Chicago City Wire

Newly-sworn-in Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson installed Garien Gatewood as the city's first-ever deputy mayor of community safety on May 20.

Gatewood, who previously served as the director of the Illinois Justice Project, brings experience in supporting at-risk youth and implementing strategies to combat crime. According to CBS News Chicago, Johnson expressed confidence in Gatewood's ability to create safer neighborhoods and invest in the city's youth.

"I know Garien Gatewood will help advance that vision and create safer neighborhoods in every corner of our city by investing in people, especially our youth," Johnson said.

Johnson stressed Gatewood's experience.

"Garien's extensive record supporting at-risk young Chicagoans will be essential to achieving our vision for a safer city and will be invaluable to a holistic and healing-centered government response to violence," he said.

The newly-appointed deputy mayor will be responsible for addressing the causes of crime and violence in Chicago. This role was established as part of a series of executive orders announced by Johnson shortly after taking office. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the mayor has emphasized investing in people and confronting the issues that contribute to violent crime. He plans to allocate $1 billion toward these investments, with a significant portion funded through $800 million in new or increased taxes.

Gatewood's previous work with the Illinois Justice Project included advocating for initiatives such as the Illinois SAFE-T Act, which among other reforms, aims to eliminate the cash bail system.

“He wants to make sure that young people are supported, that young people have enrichment opportunities, that they have employment opportunities to not just receive an income, but develop their purpose and direction in life, which really is the key to better choices,” Johnson’s senior adviser, Jason Lee, told the Sun-Times.