Mayor proposes fines and seizures against Chicago gang members

GANGS

Chicago (IL), Sep 14 (EFE News) .- Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot presented an ordinance on Tuesday that would allow civil lawsuits against gang members in the city with the aim of imposing large fines and the confiscation of their properties. proceeds of criminal activities.

The proposal seeks that judges or court officials impose fines of up to $ 10,000 for each offense and confiscate “any property that is used directly or indirectly or that is intended to be used in any way to facilitate activity related to street gangs.” such as drug trafficking or other crimes.

The “Victims Justice Ordinance” states that “the city knows that street gangs are often controlled by criminally sophisticated adults who take advantage of our youth by intimidating them.”

However, the measure is expected to face opposition from community activists over the possibility that the ordinance will mislead African American and Latino residents for being involved in gangs.

After it was introduced by Lightfoot, 33rd District Councilwoman Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez used a legislative procedure to transfer the ordinance to the Rules Committee, delaying its implementation for a month.

Until then, it is not expected that this municipal body will meet and can vote on it. Later it would be sent to the Public Safety Committee, which should in turn approve or reject it.

Rodríguez Sánchez and other progressive councilors are against Lightfoot’s proposal and allege that the city will target civil lawsuits against low-income minorities living in areas with high gang presence.

The ordinance comes at a time when crime and street violence have skyrocketed in Chicago, which this year has registered 2,021 people shot, 164 more than in 2020, and 364 homicide victims so far in 2021, five more than in the same period last year. EFE News

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