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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
The now-notorious violent youth riot in downtown Chicago last weekend got me thinking of a press conference way back in 2010.
Mayor Richard M. Daley voiced frustration about what he said were large groups of suburban kids causing trouble on Chicago’s lakefront, even though plenty of Chicago kids were also participating, including six teens who brutally attacked an 18-year-old suburban woman. Daley complained the youths would text each other to organize their mayhem.
Three years later, downtown’s problems with unexpected group violence hadn’t gotten any better. So then-Gov. Pat Quinn held a splashy press conference on Michigan Avenue to sign a bill, sponsored by then-state Sen. Kwame Raoul and then-state Rep. Christian Mitchell, that doubled prison sentences (to six years) for those who use social media to “incite organized mob violence.”
“We don’t want flash mobs harming anyone, anywhere, but especially where many people come from other states, other countries,” Quinn said. Their promised crackdown never materialized. However, that penalty enhancement is still in state law.
Illinois has also had a statute on its books since 1969 known as the Parental Responsibility Law. Parents and guardians can be sued for “actual damages for the willful or malicious acts of such minor which cause injury to a person or property.” Damages are recoverable up to $20,000. The law has only rarely been used.
Ed Yohnka at the Illinois ACLU told me his group was “not aware of a specific constitutional deficiency” with the law and the courts “long have recognized that one can be held responsible for the actions of others based on specific legal relationships, and recognized the authority of state legislatures to make parents responsible for the torts of their minor children.”
Yohnka did say the law was “bad policy,” partly because impoverished parents would be hurt the most. “Many of these families are struggling to make ends meet in communities that lack services and resources that help support strong families.”
The state and the city also spend millions of dollars a year, and plan to spend much more, on violence prevention programs. In the past, violence interrupters have described being overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of young people breaking the law during the flash mobs or trends or whatever you want to call them.
Last week, we barely heard from anyone in that sector about how they helped during the weekend violence or how they can help in the future if properly deployed.
In 2019, WBEZ actually went out and talked to some of the kids who were causing some of the disruptions. The young people understandably complained that parks and recreational facilities in their own neighborhoods on the South and West sides were decrepit.
“There is usually vandalism over the swings, over the slides, there is usually broken material … there is trash, and there is a lot of people soliciting,” according to Tyrianna Rodgers, who was on a “girls-only afternoon” in downtown at the time. “It just doesn’t look like the place where you would send your kids and say OK, ‘You could chill here.’” Four years later, many of those facilities are still a disgrace.
The public radio station also reported at the time that Chicago police were bragging about their ability to monitor the online organization of what are now called “trends,” which the station defined as “large teen-led gatherings that are particularly popular among Black teens.”
Yet, CBS 2 reported last week that the Chicago Police Department had no clue how the mob violence was organized. And credible reports have emerged since then about police ignoring calls for assistance.
There are really two points here. The first is all those loud folks pretending the violence is somehow a new and mysterious thing and a fresh test for a mayor-elect who hasn’t even been sworn in yet really ought to take a breath.
The second is that law enforcement and local leaders have been given plenty of legal, investigatory and prevention tools (and there are more than just those listed above) to address these issues, but those leaders appear to be allowing those tools to just rust away in a drawer somewhere.
Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) had it absolutely right when he complained that nobody has a plan to deal with the violence and nobody has had a real plan since he was a teen.
“That has to change!” Buckner rightly roared on social media.
Yes, it does. And it starts with the people in authority doing their actual jobs.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 8:45 am
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It’s surprising to me that there’s not even an effort being made at creating the appearance of accountability for those charged with public safety. Only a half-hearted and temporary increase in visible safety measures.
You’re quite right that solutions start with people in positions of authority doing their jobs. What better way to make that happen than firing a few who didn’t.
Comment by Andrew H Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 9:05 am
Rich’s notation of the deterioration of the public commons areas in urban neighborhoods, and the potential of this blight as a contributing factor, is consistent with the mayor-elect’s statement that part of the problem is the lack of attention to the needs of urban youth. I heard a lot of people balk at the mayor-elect’s discussion of the event, but few of offered workable solutions. Investment in the public commons is always money well spent.
Comment by H-W Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 9:16 am
Very disappointing that complaining and grandstanding take precedence over using options that could make a real difference in dealing with the violence issues we are all facing.
