Ja'Ron Smith, assistant to the president on domestic policy, Tuesday invited Democrat Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to work with the White House on issues such as policing and opportunity for young men of color in her community but so far, there has been "no luck" in working with her since she has taken office.
"We realize that opportunity has to happen in some of these communities," Smith told Fox News' "America's Newsroom," adding that there are several councils within the White House that are all focused on the issue.
Lightfoot on Monday, after a weekend of violence that killed 13 people in her city, commented that progress is being made every weekend in different parts of the city when it comes to dealing with gang violence, but when one looks at the "root causes of violence, this is generations of lack of investment," reports The Chicago Sun-Times. "Generations where we haven’t created real opportunities, particularly for young men of color. And they believe that their destiny is on the corner. We’re not gonna change that around in a few weeks.”
Smith said the Trump administration has been trying to bring change, including meeting with Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., to discuss how Opportunity Zones could be leveraged in hart-hit areas, and "we are willing to go back and to do the work."
"These issues aren't about politics," he said. "They are about outcomes, and honestly, some of these things haven't happened for over 30 years. Many leaders promised that they want to do reform and don't lift a finger. But I would invite (Lightfoot) to work with us. We've worked with other Democratic mayors. Look at the city of Birmingham . . . we are really moving the needle in those communities."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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