A LARGE GROUP of teens gathering in Chicago’s downtown.
For the second time in less than a week, a vote on a proposed ordinance that aims to implement a “snap curfew” for teenagers visiting downtown was delayed by aldermen, who remain divided on the measure.
Sponsored by Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd), the proposal remains stuck in the Chicago Public Safety Committee and cannot advance to the City Council for final vote.
The committee includes five Black aldermen among the 18 members weighing the fate of the controversial curfew proposal. They include Alderman Desmon Yancy (5), Chris Taliaferro (29th), Derrick Curtis (18th), Matthew Martin (47th), and Maria Hadden (49th).
The curfew proposal has left Mayor Brandon Johnson in limbo as civil rights groups remain concerned that a teen takeover curfew could lead to abusive policing. Black leaders say as summer nears, neighborhoods on the South and West Sides lack programs and entertainment venues like those available downtown, where teenagers go when they have nothing to do.
Under the proposed curfew, Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, with consent from the Deputy Mayor of Public Safety, wants to disband crowds of “20 or more people” when there is “probable cause” that a group is assembling to engage or participate in an activity “likely to result in criminal conduct.”
Some Black leaders say the proposed curfew has racial overtones aimed at a group of teenagers who are mostly Black.
This ordinance, co-sponsored by 30 aldermen, was set to be voted on April 30, but was delayed after committee members debated for hours on the proposed measure.
As committee chair, second ward Alderman Brian Hopkins called off a roll call vote that was expected to be close. He also backed off a move to get the full council to consider his first version last month, to instead push forward his updated curfew effort.
Johnson opposed Hopkins’ original proposal, but the mayor has not been clear on his stance on the curfew power aldermen might soon give his administration.
The latest version of the ordinance would require police to give notice if a curfew is implemented, at least 30 minutes before it goes into effect.
On Monday, May 5, the committee delayed the vote again after many aldermen attended Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky’s announcement that she would not seek re-election.
After the second vote was delayed Monday, Johnson promised to “do what works” and said, “we cannot succumb to elements or practices that just don’t prove to be effective.”
Still, Hopkins hopes to get the curfew ordinance passed before Memorial Day Weekend to address concerns of downtown residents and others in affluent areas, about large gatherings of teenagers in their neighborhood during the summer months.
Johnson and Hopkins have conducted listening sessions with Streeterville residents. Both officials are calling for more money to be spent on activities to keep teenagers occupied during the long days of summer. Johnson called for park fieldhouses to remain open later into the night and throughout weekends.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and anti-violence organization GoodKids MadCity have criticized the proposed curfew power. They said the proposal is an overly strong and potentially illegal crackdown.
In a letter to aldermen, the City Council’s Office of Financial Analysis said Chicago “can anticipate potential litigation costs” because ACLU Illinois shared a letter signed by 20 additional civil liberties groups suggesting potential “intent to sue over proposed curfew.”
Hopkins disagreed and called lawyers opposed to the measure “anti-police political activists.”
“There is absolutely zero concern about the constitutional validity of this ordinance by every one of the attorneys that was involved in it,” he said.