Microphone radio check.
like,
How's she doing?
1 item.
Bianca.
Everybody.
Answering.
Real time.
Payment.
What's going on?
This is the time of the week. We're like, brain dead sea.
It's like,
Yeah, honestly, they've gotten really cute because he looks
insane. Like, I got a question is Broadway and well
Guys, will be pretty quick with this 1.
Video, peace police and fires called order. Will now have a
roll call to establish a quorum. Please know that a yes, or
present response. May be deemed a. Yes, vote. When a quorum
call is used for later items. Being called
Chairman teller fails present.
Vice chair Robinson.
Alderman Hall.
Alderman Mitchell.
Alderwoman Lee.
Alderman. Curtis
Alderwoman Taylor.
Alderman Mosley.
Alderwoman tabaris.
Alderman Irving.
Alderman, Cardona.
Here, I'm sorry.
Alderman pisado.
Alderwoman nent.
Alderman Napolitano.
Alderman kiten president.
Alderman, Gardiner.
Alderwoman clay.
Alderwoman Silverstein.
We have 9 present members present. We do have a quorum
pursuant to rule 59 of the following aldermen. Have
requested to appear by video conference, as Alderman,
Napolitano Alderman, Gardiner Alderman Mitchell alderwoman
Taylor and Alderman Mosley, um, Alderman, not politano,
have you joined us?
Alderman Gardiner. Yes, sir, yes, sir, sure. Thank you.
Okay.
Ottoman Mitchell.
Alderman, Taylor.
Alderman Mosley.
President chair.
Okay, can I get a motion to allow Alderman? Gardener, and
Alderman, Mosley to appear by to appear by
So moved by alderwoman Lee. All those in favor. Say I all
of those opposed nay in opinion of chairs eyes, have it,
um, Alderman Gardener and alderwoman I'm sorry, Alderman
Mosley. Um, is counted for the Quorum. Thank you, chair.
Thank you, sir.
Um, at this time we will begin public. Comment each speaker
will be given 3 minutes. Our first speaker will be Sam
Sheen.
Sheen, if you could step Sean. Oh, Sean Berg.
As in schanberg, uh, there's there's a microphone in the in
the back Center.
Thank you Mr. Sean Burke
Good afternoon. Thank you very much. Uh, my name is Sam
schauenberg. I'm a Police District. Counselor representing
more than 200,000 Chicagoans and Chicago's 19th Police
District on the North side for the past 2 years. I have
taken a leadership role as well on the district council
nominating committee as as we have nominated. Every member
of the community commission for Public Safety and
accountability. I joined my fellow nominators today in
urging, this committee, to advance, Gina piamontese,
nomination to the ccpsa.
I have to think that when the drafters of the ccpsa
ordinance required certain Commissioners to be experienced
attorneys, Miss piamonte is exactly the type of lawyer they
had in mind.
Miss piamonte has served nearly her entirely legal career
in the Cook County Public Defender's Office. Not only that,
but she has tried and overseeing the toughest cases that
office sees. She has experience in more than 80 jury trials
and more than 100 bench trials. She spent 16 years on the
homicide task force in that role. She supervised uh and for
for the last 3 years, she has led the felony trial division
as its Chief. And in that role, she is supervised 95
attorneys, all of whom handle complex cases, uh, in her
Decades of experience, Miss piamonte has shown dedication
to her clients who are among some of the most marginalized
people in our society, a demonstrated ability to lead and
the wisdom and judgment. We want in a commissioner
Miss piamonte intimately understands how policing fits into
our criminal legal system. She has also emphasized the
importance of understanding officers perspectives
promoting, good, policing and improving police community
relations. I believe she would be fair-minded and even
handed in her police oversight role on the commission.
I would be remiss not to mention that the ccpsa ordinance
presents significant challenges in finding qualified
candidates, like Ms piamonte to fill these seats. As you
know, the ordinance calls for uh the 7 member commission to
have at least 6 individuals split between the North South
and West sides and 5 Commissioners with other specialized
qualifications. For the current vacancy, these requirements
meant that the nominating committee had to solicit
applications from people who both live on the west side and
had 10, plus years of experience, as an attorney, with
significant experience in criminal law, civil rights, or
civil liberties. Needless to say, that's a very specific
person.
During the application period, our committee and ccpsa staff
performed Outreach to all Westside Alderman, dozens of
legal and Westside organizations. And several media Outlets
despite that Outreach, the ordinance is narrow categories.
Clearly restricted the number of qualified applicants the
nominating committee could consider for this position.
Simply put there, just aren't that many gmpp, Amanti GMP.
