Human Relations Committee Hearing regarding Gun Violence June 10, 2015

Present were Committee members Boykin (chair), Arroyo, Daley, Silvestri and Steele.

This subject matter of this hearing reflects the expansion of what this Committee will consider now under new Chair Boykin as compared to the past when it was only concerned with personnel matters within County government.

Chair Boykin began the hearing by stating that he has a 7-point plan for dealing with gun violence within Cook County:

1.    Parenting workshops conducted by not-for-profit organizations throughout Chicago and Cook County;

2.    Strict enforcement of curfew laws utilizing multiple departments of law enforcement;

3.    Expansion of drug courts and other therapeutic court models;

4.    Charging individuals pulling the trigger and co-conspirators with Domestic Terrorism;

5.    Expansion of utilization of the Sheriff’s police in high crime areas;

6.    Stiffer penalties for people illegally in possession of firearms and expansion of gun buy-back programs; and

7.      Job training and a real jobs program for areas experiencing high levels of violence, unemployment and poverty.

He did not expand on his plan, but then called on those who had clearly been pre-arranged to speak, many of whom stated they supported Comm. Boykin’s plan.  Among those who spoke was Chief Brian White of the Cook County Sheriff’s Police who talked about the Sheriff’s Community Resources Initiative which involves Sheriff’s Police assisting local police departments in Cook County with such things as apprehending those with outstanding warrants.  Ms. Jasmine Jackson, an early childhood special education teacher in North Lawndale, talked about how she has to spend less time on academics and more time on dealing with the children’s responses to violence. 

Commissioner Daley, after hearing all the speakers, said that he has long thought that the money the County receives for fighting terrorism should be allowed to be used to fight the terrorism in the streets caused by gun violence.

It was not clear to this Observer what the next steps of this Committee would be following this hearing.

Submitted by League Observer Priscilla Mims