CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago aldermen have heard an earful about how the city’s social services—or lack of them—play a role in the violence plaguing the neighborhoods.
A joint City Council committee heard from activists like JiTu Brown, head of the Journey for Justice Alliance, who said joblessness and a lack of things like mental health services set the stage for street violence.
"These children that are carjacking now, are the children of privatization, they are the children of school closings, they are the children of inequity over the last 10 years," he said.
Ric Estrada, CEO of Metropolitan Family Services, said money from the federal relief funds headed this way could help correct the imbalances.
"We have an opportunity to make a generational change. We have an opportunity with resources coming to the City of Chicago, the county of Cook, the State of Illinois, and our country in general," Estrada said.
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Alderman Nick Sposato asked if jobs will stop crime.
"If certain areas need jobs to stop the crime and if we bombard those areas with jobs, the crime should go away, I would guess. Does anyone have an answer for that?" Ald. Sposato said.
Glen Brooks, the Chicago Police Department’s Director of Public Engagement, said maybe not, but more jobs could help reduce the crime.
"What's important here is that crime might not be stopped, but what we do know is by offering jobs, we mitigate the level of crimes," he said.
And a number of aldermen made it clear they don’t want more relief money going to the police.
But, Norman Kerr, acting Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, assured them the focus is on the community.
"We've been working across our departments as well to maximize the opportunities we offer to youth this summer and supporting city and community organizations," Kerr said.
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