Feel protected under.
Good morning, everyone. All of a sudden I went. Horse.
Good morning everyone. Happy New Year.
Welcome back to City Hall for another fun day.
Um, I am calling the committee on licensing consumer
Protection to order.
We will begin with a roll call to establish quorum.
Chair Silverstein is present.
Vice Chair Chico. Alderwoman Coleman.
Alderman Moore. Alderman O'Shea.
Alderman Scott. Alderman Cardona.
Alderman Beck. Alderman Conway. Alderman Viegas.
Alderman Mitts. Alderman Spto.
Alderman Politano.
Alderman Riley, alderman Lawson.
Alderman Gardner, alderman Clay, alderman Martin.
Hmm.
Gardner's via Zoom.
Yeah, we're gonna do that afterwards. Hang on a second.
There are 11 members present. We have a quorum.
We have Alderman Gardner, mitts and Chico.
Um, on virtually, are you there, alderman? Gardner?
Yes. You said Alderman mitts.
Alderman Chico.
Alderman Martin,
President Sherwood.
So can we allow Alderman Gardner
and Martin Alderman
vie uh, moves?
All in favor? Any opposed?
Um, welcome Alderman Gardner, Ann Martin.
Thank you. At this time,
we'll begin the public comment period.
This period is limited to 30 minutes.
Out of respect to everybody's time.
Each speaker is limited to three minutes.
We will start with ju
Is there, uh, ju here?
Yes.
We have a stopwatch. Okay.
Up There. Oh
yes, go ahead.
Smoke shop. Um, uh,
I'm here to oppose the ban of hemp.
Um, I've been in sales of hemp since 2018
in Garfield Ridge.
Um, I'm, um, we've, we've, uh, we've helped a lot
of people in the community to, uh, for,
for, for better help.
And, um, uh, we're here to,
uh, try to find regulation for, instead of the ban
of hemp, regulate hemp.
And, um, yeah, we've helped over hundreds of people
instead of taking opioids
and people, uh, stuff
that's gonna damage their bodies, less side effects.
Hemp helps with anxiety and stress and pains and aches,
and people save money with us.
And they're, um, uh,
they save money and they're, uh, yeah, I mean, honestly,
that's, that's all I have to say.
Thank you. The next speaker is Edith Moore.
We're gonna reset. Yeah,
go ahead.
Um, I only have three minutes,
so be having three minutes.
I'm gonna have to, um, forget about the
introductions and the formalities
and get right to the point.
And, uh, that is, um, when a,
when a black man holler, uh, you know,
he's crazy and you put their cuffs on
him and send him to jail.
When a black woman, you know, is loud,
then you class, she's classified as being angry.
But when the gentile man, if, if he
talk too loud, that's cool, you know?
And if the gentile female, if she scream,
it's like run to catch up before she think, you know.
So, uh, my point is when a,
when when a person is angry, they are angry
because of injustice, you know,
but then that anger lasts so long and it goes into anguish.
And that's even a deeper mode.
You know, they, um, you, you, you, uh, you, you, you playing
with their life, you know, their life is on hold.
They can't move any further than where they act.
And, and, and that's very, that's a very hardship.
That is a hardship, you know,
but let me get, no, let me get to this part.
Brothers and sisters that look like me,
we have been bamboo out for years.
And I'm going to start with Kennedy
and Nixon Kennedy was,
uh, um,
he was a Catholic, a Roman Catholic.
Uh, Nixon was a Protestant. Kennedy was losing the race.
He was losing the delegates. So it wasn't no one.
But the people in my time is limited,
but this is not over.
The next speaker is Thomas from, um,
Mary Jane's Smoke Shop.
Hello, my name is, uh, Tom from Mary Jane's Smoke Shop.
I'm here to oppose the hemp ban.
Um, basically hemp for us in our area in Garfield Ridge.
Um, some people in that area, it's low income.
They can't really afford to access all the medicinal, um,
places to actually consume these products.
So they come to us. Um, a lot
of these businesses in the area as well.
We try to help and provide like an actual honest answer
about the products that we sell inside of our store to kind
of make them feel comfortable and get used to it.
Going into these big corporations,
like these big dispensaries,
sometimes when you walk in there, they don't even try
to help you with what you actually have going on.
They kind of just try to take more
of your money in the aspect of it.
Um, we do wanna, uh, we are okay with like regulation.
We're completely fine with that,
but we wanna work on something
where we can both be on the same page and not just sit here
and try to say one's worse than the other.
We're technically like the generic dispensary in a sense.
And we have other products as well,
but some people have to get generic medications
'cause they can't afford the proper ones
that are super expensive.
But that'd be it.
Thank you. The next speaker, Zoe Lee,
First of all, happy New Year.
Happy 2025. Um, I,
I briefly read about, um, I don't even, uh, like pritz,
but, uh, him banning, uh, the ban,
uh, for hemp.
Um, actually I know that it does need
to be some type of regulation.
It needs to be some regulation when it comes to all of this,
because it don't, it is not even no
seed in the marijuana no more.
So we don't even know what we smoking.
'cause the government takes that, takes everything
and then messes it up anyway.
So, and it's messing up people brains.
Our kids don't know how to read.
They do have access to go to the gas station
and get a lot of this stuff.
That man who burn burned up, um,
that lady alive in New York.
She was on k he was on K two.
Like, it, it, none of it makes any sense.
It's the synthetic weed doesn't even make any sense.
Synthetic hemp, all of that.
It needs to be banned, but all of it is big money.
They don't care. Y'all don't care about
our, you don't care about our kids.
You don't care about our health.
You don't care about anything. Nothing is healthy.
Nothing is holistic.
It's, it, it's just, it's, it's America outta control.
Um, and on top of that, um, you, you are a lawyer
and you in here all the time
and you see them break the constitution every time.
I've been coming up here for two years.
You corporate counsel, they don't follow no rules.
This is my, this is my second new year, okay?
It's my second new year. I ain't really trying
to do three New years, but my man is gonna be in office in
12 days in the wake up.
So I'm happy for that.
But however, talk to Mary Richardson loud.
You took a oath two man. All y'all take, oh, oh.
I need my case settled. I need my mother to be okay.
I need me to be okay.
And y'all need to stop knocking down buildings.
