In Wake Of Vegas Shooting, Rahm Says Chicago Is 'Prepared' For MLB Playoffs & Marathon

By Emma G. Gallegos in News on Oct 3, 2017 3:17PM

Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

In the wake of the Las Vegas mass shooting, Mayor Rahm Emanuel assured reporters on Monday that the city was prepared to host Sunday's Chicago marathon and the upcoming MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field.

The mayor said the city had significantly bolstered its security after the Boston marathon bombing in 2013 and last year's World Series rally.

"The city is prepared and doing its work," he told reporters, according to the Sun-Times. "Remember, we started changing what we were doing after the Boston marathon [bombing] and we upped our game dramatically. The city had the World Series last year and so, we also had to change and up our game from a security standpoint."

Chicago has run six scenarios for "active shooter incidents" over the last year. The mayor said that the city's Police and Fire departments will be working with the Office of Emergency Management and Communication to see if the city had any room for improvement in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting. Additionally, 33 hospitals and four trauma centers have become involved with running scenarios. He said that the city periodically reassesses its protocols any time there is a major incident either domestically or internationally.

"Every time an event like this occurs, though, I hold a public safety meeting where we'll go over what we know from open source information and how we in the city of Chicago would respond," Office of Emergency Management and Communications Commissioner Alicia Tate-Nadeau said, according to the Tribune. She emphasized that the city aims to prevent violent incidents as much as practicing its response.

Cubs spokesman Julian Green was also at the press conference to discuss security issues for the post-season. He said Las Vegas "will figure into our efforts to make sure we provide an enjoyable and safe environment."

Though Chicago is often a target for those who oppose any sort of gun control, Emanuel pointed out that he had helped pass the Brady Bill and ban on assault weapons during his days as a staffer under President Bill Clinton.

He said it's time for "sensible gun control": "I believe you can persuade people-not to change their views but to realize that what we're doing today is not working. The Brady Bill, the five-day waiting period and the assault weapons ban did work. This should be a wake-up call to all of us…That is my hope and I believe it's possible. Am I aware of political realities? Yes. But I still hold out hope that we can change people."