MayorRahmEmanuelsPublicSafetyAddress

(aspreparedfordeliveryonSeptember22,2016atMalcolmXCollege)

Iwanttothankyouforcomingthisevening.IespeciallywanttothankChancellor
HymanandMalcolmXCollegeforhostingus.

Today,IwanttohaveaconversationwiththepeopleofChicagoaboutanissuethat
weighsheavilyonallofus.

GunviolenceinChicagoisunacceptable.

Itthreatenseverythingwehavedonetogetherandalloftheprogresswehavemade
inotherareas.Itispullingusapartattheverymomentwhenourcityneedstocome
together.

Whenasixyearoldgirlplayingonherporchwithherfamilyisshot,orthesonofa
policeofficerhomefromcollegeonsummerbreakismurderedonhisfrontstoop,or
anantiviolenceactivistisgunneddownwhileplayingvideogamesathisfriends
house,oranArmyveteranwhomentorsatriskyouthattheYMCAiskilledinhiscar
atnight,ourheartsaretorn.

ForallthethingsthatmakeChicagogreat,forallthethingsthatmakeusproudto
callourselvesChicagoans,theviolencethatishappeningcorrodesourcore.Itisnot
theChicagoweknowandlove.

Justovertwoyearsago,shootingsandmurdersinChicagowereonasteady,
downwardslide.Theywerereducedtoalevelourcityhadnotseensince1965.

Today,thathopefultrendhasbeenreversed.

AsbigaproblemasgunviolenceisforChicago,itisnotbeyondourabilitytosolve.
Endingthisstringoftragediesisourtoppriorityasacity.

Weareinfusingourpolicedepartmentwiththemanpower,technologyandtraining
tomeetthischallengeheadon.

Butwhilewearegoingtoaddsignificantresources,nothingwillmatchtheresource
ofanofficerknowingthattheneighborhoodtheyworkinsupportstheworkthey
do.

Fightingcrimerequiresapartnershipbetweenthepoliceandthecommunity.And
weallknowthatthispartnershiphasbeentestedinChicago.Itisaproblemthathas
festeredinthiscityfordecades.TheshootingofLaquanMcDonaldbroughtittothe
breakingpoint.


Iknow,andSuperintendentJohnsonandhisteamknow,thatwewillnotsucceedin
turningbacktherisingtideofviolencewithoutchangingandrebuildingcritical
relationshipswiththecommunity,especiallycommunitiesofcolor.

UnderSuperintendentJohnsonsleadership,ourpolicedepartmentisonapathto
earntherespectofeverycommunityintheCityofChicago.

Overthepastmonths,Chicagohasbeenmakingsteadyprogressonour
commitmenttotransparencyandaccountability.

Everyofficerwillhaveabodycamerabynextyear,andeveryofficerhasalready
beentrainedandequippedwithaTaser.

Thepolicedepartmentcreatedanewtrainingrequirementthatplacesofficersin
livescenariosthathelppreparethemtocalmvolatilesituations.

Wearereformingthewaypolicerespondtoindividualswithmentalillnesstotreat
itasahealthconcern,notacriminalconcern.

Wehavenewprotocolsinplaceforthetimelyreleaseofpolicevideos.

Weareintheprocessofreplacingtheindependentagencythatinvestigatespolice
misconductwithaneworganizationwiththetoolstoensurerealaccountability
whenwrongdoingoccurs.

Wearefullycommittedtoadoptingacitizenoversightboardthatwillprovidea
strongandactivevoiceforthecommunity.

Weasacitywillnotwaveruntiltrusthasbeenrestoredandthebreachbetweenour
policeandresidentshasbeenmended,becausedoingsoisessentialtopublicsafety.

ButIwanttobefrank.Weallknowfromourownexperiencesinourownlivesthat
adoptingchangeishard.Itisespeciallyhardwhenthatchangeissignificant.

Whilethesechangesarebeingimplementedwearesimultaneouslyaskingour
officerstoserveinveryperiloussituationswithalotofillegalgunsandemboldened
gangsonthestreets.

Theyneedoursupport.Andtheyknowtheyneedtoearnthepublicstrust.