It is an illegal imminent domain scheme running
in buildings department.
Tell Kimberly Roberts to talk to Marlene Roberts,
Robert Rock, whatever her name is, Marley Hopkins, about
her running an illegal imminent domain scheme
and also stop violating the US Constitution
and violating people rights.
There's someone that said he, it's freedom of speech,
just like how they can do whatever they want.
It's freedom of speech. Y'all banning people,
banning people from March for speaking on what he thought.
I mean, that's what he thought. At the end of the day,
y'all banning people from speaking,
y'all violating freedom of speech.
Y'all violating the first amendment. Y'all don't, I don't.
Do y'all know what the constitution is like?
Do y'all read it? Like, have y'all none. Nobody don't know.
Okay,
The next speaker is Chris Asta.
Good morning and thank you chairwoman
and honorable members for,
for the opportunity to speak today.
Uh, my name is Chris and I'm a small business
owner in Chicagoland area.
My family and I operate a business
that provides cannabinoid, uh, hemp products, um,
which have become, uh, cornerstone for both our livelihood
and the community that we serve.
I'm deeply concerned about the
regulations and the situation.
Um, I'm deeply concerned about the proposed ordinance
and the band of these products.
It would not only jeopardize our business,
but also force my family and I to find other work.
Now, cannabinoid hemp products have become an essential part
of my life as an individual and my families as well.
And I'm gonna speak from the heart with this.
You know, not everyone can afford cannabis.
Not everyone can afford going
to a dispensary to purchase products.
And the solutions that the government has
provided for Americans are not always the best options lot,
whether it's opiates or other different prescription drugs.
These things have ruined lives of many, many Americans.
Many people probably in this room have
stories that they can relate to.
Um, I myself, as I've dived further into the industry,
I've been able to provide solutions for not only my family
that's changed their lives
and taught them to live a healthier life
and allowed them to be more present
as they move away from pharmaceutical drugs.
But also I'm able to provide that
to many people in the community.
And so it is essential
that we implement proper regulations for this industry.
It's, it's not, it shouldn't be a pay to play game,
and that's what America has always been built on,
but it's also the land of opportunity.
So it is important that we provide safe
alternatives for the community.
That's what this is all about, is safe alternatives.
We, we wanna work with, um, big cannabis.
There's, there's room for everybody to eat.
And it's about providing, uh, not only opportunity,
you know, for any individual that's needing
to provide an income for their family
and also benefit their community in doing so,
but also for them
to continue providing solutions for the community.
You know, um, the people
who need the medicine the most are the people
who can't afford cannabis.
You know, they're the people who are coming from,
um, low income.
They're people on disability.
And this is how I grew up and the people I grew up with.
And so it is necessary that we, we figure out regulations.
It's not a question of if or, but,
but it's necessary that we find regulations to implement,
to keep these businesses alive
and to continue providing solutions for not only myself
and my family selfishly,
but self selflessly for everybody else in the community.
And it's important that we lead by example
because the actions we take today are going
to domino effect.
And it's important that we continue to do the best
that we can for the city of Chicago.
You know, everybody sees how the city's moving
and the mental state of the world,
and we need to continue providing the proper
solutions in a safe manner.
That's all I have to say. Thank you guys.
Thank You. The next speaker is Jessica Jackson.
Yeah. Well, I'm gonna speak from my heart too.
You all need to put your stuff in your communities.
You need to get this watered down, disgrace,
synthetic, whatever junk it is.
And you need to put it in your neighborhoods.
And you need to make money off of your people with it.
And your kids need to go to school
and be able to stop at the local gas stations and get it
and be doped up on it, messed up on it
before they get to their classroom.
How about that part? Now, outside of that,
because I'm tired
of everybody from other races coming here thinking
that they got to come up with solutions for us.
Everything is anchored in what we can't afford.
We gotta have subsidized housing, low income housing,
even lower income housing in our neighborhoods.
Because according to the Democratic party,
black people can't play rent.
But you don't have nothing to say about
how y'all stealing our property.
People that do own you don't have no protections for that.
Now, you want to come in here today
and talk about how you need to put some water down,
messed up junk in our neighborhoods, basically.
'cause we can't afford to buy weed this win.
I don't care about your family, all right?
I care about mine. I care about mine.
The families that been here
for generations paying money into this country, the people
who built this country on,
they back didn't just come here to make a profit.
They built it on their back so
that you could come and make a problem.
Don't get it twisted. With that being said,
happy New Year and it's time
to pull another name for Famous Friday.
I know y'all been tuning in. I know you've been tuning in.
You've been learning a lot. 'cause we sure
been telling a lot.
So here we go. Who's next? All right. Famous Friday.
Here we go. Zoe Lee at six o'clock on YouTube.
L-E-I-G-H. Friday is famous Friday. Woo.
This is a hot one. Alderman Michael Rodriguez.
Boom. Oh, oh, we gonna make him so famous.
Oh, we gonna make him so famous, but what'd he say?
How y'all gonna get federal cases on Trump
for getting these illegals outta here?
We met The borders are, didn't he say that he coming?
'cause the black community want him here.
Oh yeah, we already met him
and we going lead him right to your man.
We gonna lead him right to your man
and we gonna let him tell him
how he gonna get Trump up in federal court.
My famous Friday, Michael Rodriguez,
we about to make him famous.
Hey,
The next speaker is Danielle Carter.
So y'all can see, y'all can see the shirt, right?
Disgrace 50. So y'all voted for that budget, right?
The Nick and Dime was for our taxes and things like that.
Okay? All right. We know you all don't care about that.
And so look at the seats. Look at the seats.
Everybody got raises with y'all coming in here late.
Look at y'all not even showing up. Okay?
And that's our tax dollars paying for it. All right?
You all wanna keep protecting these illegals.
Wanna keep spending our tax dollars on that?
You all voted for that. You knew we didn't want that.
We told you all, we didn't want
that everybody getting paid off our tax
dollars, but that's all right.
Like we keep saying, we are making it our mission
that will none of you all be in these seats.
And we are definitely making it happen.
And that's what's going to happen.
Now, I'm tired, I'm tired
of hearing everybody come up here when it's time
to advocate for what they want.
We don't care nothing about no illegal
substance being in our neighborhood.