Good research and good writing.
Comment by Back to the Future Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 9:19 am
It starts with parents doing their job.
Comment by Papa2008 Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 9:27 am
==It starts with parents doing their job. ==
Let’s not let politicians and police off the hook. It is their ACTUAL job. It starts with all of them.
Comment by supplied_demand Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 9:33 am
==It starts with parents doing their job.==
Then folks need to stop screaming at the government?
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 9:45 am
==It starts with parents doing their job.==
A recent mayoral candidate’s son was an addict and died by overdose. How much do you want to bet that the drug use started when he was a minor? Is that the parents’ fault too or do kids have some autonomy once they hit their teens? Some folks blame Black and brown families for everything their kids do but don’t apply the same standards to middle-class and affluent white families.
Comment by Big Dipper Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 9:48 am
If you are using the Jeanne Ives “parents” trope you are not serious to this discussion.
Parents could be held accountable by the laws on the books, but instead of “saying” that, it “feels better” to go all Ives and say “parents”
This is an excellent column, thanks, Rich
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 9:51 am
Felons repeatedly caught carrying a gun should be locked up. The laws are out there.
Comment by DuPage Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 10:00 am
== And it starts with the people in authority doing their actual jobs.==
But it’s easier to just complain about it, and blame everyone else.
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 10:00 am
yeah, there are many who are not using laws on the books for all sorts of things. that should change. park buildings and libraries and schools may be closed at night. but parks outside are open during hours when young folks are still fine with curfew laws.(pay attention to youth and curfew laws.) there are so many parks all over the city that I don’t think it is that they cannot gather where they live. And those ministers seemed to recognize some of the faces in the crowds and that is why they took action to address the crowds gathering. are they from the same neighborhoods? probably not. it is a citywide call to come downtown. it’s a thing. it may continue to be a thing. downtown or elsewhere. police need to keep up with it on all levels of social media (hey, the US government missed intel passing on gaming sites, so search wide), be ready to go where the action is, and there needs to be citywide outreach to youth to promote spaces across the city.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 10:15 am
As far as investing in public commons in underserved neighborhoods I hope that the mayor-elect has a plan for that if that’s what he wants to hang his hat on.
Comment by Levois Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 10:24 am
=it “feels better” to go all Ives and say “parents”=
OW, not everyone that wants to see parents (along with others like police and the city) step up and do better is going “Ives”.
One of the components missing from accountability initiatives in my business (education) since the inception of NCLB has been parents. We would like them to be a partner but most opt not to be. That makes it harder to meet the requirements placed upon us by misguided and ill informed politicians.
When I speak of “parents” I am also speaking across the board, not just one sub group as parent accountability has been a universal issue in all districts I have worked in. Suburban, ex urban, rural, wealthy and poor. No parent group has a monopoly on not doing their jobs.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 10:29 am
===not everyone that wants to see parents (along with others like police and the city) step up and do better is going “Ives”.===
You are giving far much much credit to drive by commenters and in law uncles that when pressed… they are empowered and embolden now to say the quiet part out loud.
With respect.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 10:33 am
Even if you just release the kids later at the police station to their parents or guardians, round the kids up. Eventually they will get the message.
Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 11:08 am
JS - Thank you
OW - Belittling is beneath you.
Comment by Papa2008 Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 11:14 am
===Belittling===
You can always explain your drive by.
Choosing to make it about me instead of clarifying your own drive by is your choice.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 11:16 am
=JS - Thank you
OW - Belittling is beneath you.=
I speak only for myself (I never feign a “we” and nobody elected me to speak on their behalf) and didn’t take OW’s comment negatively.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 11:28 am
I’m actually sympathetic to the idea that parents play a huge role in this. But there’s just really no effective policy tools to fix that.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 11:33 am
===I’m actually sympathetic to the idea that parents play a huge role in this. But there’s just really no effective policy tools to fix that. ===
You ever see footage from one of those riots that occur after a college sports ball team wins the big game? It doesn’t really seem necessary to list any.
Are those riots the result of bad parenting?
Are we suddenly all going to pretend that our parents always knew what we were up to? I certainly didn’t report every law I broke as I was breaking them to my parents and I would have some really big concerns about a kid that did.
