Mayor Johnson questioned over response to deadly weekend violence
CHICAGO — On Monday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faced questions over his response to the deadly weekend violence.
Last Friday, Mayor Johnson landed back in the city after a trip to New Orleans. From the airport, he traveled straight to Greater Grand Crossing, the scene of a mass shooting where neighbors and the wider Chicago community demanded answers.
“Today, I stand here today heartbroken,” Johnson said.
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More than any official, the Chicago mayor must wear the stain of the city’s staggering gun violence.
Johnson, a West Side resident, insists that he gets it and that he is up to the challenge.
“There’s no secret where I live, that’s why this is personal for me. I’ve shared this we’ve had gunshots come through our home,” Johnson said. “I’m so sick and tired of losing Black boys to violence in this city. It grieves me, fiercely.”
After 19 people were killed, and dozens more were wounded during the extended Fourth of July weekend, Johnson and his long-term solutions approach, face increasing scrutiny.
During a Monday morning press event at police headquarters, Johnson was grilled. The mayor was forced to explain why he was not in Chicago on the Fourth.
“Well, here’s what I can say emphatically, that my work never ends, it doesn’t. You know, I accept the responsibility of 24/7 on call every day of the week,” Mayor Johnson said when asked whether he felt it was a wise idea to leave town during what is known to be a very violent time in the City of Chicago.
Last Friday, Johnson met people impacted by the violence, including, a family that lost three loved ones, including an 8-year-old boy.
But critics want more.
Johnson foe, Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th Ward), took to X to highlight ShotSpotter alerts across the city.
“This is what the criminal enablers don’t want you to see. Over a three-day period, nearly 500 shooting incidents across the districts with gunshot detection technology,” Lopez wrote.
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Despite the mayor’s decision to cancel the city’s agreement with the company behind the tech, a group of city leaders want to reverse Johnson.
Once again on Monday, the mayor said he is not changing his mind. Instead, he will keep pushing his comprehensive approach to public safety.
“My ultimate goal is to transform this city so we cut off the pipeline of boys between the ages of 10-19 being either victims or the perpetrators,” Johnson said.
The Mayor also stressed that everyone must take responsibility for helping end violence, and on Tuesday, along with the city health leaders, the Johnson administration will explain how residents can do just that.
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