>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

RIGHT TO THE TOP STORY TONIGHT.

CHICAGO OFFICIALS ARE SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS AFTER AN UNRULY CROWD GATHERED SATURDAY NEAR MILLENNIUM PART.

THE VIRAL VIDEO SHOWS LARGE CROWDS OF TEENAGERS DISRUPTING TRAFFIC, JUMPING ON CARS AND GETTING INTO FIGHTS DOWNTOWN.

IN THE LOOP, TWO TEAMS WERE SHOT INTO THE DITCH MIKE HOW THE CITY CAN DEAL WITH THE UNREST.

THE DIRECTOR OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NONPROFIT AND RICHARD THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT THE CHICAGO LOOP ALLIANCE.

PART OF THE MOST MAGNIFICENT MILE ASSOCIATION.

MADE UP OF BARS, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, STORES ALL OF THIS IN THE LOOP.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING FROM YOUR MEMBERS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED SATURDAY NIGHT?

>> FIRST , OUR MEMBERS ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS, THEIR STAFF AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

EVEN THE TEENAGERS THAT WERE OUT THERE.

THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULT INTERACTIONS WITH EACH OTHER SOME OF THEM GETTING HURT, SOME OF THEM DAMAGING PROPERTY.

THERE IS A GENERAL SENSE OF SADNESS THAT THE EVENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A CELEBRATION, IT DIDN'T TIME-OUT IT TURN INTO SOMETHING THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT LESS PRODUCTIVE AND LESS ENJOYABLE.

>> I KNOW YOU WORK WITH A LOT OF KIDS ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE TAKING THEM ON FIELD TRIPS ALL AROUND THE CITY.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU SEE THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR?

>> YOU NEVER WANT TO SEE VIOLENCE IN ANY COMMUNITY.

IT'S HARD ALSO BECAUSE SOME FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR AN OUTLET YOU SEE EXPLOSIONS OF YOUTH ENERGY, YOU SEE THAT IS SO UNPRODUCTIVE.

HOW CAN WE PROVIDE RESOURCES AND SPACES WHERE THERE IS A POSITIVE OUTLET ENERGY.

WE WERE ALL YOUNG ONES AND WILD WE ALL HAVE OUR STORIES.

>> Reporter: SOME OF US HAD ACCESS TO MORE ACTIVITIES.

WHAT CUT THAT LOOK LIKE?

IT'S SOMETHING YOUR ORGANIZATION WORKS FOR .

>> WE FOCUS ON THE EXPLORERS PROGRAM THAT EXPOSES YOUNG FOLKS TO OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITY.

THEY COULD BE MAKING ART TOGETHER.

JUST SEE PEOPLE ARE MORE SOCIALLY ISOLATED.

EVEN GOING DOWNTOWN , WE HAVE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES WE WANT TO HELP THE CITY FEEL LIKE HOME.

>> THE PANDEMIC HAD EVERYONE TRAPPED IN THEIR HOMES.

IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST YEARS POST-PANDEMIC WHERE THINGS WERE OPEN THE WEATHER WAS NICE AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND ENJOY THE PARK THERE'S MORE PROGRAMMING COMING IT'S A LOT OF REASONS FOR PEOPLES TO COME OUT AND ENJOY IT.

>> THE CITY HISTORICALLY SEES CRIME INCREASE.

DURING THE LOOP ALLIANCE.

>> I THINK THERE IS A BALANCE.

WE LIKED TO SEE A STRONGER POLICE PRESENCE WE WORK VERY WELL WITH THE POLICE TODAY.

YOU SEE THE CARS THAT ARE ON THE STREET .

BEARS FOOT PATROLS, THERE'S BIKING OFFICERS.

THERE IS POLICE PRESENCE.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY JUST WANTS TO MAKE SURE WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, THERE IS COMMUNICATION AND A RESPONSIVENESS AND QUITE FRANKLY THE ABILITY TO BE PROACTIVE AND PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE PARTNERS THAT HAVE PROGRAMS THAT THE YOUTH CAN PARTICIPATE IN, IN ADDITION TO THE MANY MANY PROGRAMS THE CITY PUTS ON THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF AFFAIRS THEY HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMMING.

>> THE CITY HAS A 10:00 HER FEAR FOR TEENAGERS 17 AND UNDER.

THEY NEED TO BE WITH AN ADULT AFTER 6:00.

ARE YOU SEEING THAT ENFORCED?

>> WE ARE.

WHEN YOU GET CLOSE TO THAT HOUR, THERE ARE ALWAYS STRAGGLERS.

IT'S A NORMAL DYNAMIC BUT FOR THE MOST PART YES, WE ARE SEEING THAT ENFORCED.

>> Reporter: SHOULD THAT CURFEW BE ENFORCED?

>> IT COULD BE A SOFT STOP TO WHAT WE ARE SEEING.

THE WARM WEATHER RIGHT?

IT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE IT BROKE RECORDS EVERYWHERE WE WILL SEE SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIOR WITH THAT WEATHER.

AS WE MOVE TOWARDS THE SUMMER HOW CAN WE INVITE YOUNG PEOPLE DOWNTOWN IN WAYS THAT ARE SAFE.

JULY 8th WE ARE HOSTING DOWNTOWN DAY.

WE WILL WELCOME 1000 YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO ENGAGE IN POSITIVE THINGS.

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