Chicago Ald. Chris Taliaferro is joining fellow black members of the City Council in calling for the resignation or firing of Chicago’s top cop.
A majority of the City Council Black Caucus’ 18 members came together at the Oct. 6 Chicago City Council budget hearing to call for Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy to step down or be fired.
“As a caucus, we got together and asked for his resignation,” Taliaferro said. “We strongly believe with the increasing violence, increasing drug activity, increasing homicides and increasing sexual assaults, we need someone with new ideas to move the city forward.”
Taliaferro, a Chicago police officer who’s on a leave of absence while he serves as alderman, said he didn’t feel conflicted taking the stand. His 29th Ward covers portions of the Austin, Galewood and Mont Clare neighborhoods.
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“It’s not a matter of being a police officer, but putting the ward first,” he said. “There are 77 communities in the city of Chicago, and Austin ranks very high in the number of homicides throughout the city.”
He says what McCarthy and the police department are currently doing isn’t solving the problem.
“I’m looking at what we can do to help reduce some of the violence,” Taliaferro said. “I understand that strict law enforcement is not the answer.”
He said the answer — for his ward and other predominantly minority wards plagued by crime — is to create opportunities for people.
“We have to create jobs,” he said. “We have to create educational opportunities.”
Despite the caucus’s call, McCarthy appears to still have the backing of Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Nevertheless, Taliaferro believes their concerns have been heard.
“I don’t think it fell on deaf ears,” he said. “I think our superintendent understands our request was not made in jest and we are serious.”
Taliaferro hopes that is the case.
“If not, then we will go to the mayor again,” he said.
Twitter: @DavidDPollard