Mic check. 1, 2, 3, 4. Mic check.
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Good morning, members of the city council.
We have an announcement. Please make sure you log into the
December 19th meeting, not the December 20th meeting.
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Good morning.
Members of the city council, please remember
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Hello? Hello, hello.
Good morning, city, city Council. The meeting will start.
Can everyone please take seats
and silence their phones, the
seats, and silence.
Good morning. Members of the city council.
The meeting will begin shortly.
Please remember to log into your devices
for the December 19th meeting.
Thank you.
Council will come to order.
Madam Clerk, please take a quorum Roll call.
The voting is now open. The voting is now open.
Please use your evis. The voting is now open.
I will now call on those
that have not used the Eev device.
Alderman LaSpada. LaSpada is present. Alderman Robinson.
Robinson is present. Alderman Yancy. Yancy is not President.
Chambers. Alderman Hall. Hall is not President. Chambers.
Alderwoman Harris not here. Present.
Oh, here, I'll come right back to you Al the woman. Okay.
Thank you. Uh, not President Chambers.
Al the women Ramirez, not President Chambers. Al the women.
G Gutierrez, not President Chambers. Alderman Curtis.
Curtis is present. Alderman? Osha. OSHA is present.
Alderwoman Taylor, not President Chambers. Alderman Mosley.
Not President. Chambers. Alderman Irvin, not President.
Chambers. Alderwoman Nugent. Nugent is President.
Alderman Vasquez, not President. Chambers. Alderwoman.
Clay, not President. Chambers. Wo Manhattan.
Not president in Chambers. Wo Clay is present.
Anyone else I missed?
Just walk in right, your mayor. We have a quorum.
Very well Quorum. Quorum has been established.
39 members that are present. Uh, 11 members that are 40.
Members that are present. 10 members are absent very well.
So we do have a quorum.
There are a number of members who have requested
to participate in today's meeting remotely for RU rules.
A reason stating in Rule 59. And they are as following.
Can we verify their presence online?
Uh, alders Harris Ramirez.
Hadden Vasquez, Taylor
Gutierrez and Irvin
Va.
Alderwoman. Hadden. Present.
Alderwoman Hadden. Present. Alderman. Oh, not Robinson.
Alderman. Gutierrez, other woman. Gutierrez. Present.
Alderwoman Taylor.
Here. Alderwoman Ramirez.
Present. Alderman Hopkins. Present.
Oh, sorry. Alderwoman Harris. Here.
Alderman Vasquez. Present.
Alderman Irvin. Alderman Irvin.
Okay. Not present.
Bur, can I get a motion to approve?
Uh, the remote participation has been moved.
Thank you very much. All those in favor
signify by saying aye.
Any opposed? Say nay. P The chair ayes have it.
Madam Clerk, please add those
members to the quorum Roll call.
They're added to stand for the pleasure of allegiance.
I ledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty
and justice for all.
Please remain standing for the invocation,
which will be delivered today
by Noah Chung from Park Community Church in Hyde Park.
Join me in prayer, Gracious and merciful.
Father, we thank you for our civic leaders who are concerned
with the welfare of our city.
Father, we acknowledge that this has been a long weary
and maybe even chaotic year.
May you be near to every person in our city
who are made in your image today.
We lift up those entrusted with leading our great city.
Grant them wisdom amid their competing demands.
Grant them a hunger for justice
and righteousness for all people.
Grant them courage, soaked with humility to do what is good
and right no matter what others might say.
Grant them the creativity to solve the many complex
and systemic issues facing our cities.
Grant them also the ability to work together
with respect even in disagreement.
And last but not least, grant them
and their families peace, joy, and rest.
After such a demanding year, we also pray
for the agenda set before them today.
Please give them the sermon to pursue what would honor you
and serve those who live and work in our beloved city.
It's in Jesus' name, our Lord and Savior we pray. Amen.
Amen. May be seated.
Uh, public comments.
The council will now begin the public comment period,
which is limited to a maximum of 30 minutes.
Each speaker is limited to three minutes.
Speakers cannot yield
or transfer their time to another speaker.
Any written comments that have been submitted will be posted
and made available for all dematic review.
First speaker this morning is Carl Gutierrez.
Good morning. Good morning.
Uh, my name is Carl Gutierrez from the Chicago Land Chamber
of Commerce representing more than 1000 members of all sizes
and sectors across our city.
The 2026 budget has been a hugely difficult process putting
our city in a place we've never been.
Make no mistake. Both budgets are hard on all
of Chicago's businesses,
but especially for our small and mid-sized companies.
Chicago businesses across the board not only have more skin
in the game, but by margin of four to one, starting
with the hundreds of millions of dollars in the lease tax,
but continuing with the doubling of the cost
of business licenses, along with a myriad
of other revenues in both budgets.
And that's on top of new taxes from last year.
Let me say it again. Both budgets are hugely difficult,
and yet while both are hugely difficult,
the alternative at least doesn't include a tax on jobs,
makes more effort to address the savings
and efficiencies identified by the Ernst and Young Report,
and makes the full advanced payment to our city's pensions,
lowering the threat of a credit downgrade
and making, um,
helping better protect our city's financial future
and our ability to invest in ourselves.
Members of the city council,
you should never have been put in this position,
but you stepped up and in the face of aggressive,
unwarranted, and disrespectful attacks on yourselves
and your character, you proceeded with a,
with the unprecedented task of creating an alternative.
Let me say it again for a third time.
Both budgets are hugely difficult for Chicago's businesses.
Both budgets have business paying,
having more skin in the game by a margin of four to one.
But these budgets represent choices.
And while the alternative looks to the future, difficult,
difficult, difficult as it is the other chooses
to build its tous on sand.
We are a good city and a great city
and we must choose better than that.
We all have a lot more work ahead of us,
but we look forward to working with all of you next year
and in the years to come to build our city's future in
adjust and sustainable way.
Thank you.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Michael K. Harris.
Good morning, Mr. Mayor
and honorable, honorable members
of the Chicago City Council.
I am Michael K. Harris Jr.
Here on behalf of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association,
representing retailers, grocery stores, pharmacies
and restaurants that operate in
neighborhoods across Chicago.
I want to begin by thanking members of this body
who has taken the time to raise questions, raise concerns,
and push for deeper understanding
of the recent budget proposals.
