Yeah.
We'll figure it out.
the table and everyone's going, right?
What's that?
Good.
There should have been helped.
20 years ago.
20 years ago, 30 years ago or if you want to get more
serious, 75 years ago? Yeah.
I don't know. Taylor's committee
They're so organized.
Yeah, I'm sure.
uh just going through all the shared uses with the stadiums
and turf fields and you know
Okay, for you. So the Cal Park,
That's gonna solve all the problems on Southeast.
How are you? Ian Hansen. Nice to meet you.
We're gonna give you the cheapest.
1 of my when I first started at the park, okay?
And they threw me into 1 of these. And
I was like,
Sit down. So we're gonna do it next, okay?
We will begin with a roll, call to establish form.
Vice chair. Clay.
Alderman, ancy.
Alderman Hall.
Alderman, bill.
Alderman, Chico.
Alderman. Lee.
Alderman Quinn.
Alderman Gutierrez.
Alderwoman Coleman.
Alderman. OSHA
Alderman Fuentes.
Alderman talifero.
Alderwoman Rodriguez.
Alderman Gardner.
We have 8 members present.
Pursuit.
I'm not there.
Pursuant to rule 59. Um, we have requests virtual support
from alderman.
Alderwoman Fuentes. Can I get a motion?
So moved by alderman, talera?
Are there any non-members?
At this time, we will begin public. Comment period. The
period is limited to 30 minutes out of respect for
everyone's Time. Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes.
Our first speaker is Kenneth Newman.
Right here.
Good morning. My name is Kenneth Newman.
I'm a proud, former.
Employee of CPS at purging Road 30 years ago.
where I worked in the athletic department, when frankly, it
was corrupt as hell,
and that corruption still affects especially young ladies
today because of the title 9 violations, that occurred,
Since 1972, when that law came into.
CPR schools are not at all ready. They were not ready in 72
and they're still not completely ready today to accommodate
all the activities of female athletes.
And this has been a problem. Meanwhile, male athletes.
They didn't have the athletic facilities, they needed
either.
And that also extends to Chicago, city colleges was
presently. Need new athletic facilities. Further, soccer,
teams, and they need their own track.
This this fall.
All of the sudden the city colleges decided they wanted to
start renovating their 1 soccer field. They own at Kennedy
King. So then the soccer teams of CCC were desperately
searching.
For a soccer field to play on and because the park district
is not built fields that are at least 70 yards. Wide, in
some cases, you have to have a minimum of 70 yards to play
a Collegiate soccer match.
As for Chicago public schools in the Park District, I have
worked for both entities. I have seen the good and the bad
and right now we have so many parks that are next to
schools where those schools need a 400 meter track and
artificial turf field. Best number of Park, been high
school.
CVS.
Jesse Owens park. How would you name a park after the
greatest track athlete of American history and not put a
track in that Park?
Now, let's talk about other areas of the city.
Kennedy High School is next to Wentworth Park.
They need a 400 meter track and artificial turf field.
Sherry High School, empty land for 30 years. There's
nothing there
Dyett High School, 400 meter track and artificial turf
field in Washington Park.
And the orphan school.
Which is Sullivan and Rogers. Park is a mile away from
Warren Park. Warren Park, desperately needs. A 400 meter
track and artificial turf field.
And there are plenty more.
The fact is, is that this neglect has been going on since
the 1930s, when the park district of Consolidated and
controlled by city hall and controlled by people who did
not go to the Chicago Public Schools, that's something that
all should know.
And since you have people here from Noble,
Guess what? The noble schools are started by people with
lots of money. The noble people can go out and buy land.
Let them go by 50 acres and build soccer football across
tracks.
You know, Charter Schools, need their own athletic
facilities. There's only 2 of the noble, have their, thank
you for your comments, their own Athletic Facility, before
I call the next speaker. Um I need I have another rule 59
for all the woman Rodriguez, Sanchez. Can I get a motion?
Thank you.
Miss Jackson.
Good morning. Um, and thank you.
For allowing me to speak this morning.
Thank you for not violating my rights again. Like you did
the other day when you had to when you were the chair.
Don't do that again.
Do not do it again.
We get here in time we follow the rules and we sign up.
And when we pay our Fair,
and get down here to exercise our rights, as a citizen,
I for 1 and I think I can speak on behalf of the others.
Expect our rights to be
um, supported
and not overwritten by somebody who don't even come to the
meetings all the time.
Okay, don't do that anymore.
Just because you don't want us to tell the black people
that you bring in here.
That is all the front.
Because you just like all the men, why?
Will parade around black people, while behind them, you
doing everything for immigrants.
You know, it just like I know it.
Are you going to really deal with their education?
Y'all need to get your parents involved, you get your
parents involved to make city council and to make Janette
Taylor, ultimate Janette Taylor do the right thing.
To make dads me Nancy. Do the right thing to make city
council, do the right thing. You get your parents involved.
Don't you? Trust these politicians up here.
Because they getting money for immigrants, they using Black
Faces.
To get a bunch of money and a bunch of opportunity for a
bunch of illegal immigrants. They doing it to us in the job
market. They're doing it to us in the housing market.
They're doing it to us on the political front and yeah,
they doing it in uh Athletics too.
They playing us all the way to the left.
You get your parents involved to speak up for you. You know
what black Athletics ism is to this country.
Look how much money this country makes off a black
athletes.
They make cool gobs of money off of black athletes
especially the black male.
Because your body is so strong because your minds are so
brilliant.
Don't you let them play you anytime? She would do it to us
and we adults
They'll do it to y'all and y'all kids. Don't you ever file
like my rights again Janette Taylor?
I wasn't the chair at the meeting. I was not the chair of
the meeting.
Though, I was not, I was not.
Yeah.
Go there.
Oh, I'm about to.
Zoe.
Please.
Go back.
um,
On, hello. Okay. Um,
Is this about child education. I don't got no beef with you
Janette Taylor. I don't got no beef with nobody, that's
black. I just don't want y'all to sell out our community.
And at the end of the day, black people are the race of
emergency and this is child education.
My father used to play for the Miami Dolphins. 1972, the
only team to this date is undefeated. His name is Charles
Lee. Okay. And I don't never tell nobody that cuz at the
end of the day it is what it is. But that is my father.
That's he went straight from high school. He didn't even go
to college and went and played.
Athletics is important, it's very important. I I ran track
and basketball. I was a bad child, bad as hell, AA saved
me.
Definitely get your parents involved, definitely get your
parents involved because at the end of the day, politicians
can only do so much. There are some good politicians out
here but they're also some politicians out here that are
selling us out as well and that's just what it is.
We are the culture black, we are the culture, we everything
revolves around Black Culture. As you know, that that's why
they pay us so much for everything when it comes to
entertainment.
So the fact that there's some there's some high schools that
only got 55 kids in there. There's some Southshore, got a
waiting list and it's halfway empty, all these stuff when
it come to Black. Our our schools is always an issue. It's
always an issue when it come to us, it's not an issue when
it come to any other race or nationality just us that use
our statistics for everything to get all this money. And
this money is never, never given to us and that is an issue
and we have to start being involved. Okay. You can watch
this stuff online. You can go on. You can see all this. You
don't have to come here but sometimes y'all do have to come
come here. These are very important. We have to be aware.
we have to know what's going on and all these things. All
these people up here are not bad people. But there are some
people in here that are absolutely terrible that have been
that have been selling out our communities for a very long
time. This is election year y'all, are you cannot vote yet?
