Mayor Brandon Johnson has expressed support for a revised curfew ordinance aimed at preventing violent teen takeovers, following a fatal incident last November when 14-year-old Armani Floyd was shot and killed during an unruly gathering in Millennium Park.
The new ordinance, drafted by Public Safety Chair Brian Hopkins, differs significantly from the snap curfew that Johnson vetoed last year. The revised version empowers Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling to declare a four-hour curfew with 12 hours' notice, but with more safeguards in place, including social media accountability measures.
Johnson acknowledged that there were constitutional concerns surrounding the previous proposals, but said he is "more confident" about this one, citing thoughtfulness behind its creation. However, he emphasized that a curfew should not be seen as the only solution to invest in young people, and made it clear that his administration will continue to explore alternative strategies.
The revised ordinance's passage was welcomed by Hopkins and Ald. William Hall, who sponsored the bill alongside Johnson. Hall cited the impact of Armani Floyd's funeral on his views, saying he wants to prevent similar tragedies from occurring. However, Hall noted that there may be tweaks needed before a final vote next week, including addressing concerns about detaining or dispersing young people during curfews.
Hall also expressed disappointment with Meta, one of the major social media platforms, for not cooperating on his plan to penalize companies that refuse to take down notices related to teen gatherings. TikTok, on the other hand, has reportedly engaged with Hall's efforts.
The new ordinance, drafted by Public Safety Chair Brian Hopkins, differs significantly from the snap curfew that Johnson vetoed last year. The revised version empowers Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling to declare a four-hour curfew with 12 hours' notice, but with more safeguards in place, including social media accountability measures.
Johnson acknowledged that there were constitutional concerns surrounding the previous proposals, but said he is "more confident" about this one, citing thoughtfulness behind its creation. However, he emphasized that a curfew should not be seen as the only solution to invest in young people, and made it clear that his administration will continue to explore alternative strategies.
The revised ordinance's passage was welcomed by Hopkins and Ald. William Hall, who sponsored the bill alongside Johnson. Hall cited the impact of Armani Floyd's funeral on his views, saying he wants to prevent similar tragedies from occurring. However, Hall noted that there may be tweaks needed before a final vote next week, including addressing concerns about detaining or dispersing young people during curfews.
Hall also expressed disappointment with Meta, one of the major social media platforms, for not cooperating on his plan to penalize companies that refuse to take down notices related to teen gatherings. TikTok, on the other hand, has reportedly engaged with Hall's efforts.
... a four-hour curfew might seem like a good idea on paper but it's just another attempt to control the youth without actually addressing the root causes of these problems 
. I mean, 12 hours notice? What if it's already happening and the cops can't react in time? It feels like we're just sweeping this under the rug instead of really tackling the systemic issues that lead to these tragedies 
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. Like, are they gonna actually hold those companies accountable or is it just a fancy PR stunt? And what about the kids who aren't on TikTok or Meta? Are we really gonna punish them for something they didn't do? It's so unfair 
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honestly gotta wonder what's the actual plan here tho? They're trying to crack down on unruly teens but they know social media is where the chaos happens 
meta's been a major no-show and now tiktok's like the cool kid, lol 
meanwhile, you got cops empowered to just declare curfews willy-nilly... 4 hours notice? that's super helpful for planning a party 
can't wait to see how this all plays out in practice 
. But, let's be real, a four-hour curfew might not always work out as planned. What if people have school or other commitments? Or what if it disproportionately affects certain communities?
. We need to support our youth in a more holistic way, like after-school programs and mentorship initiatives 
. But, let's not forget about the bigger picture here...
it's not like a curfew is gonna magically solve the problem, you know? 
... who doesn't love a good hashtag crackdown? 
but seriously, can we please prioritize community engagement and education over just slapping on some new rules?! 
. The thing that really gets me is that nobody's talking about what's actually causing these incidents in the first place...
. I get what they're trying to do, but I don't think this is the answer. 14-year-old Armani Floyd's death was a tragedy, no doubt, but we need to be careful not to punish an entire generation of teens for something that wasn't their fault. 
. I remember when I was a kid, we had curfews too, but they were way more strict and often enforced unfairly. Now that the mayor is revising the ordinance, I hope it's not just about appeasing social media companies. What's wrong with having some real accountability for what's happening online? It feels like we're getting caught up in a cycle of tech giants trying to silence each other instead of actually making progress on public safety.
. We need to get at the root of what's causing these violent gatherings in the first place, not just slap a curfew on it. Let's hope the mayor's administration is willing to take a more comprehensive approach this time around 
... but I'm not holding my breath 
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