[in-person] 16th Police District Council - Jefferson Park/Portage Park/O'Hare

Criminal Justice

Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024
6:30 p.m. — 7:30 p.m. CST

5051 W Gunnison St Chicago, IL 60630 (Directions)

Eden United Church of Christ

This is an in-person assignment and will include an additional hour of pay. PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK the meeting details on the day of your assignment, as dates and locations sometimes change.

Pre-Research Resources

City Bureau: “Can the Neighbors We Elect to Police District Councils Redefine Public Safety?”
City Bureau” “Chicago’s New Police District Councils, 4 Months In”
Find My Beat and District: Interactive map of police district boundaries
Chicago Reader/Block Club Chicago: Information about the candidates who ran for this council in the municipal elections
The TRiiBE: “ECPS coalition wins a wide majority of Chicago’s new Police District Council seats”

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Kelli Smith

What happens to revenue from red light and speed camera tickets?

View notes

Live reporting by Briana Madden

What happens to revenue from red light and speed camera tickets?

Bri Madden @newagehippie_

Hello Chicago! I’ll be live-tweeting tonight’s meeting of the 16th Police District Council (Jefferson Park/Portage Park/O'Hare) for #CHIdocumenters
@CHIdocumenters

06:08 PM Jan 9, 2024 CST

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 2/31

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30-7:30pm at Eden United Church of Christ (5051 W Gunnison St).
A copy of the provided agenda is pictured here:

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 3/31

(1/2) From the Municipal Code of Chicago via @CHIdocumenters: "Each of the 22 District Councils is made up of three people elected by residents of the police district in regular municipal elections every four years, though anyone can participate in District Council work... "

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 4/31

@CHIdocumenters (2/2) " ...the more people who participate, the more effective the District Councils can be. The first District Council elections occurred in February 2023. Just as Chicagoans vote for a mayor and a local ward Alderperson, they also vote for up to three people to serve... "

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 5/31

@CHIdocumenters The meeting is called to order at 6:35pm. Sen. @robertmartwick is in the building, as well as 3 Council members and 17 members of the public.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 6/31

A citizen named Pete speaks during the time allowed for public comment. They said that the October, November and December meetings of the 16th District failed to uphold the responsibilities listed on its own website.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 7/31

An audience member asks if the Council will respond to the public comment and is told, "We're good."
Another audience member says there should be an acknowledgement that there has been good information passed on in previous meetings.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 8/31

The minutes from the last meeting on 12/12/23 are approved.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 9/31

Council member Colleen announces that applications are now open for the upcoming Community Commission for Public Safety election on February 7.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 10/31

Interviews will be conducted from February 8 through March 8 to nominate 14 people. The Mayor should then select 7 people and the City Council must approve.
More info here:

news.wttw.com/2024/01/08/pus…

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 11/31

A member of the Council makes a comment about police:
"Their every day is your worst day… We expect them to be a superhero. But the fact is they’re human… I think it’s hard to not be numbed… We should all be concerned about the mental health of our first responders."

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 12/31

Sen. @robertmartwick begins speaking, saying he plans to give a 2023 legislative update as it relates to policing.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 13/31

@robertmartwick Martwick says we all know red light & speed cameras came with their fair share of corruption, and that House Bill 3903 is an effort to fight that. He takes a poll asking who likes these & only Pete raises their hand.
This summary of the legislation was proved by the Senator.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 14/31

@robertmartwick Another audience member asks what happens to the revenue from these cameras. Martwick says that happens on a local level, and the Council agrees to find out how Chicago spends these funds.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 15/31

@robertmartwick The next topic is vehicle theft. An audience member says this is a serious issue that should carry automatic jail time.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 16/31

@robertmartwick Martwick says the state has been investing money in license plate readers & automatic cameras to track these people. “Last year the arrest rate [for car jackers] in the city of Chicago was 3%,” he said.
The Senator says we have to give the police more tools to make arrests.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 17/31

@robertmartwick The next topic is House Bill 2412. Sen. Marwick says the historic response to crime has been “reactionary.”
He says the idea is to use state police to gather and distribute information to local police agencies to prevent crime instead.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 18/31

@robertmartwick The next topic is the police pension fund.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 19/31

@robertmartwick Sen. @robertmartwick on the changes to police pensions, re: Senate Bill 1956

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 20/31

@robertmartwick “These are all good and well, but where are you gonna get the resources to actually implement these things?” says an audience member, referencing recent protests against the genocide in Gaza that have blocked major roadways and potential police patrols.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 21/31

@robertmartwick Martwick responds, reiterating that he believes police need more resources to be able to address crime. He also says we need to address police recruiting and retention.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 22/31

@robertmartwick The next topic is covid disability benefits. “We have to presume that your covid was work-related, and you’re entitled to your disability,” says Martwick on this bill.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 23/31

@robertmartwick Martwick says the Veteran’s Amendment is basically to encourage former military members to join the IL State Police.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 24/31

@robertmartwick Upon the completion of the recap, Pete asks again where the information is on police accountability, which he says this Council is charged with.
Martwick says, "While its not accountability, criminal justice reform includes the [abolition of cash bail]... "

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 25/31

@robertmartwick Martwick says the Pretrial Fairness Act is working as intended, including lowering the populations of jails. Illinois is one of the first states to enact this change.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 26/31

@robertmartwick Sen @robertmartwick says the legislation is still a work in progress.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 27/31

@robertmartwick Several members of the public argue that crime is “outrageous,” citing “retail theft” that they liken to “gang and mob activity” downtown on the “former Magnificent Mile.”
People are being "raped, mugged, burglarized, car-jacked and robbed with impunity," says a citizen.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 28/31

@robertmartwick Martwick says it doesn't matter if we "hang them from their heels from the Picasso," as long as arrest rates remain low.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 29/31

@robertmartwick Resources on the Pretrial Fairness Act were provided by Sen. Martwick:

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 30/31

@robertmartwick Two Council members lament the limitations they face as a governing body, including not being able to attend other District Council meetings.

Bri Madden @newagehippie_ 31/31

@robertmartwick The meeting is abruptly adjourned at 7:40pm.
The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 13 at Merrimac Park.

View thread

Agency Information

Chicago Police District Councils

See meeting notes for details

www.chicago.gov

See Documenters reporting

Each of the 22 District Councils is made up of three people elected by residents of the police district in regular municipal elections every four years, though anyone can participate in District Council work, and the more people who participate, the more effective the District Councils can be. The first District Council elections occurred in February 2023. Just as Chicagoans vote for a mayor and a local ward Alderperson, they also vote for up to three people to serve on the District Council.

The District Councils have several key roles:

Building stronger connections between the police and the community at the district level, where the community is a true partner in making the neighborhood safer. They can work with the police to address problems and set priorities.
Collaborating in the development and implementation of community policing initiatives.
Holding monthly public meetings, where residents can work on local initiatives rooted in community concerns and priorities. They can also raise and work to address concerns about policing in the district, and increase accountability.
Working with the community to get input on police department policies and practices. Working to develop and expand restorative justice and similar programs in the police district.
Ensuring that the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability gets input from the community, so that the Commission’s work will be based on what people in neighborhoods across the city are concerned about.
Nominating members of the Community Commission. Anyone who serves on the Community Commission must first have the support of elected District Council members.

(Source: Municipal Code of Chicago, 2-80-070(a) and (e))

For a map of police districts, visit https://www.chicagocityscape.com/maps/index.php#/?places_type=chipolicedistrict.