Pontes walking around the west side with Decades of
experience in criminal law waiting to serve on the ccpsa.
In the future District, councilors would welcome
opportunities to work with this committee to tweak the
ordinance. So that we can truly ensure the most qualified
individuals serve on this important commission. But lucky
for us today, Gina piamonte is here and she would be an
excellent addition to the commission. And I would urge the
committee to advance her appointment to the full city
council. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Schanberg our next
speaker, Mr. Tan Sims Mr. Sims
um, good afternoon committee this thing on
Good afternoon. So yesterday we had a officer
um, Melissa Torres. Commit suicide and
Just reading the headlines. It's vague.
But she had a son. She was 34 years old.
And this incident took place in the precinct.
However, there are other 18 District. Yes, thank you. There
are other ones and weak ass Martinez. 26, November 2024,
Alan readings, 40, Oak Park, November 29th Trooper, Corey
Thomas 28, October, 18th, 2024, and most notable Louise.
Whoa, 30 years old. These are Fallen.
Officers.
But as of 2022, that's 7, CP officers, died by Suicide.
Notably.
In 2023, there were 3 officers.
Patricia Swank. 29, Darren Lee 42. When the sergeant, who
will be named, who will be unnamed.
2024 2 officers.
And as of a study in 2020, um, 2017 suicide rate amongst
officers at the CPD is 60% higher than the national rate.
And I thought about that.
but then I was
teleported back to the incident from Friday.
with the whole violent black, whatever it is and I thought
Imagine, if you were understaffed.
Mismanaged.
And underpaid.
How would you? How would that affect you mentally?
But not so much. That how would watching the people in your
city, decline constantly to now, where you have a new Duty
where you Patrol the CTA, and look at the vagrant, children
who ride the elves for Sanctuary where you notably see now
more veterans in the street, homeless and struggling.
And so now you go home with these same thoughts in your
mind.
This woman had a child, a son and this hard for a mother to
to lead a child. So imagine what she was going through Miss
Torres as a officer as a public servant in this city.
and so, we have to ask ourselves because
if not then what do we get the answer, what is going on in
the city of Chicago?
where you make 80,000 dollars, great benefits and yet you
take your own life, but you have a child, most notably
What is going on with the leadership?
and all these individuals being regarded, Larry Snelling
had a at the ccpsa, a meeting about this
But what is what, what was the resolution in the middle of
that?
I'm just saying.
Our last speakers.
Patricia and I cannot read the last name, but
Uh, Miss Patty.
Thank you. Thank you. Um,
I am here because I have a concern regarding, um,
May 5th.
And the independence of Mexico. Uh, September 16 with the
cars, just going through the red lights.
um,
I did ask the law enforcements last year, uh, if they could
tell send a car there, you know, I live on nox and 63rd on
near uh, 2 blocks from Cicero near the Midway.
And they said we cannot tell the Hispanics anything.
I'm like what do you what do you mean? You cannot tell them
anything. They're passing the red light. They're not
following the rules. It's 8 9 10, 11, 12. I took. I have a
lot of pictures. I need the email so if you guys could give
it to me so I could send you those pictures.
And uh, and they, they're like, oh, we were told from up
there.
From City Hall that we are not allowed to tell the
Hispanics anything.
A lady came to visit her mother. She wasn't Hispanic. She
was Caucasian.
A car on Hispanic car uh male um male hit her.
The lady wasn't able to see her mother nor the mother her
daughter. And this is what that man said.
To the law enforcement, Catch Me If You Can this is what
all those razor cars and all these people that passed the
red lights that I have pictures of they say, to the police,
catch me. If you can
I don't want this to be, I wouldn't want and I pray to God,
Another South America or another Mexico. Where the law
enforcement Hispanics? Tell me.
I'm not going to tell them.
Anything they could pass the red light. They this is a free
country. Are you kidding me? That's why the United States
of America.
It's a wonderful place to be because of the rules and
regulations.
Please.
He just said about this, uh, police officers.
She took away her life. Why? Because they're not able.
To do their job.
Please help the law enforcement.
Do their job. They thank you, ma'am. And, uh, let me thank
all of our, uh, public speakers. This this, um, afternoon.
Uh, can I get a motion to add? Um, Alderman, Napolitano
pursuant to rule, 59 to the quorum.
So moved by Alderman Irving.
all those in favor, I
All those opposed nay and opinionated shared eyes. Have it
all in the enpal. Are you have you joined us?
Our president chairman, thank you very much sir. Thank you,
sir. And Alan will be added for the to the quorum.
