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Pritzker’s office responds to Pfleger’s “state of emergency” demand

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* We talked yesterday about Father Pfleger’s demand that Gov. Pritzker declare a “state of emergency” over Chicago’s gun violence. I asked the governor’s office for a response. Here it is in full…

Statement

The Governor shares Fr. Pfleger’s sense of urgency. The epidemic of gun violence is a public health crisis that is worsening, and the Governor has taken and is taking action to make communities safer. Since he took office, he has focused on this issue – particularly with significant increases in funding for violence interruption and prevention programs. The Governor also believes that we must focus not only on the end of the cycle, when someone is shot. We must also attack the root causes – poverty and disinvestment – by investing in education, employment, human services and mental health to neighborhoods that have been left out and left behind. The State of Illinois is committed to an equitable and comprehensive short and long term approach to gun violence by investing in programs and strategies that have proven to reduce violence and pathways to good education, careers, and safe communities. The Governor and the General Assembly continue to serve as partners with the city, county governments and the philanthropic community in providing financial and public safety resources to get the job done.

Background

• In his first year in office, Gov. Pritzker increased investments in programs to interrupt and prevent violence by $50 million. In addition, this year’s budget invests $128 million in violence prevention and summer youth employment programs.
• The General Assembly passed and the Governor signed legislation to create an Office of Violence Prevention.
• Under Governor Pritzker’s leadership, the State Police started a gun violence task force. Governor Pritzker is also adding hundreds of new troopers to the depleted ranks of the State Police, building a new state-of-the-art forensics facility to investigate crimes and tackled the rape kit backlog left behind by his predecessor.
• The Governor continues to offer and make available Illinois State Police and has invested in increased state police patrols of the highways, cameras, forensics labs and in reducing evidence backlogs that assist substantially in solving crimes.
• On top of rebuilding our social safety net, the budgets signed by Gov. Pritzker have provided hundreds of millions of additional dollars to local governments and community-based organizations to support vulnerable communities.

FY22 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS:
Directs $1.4 billion for new crucial investments in Illinois businesses, families, and communities, including:

• $570 million for small businesses and impacted industries, including for a $450M Economic Recovery plan with small business grants and workforce recovery investments
• $400 million for public health response to Covid-19, pandemic assistance to health care industry and behavioral health investments
• $160 million for community support centers
• $128 million for violence prevention and summer youth employment and career pathway efforts across the state
• $114 million for affordable housing, supportive housing and homelessness initiatives

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 9:00 am

Comments

What a joke of a response. The violence prevention programs are obviously not working at all. Violent crime is increasing in Chicago and other cities across the state. Just one more area where Jay Bob has failed miserably to improve a fast deteriorating situation.

Comment by Captain Obvious Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 9:19 am
Still don’t know who “Jay Bob” is.

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 9:25 am
Well Captain Obvious, since you seem to think the answers are Obvious, do tell.

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 9:27 am
To the Captain-why is blame placed on everyone else but the shooters and their parents? It must be easy to play pin the blame on game rather than dig in and find solutions.

Comment by Cable Line Beer Gardener Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 9:28 am
=== What a joke of a response.===

Ok. What should the response be?

=== Just one more area where … has failed miserably to improve a fast deteriorating situation.===

This is just gibberish. Being angry to be angry isn’t helpful. As with the QOTD yesterday, what should be done?

To the post,

If there is something that hasn’t been done, needs to be done, should be done, I don’t know a specific thing ignored. What is missing is the second part to a call to action.

The national guard as an occupying force isn’t the answer without a specific mission defined and the rules being clear. That’s if it’s considered feasible, which I’m not seeing

Still stuck with my QOTD response, the Governor’s response is what has actually been done. We’ll see what more will be done.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 9:29 am
===shooters and their parents===

Here they start…the tripe trope to families

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 9:31 am
Captain Oblivious is a better name.

I don’t know what else there is to do from the state level to address the problem. As far as I’m concerned that state is doing all that it can right now unless your one of the morons out there who think that the National Guard should be sent in.

If the answer were easy it would have been done by now.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 9:33 am
==and their parents==

Blaming the parents now are we? Must be nice to live in that ivory tower.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 9:35 am
“Jay Bob”

The satirical chops of a teenager.

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 9:39 am
“The violence prevention programs are obviously not working at all.”