We don't care about what you able to sell,
what you wanna sell, all that.
We don't care about that. We don't want
that garbage in our neighborhood.
So what y'all did was took away the centers
for the mental health that were helping people to get real,
to get their problems really solved.
Like psychologists, people that,
that need when we need mental health
or substance abuse health, that's what we need.
But you all took that from our community, took that,
funded them, the legals, giving them all our resources,
and then we got people down here talking about they wanna,
uh, be able to sell this synthetic stuff or this stuff
because, uh, people can't afford it.
Low income people can't afford that.
Well, if they can can't afford it, they shouldn't be on it.
And if they got a problem, they should, we should have more.
Let's, let's, uh, let's, I gotta, I gotta let, let's
all these little shops that's selling this stuff,
let's shut them down
and replace 'em with something to help them recover,
to get off this stuff.
To be able to learn, to think properly, to implement
so they can have jobs and things like that.
Let's all the shops that are gonna sell this garbage,
let's replace 'em with things
that's gonna help them get off this garbage and educate them
and maybe put some things where they can learn a trade
or thing or something like that.
Let's do that. If you really wanna help the low income
neighborhood, get 'em to help them make money
and take care of their families.
Not making y'all rich. We don't. That's done. We care.
Nothing. Let me say at this point,
we care nothing about nobody else.
So whatever y'all wanna do,
we don't care nothing about that.
It's about what we need.
And our black communities, we don't even have,
I don't see no black people over,
no black person over here advocating.
Well, they don't have a shop in our black neighborhoods.
So we don't care nothing about that. That's over with.
If we are for our people, helping them come up.
Don't nobody care about all this
other stuff y'all talking about.
And it says, y'all don't care.
We gonna make sure we make it happen.
Right? Next speaker
is next Vosa Mullen.
Good morning. We're gonna ask for
some quiet in the gallery, please.
I'm here in support of the disrespected
and underserved black residents of Chicago.
I have been motivated by the courage
and convictions of this group to stop the injustice of theft
and corruption by the elected officials who are supposed
to represent the interest of the legal residents of Chicago,
not themselves, not them, not their cronies
or the corporations.
In my Sam Cook voice change is coming. Chicago flips red.
The next speaker is Ian.
Uh, excuse me if I mispronounce this, but Abdel kaar.
Nope, not here.
Um, the next speaker is Michael Lund.
Michael is not on Zoom currently.
Good morning. Good morning.
My name is Michael Lundy and I live in the 42nd Ward.
I'm here to plead with you that you pass the ordinance
to ban sales of new fur in Chicago.
The term outfox stems from the idea of foxes being wily
or tricky to outfox someone is
to outsmart or outwit someone.
And foxes are very intelligent animals.
About 15 foxes need to suffer and,
and be killed for one fur a coat.
Rabbits are very social and affectionate animals.
They play with toys, can make lifelong bonds
with other rabbits and can learn to use litter boxes.
About 30 rabbits need to suffer
and be killed for one fur a coat Minks are fast swimmers
and have web feet as they naturally spend a lot
of their time in or near the water.
They can swim to depths of a hundred feet.
About 50 minks need to suffer
and be killed for one fur coat.
You may have seen that sea otters typically mate for life
and quite a durably hold hands while they sleep
to prevent drifting apart while they
with each other, while they rest.
Sadly, sea otters too are killed for their fur.
The animals killed for their fur are very intelligent beings
with personalities, emotions,
and the ability to feel a wide range
of sensory experiences, including pain.
Most of the fur is source
of fur coats comes from fur farms on
fur farms around the world.
Animals are unable
to do almost everything they would naturally
and normally enjoy in their lives.
They're forced to spend almost their entire lives in
metalware cages that are not much bigger than their bodies.
It is well-documented
that spending their lives in these tiny metal wire cages
causes them an enormous amount
of stress, frustration, and pain.
Animals on these fur farms are typically denied
access to veterinary care.
And we unfortunately have no federal law
of safeguarding the welfare of animals and fur farms.
Excrement polyps can be a source of disease and parasites,
but also the stench is very bothersome to minks due
to their acute sense of smell.
The waste runoff from fur farms also pollute
soil and waterways.
In 2020, the European Center for Disease Prevention
and Control showed covid outbreaks on Danish.
Mink farms led to new mink related variants that spread
to humans in 2023.
There's an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza
and European fur farms
after all the suffering they have endured in their lives.
These animals are typically subject
to the cheapest killing methods available.
They can, this can include being electrocuted, suffocated,
gassed, poisoned in other methods instead
of being raised in a fur farm.
Animals are sometimes trapped in the wild.
An animal caught in a leg trap may suffer from dehydration,
hunger, frostbite, gangrene, and other aspects of suffering
before they're captured and killed.
There are exactly zero people in Chicago that need
to purchase a fur coat for warmth or anything essential.
Synthetic materials keep chicagoans just as warm,
and there are so many FOFA options available.
All the pain, suffering,
and negative effects of the fur industry are completely
unnecessary and quite harmful.
This should not be legal. Please don't get
outfoxed by the fur industry.
And let's join other cities that have ban fur.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you. Um, that concludes our public comment.
Thank you to all the speakers today.
I do wanna recognize Alderman Coleman Moore
and Clay, who are here for quorum
and Alderman Chico is on virtually
who we uh, mentioned earlier.
I believe you're here now, Chi Alderman Chico, vice Chair.
Um, and I also do want to recognize non-members,
alderman Quinn to Bars Moley and Burnett.
Okay, we are gonna get started on today's agenda.
We have 22 items to discuss today.
The first item on the agenda is the approval
of the Rule 45 reports for October, 2024,
November, 2024,
and December, 2024, which were sent out to the committee.
Um, Alder Viegas, um,
makes a motion to approve all in favor
in the opinion of the chairs.
And he knows in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.
The report is approved. Okay, bill,
the second item is oh 2 0 2 4 dash
0 0 2 8 63.
An ordinance to amend section two dash four four dash 40
of the Municipal Code of Chicago.
Prohibiting peddling in portions of the seventh ward
is Alderman Mitchell here.
Okay, we're gonna hold that
and see if he, um, comes a little bit later.
We're gonna move on to item three, which is
oh 2 0 2 4 dash 0 0 1 3 8 6 5.
