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Durkin speaks out, but what will he do?

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* House GOP Leader Jim Durkin…

“I, like all of us here, are saddened, sickened and angry with the daily news reports of shootings and murders in the city of Chicago. This must come to an end,” said Durkin, frequently pounding a lectern to accentuate his message.

“We must take the streets back from those cowardly thugs who have destroyed neighborhoods and families. And this must be done with federal, state and local collaboration. We cannot go through another summer like we have witnessed in these past few years,” he said.

Durkin pledged to work with the Democratic majority in the legislature and with Emanuel to make streets safer and to ensure the safety of children following a year that saw more than 760 gun deaths in the city.

“While we have problems with our budget, no one should feel good about what is happening. We need to do more as a legislative body. Society needs to do more as well,” Durkin said.

“So, as I said, I will work with anyone to stop this. It’s personal for so many members of this body. It’s personal for people in this crowd. It’s personal for everyone in the state of Illinois who believes that everyone has a right to grow up safe and to be able to pursue the American dream without danger,” he said.

I talked briefly to Durkin after yesterday’s inauguration and asked if he’d read up on the reported effectiveness of violence disrupters. He didn’t seem too enthused.

* Look, I’m glad that the Leader spoke out on this so forcefully. Too many Statehouse politicians have tried to dodge or ignore the issue. And this is not just a Chicago issue. When otherwise well-meaning people flee city neighborhoods because of violence they can inadvertently bring some of those problems with them. It’s the way immigration works. Some folks find greener pastures and others follow.

Even so, “taking the streets back” from “thugs” sounds a lot like “turn the cops loose.” And, indeed, in our quick conversation Durkin spoke about the low morale of the city’s police force after being second-guessed so often.

* They’re gonna have to find another way…

The U.S. Justice Department will conclude in a report to be released Friday that the Chicago Police Department displayed a pattern and practice of violating residents’ constitutional rights over years, a law enforcement official said Wednesday.

The official, who is familiar with the findings, spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly. He declined to offer details. Based on investigative reports on other big cities, Chicago’s could run well over 100 pages.

The Chicago Police Department has been dogged by a reputation for brutality, particularly in minority communities, so a finding of at least some violations isn’t a big surprise. Chicago has one of the nation’s largest police departments with about 12,000 officers, and the report stems from an investigation launched in 2015 after the release of video showing a white officer fatally shooting black teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times. Among the questions Justice Department investigators were expected to examine was whether Chicago officers are prone to excessive force and racial bias.

* Related…

* Head of U. of C. Medicine’s long-sought trauma center: Violence is ‘disease’

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 12:24 pm

Comments

The answer is and always has been “Project Exile”. Any one who is against this proven law is a proponent of the status quo and complicit in the soaring murder rate.

Comment by weltschmerz Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 12:28 pm
I wonder if the report will talk about Homan Square, the secret dark site operated by the Chicago PD. Probably not

Comment by JohnnyPyleDriver Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 12:33 pm
we don’t need a “Project Exile.” we just need to get more Federal enforcement of crimes involving guns. and we need stronger penalties from the state level for gun crimes. “Violence interrupters” are not the answer. consistent strong law enforcement…..up those stats, CPD….and work at the start end with education, housing and food programs, are the answer. also, sadly, first time offender programs for Juveniles. learn early that actions have consequences. first time the police encounter them, not a station adjustment, but a visit to juvy to a first time offender court.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 12:33 pm
===“Violence interrupters” are not the answer===

If you think there is one answer, you’re a fool.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 12:36 pm
Durkin won’t do anything because he’s a grandstander. His entire speech yesterday was an expert display of grandstanding. He had all summer and fall to propose solutions? What did he do? Nothing. What has he done in the past to promote economic development in neighborhoods historically and presently starved of resources and jobs? What has he done to promote equal protection of the law? He’ll slam his fists and redden his face, but I don’t think you’ll seem him listening to the citizens living in Austin or North Lawndale or anywhere else in the city that isn’t a ritz building downtown.

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 12:46 pm
yep, there is not one answer.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 12:48 pm
With all due respect to Mr. Durkin, this is grandstanding. No Politian can stop the violence. Only the people that live in high violence areas can stop the violence.

Comment by Rocky Rosi Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 12:54 pm
What will Durkin do?

Blame Madigan.

Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 12:55 pm
===* Head of U. of C. Medicine’s long-sought trauma center: Violence is ‘disease’===

No. Violence is a symptom of the disease.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 1:06 pm
Chicago’s police force is led by Eddie Johnson, an African American

The police are 29% black in a city that is 32% black.

The police are 19% hispanic in a city that is 29% hispanic.

I can’t wait to read the report and then the opinion of the incoming administration on the problem and proposed solutions. Should be fascinating to see what the differences are.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 1:11 pm
I have a friend with one of the violence interrupters and he said they were making some progress and then, big bad budget cuts. As Rich stated, and with all big problems, it must be approached on many fronts.

