The other officials expressed similar ambitions. The mayor promised that the group would work on revitalizing the surrounding neighborhood and “bringing back what has slipped away.” He then left for another event.
McCarthy noted that he had first deployed extra police in the area two years ago, but that law enforcement alone wouldn’t change anything. Preckwinkle stressed the importance of jobs in keeping young men out of gangs. Michael Sacks, a hedge-fund manager who’s one of Emanuel’s biggest donors and closest advisers, promised the support of the business community.
None of the proposals were specific, no dollar amounts were committed, and no timetable was established.
Rush conceded that he and others had tried this before. “We had a similar meeting in 2006 at my church in Englewood,” he said.
But this group is more committed, Rush said, and would meet again as soon as next week. He insisted that the spirit of the gathering was itself a sign of progress.
“We were not in here pointing fingers,” he said. “We were holding hands.”
Article Appeared @http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2014/06/05/politicians-say-this-time-they-really-truly-have-a-plan-to-fight-chicagos-violence