Chicago alders fail to override mayor’s veto of ‘snap’ curfew ordinance

CHICAGO (WGN) — On Wednesday, Chicago alders tried and failed to override Mayor Brandon Johnson’s veto of a measure that would have given Chicago Police Department Supt. Larry Snelling power to declare a three-hour curfew anywhere in the city with 30 minutes notice.

Earlier in the day, the mayor held a press conference Wednesday ahead of the city council meeting to explain why he’s against the ordinance, standing firm on his decision to veto it.

“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 vulnerable to potential and costly lawsuits that do nothing to make our city safer,” Johnson said.

Hours before the vote, the mayor slammed the measure as counterproductive.

“The easy thing to do would be to play into the political theater of safety. The easy thing to do would be to tell people if we threaten young people and families with severe reprocessing that that somehow would make us safer, but we know from years of doing the same old tired forms of policy that it doesn’t get the results that people have longed for,” Johnson said.

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) is the sponsor of the ordinance and was furious the motion to override the veto failed. He also said Snelling asked for the power to declare a three-hour curfew in order to fight teen takeovers.

“The next violent teen takeover that happens, when the blood sheds, it’s on them,” Hopkins said. “The mayor says, ‘Well, we’ll invest in them.’ What does that even mean? You have violent mobs of 300 people engaged in fighting and taking over the streets. How do you stop it by investing in them? That’s utter nonsense.”

Earlier this year, 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 up. 

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

Johnson argued the ordinance is counterproductive to the progress of reducing crime and violence in Chicago. He also mentioned that they are hiring 29,000 children for summer jobs, a 45% 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

Local activist groups rallied outside Wednesday’s city council meeting, saying “snap” curfews aren’t the answer, adding that the city should use part of its police budget to invest in alternative public safety initiatives.

“Let’s take the funding and the programming that we know works and double down to make our city a safer place,” Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th Ward) said.

The activist groups are calling for officials to move $200 million toward mental health and anti-violence programs, saying the money could be used for new ambulances and keeping mental health centers open 24/7.

“We don’t need more police. We don’t need more control. What we need is to feel human again. What we need is to feel like our lives matter,” Reynia Jackson of nonprofit GoodKidsMadCity – Englewood added.

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

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

In other city council news, 61-year-old Ald. Walter Burnett (27th Ward) is set to resign his seat at the end of July.

Burnett grew up in the Cabrini-Green housing projects and received a two-year pension sentence for bank robbery before turning his life around and becoming dean of Chicago City Council.

“Thank you for the honor of a young kid who made a mistake, grew up in the projects, made me who I am today,” Burnett said.

The respect Burnett learned was on full display from his fellow council members.

“You’re the one guy on this council that can get along with everybody,” Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38th Ward) said.

“It’s your kindness, Walter. It’s your forgiving spirit. It’s your never giving up spirit. It’s your working hard spirit that I admire most about you,” Ald. Michelle Harris (8th Ward) said.

Burnett said his most memorable work was creating affordable housing requirements. He wants Johnson to name him head of the Chicago Housing Authority and he wants his son, Walter Burnett III, appointed as his successor.

Johnson is considering Burnett for the post, but a final decision has not been made.