You won't believe how much Chicago is paying

Okay so— Chi-Town on the wire — you already know. You wanna know what's wild? What's *really* wild in this city? We're talking about money, right? And not just like, my rent going up on the South Side, or the CTA fares, nah nah nah. We're talking about almost two million dollars. For what, you ask? To defend a cop who shot a 13-year-old kid. A kid, mija! This ain't some made-up story for TV; this is happening right here, right now, with *our* tax dollars.

Nah nah nah, let me explain: Chicago taxpayers, that's you and me, we've spent $1.76 million. Million! Just to defend an officer who shot a 13-year-old boy, leaving him paralyzed. Without justification, the report says. Think about that for a second. That's money that could go to like, actual after-school programs in Englewood, or fixing those busted sidewalks in Little Village. It's the kind of stuff that makes you wanna throw your hands up and say, *¿qué onda?*

### What This Means for Chicago

* **Taxpayer Burden:** Your money is going to defend actions that, according to reports, were unjustified.

* **Community Trust:** This just makes it harder for folks in neighborhoods like West Garfield Park, where that boy probably lived, to trust anything the city says.

* **Priorities:** It shows you where the city's priorities are. Not on the kids, not on the community, but on defending the indefensible.

And this ain't just some abstract number. This is real money that could change lives, that could fix potholes on the Dan Ryan that rattle your teeth out, or help fund the Red Line extension that never seems to get past the drawing board. Instead, it’s going to this. It’s a slap in the face for anyone trying to make this city better, especially for our kids.

Chi-Town on the wire — you already know.

Mi gente, the morning crew always breaks this down even more. Tune in at mornings.live.