Your leadership matters
and I want you to know that you are not alone in recognizing
the complexity of the decisions before you.
Many retailers appreciate the diverse coalition
of city council members
who have come together in an earnest effort,
particularly those who recognize the real damage.
Certain proposals will have inflicted on Chicago's
reputation as a place to hire, invest, and grow.
We share the same goal, a healthy thriving Chicago
at Chicago, where residents have access to jobs, food,
medicine, and essential services in their own communities.
While some elements represent an improvement from earlier
proposals, job creators remain deeply concerned
that businesses are once again being asked
to shoulder a disproportionate share
of the financial burden, burden on top
of already significant pressures.
We appreciate the many members of this council
who understand that economic health
and equity are not inseparable.
Policies that unintentionally drive employers out
of neighborhoods ultimately hurt the very residents
we all aim to support.
It is long past time for the city to acknowledge the cycle
of continually increasing taxes and spending
and spending is unsustainable
and risks undermining Chicago's
long-term economic viability.
So today we want to thank you for standing up
for your communities, for recognizing the real world impacts
of these proposals and
for engaging in this process thoughtfully.
We look forward to continue to work with you
to advance solutions that strengthen Chicago's economy
without undermining the businesses
and workers that keep our communities alive.
Thank you for your time and your leadership.
Thank you very much. Our next speaker is TTA Thomas.
Hello, I'm Lynette Thomas,
an independent voter on the far south side.
By way of the ninth Ward, I have an update for you guys,
general counsel, take this down.
1 25 CV 1 5 3 7 7 Judge LaShonda,
a hunt in the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Illinois.
Lata Thomas, plaintiff, city of Chicago, Lincoln Hayes
and his individual and official capacity
as City Council Sergeant of Arms, alderman Jesse Fuentes
and her individual and official CA capacity defendants.
Okay, I have a warning for the teachers
that have their pensions tied into CTU.
If you legally find an IUL
or whatever a C green talks about on WVON,
because again, there was a teacher named Sandra Taylor,
veteran teacher of over 19 years who passed in 2024.
She left her pitching to her 8-year-old grandson.
CTU refused to pay it
because he has, he wasn't her biological child.
So what happens to her money is theft. Plain and simple.
Her daughter is her only living heir.
Did they give it to her? No.
Why don't they release that pension money to her daughter?
Vicki Willis, another veteran CTU teacher. I don't know.
Are they going to use that pension money to fund that?
$4 million being allocated for the 26
and 26 7 elections.
And lastly, CPS has asked for money,
but we have cases like Angel Thomas versus the City
of Chicago, district 2 99 I Illinois State Board
of Education case number 2026 DP 0 1 1 3,
my daughter being denied free, appropriate public education
and least restrictive placement, a violation
of the IDEA laws.
I'm just saying one of the line items on my tax bill in this
budget is Chicago Board of Education.
But my child can't receive fair services
with taxpayer money,
but we push it real hard
for ENG English language Learning services.
Does the black student success plan only apply
to students in public schools Black
Catholic school special education students aren't qualified
for success because they openly pray
to the Lord every day in school.
And again, independent audit the city
CPS and CTU.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Danielle Carter.
40 seconds independent audit.
C ps the city and CTU Independent Audit.
C-P-S-C-T-U
and CPS Independent Audit, the city
CCPs and CTU Independent Audit, the city CCPs
and CTU Independent, the city, the CCPs
and CT independent ccp, the city
and CT U Independent, CCPs, CT U
and the City Independent Audit.
The city CCPs
and CTU Independent Audit, the city CCPs
and CT independent audit the city.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Danielle Carter.
Alright then. So Jesse from Win,
you like calling Black Americans the N word on the fifth
floor and nobody is checking that, right?
You thought we wasn't gonna find out about that, Jesse?
Yeah, y'all multiple times. Okay.
But so we wanna talk about this budget,
this alternate budget,
this alternate budget is still no good
for the tax paying citizens.
When I look in this budget, all it's doing is it's,
it's slow killing us.
Okay? Nook and ding us with taxes.
This is what I found in this, uh, alternate budget.
When it come down to, uh, business licenses, we are going
to be paying instead of two 50, we'll be paying, uh,
what you say, 500.
And if you all who have driveways houses, that's going
to be going up, they're gonna charge you more
for your driveways.
They're 15 cent bag tax.
Things like streaming tax, all these taxes,
you gotta look into this, this alternate budget.
It's going to be taxing us,
but they're not addressing these raises
that his administration is getting.
Which is the biggest one, the $58,000 raise.
That's going to Michael Mc Murray, the, uh,
commissioner Aviation.
Do you all wanna address that?
You all wanna address the three to $4,000
that these aldermen will be getting.
You all, you all accept to you all will not address
that 220 million, uh, that we found
for under the special event.
That line that somehow made it to 2026
that says New arrivals.
We know you all still paying for these illegal aliens,
but yet, and still when we go to Cook County,
they say it's your fault.
Yet Tony Pratt Winkle,
she's able Million dollar Tony Pratt Winkle while our taxes
is going up, she was able
to right now buy a million dollar home.
Yeah, so now,
but you all failed to address what's really killing us.
Property taxes. I haven't heard, not one of you all mention
that in here,
but you wanna talk about everything else except
for the property taxes.
This is Anthony.
Bill said last year when you all were spending
that money on illegal aliens
and voting for illegal aliens, he said, you all know
that they're going to pay for it.
It's gonna show up in those property taxes
and you all act like we didn't hear that.
We gonna bring that back to everybody remembrance,
because we know it's a reflection of what you all pay
for illegal aliens.
What's going on Chicago.
We allow people who don't come from Chicago
to rule to run Chicago.
We allow people that just from Elgin, mayor Stacey,
Davis Gates, that's from Indiana.
We allow people like that to come in here and run Chicago.
But the natives that's born
and raised here, we would not step up and get into office
because we know this city.
We love this city. We know the culture.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker, our next speaker this morning is
Sherry Ick.
Our next speaker is Sherry Ick.
Our next speaker is Sandy Norman.
Praise the Lord everyone
and the the council, I honor you, mayor Johnson
and all the council and all of the, um, organ organizations
that are represented here.