I know some of y'all may be 17 and a half not but you got
to look at this election.
This election is 1 very important for the black, for black
Americans at all. Because we are at a race of Emergency the
Democratic party does not care about us at all. They, they
never cared about us, they keep telling us to vote blue,
but at the end of the day, we've been voting booth for a
very long time. Look at our communities, our communities
have been trashed for a very long time. We don't have
anything. Y'all, don't even have video gaming, uh, uh, uh,
uh, centers in, in, in, in the communities. Come on now,
how many, y'all all Gamers, you know, how much money you
can make off of gaming. They do not care about us.
So again like like Miss Jessica said, get your parents
involved, start asking questions stuff that don't make no
sense.
It's it it don't make no sense for a reason they continue
to make money off of, they're going to continue to profit
off of us. If we do not take a stand, y'all are y'all a new
generation?
I'm doing this because of y'all.
Thank you, we got Kurt from CTU.
I'll see my time. I guess this says th Thad go child.
Good morning. My name is Thad goodchild. I'm Deputy general
counsel for the Chicago Teachers Union and I want to thank
all the ornaments Taylor and the members of the committee
for scheduling this, uh, hearing this morning. Um, making a
substantial investment in CPS Sports Programming is a key,
CTU priority. In our next contract with CPS Sports change
lives and teach life lessons in ways that few other things
can Sports.
Next tricular programs are the things that draw kids into
getting excited about school.
They provide structure and accountability. Teach lessons
and teamwork time, management and conflict. Resolution the
last C2 contract made important strides, but much remains
to be done in 2019. We were able to secure 5 million per
year in additional funding for CPS Sports programs. And
that money was allocated through our CTU CPS joint Sports
Committee that provided for additional payments to coaches
and athletic directors, hiring athletic trainers and
providing money to schools to purchase equipment, uniform,
supplies and transportation
These funds must form a baseline in the district and from
there CPS should provide additional resources that are
aimed at achieving real equity in sports. Offerings across
the school district. Every school in the district should
offer at least 1 sports team for every season of the year.
That is not the case currently and we think it needs to
change as soon as possible.
CPS Sports programs are inequitable. This is true. When you
compare the offerings and resources available to the
student athletes and coaches and CPS as compared to their
counterparts in the suburbs. And it is true, when you
compare schools within CPS, there are a number of CPS
selective enrollment schools and neighborhood schools and
affluent parts of the city that have booster programs that
raise tens of thousands of dollars and in a couple cases
hundreds of thousands of dollars to support their school's
athletic programs.
But most CPS School communities do not have the ability to
do that, and the result is massive disparities and
opportunities for kids at those schools. So we are
proposing to create a sports equities fund to provide
additional sport from the school district. We also seeking
to establish a new coaching site and schedule based upon
how coaches are paid in suburban. School districts that
accounts for years of coaching experience. We are not going
to be able to provide the sports offering kids deserve. If
we don't compensate the coaches, doing the work on par with
how they are compensated elsewhere in the state.
and we are proposing an additional 5 million per year to be
distributed to sports programs, to be spent directly on CPS
student athletes on things like equipment, uniform
supplies, and transportation every high school should be
staffed with essentially funded athletic trainer position.
This is the norm in Suburban high schools and at selective
enrollment high, schools, and CPS. But most CPS high
schools don't have their own athletic Trader. And it's
really a matter of safety and something that needs to be
the case.
Finally, over the last few years, CPS has partnered with
Chicago Bears in running a pilot program for the first
intersect Scholastic girls flag football league in the
state of Illinois, it has been a massive success. To the
point that this spring, it officially became sanctioned a
sport by the Illinois, High School Association. CPS needs
more, our professional sports franchises in Chicago are
part of the fabric of our city and they benefit massively
from the city's infrastructure. We mutually beneficial
model for these franchises to help endow the sports program
where they're thank you for your comments.
This says Tenny gross.
Thank you. Good morning.
I'm speaking on behalf of community partnering for peace
and Community violence intervention groups. Uh, we're
supporting, uh, a resolution proposed by Alderman Irving.
To reduce barriers for outreach workers, in the city to
work in schools and support prevention as well as violence
when it happens or before it happens. Um, we see it's
common sense, I think the older men wants to study some of
the barriers that we face and our teams face uh that at the
the moment makes our system incomplete where we could have
stopped some things in advance building relationships
earlier.
Uh, it's done in Boston. It's done in other cities. Where
Outreach workers have the full access to the school?
It can be done in a way that that eliminate some of the
concerns the schools have or the safety in the school
system. Uh and we're looking forward to that opportunity to
have those discussions and look at reducing barriers we
have reduced barriers in other places Outreach workers. Now
do trainings in Cook County in in the prisons, in juvenile
facilities, not to mention in some of the private schools
but we would like a a clearer mandate and access into the
Public Schools. So we can be helpful and I approaches
healing and health. And we like to support young people who
are running into troubles early and divert them from the
legal system. Uh, so that is our purpose. Uh, we will look
forward to opportunity to discuss this further with the
council. Thank you.
I want to make sure I acknowledge non-member Alderman.
Ervin.
The next speaker is James Taylor.
Yeah. Uh,
My name is James Taylor. I 10 Walter H, dyett High School
for the Arts.
Uh, for me, it's a pretty good. It's a pretty good school,
you know what I'm saying? I been doing my thing.
Uh, academic wise and sports wise, it's pretty good. You
can do things outside of sports, but I do Sports. So, yeah,
the reason I'm here is to, you know,
Justify. My reason why I feel like we should have a a
football field and watch the park.
I want to go really go over 2 things.
I feel like we we deserve it you know what I'm saying? Went
9 and 2 last season. We did pretty good.
And I want to go over.
The.
Safety hazards that go with having a football field and
also with, you know what I'm saying? Everything else. So,
first off over the summer, we had countless of injuries and
things of that nature. Like
We had.
growing injuries, ankle injuries, knee injuries all type of
stuff and that's because of
Had a floor, floor is level.
that, uh,
Can make a difference in.
And how we play due to the fact, you know what I'm saying?
Everybody having their injuries.
That's going to affect how they how they play, how how
healthy they are with their safety hazards and things. And
also, I want to go over uh
With.
Having a football field will help the community. Maintain
the the cleanliness is is what it's called the cleanliness
in the, in the field. Because, you know, with having a
field
It's going to help other people in the community.
Keep it keep our Field and watch the part clean due to the
fact, you know what I'm saying? We got games and stuff
there, so it's going to motivate them. Another thing I want
to talk about, wait, what was it?
I forgot but yeah that's what I feel like that's why I feel
like we should have a
Football field.
Thank you.
Next, we have Justin Markin.
Thank you. Well I would like to say thank you for letting
me know have this moment to speak to you guys about why I
feel like you know, we deserve a feel, my name is Justin
Macklin, uh, class of 25 athletes, D, High School,
Um, since I've been here for all my 4 years been here and
as I as I noticed as as I've been on my 4 years, 1 thing, I
say why we need a football field is transportation wise you
know you know it's everything I've been in my 4 years has
been hard trying to get buses to take you here and here
here and there and I feel like with a football field it's
better off you know we have our own place to play you know,
so I have to go to somebody else for you. You know I was
minutes away where you know, they come to us you know
because you know sometimes like okay it's good to go
somewhere else but you want to have a name for your own
school. You want to be able to bring people to your school
and be like yeah, this is all for you. You know everybody
you go to oh yeah. They this out for you. You want to have
that same, right? That they have that. When they tell you
that they feel. So I feel as if it's just it's important.
