Since stepping into office on May 15, [Chicago Mayor Brandon] Johnson has announced four key positions and a 44-person transition subcommittee to lead the charge around public safety specifically. The subcommittee includes academics, organizers, politicians, first responders, faith leaders, educators, business people, native Chicagoans, and organizers who were formerly incarcerated. The group has 13 people with experience in violence prevention or reduction, 25 people with experience organizing around social justice, public safety, or police reform, six business leaders, and four former first responders.
“It’s important to have a diverse group from different perspectives because there is no one solution to ending gun violence,” said the Reverend Ciera Bates-Chamberlain, executive director of Live Free Illinois and a member of the Council of Criminal Justice’s Violent Crime Working Group.
To lead his public safety efforts, Johnson named Garien Gatewood as deputy mayor of community safety; Alderperson Brian K. Hopkins as chair of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee; Alderperson Christopher Taliaferro as chair of the newly created Committee of Police and Fire; and Fred L. Waller as the interim Chicago Police Department superintendent.
Gatewood and Taliaferro have been applauded by supporters for their past work on public safety, but Hopkins and Waller’s previous remarks have raised concern that their public support of police who have faced misconduct allegations may lead to a continued reliance on law enforcement. Johnson’s team did not respond to questions from The Trace about these worries, but shared the following statement on Johnson’s behalf: “I’m proud of the public safety coalition we’ve brought together because creating safe communities will take all of us – police, City departments and agencies, business, philanthropy, community partners, and all the people of Chicago.”
— Rita Oceguera in All Eyes Are On Chicago Mayor’s First Move on Violence Prevention