Mayor Johnson speaks out on ‘snap’ curfew veto

The city council vote on Wednesday was 27-22. Thirty-four votes are needed to override a veto.

Earlier story:

A ‘snap’ curfew policy for Chicago is back up for contention with some city council members attempting to override the mayor’s veto of the ordinance.

Mayor Brandon Johnson held a press conference Wednesday ahead of the city council meeting to explain why he’s against the ordinance.

Johnson is standing firm on his decision to veto a controversial ‘snap’ curfew ordinance.

Last month, the Chicago City Council passed the proposal 27-22, not enough to override a veto.

During the press conference, Johnson said this ordinance does not help get results. Instead, investing in children is the solution.

“Today we are doing the right thing. We are deciding to focus on investing in people. There is no study that we have seen, or frankly anyone in Chicago has seen, that says these types of measures and curfews will keep young people safe. And in fact, if we were to enact such a thing, we would leave ourselves vulnerble to potential and costly lawsuits that do nothing to make our city safer,” said Mayor Johnson.

The ‘snap’ curfew will have given CPD Supt. Larry Snelling the power to impose a curfew anywhere in the city within a 30 minute notice if a large gathering poses a safety risk.

Earlier this year, Alderman Brian Hopkins spearheaded this ordinance as a response to so-called teen takeovers downtown.

If a minor violates the ordinance, they would be taken into custody until a parent or legal guardian can pick them. 

Johnson said the ordinance is counterproductive to the progress of reducing crime and violence in Chicago. Johnson also mentioned that they are hiring 29,000 children for summer jobs

That is a 45 percent increase since Johnson took office.

In a letter to City Council, Johnson wrote, in part:

“At a time when violent crime continues to trend down across the City of Chicago, it is critical that we continue our investments in community safety strategies that have a proven track record of success. In two short years, we have seen measurable, sustained decline in crime and violence in our city.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson

Hopkins was fired up ahead of Wednesday’s city council meeting.

“Superintendent sat at that meeting with me and asked for this! He asked for this ordinance to be passed and the mayor just denied that. This is unconscionable and the City of Chicago needs to know that the next violent teen takover when the blood sheds, it’s on them. I’m done,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins said some aldermen have changed their vote on both sides.