Comment by James the Intolerant Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 1:24 pm
There are so many ideas and proposals. One idea may to be to actually ask people who live in the violent areas and are not part of the violence what they want to try? After all, they have a more intimate knowledge of the actors and motivations. Have we tried this?

Comment by FormerParatrooper Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 1:30 pm
I’ll risk being called a fool but I actually do think there’s one answer: jobs. These areas of Chicago have always had gangs and poverty. But they haven’t always been this hopeless. When young unemployment is at third world levels, it’s not a coincidence to see third world levels of violence.

Obviously there’s not “one answer” to how to create more jobs for low-educated teens and young adults, but one can make it a singular focus. It was infuriating to see people rant against the Lucas Museum, for example, without a word of regret for the loss of new jobs it would have created. Northerly Island is so underused that I’d be happy to loan it to anyone willing to commit to a certain level of employment for whatever gets built there. Same for Michael Reece. If Donald Trump is so concerned and wants to bully some industry into these areas, be my guest. In the long run you could argue it’s more important to put resources into education, but a crisis means you think short-term and that means jobs. I’d rather see tax hikes for make-work projects in high crime areas than almost anything else.

Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 1:40 pm
Violent crime is a complicated issue that requires a multi-faceted approach. There’s no question that easy access to guns in surrounding communities and states, like Indiana, help fuel violent crimes. Will Durkin stand up to Indiana on this?

Comment by Downstate Dem Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 1:43 pm
His “take back the streets” and even “thugs” comment gets used by both neighborhood watch and community policing groups. And right after the applause that followed those comments I don’t think enough people noticed his comment about “not just government but society’s responsibility” comment that got an enthusiastic response from a few legislators especially Rep. Flowers.

Comment by COPN Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 1:44 pm
Sure the State Police will help, oh wait their sworn numbers are at record lows,sorry not us.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 1:47 pm
“…Durkin spoke about the low morale of the city’s police force after being second-guessed so often.” Boo hoo. How is it that police unions have advanced the narrative that cops are the victims? Dick Wolf “Law and Order” TV shows? Fifty years of TV brainwashing since the debut of “Dragnet?”

It’s a job. Anyone who doesn’t want their gun, badge, and lifetime medical car can quit.

Watch out for the introduction of New York style Stop-and-Frisk in Chicago, Trump is obsessed with it. Since every violation of the concealed carry law is criminal, cops can just arrest licensed armed citizens to pump up their gun seizure stats.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 1:51 pm
Treating violence as a disease has been quite a failure so far.

Comment by Liberty Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 1:53 pm
@LCD

A better job market would certainly help but I don’t think it’s THE answer. You’re assuming everyone of these gang members and wanna-be’s WANT to work. That’s not the case. The gang/criminal lifestyle is societal and multi-generational in some cases. The answer is much more complicated than just creating more jobs.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 1:55 pm
== Boo hoo.==

I’d rather not be so caustic, but it is true that police officers are public servants and should be subject to public scrutiny.

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 2:12 pm
Treating gun violence like a public issue such as disease is a great idea. That is why the NRA has already resisted government funding to adopt this approach — despite evidence suggesting this approach has merit. See below:

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/gun-violence-public-health-issue/

Comment by Scamp640 Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 2:39 pm
Prohibition is catastrophic. We don’t have distributors and retailers killing each other to sell alcohol. Walgreens and CVS don’t kill each other to sell billions in pharmaceuticals. Without the illegal income these gangs would be devastated. Legalize it all. We have the brain power to figure it out. Law enforcement and our courts would oppose it but…

Comment by don the legend Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 2:41 pm
I was expecting Durkin to say, we need to get “tougher.”

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 2:53 pm
Liberty, you got any actual stats that don’t come from the NRA? Numbers I’ve seen would belie your comment.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:04 pm
** There’s no question that easy access to guns in surrounding communities and states, like Indiana, help fuel violent crimes. Will Durkin stand up to Indiana on this? **

Actually it is questionable, because gun buyers have to pass the same federal background checks in Indiana as they do in Illinois. Criminals steal guns from many different sources then sell them out of their trunks in Chicago. There is no mythical Gallery-o-Guns in Hammond where gun-runners can pick up a few guns at wholesale and sell them at retail in Harvey.

Comment by DGD Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:20 pm
The Durkin brothers have all done quite well for themselves and blessed families. I respectively suggest Kevin, Jim and Tom start a family foundation to provide distressed neighborhoods skills training programs and job placement.

Comment by anon. Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:24 pm
== effectiveness of violence disrupters ==

Read Cease Fire lost about $4Million funding. For grins, Quadruple it to $16M.

Ruiner tossed $20M to get elected, $40M last election & $50M seed money for 2018 =~ $110M or about 7 TIMES the cost of Cease Fire quadrupled !

Yeah, like everything else, Rauner really cares: not one bit.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:34 pm
Grandstanding?? in the last 72 hours, durkin co-sponsored and passed with house dem leadership member - the neighborhood safety act that addresses unaddressed crime victim trauma, expands programming in idoc and allows wider use of probation on low risk offenders. profound changes that address the problems in the city of chicago. hardly doing nothing!