And as my brother said as far as to enter you guys injury,
it doesn't play a big part in the field that we have. Now
there's there's grounds in like, you know, like holes in
ground where like we can fall into, you know break your
ankle or whatever, you know and I had experienced before
with with it too. So it's like it's it's all just a caution
thing that you know that I feel like as a community we can
do.
You know, I feel like it will help us more as far as like I
said raising and it raised its going to raise up.
It's going to raise up accents, you know, as far as in like
players and individually. So I feel like you know, going
forward, you know, I feel like having a flaw feels not just
beneficial to the community but as the school in general,
thank you.
So we go to Marist, Reed, I want to recognize all the women
Gutierrez for corn.
Marquez Reed.
Um, good morning. Um, my name is Marcus Reed. I am head
football coach and track coach of computer science teacher
at Walter, H dyett. Um I'm here today with me and a couple
football players advocate for um athletic facilities,
better athletic facilities in our area, in our community.
Um, I've had the opportunity and I've had the opportunity
to realize what assets is opportunity and seeing what that
looks like. Um, I went to Saint read high school and um,
Mississippi State. So I was able to see what that success
looks like with having what you need to be successful. Um,
so when I came to CPS and seeing a disparity of what we
have, right pricing on those bad football fields, um, for
track running in the hallways. Um, those are bad ones,
right? So we talked about injuries, we talked about those
things, having access to the, to the right things, athletic
trainers in the building, right? Having those having having
that access to, those things will will make the playing
field.
A little even right? When we get down to State and we want
to compete for state championships. Um, you see those
disparities? You see what? Um, who's been um who's had the
access who's had that opportunity to practice online? Right
to practice on Turf. Not have those wear and tear on your
body. Um you see what that does to those athletes and how
it and how it benefits them in the long run? Um, when we
look towards like playing in October and November, right?
So we want to get our kids assets, we want to get them the
opportunity to experience that and I think it starts with
having better athletic facilities um, starts with being
also in a school like having those things. Having the right
people. I heard from CT, uh, CTU earlier about paying the
coaches, paying the guys the right way. So I think all that
goes into, um, being a successful program and having um,
accessible Community, right? Uh, watch the park is historic
bringing a football field into Washington Park. I think
would just uplift the community. All right, we share, we
share football field, we share a park with with everybody.
So we may come in on Monday and we have our football field
full of trash from the holiday, we have to pick those
things up, and we have to have the
We got when it comes to that because we still have practice
the next day. We want to be able to have our own assets, to
be able to, um, allow people to come in and allow the
community to come in um, on certain times to use the track,
right? So it'll be, I think it'll uplift the health around
the community as well. Thank you.
Pahari Hughes.
Um, good morning, chairman Taylor and members of the
committee on education and Child Development, my name is
Kahari Hughes. I am a senior at Johnson College Prep. I am
a member of the football team, and as the leader of M
football team, I play an important role in shaping the team
culture and performance. I have a 3.7 GPA and I play
basketball.
I was in jrtc for 3 years until they took it away from
Johnson, my junior year.
my leadership set, the tone for discipline, teamwork,
perseverance, inspiring my teammates to push their limits
and strive for excellence both on and off the field.
By fostering a sense of unity and motivating others.
Through my actions and words, I help create an environment,
where everyone feel value and driven to succeed.
I am here today to share more about my experience as a
student athlete in Chicago.
Being a student. Athlete means I matched at the art of
balancing, both academics and athletic responsibilities.
I demonstrated remarkable time management skills ensuring
that ISL and my students.
I mean my studies while also dedicating significant effort
to my sport
My commitment to maintaining High grades and Performing
well on the field. Showcases, my determination and
resilience as a role model, I Aspire my peers to pursue
their passions and manage their time effectively.
My ability to juggle these dual roles, not only prepares me
for my future challenges but also highlights my dedication
hard work and everything I do.
My experience at Johnson was challenging knowing that we
are a little school that everyone doubts and talks down on,
but it also feels a unique sense of Pride and
determination.
Despite the negativity, me and my peers, work hard to
exceed and academics and sports providing the s.
Proving that the S doesn't determine success. The closing
the community Fosters strong relationships and a supportive
environment where everyone pushes each other to be their
best.
Practice for me, looks like and Tes warmer to get your body
ready for drills and head, then you dive into skills.
and to scale building exercises focusing on more improving
technique and teamwork. The coaches push you to your give
your all running players repeatedly until they're perfect.
Conditioning drill test your endurance, making sure you're
prepared for the man of the game.
Questions I have on why?
We don't have a field. Why doesn't our school have its own
football field? What are the main obstacle prevent us from
using the field across the street? What steps can we take
as a student body to advocate for access to a proper
football field? How could we that students? Support efforts
secure a field for our school?
I hope my story inspires students and ego to believe in
their potential and nevertheless circumstance, Define your
limits.
by showing how I overcame challenges of attending a small
school without a football field and still and see
Hey, let's Salford.
Not working.
Good morning, everybody. My name is Kayla saffold. I'm a
senior at Richard's Career Academy Richard's Career Academy
deserves a field because we are a small but very
sports-oriented School. A dedicated field can encourage
students to participate in sports activities. Currently
students have to commute in dangerous neighborhoods nearby
to nearby parks in order to practice the reality. Is we
live and go to school and neighborhoods surrounded by gangs
high crime and violence. There have been instances at my
practice where I've been exposed to gun violence.
to force our students to walk to a field where even there
are safety isn't guaranteed is unfair. And give us a
disadvantage when playing against better funded schools.
The the fields that the fields, in our surrounding parks
extremely uneven, littered with trash jug needles and
animal feces. A field provides a safe environment for
students to play and practice, eliminating threats of
violence surrounding us and relieve the the feelings of
Stress and Anxiety associated. With practicing these
feelings, sometimes leads to practice being held indoors or
even cancel. Because of the danger, that the space holds a
dedicated field will be a transformative Edition. That can
improve the quality of practices and enhance our playing
abilities. A huge part of high school. A huge part of the
high school experience is being active involved and
participate. Participatory in our school when you have a
negative experience attached to participating in school, it
can discourage students from want to participate. Our
schools should no longer be neglected.
Our athletes of RCA need and deserve a field.
Good morning everyone. Um, I do my presentation is Spanish.
Yes. Um,
so in junior, they reached cardiac Academy
I can't reach.
For.
Academy.
In conclusion.
Good morning, ladies.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, my name is Caleb Hayden
pride of integrity class of 2026.
I want to share my thoughts and knowledge on the importance
of immediate answers to the problem that have been
overlooked in the high school extracurricular, programs.
We should improve our high school track and field
facilities to provide athletes and students with more
secure and long-lasting environment.
the potential Peak for performance is restricted by the
risk of injury provided by the current wear and tear
More athletic programs might be given in a renovated,
facility, increasing student involvement in fostering a
sense of school spirit.
And renovated track will also attract Regional contents
which will help our institution by increasing exposure and
possibly funding.
Investor money into these upgrades is an investment in the
well-being, education and sense of community Among Us,
Urban Prep, students and student athletes. Moreover, this
field is located in the community that faced onset of
challenges.
