RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A HEARING ON EFFORTS TO CURB THE RISING NUMBER OF CARJACKINGS IN THE CITY
WHEREAS, The number of carjackings in the City of Chicago has increased dramatically throughout 2020, and continues to trend upwards, causing additional emotional trauma, stress, and injury to Chicago motorists, and leaving many of these motorists stranded without a means of transportation; and
WHEREAS, From January to November 2020, there have been over 1,200 carjackings in the City, compared to 507 in all of 2019; this is the highest reported number of carjackings since 2002, and an increase of approximately 134% from 2019; and
WHEREAS, Carjackings have occurred in all 50 wards ofthe City, but have disproportionally taken place in communities on the South and West sides, with the highest number of carjackings occurring in Austin, North Lawndale, West Garfield Park, the Near West Side, West Town, Calumet Heights, and South Shore; and
WHEREAS, The alarming surge in carjackings this year has included not just vehicle thefts, but also armed carjackings, some of which have resulted in fatalities or serious bodily harm to the victims; and
WHEREAS, Early in 2020, the Chicago Police Department, along with the Illinois State Police;the Cook County Sheriff's Office, and the U.S. Attorney's Office, reestablished an anti-carjacking task force to address the spike in carjackings; the task force had been suspended, but was originally formed in 2018 to address a spike in carjackings that year; and
WHEREAS, While the anti-carjacking task force has contributed to over 80 arrests through October of this year, it is clear that more must be done to curb the rising number of carjackings in order to increase safety on Chicago streets and to protect the property of all residents and drivers in the City of Chicago; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this sixteenth day of December, 2020, do hereby call ...
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