If your concern is with things that “are obviously not working at all” to prevent violence, we must presume that you support defunding policing, rite?

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 9:39 am
Man, the Pritzker faithful are in full effect here today.

Comment by ;) Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 9:47 am
It is important to note that JP was responding to Pleger’s statement. One of the requests Pleger made was to increase funding in various anti violence programs. The statement from JP notes the increased funding for these programs. The issue is that these programs require a lot of time to implement and effect change. We don’t have this time. I am not a police and violence expert so I have no idea on how to solve the issue, I only have my opinion and that is currently a dime a dozen in the cyberverse.

Comment by illinifan Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 9:49 am
=== the Pritzker faithful===

“Sure, Jan”

The reality is the continued unhelpful ideas that folks want to seem smart to what’s happening and seemingly trying to help… but rather want to seem smart adding nothing to the discussion.

Did you have a “solution” I missed?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 9:52 am
“the Pritzker faithful”

Feel better? Pfegler was demanding Pritzker order the Guard to roll into Chicago sans the mayor’s request.

Find the flaw in that plan.

You, and Captain Thinker would be the first to ridicule and criticize when that move resulted in catastrophe.

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 9:57 am
=Blaming the parents now are we?=

The overwhelming majority of parents/parent/families are doing their level best to raise their children right or the best that they can.

Every day (as an educator) I see kids that are misbehaving, even acting criminally even though their parents are engaged and have resources.

The flip side of that is that gang activity and affiliation, in particular, can and often is a multigenerational endeavor. There are parents that need to be held accountable in this epidemic of violence because they are participants. But that is not what the person who posted that is really trying to get at.

As a society we spend too much time expecting the government (in all of its different manifestations) to come in and solve problems. And it is the people’s government after all, so government does have a major role in solving these issues. I am hoping these people demanding government intervention are also trying to do their small part to help as well.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:00 am
-Here they start…the tripe trope to families-

The empirical evidence suggests NRA members who live in the suburbs aren’t getting arrested for shooting up Chicago.

Comment by Ghost of David Hume Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:01 am
==the shooters and their parents==

How about the people who supplied the guns? Assuming of course the guns weren’t legally obtained.

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:10 am
Most violent crime is people lashing out at seeing their honor violated. Violence prevention does require a culture of dignity that doesn’t feel the need to lash out so much, see disrespect so easily

Comment by Blake Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:10 am
What a joke of a response. The violence prevention programs are obviously not working at all.

Do you have a reference for that? All I can find is this reference, which seems to contradict the obvious.

https://capitolfax.com/wp-mobile.php?p=31616&more=1

Comment by Earnest Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:15 am
JB really needs to think out of the box. Perhaps he can support a wealth tax to promote equity and create real opportunity to fix the core problems wealth disparity has created in the United States? His current response, although real and well intentioned, has been tried before with mixed results and seems more like a band aid solution than something that will actually work to decrease violence in a meaningful way in both the short and long terms. The real solutions will require a significant infusion of revenue.

Comment by Kathy Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:20 am
“The violence prevention programs are obviously not working at all.” You mean like how gun violence went up when Rauner cut all the anti-violence programs?

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:33 am
=Most violent crime is people lashing out at seeing their honor violated. Violence prevention does require a culture of dignity that doesn’t feel the need to lash out so much, see disrespect so easily=

The speed now of how disrespect moves around has changed the game. Its instant on Facebook, Snapchat, Tick Tock ect. It creates an equally instant desire to react and often that’s with a gun. The violence interdiction programs can give those individuals the tools to manage that need to answer back. There are a 100 little things that go into many of these shootings - you just need to winnow some of those down and perhaps you stop a few hundred from ever happening and the city winds up much safer and lives are saved (both literal lives and not locking someone up for making a terrible decision)

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:42 am
A number of years ago, I was working closely on a public-private partnership with a major industry with well-paying jobs. One day I met with a Chicago alderman to provide an update on our work. I showed them figures on employment by zip code in the city for this particular industry.

The Alderman asked for a copy and said they would like to share it with residents, particularly young people, to show them that there was hope.

Hope is the main thing missing in the violence-plagued neighborhoods. Hope of a better future, hope of a different way out than violence.

Too bad that is more easily said than done. But violence interruption, economic development and job skills training seem like the right places to start.

Comment by stateandlake Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:59 am
None of this makes a difference if there are no consequences. Ask any cop. Criminals are being let out as fast as they are arrested. Criminals know that.

