SUBSTITUTE
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago ("City") is a home rule municipality as described in Article Vll, Section 6(a) ofthe 1970 Constitution ofthe State of Illinois, and as such may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs; and
WHEREAS, the City hereby finds and declares that it is the right of every person, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, or disability, to be secure and protected from fear, intimidation, and physical harm caused by the activities of violent groups and individuals. It is not the intent of this Ordinance to interfere with the exercise ofthe constitutionally protected rights of freedom of expression and association; and
WHEREAS, the City hereby recognizes the constitutional right of every citizen to harbor and express beliefs on any lawful subject whatsoever, to lawfully associate with others who share similar beliefs, to petition lawfully constituted authority for a redress of perceived grievances, and to participate in the electoral process; and
WHEREAS, the City finds, however, that communities and neighborhoods throughout Chicago are being terrorized and plundered by streetgangs. The City finds that there are approximately 100 streetgang factions currently operating in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, the City finds that the harms exacted by streetgangs and related violent activities have substantial costs to residents and manifest in many forms such as increased trauma and a range of mental health consequences for individuals, diminished opportunities for legitimate economic activity and investments related in part to fear on the part of businesses for themselves, their employees, customers and property, and overall diminished opportunities for community gatherings, unity and quality of life; and
WHEREAS, the City further finds that streetgangs are often controlled by criminally sophisticated adults who take advantage of our youth by inti...
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