And I wanna reiterate it is definitely a blessing to see,
um, more African-Americans that are here
representing our communities and speaking up.
I do wanna say, um, as I was here on yesterday,
I'm the founder of Life Beyond Limit Inc.
Chain Breakers outreach, violence intervention,
uh, response team.
I do wanna say, I don't just come in here talking,
but I'm actually doing the work.
And so we'll be on the streets of Chicago.
Um, tonight we'll be at East Garfield.
We'll also be in in Lawndale.
And we're responding to the people.
I do wanna say, uh, mayor Johnson, you were a commissioner
before you became mayor.
So you know about taxes,
you know about all on the federal level, everything
that's gonna take place before it happens.
I wanna say that when I'm in the community, we feed
between 500 to a thousand people a month.
And I do this out of my own pocket.
And so I'm also advocating again
because there are people like me that are not a part
of the system, that are not a part of the select groups
that get all of this, uh, funding.
And so again, my parents taught me that you don't come,
don't, don't come ask for a handout.
You demonstrate the work and then you present yourself.
And this is why I'm here.
I'm in the neighborhoods and so I'm feeding the community.
And so I see the people that are hungry,
they cannot pay their, their taxes.
A lot of the communities
that we're representing the people are in need.
When Solomon got in,
he asked the Lord not for money and fame.
He said, God, give me wisdom on how I may lead the people.
So let's not forget that a lot of all of us
that are here are here for a purpose.
But those of you that are in this council,
you are in position and you make those six figures
because of the people.
And without the people you would not be in position.
So let's not forget the people
because everybody does not make six figures.
Bible says the poor will will always be among us.
And it's, it's our responsibility to not neglect the poor.
And so again, I'm speaking from a perspective
of being in the community, being with the people.
And I'll be there again on tonight.
And so again, with these taxes, you know,
people being displaced out of their homes,
and as I reiterated, I'm a product of the Ida B.
Wells housing projects.
And so I know what it's like when you, you know,
are single family income
and you have developers that come in
and displace everybody out of the neighborhoods.
And it's always really us
and the black communities that are always left behind.
So I'm here, you know, petitioning, uh, you don't forget
where you came from.
Don't forget, you know, your struggles
because again, it's about the people.
And I know that a lot of people think that a lot
of times you get these positions
that you're not gonna have to give an account.
But there's a God that everybody in
here you are gonna have to
Answer to. Thank you very
much for your comments.
However your time has expired.
Our next our next speaker is Sophia James.
Our next speaker is Sophia James.
I'm Sophia, founder
and cultural architect of Black Girl Fire.
I am here today to point out the hypocrisy
Chicago's mayor office for people with disability
is attempting to branch to branch Chicago
as the most successful city in the world, yet excess live
and fo a 2018 class action lawsuit
for disability housing discrimination.
It has been reported that Chicago has spent an estimate
of $4.1 million, defendant itself against this lawsuit.
And 2024 a federal judge rule
that Chicago is an above the law.
Chicago must abide by the A DA Americans with Disability Act
and the Fair Housing Act.
Now we must acknowledge that the A DA is only 36 years old.
I a 21 year traumatic brain injury survivor
at the age of 13.
I was in a life-threatening car accident.
Doctors said I was going to die if I didn't make it
through the night or I would be
paralyzed from the neck down.
I stand before you today, not flatline, but as a founder
and as an individual who has
to file multiple disability housing discrimination
complaints with HUD
and the Illinois Commission for Human Relation
that was ultimately left, unresponsive
or dismissed, which led to me to becoming homeless Chicago
only managed homelessness.
It doesn't reduce it.
Black girl fire is building neuro inclusive housing
and tech ecosystem filling gaps no one else is addressing.
And yes, in that order and thank you,
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Zoe Lee.
Our next speaker is Dominic CAPAs.
As you know, it's a homeless issue here,
which you don't care even though you created a job
for Cindy Soto as the homeless chief operator,
you know, and you know David Moore,
you the reason why all this is how it is.
You know, you made sure that
you sold my family out for that Tiff money 79 54.
79 58 South Halstead Sandpiper Lounge.
And instead of working with my mom
with doing her affordable housing, you decide you
and Father Flagger decide to get that, uh,
save a lot on my other part of my godfather's lots
and then knock down the Sandpiper Lounge.
If you would have worked with my godfather
and my mother, Chicago Fifth Red would've never been here.
You have constantly ignored me.
I've been down here for two years.
Two years I'm watching y'all lau us Tiff money just like he
just laundered some tiff money to Kenwood.
13 point. What's that?
Five 9 million into Kenwood Academy
then 910,000 into Kenwood Academy.
They just got it December 11th of this year.
Then you want 559 million of TIF money to go
to CPS if the budget passed.
But I can't get no TIF money
so I can build my building back up that y'all knocked down.
I can't get you to settle my case that's over there.
Is it because my mother sued for 3 billion?
She sued for 3 billion because she was tired of y'all.
But we can talk it down.
We know we we deserve 3 billion, but,
but Angela r got the number.
Angela r has the number
because R is trying to help.
So I hope that she relayed the number
so we can get this case settled
so I can go on and do what I need to do.
I'm paying for two storages, one in Atlanta
and my mom's storage here.
My mom's 76 sleeping on a, on the floor.
I mean sleeping on the couch, sleeping on a,
I'm sleeping on an air mattress.
You know, it's Christmas coming.
He to blame you giving him a field house that,
that Tiff money could go to me.
First time he for a vote, it's a loser. He's been a loser.
A loser. When he was at CHA, he lost terribly
for the Illinois Secretary of State.
He just knows something that's to keep him in his seat.
But he is a loser and you're a narcissist.
But guess what, I have narcissist ways.
So you could take it there. I'm gonna take it to hell.
Chicago. Flip red.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Dominic Kae.
Good morning everyone. Mayor Alders.
My name is Dominic CAPAs, general Man of Smoke Station and
and it is a pleasure to address you all today, twice.
Now you've heard me speak against the Quinn Hemp Ban.
Today I'd like to speak in favor of something.
Mayor Brandon Johnson's plan to tax and regulate hemp.
The plan calls for a $2 per item tax on hemp products,
testing standards and 21
and over establishment restrictions.
Generally speaking, I find all this very reasonable
and I do not see how it could have any significant
negative impact on my business.
