Mayor Johnson, city officials outline 2026 Chicago summer safety strategy

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Mayor Brandon Johnson used a Back of the Yards community fair as a backdrop to the revised 2026 summer safety plan.

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The city calling it the 2026 Summer Safety Strategy, building on previous plans.

While it is citywide, it will also focus on neighborhoods seeing ongoing crime.

Mayor Johnson said the plan aims to prevent violence and provide access to resources through community investment and working together with community organizations and violence prevention programs.

Johnson says his plan is also focused on engaging with young people and providing summer jobs and safe spaces for youth.

It comes as another topic of discussion during the announcement was ongoing teen takeovers.

"These unauthorized gatherings can be reckless and dangerous, and we want to make sure that their lives are protected. The police department is going to do its part," Johnson said. "Our government entities will do their part. Now we're asking every single adult in this city, whether you have birthed a child or not. Our children are our collective responsibility."

The mayor's plea to parents and adults comes after a 14-year-old girl was charged during a so-called teen trend in Hyde Park, last weekend.

She's accused of assaulting an officer while refusing to leave the area.

CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling says his officers have recovered guns during these gatherings.

"Our officers show a lot of restraint in these situations because they know they're dealing with young people. But, there are times when everyone on the scene, including the police and including the children that are there, are in serious, serious danger when we know that there is someone out there with guns," Snelling said.

It's the adults' support that philanthropist Early Walker says is vital and is reviving his teen text alert to help curb the teen trends.

"You sign up for teen text app, and basically it alerts you of something that's possibly going to be taking place," Walker said.

You can sign up for Teen Text Alerts by text messaging "teenalert" to 1-833-671-2367.

This upcoming holiday weekend, Chicago's top cop says days-off for his officers have been canceled to provide more resources in targeted areas like beaches, downtown and business corridors.

The mayor now aiming to repeat what he says was the safest summer in Chicago last year in 60 years.

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