CHICAGO — The city will hold virtual town halls over the next two weeks where residents can ask questions and give feedback about strategies to reduce violence.
There will be six town halls, with five focused on various Chicago regions — the North and Northwest sides, the West Side, the Southwest Side, the city’s center and the South Side — and another that will be in Spanish, according to a Mayor’s Office news release. Police Department and Community Safety Coordination Center staff members will be there to speak with participants.
The Community Safety Coordination Center launched in August with the goal of bringing together public safety programs, nonprofits, youth organizations, teachers and spiritual leaders together to discuss anti-violence measures.
“As part of this strategy, we want to hear from our residents to learn what more we can do to wrap our arms around their communities,” Lightfoot said in the news release. “The invaluable voices of residents will build upon the [the center’s] holistic approach to community safety and help the City rapidly respond to the needs of Chicagoans.”
More than 20 government departments offered strategies to reduce violence, leading to a plan that involves “people-based, place-based and crisis response” strategies, according to the Mayor’s Office. Tactics include creating diversion programs, investing in housing and green spaces and doing community outreach with law enforcement.
Sign up here to participate in a town hall.
The schedule:
North/Northwest sides: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday
West Side: 6-8 p.m. Thursday
Southwest Side: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday
Loop, Near North Side, West Loop and South Loop: 6-8 p.m. March 15
South Side: 6-8 p.m. March 16
Spanish-language town hall: 10 a.m.-noon March 19
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