Investing in reconstruction of this field. We are not just
approving those Sports facility. We are also uplifting an
area that needs support and investment. A new well-built
practice field can serve a began, a Hope Pride for local
presidents, providing us safe and positive space for youth
engagement and community events. Rebuilding, this field is
not just about sports, it's about creating opportunities
and fostering a sense of Pride and belonging. It can
inspire a youth athletes, offer them a sense of purpose and
serve a testament, to what can be achieved when we invest
into our communities.
In conclusion, I urge you consider to consider the profound
impact that rebuilding this practice field will not just
have on our football team. But on the entire Community,
let's make a commitment to bettering our facility and in
turn bettering the lives of those who call Community home.
Thank you.
uh, I attend Urban Prep Academy, I am a former football uh,
leader
and yeah.
Signed up. You put them in front of me.
Um, good morning. My name is Mr. Gonzalez. Private
integrity class of 2025. I'm a current student attending
Urban prep, Englewood campus and I want to add on to my
fellow peers, uh, about the conditions of our Fields. Now,
I don't know if you all are aware it is we have locals who
indulge in morning jobs that are campus, uh, dangle campus
during schools mornings evenings, or even nights, even
knowing the condition of the field. In case where the
person is hurt or School, certain power calls have to be,
uh, met having to prepare for a lawsuit is 1 of them
because the lawsuit is inevitable, because it is incident
occurred at our school and we all don't know, uh, don't
want to go through that. So, to prevent that, we need the
funding, in order to prevent any possible, uh, of that
happening.
Now, I'mma call my brothers up and indulge in our Creed
which we all say every morning and both campuses.
We believe we are a young man of prayer. We are a College
Bound. We are exceptional. Not because he said, but because
we're a card at it. We are not far to the feds and the
Oscar plays for us. We are a dedicated committed focus when
this come meaty uncertainty or fear when they fail because
they give up. You make no excuses. We choose to honestly
now finally, and I'll be respect ourselves and doing so
respect. Our people. We have future responsibility to our
families communities and worlds Keepers. We be like sales
We Believe each other We believe We Believe.
I signed I signed up for 4 days.
All the young people and the coaches.
For showing up today. Um school just started. I know y'all
got work to do, but I appreciate you all coming down to
talk about the importance um of Athletics and having a feel
in your community.
I spent 24 years on the local school council. So I ain't
new to this.
I didn't just wake up 1 day and decide this was what I was
going to do. I've been doing this in the community for
years and it's for diet. High school, I went on a hunger
strike, 34 days of my life, I gave up to make sure those
young people have a school. So don't have a question, what
my ethics are, and who I really care about. Because it's
the young people that I care about everybody in my office
is under 35. That is intentional because I believe in young
people, and that's the problem with the city of Chicago, in
this world, we don't believe in young people. And so,
before you all leave this room just know, you got people
who fight for you every day and I've been doing it for 23
years.
Next, I want to thank.
The schools who have showed up, we have Urban prep. We have
Richards, we have Dia High School in Johnson prep. Those
are 4 high schools in my community. I actually have 5 high
schools in my community, and 4 of them. Don't have a
football field, that ain't bad parenting. That ain't bad
students. That ain't bad teacher. That's a system who does
not care and honor, our young people.
And it didn't just start all the 1 ta got here because
remember, this is just my second time. For those of you who
don't know what the term is, is 4 years.
I'm in my second term and so, this is a fight. I heard
young people say over and over again. They want to see a
field in their Community when it comes to Johnson prep when
it comes to Richards, they don't even have the space to
build a field. And so that's, that's not on the school
that's on a system. And so, today, what I did was say to
the Chicago Park District, and to CPS, we got to do better.
It is UN. It is unexcusable for young. People on the South
and West sides not to have fields.
I want to say congratulations to DIA high school. They had
their first game last Saturday.
And they did better than the best 32 and 0.
let's get on young people on hand, that's something to clap
for
To Richards to Johnson prepping to Urban prep. I respect
you young people, I respect the staff. I don't care if you
Charter or what you are young people just deserve a space
to be young people. And so when we get that rhetoric out
the way we can get some real work done.
So I want to introduce the speakers from Chicago, Public
Schools. We have J Chambers, Ivan Hansen, Mike, Merchant,
Derek, Falkner
Did I miss anybody?
I'm sorry and Beth, okay, Beth from Chicago, Public
Schools. Um,
you all can start and begin and then I'll go over to
Chicago Park District.
Um good morning. Chairwoman first. I have you know the beer
beer is actually 1 yesterday. So I think we're off to a
very good start. Um, also also want to acknowledge um, my
high school principal, um, Dennis lacewell, who's in the
back? I am an Alum of urban Prep, Charter Academy in Google
campus. I'm actually celebrating my 10 year, um, in a very
sir, um, this upcoming June. So good to see you miss. Well,
Good morning, um, trouble and Taylor. Maybe to the comedian
education and Child Development for the record. My name is
Jamal Chambers and I serve as the city council liaison for
the Chicago Public Schools. I'm also joined by a host of my
CPS colleagues, as well as our siblings from the Chicago
Park District. Uh, we are here today to discuss a subject
matter, hearing on Sports Programming and the sports
facilities within the Chicago public schools in the Chicago
Park District.
Um, for decades the Chicago public schools, and Parks has
partnered to provide young people with access to sporting
facilities where they can safely congregate play and engage
in sporting activities across both agencies. We equally
understand how these sports facilities can very much, so
serve as a safe haven for our young people. Um, be it
further we also acknowledge and recognize um, how the lack
of Investments ethics historically created barriers, um,
for our students, on the South and West sides in the city
of Chicago.
For Chicago's very own Barbecue's, more who actually
proclaimed that the crisis of the ghetto is heard by a
nation with his fingers in his ears.
Contrary to that, um, belief here in the city of Chicago at
the Chicago public schools at the Chicago Park District in
the city council body. We Embrace those tears that things
to faces of our students and families who have laid these
experiences with open arms and warm hearts and through
collaboration, through transparency and engagement amongst
all the folks in this room here today, we will work
collaboratively, and effortlessly effortlessly to ensure
that, um, every child and every neighborhood has access to
a quality and sufficient, um, sporting facility, um, with
that, I will now pass it to my colleagues and siblings at
parks for introductions. Um, thereafter we began a
presentation followed by Q&A. Thank you.
My name is venue at die. I am the executive director for
Capital planning and construction at Chicago Public
Schools.
Uh, good morning, Ivan Hansen, Chief facilities officer at
CPS.
Good morning Beth Tomlin. Deputy Chief Operating Officer at
Chicago Park District.
Mike Merchant Chief strategy and engagement officer for the
Chicago Park District.
We need to.
Thank you to Jamal, and thank you committee members for
meeting with us today.
There are variety of academic athletic amenities located
throughout the city.
These include softball, baseball fields, soccer fields,
football fields tracks pools, tennis and pickleball courts.
We're going to touch upon many of these today.
To start. We wanted to show the distribution of football
soccer fields across the city.
For Parks, there's 187 locations with Fields 48 of these
locations. Having multiple fields and all parks managers is
almost 300 across the city and have invested over 25
million dollars in The Last 5 Years.
We on our side, we focus on the high school locations with
fields which are those are 39.
Those have we've invested over 31 million of those since
2019. You can see on the map, the spread of these locations
across the city.
Here's a list of the high school Fields. The first 20 of
the 39 that we've mapped out from the previous slide
The next slide shows the other 19.
