Good afternoon, everybody. Today is Wednesday, June 11th.
2025 meeting a committee on special events, cultural
Affairs. And Recreation is now called to order, we will
start with a roll call.
Of course, the chairman is here, that is me.
Vice chair, Scott.
And vice Kerr. Scott. I know she's here. She's in the other
room. We'll wait for her.
Othermen Robinson. Not here Coleman here.
Curtis, I don't see him. Oh Shay here Mosley. I don't see
him.
Rodriguez, yep. Yep. Conway here.
Wages back Nugent.
Piloto.
Lawson.
Silverstein.
Okay. Well, did I miss Gardiner Alderman Gardner? Okay, you
got to take him off the other lists don't. Okay, no, he's
not.
Scott's here.
Okay.
All right, the role is called the result is teared. We have
12 12, 12 members present. We do have a quorum uh we have
some committee members that have requested. The participate
remotely through will 59, uh, Alderman Hall. You here.
Alderwoman crows. Are you here?
No Hall. Know Crews. Okay. All right so we don't need to
add anybody here, public comment, we have 1 or do we have
2? We just have 1. Okay, we have 1 public, comment, sign
up. Uh you'll have uh well 3 minutes to speak 1 of our
regulars. We always appreciate you, John, Paul Jones. Um,
you got the mic,
John Paul Jones.
I'm with these the same angle initiatives on Elwood area
and also just want to thank this committee. The happy
committee for assembling today and doing the good work. You
always do.
um, we here primarily support
uh, the appointments today.
We've always seen the significant uh significantly
important. Um, cultural Affairs is a special events are to
our our region.
and to have new appointments made today as valued to Our
Hope for, but we can see
As we move ahead with hosts, special events that are just
got started this June and the conversations, we're all
having throughout the City by how we're going to deal with
curfews. Now, we're going to deal with having safe
Gatherings and I really want to deal with um, matters of
culture
um, because right now we are
all being seen Nationwide.
and it's important for us to all have a strategy with how
we communicate to 1 another and also how we move together
on
strategies that keeps us safe, but also Keeps Us open and
mindful of, um, of others rights and citizens, um, need for
and their in, in their cares. Um,
this year special for us in Englewood because, uh, we have
a long history of working on cultural strategies around
Emmitt till
Um, on the south side, we have a core, they called
immaterial Road.
And we also have a um um a bridge along the Dan R call them
to commemoration Bridge.
This year is the 7th anniversary of when in material was
murdered kidnapped.
Tortured, uh, in Mississippi. He was a student here from
Chicago.
um, living in in Woodland but nevertheless his
his family was throughout the south side and very much
involved with the church and God in Christ, which I'm also
a part of
And so we have that special initiative in place.
and hopefully this year we can work with your comedian as
well as the, um, the mayor's office of the people's
disabilities and Department of planning on ways, to really,
um, bring attention to that bridge, make the necessary
public garden improvements but also,
Uh, do other kind of public amenity improvements along the
material Road.
this year also, these anniversary,
The Civil Rights Movement kicked off with Rosa Parks.
She was moved by.
the murder of Emmett Till
and made a dramatic stand or sit down as we see as we call
it on December 1st of 1955, so 55 was a critical year.
The number 5 is a critical year and as exactly why.
The Heritage Foundation chose project 2025 because they
also recognized the power of number 5.
And so as they move it here with your strategy to to take
away democracy and impact people's lives. We too in
Chicago, which is a very much situated and very special
area.
To have the immaterial family.
There was a Parks families and relationships all coming
from this region. Thank you, Mr. Jones just want to
encourage you to participate, appreciate your support and
this committee all the time. Mr. George blakemar.
I'm here at the special event culture Affairs and
Recreation, what's the purpose of this meeting, Mr.
Blakemore, it's the appointees and appointing people.
To this boy.
This special event is nothing but a real Paul.
But for the promoters, they get all the money.
All the money.
But they use the city to uh for police and setting it up.
They using the city property. Did you see how loud I am?
This is very, very important. Now look Mr. Conway and miss
other lady.
You have a public speaker, you 2 Argonne?
You're a very arrogant and you're all Democrats.
Is assessed pool here.
Is something evil here, Mr. Blakemore, what, what, what
point are you trying to make? I'm saying these promoters?
Are making money off the the, the the citizen.
They get the money.
And then some of those are putting on and then they get the
political hack Kickbacks. Can you prove this Mr? Blakemore
yes.
Yes, I can.
That is weighs Fraud and Abuse.
With, with these Special Events.
Special events.