Each of you should have received by email on February 19th,
2025 a copy of the rule, 45 report for a meeting that was
held on February 18th, 2025, are there any questions or
comments about the roof 45 report?
There being no, um, questions or comments, by the
affirmative, vote of all members present at the roll, call
used to establish a vote.
Or established a quarrel. Can I get a motion to?
Approve, the rule 45 report.
So moved by all the woman lie. All those in favor. I
All those opposed nay.
An opinion to chair the eyes, have it?
There's 1 item before the committee.
82025000014886 the appointment of Jana pomante as
commissioner of the community commission for Public Safety
and accountability Miss pomante. Could I have you come up
to the, um,
The witness table.
I almost said jury box but I'll stick with a witness table.
And now before we proceed, let me uh, recognize um, the
director of ccpsa, Mr. Adam gross, thanks for joining us.
Adam
Miss piamonte is joining us today. Um, Miss piamonte with
regard to your appointment, do you wish to make any brief
any brief opening remarks? I do. Thank you. Thank you. The
floor is yours, okay?
Uh, good afternoon, chairman, uh, Talia Faro. Um as Vice
chair Robinson is not here right or is he here? Nope. It's
all right. I would I would say hi but um, members of the
committee. It is my honor to appear before you today for
consideration of my appointment to the community commission
for Public Safety and accountability.
My name is Gina pimonte. I'm a resident of the 27th Ward.
Ugh in CPD District 12 and have lived on the west side of
Chicago near the intersection of Washington Boulevard in
California Avenue for the last 2 decades.
I'm deeply committed to making Chicago, a city where
everyone feels safe.
Welcome heard and included serving as a commissioner for
the community commission for Public. Safety and
accountability would give me the opportunity to make my
life's work and experience and apply it to this goal.
I have worked as a criminal defense attorney with the Cook
County Public Defender's Office since 1991. Gaining over 30
years of experience in the criminal justice system, my work
has placed me in courtrooms and a round tables with judges
police officers, prosecutors defense attorneys social
service providers and other stakeholders through these
roles, I've developed a deep respect for the
professionalism and dedication of all those who contribute
to Public Safety, and the fair administration of justice.
Over the years.
I have served in a range of assignments, including, uh,
juvenile court where I started traffic court, the felony
trial Division and then 15 years with the homicide task
force where I've tried numerous complex murder jury trials.
In 19 in 2019, I moved into leadership with the public
defender's office first, serving as Deputy Chief of the
felony trial division. This was during the pandemic. I led
the transition to remote Court operations for both felony
and bond courtrooms closely working with the presiding
judge, the Cook County, State's Attorney's Office, the
Sheriff's Office, probation, social services, and other key
stakeholders to ensure continuity of service.
I was later promoted to the head of training for our office
which has over 500 attorneys. There, I developed a 4-week
training program for our new hires, which is still used
today.
In January of 2021, I became chief of the felony trial
division where I currently oversee uh nearly 100 criminal
defense attorneys and supervisors, provide legal guidance,
and manage the daily administration of the division.
After the passage of the safety act, I participated in
several work groups with Justice.
Does that mean you go ahead? You're going with the the
hook, um, several work groups, the justice system
stakeholders to help ensure a smooth and effective
implementation of the new law. Most recently, I helped
prepare offices response during the Democratic National
Convention by planning and coordinating across agencies to
support, Public Safety, and due process under heightened
circumstances. I believe my many years, as a litigator and
leader, in my office have prepared me to thoughtfully serve
on the commission. I bring with me not only legal expertise
and strong leadership skills, but also the ability to
collaborate and problem solve with diverse stakeholders.
I'm committed to working alongside the other Commissioners
and staff to promote the goals of the commission. With
professionalism, fairness and integrity.
For all the reasons cited above, I believe I will make a
great commissioner my passion for justice, my empathy for
others and deep commitment to Public Service. Make me eager
to contribute in this role. I appreciate your consideration
of my appointment and I welcome any questions. You may have
thank you, Miss pomante. Um otherwise I'm in nent moves
that we add pursuant to rule 59 that we had um all the AL
Alderman Mitchell to the role all those in favor. Say I
All those opposed nay and opinion of the chair to eyes. Have
it Alderman Mitchell? Have you joined us?
Alderman Mitchell.
All right, we'll move on and I'll ask him a little later.
Um,
are there any questions and comments for Miss piamonte?
Alderman. Ervin. I'm Bernette
He's a vice mayor man. You got that title though. Vice
mayor, vice mayor, Bernette well thank you very much. So I
just want to um,
Support.
