Chicago City Council to consider 8 p.m. teen curfew following Streeterville attacks – NBC Chicago

A Chicago alderman is expected to propose an 8 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors in Downtown on Wednesday, a week after a recent incident in Streeterville saw two teenagers charged after allegedly assaulting a 40-year-old man and a 41-year-old pregnant woman walking. downtown.

The proposal is presented by Chicago Ald. Brian Hopkins, who represents the 2nd Ward.

“I have begun working on an 8 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors 17 and under in the Central Business District due to recent violent and random attacks on residents,” Hopkins wrote in a recent newsletter for residents.

The proposal would only apply to the central business district, which includes the Loop, Streeterview, River North and South and West Loop. The current citywide curfew for unaccompanied minors is 10 p.m.

If the proposal were passed by the City Council, Hopkins says Chicago police would be able to arrest teens and ticket those who break curfew.

“I do not believe that all of the miners present at these recent rallies have bad intentions, but it is unfortunately clear that a few agitators and ringleaders have repeatedly incited violent and chaotic actions, and this activity cannot be tolerated,” Hopkins said. A declaration.

While CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling supports the idea, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said he does not support the change.

“The data indicates that establishing … arbitrary curfews does not produce favorable results,” the mayor told the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board Monday.

“For my administration, it’s not just about youth employment. …We need to create safe spaces for [young] people. … The more activity there is in neighborhoods, including downtown, that actually creates safer spaces,” Johnson added.

This change would not mark the first curfew implemented in Chicago.

Last year, authorities implemented curfews, among other measures, on city beaches and Millennium Park following multiple incidents, including so-called “teen takeovers.” .

Although the fate of the curfew remains uncertain, Hopkins said increased patrols will be in place in the Streeterville neighborhood.

The proposal is expected to be formally presented at 10 a.m. at Wednesday's city council meeting.