TheoverwhelmingnumberofpoliceofficersinChicagoaredoinggoodworkunder
difficultconditions.Theyputtheirlivesonthelineeverydayinsituationsnoneofus
canfullycomprehendorappreciate.


WhenItalktoChicagoanswholiveinourmostviolenceproneneighborhoods,they
donothatethepolice.Infact,theytellmetheywantmorecopsandfewergangs.

Theydonotwantmoreofficersincars,justdrivingthroughtheircommunities.
Theywantofficersonthebeatintheirneighborhoods.

TherearetoomanyseniorcitizensandgoodresidentsinChicagowhoaresickand
tiredofhavingtowalkseveralblocksoutoftheirwaywhentheyleavetheirhomes
justtoavoidthegangsanddrugdealersonthestreetcorner.

Intoomanycommunitiesparentscannotevenlettheirchildrenplayoutsideforfear
ofastraybullet.Theyhavetoteachtheirchildrenhowtoreactwhentheyhearthe
alltoocommonsoundofgunfire.

Theywantmorepoliceonthestreetwhoknowandrespecttheresidentsoftheir
neighborhoods.

AsIhavesaidbefore,andIwanttorepeattoday:respectisatwowaystreet.

Therecanbenopermissionslipforpeopletauntingpoliceofficerstryingtosolvea
crimeintheircommunity.Andtherecanbenopassforofficersbelittlingacitizen
whohasturnedtothemforhelp.Bothofwhichwehaveseeninrecentvideos.

Everyoneofushasaroletoplayinrebuildingthevitalpartnershipbetweenour
policeandthecommunity.Weallhavetoholdourselves,andeachother,toahigher
standard.

SotodayIamcallingonallChicagoanstojoininacomprehensiveplantoconfront
gunviolence.

Nomatterwhoyouare,whatyourbackgroundis,whereyouliveinChicago,this
fightbelongstoallofus.

Nowtherearethreepathswemusttaketoconfrontthischallenge.Thereis
enforcement,thereisinvestment,andthereisprevention.Andeachisdependent
ontheothers.

Ontheenforcementside,weneedmorepoliceofficersonthestreetsofour
neighborhoods.

SuperintendentJohnsonknowswhatheneedsforthepolicedepartmenttobe
successful.Hehasastrategyforfightingtherecentupsurgeingangandgun
violencewhichisintegratedintoourbroaderstrategyforpublicsafety.Anda
componentofthatstrategyincludesmoreofficersonthestreets.


Thatiswhymybudgetwillcontainthefirstinstallmentofatwoyearplantohire
500morepoliceofficers.Theseofficerswillbeassigneddirectlytothestreetsofour
communities,toworkwiththeirresidentsinapartnershipagainstviolence.

Wearealsomakingasignificantinvestmentinourtrainingacademyandadding
nearly100newfieldtrainingofficers.

Tomakesurethatourbeatofficershavetheoversightanddirectiontheyneed,
SuperintendentJohnsonwillbepromotingdozensofnewsergeantsfromamonghis
currentofficers.Thesenewsergeantsknowthestreets.Theirexperienceand
leadershipwillhelpguideourofficersonthebeat,whethertheyarerookiesor
veterans.

Butouradditionalpersonnelwillnotbelimitedtobeatofficers.Asthe
Superintendentannouncedjustyesterday,overthenexttwoyearswewillalsohire
200moredetectivestoworkinourviolentcrimeandhomicideunits.

Aswehireandpromotenewofficers,sergeants,lieutenantsanddetectiveswewill
beguidedbytherecognitionthatourpolicedepartmentneedstoreflectthe
communitiesitserves.

Evenwiththesenewresources,ourpolicedepartmentcannottacklethislaw
enforcementchallengealone.Weneedtoenhanceourpartnershipwithfederal
agenciesthathelpusfightcrimeincludingtheUSAttorney,FBI,DEA,ATF,andUS
Marshals.

SoasIaskourpolicedepartmenttostepupanddomore,Iaskourfederalpartners
todothesame.

Tohelpourpoliceofficersdotheirjobsbetter,wearealsogoingtoinvestin
stateofthearttechnology.