To add, it has been said
that hemp is unregulated
and that hemp products, hemp stores are shady.
But our business has made third party lab testing
a condition of doing business with any
and all of our hemp retailers.
And we've done this since day one and today.
Third party lab testing
and common food labeling standards are standard industry
practice including nutrition labels,
allergy information ingredient list, specifically THC
and other cannabinoids, a QR code to the lab report for
that product and manufacturer address
and contact information.
All sounds pretty well regulated to me.
The allegation is that the hemp industry is unregulated,
which means no legal body compelled us
to adopt these regulations, these standards.
We adopted these standards
and practices to provide voluntarily a trustable
and safe product for our customers.
And furthermore, I would favor any reasonable hemp
taxation, which invest the revenue into our daycare
and early childhood programs.
Our public schools teen substance abuse, especially
teen alcohol abuse, homelessness.
I have homeless people in Logan Square every single day.
And childhood teen mental health programs, all
of which are presently woefully underfunded.
I'll close by paraphrasing the December 10th joint statement
from the 33rd and 25th Ward orders
bans do not eliminate products
or demand by push demand into unsafe
and unregulated markets.
The very markets the Quinn Hemp Band claims
to wanna eliminate a ban will only put hundreds
of people, hundreds of jobs out right
before Christmas. Thank you.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Rock Row Garcia
Es, members of the city council.
My name is Garcia and I'm with the Grassroots Collaborative
and the People's Unity Platform.
The decisions that you make in this room have real
consequences for real people.
People who are already doing everything
we can just to survive.
Working. Families in our city are not asking
for special treatment.
We are not a, we are asking for fairness.
They're asking not to be punished for being poor.
I am grateful for the hundreds
of volunteers making thousands
of daily calls into your awards from people
who have never called your ward before.
They've been calling with the pleads
to hopefully adjust enough pressure
and remind you to do the right thing this budget cycle.
I am also grateful
that those pleads have not fallen on deaf ears
because of that organizing.
We've seen Alderman concede more and more of the harmful
and unpopular aspects of the alternative budget.
You all made sure that there was no large property tax.
You agreed to add youth jobs back
and listened to our residents, imploring you
to get rid of garbage fees.
However, now you want aggressive debt, collection of poor
and working class Chicagoans while still letting
corporations off the hook, which simply cannot be
how we fund our city.
We can't afford it.
What the alternative budget presents is punishment
as revenue strategy and poverty as a business model.
We know exactly who pays the price for this approach.
Working families, seniors on fixed incomes and black
and brown communities that have been targeted for decades
working families are already caring too much.
They're working hard, playing by the rules
and still struggling to keep up.
When the city turns to aggressive duck collection,
it doesn't solve a problem.
It creates one aggressive duck collection is not
collecting accountability.
It creates a a problem and it's collecting pain.
It turns minor debts into major crises.
It drains money meant for rent, food, and childcare.
And it sends a clear message if you fall behind,
the city will kick you while you're down.
We've seen seen this kind of decisions
before in Chicago selling the parking meters was the daily
presented as practical.
The selling. The Skyway was responsible.
Past councils were told it would help the budget that it was
a smart financial move.
And now years later,
Chicagoans are still paying the price every day,
every time we park, every time we drive
those deals haunt people
because they locked in harm and called it policy.
Debt collection is the same
and may look good on balance sheets today,
but it will haunt working families tomorrow.
Please do not repeat the mistakes
of past city council members.
I'm also here to ask you to support
essential police accountability measure.
Because like those bad deals, the cost of inaction is paid
by the public over and over again.
Accountability is not anti-police. It is pro trusts.
It is ProSAFE. It is all about making sure power is
exercised with care, transparency and respect.
Without accountability, trust erodes.
Please do the right thing, not just for today
but for the years to come. Thank
You very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Sherry. Ick,
Hands up.
My name is Sherry Moore Hendricks and I've been robbed
and I'm here to report a crime every day.
I thought the American dream, the black dream black woman
with a black child, Mr. Johnson,
with a black baby on the south side of Chicago.
I've been robbed in my own home.
This budget don't say nothing for me.
It doesn't speak for me and you can't speak for me.
I didn't come down here with no trouble. Alderman Moore.
But I wanna put you on notice too.
'cause I'm not smiling no more.
I'm down here because I stayed on the phone all day long
yesterday trying to get my escrow back up
so I could pay your taxes, your taxes yours over there.
And don't forget over there in that little nook over there,
and I want you to know it's hard out here
and there's people that's hurting.
I don't have a script, I don't have my phone before me
because I'm running for the bill collector, the oldman
that I, I have in my community.
I wanna be able to sit down with you.
I wanna be able to get to your door
and sit down, talk about my problems and my war
and Alderman moley, wherever you're, thank you
for sitting down with me.
I thank you for that assessor and that review.
Oh, that, that was for the picture.
But I'm here for the taking Mr. Johnson,
I'm not against you, but I want you to know I'm hurting.
I'm trying to hold on to my home, my new home,
two doors down from my childhood home.
But it's unfortunate.
I see people that don't look like me and my skin.
I see those illegals that's not down here
and asking for help.
They not down here begging you and pretty pleasing you.
It's no disrespect to P rank.
But my thing is I'm not begging you.
I'm not pretty pleading you.
I'm asking you all to either you pay, do what you supposed
to do and do your fair share, helping your black people,
helping old people,
but make sure you know where that money is coming, going
to and coming from.
I'm not against being compassionate
and being fair with others,
but my thing is what the diversity lies when you got some
over here, making it some over here, faking it.
Some over here don't know which way to go.
So hands up and I'm here to report a crime
because I've been ripped off those taxes.
That's unbelievable.
And what your budget says is the rich keep getting richer
and the poor keep on getting poor.
And like Zoe said, give us a forensic audit
and get the job done.
Thank you very much for your comments, your Honor.
There are no further speakers who have timely signed up
for the public comment period.
Very well. Thank you.
That concludes our public comment period.
Alderman Mosley wishes to participate
for reasons stating in Rule 59.
Madam Clerk, could you confirm Al Alderman
Mosley's presence online?
Alderman Moseley, are you there? Present
Very well. Can I get a motion
for the approval of Alderman Mosley
to participate in today's meeting remotely?
Alright, all those in favor signify by saying aye.