Comment by Astro Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 11:05 am
== What a joke of a response. The violence prevention programs are obviously not working at all.==

This isn’t obvious at all. Did you think the programs could stop all crime immediately right now? A lot of the mayhem is caused by revenge and vigilante killing. Look at the people in Austin who shot up a house. Any reason they did that? Do people go to shoot up your house?
This is where the violence prevention can really help. But if the violence interrupters don’t know what someone is thinking they can’t approach them.

Comment by Sling Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 11:28 am
What should be done? In my dissertation a few decades ago (1997), I addressed the problem of attracting corporate investments into weak (decrepit?) labor markets, in order to reduce unemployment and blight. Creating healthy labor markets in urban central cities is a key to solving hopelessness and it subsequent state of normlessness. When people have access to family-wage jobs, they are less likely to find alternative, deviant solutions to problems of living.

Given that most work in America still does not require high levels of education or skills, it seems irrational for corporations to avoid urban central city labor markets where surplus labor exists, and thus wages can be inferior. However, why would anyone take such jobs?

One solution would be for Federal and State governments to subsidize (1) job creation where jobs are desperately needed, and (2) subsidize wages for workers in “brown zones” (playing off Al Gore’s theme).

Tax incentives for locating and renovating facilities, as well as tax incentives for operational costs can make such areas more attractive.

Using state and federal funding to supplement minimum wage requirements on corporations to boost worker salaries significantly above the local labor market’s relative “poverty threshold would reduce spending on welfare, housing subsidies, unemployment, etc.

There are win-win solutions to community blight that can simultaneously reduce crime levels.

Comment by H-W Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 11:35 am
== Criminals are being let out as fast as they are arrested. Criminals know that.==
Because there is no evidence because people make a rational decision to not be witnesses because they don’t want to die. Because Illinois State police has a backlog of DNA evidence they have to process, no thanks to Rauner stopping the budget and the police themselves: https://www.wbez.org/stories/excessive-testing-contributes-to-illinois-dna-backlog/69e2c431-c845-4af7-ab7b-ca3d09db1454

Comment by All this Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 11:38 am
Literacy provides a foundation for a life that includes security, stability, and structure. Literacy provides a path forward to college, entry into apprentice programs, and a chance for a stable future.

Students who score in the lowest quartiles through the grades often drop out before graduating high school. Others are victims of social promotion. There may be a correlation between high crime and low literacy. Scores for high schools are on the ISBE website.

In Chicago there are several educational paths: selective enrollment schools, traditional CPS, and charter schools. If students have strong literacy skills in reading and math, they are less likely to drop out and can create a life of structure, connections to their community, and economic stability.

There are no short-term solutions. Without literacy, life becomes overwhelming. Imagine trying to climb a ladder with no rungs. That is a life without literacy.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 11:44 am
all good stuff from the Governor. but we need cooperation between agencies that are not under his control but which could use his leadership to convince them to cooperate. call people to the table. yes it is true that better parenting and stopping the gang banging throw down nonsense would solve the problem but that is a long stretch. a state police task force is not enough. summit.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 11:48 am
The flip side of that is that gang activity and affiliation, in particular, can and often is a multigenerational endeavor. There are parents that need to be held accountable in this epidemic of violence because they are participants. But that is not what the person who posted that is really trying to get at.

That is exactly what I was trying to get at-I didn’t phrase it well. So can we stop the pile on?

Comment by Cable Line Beer Gardener Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 12:03 pm
You mean like how gun violence went up when Rauner cut all the anti-violence programs?

As you all say, Governor’s own. JB has been Governor for nearly three years now. He owns this. Lightfoot owns this. Your democrat super majority owns this.

Comment by Birds on the Bat Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 12:12 pm
Working on the effects rather than the cause is like trying to kick water uphill…race and class based poverty…unequal access to goods and services…could be addressed by a guaranteed income.

Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 12:14 pm
== Did you think the programs could stop all crime immediately right now?==
Where is Harry Potter and his magic wand when we need him?