What do you know about the farmer's market over here? I
knew when Caroline sheber was there, the the they will send
people to the farm to make sure that that those products
products was come from was planted and when it was hard, do
they do that? Now know you get the same amount of, uh, uh,
uh, gladiolas or whatever every week.
So all of it is is just they buy this stuff from a hot
house and they fly them in from La. It's everything is
corrupt.
This whole system is broken. Why would you make a Jones
statement like this Mr? Blakemore, they all Democrats.
No, checking balance, Mr. Blakemore, don't use that kind of
language here, 69 and each other. What I like, the black
ones.
No white ones, they Hispanic ones, they the Hispanic 1 got
more sense than the Black 1 they advocate for their people.
They got more sense, who will vote for sanctuary?
Well, why would a why would a motivator black person to do
this? The system is corrupt.
The whole system is broken.
Because you have very little citizens participation.
The citizen are not here.
They don't want us to be here.
They put these needs at the same time. At the same place at
the same day. Who does this? Oh,
Thank you, Mr. Blakemore
I want to recognize all of and Mosley here for the purpose
of, the Quorum. Also will give another try to Alderman
Hall. Are you here Alderman? Hall?
Alderwoman Cruise.
Okay, here we go.
we have 6 items uh, on the agenda today, the first item on
the agenda is approval of the May 2025 rule 45 report while
members of the committee should have received the copy of
this report electronically. I don't know if anybody has any
questions. Anybody have any questions regarding this
report?
No. Okay. Can I get a motion to recommend passes of this
item? So move by Alderman to paliton all those in favor.
Signify by I I all those opposed, nay any opinion of the
charity eyes, have it our second
through item 6, I already appointments, the proposed
appointees are seeking membership to the cultural Affairs,
and special events advisory councils
In the interest of time and without objection, I'm sure. We
we have no objection here uh, from the committee. I would
like to hear all the appointments at once. And if you have
any questions for 1 or all of them, appointees you can ask
the questions or once instead of 6 times, uh, I'll allow
each, uh, proposed appointee a brief moment to give a
statement. Then open the floor, the finished questioning
once the questions have finished, we will vote once for
items. 2 through 6, any objections to that, okay? Would
like to hear the appointments individually, please make a
motion now, no, other ways, okay? Uh, the items proposed
are 82025 Dash 0000175
Billy Ocasio AKA Alderman AIO.
82025000017536 Yan Feldman.
82025, d 0000175.
Kimberly buyers.
82025000017538 Caroline.
Ing, 82025000017539 George Perez and I failed to recognize
our commissioner here.
Commissioner. Sorry that we didn't recognize you.
Commissioner of of special events is also. Here, I'll allow
each appointee to, uh, prose Point me a moment to give a
brief statement or introduction. We will go and order of
the agenda. So Alderman. Ocasio, your first up.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee for allowing us all
to be here today. I am the President of the national museum
of Puerto Rican arts and culture. Uh, the only Puerto Rican
Museum outside of the island of Puerto Rico. Uh, we are
about to receive our national accreditation from the
American Alliance of museums this year. Uh, I, uh, have
been the chairman there for the last since 2013. Um, I want
to thank you for this opportunity. I want to thank the
commissioner for allowing us to have this opportunity.
Ultimate Fuentes is my Alderman and her, and I work very
closely together. We have for years uh ever since she was
at an our Alternative High School. Uh, we her and I have
worked together. I want to thank the commissioner, you
know, this is um this is I left City Council.
I've dealt with a lot of departments, but this was the first
commissioner who called and spent some time with us, trying
to understand who we were, uh, and trying to, uh, to get to
the part where, you know, how do we provide Equity
throughout the city of Chicago. And so I want to thank the
commissioner for doing that. Um,
Let me lastly just say that I welcome this opportunity, I
have not stepped into the city hall and quite some time. Uh
there's some familiar faces here, others that I've seen and
I respect and I see the fights that you all lead is a
challenging time for all of us. And so I just want to thank
you for
Giving us an opportunity. I've worked with every
organization that's here and they all do amazing work in
their communities.
Thank you for stepping up Sir. Ian Feldman.
Jan works too Jan. Okay, yes. So I was told to say, yeah,
no, I appreciate that. Thank you very much, I'm Jan
Feldman. I'm the executive director of lawyers for the
creative arts. Uh, my organization has been around for 53
years now. And our mission is, uh, to assist um,
and organizations in the Arts with legal issues that arise.
issues, that arise. So everything from, uh, licenses and
um, employment matters. Um, all kinds of business advice,
uh, over the years, we have probably fielded many tens of
thousands of applications and um, and serve them.