Any opposed, say nay. Any of the chair? The ayes have it.
Thank you Madam Clerk, could you please add Alderman Moseley
to the Quo Roll call chair recognizes Alderman Yancy.
Thank you Mr. President.
I'd just like to be added to the roll
Call. Very well.
The chair recognizes Altman Irvin. Thank you Mr.
President. I too would also like to be added to the
Quorum roll call. Thank you Madam Clerk.
Could you please add Altman, Yancy,
and Irvin to the Quorum roll call for resolutions?
We do not have any, uh, the chair recognizes Altman.
David Moore.
Yes. Uh, Mr.
Mayor, if it's, uh, pleases the body, I would like to, um,
suspend the rules for a minute.
Um, to, um, just recognize
and give a moment silent to the passing of our, um,
district seven, um, division superintendent. Chris.
Very well. There are no objections.
Motion to suspend, suspend the rules. Uh, granted please.
And just if we could just stand in silence, just,
uh, to remember.
Um, Chris Manuel, who passed last night serves
as the dis division superintendent, district seven,
serving many of the wards on the south side of Chicago.
A moment of silence please.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Welcome. Motion to return back
to the regular order business.
It's been moved. Thank you.
Uh, now for the regular order business.
The next up is communications,
Uh, communication from his honor, the mayor
to the Honorable the City Council, the city Chicago.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I hear Matt hereby transmit a revenue ordinance
for the 2026 budget recommendation amending various sections
of the Municipal Code of Chicago.
Your favorable consideration
of this ordinance is appreciated.
Yours truly signed Mayor Return referred
to the Committee on Finance.
Two committees called will go to roles
ICD clerk Anna Valencia.
Hereby informed the city council
that the following document was filed in my office, office
of Inspector General's report on Chicago Police department's
response to hate crimes and hate incidents.
I City Clerk Valencia also informed the city council
that all those matters, which were, which were considered
by the city council at the regular meeting held on
December 10th, 2025, which were required by statute
to be published in book or pamphlet form
or in one more newspapers were published in pamphlet form on
December 18th, 2025 by being printed in full text
and printed pamphlet, copies of the Journal of proceeding
as the City Council, city of Chicago, I City Clerk Valencia,
also informed the city council the actions
conducted by the city council.
Regular meeting held on December 15th, 2025,
which were required by statute to be published in book
or pamphlet form when one more newspapers were published in
pamphlet form on December 18th, 2025,
being printed in full text
and printed pamphlet, copy of the journal, proceedings
of the City Council of the City of Chicago,
I City Clerk Valencia, also informed the city council
that all those matters, which were considered
by the city council at the regular meeting held on
December 16th, 2025, which required by statute
to be published in book report pamphlet form in one
or more newspapers were published in pamphlet form on
December 18th, 2025
by being printed in full text and printed pamphlet.
Copies of journal Proceedings of the city council, the city
of Chicago, your Honor, that concludes the reports
and communications from the mayor and other city officers.
Very well. Thank you Madam Clerk.
Next up for committee reports.
We'll start with the budget committee.
The chair recognizes Chairman Irvin.
Thank you Mr. President.
Reporting for the committee on the Budget
and government operations,
which held a committee meeting on December 17th, 2025.
The committee has a series of report recommending passage
of the following items, beginning with items eight
through 26, a series of 19
transfer funds within wards
1 14, 21, 22, 33, 34, 36, 39, 40, 41, 46,
and two for the Committee on Committees and rules.
Two for the Committee on Education, committee on Housing
and Real Estate, legislative Reference
Bureau expense account.
And two for the committee on licensing Con consumer
protection all for year 2025.
A move passage of these items by a roll call vote
Very well. There's a motion on
the floor for the passage of these items
by roll call vote members.
Please use your EVO application.
Uh, once it becomes available at this time.
The voting is now open. The voting is now open.
Please use your Eev device. The voting is now open.
It is, it's for all of them. Yes,
I will now call on those.
I have not used their Eev device and those remotely.
Alderman Hopkins. Hopkins is
not present in chambers.
Alderman Robinson. Robinson is a yes. Alderwoman Harris.
Yes, Harris is a yes. Alderwoman Ramirez. Yes.
Ramirez is a yes. Alderman Gutierrez. Yes.
Gutierrez is a yes. Alderwoman Taylor.
Yes. Taylor is a yes. Alderman Mosley. Yes.
Mosley is a yes. Alderman Ccho Lopez. I'm sorry.
Ccho Lopez is a yes alder person.
Fuentes Fuentes is a yes.
Alder, uh, Alder woman. Rodriguez Sanchez.
Alderman Hopkins Hopkins is a yes. Alderman Vasquez.
Alderman Vasquez is a yes. Vasquez is a yes. Alder woman.
Hadden? Yes. Hadden is a yes. Has everyone voted?
Who wished Fuentes is a yes. Alright, voting is now closed.
Vasquez and Hadden are yeses. So that's 49.
49 0. Yes, they're both yeses.
The voting is now closed. 40.
Very well. Thank you. There are 49 yays and zero nays.
This motion passes Altman Mitchell on a motion to reconsider
Mr. President moved to reconsider
The vote. All those in favor
of the reconsideration
of this vote signified by saying aye.
Any opposed, say nay. This motion fails.
Chair recognizes Chairman Irvin.
Thank you Mr. President, along with Chairman Dow.
Uh, I'll defer and publish the following seven items.
Item number one is a substitute communication recommending a
proposed ordinance concerning an amendment
of municipal code titles two and nine regarding technical
and scrivener's errors.
The 2026 municipal code corrections ordinance.
Item two is a communication recommending a series
of proposed corrections
and revisions to the 2026 budget recommendations
and texts as amended.
Item three is a communication recommending adoption
of the annual appropriation ordinance for 2026.
Item four is a substitute communication
recommending amendment of municipal code titles
2 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 14
a 1517 regarding management structure, powers
and functions of various departments and agencies.
The 2026 municipal code management ordinance,
item five is a communication recommending expenditure,
a portion of motor fuel tax funds allocated to the city
of Chicago for year 2026.
Item number six is a communication
recommending an intergovernmental agreement
with the Chicago Transit Authority
and Cook County for the allocation of motor fuel tax funds
for year 2026.
