Mayor Brandon Johnson’s People’s Plan Delivers a 33% Drop in Chicago Crime

Chicago is rewriting its story, and the change is being driven by the city’s own people under the leadership of Mayor Brandon Johnson. In just one year, Johnson’s community-focused People’s Plan has led to a 33 percent reduction in crime, marking one of the most significant public safety turnarounds in the city’s recent history.

At the heart of Johnson’s plan is a simple but powerful idea: when you invest in people, communities thrive. Instead of pouring all resources into policing and punishment, the People’s Plan focuses on healing, opportunity, and prevention.

Johnson’s approach expands mental health services, ensuring that residents have access to care that addresses trauma and mental illness, which often fuel cycles of violence. His administration has also opened doors for young people by creating job programs, training opportunities, and mentorship pipelines, proving that when youth have access to resources, they choose growth over crime.

One of the most transformative parts has been the deployment of violence interrupters, trusted community members who step in before conflicts escalate. These frontline mediators are breaking down barriers and restoring trust in neighborhoods that have too often been left behind.

The results speak volumes. Families are reporting safer streets, and many communities are experiencing a sense of renewal that has been missing for decades. What Johnson has shown the nation is that crime does not just fall because of tougher laws. It falls when people are given tools to live with dignity, stability, and hope.

Brandon Johnson is setting a national precedent for Black leadership in major cities. His People’s Plan is more than a safety strategy. It is a blueprint for reimagining how communities of color, often the most affected by crime, can reclaim power, control, and hope towards a prosperous future.