InadditiontobodycamerasandTasersforeveryofficer,wearefundingthe
placementofnewgunshottracingcamerasinourmostviolentpolicedistricts.
Thesecameraswillhelpourofficersrespondmorequicklytoshootingswhile
providingevidencetohelpidentifyandconvictviolentoffenders.

Andwhentheseshootersareapprehendedandconvicted,wearegoingtomake
suretheystartservingthetimethatequalstheircrime.

EveryoneofuswassickenedbytherecentmurderofNykeaAldridgewhileshe
pushedababycarriagedownthestreettoregisterherchildrenatDulles
ElementarySchool,happilydoingwhataparentdoesintheclosingdaysofsummer.


Whatmakesitevenworseisthathermurdermighthavebeenpreventedifthe
allegedperpetratorshadbeengiventhesentencestheydeserveforpriorcrimes.

ThetwobrotherschargedwithNykeasmurderwerebothrepeatviolentoffenders
outonparole.OnewasreleasedjusttwoweeksbeforeNykeawasshot.Theother
brother,convictedofmultiplegunoffenses,wassentencedtoonlysixyearsonhis
mostrecentconviction,whenhewaseligibleforupto14.

Weneedtostoptherevolvingdoorforrepeatviolentoffenders.

Theseviolentoffendersmustknowthattheirpunishmentwillmatchthe
seriousnessofthecrimestheyhavecommitted,andthevalueandsanctityofthe
livestheyhavetaken.

Letmeremindyouwhatoneadmittedgangbangersaidin2012toareporter.Thisis
whatthegangbangersaid:thathisgunpossessionarrestwasajoke.Gangbangers
knowhowtomanipulatethecriminaljusticesystem,andtheyknowitsweaknesses
firsthand.

Ourcriminaljusticesystemisfractured,anditisunderminingChicagos
neighborhoods.

EarlierthisyeartheIllinoisGeneralAssemblypassedandtheGovernorsignedalaw
thatreducedpenaltiesforlowleveldrugoffenses.Itissimilartoanordinancewe
passedhereinChicagoin2012.Thislawisanimportantstepinshrinkingthe
pipelineintothecriminaljusticesystemforminoroffenses,butthatwasonlyhalf
thejob.

Tougherpenaltiesforrepeatviolentoffendersandstrongerregulationofgun
dealersrepresenttheotherhalf.

SuperintendentJohnsonandIhavemadeitourmissiontoworkforpassingabillby
SenatorsKwameRaoulandTonyMunoz,andRepresentativesMikeZalewskiand
ElgieSims,thatwillencouragejudgestoensurerepeatgunoffendersreceive
sentencesatthehighendofthesentencingranges.Ihavealreadytalkedto
leadershipinSpringfieldtoletthemknowthisbillisatoppriorityfortheCityof
Chicago.

Makingsurethatthemostdangerousoffendersreceiveappropriatesentencesisan
importantstep,butwealsomustdomoretokeepgunsoutofthewronghandsin
thefirstplace.

IjoinPresidentObamaandthevastmajorityofChicagoanswhoaretiredofwaiting
forWashingtontogetseriousaboutgunviolence.ThisCongressissooutofstep
thatitwillnotevendenythesaleofgunstosuspectedterroristsontheNoFlyList.
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SinceCongresswillnotacttosetanationalstandard,ChicagoneedsSpringfieldto
stepup.

RepresentativeWillishasintroducedabill,modeledafteraChicagolaw,toholdgun
storesaccountableforfloodingourstreetswithweapons.

ThousandsofgunsrecoveredbytheChicagoPoliceDepartmentcanbetracedback
tojustahandfulofstores.Andsomeofthesestorescontinuetoselltopeoplewho
usedthosegunsinpreviouscrimes.

Thisproposednewstatelicensinglawforgunstoreswillallowlocallaw
enforcementtoinspectbusinessrecords,requiresafetymeasures,andtrainstore
employeestodetecttraffickers.

SuperintendentJohnsonandIwillworktopassthisnewlawinSpringfield,andIam
callingonotherIllinoisanstojoinus.Ourresidentsandpolicearedemanding
toughergunlawsandtoughersentences.WeneedSpringfieldtobepartofthe
solutionandnotjustmimicWashington.

