Thread by @BauerJournalism

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot: "Our schools are safe. We've got a mountain of evidence of that fact" starting last year.

Lightfoot: "Let me remind you that CPS put in $100 million in COVID mitigation efforts over the course of last school year to be able to open up safely."

Lightfoot: "We opened back up last spring with very few instances of COVID, and nothing that necessitated us shutting down."

Lightfoot: "There's no dispute that teachers and other staff of CPS will be vaccinated as a requirement starting Oct. 15. The big-picture issues we're all in alignment on. ... We're ready to open up next Monday."

Lightfoot: "I know from talking to Ella's mom that she cared deeply about animals, and particularly making sure there were opportunities for rescue animals." She "appreciates" people singing petition to rename CACC for French. She'll look into "other" ways to honor French.

Lightfoot: "I think we've got to do more in partnership with the state police to identify whether or not there are any particular patterns" for interstate shootings. A lot of disputes playing out on social media. "The biggest thing is we've gotta be united in our focus on ...

"rooting out this gang activity and going after the gangs, because that's really what the heart of the problem is."

Lightfoot: "The focus has to also be on accountability for the people who are wreaking harm in our community."

Lightfoot: "City employees are absolutely going to be required to be vaccinated. We're working through those discussions, which have been ongoing now for a couple weeks, with our colleagues in organized labor that represent city employees. But we absolutely have to have a ...

"vaccine mandate. It's for the safety of all involved, particularly members of the public who are interacting with members of the public on a daily basis. ... A vaccine mandate from the city will come, and we'll make specific announcements in the coming days."

Lightfoot: "Where we're focused right now is on the unvaccinated."

Lightfoot: "It's an extraordinary thing that we have three sitting aldermen indicted. That's not a good thing for our city."

BREAKING: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says all city workers will soon be required to get vaccinated, but details still being worked out.

blockclubchicago.org/2021/08/23/all…

Lightfoot: "The Park District is an independent entity. We don't control the Park District operations. The Park District has made a determination that one of the ways it wants to generate revenue is by allowing Amazon to have space in its parks. ... We welcome innovative ideas...

"on the part of any of our sister agencies to raise revenue in a way that doesn't result in raising taxes."

Press conference over.