And we're going to go into the the ones in the community,
just in the South and the West Side. They're 14 of these
with soccer fields as you can see on the map.
As Ivan mentioned, in addition to the 38 CPS High School
Fields shown on the map. There are also nearly 2 nearly 300
soccer football fields in Parks across the city.
245 of these are natural grass fields with another 50 of
these being artificial turf fields.
This map shows the Citywide stadiums throughout Chicago.
There are 7 teams managed by CPS and are 4 Man by Parks.
We're going to get into greater detail about these in the
next slides.
These are, these slides are these fields are stadiums. Are
also managed by our program administrators and the stadium
managers within the Office of Sports admin and coordination
with our schools.
We're looking geographically at the stadiums. We have 3 that
are located in the northern part of the city. Those are
wmac.
Lane and Hansen Park Stadium.
On the west side, we have 1, that's been recently renovated
which is the Rockne Stadium.
And the South Side, we have stag Echoes and Gately Stadium.
In a typical school year, CPS stadiums, sold over 600
athletic events and attended by over 16,000 students, in
addition to the regular scheduled, CPS of events. CPS
stadiums, also, serve as sites to host the Chicago, public
league competitions, and ihsa school events such as
playoffs and tournaments. As there have been recent focus
on updating these facilities, with all of 64 million
dollars in Investments since 2020.
These Investments are not just updating the fields
themselves, but also include new scoreboards lighting, new
locker rooms for multiple team. Use updated restroom
facilities and also 88 elements. So these locations are
more accessible to all
The park district manages 4 stadiums 2 stadium that carry
wood Cubs field and Park 3 Park 538 are for baseball, the
Dr, Conrad World Track and Field Center at Gately Park is
predominantly for tracking fields and we'll learn more
about that later but we can that can also host events like
volleyball tournaments and of course Soldier Field a
special event venue
Beyond the fields. The same is located throughout the city.
They also have amenities like tracks and pools. We have 57
operational indoor pools throughout the district. Like with
the recent focus on upgrading stadiums,
there's also been a focus on updating our nitor as well
with over 11 million dollars. Investments. In 2019, Chicago
Park District has 77 pools with 27 of those being indoor.
There's also been over 10 million investment of the above
above the regular maintenance.
This map shows locations of outdoor tracks throughout the
city for CPS. There's 27 high schools that have outdoor
tracks
The park district has 31 outdoor tracks across the city.
And 1 indoor track and field Center. The Doctor Conrad
World Track and Field Center at Gately park opened in 2020.
This is a state-of-the-art nearly 140,000 square foot
facility with a seating capacity of 3,500 offering
world-class indoor track and field amenities including the
area's first hydraulically, banked 200 meter track. CPS
also utilizes, the Dr. Conrad World track and field for
track and field Championship competitions.
In fact, the partnership between CPS and Parks is expansive.
Hundreds of CPS sports teams. Utilize Park District fields
for athletic practices and games, Columbus Park on the west
side of Chicago and the Austin Community, for instance
provides athletic space for 17 separate schools.
Beyond just sharing the amenities between CPS and park
districts. There's also been collaborations that include
funding, from both departments to upgrade and create spaces
that benefit both students and community members. These are
just some examples here on the board of the collaboration
between the 2. I'll now turn it over to Jamal to close us
out.
Thank you Ivan. Um so in the black church there is a um
saying of passing a collection plate and when that happens
happens, um, the congregation put money into a pot, to
support the church initiatives. Um, and the CPS, we also
passing the collection plate. Um, the reality is, um, CPS
currently has a 14.4 billion dollars with the B deferred
maintenance need
If you also take in consideration, uh, that according to
the state's own funding formula, we are underfunded by 1.1
billion dollars with the B.
So, you take those 2 considerations into, uh, take those
factors into consideration, uh, we just simply do not have
the capacity, Capital capacity to fund all of these all of
our projects, um, in entirety. Um, so we lean heavily on
the support of our local elected officials, um, to support
financially through their Tiff Investments, um, menu funds,
OA funds to support our, um, Capital Investments, across
the city of Chicago at our schools, as you all know. Well,
first, I want to say, I want to give you all your flowers
because, uh, I think about the time when I first came in,
in CPS where we used to have to reach out to all the man to
get support financially for our local funding. I'm so
elated that now, we are at a place where you all are
actually reaching out to us and your phone calls every day.
And emails, from Alderman, we requesting, um, to use their
Tif funds and local city funds to support our project. So,
I truly appreciate your advocacy and support, um, for our
young people. Um, but as you all know, there are some times
where um, CPS and um Alderman may put money into a pot for
a project and there still exists a funding gaps and those
um scenarios we then reach out to our state elect.
Um, to support, um, to explore funding opportunities,
through through their dco funds. Um, any event, um, that a
funding, um, Gap still exists. Um, we then leaned on the
support for from private donations and these private
donations consists of cooking and stuff, uh, friends of
organizations that are specific to, um, certain schools,
um, private donations from, um, business, um, organizations
as well as private donations from professional sporting
teams. So, all the man, um, I've shared on this slide, um,
contact for our, um,
Just for fun managing director. Um, we are, um, private
donations have funds for our private Nations have to be
channeled through that organization. So, if you all know of
any, uh, private businesses or sporting teams that are
looking to contribute to a project specifically in your
ward, um, please feel free to be out of myself or Michael
for my children's first fund and we can begin those
conversations um, and explore funding opportunities. I will
give Parks um, a few moments to also talk about their, um,
their, um, for profit, um, as well. Sure. Thank you, uh,
very similar. The park district funds projects, very
similarly to CPS, um, using, um, Partners across the board
to help supplement our Capital program in a given year. We
have 30 million dollars to bound out across the entire Park
District, which includes over 600 Parks, um, and so that
does not can does not go as far as as we would like it to.
So we supplement that with outside funding Partners
including Tiff menu OSF, dco Federal earmarks um to for an
annual year
To have up to a hundred million dollar Capital program. Um,
similarly, we have a nonprofit arm. Um, anyone who um, is
willing to Once, to donate to, the Chicago Park District,
can either donate directly to us, or through our
non-for-profit arm, the Chicago Parks Foundation. Um, the
contact information is on the board.
uh, we're about a few seconds away from question and answer,
um, but just definitely want to reiterate, um, that CPS and
parks are going to continue to put our heads together and
brainstorm best practices for how we can strengthen our
partnership. Um around our shared usage spaces for our
students. We also going to continue to um, work on ideas of
how to secure um, funding to support. Um making more
investments into the South and West sides of the city of
Chicago to ensure that our students have access and quality
facilities. Um, so I'm going to pass it back to the
chairwoman to take questions and answers. Um any questions
that we are not able to answer in this hearing, we can
follow up through the chair. Um you all have my number, you
have have my email, so always feel free to reach out with
any questions concerns or input. Um let's continue to not
to not just be thought Partners but action Partners, as we
continue to provide support services to our students around
the city of Chicago. Thank you.
Thank you all for the presentation. My apologies, we got 2
meetings going on at the same time and so people are
walking to the other meeting. Um,
If I'm not mistaken, Urban prep has the only lacrosse team
on the south side of Chicago. Correct.
Absolutely. So they have a lacrosse team without a lacrosse
field. So imagine. And so how is it that I have 5 high
schools within my community and only 1 Has a Field
Shame on us, broken truck. Shame on us.