And item number seven is a communication
recommending an amendment of regulations governing
administration, a classification
and employee of benefits
for classification position set forth any annual
appropriation ordinance, the salary resolution.
Very well. Thank you.
Sergeant at Arms, please, uh, ensure
that we can keep some decor in the chambers, please.
Mr. Alderwoman Dow. Confirm, defer published. Thank you.
Those items will be deferred
and published. Anything else? Chairman,
That's all. Mr. President,
that concludes my report. All President,
Uh, um, alderman Will Hall has requested
to participate in today's meeting remotely
for reason stated in Rule 59.
Uh, Madam Clerk, could you please
confirm his attendance
online? Alderman Hall, are you there?
Present? Can I get a motion for the approval
of it's been moved?
All those in favor City five by saying and aye. Any opposed?
Saying nay. This motion passes.
Please add Alderman Hall to the quorum roll call.
Alderman Hall, do you wish to be added
to the most favorable roll call vote in the budget committee
in the subsequent, uh, unsuccessful vote to reconsider?
Yes. All right.
Please add Alderman Hall
to the most favorable roll call in the budget vote.
Um, and the successful, I'm sorry, the unsuccessful motion
to reconsider for the agreed upon calendar alt endow.
Uh, thank you Mr. President.
I have received from the city clerk Anna
and Valencia, a total of 17 proposed items
for the agreed calendar consisting of congratulatory,
commemorative, and tributary resolutions from the following
Alder person, alderman Clay in the 46th Ward.
I move passage of the agreed calendar in
the omnibus hearing.
No objections. So ordered for new business.
The clerk will read the awards beginning with the 50th
Zoning amendments, which are referred
to the Committee on zoning landmarks
and building standards, track traffic regulations,
traffic control signals and traffic signs,
which are referred to the Committee on Pedestrian
and Traffic Safety exemption from physical barrier
requirements for commercial driveway alley access
to parking facilities, which are referred
to the Committee on Transportation and Public Way.
All the person man Hoffen, has proposed ordinance
for amendment of municipal code section four dash 60 0 23
to allow additional package
'cause licenses on a portion of North Sheridan Road,
which is referred to the Committee on
License to Consumer Protection.
All the person admits has proposed ordinance for amendment
of the annual appropriation ordinance
to transfer funds from the 37th Ward Wage allowance account
to the expense account for the year 2025, which is referred
to the committee on the budget and Government Operations.
All the persons Fuentes and
and OSHA have proposed ordinance
for a Springfield revenue resolution
regarding personal property replacement tax,
which is referred to the Committee on Committees and Rules.
All the person, Lopez has a proposed ordinance for amendment
of the annual appropriation ordinance
to transfer funds from the 15th Ward wage allowance account
to the automatic expense account for the year 2025,
which is referred to the committee on the budget
and government Operations.
All the person. Lopez also has proposed ordinance
for amendment of MSBA code chapters three dash 42, 3 dash 47
and three dash 49 regarding taxation of tobacco products
and tobacco mitigation fund, which is referred
to the Committee on Finance.
Your Honor, that concludes the presentation
of balding medic introductions.
Alright, for the, um, approval of the journal,
the chair recognizes Alderman Mitchell.
Mr. President, I'm not aware of any corrections
to the journals from the December 10th, December 15th
and December 16th meetings and move that they be
Approved. Hearing no objections.
So ordered for unfinished business.
Alderman Mitchell, I, I'm
Aware of one piece of unfinished business.
It was filed by Alderman Nugent and I defer to her
Very well. The chair recognizes
Alderwoman NuGet.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I defer to Chair doll to speak to this matter,
and then I move, do pass.
Very well Chair recognizes Chairwoman Dowell.
Uh, thank you, Mr. President.
Um, at this time I move to consider various items under
of unfinished business, which were noticed
and filed with the clerk pursuant to Rule 41, pertinent
to consideration and passage of the 2026 revenue ordinances.
They are as follows, item number one,
the substitute 2026 municipal code revenue ordinance.
Alternative item number two, the 2026
through 2027.
General obligation borrowing ordinance.
Item number three, the general obligation in STSC
or the Sales Tax Securitization Corporation,
bond refunding ordinance.
Are those all the items? Yes. Very well.
And the motion is on the floor for a due pass.
Um, Mr. President, I ask at this time
that the council discuss the three matters I've
identified simultaneously.
I reserve the right to close the discussion.
Well, the chair recognizes Ottoman Conway.
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise on item two.
The city's general obligation bonds, uh, number
I oppose this ordinance in, in committee
and opposed again today.
Not because I don't recognize the city has real obligations,
but because this authorization is far broader than
what is necessary or, or responsible.
And going forward, we need to do more on, on, on oversight
and debt authorization in the future.
Now, in committee, I proposed a,
a narrow $500 million authorization
that would've covered firefighter back pay
and lawsuit settlements alone.
The items that we actually need to do to balance this budget
instead, today we are authorizing 1.8 billion nearly
or 1800 million in new general obligation debt.
And the contrast is striking.
We spent four hours, over four hours, debating $80 million
of taxes, a relative pittance relative to
the minutes we spent debating nearly $2 billion
of borrowing.
Well, let's take a step back.
As most of you know, or all you know,
Chicago already has about $40 billion
of unfunded pension liability,
25 billion of outstanding debt.
Our credit ratings approaching junk.
The reding rating agencies have warned us clearly for us,
borrowing is expensive.
And every additional dollar of debt we take out today,
those are interest costs.
It's gonna crowd out future spending on the basics like
public safety, like parks, and like potholes.
Now, I recognize I'm, I am going to lose this vote today.
So my goal is to merely ask for,
for better discipline on oversight
and authorization on borrowing going forward.
Now, according to the city's own 2025
to 2029 capital improvement plan, the total capital
needs between now
and 2029 are gonna be $3.9 billion
in general obligation debt.
It's on page two of that document, so you don't have
to go very far to read it.
After today's vote here at the end of the year
of our lower 2025, the first year of this,
we will have $3.8 billion in unused general obligation
capital authorization, plus another 1.1 billion
in unused housing bond authority.
Now, yesterday I tweeted out with this,
with this extra borrowing, the mayor could in theory choose
to borrow the money and build a new bear stadium.