*****

Thesecondpieceofthisanticrimeblueprintisinvestingincommunitiesand
providingjobopportunitiestoallthosewhoneedthem.Becausetheoldadageis
true;thebestanticrimeprogramisajob.

ItisnoaccidentthatwearemeetingthiseveningatMalcolmXCommunityCollege.

Thiscompletelynewcampus,whichweopenedearlierthisyear,creatednearly
1,000newjobswhenitwasbuilt.

Moreimportant,itisprovidingitsstudentswithapathwaytoasuccessfulcareerin
thehealthcarefield.

ButitisnotjusthereatMalcolmX.AtOliveHarveyCollegeontheFarSouthSide,
thousandsofChicagoansarepursuingtheknowledgeandskillsforgoodpayingjobs
intransportation,distributionandlogistics.Andwearebuildinganewcampus
theretoopennextyear.

Andwerenotgivinguponthoseyoungpeoplewhoarenotgoingtocollege.We
heldajobfairrighthereyesterday.Iattended,alongwith500youngpeoplewho
arelookingforashotatajobthatwillputthemonthepathtosuccess.

Itisthefourthjobfairlikeitwehaveheldinthepast13months.


ThisispartofapartnershipwelaunchedlastyearwithHowardSchultzofStarbucks
calledthe100,000OpportunitiesInitiative.Theideaistohelpyoungpeoplewho
arenotinschoolanddonothaveajob.Todate,wehavebroughtsuchyoungpeople
togetherwithmorethan50employers,resultinginmorethan2,000newjobs.

Itisagoodstart,butweneedtodomore.Thatiswhyweareworkingcloselywith
civicleaders,foundations,andfunderslikeArneDuncanandtheEmersonCollective
todevelopacomprehensivestrategyforhelpingourcitysyoungpeoplewhoare
notinschoolandlackajob.

Oursummerjobsprogram,OneSummerChicago,servedmorethan31,000young
peoplethispastyear.

Wespecificallytargetedjobsandservicesfor1,000youngpeoplewhoarenotin
school.Andnextsummerwearegoingtodoublethat.

Weneedtobuildmoreopportunityintheneighborhoodswherepeoplelive,which
iswhyweestablishedtheNeighborhoodOpportunityFund.

Bythebeginningofnextyear,wewillhavenearly$8milliondollarsinthatfund;
moneywecaninvestintheneighborhoodstoleveragenewsmallbusinesses,create
newjobs,anddevelopnewretailcorridors.

WeareseeingpromisingreturnsonneighborhoodinvestmentsinAustin,in
Bronzeville,inPullmanandEnglewood.TheObamaPresidentialLibrarywefought
forpromisesahugeeconomicdividendfortheentireSouthSide;anappropriate
legacyforChicagosfavoriteson.

Workingcommunitybycommunity,blockbyblock,wearegoingtoexpand
opportunityandhopeineveryneighborhoodinChicago.

******

Thefinalpartofthisblueprintis,perhaps,themostimportant.

Manyoftheguncrimesinourcityarebeingcommittedbyyoungmenwithgang
affiliations,andmanyofthevictimsofgunviolenceinourcityareyoungmenwith
gangaffiliations.

Tohaveanychanceofstoppingthemfromkillingeachother,andinnocent
bystanders,wehavetostopthemfromgivinguponthemselvesandtheirfutures.

InmysecondInauguralAddressItalkedabouttheseyoungmen,andtheneedfor
Chicagoanstojointogethertoprovidethemwithalternativestogunsandgangs.As
Isaidthen:
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Whenyoungmenjoingangsinsearchofpraise,wecanandmustdobetter.

Whenyoungmenturntolivesofcrimeforhope,wecanandmustdobetter.

Whenprisonistheplacewesendboystobecomemen,wecanandmustdobetter.

Manyoftheseyoungmenaredropouts.Theydonothavejobs.Theydonothave
hope.Theydonotseeafuture.

Andmanyofthemdonothavepositiverolemodelsintheirlives.