Um disappointment um Gina is 1 of my constituents. Um, she
brings a wealth of experience uh, to this title. Uh, this
is going to be very beneficial. I want to commend uh, the
board for choosing her. Uh also she lives in the emerging
Community, that's very diverse.
so, I know that her, um,
Her sensitivity is going to be very Broad in in reference
to making her decisions. So I want to, um, thank you and
commend you uh, for taking on this Duty up for the city of
Chicago. Thank you, thank you, thank you, vice mayor.
Any other questions or comments? Alderwoman Lee.
Thank you chair. Um, and
I have to look at the time. Good afternoon. Thank you so
much for being here. I'm sorry, we didn't get a chance to
connect beforehand. Um but I
Your resume is.
Very impressive. Um, and I think we're fortunate that
you're even interested. Um, in serving in this capacity, I
want to Echo the thanks to the nominating committee for all
the hard work. Um, it uh, in threading, this needle, and
that you were able to find the unicorn on the West Side.
Um,
With all of your experience and your your willingness to to
do all of this. What do you what do you think is going to
be? Um,
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the
ccpsa right now, in terms of the impact that you're going
to have?
Or what you'll contribute to the team. Well, I think that
it's, um, relatively new. And I think it's defining itself
a little bit as it goes. And so I think that might be
challenging. Um, I think that the people who are on it,
have been there now for a year, some of them, some of them
longer because they were on the interim uh commission. So I
I will have to get to know everybody and um uh
Work with them, uh, on the issues, uh, facing the
commission, uh, and the city. Um, but I'm hopeful, uh, I
know I'm a good collaborator. Um,
I'm a good collaborator, sorry, um, I'm hopeful, uh, that,
uh, I will be able to work well with everybody.
And me mem.
interpret and move in the
Um, what?
department. You know, I was asked that when I applied and I
gave it a lot of consideration and I don't really
represent, so there wouldn't be any conflict in
representation um, with the parties involved. Um, and I
don't, I don't see a conflict. I don't believe there is a
conflict, uh, in my role, as a public defender and, uh, my
role as a commissioner and if I were to encounter a
conflict, um, I would uh, bring it to the attention of
my soon to be boss but I don't, I don't believe there is
Oh actually you're his boss, he's not. All right, so the
perspective but no, I I just raised that question. You got
the first and I've asked, I've asked a lot of my, uh,
colleagues. Um, and I've asked other people, uh, you know,
attorneys if they thought and no 1 seems to think that
there's a conflict and I don't see a clear conflict. All
right. No just just something that just came across my
mind. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Jim
Thank you all, man.
Um, before we move on all the, on the 1. Um,
could I get a motion to add uh, alderwoman Taylor to the
roles for purposes of corn, pursuant to rule 59.
so moved by Alderman, Curtis
all those in favor, I
All those opposed nay and opinion of the chair, the eyes
have it. All the woman tailor will be added to the role for
purposes of a quorum. All the woman tailor, if you joined
us,
Yes, Mr. Chairman, thank you. Thank you. All the woman
alderwoman, nugget.
Great, thank you, thank you chair. Um, I just, um, wanted
to formally, say hello to you here today. Um, and thank you
for putting your name forth for this. I'd also like to
commend the committee uh, for, for bringing you to us. I I
I really enjoyed our conversation and your commitment to
service and you have a, a really outstanding resume and,
um, I'm thrilled for you, uh, to
To be on this and uh look forward to working with you. So
thank you for your service. Thank you.
Thank you, chairman, thank you. Um, before we go to vote,
let me just say I I certainly um, appreciate your public
service. Um, you've spent several decades, I'm committing
yourself to the public on my way of your service with the
public defenders office. And now I'm a committed before the
city of Chicago, um, in serving with ccpsa. So, I certainly
want to thank you for that. And I know that, um, it is not
an easy task before you. Uh, and so I, I certainly, I want
to say from, um, my perspective here, that I appreciate
your service. Okay? Thank you. Um, thank you there being no
further questions or, well, let me ask. Are there any
further questions or comments?
Okay, there will be no further questions or comments.
I we move that.
oh so uh we have a motion by almus pisado to prove item
number 1, uh, the appointment of Miss piamonte to the
all those in favor. Say I I I all those opposed nay and the
opinion of the chair. The eyes have it, they're being
congratulations. This item will be reported out.
Thank you, and the next meeting of the city council on, uh,
April 16th 2025 there, being no further business before the
committee. Can I get a motion to adjourn? So, moved by
Alderman, Ervin, all those in favor. Say I, I all those
opposed nay in the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it,
the meeting on Committee on Public essay uh police and
fire.
Is hereby adjourned old habits. Die hard. Thank you,