Gov. JB Pritzker announces $100 million for violence prevention in Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Gov. JB Pritzker announced a $100 million investment to expand violence prevention programs in Chicago, saying "gun violence in Chicago is a public health crisis."
The governor called the money a historic investment to stop surging gun violence in the city.
Organizations in neighborhoods like North Lawndale, Austin, Garfield Park, Humboldt Park and Little Village will be able to increase their anti-violence efforts because of the funding. Programs in Englewood and New City will also receive funding.
Lori Crowder, the executive director of the Alliance of Local Service Organizations, said a coalition of seven community organizations will be able to use $5 million in new funding for outreach, case management, victim services, employment and education, and mental health and behavioral health services.
"What we know to be true is this: when jobs go up, violence goes down," Crowder said. "When education goes up, violence goes down."
The Metropolitan Peace Academy, which oversees 15 organizations in 28 communities in Chicago, provides legal aid, trains gun violence prevention and street outreach workers and advocates for victims. Vice President and Executive Director Vaughn Bryant said the additional funding will be transformative.
"We can only do as much as we can do with the funding we have," he said, adding, "We want to be able to do more of that work in the local community that we serve."
A violent holiday weekend
The announcement comes after an especially violent holiday weekend in Chicago, and multiple shootings again overnight.
At least 19 people were killed and 89 others were wounded in shootings over the extended 4th of July weekend in Chicago. Overnight, there were at least six shootings since 9 p.m. Tuesday, with at least four people killed.
Around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, two men were killed in a shootout in Roseland. A 59-year-old man who was driving a tow truck in the 11300 block of South Lowe was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead on the scene. A 45-year-old man was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where he died.
Around 11 p.m. Tuesday, an 18-year-old man was shot multiple times inside a home in the 8500 block of South Parnell Avenue in Auburn Gresham. He died at the scene.
Shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday, a man was shot and killed in the South Shore neighborhood. Police found an unidentified man between 25 and 30 years of age who had been shot in the 2100 block of East 71st Street. He was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died.
On Tuesday, Pritzker was asked about the recent surge in gun violence in Chicago.
"We also need a lot of interdiction on the many guns coming over the border into Illinois from states that have very lax gun laws. We need more enforcement from the federal government. We're doing it by the way – state police, CPD – but more help from the federal government is necessary," Pritzker said.