Comment by EarlyTymes Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:35 pm
The short answer is NOTHING! Well, maybe blame Madigan.

Comment by ILGOV2018 Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 3:38 pm
–Chicago’s police force is led by Eddie Johnson, an African American

The police are 29% black in a city that is 32% black.

The police are 19% hispanic in a city that is 29% hispanic.–

What in the world is your point? I’m at a loss to even begin to see it.

–I can’t wait to read the report and then the opinion of the incoming administration on the problem and proposed solutions. Should be fascinating to see what the differences are.–

Differences with whom? What in God’s name, are you talking about? Is everything with you, even murder in the streets, some h-a excuse for juvenile, shallow partisanship?

But no worries. Trump told us he knows where to go for “the answer.”

–TRUMP: All I know is this. I went to a top police officer in Chicago who is not the police chief, and he — I could see by the way he was dealing with his people, he was a rough, tough guy, they respected him greatly. I said, how do you think you do it? He said Mr. Trump, within one week we could stop much of this horror show that’s going on.

O’REILLY: But he didn’t tell you exactly precisely how.

TRUMP: No, I didn’t ask him. Because I’m not the mayor of Chicago. But I’ll tell you what. I sent his name in and I said you probably should hire this guy. Because you have, you know, the expression you have nothing to lose. Look at what’s going on in Chicago. It’s horrible. This guy felt totally competent that he could stop it at a very short period of time.–

That obvious b-s, that transparent lying, does it for you, does it?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/08/23/donald-trump-says-chicago-police-could-stop-surging-violence-by-being-much-tougher/?utm_term=.53a9da747b3d

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 4:29 pm
–I talked briefly to Durkin after yesterday’s inauguration and asked if he’d read up on the reported effectiveness of violence disrupters. He didn’t seem too enthused.–

So he can pound the lectern for the cameras, but he won’t take a flyer on a $5 million — “M”, not “B” — program that makes a case for itself, and is actually out on the mean streets face-to-face with the at-risk population?

Can we expect to see Durkin talking tough out at Madison and Cicero on hot nights this summer? Because that’s what the Cease Fire folks were doing.

Seriously, is anyone looking at their data? It’s linked here, just as it has been many times before. If you don’t buy it, make your case.

But spare us the tough talk and fist-pounding from the battlefield of the UIS auditorium.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 4:47 pm
@ Cubs in 16

1) Congrats from a Sox fan

2) True, not all gang members want to leave, get a low-paying job, etc. But I think there’s a critical mass for the community which starts where the majority of kids who would otherwise make such a choice see no chance of doing so. I don’t know how you have a community to fight back with the kind of unemployment estimates I see. That explains why there’s been such an exodus of African-Americans out of the city (at least far more than police brutality and bad schools - again, those had been a presence for many years). I think jobs was/are, at a minimum, the first domino.

Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 5:08 pm
How about giving the residents, especially those with young children, a real chance to move to middle and upper middle class neighborhoods. Yes, it would cost money. But there is recent research
suggesting that families whose kids grow up in more affluent neighborhoods, the longer the better, have better life outcomes. Unfortunately, Chicago residential areas are highly segregated racially and economically. And there are long-term barriers to building affordable housing in more desirable (as to schools, resources, safety) areas. So we continue to pour money into neighborhoods with high concentrations of poor people hoping, foolishly I think, for a miracle.

Comment by cassandra Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 5:22 pm
LP: I really don’t understand your jumping in with racial statistics.

Were you trying to preempt any racial-based arguments related to the report? Let’s just wait and see what it says.

Comment by walker Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 5:22 pm
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/01/12/doj-finds-civil-rights-abuses-chicago-police-department

No surprise here FOP calls the report biased. Consent decree will be negotiated with Trump Justice department.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Jan 12, 17 @ 9:55 pm
The Cops know who the bad guys are and much of the time where they are. What needs to be done can’t be spoken of because no one wants to tackle the the lack of values of life in certain parts of society because someone then has to take the blame. Jobs at Mcburgers ain’t the answer to a 16 year old kid that can make a wad of cash every weekend dealing on the street. All his resume needs to say is he is willing to do whatever it take to keep his turf his. Education, Value and Respect are what are needed. Teach the value of and education teach Respect for yourself and fellow human beings. Teach the value of being a respected and contributing member of society The cycle of drugs turf wars and murder is brutally hard to break and the street crime death toll is no a deterent. Stop blaming guns and go out and enforce the laws that are on the books. Cops will do whats needed to clean up some of the mess but wont get to deep into the weeds when no one has their back. Its time for other segments of society to step up/in and do thier collective jobs. Stop blaming and start doing. Good people need to show kids a path out, not people who are just lining their pockets or feeding thier egos in this perpetual cycle of violence.

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Friday, Jan 13, 17 @ 8:32 am