Andthedangerwefacetodayisthatthegangsareservingastherolemodels,the
mentors,andthefamiliesfortheseyoungmen.

WhenPresidentObamaannouncedtheMyBrothersKeeperinitiative,whichwas
inspiredbytheorganizationBecomingaManhereinChicago,hesaid,Weneedto
givemoreyoungAmericansthesupporttheyneedtomakegoodchoices,andtobe
resilient,andtoovercomeobstacles,andachievetheirdreams.

Ihaveseenfirsthandthatwhenweprovideanalternativetothelifeofgunsand
gangs,ouryoungpeoplewillchoosethatpositivealternative.

Weowethemthatchoice.

Asonepersoninaneighborhoodmeetingsaidtome,Characterstillcounts.AndI
believethat.

SotodayIamcallingoneveryChicagoantohelp.Policeofficersandemergency
roomsurgeonsarenottheonlyoneswhosejobitistosaveyounglives.Tosavea
youngpersonslife,youhavetobepartofit.

AstheUniversityofChicagohasreported,thereareroughly7,200youngmeninthe
8th,9th,and10thgradesinCPSschoolsinthe20mostcrimeplaguedneighborhoods.
Theyareonthedoorstepofadulthood,andtheyareamongthemostatriskof
becomingcrimevictimsorperpetrators.

Weneedtoprovideeachoftheseyoungpeoplewithamoraleducationanda
purpose,sothedecisionstheymaketodayareonestheycanlookbackonproudly.

Theseyoungmentoooftenmissschoolandarefailingtheirclasses.Inmanycases,
theyalreadyhavefacedseriousschooldisciplineorencounteredthecriminaljustice
system.


Today,weareservingonlyathirdoftheseyoungmenthroughprovenmentoring
programslikeBecomingaManorBAM.

Weveseena50percentreductioninarrestsforviolentcrimeamongBAMstudents.
Letmerepeatthat:YoungmenwhoparticipateintheBAMprogramareonlyhalfas
likelytogetcaughtupinviolence.Andtheyare20percentmorelikelytograduate
fromhighschoolontime.

ThatiswhyIamcommittingtodaytoprovidinguniversalmentoringtothese7,200
youngmen.

Andthisinitiativeisnotjustforayear.Itwillbeasustainedeffort.

Wewillstartbyinvesting$36milliondollarsoverthenextthreeyearstoexpand
mentoringprograms.TheCityofChicagowillprovidehalfofthefundingwhile
corporations,philanthropiesandindividualdonorswillprovidetheotherhalf.

WearehalfwaytoourprivatesectorgoalthankstogeneroussupportfromExelon,
PeoplesGas,BankofAmerica,GetinChicago,andfromJimmyJohnLiautaud.

IwanttothankallofthesecontributorsforsteppingupforChicagosfuture.

OurmentorshipeffortswillnotbelimitedtoBAM.Wewanttodevelopandsupport
otherinitiativestokeepvulnerableyoungmenawayfromgangsandguns.Andby
2018,wewillalsoexpandthesuccessfullyWorkingonWomanhoodprogram,or
WOW,byonethird.

WearegoingtoberecruitingmenandwomenfromacrossChicagotoparticipatein
thesementoringprograms.Andwearegoingtocallonthecorporatecommunityto
helpbyencouragingtheiremployeestobecomementors,themselves.

Thiswillbeanopportunityforindividualsofgoodwillandcompassiontohelp
changethecourseofayoungpersonslifeandthefuturecourseofourcity.Iam
confidentChicagowillanswerthecall.Ifwewanteveryboytobecomeaman,we
needeveryadulttobecomeamentor.

*****

Confrontinggunviolenceanditsunderlyingcausesisnoteasy.Itcannotbedonein
aweek.

ItwilltakeacommitmentfromeverymemberofthefamilywecallChicago.

Toreversetherisingtideofviolence,weneedtoprovidehopeinsteadof
desperationandcaringadultsinsteadofgangaffiliation.
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Weneedtostrengthenpolicing,prevention,penalties,andparenting.

Andweneedtobridgethedividebetweenthecommunityandthoseswornto
protectthem.

Isaythisknowingwithallconfidencethatwecandothis.

