street Beach with a plan to reduce spikes of violence that often happen around memorial day weekend. Last year’s Memorial Day weekend was the city’s most violent in five years, with nine dead and nearly 40 wounded in various acts of violence.
“My administration’s top priority is making sure that there is a comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy across our city and that it’s making people safe,” said Johnson to the crowd.
This includes a $2.5 million private grant to benefit 250 organizations, which will expand the current Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities program. This comes from the organization’s fund, which is composed of over 50 foundations that wish to invest in reducing gun violence. This aid will go to 24 communities on the South and West sides, including Englewood, Lawndale, Austin, and Little Village, with each organization receiving up to $10,000.
Beach Season Begins
This plan for safety comes at the beginning of Memorial Day weekend and when Chicago’s beaches open up for the summer and Chicago Beach Season begins. The Chicago Police Department plans to have a larger police presence in the city this weekend compared to recent years and plans to have officers conducting bag checks and safety inspections throughout the public parks and beaches in the city. Waller also announced that they will be canceling a day off for officers to make sure that all neighborhoods have the proper police force necessary to handle events, not just the tourist attractions downtown.
This comes as Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that the state is sending a team of peacekeepers into neighborhoods throughout the city. These peacekeepers will be there for violence prevention and intervention, and while they will be in contact with police officials will not be in constant communication.
Memorial Day weekend last year, the former mayor Lori Lightfoot placed a citywide 10 pm curfew, which considering the sheer number of Chicagoans injured or killed, didn’t do much to stop the violence.
Shooting at North Ave. Beach Friday
This announcement for safety on beaches came hours before a shooting at North Avenue beach, which took place on Friday at 2 p.m. Officers responded to reports of active gunfire on the north side beach after a fight between multiple people broke out and currently have one person in custody after closing the beach for the day.
The rise in precautions is not just within city limits, though, Throughout the Chicagoland Area there are many police departments that are heightening safety precautions in the wake of last year’s mass shooting in Highland Park. In places such as Arlington Park, there will be an increase in not only the police presence but event staff. This is so that event-goers and staff alike can feel safer.
Safety in Chicago’s Suburbs
The Arlington Heights police department will even be utilizing a drone. This is so that officers can identify any security or safety threats from an aerial point of view.
Brandon Johnson ran on the campaign promise of evidence-based violence reduction tactics, specifically youth programs and activities around the city and the use of officials trained in violence intervention. This Memorial Day weekend will be the first daunting task for the Johnson Administration mere days after he took office.
Chicago’s Memorial Day parade started with a wreath-laying ceremony on Saturday at Daley Plaza, followed by a parade on State Street from Lake Street to Van Buren Street.
Written by Caroline Buehler
Sources:
NBCChicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson Offers New Chicago Safety Plan for Memorial Day Weekend by Charlie Wojciechowski
NBC Chicago: North Avenue Beach Closed Friday Afternoon After Report of Gunshots by Matt Stefanski
Chicago Tribune: Your Memorial Day parade may look different this year as Chicago-area events put safety first by Olivia Alexander
Block Club Chicago: Violence Prevention Efforts Get $2.5 Million Ahead Of Memorial Day Weekend, Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces by Melody Mercado
Featured image courtesy of Miss_USA_Redneck’s Flickr page – Creative Commons License
Inset image courtesy of SHYCITYNikon‘s Flickr page – Creative Commons License
