Subsitute ordinance addressing Chicago’s teen curfew approved by city committee

CHICAGO (WGN)—The Chicago City Council again debated a controversial curfew ordinance to curb teen takeovers at popular downtown spots.

The ordinance gained enough support to clear the city’s Public Safety Committee on Tuesday and could go up for a full vote as early as Wednesday.

The controversial measure passed on Tuesday, May 20, following a 10-to-7 vote. Many alders and community groups expressed deep concern that the proposed ordinance, if passed, would unfairly impact mostly Black and brown kids.

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Others argue, however, that the implementation will help prevent dangerous situations from happening.  

Chicago Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) and others on the Public Safety Committee say defusing large, potentially dangerous, and unpermitted teen gatherings in the city is necessary.

“This was driven from the very beginning by the Chicago Police Department,” Hopkins said.

“It has to be the superintendent in consultation with the deputy mayor who has determined there’s probable cause,” added 39th Ward Ald. Samantha Nugent.

Supporters of the ordinance say they want to avoid a potentially dangerous or deadly “teen takeover” trend. 

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Chicago Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd Ward) is sponsoring the substitute ordinance. Dowell and others point to the ordinance’s mandated consultation between the Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling and the deputy mayor for public safety, with checks and balances for the council to oversee things. 

“That is what a superintendent is supposed to do,” Dowell said. “He runs the police department.”

“We’ll have quarterly data provided to this committee on how it’s implemented and how it’s working, along with an annual meeting where we take a deeper dive,” Hopkins added.

Ald. Jason C. Ervin (28th Ward) and many others on Chicago’s City Council say they deeply oppose the proposed measure, however.

“I cannot support this ordinance as it stands today,” he said. “This gives the police department total discretion as to when and how this will be administered.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also commented on the debate, saying, “I do not support lowering the curfew because there’s no evidence that lowering curfews prevents violence from happening.”