JOILET, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The City of Joliet is taking steps to build a new park in an effort to drive out a group of sex offenders.
There are currently six registered sex offenders living in an apartment house on Cora Street in Joliet.
An Illinois law had barred multiple sex offenders from living in the same building, but a federal judge issued an injunction after many convicted sex offenders struggled to find housing after their release from prison.
Earlier this year, Lake Zurich-based organization NewDay Apartments bought a building in the Cunningham neighborhood and moved in several registered sex offenders.
“I understand what the intention was, but the effect is something that we're not going to tolerate here in Joliet,” said Mayor Bob O’Dekirk. “This is a working class neighborhood, it's a diverse neighborhood, and I think it's really outrageous that a company from Lake Zurich decided to do this in Joliet.”
During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, O’Dekirk announced plans for the city to purchase a house near the apartment, tear it down and turn it into a public park.
“It would put those offenders in violation of [another] Illinois law, which does not have an injunction on it, saying that they can't be within 500 feet of a park,” O’Dekirk said.
An attorney for NewDay has defended the program, telling the Herald-News that residents at the Joliet apartment house are under supervision by the Illinois Department of Corrections, wear GPS monitors, and attend mandatory therapy.
The Joliet City Council is expected to vote on the proposal early in August.
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