Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that his 2019 budget proposal will include an additional $2.07 million investment to support the employment of returning citizens and beautification efforts in communities with elevated levels of gun violence. Over 200 more returning citizens would get city funded jobs or support under the Mayor’s proposed budget, bringing the total number of city employment opportunities or supports to 2,595. The newly hired returning citizens would be employed to clean and beautify vacant lots in high crime neighborhoods. The proposed 2019 budget includes a total of $7.4 million towards employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated citizens. The funds will employ individuals to work with CTA, Department of Streets and Sanitation, Chicago Department of Transportation, Department of Family and Support Services and community-based organizations to clean and beautify parkways and vacant lots in communities affected by gun violence. This reimagining of abandoned spaces will expand neighborhood access to green space and create a significant opportunity for individuals who have barriers to employment due to prior justice involvement and who are at risk at of further involvement in violence.  Additionally, the City will increase resources for pre-existing programs to provide targeted lot cleanup and weed removal in areas with concentrated violence.