Mayor Brandon Johnson stresses New Year’s Eve curfew, hopes to avoid another ‘teen takeover’

Resolving to avoid another violent holiday-season “teen takeover,” Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday stressed the city’s 10 p.m. curfew for young people who head downtown without adult supervision for the city’s nationally televised New Year’s Eve festivities.

The mayor and police Supt. Larry Snelling implored parents to “know where your children are” to help the city avoid a repeat of the chaos that followed hundreds of teenagers who flocked to the Loop after last month’s Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. Nine teens were shot, one fatally, when large gatherings devolved into violence Nov. 21.

Johnson and Snelling promised a heightened police presence for the “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” spectacle that’ll take over the Riverwalk on Wednesday night.

But keeping the peace will largely come down to family communication, Johnson said during a news conference at the West Loop headquarters of the Office of Emergency Management & Communications.

“We want our young people to experience this event and the best of our city along with us, and we are encouraging families to make a plan with their children and teens,” Johnson said. “Parents: talk to your children about their plans, and help them identify a safe place where they can go if they get separated from the group and a safe route home.”

Officials emphasized that they’ll be enforcing the city’s curfew downtown starting at 10 p.m. for anyone under 18 without adult supervision.

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• This report was published in partnership with the Chicago Sun-Times. For more, visit chicago.suntimes.com.