CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The 2023 Women’s Mayoral Forum brought candidates to the Chicago Temple in the Loop, where mayoral hopefuls pitched solutions to key issues. Chief among them: Crime.
The Chicago Police Department said there were fewer shootings and murders in 2022 compared to 2021. Officials said overall crime, though, increased nearly 30%.
Below, find the responses from eight of Chicago’s nine mayoral candidates — Illinois Rep. Kam Buckner did not participate. The candidates have been listed in alphabetical order.
A stream of the two-hour forum, which also included questions about reproductive rights, equity in the workplace, and more, has been embedded in the body of this story.
U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia
U.S. Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia said he would modernize the Chicago Police Department and accelerate full consent decree implementation while seeking out a new superintendent.
“It’s been five years,” Garcia said. “We have fallen way too short of the recommendations and the court order that requires that implementation.”
Ja’Mal Green
Activist Ja’Mal Green said he would seek alternatives to policing.
“We are going to address public safety holistically and attack the root causes of public safety in this city,” he said. “That means we are going to invest into people and invest into community.”
Green added that he would build a pipeline for youth into middle-class jobs.
Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson
Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson pitched a similar approach and said he would require city agencies to hire at-risk youth while encouraging business owners to do the same.
“There’s a direct correlation between youth employment and violent reduction,” Johnson said. “So, I’m going to have the largest youth summer hiring program that’s going to be extended year-round, to ensure that young people see themselves and that we are actually valuing them.”
Ald. Sophia King (4th)
Ald. Sophia King (4th) said crime is the Number One, Two, and Number Three issue in the city right now. She said increased police presence isn’t the only solution.
“Violence intervention is also a huge part of our plan,” King said. “We want to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on violence intervention.”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot
Incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot agreed with King that a law enforcement-first-and-only strategy does not work.
“Not just law enforcement, but going into the communities that are most plagued by violence and asking people who are closest to the challenge: ‘What is the solution?’” Lightfoot said.
Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th)
Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th) said the first thing he would do, if elected, would be to look for a new police superintendent.
“Someone that has the support of the community, the support of the rank and file, someone that can advise us on the proper strategies to do what’s necessary,” Sawyer said.
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Paul Vallas
Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas said he would push the return of a beat cop strategy.
“Officers who know the people in the community and officers who are known to the individuals in the communities,” Vallas said.
Dr. Willie Wilson
Businessman Willie Wilson said he would remove restrictions placed on the police.
“I would use common sense,” Wilson said. “A person that runs when they commit a crime; I would give that police officer a right to track them down and chase them down.”
Wilson added that he would push to have four police superintendents — not just one.
Earlier this month, mayoral candidates outlined plans to bring accessibility and Chicago’s affordable housing.
Chicago’s mayoral election will take place on Feb. 28.
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