(The Center Square) – Chicago City Council members are pushing to keep a gunshot-detection system before the mayor shuts it down.
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced in February that ShotSpotter would be decommissioned on September 22nd, which is exactly one month after the Democratic National Convention ended.
Ninth Ward Alderman Anthony Beale said the 15th Police District is Mayor Johnson’s home district, and it is also the worst in Chicago for gunshots.
“Luckily, he’s in a bubble, because he’s got 116 people protecting him. You know what, we don’t have that luxury,” Beale said.
Beale spoke at a special meeting of the city council’s Committee on Public Safety.
“We’re spending hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars on migrants, OK, people who are just coming here. But we can’t spend $8 million on technology that saves lives?” Beale asked.
The city spent $8.6 million in taxpayer funds to keep ShotSpotter from February to September of this year.
In May, the city council voted 34-14 in favor of Alderman David Moore’s ordinance, which ordered that the council would vote on ShotSpotter before funding for the technology could be taken away.
Public Safety Committee Chairman Brian Hopkins said the council would be dealing with the order in the coming days.
15th Ward Alderman Raymond Lopez asked which technology might be taken out next.
“Are we going to take out license plate readers next? Are we going to take out the cameras next? At one point are we just going to throw our hands up and turn it over to the criminals and say, ‘You know what? The city’s yours’,” Lopez said.
Pastor and activist Donovan Price advised aldermen that ShotSpotter technology is necessary.
“And this is not done from a campaign promise. This is not done from an opinion from someone who lives on the other side of town. This is from someone who stands over the bodies,” Price said.
