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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION CALLING ON PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD J. TRUMP TO SEND FEDERAL RESOURCES TO FIGHT VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO
WHEREAS, at least 762 people were murdered in Chicago in 2016, which is nearly 300 more people than were killed in all of 2015; and
WHEREAS, more than 4,300 people were shot in Chicago in 2016, which is about 1,400 more shooting victims than in all of 2015; and
WHEREAS, Chicago had more people killed by gun violence in 2016 than New York and Los Angeles combined; and
WHEREAS, minorities are most often the victims of the rising violence in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, the incoming presidential administration has indicated that it will send additional federal resources to combat violence if leaders here request them; and
WHEREAS, Cook County government must be proactive in its anti-violence efforts by initiating the dialogue with the incoming presidential administration to develop strategies and request the needed resources to help tackle the epidemic of violence; and
WHEREAS, those resources should come in the form of economic investment in endangered communities; and
WHEREAS, the federal government can assist Chicago police by utilizing federal law enforcement officers to help local officers in curbing the violence and solving more homicides; and
WHEREAS, it is vital that elected officials in their leadership capacities provide the crucial moral and public support to law enforcement officials as they undertake the difficult and dangerous task of combating the epidemic of violence; and
WHEREAS, these measures will have an immediate and significant impact on reducing the violence in Chicago without utilizing the National Guard; and
WHEREAS, the issue of violence is not a political one, and every citizen of Chicago and Cook County should have a right to be safe in their neighborhoods and live without fear of being shot and killed; and
WHEREAS, elected officials must make every effort to fight the violence in Chicago to prevent 2017 from seeing even more people killed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners and President of the Board that this Resolution serve as a formal request to President-elect Donald Trump to provide additional resources to fight the violence plaguing Chicago and that the Cook County Administration, under the leadership of President Toni Preckwinkle, take the necessary steps of communication to initiate this most critical appeal for assistance.
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