Welcoming the DNC: Chicago on a national stage

In just a few weeks, Chicago will welcome over 5,000 delegates, 12,000 volunteers, and an overall 50,000 visitors, as the host city for the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

There is so much to be proud of as the nation turns its eyes to Chicago and Chicagoans. In the bright lights of the national stage, however, there is also a reckoning to do. There is nowhere to hide from the history of the 1968 DNC, the City’s failures in responding to protests and unrest in 2020, and the present-day challenges faced by Chicagoans underserved by and untrusting of City government.

Last quarter, OIG released a report detailing the Chicago Police Department’s (CPD) preparedness for mass gatherings, like the DNC. We assessed changes made since 2020 and found both areas of significant improvement and areas of ongoing concern. Meanwhile, we have continued our ongoing efforts on misconduct investigations, program and policy projects, and transparency initiatives.

As we look ahead to the DNC and the weeks and months to follow it, we continue to work in pursuit of a City government that more closely resembles the one Chicagoans deserve – both when the nation is watching and when it isn’t.

Respectfully,

Inspector General Deborah Witzburg