Those applicants with pro bono legal help.
uh, we also produce something like 100, um, programs, uh,
workshops seminars, uh, clinics, um, to assist folks in the
Arts with the kinds of complicated, and sometimes very
specialized areas of the Arts. Uh, we are, I, I think a a,
um, realistically, we are a, a legal institution, after 53
years, um, and, uh, we touch a lot of of the Arts
activities that occur in the, in the City and surrounding
areas. I would just mention the, um, uh, the reference to
Emma till we were yesterday, just working, uh, for 4 hours
with a, a theater group that, um, presents a play. That's a
reenactment of the emit, till the, the murder trial. Um,
and um, and so we've helped we've helped that organization
as in as in so many others over the years. Um, we represent
folks and organizations basically, from every zip code in
the in the metropolitan area.
And um, I too am really appreciative of the opportunity to
serve on this Council. I think we we have a great deal to
offer and and um, I think we can be of assistance.
Fires.
Good afternoon, chairman and members of the council. I'm
Kimberly bares. Uh, president and CEO of The Magnificent
Mile Association. And I, I'm also honored to be, um,
Uh, chosen or asked to serve on this committee. And and I
also want to say thank you to all of. You have had the
pleasure of working with many of you over my 30 years in
Chicago, as a consultant. Um, uh, Alderman, Nan is my, uh,
ultimate Alderman Hopkins represents, uh, part of the
district. And, and I've had the pleasure of working with
many of you. Um,
Uh, in my 30 years, I've been a consultant, uh, I've run
several nonprofit organizations and I've worked all over
the the city of Chicago. I've seen firsthand the importance
and the difference that focusing on Art and artists makes
in a community. Um, and we at the Magnificent Mile
Association seek to
Uh, highlight the best of Chicago, you can see that on
Michigan Avenue, just about every single day. Right now, we
have, uh, an installation of bikes that come from Quebec,
but they are programmed with 4 um, extremely well-known
house. Musicians uh Frankie Knuckles, DJ Lady D. Um Sylvia
M, and hold on. I've got a cheap.
Sheet. Um, Mr. Fingers, I forgot I forgot. Mr. Fingers. Um,
we've had installations that feature, the work of Nick Cave
and his Husband. Bob Faust, we've celebrated Pride on
Michigan Avenue with the work of Sam Kirk. She's a local
artist and she first did work. Um she lives in Little
Village. She first did work in um, New York, uh, for World
Pride and we hosted her work during the pandemic, um, on
Michigan Avenue and we continue that work today. Uh, with
another exhibit that just went on to Michigan Avenue,
that's all been done by the Englewood Arts Collective. That
represents our commitment to the broad diversity and the uh
Rich um artists uh, Rich history and tradition of Art in
in Chicago. I look forward to contributing as best I can,
and, uh, continuing to work with commissioner heads, Beth
her team and my fellow advisory committee members. Thank
you. Thank you for stepping up, Caroline.
Training.
Hello, good afternoon. Oh, um, chairman and Council. Um, my
name is Caroline ing. I am the executive director of the
Chinese American Museum of Chicago in Chinatown. Um, and
I'm really glad to be here today, and honored to be invited
to participate in this
Um capacity. Um the work that I do at the Museum is twofold
twofold, 1. It is to welcome the thousands of people that
come through China Town a year um to have a chance to
connect to the city and to the neighborhood. Um, a little
bit more deeply than what's expected. The Fantastic
restaurants and the shopping but to have an access point to
understand the people who live and work in the city and the
neighborhood and all the different ways that they
contribute to the vibrancy of the culture here. Um the
second part is to find new ways to find connections to our
neighbors. Um we are situated um between 2 historic
neighborhoods, bondsville and pilson and we are part of the
Southside Community and there have been relationships that
have been started. And that uh continue and what we have
been doing is looking
For ways to tell stories that are familiar that we take for
granted and find fresh ways to look at them so that we can
understand ourselves and each other. Um, culture doesn't
just live in the institutions, it is how people live and
that is something that um, I'm very committed to, um, to
making sure that the art that lives in the communities is
seen, um, and that they are starting point for the
conversations that we are looking to have as a city, um,
and a city like Chicago. That is this diverse and changing
all the time. It's not always easy to find common ground.
It's not automatic. Um, but I, um, really pleased to have
such an embedded, um, ecosystem here, and so many amazing
leaders to work with to try to, um, continue those
conversations. So it would be so honored to serve the city
of Chicago in that capacity.