Now, the mayor's off the mayor's office called me
disingenuous, which I suppose is being better than called a
liar, like the perennial pinocchios of our chamber, alders,
mitson, and Knutson.
But nonetheless, you will note on the first page
of this document, the ordinance
numbers five and number seven.
Number five allows the mayor
to acquire property within the city.
Number seven allows municipal facilities
to be constructed much like a park
district owned soldier field.
Now, for what it's worth, I highly doubt
you will use it for that purpose.
You take my notes. No, nevermind. What? Excuse me.
I'm sorry. I I put my own thing.
Uh, for what it's worth,
I highly doubt you use it for that purpose.
But there's nothing to stop you. And that's the point.
And my request here is really simple.
As we look ahead for the sake of our, our children
and probably our grandchildren,
if we're gonna borrow in the future,
especially general obligation debt, let's do it narrowly.
Let's do it transparently,
and let's do it with some real oversight
because I promise you, frankly, the future of our city
depends on it, on this busy day.
I appreciate all
of your indulgence in hearing me out. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Thank you very well. Seeing you.
No other hands, the chair recognizes all the woman down.
Oh, I see another hand.
Now the chair recognizes Alderman Moore.
Thank you. Uh, and I,
I guess we're taking up items two, three, and four.
Am I correct together?
And so one of the questions that I asked, um,
and committee was the other day in, in regards to gaming,
was about, um, the suite stakes machine operators, many, uh,
who are in our, um, communities, um,
right now, some in the bars.
And it was, um, confirmed to me, um, by the CFO
that is that the Illinois gaming, um, boards current stance
that they were not awarded VT VGT license
to suite states machine operators.
And so I'm just going back to what I stated earlier.
I I wish we had time to work this out.
Again, I appreciate what my colleagues have done,
but I cannot be in a position where we are not, uh,
from an equity standpoint, making sure
that there's equity in VGT.
And so, um, with that said, I just wanted to bring that
to know, I think, um, um, the CFO for getting
that question answered for me
because it, they wasn't sure I had heard it from someone
else and it came up.
So, um, I appreciate that.
Um, and I just wanted to make, uh,
my colleagues aware of that. Thank you.
Thank you. Chair recognizes Alderman Irvin.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Uh, this is a point of, of personal privilege.
Uh, i, I, I would like for Alderman
Conway to explain the reference
of Pinocchio related to Alderman mi.
Uh, I'm a little taken back by that,
so I just please help me to understand that
Very well. Uh, just
a second. Uh, the chair recognizes Alderman Conway.
Thank you. I, I noticed a lot
of you weren't paying attention, so I tried
to inject a little, little wake you up.
And I, I'm fortunate I did that with, uh, chairman Irvin.
Uh, you may have, may have heard the mayor yesterday,
and correct me if I'm wrong, called Alderwoman mi a liar,
N-W-B-E-Z yesterday,
last week called Alderman Knutsen a liar.
I was merely called disingenuous.
So I was tongue in cheek in that terminology.
Certainly I wasn't repeating it. Thank you.
Oh, are there any other hands?
Very well, now that our nursery rhyme section
of our meeting is over, the chair recognizes chairwoman dow.
Uh, thank you, Mr. President.
Um, I, I don't wanna say very much.
I just wanna put a fine point on the moment
that we're in today.
Uh, as you know, the city
of Chicago's financial position is at a critical juncture.
And I think we have emerged today with the budget plan
that protects programs which are vital
to those most in need while setting us on the right path
towards a stronger fiscal future.
I just wanted to thank my colleagues who dedicated hundreds
of hours and time to put forth a financially responsible,
uh, revenue ordinance
that does not sacrifice economic growth
or place a burden on our most vulnerable citizens
to close this $1.2 billion, uh, gap that we have.
And I asked my colleagues
to support the substitute Revenue revenue
ordinance with the vote of yes.
Thank you, Mr. President. I call for a roll call, vote
Very well. Members of
city council, please use your EVO application
to record your vote at this time, which
I president. I just
Are, are you referring to all
items at the same time? Yes.
No, I want to, no,
I'm taking them all individually. All right.
So item To Concur in the recommendation
of the Committee on Finance
and adopt the substitute ordinance introduced by Alderman,
Matt, osha, and others
amending titles
1 3 4, 7 8 9 10 11 14
a, 14 B, 14 x,
and 15 of the municipal code,
the 2026 Municipal Code Revenue Ordinance alternative,
which was ordered to be deferred and published
and appears in the Journal of Proceedings
of December 18th, 2025 as
S
zero two zero two five zero zero two one seven one nine
by a roll call vote.
Thank you. Members,
please use your EVO application at this time.
The voting is now open. The voting is now open.
Please use your Eev device. The voting is now open.
I will now call those that have not used the Eev device.
Alderman Hall. Alderman Hall.
No. No.
Can you repeat please?
No. Alderman Hall is a no. Alderwoman Harris?
Yes, Harris is a yes. Alderwoman Ramirez.
No, Ramirez is a no.
Alderwoman Gutierrez Gutierrez is a no.
Gutierrez is a no. Alderwoman Coleman.
Alderwoman Coleman Alderwoman Taylor.
No. Taylor is a no. Alderman Vasquez.
Alderman Vasquez. Alderwoman
Hadden No.
Hadden is a no. I'm gonna go back real quick
to Alderman Vasquez
and Alderwoman Coleman is not on the floor.
Okay, hold on. Get Hadden. Okay, voting is now closed.
Well, there are 29 Yays 19 nays.
This motion passes on the motion to reconsider
Alman Mitchell as
I move to Reconsider the vote.
All those in favor of the reconsideration
of this vote signify by saying aye.
Any opposed? Say Any oppose. Any opposed, say nay.
Uh, this motion fails on your next item, Adam, chair,
President, I move to Concur in the recommendation
of the Committee on Finance
and adopt the ordinance regarding the issuance
of City General obligation bonds.
The 2026
through 2027 general obligation borrowing ordinance,
which was ordered to be deferred and published
and appears in the Journal of Proceedings
of December 18th, 2025
as 0 2 0 2 5 dash
0 0 2 1 0 9 7
by the same roll call vote as was applied
to the substitute 2026 municipal code revenue ordinance
alternative, and the associated unsuccessful
motion to reconsider
Chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.
