Takeover Season has Arrived

Thank goodness there's a curfew in effect!

• A large teen gathering in downtown Chicago descended into chaos Wednesday night—prompting a curfew enforcement order and intensifying the debate over how to stop repeat takeovers in the Loop.

  The activity centered on State and Lake streets, where witnesses described crowds of young people running through the area, climbing on vehicles and engaging in fights.

  Alderman Brian Hopkins said conditions escalated quickly before officials intervened.

Wait....the kids actually read a clock? And instituted the mayhem BEFORE the curfew? Congrats to the Chicago Teachers Union for learing [IYKYK] the children how to tell time! 

• Chicago police confirmed multiple enforcement actions tied to the gathering, including eight juvenile arrests and 24 curfew violations.

  According to police, seven juveniles, ranging in age from 13 to 16, were each charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct. One of those teens, a 15-year-old boy, also had an outstanding warrant.

  Another 16-year-old boy faces more serious charges, including three felony counts of aggravated assault of a peace officer, along with a misdemeanor reckless conduct charge and a citation for riding a bicycle on the sidewalk.

Yowie....eight arrests and twenty-four curfew violations, not a single oen of which will result in fines or restitution for damaged property. And a fifteen year old who - SURPRISE! - already has a warrant. What a future this one has, eh? Probably an astronaut or something.

But don't demonize....Conehead says it's bad and crime is down anyway. 

UPDATE: SCC reader, commentator and mayoral hopeful Ja'Mal Green throws his two cents worth behind the Tribune paywall:

• Let’s stop pretending we don’t know what’s going on. 

  These “teen takeovers” downtown, such as the one on Wednesday, aren’t just harmless get-togethers. They’re organized disruptions — planned online, carried out in large groups and allowed to spiral out of control because the city has been too slow and too hesitant to respond. 

  That needs to change. 

  Here’s the truth nobody wants to say out loud: If you don’t control your public spaces, you lose your city. 

Read it all if you know a way around the paywall. If he ain't running for office, he's pushing for a spot in the next administration.