Thank you. Thank you for stepping up. And last but not
least, George Perez.
Thank you so much, chairman, and committee members and, uh,
commissioner clinet Hadith for an inviting me to be here.
Uh, the name is Jorge Perez, although my friends do call me
George. Uh, I serve. Well, I'm your friend. Uh, I serve as
the executive director of The Ensemble, espanol,
International Spanish, dance theater and Center in
Residence. At Northeastern Illinois University are alma
mater. So uh, The Ensemble is currently celebrating its
49th season come July 1st will be our 50th season 1 of
Chicago Cultural Treasures. Uh this is my 40th season
started in college my freshman year uh working my way up.
The the ranks to now serving as executive director. I'm
also the board chair of the C, Chicago service dance. Non
for-profit organization serving over, 400 dance companies,
and individual artists. And I'm also co-chairing for the
last year and a half the dance, you
No conference that's coming to Chicago. This Tuesday through
Friday, come join us at the Harris Theater Suare, and then
we'll be at the cultural center and of course Roosevelt
University, The Ensemble presents the art form of Spanish,
dance everyone Associates, Spain with Flamenco but Ensemble
encompasses all of Spanish dance including its Latin
influence throughout Latin America from classical dances,
dances, folkloric dances in both genres. Traditional and
folkloric we do have an Outreach of over 26,000 children,
our service in CPS schools, thanks to our partnership with
them and Ingenuity. Uh, we also have a partnership with
Urban gateways. The international Latino cultural center
and and the list the list goes on, we we wouldn't be
celebrating 49 years. If it weren't for the Partnerships
that this great city has supported the Ensemble espanol,
including the Chicago Department of cultural Affairs and
our very own Illinois Arts Council. Uh, it would be an
honor for me to serve in in this capacity to continue to
serve our
Our our many amazing cultural institutions in our great
Mosaic of cultures in our city of Chicago. Thank you. Thank
you, sir. Thank you all for. Stepping up to this important
uh, board, um, appreciate your statement. Statements and
does any members have any questions, okay?
Alderman Rodriguez followed by Alderman Conway,
I don't know. Your question could either be for all of
them. 1 of them.
Whatever.
No questions just statements. Um I'm assuming that's the
way this is going to go, but uh, maybe not. Um, look, I I
think that we sat here, some time ago and talked about um,
this advisory committee um,
And how it represents Chicago. Uh, it's a very important
committee. Um, I was very glad that the data that I asked
for got back to me quickly and this panel certainly
addresses. Um, some of the issues that were brought forth
last time around. Look everyone on this panel is, um,
amazing in their in their in their, in their own right. Uh
I think the Department's done a good job here and I commend
you on that and um, you know, having Alderman Okio.
Thank you things, things. You things have changed a little
bit in the 15th that the other has been gone about a
different phases and a lot of different. Uh attitudes, let
me tell you Alderaan, so we missed that Common Sense guy
like you. So um so I do want to add 1 thing though that
brought when you commended
I mean of meeting or 2 ago, there was a um somewhat of a
mandate, I wouldn't call it a mandate but in order to the
commissioner about what they wanted to see with this on
this board and I think that reflects with the with the
committee asked her to try to do, I don't know how this
works. I don't know, she, she calls people up and begs them
or they just volunteer. Um, probably a combination of both.
But either way a pretty good job, it would just be looking
for a couple of touring Americans next time. So, uh,
Alderman Conway, yes, I, I I don't know how many skeletons
there could possibly be on the special events and cultural
Affairs advisory Council, but you never know in this town.
But, uh, yeah, but I clearly, I haven't been here that
long. So I, I would say, I know, a couple of you
personally, All of You by reputation and I just want to
commend, commissioner hudspith for uh, putting together
such an August group to, to lead this effort, for our city.
Thank you.
Thank you, Erin Moseley.
Thank you. Thank you chair. Uh, my seatmate, took a lot of
comments that we we're just sharing things together, huh?
Uh, but wanted to highlight just so you commissioner, uh,
this is an amazing amazing panel and to the the direction
that you got from this committee about, making sure that
all of Chicago is represented, we see you showing up, uh,
in that way. Uh, so thank you so much for that vice mayor.
You're you're right on time if you want to drop a few
different languages, uh, maybe some opportunities here with
that. I yield back. Thanks so much cheer.
In Lawson.
