CHICAGO MAYOR LAYS OUT PLAN FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY, STARTING WITH HIGH-CRIME NEIGHBORHOODS

On Wednesday, Mayor Brandon Johnson was laying out his plans for improving public safety, through investing in communities.

He announced the first four areas that will be targeted as part of his community safety plan.

All four of the neighborhoods — Englewood, West Garfield Park, Austin and Little Village — have suffered from decades of disinvestment and neglect, leading to joblessness and despair, fueling a cycle of violence that has made them some of the most violent places in Chicago, Johnson said.

By concentrating on just 10 specific block groups, officials believe they can “amplify the impact of our investments directed at eradicating the root causes of violence in historically disinvested communities,” according to a statement from the mayor’s office.

Some examples Johnson laid out for partnerships included community groups claiming vacant lots, and adding 4,000 new jobs for youth through the city’s summer jobs program.

“We know what causes violence, we can remedy those disparities with new programs, with deepened investments and that work as already begun,” Johnson said. “It will take all of us to build affordable housing, new grocery stores, health clinics, banks and other neighborhood assets to renew a sense of community and trust to keep us all safer.”

We all know that this is something that won’t happen overnight but Johnson says the city is still looking for stakeholders to get involved in this plan, with those interested asked to visit chicago.gov/communitysafety for more information.