Thank you, Mr. President in accrual in
accordance with Rule 59.
I wish to allow Alderman Stephanie Coleman
to participate remotely.
All right, um, there's a motion on the floor for
Alder Woman and Stephanie Coleman
to participate in today's meeting Remotely
for rules stated in for reason stated in Rule 59.
Madam Clerk, could you confirm Alderwoman
Coleman's presence on the line?
Alderwoman Coleman, are you there?
Alderwoman Coleman? You there's there.
Alright, we'll give it another try. Uh, later.
Um, there's a motion on the floor, uh, for the passage of,
uh, the next item with the same roll call vote.
The, the chair recognizes Alderman Conway.
All right, well there's a roll call vote on the floor. Okay.
Very well,
Yeah. Directly
correct.
This is the general obligation. Voting is now open.
Voting is now open. Please use your Eev device.
The voting is now open.
I will now call on those who have not used the Eev device.
Alderman Hopkins.
Okay. Alderman Hall. Yes.
Hall is a yes. Alderwoman Harris.
Yes. Harris is a yes. Alderwoman Ramirez.
Yes. Ramirez is a yes. Alderwoman Gutierrez. Yes.
Gutierrez is a yes. Alderwoman Coleman. I'll come back.
I think, I don't know if she's on yet. Alderman Curtis.
Curtis is a yes. Alderman. Osha.
OSHA is a yes. Alderwoman Taylor? No.
Taylor's a no. Alderwoman Rodriguez. Okay.
Susan Alderman Vasquez.
No. Vasquez is a a no
Alder woman man.
Howorth older woman man.
Howorth is a no Alder woman.
Hadden No.
Hadden is a no Alder woman. Coleman.
Yes, Coleman is a yes.
Coleman. The voting is now closed.
Madam Clerk. Madam Clerk.
The motion was made for Alder woman Stephanie Coleman
to participate in today's meeting remotely
for reasons stated in Rule 59.
Uh, you check to verify she wasn't there. She is there now.
Just wanna make sure on the motion to allow
for the participation of Stephanie Alderwoman Komen remotely
for reason state in Rule 59, that motion has been made.
All those in favor signify by saying aye. Any opposed?
Say nay. P The chair. The ayes have it.
What was that final vote?
39 11.
There are 39 yays. 11 nays.
This motion passes Altman Mitchell on the motion
to reconsider move to reconsider the vote.
Those in favor of the reconsideration
of this vote signify by saying Aye.
Those that oppose, say nay. This motion fails.
Chair recognizes Chairwoman Do.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I move to Concur in the recommendation
of the Committee on Finance
and adopt the ordinance regarding the issuance
of City General obligation, bonds and
or sales tax, securitization corporation sales tax revenue,
bonds for refunding outstanding general obligation,
obligation, bonds and
or sales tax revenue bonds, which was ordered to be deferred
and published and appears in the Journal of Proceedings
of December 18th, 2025
as
0 2 0 2 5 0 0 2 1 0 9 6.
Um, I ask for a roll call vote on this matter as well. Very
Well. On this final motion
on the floor,
there's a roll call request for this vote.
As the preparation takes place by the clerk, uh, members
of City Council will be able
to use your EVO application to record your vote.
All right. The voting is now open. The voting is now open.
Please use your Avis. The voting is now open.
I'll now call those not using Eev device. Uh, alderman Hall.
Alderman Hall is a yes. Hall is a yes. Alderwoman Harris.
Yes, Harris is a yes. Alderwoman Ramirez.
Yes. Ramirez is a yes. Alderwoman Gutierrez?
Yes. Gutierrez is a yes.
Alderwoman Coleman. Yes. Coleman is a yes.
Alderwoman Taylor? Yes. Taylor is a yes.
Alderman Vasquez. Yes. Vasquez is a yes.
Alderwoman. Hadden. Yes.
Hadden is a yes. The voting is now closed.
50 zero.
There are 50. Yay. Zero nays.
This motion passes Altman Mitchell
on the motion to reconsider. Motion
To reconsider the vote. All those
In favor. The reconsiderations
of this vote signify by saying Aye.
Any opposed a nay? Motion fails.
Chair recognizes Chairwoman Dow.
Thank you Mr. President. This concludes, uh, unfinished
Business. Thank you very much.
Ottman Mitchell.
Any, any other unfinished business?
I'm not aware. Any more unfinished
Business. Very well for mi miscellaneous
business. Ottman Mitchell.
I'm not aware of any miscellaneous business.
All for the date and time of the next meeting.
Been previously been set by, um, ordinance
and for the Omnibus Alderman Mitchell
as the chair recognizes Alderman Moore for a point of order.
Thank you. And, and we said that last time
and all of us still thought it was at 10 somehow.
What is it? 10 tomorrow? 11.
Madam Clerk, can you verify the start time for tomorrow?
10:00 AM It is
for 10:00 AM Thank you for the point of order.
Yes, sir. And for the Omni Omni Yes.
The Chair recognizes Alderwoman Silverstein.
I, uh, I just thank you, uh, Mr. President.
I just wanted to be on the record that my reason
for not being present tomorrow is
that I will be observing the George Sabbath
Very well. Thank you
very much.
Uh, for the omnibus Omni Alderman Mitchell,
I move that matters in the omnibus be passed
by the first most favorable roll call vote
by the Committee on budget
and government operations in the
associated unsuccessful motion.
To reconsider,
Uh, there's a hand, the chair recognizes Alderman Vasquez.
Thank you, Mr. President. Um, just wanted to know
for the record, I know the vote is already packed,
but we had technical difficulties on this end.
Just wanna be for the record.
I know it doesn't count as a vote,
a no on the revenue ordinance.
That was all. Thank you.
All right. Uh, technical difficulties
and just wanted to be noted
that if the technical difficulties were not
in place he would've been a no.
Did I hear that correctly? Um, thank you.
The clerk will have that in our record. Yes. Very well.
Um, now
for, we did the omnibus.
So now for a motion to adjourn Alderman Mitchell, president,
There being no further business before the
Body. Oh, did we do that? I'm
sorry.
I did not officially say, um, my line very well.
Hearing no objections.
So ordered now for the adjournment, alderman Mitchell. There
Being no further business before this body. I move
That we hearing no objections.
So ordered. This meeting is adjourned.