And ordinance to amend the municipal code lifting subsection
four dash six zero dash 0 22
and four dash 6 3 8
to allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses
and packaged goods licenses on a portion of Wallace Street
is Alderman Lee here.
Okay, we're gonna hold that one too.
Moving on to item four,
which is oh 2 0 2 4 dash 0 0 1 4 4 4 3.
A substitute ordinance to amend Chapter four dash four,
the municipal of the municipal code prohibiting the sale of
cannabis hemp products and issuance of new
or renewal of existing tobacco dealership license in the,
in the Midway area.
Uh, this is a substitute.
So can I get a motion to recognize these substitute
by Alderman Lawson?
All in favor say aye.
Any opposed in the opinion of the chairs? The ayes have it.
The substitute ordinance is before us
and the chair recognizes Alderman Quinn
Chair. Good morning. Members
of the committee.
Um, I'm eager to co-sponsor this ordinance
that will ban smoke shops in the midway region of the city.
I'm glad to join my colleague, all the women to borrows
and co-sponsoring this important effort.
I also wanna thank you, Madam Chair,
for your leadership in getting all the players together
to discuss this critical ordinance.
These smoke shops are constantly popping up throughout the
city and the state, and it's time we regulate them
while it's currently stalled,
there's a statewide effort on the way underway
to prevent these hemp shops from marketing to underage kids
and selling unregulated products.
The state is looking to enforce these shops to comply
with the same requirements as state
sanctioned cannabis shops on the southwest side.
These janke storefronts,
as they were recently called an immediate outlet,
are popping up everywhere
and without any warning, communication
or collaboration with my office are community
or commander of the eighth District Police Department.
That is completely unacceptable.
These they're not good actors
and they do not belong in our communities.
I'm worried that this, it's just a matter of time
that there is an issue at one of these shops.
We do not have the police presence on the Southwest side
to handle any disturbances
that may occur at these locations.
As you know, we've been fighting for a new police
district on the Southwest side because we're severely low.
Our, we have a severely low police
to resident ratio in our neighborhoods.
In fact, we have the worst at 10,
10 officers per 10,000 residents.
I fully understand the need to find additional revenue
for our city, but this type
of business should not be our go-to resource.
We should not be putting our kids in harm's way
to make a quick buck.
The Southwest side is a family community with 90% of our,
our, um, our homes are our single family dwellings.
We have the largest population
of CPS students in the entire city.
Alderman Tabbers and I I know our communities very well.
We understand their desire to grow healthy family, families,
and thriving communities.
Today, uh, we're gonna present 29 letters
of support from community groups,
from our Chicago public schools,
from our Chicago Catholic schools, um,
from our neighborhood watch organizations,
from our caps organizations in support
of this band in the midway region.
We hope the committee and our, we hope the committee
and our colleagues will support us in this regional effort
to keep our kids in streets safer.
These smoke shops cater dangerous products to children
and do not belong in our streets.
Thank you. I'm now gonna ask the co-sponsor Alderwoman
Tobar to address.
Yes. Thank you Chairwoman Silverstein and
Members of the committee.
I'm here today with my colleague from the 13th Ward
to urge the passage of this ordinance.
This ordinance will elevate the voices of our constituents
who wish to have input in the placement
of so-called smoke shops in their communities.
Smoke shops primarily sell unregulated chemical
substances for consumption.
These substances are often marketed to adolescents.
They also sell drug paraphernalia for the consumption
of smokeable narcotics.
Since the legalization of cannabis, we have seen
a big increase of these stores who are not held
to the same standard as cannabis shops.
The 13th Ward
and the 23rd ward are located in the eighth Police District.
It has the worst officer to re to resident ratio in Chicago.
We are also experiencing a severe shortage
of fire department resources on the Southwest side.
During incidents where people, especially children,
are having adverse effects from the products sold at these
shops, based on the numbers,
emergency services are more likely to take longer
to respond in our wards.
Just like what we do with canvas shops.
This ordinance creates a process
where residents will be afforded a way
to have input in the granting
of licenses based on geographic proximity to their homes.
It forces a dialogue
between potential proprietors and residents.
These businesses often open in areas that are frequented
by families on their way to school, the grocery store,
or family friendly es establishments.
If a business seeks to open in an area frequented
by families and young children, we should have a process
where a dialogue takes place so families can have input in
what happens in their neighborhood.
As you can see from the abundance of letters
of support from local schools
and community organizations, this is a measure
that is greatly needed.
It is not an ordinance about all nomatic prerogative.
It is about resident prerogative. Thank you. Thank you.
Are there Alderman Re has a question.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
And I wanna applaud my colleagues
for bringing this ordinance forward,
and I would encourage more of my colleagues
to consider doing the same.
Uh, I certainly am.
Um, not a lot of people know much about Delta eight,
and I count myself among them.
And I've been doing a little bit of research and I just,
before the re you know, we, we, we vote on this.
I wanted to, um, pad the record
with some important information
that I found on the FDA's official website.
Um, our Food and Drug Administration, uh, Delta eight,
um, is, is, is has not been app appro approved
or evaluated by the FDA for the safe use in any context.
Um, and there are real concerns
that it's being marketed in ways that
put the public health at risk, um,
and also, uh, is specifically targeting minors.
Um, and this is something that, um,
this very body has raised real concerns about related
to other products, um, that are harmful to everyone,
but specifically marketed to children including, uh, vapes,
nicotine, uh, vapes and, and other
and other types of products.
And what's really disturbing is that for the casual
consumer, uh, walking down the street, um, it's hard to,
to tell the difference between, uh, a regulated
and licensed dispensary, which is, uh, dispensing,
uh, truly natural products, um, versus one
of these pop-up stores
that we are seeing proliferate not just in Chicago, uh,
but throughout the suburbs and the rest of the state.
And, um, what we, what we've learned here, uh, in,
in reading through this FDA website, um, is
that there have been a lot
of adverse health incidents related to this product.
And what's even more disturbing is that in some cases,
nearly half of those incidents are involving children.
And, uh, that's of grave concern.
Um, and this is a product that everyone acknowledges, um,
has intoxicating effects.
And because there is no official agency
that is signed off on this product,
most importantly the FDA, it's not regularly tested.
