CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Mayor Brandon Johnson opposes a bid to move up the curfew for unaccompanied minors downtown in the wake of a violent attack on a couple last month.
Calling it a knee-jerk reaction that would lead to greater criminalization, the mayor said he does not support a proposal to extend the curfew from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Central Business District.
Johnson told the Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board that data shows arbitrary curfews do not lead to favorable results and, instead, wants to focus on jobs and safe spaces for young people.
Alderman Brian Hopkins told the paper he’s going ahead with plans to introduce it at Wednesday’s City Council meeting.
Hopkins came up with the idea after a couple was beaten by a group of teens in Streeterville two weeks ago. A 14-year-old boy and 17-year-old girl have been charged with battery in the case.
Hopkins called studies rejecting the value of such curfews as “academic fraud.”
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