PILSEN — Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez will unveil plans to tackle violence during a community meeting Thursday in Pilsen.
Sigcho-Lopez will be joined by 10th and 12th District police commanders along with community groups to unveil a “holistic approach” in addressing violence in the neighborhood at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at Pickard Elementary, 2301 W. 21st. Pl.
“We have been working on a plan to address this issue,” Sigcho-Lopez said. “This is a top priority right now…People need to feel safe and protected not only in Pilsen but also in Chinatown and across the district.”
The meeting comes following a wave of violence that left at least three people dead and two others wounded in Chinatown and Pilsen in a span of three days earlier this month. Last week, the alderman held a similar meeting in his effort to address violence in the Chinatown neighborhood following a double homicide.
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During Thursday’s meeting, Sigcho-Lopez will discuss violence prevention strategies being considered by a coalition of groups including St. Paul’s parish and the 25th Ward Taskforce, which includes community groups like Pilsen Neighbors, as well as local schools in the area.
As part of the plan, Sigcho-Lopez said he has worked with 12th District Commander to reinstitute foot patrols from local officers along 18th Street. He plans to expand that to other portions of the neighborhoods.
The alderman also said he worked with State Sen. Tony Muñoz, Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya and other representatives to garner nearly $500,000 pledges, of which half would be used to bring cameras to areas that have seen an increase in violence.
Sigcho-Lopez said is reaching out to elected officials for additional funding as well festival promoters to provide a percentage of revenue to help fund youth violence prevention initiatives in the neighborhood.
J-DEF: 5 Elements of Hip Hop, which works to empower youth through music, is also part of the coalition working to address violence.
In addressing factors that contribute to violence, Sigcho-Lopez said he will also push for local hiring in development projects like Related Midwest’s 78 project and Sterling Bay’s Lincoln Yards.
The plan is a starting point and he hopes to continue to build a coalition that includes elected officials at all levels, the Chicago Police Department, community groups, and neighbors to “address the complex issues affecting the lives of people across the ward and across the city,” Sigcho-Lopez said.
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