There are no quality controls.
And as I understand it, the process that is used
to create Delta eight, um, is a concentrating process
where actual marijuana
or hemp products don't themselves produce enough
of this chemical, um, to be able to do it, uh,
in a cost efficient manner.
And so what happens is, uh, a lot of household chemicals
and non-household chemicals are used to facilitate
that process and those chemicals end up in this product.
And our children are consuming those
chemicals in this product.
This is one of the only products I can think of that,
that has in incredible intoxicating effects
that is not in any way regulated.
Um, and that is of grave concern.
And, and what is even, even more concerning is
that there's even a debate about this going on in the state
legislature this week.
This should be a slam dunk
and shame on those legislators who are finding some way to
rationalize breathing life into this bogus industry.
This isn't about economic development
and jobs, nothing to do with that.
This is straight up greed.
And if you look at who's been papering Springfield
with campaign contributions, well, who's that?
It's certainly not a public health advocate.
It's someone who's profiting on the lives of folks
who are placing their trust in products
that are not regulated, tested for quality or safety.
And so my hope is that Springfield will wake up
and do right by the citizens of Illinois.
But in the meantime, this body,
until Springfield does something,
and God willing, they will, we can act now.
And that is why I am so glad that that Alderman Quinn
and Toba have brought this before us today.
And I think the city council needs
to take another very hard look
at making this a citywide ban.
Uh, and, and just, I'm sorry, hanging on to this,
this ridiculous, and I hate to use a horrible pun,
pipe dream of getting revenue from this industry.
I think our, our chairman of taxes, um, came up
with a $600,000 a year revenue impact for us
to legitimize this bunk business
and expose our children to these ill effects
and entire communities of people
who don't want it in their communities for
$600,000 a year.
Well, to the folks, uh, that, that, by the way,
I appreciate your comments earlier about the irresponsible
budget that was passed in this chamber not long ago.
I would like you to put in parentheses on your red shirts
under the 50, that 23 of us got it right
and called that budget out for what it was.
But, but I would, I would just encourage my colleagues to,
to think very carefully about the trade-off
for legitimizing this particular industry
that's been preying upon consumers, by the way,
to get $600,000 a year
for the city coffers when next fall we're gonna be looking
at a billion dollar plus deficit.
This is not the one,
this is not the revenue stream this city needs
and our people deserve much better.
So that said, Madam Chair, I,
I wholeheartedly support this ordinance
and would encourage all of my colleagues to do the same.
Thank you. Alderman Re chair
recognizes Alderman Napolitano.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Um,
First I'd like to congratulate, uh, both my colleagues
for putting together this ordinance.
Um, we tried to do something like this similar in 2022,
and I had their support as well with what we did.
Um, based on the exact reason why we're down here,
we're here as advocates for our residents.
I know my residents aren't big fans
of smoke shops and the vape shops.
I know theirs aren't as well.
And we're not doing our job properly if we're not able
to come down here and do the will of our, our residents.
So I tip my hat to them.
I had more to say, but I'm gonna tell you, um,
alderman Riley hit it outta the park.
I I agree with him 5000%.
Um, I, I think I liked that we, we were able
to pass an ordinance in 2022 and it was a tough thing to do,
but it's evolving now.
And our and more of us down here are
realizing where this is going.
And that's why I tip my head to, uh,
to both my colleagues for putting this together.
They, they found a way to make this evolve into actually
give us the ability to protect our neighborhoods.
And I know that I, I'm gonna jump on this.
I want to ask them both if I could definitely be a
co-sponsor on this as well.
And it's a terrific job and I I support it.
I'm gonna be a yes vote on
this today. Thank you Madam Chair.
Thank you. Chair recognizes Alman wax pack.
Uh, thank you Chairwoman.
And I also support very strongly support this ordinance
for my colleagues, uh, Alderwoman Tebar and Alderman Quinn.
Uh, I've read over the ordinance.
I really appreciate all the work that went into it.
And for those of you who saw the emails come in, um,
I think the alderman mentioned it too, that there were, um,
2029, was it 29 schools
and organizations that got behind the effort
to ban this in the midway area.
And I read those letters, um, from, from the schools,
from the principals, and it says a lot about, um, it,
they're very short and succinct,
but it says a lot about what we're fighting
for here and it's for our children.
Um, this stuff's not being marketed to 40-year-old
adults with a fried brain from, uh, fentanyl or other drugs.
This is candies, cookies, chips, stuff
that is going straight into the kids in our schools
and the teens in our schools.
I got this from some parents,
and I'm sorry I didn't blow it up for everybody
or print it out, but it's, uh, it's the type of stuff
that you would see on Halloween.
This is unbelievable.
Trips to Hoy, chunky cookies, crunchy cookies
with a little tag on it that says that just has a little
triangle with an eight next to it.
That's the Delta eight Fritos, the original
in the small packet that somebody might take to school
or one of our kids might take to school.
And, um, nerdy bears the share pouch.
This stuff is unbelievable. It is being targeted.
They're targeting our kids and our teens.
They're not going after adults.
So I just wanna say, uh, shame on Mayor Johnson.
Shame on you for going down to Springfield.
Sending two of our IGA staffers down there
to kill the regulations in Springfield that the Governor,
governor Pritzker and other people were trying to pass
to regulate this stuff.
And as Alderman Riley said, stuff that hasn't been evaluated
or approved, meaning if it hasn't been evaluated,
it's a long process to get there, um, by the FDA.
Now, I'm really disappointed in my state legislator too,
who I understand voted to block this alderman
or, uh, excuse me, state, uh, legislator gdi.
Um, I'm gonna find out who the other ones are in my area
that pushed back on this
because basically what they're saying is, it's okay
to market this garbage to my kids at a local shop.
And that's just disgusting.
When I look at this, it looks like Halloween stuff
that was being passed out door to door by our neighbors.
And who's to say that this stuff doesn't end up in one
of their bags, that some other adult decided this was a good
idea and, and put it in their bags
or sells it to 'em at the store.
I mean, this is just infuriating
to see our mayor going down there
and putting a block on Governor Pritzker
and what he was trying to do with some
of the other state legislators to regulate something
that needs to be regulated.
Um, I fully support this first step by my colleagues
and I hope that the mayor comes to his senses.
