Aldermen intent forward creating a ...

Aldermen intent forward creating a security bubble around Chicago indoctrinates were thrown a curve Tuesday: The ordinance would apply alone to 17- and 18-year-olds.

Bridgeport Ald. Jim Balcer (11th) wanted to crack down forward a surge in school violence according to throwing the book at all scholars found fighting within 1,000 feet of public, private and nursery drills

When colleagues complained that he had gone overboard, Balcer make tendered the ordinance by giving parents or guardians of kids caught brawling near place of educations a written warning after the first offense and imposing fines, and nothing else after "two or more" offense within a 12-month period.

He agreed to obstacle kids "acting in self defense" not on the hook entirely and gave hearing officers the option of sentencing instigators to 100 hours of community service as an alternative to jail.

upon Tuesday, a joint City Council committee approved the watered- down ordinance. further not before Chief Assistant Corporation forethought Tom Dombai threw aldermen what Education Committee Chairman Pat O'Connor (40th) called "a curveball."

OTHER directions FOR 'JUVENILES'

Dombai said the ordinance applies single to "minors" defined by law as ages 17 and 18 Younger learners fall into the "juvenile" category when it get tos to ordinance violations, and they're treated differently by way of state law. They're handled primarily between the sides of outreach efforts that include "station adjustments," counseling, and parental interviews

That sent aldermen back to the drawing board.

"Clearly, the majority of [aldermen] be stirred that the younger ages should also be part of the ordinance. There will be a certain attempt to figure out by what mode to get that accomplished," O'Connor said.

"If it is preclud according to the state statute that deals with juveniles, perhaps it would require an amendment to the state law. . . You could maybe do it below home-rule for Chicago alone in a less degree than the state law. There's a fate of avenues open to us. moreover it's just kind of a last-minute curveball that gains thrown to us. So, we'll pass this and work upon the part that's left out"

on a level with its limits, the ordinance will accomplish something, according to Robert Hargesheimer, the Chicago Police Department's commander of Youth Investigations.

"It's another tool we can use with that [17- and 18-year-old] population," Hargesheimer said.

fspielman@suntimes.com

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