Comment by Fly like an eagle Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 12:55 pm
“Because there is no evidence because people make a rational decision to not be witnesses because they don’t want to die. Because Illinois State police has a backlog of DNA evidence they have to process, no thanks to Rauner stopping the budget and the police themselves:” No its because of the States Attorney is not prosecuting and the so-called bail reform politicians who have a revolving door on the lockup. Only need to look at Kim Foxx’s refusal to prosecute the gang members caught on tape shooting at each other. She charged nobody

Comment by Astro Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 1:26 pm
== The empirical evidence suggests NRA members who live in the suburbs aren’t getting arrested for shooting up Chicago.==

The empirical evidence is that all these “good guys with guns” are stupidly letting their guns get “borrowed” or “stolen.” All guns start out legal when the go from the factory to the guns store.

Comment by Sling Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 1:27 pm
=== Only need to look at Kim Foxx’s refusal to prosecute the gang members caught on tape shooting at each other. She charged nobody.===
Oh you mean those people who we had no evidence to lock up? The Chicago Police Department’s chief of detectives, Brendan Deenihan, says there’s insufficient evidence. So bring people to trial and then let them go after they get acquitted?

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 1:37 pm
== As you all say, Governor’s own. ==
I never said that, but you could call getting the DNA backlog down a way to “own” I guess.

Comment by All this Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 1:44 pm
===As you all say, Governor’s own.===

Narrator: Pritzker, the governor, responded.

If the goal is to point fingers and blame instead of trying to help find solutions, - Birds on the Bat - is showing how to be unhelpful… as the governor owns his response.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 1:47 pm
“As you all say, Governor’s own.” Yes, but you completely missed my point. The original assertion was that anti-violence programs were useless. I offered a data point to show that indeed they are not.

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 1:53 pm
=== Because there is no evidence because people make a rational decision to not be witnesses because they don’t want to die.===
Illinois has a witness protection program that was sponsored by Chris Welch, Public Act 98- 0058, since July 1, 2013.
But not everyone wants to leave their friends and family, church and jobs.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 2:28 pm
Chicago (population and shooting victims) by race

White (49% of population, 3% of victims)
Hispanic (28.8% of population, 14% of victims)
African-American (29% of population, 82% of victims)

Comment by Downstate Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 2:47 pm
Oops. Hispanic (17% of population, 14% of victims)

Comment by Downstate Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 2:50 pm
- Downstate -

Since it’s race, no need to protect the Loop or Michigan Avenue… demographically?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 2:55 pm
“Chicago (population and shooting victims) by race.”
Not sure why you felt compelled to write this. Every human being in my brother. Every shooting victim a tragedy.

Comment by Mayo sandwich Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:31 pm
“Violence Interrupters” have been panned in the research.

There are other strategies that have been shown to work.

All you need to do is Google “crime prevention” and “Randomized Control Trial” and you will find everything from better policing strategies to converting abandoned lots into gardens.

You just won’t see “violence interrupters” there.

Comment by Policy Counts Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:32 pm
Google? You mean the same place where I can find out that mermaids exist? https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3ctlxj

Comment by Mr Green Genes Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:52 pm
With this Supreme Court, the guns will only increase

Comment by Uptown Girl Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 4:06 pm
Is there a point to your post @Downstate?

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 4:13 pm
“and the so-called bail reform politicians who have a revolving door on the lockup.”
You aren’t aware that bail reform starts Jan 2023?

Comment by Mr Green Genes Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 4:17 pm
Until violent felons are guaranteed lengthy prison terms for their crimes, and not released on bail prior to trial where strong evidence (such as video or photos) shows them to be a danger to the community, as allowed by the Illinois Constitution. Catch-and-release liberal policies are shown to fail, just as they did in other Democratic strongholds. We should no longer find felons out of state with EM bracelets on doing other crimes, let alone the ones they do within Illinois.

Comment by thisjustinagain Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 4:38 pm
= Is there a point to your post @Downstate?=
Ugh. Maybe she/he is saying some victims are more equal than others?

Comment by Abby Normal Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 4:58 pm
“where strong evidence”
How many shootings have “strong evidence?” Isn’t that the problem?
May as well say if you find the golden ticket you’ll go to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.

Comment by Mr. Green Genes Friday, Oct 15, 21 @ 5:59 am
== Until violent felons are guaranteed lengthy prison terms for their crimes, and not released on bail prior to trial where strong evidence (such as video or photos)==
Can you cite proof of that ever happening?

Comment by Fly like an eagle Friday, Oct 15, 21 @ 7:45 am
===Can you cite proof===

Currently popular and false rumor on Facebook.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 15, 21 @ 7:47 am