Chicago has extended priority funding to West Town violence reduction and street outreach services. Ald. Daniel La Spata told EVA members June 7 that the city plans to contract with a number of agencies to operate by July.
The city's Violence Reduction Dashboard shows 14 criminal sexual assault and 60 aggravated assault victims this year, compared with 9 rapes and 41 aggravated assaults at the same point in 2020.
The violence reduction strategy works with young people who are violent crime victims or perpetrators. The violence interrupters build relationships, mediate disputes and connect people to social services. Victim outreach includes shooting. aggravated battery and assault victims.
La Spata asked for feedback on how the city should spend $1.8 billion in federal American Rescue Plan relief, which can be used to fund nearly anything short of pensions or debt service. An online Right to Recovery poll asks how participants how they would allocate the cash among health and social services, infrastructure, police and other city priorities.
La Spata said he worked with State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz on an affordable housing law to give landlords a tax break for keeping rents at or below market rate.
In a question-and-answer session, La Spata said the city needs to spend more on lead pipe replacement, raising income limits to pick up the full cost for homeowners (now $72,800 for a family of 4), and offered to work with residents in building or legalizing coach houses and basement or attic apartments.