Don't do that Mr. Kena
It's a shame on us, you talked about it being 14 Fields.
How many schools that have accommodate? You said that
there's 14 fields on the South Side? How many high schools
does? That feel accommodate? So I know a lot of the young
people go to Gately and we're probably wearing Gately
really out because we don't have another field. Can you all
tell me how many high schools that accommodates?
Schedule Street.
Um, are you asking, um, around how School the process for
House of schools? Are able to utilize know. So you're
saying, so thinking about Gately. Okay, the majority of the
schools on the South Side, go to Gayle to have their
football field. I mean, their football games. How many high
schools actually use Gately Stadium? Okay? I don't think we
have that number with us today, but I can definitely, um,
provide that to you. Absolutely.
Can you go back to your screen? There was another
And this question is for Park District, how do you decide?
how did you all decide, which
Which Parks get fields.
Is there?
A.
So, every park right is, is custom, right? Every Park tries
to meet the needs of its local community as best it can.
And that those interests can range from here, we're talking
about football and soccer and, and, and baseball. Right to
Woodworking and archery and crafts, right? There's a wide
range of interests for every Park. So we try to work with a
local community through our older persons um and our pack
Park advisory councils and other neighborhood stakeholders
to um develop parks that meet as many of the community
interests as we can. Um and when it comes to sports Fields
there's typically many different types of sports that we
will play on 1 field. So um we do sometimes have a very
dedicated soccer football field, dedicated track. Um, but
more often what you will see are fields that be can be used
used for multiple sports for during different seasons. So
can be used for baseball and then overlap can be used later
for soccer and then over later can be used for lacrosse.
So, you'll typically see that in most
Most of our Parks across the city.
And both of you talk about Partnerships. So we got the
Bulls the Bears.
Uh, the Blackhawks. The sky. How are you all partnering with
with those organizations? Because our young people
sometimes attend their events, but I I I've yet to see a
bull
Stadium anywhere in the city of Chicago. I haven't seen a
Blackhawks.
Stadium anywhere in the city of Chicago. How are you all
partnering? And using those relationships to get them to
because right now, the Bear Stadium wants a new,
Stadium.
According to all the woman, tailor, they don't get a dime.
Until they agree that they are going to fund to facilities
across our city. I'm tired of giving folks money and they
don't invest in our communities especially on the south and
west side. And so I want you all to think about
Partnerships outside of the norm. So can you tell me who
you all have Partnerships with
Yes, we can. Um, certainly follow up with, um, a list of
our, um, exact Partnerships and what locations and what are
the Partnerships with the Partnerships consist of. Um, I
would say that our children First Foundation, um, works
with um, a lot of um, Sports Programming or professional
sports teams to provide Partnerships and resources, um, to
our students, um, just recently, uh, I believe it's a
couple of weeks ago. Um, we were contacted by the Bears
Foundation who is looking to invest in 1 of our um,
locations. Um so we're uh in the conversations with them to
explore what that looks like. But uh definitely know that
there's a lot of work to do in regards to expanding our
Partnerships on the um professional sports.
Same level.
It's the screen with the
The the, the different stadium. So it had gay Le on it. Can
you go to that? Slide for me?
Is it not working?
I think the um, it was disconnected from the
Yeah, yeah. I got our our we lost our av person. He just
ran out. So
Can you can you grab them? Let me try. Okay.
so, my question was going to be
In my community. Probably since I got into office, I've
asked for urban prep, to get a feel. And I was told because
they are charter school, that we're struggling with that,
but I can't understand why if the money is available, the
field can't get done. Can you explain that to me? Yes. So
um,
I remember those conversations, um, when they first began,
when I first started CPS 2019, um, I don't believe that was
a, um, response from CBS. I think it was on the city Side,
um, previous administration. Um, I do know that last year
we did work with you. Um, what may have been 2022 to begin
the Tif process for urban prep? Um, it was approved by
Tiff. Um, I think, um, the last Administration decided to
hold, um, Tiff introductions for projects until the new,
um, um, um, um, term started with the um, local elected
officials. Um, so we can definitely reach out to the CDC to
see where we are, um, in the process for, um, moving that
field along. Um, if it's, um, still availability with the
native,
This question is to the park district, um, diet sits on,
beautiful Washington Park. So there is some conversation
about what property is CPS and what park is Park District?
Can you tell me? What are the issues or what is standing in
the way of us being able to feel those young people uh a
field?
Yes, so the, the school itself, the board, the property line
for the school is, is roughly 6 feet around the school. Um,
the balance of the property is Park District. Um, and the
Um, and the school definitely uses the the park for
practices and games. Um, as you're well aware, we're
working closely with your office to do a framework plan for
Washington Park. We're currently in the process of still
Gathering, stakeholder input on, um, the vision of that
park for the next 10 to 20 years. Um, I I will say in draft
form, we haven't released it yet but there is um a
dedicated field facility in the framework plan. Um, moving
forward. So uh we'll continue to hear these voices from
from the community and stakeholders and get that Plan. F
that planned finalist. The young people went upstairs to
eat before they leave so they are listening, okay? You all
talk about what is the
What what can the community do to reassure that we get
these fields? Because I'm sure I'm not the only Ward who
has students who do not have a field. What should we be
doing? How should we be advocating? What is the process for
us to get these fields?
And this was 1 of my students questions.
So y'all both can ask from the park district side. And I
think we probably similar. I mean, this is it right? So
there every Community, there are a lot of voices and
hearing who, you know, being able to hear who those voices
are. And what they have to say, is the most important
thing, we, as you have heard have very limited resources
across the board. And so we want to make sure those
resources are put to the best use and no.
And they're going to be used by the community. So hearing
how the community wants to use both Park District and CPS,
um, facilities is, is the first best thing that can happen.
And, and I just want to add that. Um, I think the
communication over the last few years has been a lot better
between the, the 2 agencies. Um, so now we understand where
there's confusion on What fields we need to use, um, and
the, uh, ability to go in and use those facilities. So,
we've been getting in, um, I think we've we're in more
Parks now than we've ever been and that that collaboration
is just getting better and better, uh, each month.
Thank you, madam chair, and thank you for for hosting this.
Subject matter hearing um, I don't have any questions, I
just have a comment uh a couple of comments. First, I want
to thank the the students for coming down and the coaches,
uh, certainly paints a vivid picture. Um, also want to
want to build on what you were talking about. I've been and
and I I see it improving between Chicago, Chicago, Chicago
Public Schools, Chicago Park District, um, and and the
Alderman's office. So, I want to continue on and, and to
thank you publicly for that collaboration. Um, that's all I
have Madam chair. Thank you very much again for the uh, the
hearing. Thank you, and all, all the woman lie.
Good morning, thank you chairwoman. Um and thank you all
for being here today.
Sorry we're a little sparse at the moment that does not
mean that we are not interested. I guarantee you that we
are. Um,
I have a just a couple of questions does CPS and the, the
park district, have any sort of more strategic plan, in
terms of what are the current needs of sports facilities,
uh, and amenities for, uh, various schools. Um, so that's 1
and if we don't, are we gonna are we thinking about it?
Because I think if we don't have a handle, um, just sort of
can't get our arms around where all the needs are, there's
no way to prioritize, um, and like we've talked at nazium
about the, the limited resources that the park district
has, um, CPS is going to get a little bit of money back,
um, through the sun setting of some of these tiffs, um, and
I'd be interested in a conversation about that as well as
you know, it's whether or not you can forecast, how much
additional funding is going to come in because of it. Um,
and where that's going to be directed, hopefully, uh, to
more facilities because I think, you know, tiffs have
traditionally been tapped to help fund all of these
projects. So as some of those tips are sunsetting, my
expectation would be that you know some of those funds go,
right?
