City Council faces curfew vote amid mixed signals from CPD and mayor
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Mayor Brandon Johnson at a Tuesday press conference. Screenshot: Courtesy of City of Chicago livestream
Wednesday's expected City Council vote on expanding police curfew powers could place Mayor Brandon Johnson and his police superintendent, Larry Snelling, on opposite sides of a hot debate.
The big picture: For months, it appeared Johnson and curfew proponents were inching closer to a compromise, but on Tuesday the mayor blasted the proposal as "sloppy" and "lazy."
Minutes later, the proposal's chief sponsor, Ald. Brian Hopkins, told Axios that Snelling "unequivocally supports" the measure and was currently urging alders to vote for it.
Catch up quick: Hopkins first floated enhanced curfews in March in response to a shooting near the AMC Theatres in Streeterville after a teen gathering.
- Since then, the downtown alder has tweaked the proposal and gathered up to 30 cosigners, more than enough to pass.
Yes, but: Each time the measure seemed ready for a vote, it faced another delay.
What they're saying: "I think it's lazy governance," Johnson said at a Tuesday press conference, where he grew frustrated with questions on the topic and suggested people should, instead, ask how he's been able to drive down crime.
- Johnson further claimed that Snelling is "in alignment" with his opposition to the curfew proposal.
The other side: Hopkins disagreed. He said Snelling recently called him to make it clear that he's "100% in support of the ordinance as is."
Reality check: CPD officials did not make Snelling available for comment but referred to testimony last week when the superintendent said he opposed "snap curfews" but supported tools that could prevent gatherings "in advance, when we know that there's the possibility [it will] lead to violence."
Zoom in: The current proposal would allow Snelling, in consultation with deputy mayor of community safety Garien Gatewood, to organize preventative curfew plans days in advance using multiple notification channels.
- Exceptions would be made for youth going to jobs, ticketed events and protests, Hopkins said.
What's next: Hopkins says he fully expects a Wednesday vote, but high expectations for curfew votes have been dashed before.