This isn't just another faux pa
and a list of a long, long list of, of mistakes and errors.
This is just outright disgusting behavior to see
that staff are being sent down to Springfield.
To put a block on this,
I don't want the revenue from something like this.
I want it blocked. I don't wanna see it in the stores.
And my neighborhoods, just like my colleagues don't want to,
just like the people in the audience,
just like the people at home
and the parents who've been fighting against
this stuff for years.
We are supposed to protect kids,
not put 'em on the chopping block, not expose them
to this stuff, and then sit there
and go, Hey, we can make revenue off of this.
Or this is just another thing that we can,
um, put in the stores.
This is one that we have to take a stand on.
So I'm gonna stand with my colleagues today.
I'm gonna stand with the governor if they come back
and try to regulate this again.
And I hope that the mayor finds some other reason to go down
to Springfield, some other legitimate reason
to help out this city, to help out the state instead
of putting our kids in further danger. Thank you,
Chairwoman.
Thank you. Are there any other alderman
that want you to speak on this?
So, um, we did send out all of the letters of support.
Um, you should have gotten them via email.
Um, and I believe we got a few more this morning,
which we'll send out to you after this meeting.
Um, I'm very glad that we were able to bring this
to the license committee today.
And, uh, I wanna thank my colleagues for speaking out
so strongly in support of it.
Um, can I get a motion to pass Alderman Cardona Moose
who pass all in favor say aye.
Any opposed in the opinion of the chairs? The ayes have it.
The motion is passed. Congratulations.
The next items, um,
that we're gonna be hearing today are items
five and six together.
They're both in the 16th ward.
It's all um, O2
2 4 2 5 9,
an ordinance lifting subsection four dash
6 3 4
and oh 2 0 2 4 dash
4 2 6 lifting subsection four dash six
in the 16th ward.
Uh, we are gonna call upon honor woman Coleman
to address both of these.
Uh, I do ask for the committee's favorable support, uh,
on both locations at 51st
and Damon, as well as uh, 60, uh,
68th and Western Avenue.
Um, these are older stores, uh,
one is next to a church.
Uh, I wanna thank Pastor Walter Butts for his support
as we go through a 16th ward,
a community advisory committee.
Uh, pastor Buss gave us blessings for 51st
and Damon for the new operators.
Um, totally new operators that have been working in
that store for about the last year.
And we have seen the improvements happening right there on
the corner, 51st and Damon, as well as Western Avenue, uh,
that I inherited from the great 17th ward over here.
Uh, but we are looking at, uh, also a new operator
to do advancements, enhancements to be a better,
uh, neighbor in the 16th ward.
Are there any questions? Alderman Moore moves to pass.
All in favor say aye. Any opposed?
And the opinion of the cheers the ayes
have at the motion is passed.
Item
7 0 2 0 24 1 3 3 54.
An ordinance to amend the municipal code lifting subsection
four dash
6 0 3 1 1 8
to allow the issuance
of additional packaged goods license on a portion
of West 69th Street.
The chair recognizes Alderman Moore.
Thank you so much. Uh, Madam Chairman.
Yes, this is a store that's been in the community
for well over, um, 30 years,
but unfortunately, um, the current owner, um,
has not really been, um, keeping it up, keeping up with it,
um, for a while.
And because by law we just can't strip nobody up there, um,
liquor license and they could continue
to pass 'em down to other people.
We found someone, um, who could go in there
and, um, they have a history of, um, turning stores around
and making them presentable in the community.
And so we've held a community meeting in that area
and the community is looking for, um, a change, um, in
that area, um, and new ownership.
And so, um, we we're, um, asking, I'm asking this committee
for their favor approval on this item.
Are there any questions by committee
honoring Cardona moves to pass?
All in favor say aye.
Any opposed in the opinion of the chairs? The ayes have it.
The motion is passed.
The next ordinance,
the next two ordinances are both in the 21st ward.
We're gonna take, um, each one is Alderman Mosley here.
He what? Okay.
Um, we're gonna move on then to item 10 on the agenda.
Um, you also have two,
but we're gonna take them each separately.
Item 10 is oh 2 0 2 4 dash
1 3 1 0 1 3 8 70.
An ordinance to amend the municipal code lifting subsection
four dash six
to allow the issuance of additional alcoholic liquor
licenses on a portion
of Avenue chair recognizes all the person of Ententes.
Thank you Chairwoman.
Uh, the owner of Babes,
which will be a women-owned sports bar, uh,
that will be located, uh, on this corridor, has gone
through a robust community process with my zoning committee
and residents of the 26th Ward.
Uh, the residents are in favor
of this business being on the Armitage corridor,
so is my zoning committee.
So I ask for the committee's favorable sport.
Are there any questions? All the woman Scott,
moves to pass.
All in favor say aye.
Any opposed in the opinion of the chairs? The ayes have it.
The motion is passed.
We're gonna take the second one for Alderman Fuentes
Alder person Fuentes, and then we'll come
back to Alderman Moley.
So item 11 is oh 2 0 2 3
dash 0 1 4 0 4 0.
A substitute ordinance
to amend section four dash six zero dash 0 2 5
of the Municipal Code of Chicago
to disallow additional late hour liquor licenses in the
26th Ward.
Um, can I get a motion
to recognize the substitute alderman Sdo, uh, in the, uh,
all in favor say aye.
And he opposed. And the opinion
of the chairs the ayes have at the substitute ordinances
before us and the chair recognizes person es again.
Thank you, chairwoman.
I have two late liquor license, uh, venues in my ward
that have posed some serious concerns, both safety concerns
and concerns for the employees of both establishments.
Uh, we have had residents that unfortunately have had, uh,
bullets in vehicles in their homes
through windows and apartments.
Uh, look, 4:00 AM liquor licenses require operators
to be responsible to have public safety plans.
Uh, this particular, uh, ordinance will ensure
that anyone looking to open a late hour venue in my ward has
to go through a robust community process
and submit the necessary plans so
that trust is established with residents.
Uh, this is both for the safety
and security of residents as well
as fu future venues in the 26 ward.
I agree completely. I'm just gonna reread the ordinance
number 'cause I think we had a typo.
It's oh 2 0 2 4 dash
0 1 4 0 4 0.