Back to uh the the capital needs of both the parks and the
the schools. So
Is there like a, an evaluation or a list or something of
what all the needs are? Yes. So uh, on our website, we
um, our facility assessments for all of our facilities
including the sports complexes. Um, the overall plan was
because our need is so great that we wanted to start with
what is touching the most.
Community, most students. Um, so we started with the
stadiums. Um, we share the, the use of those. Um, so we
wanted to get in and renovate those, a lot of those had,
you know, single user, um, restrooms 1 locker room, we've
gone in and renovated those now. So we can have, they can
host multiple events, multiple teams. They're 88
accessible. Uh we're also going through the same thing with
an editor's where we're sharing usage. Um on those where we
can have programming not only during the day for the
schools but also in the evenings and weekends for the
community through the park district. So that was kind of
our Focus, um, to do that as we're going through those over
the we should be done with those over the next couple of
years. Then we can set honing in on the individual
locations of those schools.
Okay.
But hopefully not a few years right to just get our arms
around it. Because it seems like we, I mean, we just had 5
schools here. Tell us what their needs are. Um, and that's
just the 5 schools in, in older women, uh,
Taylor's Ward. Um, like, I we're we're blessed with great
parks in the 11th, ward. We don't have high schools, so
that's a whole other conversation, Jamal. But, uh, for the
record I would not be doing my job. If I didn't, uh, just
say for the record, uh, that there's still a great need and
desire for a near South High School. We haven't had any
conversation with CPS recently about it. I know there's
lots of other things going on, but please don't forget us
on the near South Side. Um, you know, we had a location
that had had actually Fields already. We had already
thought about all of that leveraging, all of that. Um, but
I think that's the key at all of this, right? I mean, if a
school exists and there isn't land on the property for the
school then naturally, it's where's the nearest park and
how do we leverage that Park? Um, and how do we get the
funding for that? And I think that's more the conversation.
We want to be having, you know, I've sat on the record
previously. Um, in other meetings that the sun setting of
tiffs, well put CPS in a great position, really
disadvantages the Park District at the end of the day
because you're not going to get back. What you've been
getting, um, in terms of what alter people have been
approving out of their tiffs, uh,
To make improvements. So I think this is something that I
for 1, I'm going to be looking very closely at when it
comes to budget time. Um and and how we not short shift,
our our kids, in our communities, with the park and uh, you
know, all of these facilities that are needed to give all
of our kids, the best shot. So thank you for all that you
guys do. And, you know, we're we're here to support you but
we, we need to, we need you all to help us get there in
terms of tell us what the needs are, where they are. And
let's have a clear picture of that and then we can have a
real discussion.
Uh, about where we find the funds to do that. Thank you.
So we got the screen back working. Can you go to the north?
I see South there.
3. Um, I have my hand up. Um, if you don't see it um
chamber okay, I'm sorry all the more
Thank you so much chairman. Um, I appreciate, um, you
calling, um, this meeting and I just want to, um,
interject, um, um, some thoughts around here. I do agree
with you and I get back to that on, um, the
Different sports teams being um, more available to invest
in the communities. But let me start by saying, um, when we
talk about the south and the west side, which are
predominantly black and Latino communities, um, and the
black, uh, the black caucus, or the city council itself,
holds 20, um, black members, it's 26 votes, um, to pass
anything and until we start identifying because there are
limited resources, um, around between the parks and the
schools, um, until we come together and identify our
priorities and push the administration to those priorities,
um, who appoints the park district person. And I'll also
the, um, CPS person. Um, we will not be able to, we were
going to this going to continue to be a push, pull thing.
Um, we have as um ultimately pointed out just, you know,
your 5 schools.
Who showed up today when we talking about, then the parks
and everything like that, um, it becomes even a more
greater pool and push, everybody know that, you know, I
get a football field in Ogden park. We got to look at
besides our um Ogden park football team, who's doing a
doing a great job and increased our youth participation,
how we utilizing Fields like that stated. Our feels like
that for our um, high schools in the area. We got Stacks
Stadium on the south side which is um utilizing I think
they just put some initial investment in there which I um
appreciate when we're looking at, um, resources for like
like, when I'm talking about a brand new art Park
Fieldhouse, um, which is critical. These are competing
resources when we're talking about then at the, um, CPS,
um, you want to, um, we want, um, football fields. So at
the bottom line, we have to come together and prioritize
those things and bring those funding resources together
based on priorities.
Not based on um 1 Alderman. Um you know being in favor with
the mayor to get all of their things done and this other
aldermen and everything. It's about what's priority for our
kids and until we have those real conversations, this is
going to continue to be a push-pull thing and and the
administration's both at CPS and the park districts are
going to be caught in the middle to tell you the truth, um,
they they move as the administration moves and the
administration moves as councilman
Ate or not, dictate them to move. So, at city, council
meeting at city council people, this memorialize heavily on
us than anybody that's sitting down there out front and so
so, um, until we do that, then we can begin to get those
things and begin to move forward, which is not going to
change, um, completely overnight. But at least we'll see
some movement in terms of those priority things that need
to be done and yes, um, chairman Taylor, we have to call
then, um, the Bears, the white socks over the years and
it's not just nice over the years. Have they been helping
invest. Um, when you look at the white socks, who's asking
for another field, the the thing about even building the
new White Socks Field under the daily Administration was to
redevelop and enhance those communities, um, which they
failed to do around when worth Gardens and now you want
another field, so Wrigley Field, just don't depend on
baseball wriggly. It, it's a town, it's a area, and that's
what.
Those um, sports team was supposed to do and those didn't
happen. And so besides, and I know giving credit yes to the
Bears when they got. I think it's correct me if I'm wrong.
Um, somebody would, what is it called? Bears Care, um,
where they, um, help with, um, little Fields help give um,
teams, um, some uniforms and probably, you know, other
things. But it, that's that, that, that's through the
foundation. And that stuff is written off so easily, but
they can do so much more and we have
To demand them to do so much more um and being Partners um
and leveraging these funds. But also for us to leveraging,
and being able to do um, Bond deals across um agencies so
that these things can get done over um periods of time. And
so it lies with us as the council people to make sure that
we're prioritizing. Um um what's in our area 1? 1 War. May
not get this this year but they may get it in 4 years. Um,
Um, um, it may not be at at your CPS school as, um,
Alderman. Lee don't have a high school, but it may be at
her park, um, but we have to be able to leverage that. So
until we have those conversations and reality and come
together, and prioritize is going to be a push pull, and is
to what the, uh, young lady said, I can't remember. Who
spoke when you asked Alderman, Janette Taylor, what is the,
uh, process and all that? And she says you got to hear from
The Advocates, well, in our communities. Unfortunately, we
do have a couple of people
Who have Park advisory councils. But our PE our, many
residents in our community, I try to live day to day. So
I've been to the board meetings and I see who gets um, get
the resources because the people uh, from the north side
and I dealing with the issues that we're dealing with, so
they can our families are dealing with so they can show up
to those meetings, all right? And then that's who you all
um, um, end up giving those resources to because you're
saying you're hearing from those communities. Well, when
those aldermen are speaking up, that's who you don't ignore
the voices of those.
