A week ago in our “Editorial: Spectacle Chicago and the Death of the JISC,” our readers were provided several key insights regarding juvenile delinquency. First, the connection between early delinquency and the risks of future violence are clear. Second, the closing of the Juvenile Intervention and Support Center (JISC), without any alternative, weakened the city’s response to juvenile delinquency. It remains another spectacle Chicago moment. Yes, large social forces lay a complex macro-level foundation for crime – particularly juvenile crime. But, we should not be fooled, even in areas where crime and violence are the worst, most youth do not become gang members, and most do not engage in violence. Chicago loses children to gang activity, delinquency, and violence one young person at a time. The explosion of carjackings in Chicago provides us with an opportunity for some clarity relative to juvenile crime. [Click the link below to read more.]
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As we mentioned on 30 October in our post “More Spectacle Chicago, Not Remarkable,” a combined 26 members of the Chicago City Council have the power to be remarkable. Why twenty-six? Well, in a 50-member council, 26 is a majority vote. But, that alone is not remarkable. The council votes in every session. A measure gaining 26 votes happens regularly. In fact, Chicago mayors rely on at least 26 members consistently voting as the mayor desires. Not remarkable. This has been true for generations. Today 20 members of the council sent a letter to Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The issue, Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA). These 20 alderman expressed their assessment that Andrea Kersten should not continue to lead COPA. She is currently COPA’s interim chief administrator. She was also the chief investigator who approved COPA’s flawed report recommending slain Police Officer Ella French be suspended. [Click the link below to read more.]
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Last week in our “Cops Ask Questions” series we asked whether the Chicago City Council would assert its authority. Whenever 26 or more members of the city’s council rise in opposition to a Chicago mayor, that is indeed remarkable. Well on Friday, the council for the second time in a week demonstrated it is not remarkable. The council could not muster enough votes to reverse the mayoral edict mandating the vaccination of city employees. The council did however muster enough votes to approve a 30% increase in the annual city budget. Now that qualifies as a spectacle for a lawless city, with huge financial problems. Several local violent crimes also provided more “spectacle Chicago” moments of another kind. Not in the exciting and impressive sense. No, in the “spectacular crash” kind of way. [Click the link below to read more.]
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