Uh, alderman alderman, uh,
pec moves to pass.
Uh, all in favor say aye. Any opposed?
And the opinion of the chairs, the ayes have it.
Um, the motion is passed.
Thank you, chairwoman. We are gonna go back now to,
um, item number eight on the agenda
and nine, uh, both in Alderman Mosley's ward.
We're gonna take them separately.
First one is oh 2 0 2 4 dash
0 1 3 6 9 4.
And ordinance to amend section 2 4 4 4
of the municipal code prohibiting peddling in the 21st.
Ward chair recognizes Alderman Mosley.
Thank you so much, much Madam Chairwoman asking
for the committee's favor support, uh, in this ordinance
that will increase pedestrian safety
and also reduce things such as, uh, loitering
and littering throughout the ward.
Um, and pedaling attempts throughout the ward.
There are times where individuals are in the traffic lanes,
uh, guarding the attention of drivers and so forth
and have led to several accidents.
So, um, and that spirit, we're asking
for favorable support for this ordinance.
Any questions? Alderman Reilly moves to pass.
All in favor, say aye.
Any opposed in the opinion of the chairs? The ayes have it.
The motion is passed. Moving on
to item number 9 0 2 0 2 4 dash
0 0 1 4 4 5 1 in ordinance
to amend section four dash six zero dash 0 23
of the Municipal Code of Chicago
to disallow additional packaged good license on a portion
of a hundred 15th Street chair.
Once again, recognizes Alderman Mosley.
Thank you again, Madam Chair.
This is done to protect my community.
We've had, uh, some brands
or stores that have vacated, uh, some very attractive
buildings in, in, in the ward.
This is at the corner of a hundred 15th and Halsted.
Uh, my community has made clear the intentions
of restoring a grocery store and also in urgent care
and pharmacy and, um, uh, wanna make sure that
that is able to move forward
and folks aren't just moving in, uh, with, uh,
something like, uh, a packaged good, uh, store.
So again, asking for favorable consideration here.
Any questions? Alderwoman Clay moves to pass.
All in favor, say aye.
Any opposed, any opinion of the chair? The ayes have it.
The motion is passed.
We are gonna move on to item 14,
which is O2 0 2 4 4 4 4 7,
and ordinance subsection four dash 6 0 2.
And
to allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses
and packaged goods licenses on a portion of Cmac Road.
I believe Alderman Irvin is remote.
No. Is there anyone here from Alderman Iman's office?
Then we will hold on this as well.
Before we move on to the next item.
Is anyone here from Alderman Ramirez? Rosa's office?
Okay, then, um, we're gonna move on to items
13, 14, and 15.
All are in the 35th Ward.
It's oh 2 0 2 4 dash
0 0 1 3 1 3 1 0 2 0 2 4 dash
0 0 1 3 3 4 6.
And oh 2 0 2 4 dash
0 1 4 0 5 4 3 ordinances
to amend section four dash six two
and four dash 6 0 23.
Regarding alcoholic liquor licenses
and packaged goods licenses within the 35th Ward.
Good morning. My name is CIO
and I'm here on behalf of the 35th Ward Alder
person, Carlos Ramirez.
Rosa, we are kindly asking
that the moratorium be established on Brightwood Avenue.
We conducted a community driven zoning process
to evaluate the zoning,
and the neighbors wanted to allow more flexibility in the
types of businesses that would be allowed,
but residents had some concerns about potential
liquor related uses.
This is across the street from a residential area.
Regarding the next item, we kindly ask that the committee,
uh, lift the mor uh, the moratorium on Fullerton Avenue.
A hair salon owner is seeking
to serve beverages at their small business.
Regarding the third item, we kindly ask
that the moratorium be lifted on Diversity Avenue.
A liquor store is wanting to transfer their
liquor license to a new owner.
Both of the businesses that are seeking
to lift the moratorium have gone
through our community engagement process in which they've
received positive feedback from community members.
We believe that these modifications
to liquor moratoriums will enhance our commercial corridors
and provide public safety
and community desires in our neighborhood.
Thank you for your consideration.
Are there any questions by committee
Alderwoman Coleman moves to pass?
All in favor say aye.
Any opposed the opinion of the chair
that the ayes have it motion is passed.
Item 16 and 17 are both in the 38th ward.
Oh 2 0 2 4 dash 0 0 1 4 1 6 2
lifting subsection four dash
three and oh
2 0 2 4 4 1 6 4
lifting subsection four dash two
in the 38th Ward chair recognizes Alderman Spto.
Thank you Madam Chair.
Uh, we're doing the Addison one first. That's, uh,
Either one you want. Okay.
All right. Okay. Or we can do it together. So
Yeah, you can do 'em together. Okay.
Yeah. So Addison is a, uh, uh,
a neighborhood grocery store that changed hands.
I met with the new owner. We're,
we're all, we're all good with them.
So I appreciate everybody's consideration
and favorable, uh, support for this, uh,
ordinance. Thank you.
And the second one you can just share.
Second one is, uh, an exciting, uh, business,
new business coming to our war.
A combination, uh, um, restaurant, uh, liquor store, or, or,
or a high-end wine store, I should say.
Uh, I met with them also another exciting,
uh, addition to our community.
So I also support that
and ask everybody for your favorable consideration.
Are there any questions? Alderman Scott moves to pass.
All in favor say aye. Any opposed?
And the opinion of the chairs, the ayes have it
and the motion is passed.
Um, and you're ready. And waiting.
Alder, um, item 18 0 2 0 2 4 dash
0 1 3 8 9 0.
An ordinance to correct subsection four dash
6 0 0 2 3 to allow the issuance
of additional package good licenses on a portion
of Pulaski Road.
And the 39th Ward chair recognizes Adam Roberts.
Good afternoon, chairman
Silverstein and member of the committee.
Uh, this is just, uh, correcting a previous ordinance
that lifted the incorrect portion
of a moratorium along Pulaski Road at Argyle.
The current liquor store is just looking
to expand into the vacant storefront next door to it.
Um, I'm here on behalf of Alderman Nugent.
She, uh, has met with both the applicant,
the impacted businesses, the local Community Association
and the Chamber of Commerce who all support this.
She asks for your favorable consideration today.
Are there any questions by committee
Alderman O'Shea moves to pass.
