Mayor's Office

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police Supt. Garry McCarthy said that Operation Impact, an initiative to enlist more police officers on foot patrol in some of Chicago’s high-crime neighborhoods, has effectively reduced crime since the program’s inception; Emanuel said that crime in the targeted areas “was down in February by 50 percent, 69 percent in March, [and] April’s continuing in that trend”

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the League of Women Voters and 14 individuals that alleges Chicago’s newly-drawn ward map is unconstitutional because it favors protecting some incumbents over ensuring fair representation of constituents; City argued the League of Women Voters does not have the legal standing to file, that an alleged equal protection infraction does not exist and that the reshaping of ward boundaries is justified

Mayor Rahm Emanuel is offering Lollapalooza tickets to 100 top technology students from colleges around the country as part of an expansion of the ThinkChicago program, which aims to draw tech talent to the city; In addition to attending the concert, students would also visit tech incubator 1871, participate in panel discussions with Chicagoans in the technology field and attend a job fair with local companies

Mayor Rahm Emanuel visited Englewood’s Growing Home organic, urban farm on Wednesday to highlight the project as an example of the success of the Chicago Neighborhoods Now initiative, under which over $363 million in public and private investments have been made in the Englewood area; Growing Home is quadrupling its trainees to 80 people per year and tripling its annual produce output, to 40,000 pounds per year

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced new musical acts for the 2013 Taste of Chicago’s Petrillo Music Shell event; Headliners announced Wednesday include Robin Thicke, Robert Plant, Jill Scott and Neon Trees, who will join previously announced opening performers Fun

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Cheryl Hyman have announced almost 4,000 students are expected to earn associate degrees from the school system this year, the highest number in over 20 years; CCC saw a 5 percent increase in credit enrollment between 2010 and 2012

Mayor Rahm Emanuel visited the White House Friday to talk to President Barack Obama and other “old friends” about “Chicago priorities,” according to mayoral spokeswoman Sarah Hamilton; Prior to visiting the White House, Emanuel attended the first meeting of the US Conference of Mayors Infrastructure Financing for Cities Task Force, which he chairs with former President Bill Clinton

Mayor Rahm Emanuel directed his administration to update its medical emergency response plan for dealing with mass injuries, as a result of the Boston Marathon bombing; Plan was most recently updated last year to deal with potential incidents associated with the NATO Summit