This is a public policy problem, not a parenting problem and it isn’t a problem that’s solved by sending young people to jail for extensive periods of time. (Never mind that DOC has a problem with taking care of the current number of prisoners that they have.)
It also doesn’t help that our public resources are being directed at public employees that refuse to do their jobs because they’re trying to make a political point and ransom the city they’re supposed to be serving like some sort of corrupt city guard you run into in a fantasy role playing game.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 11:49 am
@ DuPage -
You might want to read this story from Isabel’s Morning Briefing: https://www.wbez.org/stories/chicago-housing-for-people-with-criminal-cases/65e501ac-d8b3-404b-b77f-54b67ef8f9c0
Comment by JoanP Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 11:55 am
I really appreciated this article. We have tools to use that I didn’t know were available. Now let’s use them. And from a survey of older African-Americans (my friends), we are totally cool with including AWOL parenting as part of the problem.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 12:01 pm
===Felons repeatedly caught carrying a gun===
And this has what to do with this post?
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 12:09 pm
=It starts with parents doing their job.=
I think we can appreciate that being a black parent raising a child in poverty, often as a single parent, is quite different that what we might expect of parents in the suburbs. Many of these kids are being raised by parents who themselves were brought up in these impoverished and neglected communities. Simply yelling at parents to “do their jobs” without recognizing that they are expected to do so under vastly different social and economic circumstances is what OW is calling out here. And yes for many it is a dog whistle.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 12:15 pm
=This is a public policy problem, not a parenting problem and it isn’t a problem that’s solved by sending young people to jail for extensive periods of time. =
It does not have to be one or the other, it can be both and it is. To say it is only public policy grants a pass to the poor decisions of individuals capable of better decisions. To me your statement says they are not capable of better behavior unless government makes it so. Maybe you didn’t mean it that way but that is how I read it.
While my parents didn’t know what I was up to 24/7 they definitely felt accountable as I found out the hard way on more than one occasion (although I was not part of a riot and we didn’t have “programs” to occupy us).
CPD first and foremost has to be better. That is a solvable problem. Same for increasing opportunities for kids by the city.
The parent issue is harder, but that does not mean the prospect of parents of all socioeconomic strata own the actions of their children is in anyway unfair of discriminatory.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 12:28 pm
==This is a public policy problem, not a parenting problem==
Ultimately, I agree. I think there’s a parenting dimension to this, but there’s plenty of policy levers we can pull.
However, my broader point was that *if* you think this is a parenting problem, then you might as well stop yelling at Johnson or whoever, because they can’t solve that.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 1:56 pm
“Same for increasing opportunities for kids by the city.”
And this can help the parents. They are completely intertwined
Also, affordable child care. Last week, I had an employee resign after one month because he and his wife realized that his $26/hr would all go to child care. He will now stay home and get a part time 2nd or 3rd shift job as his wife is taking classes three nights a week.
Comment by Proud Sucker Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 2:05 pm
=However, my broader point was that *if* you think this is a parenting problem, then you might as well stop yelling at Johnson or whoever, because they can’t solve that.=
That is a fair statement.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 2:07 pm
“Also, affordable child care. Last week, I had an employee resign after one month because he and his wife realized that his $26/hr would all go to child care. He will now stay home and get a part time 2nd or 3rd shift job as his wife is taking classes three nights a week.”
Some older folks don’t fully grasp the financial difficulty today’s parents face. Everyone knows how high inflation is, but even before pandemic-induced inflation, wages have not been keeping pace with the cost of living. It’s pretty difficult, if not impossible in many cases, for parents to get by on one income. With both parents working, someone needs to care for the kids, and fewer people than in past generations have family members available or willing to help. Child care is expensive and yet doesn’t provide a liveable wage to child caretakers. Something has to change.
Comment by Techie Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 2:22 pm
This is a societal problem…first.
These kids are asking, “What about me”.
Comment by Dotnonymous Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 3:18 pm
The elephant in the room is why didn’t the police have a clue? The young people involved didn’t just coincidently show up, ya know. Additionally, once CPD caught on to the gathering, where was the plan? They seemed disorganized and uncaring. Going through the motions. A lieutenant was the highest ranking officer on scene? Some heads need to roll. At least Carter had the common sense to quit. The buck stopped with him, and he was nowhere to be found.
Comment by PublicServant Monday, Apr 24, 23 @ 6:22 pm