Alderman, because they're speaking on behalf of their
Community. Their communities are dealing with so much
stuff. So a lot of people don't have always have the time.
I wish they did because I encourage people to get on
parking the pack, the park advisory, um, Council. But it's
just that dealing with so much day-to-day stuff that they
don't even get down to that to those meetings and things
like that whether it's, um, whatever park there, you know,
at these days. Um, I think we move them, move them around
but we very have. I know we very, very have a few very part
meetings, even on, um, the southside of Chicago, um, uh,
unless I've missed some but I don't think I'm wrong about
that. And so those are the things that we have to, um, um,
recognize. So we can't just say because those people showed
up and we heard from them um that that we go. We're going
to give them and they show up you know 50 um 60 at a time
and and whereas the Southside you may just hear from the
Alderman and you we try to ignore that we can't. So those
are the 2 critical things for me. The
Alderman coming together prioritizing and then especially
at the park district. Um, um, when you, when those people
are not showing up at the board meeting it's not that they
don't care is that the ultimate is advocating for them and
sometimes that's falling on death ears where we got to
scream and kick down and and tear down stuff. Then as we
get into the elected School Board, which is going to be a
challenge for everybody, because once something goes
elected, which it is, they have a priority to Advocate and
do the things, um, because it's independent becomes
independent of the city council.
Ability, um, to move something because it's an independent,
um, Authority. So elected Authority. And so we got to be
mindful of that as we go that way as well. So I want people
to um, to know that and I hope we as Alderman can come
together. Identify those things and be be begin to hold the
administration to get in these, uh, our priorities done and
working with both, um, CPS and the park district across the
board. Um, thank you so much, chairman for the opportunity
to speak at the committee meeting.
Thank you more. Are there any plans to build any indoor
fields?
CPS or Park District.
I'm sorry, the the indoor stadiums indoor so
Like what they have in Poolman, which is a private
development. But like indoor football field, indoor soccer
indoor
Currently that even caught come across CPS or a park
district line. Know, it's definitely come across our mind.
Um, we've
We looked at property to to do so, um, and actually, to do
it in partnership with Parks is kind of a, a staggered
where we had a indoor basketball, Indoor Football, uh, new
nitorum to, to share, um, Citywide. Um, again, this is the,
the cost is so great. Um, for those, it was, you know, in
in the hundred million dollar, uh, range and we do have,
you know, our 14.4 billion deferred need, um, just on the
building site. But we we've talked about it. It's just it's
a it's a
Large investment.
So folks, in our community have been having conversations
with the med for foundation about turning the old comedy
building into 1 of those facilities. It is a building that
needs to be repurposed. We haven't been in it yet. We're
kind of waiting on the county but those are conversations
that that should be involved in the framework and that ALS
should be a conversation at CPS board meetings. I've yet to
see anybody have the real conversation just about sports
facilities on either side.
We just, we just have not have the conversation. And we
haven't really moved the work. I talked to CPS. What before
the pandemic about Urban for getting a a field and it's yet
to happen?
And that's a disappointment to my young people. And that's
actually a field because when I'm looking at the fields
young people from 63rd, y'all expecting them to go all the
way 103rd. How does that work out? Who's paying for that
those buses
Are we concerned about safety?
Are we even thinking about safety?
We haven't even touched talking about soccer or baseball
because that's another concern about the diet field. We
have all those baseball fields that are there and people
actually use those, you have teams who use it? What is, are
they paying to use those fields as a question for the park
district?
Do the, the baseball teams pay to to use the fields.
All right, so I don't have that background with me. We can
definitely put it through the chair, but our typical
Arrangement is that people pay for permits to use the
fields. Yes. Is that the same with soccer? Yes.
My question for CPS.
Probably my last 1.
Coaches.
What do we pay coaches?
Probably little to nothing but it's the reason why we can't
keep good coaches because we don't pay them a living wage.
What is the conversation around payments coaches?
Um, we can certainly work with our um, Talent team as well
as our Sports admin, team to, um, explore um, salaries for
our um, coaches. I know it was brought up during public
comment and I've already reached out to our team to track
that, so we will be tracking, uh, we can keep you up out of
those conversations as well.
So,
this 1 will be the first time that I bring you all together
because I feel like we do Silo work.
How often do we get to see Chicago Public School in Park
District, sit down and actually have a conversation about
what we have and actually what is the need? I've always
been willing to spend my Tif dollars, but that, of course,
is not enough in the community where I got 3500, vacant
Lots. I started off with 4,000. And so, while we're down a
little bit, I would love to see that my teams get the
fields that they need, and this ain't just about the 20th
Ward. This is about the south and west side, young people
who need who, who attend Sports, I attended the diet game
last Saturday, and to my surprise, there were a lot of
young people who there who wanted to attend now. They paid
8 dollars to get in the stadium, which I couldn't
understand, but at the end of the day, I was just excited
to see them there. A lot of them traveled on the bus, they
didn't get dropped off the football team. Actually got
dropped off a bus that 150. Matter of fact, it's probably
200. Now that $200 that schools are using the the bus we
could have invested at that in the field and so I need for
everybody.
Here to think outside the box.
Y'all wonder why the young people in the streets? That's on
Us close schools. You see what happened. We told y'all that
was going to happen.
people been asking for years for y'all to build these
stadiums,
That Sports is another way. We we end violence in our
community.
Young people who got something to do. And I'm I'm I'm just
going to use my own self.
I remember being tired as hell when I came from social
Center. I was there to 637 oclock. So when I got home, I
had enough energy to eat and go to bed.
That's it. Nothing more. Nothing less. So what these young
people came out of school to ask for, they've asked, are we
going to make the? Are we going to make it right by them?
Are we going to do? What's right? I want us to be something
different and I'm willing to go to Springfield Alderman,
Quinn. You want to go Springville?
I don't want to leave.
Absolutely. And so y'all got a partner in US. Stop acting
like we enemies. We not. We all got the we all want the
same thing for young people to have a space where they're
comfortable and they're where they respected. My chief of
staff is 23 years old. I met her when she was 16, she
worked on my first campaign and I keep around now. She
drive me nuts.
But I keep around because, hey, I don't, I I can't begin to
say, well, young people need because I don't know, I am,
I'm about to be 50.
These don't work that well, but take care of yourself,
young people, I promise you. But at the end of the day, our
young people need these opportunities.
Did we have an Olympic that came from Chicago, who is up
the Olympics?
Zoe said it better than anybody we dominate every field and
so, whereas the opportunity for young people on the south
and west side to make sure they get the stadium, is the
needs. Because when I see the park district on the North
side, they don't have no needs. They got air conditioning,
they he work. Why is that not the same thing for the south
side?
And stop giving me that these these Park facilities. The
these these tables that we build.
Because y'all don't listen to them.
I sit in the meetings right with them. And listen to them,
tell y'all everything that they want and it never happened.
I ain't in the talking just to be talking
And so y'all got 6 months, I expect, Chicago Public
Schools, the park district to get together with the with
the local alderman.
And have these conversations Citywide. We love talking
about how big the budget is spending. The budget on
something. That's right.
And it's how young people.
Somebody in here unless their phone.
Ship to.
From.
everybody calls me the only 1
3 people, any more questions from the body?
Can I get a motion to adjourn the meeting?
Some move by Allman Quinn, the meeting on the the meeting
for the committee on education. The child development is