Chicago aldermen push to fine parents for teens’ role in street takeovers

A Chicago alderman is making a second push to hold parents financially responsible for their children’s participation in increasingly violent street takeovers, putting him at odds with Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has resisted punitive measures in favor of investment in youth programming.

Alderman Ray Lopez, 15th Ward, used a parliamentary maneuver Wednesday at the City Council meeting to resurrect the Parental Accountability Ordinance — which received a “do not pass” recommendation from the Committee on Public Safety in March — and substitute a stronger version carrying stiffer penalties for parents whose children break the law. 

The revised ordinance would impose a $1,000 fine or 75 hours of community service on parents, along with mandatory family counseling, when a minor is found in violation. It would also allow vehicles to be impounded and levy a $10,000 fine in cases involving curfew violations, drag racing, car flipping, intoxication or use of paintball guns. 

“Once parents know that they’re going to be responsible, they are going to immediately start cracking down on their households and making sure they know where their children are every single day,” Mr. Lopez said.

“You know what doesn’t cost you money? Paying attention to your kid,” Mr. Lopez added. “That’s exactly what parents need to do right now.”

Mr. Johnson, a Democrat who has long opposed stricter curfew laws and punitive approaches to juvenile crime, signaled he would not get behind the measure, saying the city’s focus should remain on creating opportunity.

“I’ve said it from the very beginning, it’s about not just accountability, it’s about opportunity as well,” Mr. Johnson said Tuesday, calling on businesses, faith communities and philanthropic organizations to fund safe spaces for youth.

The ordinance’s revival comes after a year of escalating incidents. Mr. Lopez said Chicago has seen more than a dozen teen takeovers since March, including a large gathering in Hyde Park in which roughly 500 youths moved through Hyde Park Boulevard, as well as multiple events downtown and throughout neighborhoods involving cars doing doughnuts and setting pavement on fire.

Over Memorial Day weekend, three young men were shot near 55th Street and Cornell Avenue after a teen gathering at 57th Street Beach spilled into the Hyde Park neighborhood. An 18-year-old and two 19-year-olds were struck by gunfire; all three were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition. Separately, an 18-year-old driver struck five Chicago police officers with his vehicle at the intersection of Loomis Street and Roosevelt Road on May 24 while officers attempted to disperse a large crowd on the Near West Side.

The political divide in the City Council has repeatedly stalled Mr. Lopez’s efforts. When the original ordinance came before the Committee on Public Safety in March, Police Committee Chair Chris Taliaferro (29th), a former police sergeant, said he could not support a measure holding a parent liable “as if they committed the act themselves,” raising constitutional concerns. The committee killed the measure 10-5 on a “do not pass” motion. 

Mr. Lopez said he believes the political calculus has shifted.

“There’s more of an appetite now — especially as aldermen gear up to go knocking on doors asking for people’s votes to stay in office,” he said. “They know that people want to see City Council take some action.” 

Alderman Brian Hopkins of the 2nd Ward, who chairs the public safety committee, has also been pressing for stronger curfew enforcement tools, describing parental accountability as “just one of the legs of the stool that you need to fight teen takeovers,” alongside curfew rules and social media crackdowns.

Mr. Lopez framed Wednesday’s vote as a test of political will.

“I think it’s going to be a very telling moment, because we always see the politicians stand up after these events and say, ’We should do something,’” he said. “Now the question is, will they do something now that it’s in front of them?”