RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Project Safe Neighborhoods was established in 2001; and
WHEREAS, Project Safe Neighborhoods expanded upon strategies used in Boston's Operation Ceasefire; known as the "Boston Miracle," and in Richrndnd;;y;irgiriia's Project Exile, reported to have reduced;gun homicides by, 40% from 1997 tQ. 1998; and
WHEREA.S,;Project :Safe Neighborhoods is part of a nationwide federally funded initiative designed toibrihg federal, state. and local law enforcement agencies together to produce a comprehensive and strategic approach to reducing gun crime; and
WHEREAS, Project Safe Neighborhoods is Chicago based^and
WHEREAS, Project Safe Neighborhoods was intended to involve a multiagency task force of members from law enforcement and local community agencies, including representatives; from the Chicago Police, Department, the Cook County Sheriff s Office, the Cook County State's Attorney's; Office; the IllihoisjDepartment of Corrections, the. Cook County Department of Probation, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois, the.Bureau of Tobacco, Alcohbl, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the City of Chicago Corporation Counsel, the Chicago: Alternative Policing Strategy, and the Chicago Crime Commission; and
WHEREAS, According to the.study.conducted by Papachristps, Meares, and Fagan (2007), Project Safe Neighborhoods treatment districts experienced a dramatic 3.7% drop in quarterly homicide rates during.the. observation periods - and
WHEREAS, In 2016, the Department of Justice awarded .grants totaling S5.7 million to create safer neighborhoods under the 2016 Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction (Project Safe Neighborhoods) Program to recipients in other states; and
WHEREAS, The January 13, 2017 Department of Justice investigation of the Chicago Police department confirmed that DOJ is; working;wiu>the Gity of Chicago onCn-ainihg: and'technical1 assistance; and
WHEREAS, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced their intent-to transfer approximately 20.agehts to Chicago in an effort to "beef up" the federal presence in the city; and.
WHEREAS, Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently threatened to strip some "sanctuary cities" of coveted'Justice Department; grants fpRstate. and local law enforcement,,saying those places, that ;did:not comply with a particular federal law on> immigration would hot be eligible fdrsuch funding; and
WHEREAS, 2016 was Chicago's most violent year in almost two decades with 4,367. shooting, ^victims' andr784)deatJis;;and;
WHEREAS, As of February 26,2017 Chicago already Had1511 shooting victims and 102 gun-related deaths; and
WHEREAS, Members ofthe Chicago City Council and theigeneralpublic may not;be aware;;Of the status-of 'Project Safe Neighborhoods and any related1 collaborative and multi-agency<;strategy intended to reduce violent crime; and
WHEREAS, The Committee on Public Safety has jurisdiction over all matters relating to the Chicago Police Department and public safety initiatives; how therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Committee on Public Safety hold a public hearing on the status.of
Project Safe Neighbor^ Police Department, the
Cook County Sheriff s Office, the Cook County State's Attorney's. Office, theiU^S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District ;6f Illinois, the City 'of Chicago Corporation' Counsel, the Chicago CrirneCbmmissiqn, and any other:party deemed relevant by the Committee Chair be.asked-to: participate.
i
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Committee on Public Safety hold this 'meeting prior to the next May 2017 regular meeting of the Chicago/City Council.
