[remote or in-person] Committee on Public Safety

Politics

Monday, Sept. 9, 2024
10:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. CDT

121 N LaSalle St Chicago, IL 60602 (Directions)

The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago and consists of the Mayor and Aldermen elected from each of the City’s fifty wards. Source

If you attend a meeting in person, be prepared to go through a security checkpoint and show photo ID.

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At this link, scroll down to “Meeting Notices.” Look for “Watch now” and click on the link with the meeting title to go to a livestream page. If you don’t see a link for the meeting, you may be early or the meeting may be starting late. Wait a few moments and try refreshing your Internet tab.

Recordings of past City Council meetings may be found here: https://vimeo.com/user100351763/videos/sort:date.

See also: “What to Expect at a Meeting of Chicago’s City Council” via the Better Government Association.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Anson Tong

The impending end of the ShotSpotter contract extension is a contentious issue

View notes

Live reporting by Ahmad Sayles

The impending end of the ShotSpotter contract extension is a contentious issue

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles

Good morning! I’ll be live-tweeting Chicago City Council’s Committee on Public Safety meeting for @CHIdocumenters #CHIdocumenters. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. 🧵

10:31 AM Sep 9, 2024 CDT

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 2/22

Agenda here:

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 3/22

Chair Hopkins (2) calls the meeting to order. A quorum is met. He reminds the public of their rights to speak but also reminds them to not use profane language or disrupt the meeting or they will be removed and barred from attending meetings.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 4/22

The public comment period begins. The first speaker is a pastor who’s speaking in favor of CPD using Shotspotter technology.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 5/22

The next public speaker is alleging that asylum seekers are taking resources and starting gangs in the city. He threatens political consequences for politicians who support people needing shelter.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 6/22

Several public speakers are seemingly offended by Chair Hopkin's request to not use hateful rhetoric in public meetings. George Blakemore has been removed from the meeting for violating the rules set out by the Chair.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 7/22

A 10-minute recess has started to remove George Blackmore from the chambers.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 8/22

Chair Hopkins reconvenes the meeting.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 9/22

Chair Hopkins has started a presentation that shows data that supports Shotspotter improving response time by the police.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 10/22

Fmr. CPD Superintendent Johnson begins his presentation on the importance of Shotspotter technology in areas with high shootings. He says the technology has helped CPD get to gunshot victims 2 1/2 minutes quicker.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 11/22

Fmr. CPD Superintendent Johnson says “I hope one day that CPD doesn’t need 14,000 cops or shotspotter technology but we need it today.” Chair Hopkins opens discussion to council members.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 12/22

Ald. Lopez (15) says “Shotspotter technology isn’t about violence prevention; it’s about detection.” He wants to use it as a tool in constitutional policing.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 13/22

Chair Hopkins (2) reminds the chamber that this is a subject matter hearing and that no actions shall take place.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 14/22

Ald. Tabares (23) speaks in favor of Shotspotter and says her community supports the technology. “Listen to the residents”.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 15/22

Ald. Beale (9) says “We spend hundreds of millions on migrants but we’re not willing to money to save lives.” He supports Shotspotter.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 16/22

Ald. Sigcho-Lopez (25) says that Shotspotter has led to over-policing in Black and brown communities. He wants the committee to consider the inspector general’s report that shows discrepancies between the shootings reported by Shotspotter Technology and OEMC.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 17/22

Ald. Scott (24) supports Shotspotter. She hopes that the contract is renewed before the expiration on Sept. 22nd.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 18/22

Fmr. CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson is speaking to and answering questions from the council on behalf of the lobbyist-led website . Chair Hopkins said CPD was aware of the hearing but chose not to participate. saveshotspotter.com

saveshotspotter.com

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 19/22

Ald. Moore (17) says that “over-policing is BS.” he says that Shotspotter prevents over-policing.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 20/22

Ald. Lee (11) says that she and the police in her ward support Shotspotter.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 21/22

With no further business before the committee, Chair Hopkins calls the meeting adjourned.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 22/22

The Chicago City Council’s Committee on Public Safety meeting ends at 1:10 p.m. This ends my coverage for @chidocumenters, find more information through Anson Tong’s notes at chicago.documenters.org

chicago.documenters.org

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Agency Information

Chicago City Council

chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov

(312) 744-3166

@ChiCouncil

See Documenters reporting

The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago and consists of the Mayor and Aldermen elected from each of the City’s fifty wards. Source

If you attend a meeting in person, be prepared to go through a security checkpoint and show photo ID.

Meetings are also livestreamed at https://www.chicityclerk.com/.

Recordings of past City Council meetings may be found here: https://vimeo.com/user100351763/videos/sort:date.

See also: “What to Expect at a Meeting of Chicago’s City Council” via the Better Government Association.