All in favor say aye. Any opposed?
And the opinion of the chairs the
ayes have at the motion is passed.
Is Alderman Vasquez on remote? Yes.
Okay. Yes, chairwoman.
Okay. Item number 19 0 2 0 2 4 dash
0 1 3 3 3 7.
And ordinance lifting subsection four dash six zero dash 22,
parentheses 46 D To allow the issuance
of additional alcoholic liquor licenses on a portion
of Lincoln Avenue Chair recognizes Alderman
Vasquez, who is on remote.
Thank you very much, Cheryl.
Um, so this is related to a local business that is, uh,
changing ownership and management.
So to continue a business that was there,
we have had meetings with the local community.
Um, to be frank, I expected some level
of pushback and got none.
So, uh, it's a good business.
People are in support, uh, as it relates to it.
So we are also in support of the amendment
and would ask for the
favorable consideration of the committee.
Are there any questions? Alderman Spaza moves to pass.
All in favor say aye.
And any opposed in the opinion of the chairs?
The ayes have it. The motion is passed.
Items 20 and 21 are both in the 42nd ward,
oh 2 0 2 4 dash 0 0 1 4 2 4 8 lifting
subsection four dash
6 3 4 7 4
and oh 2 0 2 4 dash 4 2 4 9.
Subsection four dash six three
parentheses 45 9.
In the 42nd ward,
the chair recognizes Alderman Riley if you could address
both of them and we'll vote on them in one block.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Um, each of these ordinances is to allow for the issuance
of additional package goods licenses in, in, in, uh,
on Randolph Street and Columbus Drive.
Um, the entirety of the 42nd Ward is covered by, uh,
liquor Moratoria on a near block by block basis, so
that we have the ability to screen these types
of applications before they go through the process.
And, um, in both of these cases, um,
these are responsible, uh, operators.
Um, for the Randolph location, for example, it's a,
a micro market and purely a building amenity.
It's for the, uh, corporate tenants,
uh, of the building itself.
It's not open to the public.
And then, uh,
likewise, uh, the, the Wacker Drive, um,
ordinance, uh, is to facilitate a grocery market in Delhi,
um, for the convenience of Lakeshore East residents.
And that is also supported by the community.
So, uh, that said, I'd appreciate, uh,
an affirmative vote on, on both of the items.
Uh, thank you Madam Chair.
Any questions? Al wa back moves to pass.
All in favor, say aye. Any opposed?
Any opinion of the chairs? The ayes have it.
The motion is passed
and the last one is in the 50th ward, mine
oh 2 0 2 4 dash 0 0 1 3 6 9 3.
And ordinance lifting subsection four dash three
to allow the issuance
of additional packaged goods license on a portion
of Kedzie Avenue.
Uh, this is a change
of officers at the existing location in the ward.
And, um, we have had no issues
with this business in the past
and look forward to continuing to be successful.
Uh, any questions by committee
Alback moves to pass?
Um, all in favor say aye.
Any opposed in the opinion of the chairs? The ayes have it.
Motion is passed.
Uh, just gonna check again to see if Alderwoman Lee is here.
Alderman Mitchell. And Alderman Irvin.
Okay. Aldermans
Chair Silverstein. I'm here.
Oh, okay. So we're gonna go back then.
Alderman Sdo, did you have something you need to say?
I, I did. I'm, I'm sorry I failed.
I failed to thank Carl for
as usual help always helps me when I have the lifting
and these moratoriums or putting 'em in place.
So Carl, thank you very much
and I can always count on you. Thank you Madam Chair.
Okay, we are gonna go back now
to, yes.
Which item is that? Let us find it.
Alderman Lee, give us a second.
No problem. I apologize for joining so late.
We have it. Here we go.
Um, it's item number 3 0 2 0 2 4 dash
1 3 8 6 5.
An ordinance to amend the municipal code lifting subsections
four dash two
and four dash
to allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses
and package goods licenses on a portion of Wallace Street.
The chair recognizes Alder Woman Lee.
Thank you very much. Chair Silverstein.
Happy New Year to everybody. Um, this, uh, is
to lift a moratorium so that, uh, the Redwood Inn can open
and function as a neighborhood tavern.
Again. We previously approved the liquor license,
but I think we all missed that there was a moratoria.
Um, so this will just, uh, complete the, the process here
to allow that, um, the tavern to open, um,
that has been approved.
We held several, um, community meetings, uh,
with surrounding neighbors to make sure that, uh,
everybody understood what was happening
and, uh, are excited about the business opening.
So, um, I do ask
for the committee's favorable consideration on this matter.
Thank you.
Any questions By committee? Alderman Viegas moves to pass.
All in favor say aye. Any opposed the opinion of the chairs?
The ayes have it. The motion.
Thanks. Everybody passed
and I believe Alderman Irvin is here now.
So we are gonna go to his,
which is item number 12, alderman Irvin.
You're here?
Yes, I'm on. Okay.
Uh, it's oh 2 0 2 4 dash 0 0 1 4 4 4 7.
An ordinance lifting subsection four dash
and four dash six parentheses
28.6 To allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses
and packaged good licenses on a portion
of cmac Road chair recognizes Alderman Irvin.
Uh, thank you Madam Chair.
Uh, this is for a shopping plaza right at cmac in Washtenaw.
Uh, it was a home of a former Walmart, uh, store, uh,
that has since, uh, was closed as part of a a, a round
of closures of Walmart grocers.
Um, in, uh, about two years ago, we've been able
to source a new, uh, grocer for the location.
Uh, they have requests, uh, for a liquor license, which, uh,
for the plaza is, uh, not an issue.
Uh, it's in the, actually in the little village portion
of our ward, and I think would be an, an amenity needed
to help them, uh, have a
sustainable business at the location.
And I would ask for a favorable
consideration, uh, from the committee.
Any questions about the committee?
Alderman Cardona moves to pass. All in favor, say aye.
Any nays in the opinion of the chairs? The ayes have it.
Motion is passed. Last call for Alderman Mitchell.
Thank you. You're welcome.
Um, there being no further business before the committee.
Can I get a motion to adjourn by Alderman Cardona?
Um, hearing? No objection.
So ordered The meeting is adjourned. Ooh, I need some water.
That was.