Overview
- Ald. Brian Hopkins has withdrawn his push for a fixed 8 p.m. curfew in downtown Chicago following last-minute negotiations with city officials and police leadership.
- The new proposal would grant the Chicago Police superintendent and district commanders authority to impose temporary curfews in response to real-time incidents involving large, unsupervised teen gatherings.
- Mayor Brandon Johnson, who opposed the earlier downtown-specific curfew, has expressed support for continued discussions on the flexible, situational approach.
- The compromise comes after violent incidents in March, including shootings in Streeterville, spurred calls for stronger measures to manage teen gatherings.
- Critics of the plan, including the ACLU, have raised concerns about potential legal challenges and the effectiveness of curfews in addressing youth violence.