Former Chicago alderman and attorney Bob Fioretti joined Chicago’s Morning Answer with Amy Jacobson and Chris Krok (filling in for Dan Proft) to weigh in on a range of pressing issues—from youth crime and curfews to the city’s staggering human trafficking problem. Fioretti, now a declared Republican and former candidate for Cook County State’s Attorney, brought a mix of policy experience and sharp critique to the wide-ranging conversation.
The segment opened with praise for a recent Lake County operation in which 27 men were arrested in a human trafficking sting. Fioretti highlighted the importance of these types of busts, noting that eliminating demand is key to dismantling the system. “If there’s no buyer, there’s no market,” he emphasized, stressing the need for awareness and enforcement to combat what he called “modern-day slavery.”
Fioretti explained his longstanding commitment to the issue, tracing it back to his days as a city council member. He recalled reviewing police reports in the late 2000s and noticing a pattern in prostitution-related arrests. That prompted deeper inquiry into the scale of human trafficking in Chicago. Estimates at the time suggested as many as 15,000 to 25,000 acts of trafficking occurred daily in the city, revealing Chicago as a global hub for the crime.
This led Fioretti to co-author a resolution that resulted in a hearing attended by aldermen, law enforcement, and then-State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez. Since leaving the council, he has continued the fight, co-chairing the Chicago Bar Association’s Anti-Human Trafficking Committee and organizing seminars aimed at training attorneys, police officers, teachers, and social workers to recognize and respond to trafficking.
The discussion also touched on the city’s controversial approach to youth curfews. Fioretti expressed concern over Mayor Brandon Johnson’s recent veto of a city council-approved proposal to extend curfew enforcement, calling the decision emblematic of a larger trend of political inaction. “We need people who will stand up and enforce the law,” he said, adding that teen “takeovers” coordinated via social media are a growing threat to public safety in neighborhoods like Streeterville.
Fioretti criticized city leadership for what he sees as politically motivated excuses, particularly those framing law enforcement actions in racial terms. With a Black mayor and majority-Black leadership across city and county government, Fioretti argued that invoking systemic bias to resist public safety measures rings hollow.
“The people in these communities deserve better,” he said. “They’re dealing with noise, traffic, and dangerous activity on a regular basis. It’s about quality of life—and it’s not being protected.”
He warned that the culture of permissiveness, combined with political patronage and prosecutorial leniency, is eroding confidence in the justice system. He called for judges and prosecutors to base their decisions on the law—not on political connections or ideology.
Now a Republican, Fioretti reflected on his shift away from the Democratic Party, saying he was accused of being a Republican long before he made it official. “I supported family values, fiscal responsibility, and the police—that was enough,” he said. Despite losing a few friends over the switch, he expressed no regrets.
Looking ahead to 2026, Fioretti predicted a tough election cycle in Illinois, citing Governor Pritzker’s willingness to spend heavily in support of Democratic candidates. But he also expressed optimism that voters hungry for change—especially around issues like crime, education, and public order—could begin to shift the political tide.
Until then, Fioretti said he’ll continue advocating for stronger enforcement, increased civic engagement, and deeper awareness of issues like human trafficking, which he called foundational to restoring the rule of law in Chicago.