Vandals Break Windows Out At Ald. Lopez's Office: Police Say

CHICAGO — Bricks shattered the windows of Ald. Ray Lopez's Southwest Side office Sunday, police said. It was the second time in two weeks that vandals have targeted Lopez.

At 11:43 p.m. Sunday two people threw bricks through the windows of the 15th Ward office at 2736 W. 47th St. in Brighton Park, police said. No one was in custody Monday.

The latest act of vandalism targeting Lopez came two days after the alderman called for calling out "thugs and enablers" responsible for throwing bricks through the front windows of his home the week before in an open letter to his constituents.

The open letter emailed on Friday described the July 9 "brazen front-door attack" on his home was the work of "cowards ... meant to intimidate me." Lopez called on residents to help "cast them out like cockroaches when the light switch is turned on."

"We must not only go after the gangs but those who shelter them; the absentee landlords who do not care who rents their apartments as long as they're getting their money," Lopez said. "They too share this responsibility and owe it to the neighborhood to step up and address their gang tenants."

On Sunday about 11:43 p.m. two people threw bricks through the windows of the 15th Ward office at 2736 W. 47th St. in Brighton Park, police said. No one was in custody Monday.

Lopez, one of Mayor Lori Lightfoot's harshest critics, was critical of the mayor for not rebuking the attack on his home earlier this month. On Monday, he tweeted pictures of the damage to his office, and again called out the mayor.

"When you Mayor, refuse to call out the terror attacks on our communities, especially on their electeds, criminals only feel more emboldened to continue their reign," he wrote. "Glass can be replaced, peace of mind and security cannot. Your silence is destroying this city!"

On Monday, Lopez said he is not afraid. But stressed his disappointment that neither Chicago police nor the mayor's office had contacted him in response to the Sunday night vandalism.

"Every weekend we see how violent our city is becoming. Gangs and those committed to terrorizing our communities feel there are no repercussions to them - starting from Lightfoot on down. This has got to stop," he said.

At an unrelated news conference, Lightfoot said any attack on elected officials won't be tolerated. She said the police department will be in contact with Lopez to provide the alderman with additional security

"We're not going to tolerate anyone attacking elected officials and engaging in criminal contact against them, period," Lightfoot said.