Garcia Blasts Emanuel On Rise In Murders, Shootings
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mayoral challenger Jesus "Chuy" Garcia on Wednesday sought to use residents' unease about the city's latest crime statistics to slow Mayor Rahm Emanuel's momentum ahead of next week's runoff election.
On the same day Emanuel was footing the bill for a women's luncheon in support of his campaign, Garcia was standing outside the door of the Near West District police station, talking about the nearly 30 percent jump in homicides and a 40 percent rise in shootings through March, compared to the same period last year.
Garcia said the mayor has not met his 2011 campaign pledge to hire 1,000 additional police officers
"This is a clear example of a broken promise that was made four years ago, that hasn't been fulfilled to the citizens of Chicago," he said.
Garcia even tried to tie Emanuel's record campaign warchest to the crime statistics.
"Imagine what $30 million, what $15 million could do for public safety. We could hire young people who are unemployed today. We could engage in a variety of activities in Chicago neighborhoods," he said.
In the middle of the 2011 campaign, Emanuel backed off his pledge to hire 1,000 more cops, saying instead he would put 1,000 more officers "on the streets," and ended up mostly shifting officers from desk duties and specialized units to neighborhood patrols.
Garcia also has vowed to hire 1,000 extra police officers, among other public safety measures, but has not said how he would pay for the plan.