Interview with Ald. Ariel Reboyras

"We Need More Police Officers"

Like every other alderperson interviewed by the League, Alderperson Ariel Reboyras of the 30th Ward told Leaguer Debby Halpern that crime was a key issue for his constituents during the Zooming interview, which premiered on January 27. He went on to say that Chicago does not have enough police officers—the department is at least 1,000 short! Watch the full interview.

On this issue, Ald. Reboyras went on to say: 

• Let the Police Superintendent and the officers do their jobs. However, if individual police officers are causing problems, they should be held accountable.

• The community needs to get more involved with the issue of crime, too. People living in most areas know who are causing the problems, but neighbors are afraid to speak up. We all need to work together to bring down crime rates.

• Chicago police have confiscated more illegal guns this past year than the police departments in New York City and Los Angeles combined.

A few other highlights:

• The current ward redistricting process is causing rifts in the City Council that need to be repaired. For his part, Reboyras does not want to see communities broken up among three or more wards.

• In response to what he would like to get done or at least begun during the remainder of his term (which ends in 2023), Ald. Reboyras is excited about two projects in his ward: a new Belmont Cragin school that is being built within a Chicago park with the support of Friends of the Park and a proposal he is helping put together to set aside several acres for housing (including affordable housing) and businesses in the Avondale area. That property currently has many empty lots.