[in person] 9th Police District Council - Chinatown/Bridgeport/Back of the Yards

Criminal Justice

Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024
6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m. CST

2111 W 47th St, Chicago, Illinois 60609 Chicago, IL 60609 (Directions)

Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School

This is an in-person assignment and will include an additional hour of pay. PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK the meeting details on the day of your assignment, as dates and locations sometimes change.

Pre-Research Resources

City Bureau: “Can the Neighbors We Elect to Police District Councils Redefine Public Safety?”
City Bureau” “Chicago’s New Police District Councils, 4 Months In”
Find My Beat and District: Interactive map of police district boundaries
Chicago Reader/Block Club Chicago: Information about the candidates who ran for this council in the municipal elections
The TRiiBE: “ECPS coalition wins a wide majority of Chicago’s new Police District Council seats”

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Live reporting by Allison Leon

Constituents received a presentation on the Pretrial Fairness Act

Allison @leonad49

Hi, I’ll be live-tweeting today's 9th Police District Council meeting at Back of the Yards HS for #CHIdocumenters @CHIdocumenters

06:29 PM Jan 31, 2024 CST

Allison @leonad49 2/16

Here is tonight's agenda to follow along:

chicago.gov/content/dam/ci…

Allison @leonad49 3/16

Meeting is called to order at 6:40pm. Here are some of the handouts passed out before the meeting began. Denise McBroom is not in attendance.

Allison @leonad49 4/16

Community Engagement Chair Erin Vogel announced that each major neighborhood will be visited twice during the year to hold regular meetings.

Allison @leonad49 5/16

There will be two presentations tonight: first is an informational on Pretrial Fairness Act presented by a representative on the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender

Allison @leonad49 6/16

The presentation on the Pretrial Fairness Act covers how it changes a system that disproportionately detained individuals. There is now an emphasis on making an informed decision on whether an individual is released, instead of relying on ability to pay bond

Allison @leonad49 7/16

One public attendee asks how this solves a "revolving door" around individuals committing misdemeanors. Presenter answers how this may have happened under an old system, and how this is a result of conditions that a court system cannot address properly

Allison @leonad49 8/16

Another attendee comments that theft has increased anyway and wishes for tighter laws. Presenter answers that there are many conditions influencing people that a policy change cannot solve.

Allison @leonad49 9/16

There are a few other comments along a similar thread commenting on feeling more unsafe in general. The second presentation begins. A presenter from The Network presents on domestic violence in the 9th district and victims rights under the Pretrial Fairness Act

Allison @leonad49 10/16

The presentation covers a background on domestic violence and statistics specific to the 9th district. There has been a 28% increase from 2022-2023 in DV calls. The presentation also covers how the Pretrial Fairness Act prioritizes victim input on DV cases to determine release

Allison @leonad49 11/16

Community Engagement chair Erin Vogel gives an update on attending a Peace Meeting, a listening session from Superintendent Snelly, and a meeting on Treatment not Trauma. Upcoming is a meeting on Jan.8 at St.Sabina concerning the Shot Spotter contract.

Allison @leonad49 12/16

Public comment begins. First is around reckless driving that is keeping a resident awake. They highlight police inaction despite multiple reports and a report in the news.

Allison @leonad49 13/16

Second public comment is around pre-textual traffic stops, presenting a petition. They highlight how pre-textual traffic spots disproportionately affect people of color, especially Black residents.

Allison @leonad49 14/16

Third comment is a reminder of the shot spotter contract ending, and encourages individuals to consider their position. They highlight that ShotSpotter has missed 500 reports, and notes an incident on 47th and Racine where a large shooting occurred that 3 detectors didnt register

Allison @leonad49 15/16

Final public comment is from the local business owner of Los Altos. They express displeasure with new arrivals, feeling unsafe and unheard with their presence. They highlight a large presence around 2-6p, and that something needs to be done

Allison @leonad49 16/16

Public comment ends. Committee member Vogel says next meeting will be in Brighton Park on the 28th of February and aims to have translators (this meeting was solely in English). Meeting adjourned at 7:37pm

View thread

Attachments

Meeting details

By India Daniels 11/30/2023

Agency Information

Chicago Police District Councils

See meeting notes for details

www.chicago.gov

See Documenters reporting

Each of the 22 District Councils is made up of three people elected by residents of the police district in regular municipal elections every four years, though anyone can participate in District Council work, and the more people who participate, the more effective the District Councils can be. The first District Council elections occurred in February 2023. Just as Chicagoans vote for a mayor and a local ward Alderperson, they also vote for up to three people to serve on the District Council.

The District Councils have several key roles:

Building stronger connections between the police and the community at the district level, where the community is a true partner in making the neighborhood safer. They can work with the police to address problems and set priorities.
Collaborating in the development and implementation of community policing initiatives.
Holding monthly public meetings, where residents can work on local initiatives rooted in community concerns and priorities. They can also raise and work to address concerns about policing in the district, and increase accountability.
Working with the community to get input on police department policies and practices. Working to develop and expand restorative justice and similar programs in the police district.
Ensuring that the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability gets input from the community, so that the Commission’s work will be based on what people in neighborhoods across the city are concerned about.
Nominating members of the Community Commission. Anyone who serves on the Community Commission must first have the support of elected District Council members.

(Source: Municipal Code of Chicago, 2-80-070(a) and (e))

For a map of police districts, visit https://www.chicagocityscape.com/maps/index.php#/?places_type=chipolicedistrict.