Editor’s Note

Welcome to Newswire — your weekly guide to Chicago government, civic action and what action we can take to make our city great, featuring public meeting coverage by City Bureau’s Documenters.

Quote of the Week

“No one from the police district has come and apologized to me and my family on behalf of my son — as though he was [in] a crime syndicate or something, and that really hurt my heart.”

— Nicole Banks, mother of Dexter Reed, addressing Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling during public comment.


[Chicago Police Board, July 18, 2024]

Mental health care movement?

In the latest update to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s pledge to implement a citywide mental health crisis response system, the city’s working group dedicated to the Treatment Not Trauma cause presented its first report to City Council on July 22. The report touted the reopening of a mental health clinic in Roseland and doubling the number of alternate response teams among the city’s 2024 wins, and cited an estimated funding gap of $44.6 million out of $103.5 million needed for mental health programs over the next three years. Key objectives from the report include: Expanding mental health clinical services, enhancing non-police crisis interventions and educating communities about available mental health resources.

Rights for whom?

Amid a seismic shift in the presidential race, city officials provided updates on the security plan for the Democratic National Convention taking place in Chicago Aug. 19-22. Both the Secret Service and Illinois National Guard will be present for the convention. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said CPD has been trained on constitutional rights, including the freedom of speech and protection from unwarranted search and seizures. The city is currently locked in a legal battle with the Coalition to March on the DNC over permits to march near the convention site.

The Police Board approved three motions of police misconduct amid an ongoing battle between the Cook County Circuit Court and the Fraternal Order of Police. In March, Judge Michael Mullen ruled that police officers facing misconduct cases can opt to have those cases brought before the Police Board or an arbitrator – but with either option, the hearings would be public. The police union is opposed to arbitration being public.

During public comment, many family, friends and community members called for justice for the family of Dexter Reed, a 23-year-old who was killed by police in March after being shot at nearly 100 times. New information has also been added to the case concerning the initial reason Reed was pulled over, and lawyers are urging the federal judge to throw out portions of the case filed by Reed’s mother, Nicole Banks.

Struggles with the landing zone

Community members and aid organizations are urging the city to extend the 60-day policy limiting newly arrived migrants’ stays in shelters. Once their stay is up, migrants must return to the city intake center, or “landing zone,” and from there, they can potentially be placed back in a shelter. However, alders said many migrants do not receive transportation back to the landing zone.

City officials confirmed that if migrants return to the landing zone after their 60 days are up, they can be placed right back into a shelter. Families are prioritized over single individuals. Many alders took issue with the lack of transportation, attributing the continued presence of migrants living in tents to the dilemma.

A version of this story was first published in the August 1, 2024 issue of the Newswire, an email newsletter that is your weekly guide to Chicago government, civic action and what we can do to make our city great. You can sign up for the weekly newsletter here.

Have thoughts on what you'd like to see in this feature? Email Editorial Director Ariel Cheung at ariel@citybureau.org.