Lightfoot reaffirms opposition to removing police officers from Chicago Public Schools

The mayor said she had nothing to do with sending an ordinance to terminate the contract between CPD and CPS to the Rules Committee, a traditional burial ground. The ordinance deserves a hearing and a vote, she said.

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Community activists with the group Voices of Youth in Chicago Education hold signs at a rally in June outside City Hall about a Chicago City Council proposal that would have terminated a $33 million contract between the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Public Schools.

Activists rallied outside City Hall on Tuesday to support a proposed ordinance that would terminate a $33 million contract between the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Public Schools.

Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times file

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday reaffirmed her opposition to yanking Chicago police officers out of all Chicago Public Schools but said she played no role in shunting an ordinance doing just that off to the Rules Committee, the traditional burial ground for legislation the mayor opposes.

That’s what happened at Wednesday’s City Council meeting to the measure introduced by Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th) fueled by the nationwide movement to defund police departments.

Sawyer wanted his ordinance sent to the Committee on Public Safety. But its chairman, Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th), a former CPD officer, asked that the ordinance, which would terminate the $33 million contract between CPS and the Chicago Police Department, be sent to the Education Committee.

Whenever two committees are called, the matter is referred to the Rules Committee.

Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) questioned if it would be referred to a joint committee. Lightfoot said no and affirmed it was going to the Rules Committee.

“Let’s move on,” she said.

Afterward, a reporter asked Lightfoot if she had anything to do with that parliamentary maneuver.

“The answer is ‘no’. We had no hand in that. I think that matters of public interest should see the light of day and there should be a vote,” she said.

Thanks to reforms negotiated a year ago, Lightfoot said local school councils “now have the option to determine for themselves whether or not they want any CPD presence in their schools.”

She added: “That, in my view, is where it should stay. ... LSCs are … elected members. They’re parents and other stakeholders in schools. They’re in a very good position to make the determination as to whether or not that’s something that they want. If they choose to revisit it, then they absolutely can.”

Lightfoot stood her ground when asked why the City Council can’t just cancel the contract.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for me or anyone in the City Council to usurp the authority of the duly-elected local school councils. I’ve heard from a number of members of local school councils who are offended by the notion that their wishes and views are simply being ignored,” she said.

Several major cities have responded to the demonstrations triggered by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis by yanking police officers out of public schools.

In Chicago, Sawyer and co-sponsor Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th) want to divert the $33 million spent on cops in schools toward mental health, social workers, conflict resolution and other emotional supports for student.

At a news conference outside City Hall earlier this week, Caleb Reed, a junior at Mather High School in West Ridge, said having police presence in schools means students are labeled as potential criminals right off the bat.

“One thing I’m here to say is I’m proud to be a Black young man,” Caleb said. “It’s not a good feeling to be labeled as dangerous or criminals. Because we’re not. ... No Black person should ever feel like this.”

Contributing: Nader Issa


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