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Choose people over politics: Chicago groups wants independent office to tackle gun violence
A local coalition is pushing to establish an independent Office of Gun Violence Reduction in Chicago.
CHICAGO - A local coalition is pushing for the establishment of an independent Office of Gun Violence Reduction in Chicago.
On Wednesday night, the coalition presented its proposal to the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) during a monthly meeting held at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center.
The presentation follows the collection of at least 2,000 signatures by "Live Free Illinois," making them eligible to request such a hearing.
The group is urging Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago City Council to create the office through an ordinance. Their plan outlines a long-term approach that activists envision will stand the test of changing administrations.
The Office of Gun Violence Reduction would focus on community violence interruption, victim services, trauma healing, polices, and witness protection.
The coalition that put forth the proposal – Live Free Illinois – is largely faith-based and features local pastors from the North, West, and South sides.
Those stakeholders say they are not seeking to lead the Office of Gun Violence Reduction, but they are advocating for its creation.
They feel Chicago’s neighborhoods would benefit from a team that is dedicated solely to targeting gun violence and accessing funding for it.
"We need a comprehensive plan to solve this problem now and protect people from further trauma," said Celia Colon, CEO, Giving Others Dreams.
During Wednesday’s meeting there were some questions raised by the CCPSA, including how this office would provide something different than the city's Office of Violence Prevention.
Reverend Beth Brown, a leader in the coalition, says an office specific to reducing gun violence would allow for more direct funding.
"We don’t have a permanent office and we don’t have a permanent funding stream at this point, and we’re asking for it," said Brown. "We are at risk of having any foundation say, ‘oh we just can’t fund public safety anymore,’ and we would like for it to be part of the City of Chicago budget."
Those spearheading the proposal also explain that one of their main goals is to establish an independent team that could continue its work even when there is someone new on the fifth floor.
"We can ensure with this office that these efforts don’t start over every time we have someone new in office," said Brown. "If you look at just the last five years or even six years, from Mayor Emmanuel's administration to Mayor Johnson's administration, there have been a whole variety of people that have been over public safety in the City of Chicago. What we have to understand as a city is that we are not going to have good success making progress in reducing gun violence when we don't have a multi-year strategy and plan for how we are going to do that."
"We’re asking that you choose people over politics, choose peace over political power," said Cy Fields, pastor, New Landmark Missionary Baptist Church.
Former Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson also weighed in during the public comment portion of the meeting.
"If we’re going to do this, we need to do it correctly. One of the ways that we do that is ensuring that we get the proper data from the police department and the city that shows us where these things are occurring and what we can do to prevent them," said Eddie Johnson.
Just weeks away from Mayor Johnson officially ending the city's ShotSpotter contract, Eddie Johnson went on to voice his support for the tool – calling it a critical resource in reducing gun violence.
Meantime, by the end of Wednesday’s meeting, the president of CCPSA, Anthony Driver, Jr., offered his support for the proposal.
The proposal will still need to be approved by the City Council.
Members of the coalition shared that Mayor Johnson has agreed to meet with them to learn more about it early next month.