Arguing that a mayor who "cannot keep us safe" is a mayor Chicago "cannot afford to keep," U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia on Friday unveiled a sweeping plan to stop the violent crime that is foremost on the minds of voters.
In a searing indictment of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Garcia told the City Club of Chicago, “While she was ... pointing fingers and hurling insults, Chicagoans were dying.”
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The program will start in five neighborhoods. Families in those areas who lose a loved one to gun violence are eligible for $1,500 toward funeral or burial costs. Shooting victims can get $1,000. And those sustaining debilitating injuries can qualify for up to $1,000 in relocation costs.
The Chicago Police Department reports 661 murders occurred as of Dec. 10, 2022, down 15% from 2021 when the tally was 776. Overall shootings are also reported as down by about 20% from 2021 numbers, from 3,399 to 2,718.