Thank, thank you, chair. Um, I just want to, I'll commend
you commissioner and, uh, the IGA and mayor's office for
putting together a team that is, uh, diverse in all sorts
of ways, uh, throughout our city and throughout the very
disciplines. Um, and also a group that I think that
understands the economic development impacts of of how
cultural and and Artistic Endeavors, um, really lift up all
of our neighborhoods. Um you know uh all of you are are
neighborhood focused Kimberly is downtown now but she she's
a far north uh background. That's very strong and that's
where we met many years ago and just appreciate all that
you're bringing to this. Um, and uh, whatever we can do to
be a resource for you, uh, in the 44th Warden beyond happy
to do that. So, thank you all very much. Thank you chair.
Thank you. All man. I also want to recognize ermine Bernett
for attending also AKA
Vice mayor AKA senior member of the council Alderman Akashi.
Also, uh, next up Alderman, Hopkins.
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chairman, uh, this is an outstanding
panel of nominees, uh, all 5 of you are deserving and uh,
worthy of the uh strong support. You're about to receive by
the, I'm assuming the unanimous vote of this panel, um, and
I just want to comment on the 1 nominations.
in this city to promote tourism and by tourism. I mean in
in the broadest sense of the word uh tourists from as far
away as you can imagine on the globe to tourists from
DuPage County, right? It's all the same. We want people to
come to Chicago for the Chicago experience and we have to
present it to them and we talk a lot about doing that, but
we also talked a lot about what we can do to promote the
cultural fabric for Chicago.
Residents.
And Kimberly does not make the mistake of thinking those 2
things our entirely separate, they are not the division
between the 2 of them is largely an illusion. It is the
same approach. What benefits tourism benefits our
residents. What benefits are residents, benefits,
International tourism. And so we folded in and we get
Strength from advocating for these things.
With the broadest Spectrum possible and I'll give you 1
specific example just this morning. Before I came here, I
was with 1 of Kimberly's board members and a good friend of
hers uh to promote a uh new program at the John Hancock
Center. Now we all know everyone goes to the top of the
John Hancock Center for the view and that's largely
tourists that do that. But another element of that that we
unveiled today is event space that will largely be used by
Chicago residents. I myself. Can't wait to have my first
event there and I'm sure you've already thought of that as
well for the mag mile Association. So that's 1 aspect. Uh,
that shows how these 2 things are so intertwined. And the
other thing they have in common is they both need strong
advocacy, they need leadership. We need to make the case of
how important it is to keep the focus on how we improve.
Cultural offerings for residents, how we make ourselves
more attractive to International tourism. It needs support
from people like you guys and I know you're going to do
that.
Part of your jobs, your background suggests to me that
you're ready to do this on day 1. So we welcome you to uh
uh to the campaign uh to make sure Chicago uh the best
International destination we can. And to continue to make
it uh, an exciting place for our local residents to live.
So congratulations on this nominee, Mr. Chairman, thank
you. All and anybody else have any time, I'm not even ask
questions, I guess, just comments.
Okay nobody else. Other than Casio would like to make a
comment? Yes. Commissioner real soon after they after next
Wednesday. So I just wanted to really thank you all you
know I um
When I left in 2009, I was an enjoying politics. I don't
know how you all do it today.
It's just such a different world. So I want to commend you
for that. And I also want to take an opportunity to say. I
don't know many of you personally, but I follow you. I
follow you and I know how hard you all work. Uh, I do want
to just point out that
Alderman Rodriguez, I've known him since 1993. We've done a
whole lot of work together, Alderman, Bernett. And I
basically we've done, I don't know how many things together
together and, um, and so I always would cherish that, that
moment Alderman Wagers back. I think you would only went on
Council besides Alderman, Bernett, when I was here. And I
think the last time we saw each other, we were at the
national Italians, uh, American Sports Hall of Fame and,
you know, I received an award. So, but Waggles back has
always been
1 of the people. I've like really admired just because it's
a different time and the work that you all do is just so
different than what we did back then. So thank you. Thank
thanks for the kind comments. All the minute, it certainly
is a different world. I've, I've only been here 14 years
myself and uh, from the 14th to now it's a totally changed.
changed. So, uh, but with that motion by Alderman
Rodriguez, uh, for the passes of the of these items, uh,
all in favor signify by I I all oppose, say name,
Okay, thank you. And Curtis is here. I'm sorry in the in
the opinion of Charity, I have it. Uh, the do pass is a
recommendation of these appointments will be reported out
in the next city council meeting on June 18th 2025, they're
being no further business before the committee do motion by
Alderman Curtis to adjourn uh here in no objection. So,
ordered the committee have special events, cultural
Affairs, also known as people, the happy committee, it's
now adjourned.