Committee on Health and Human Relations City Council Meeting October 7, 2020
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the top three leading causes for death among individuals ages 15-34 are unintentional injury, suicide, and homicide; and,
WHEREAS, The cycle of generational gang lifestyles, illegal drug markets and retaliatory violence are the largest factors behind the preventable acts of violence that continue to permeate into every community within the City of Chicago; and,
WHEREAS, Despite the Chicago Police Department's assertions that "overall crime" is down, homicides have increased 50% and shootings increased 51% over 2019 crime statistics; and,
WHEREAS, In 2020, the City of Chicago has seen a surge in violence on its streets and in its homes, with 3,110 people having been victimized by the 2,470 shooting reported in the city from January 1st through September 30th; and,
WHEREAS, Over 8,000 illegal guns have been taken off the streets of Chicago, 80% of which were semi-automatic handguns; and,
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago must recommit itself and redirect its agencies to decreasing these statistics by aggressively tackling those behaviors and scenarios that are considered preventable causes of violence; and,
WHEREAS, Elected officials, community leaders and residents all share a universal concern for addressing the violence in Chicago, not only as a matter of public safety but also as a matter of public health; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, That we the Members ofthe City Council of the City of Chicago do hereby call upon the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, the Commissioner of the Department of Family & Support Services, and the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department to appear before the Committee on Health and Human Services to discuss the following:
1) Existing plans & programs for violence reduction by department
Anti-violence funding initiatives and program...
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