Eveninchallengingtimes,Chicagoanscontinuetodothebigandboldthingsthat
havedefinedusfornearlytwocenturies.

EarlierthisweekwelearnedthatChicagosstudentsachievedrecordhighACT
scores.Thatisontopofsettingnewrecordsforhighschoolgraduation,college
acceptance,mathandreadingachievementin4thand8thgrades,whileearningover
$1.1billiondollarsincollegescholarships.

Isaythatbecause,notlongago,ourschoolswerefailingourstudentsandfailing
Chicago.

Butwecametogetherasacityandputourshouldertothewheel.Andnowourkids
areinabetterplaceforthelivesthatareinfrontofthem.

WhenwesayChicagoisacitythatworks,thatiswhatwemean.AndthatiswhyI
amconfidentwecansolvethechallengeofviolence.

Whenweworktogether,talktogether,praytogetherandacttogether,asaunited
city,thereisnothingwecannotdo.

Itwillnotbeeasy.Realandlastingchangeneveris.

Butacrossourcity,eveninthemostviolenceplaguedneighborhoods,Ihavemet
braveandresourcefulresidentswhoarecommittedtomakingadifferenceintheir
communities.Theyshouldbeourinspiration.TheyshouldbeourNorthStars.

TheyarepeoplelikeMotherJosephineWadeandherson,VictorLove.Mother
Wadeusesherrestauranttohireteensfromthecommunity,providingthemwith
bothjobsandmentoring.Victorisouttryingtodisruptviolencebeforeithappens,
andhefoundedanorganizationtoconnectchildrenwithfosterparents.

TheyareyoungpeoplelikeAverySterling,ayoungmanwhogrewupinEnglewood
believinghehadnofutureandnoonecared.Afewyearsago,hestartedworking
withamentoratChildrensHomeandAid.Andwiththeguidanceofthatmentor,he
gotajobintheOneSummerChicagoprogram.IworkedalongsidewithAveryto
painthousesinEnglewood,andnowhesmentoringotheryoungmenhelping
themplanfortheirfuturesandmaketherightchoiceslikehehas.
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TheyarepeoplelikeTamarManasseh(teMARmuhNASA),who,afterbeingsick
andtiredofallthegunviolenceinEnglewood,foundedMothersAgainstSenseless
Killingsanarmyofwomen,andmen,whoarereclaimingtheirneighborhood
blockbyblock.Nowthemovementshestartedhasgoneviralandismovingtoother
neighborhoodsandevenexpandingtootherpartsofthecountry.

AndthereisArshellDennis,Jr.,aChicagoPoliceOfficerwho,aftertragicallylosing
hisbeloved,19yearoldson,ArshellIII,togunviolence,stillfoundthecourageand
thestrengthtoputbackonhisuniformandbadgeandserveandprotectthepeople
ofChicagowithdignity,withintegrityandwithprofessionalism.

TheseareChicagosheroes.Theyarenotalone.AlloverthiscityIencountermen,
womenandyoungpeoplefromallwalksoflifewhoarecommittedtoasafer
Chicago.

Insteadofwringingtheirhandsaboutcrimeandviolence,theyarelendingahand
whereitisneeded.Allofusmustfollowtheirexample.

Wemustreachouttochildrenandprovidethemwithrolemodels.

Wemustprovidealifechangingjobforateenager,exoffender,orexdruguser.

Wemustinvestintroubledcommunities,ratherthandrivingaroundthem.

Wemustsupportourpoliceofficersandhelpthemdotheirdifficultwork.

Attheendoftheday,wewillbejudgedbyone,simplequestion:Canamotherin
anyneighborhoodinChicagosendherchildrenoutsidetoplaywithpeaceofmind
thattheyaresafe?

ThecityofChicagoisourhome.ThepeopleofChicagoareourfamily.

ThoseofuswholiveinChicago,workinChicago,sendourchildrentoschoolin
Chicago,weallhaveastakeinthefutureofChicago.

Ipledgemyfullcommitmenttothistaskandhumblyaskyouforyourhelp.

Nowletsgettowork.GodBlesstheCityofChicago.

Thankyou.

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