Outgoing Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot finally acknowledged the city’s rising crime during her speech on Friday.
Speaking at the African American Mayors Association Conference in Washington, D.C., Lightfoot called on her fellow Democratic mayors to “speak the truth” on violent crime.
Too little, too late, or both? Outgoing Mayor Lightfoot explains why Chicago crime is so darn high. #thatreporter pic.twitter.com/745Y5Bh6IP
— Reporter William J. Kelly #thatreporter (@Williamjkelly) April 21, 2023
“As Democrats, if we do not speak the truth about violent crime in our cities, we will be the worse for it. I come to this conversation as a former federal prosecutor,” she said. “I come to this as a former defense attorney, I am the sister of a returning resident. But I know that there are people in my city that are wreaking havoc every day and need to be off the streets. That’s reality.
“What do we say to, not only the victims of crime, but the people who are terrified about crimes in their neighborhood, most of whom look like us,” she continued. “If we say, ‘yeah, the police department is spending all this time and resources to arrest, put a case on,’ and the judges and the prosecutors say, ‘you know what? We’re going to let you out on electronic monitoring to wreak havoc again.”
This comes as crime rates in Chicago have skyrocketed by 61 percent in the first three weeks of 2023 compared to the previous year, according to data from the Chicago Police Department. Authorities received 4,844 crime reports, up from 3,013 in the same period last year.
Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson warned against vilifying the youth while denouncing the chaotic “Teen Takeover” of the Loop over the weekend.
On Saturday night, two male teenagers, ages 16 and 17, were shot while standing in a mob while hundreds of young people smashed cars, obstructed traffic, and brawled in the streets. According to Fox News, both patients were taken to a hospital and listed in fair condition.
“In no way do I condone the destructive activity we saw in the Loop and lakefront this weekend. It is unacceptable and has no place in our city. However, it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities,” Johnson said in a statement on Sunday.
“Our city must work together to create spaces for youth to gather safely and responsibly, under adult guidance and supervision, to ensure that every part of our city remains welcome for both residents and visitors,” he added.
