Chicago City Wire

Ray Lopez, 15th Ward Alderman of Chicago City Council, said on AM 560 Chicago’s Morning Answer that Lightfoot was dishonest about crime, costing her the election.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Program explained that crime prevention is an art, explaining there any many ways to address reducing crime.

“Case in point, back to the first word with Alderman Daniel Espada, who though being Italian, was all for bringing down the Columbus statue, he now faces Sam Royko, Mike Royko’s grandson for alderman in the Fi1strst Ward. Daniel’s been very much about, you know, the agenda where Sam was a victim of carjacking and said, When are we going to take crime and violence seriously because my wife was carjacked. And so those kind of repercussions.” Lopez said overall he expects the Chicago City Council to improve. "I think you’re going to see some change,” Lopez said. "And I think hopefully you see some mentality shift towards pragmatism. And we’ve seen that even in my class that was elected in 2015 when Carlos Ramirez-Rosa came in as a firebrand, but by the second term, he started tampering down, realizing that yelling and screaming isn’t always the best option, that sometimes, sometimes in politics, you have to work with people.”

Stanford University’s Institute for Economic Policy Research noted that providing access to mental health care can reduce crime.

Lopez was a harsh critic of outgoing mayor Lori Lightfoot who lost reelection last week.“The fact that 83% of Chicago said it was time for a new direction speaks volumes. And you’re right, we have now two candidates, Paul Vallas, who is very much like-minded in many ways, particularly in contrast to his opponent, Brandon Johnson, who thinks making jokes about killing puppies and looting is something that’s acceptable if you’re hungry, it’s just an outrageous predicament for a runoff.”Lopez said he is now backing Paul Vallas for mayor over Brandon Johnson. In the primary, he backed businessman Willie Wilson. “Chicago is a city that can handle the truth very easily, and it can smell B.S. a mile away,“: Lopez said.“I’ve said that plenty of times. My grandma taught me that. I think Lori Lightfoot, for as much as we disagreed, could have delivered the hard truth to people because we were in that moment. But she chose a very different route in politics. Paul Vallas, should he be victorious, can deliver hard truths because he’s not doing it from a place of being mean and vindictive and trying to put people down. But starting from a point of truth so that you could actually begin to lift people up. I think Brandon Johnson only seeks to pander and make excuses and continue enabling individuals' bad behavior. I think it was FDR who said that government should push you to your best, not accommodate you at your worst. And I think that’s exactly what this election is going to be about in April. Do you want a mayor who pushes you to be your best or he’s just going to allow you to wallow at your worst?”

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Program also listed ideas on crime prevention in various communities such as in schools, work, or in the public.

Comments made by Lopez regarding Chicago's status as the "murder capital" of the United States. Lopez states that voters should support political candidates who take the issue of crime and violence seriously and are committed to taking action to address it.

Vox noted raising the age or grade for dropping out of school could help reduce crime.

Many have criticized Johnson for suggesting lotting was OK during the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in 2020.“Reminder Brandon Johnson thought Looting was ok because the Businesses have insurance. Hear it for yourself in the video below. So in other words in a Chicago with Brandon Johnson in charge looting would be okay and more. Businesses would simply just leave causing economic problems. #ChicagoElection.”

Reuters reported that former Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, who worked with the 45th United States President, said that white supremacist extremists played a role in inciting the violence seen at the BLM protests.

“Part two of the Video. In this segment, Brandon Johnson continues about Defunding the Police. And blamed the looting issues due to poverty so once again looting and defunding the police are all a go if Brandon Wins.”

WTTW reported the Chicago Police Department had officers in far-right extremist groups.

In line, waiting to file: Ald. Jim Gardiner, Ald. Nicholas Sposato, Ald. Silvana Tabares, Ald. Ray Lopez, the heart of the unofficial conservative caucus on the City Council. Call us the “common sense caucus” they told me.

Cook County Commissioner Johnson, a Chicago Mayoral candidate, said to WGN the looting seen during the BLM protests stems from people struggling economically such as poor housing or no food.

“People are acting out of desperation,” Johnson said to WGN. “You have to pay attention to cries people have, there’s no way to embrace [looting].”

Part two of the Video. In this segment, Johnson continues about Defunding the Police. And blamed the looting issues due to poverty so once again looting and defunding the police are all a go if Johnson Wins.