Mayor Johnson has expressed his support for a revised curfew ordinance aimed at preventing teen takeovers from turning violent, but stopped short of ruling out the possibility of vetoing the new proposal.
The revised ordinance, which was pushed through by Public Safety Chair and 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins, gives Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling the authority to declare a four-hour curfew in any part of the city with 12 hours' notice. This is a significant change from last year's snap curfew ordinance, which Mayor Johnson vetoed due to concerns about its constitutionality and potential for abuse.
This time around, Johnson says he has more confidence in the revised proposal, particularly because it includes provisions for holding social media companies accountable for spreading notices of teen gatherings that sometimes turn violent. He believes this approach will help prevent the spread of misinformation that can contribute to these violent events.
However, Johnson emphasized that a curfew is not the only solution to addressing youth violence and that he wants to make it clear that the city's investment in young people should not be limited to just a curfew. He also acknowledged that some residents have raised concerns about how the curfew would be enforced, particularly with regards to detaining or dispersing minors.
Alderman William Hall, who is co-sponsoring the revised ordinance and has been instrumental in changing minds on this issue, said he was moved by the story of 14-year-old Armani Floyd, whose death last year was linked to a violent teen takeover. Hall believes that the new ordinance is a better version than previous proposals and says it is needed to address the root causes of youth violence.
Despite his support for the revised ordinance, Hall also expressed disappointment with Meta, the parent company of Facebook, which has not come forward to address its concerns about being held accountable for spreading notices of teen gatherings.
The revised ordinance, which was pushed through by Public Safety Chair and 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins, gives Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling the authority to declare a four-hour curfew in any part of the city with 12 hours' notice. This is a significant change from last year's snap curfew ordinance, which Mayor Johnson vetoed due to concerns about its constitutionality and potential for abuse.
This time around, Johnson says he has more confidence in the revised proposal, particularly because it includes provisions for holding social media companies accountable for spreading notices of teen gatherings that sometimes turn violent. He believes this approach will help prevent the spread of misinformation that can contribute to these violent events.
However, Johnson emphasized that a curfew is not the only solution to addressing youth violence and that he wants to make it clear that the city's investment in young people should not be limited to just a curfew. He also acknowledged that some residents have raised concerns about how the curfew would be enforced, particularly with regards to detaining or dispersing minors.
Alderman William Hall, who is co-sponsoring the revised ordinance and has been instrumental in changing minds on this issue, said he was moved by the story of 14-year-old Armani Floyd, whose death last year was linked to a violent teen takeover. Hall believes that the new ordinance is a better version than previous proposals and says it is needed to address the root causes of youth violence.
Despite his support for the revised ordinance, Hall also expressed disappointment with Meta, the parent company of Facebook, which has not come forward to address its concerns about being held accountable for spreading notices of teen gatherings.
So, I'm thinking... a four-hour curfew in Chicago? It's like, we've been over this before, right? 
Last year's snap curfew was a disaster, and now we're just tweaking the rules again. What's next? A 10pm bedtime for all teens? 
I'm not convinced that this revised ordinance is the answer to our youth violence problems.
Come on, guys, step up and show us you care about the safety of these teens! 
! It's crazy how those violent takeovers can happen and spread like wildfire on social media 
. But at the same time, I feel bad for the teens who are caught up in it all - they're just trying to hang out and have fun 
. The part about holding social media companies accountable is a major win 
! We need more people speaking out against the spread of misinformation online. As for enforcement, I'm sure there will be some teething issues but I trust that the city's got this 
. Can we pls just get more support and resources for our young people instead of just a curfew?
. What if someone needs to be at work or school during that time? It just feels like another example of the city trying to control every aspect of our lives 
. I wish the city would focus more on addressing the root causes of youth violence instead of slapping Band-Aids on it 
.
. We need to consider how this will be enforced, especially when it comes to detaining or dispersing minors 
. And what about the fact that social media companies aren't even acknowledging their role in spreading misinformation about teen gatherings? Meta should at least acknowledge their concerns 
. I'm not saying a curfew is never needed, but we need more nuance than just throwing up a new ordinance 
.
#YouthSupportMatters.
. But at the same time, I don't wanna be that dude who starts regulating social media like Big Brother 
. Maybe instead of a curfew, we should be investing more in community programs and mental health services for teens 
? That way, we're addressing the root causes of this stuff, rather than just slapping on some band-aid solutions 
And I don't understand why social media companies have to get involved too... can't they just let kids hang out? 
what about all the other factors that contribute to it like poverty, lack of access to education & resources? we need a more holistic approach not just some snap curfew 
. And yeah, Meta needs to step up and take responsibility for its role in spreading information that can lead to violence 
It's not just about throwing a curfew at the problem; we gotta address the root cause.