Good afternoon.
The Committee on Licensed
and Consumer Protection will now come to order.
We will begin with a roll call to establish quorum Iair,
Chico not present.
Alderwoman Coleman not present. Alderman Moore.
Alderman Oshe. Here. Alderwoman Scott. Alderman Cardona.
Alderman Beck. Alderman Conway. Alderman Viegas.
Alderwoman. MITs Alder.
Alderman Spto. Alderman Apollo.
Alderman Riley Alderman Lawson.
Alderman Gardner Alderwoman. Clay Alderman Martin.
Uh, chairman Silverstein.
We have nine members present and we have a quorum.
Do we have anybody? Yeah. Alman Chico.
Okay. We do have Alderman Chico, uh, virtual.
Oh, and we're gonna recognize Alderman OSHA quorum.
Um, can I get a motion?
Alderman Lawson moves
to add Alderman Vice Chair Chico to the quorum.
All in favor? Oh,
we also have Alderman Napolitano.
So let's, um, alderman Lawson also moves
to include him as well.
All in favor? Any opposed opinion of the chairs?
Um, you're now allowed. Alderman Napolitano, are you there
Present? Thank you Madam
Chair
And Vice Chair Chico, are you there?
I'm president. Thank you, Kara.
Okay. Um, at this time, we'll begin
with the public comment period.
The period is limited to 30 minutes out
of respect for everybody's time.
Each speaker is limited to three minutes.
Our first speaker will be George Blakemore,
and we're gonna recognize Alderman Quinn as well.
Thank you. Oh, and yeah,
You can see the empty seats.
Can't you see these empty seats? Nobody's here.
So the people deserve the government they get
and they get the government they deserve.
Seemed like to me, once upon a time, Emma,
Mitch was over life once upon a time.
And then they have the lady, uh, silverson whatever,
call herself a Jew.
I asked this question.
Is, is Judaism a religion or is it a race?
Some of my, the Jewish brothers and sisters say is both.
You cannot be. Both. Judaism was started in Ethiopia.
The black Jew, the original Jew, the Black Madonna,
they worship over in Polar.
So you can't be both and, and type submitted.
Oh, he's talking against the Jews. I'm one.
And I've told you that you try to pull
that anti-Semitic one once with me.
Now you don't do it anymore.
'cause I'm a thinking black man.
I asked this question, is it a religion or is it a race?
And somebody said both Sweetie.
D am I a man or am I a woman?
Uh, maybe I'm acting like high pitched boy. Am I a man?
Uh, uh, am I a woman?
So again, it's very important for me to come and,
and spin in this mic.
I can't believe it constantly.
I get up and outage having two committees the same day
and at the same time.
And you and Jeanette, Ms. Taylor,
y'all should have got together.
Y'all should. And say, I'll have my meeting
at 11, uh, at two.
And what time are you having yours?
Evidently, y'all not communicating with each other,
which you should, but you all, all, all
blue, all Democrat, all Democrats.
It's something evil here. It's something un-American here.
And it's something, something wrong here.
It's something wrong here.
And we have these black faces
in high places selling black people
out out.
So again, look at the empty seats. Look at the empty seats.
The people are not interested in your meeting.
Why? Because you are not educating them, informing them,
and engaging them to the importance
of coming to these meetings.
So you, we deserve what the government we get.
And we got the government.
Uh, uh, we deserve the miseducation
of the black man and the black woman.
So we deserve this that we are going through.
And I wish you could really flip it red.
Thank you. Uh, we're gonna acknowledge Alre as part
of Quorum, and we have Alderwoman Gutierrez
and Mona Haworth as non-members.
Um, next speaker is Jessica Jackson.
Um, one comment that was made by
this older woman right here, I don't know really
how to pronounce her name.
Ha Haberman.
This one right here in the second row, next to more, um,
when she spoke on December 29th at that budget meeting,
she got up and repeatedly said that the issues
of the budget was not over.
That it was still, uh, things that could be discussed.
And I agree with that. I agree with that.
I think that we as citizens
of Chicago should not see the budget getting passed
as the begin all and end all,
because we all know
that it's the same old thing warmed over every year.
Now, as it pertains to this consumer protection
and licensing, we know that one effect of COVID
that black people have been looking for that never came
was these, um, physical side effects from COVID.
Even though Lori Lightfoot has said that COVID
was the most numbers,
with the highest numbers was in the black community,
which was like, where did that come from?
Right? 'cause they were showing white older people on
ventilators when COVID first started, then all
of a sudden it flipped to being black people
suffering from it.
And so then next thing you know, they start pushing
for vaccines, holding people, jobs, hostages about it,
and all this and that, right?
Okay, so then black people ran out, got these vaccines
and this, that and third, but then now it's all over with.
And they talk about all these side effects
that vaccine had, that the vaccine had.
But black people and numbers ain't getting them side
effects, right?
Not the physical ones.
Instead, black people got economic side effects.
Side of COVID. COVID closed down our schools
and made them even worse than what they were.
COVID made us lose a whole lot of small businesses.
The few that were left,
and they haven't been, they haven't come back.
So I doubt that this committee is sitting in here today
putting money together
or ideas together as to how
to bring our black businesses back.
Instead, this body went on further to come up with schemes
with how they could take our property, our property,
and our real estate by increasing property taxes.
So it's the intention of this body of city hall
for black people to not have anything for us
to straight up die from economic genocide.
That's what you all are trying to do. That's clear.
But black people going to be black people,
and we going to deal with it How we got to deal with it,
because we understand that this is our country.
This is where we going to be.
We not, we are exactly who ice is not after.
So see about that money for us Silverstein.
Thank you. The next speaker is Dennis White.
Well, this
how things gonna start off in the wrong foot here on 2026,
these property tax that Brandon Johnson proposed, half
of the chamber member approved it.
Then he get on TV
and lie about it, say it was Donald Trump's fault.
But Donald Trump, it's not the mayor of Chicago.
Donald Trump is not the, uh, president of Cook County.
Donald Trump is not even the governor of Illinois.
He's the president of the United States.
The branch of government is you all.
And the many, he say he want that, uh,
property tax increase.
Nobody didn't say nothing.
Now his lab do Jason Irvin, he's over here
lying, manipulating, telling everybody
what they, he want us to believe
itself for one thing, the truth.
And they say the truth shall set you free.
Well, let me ask you council member something.
When y'all gonna be free by telling the truth, instead
of being a halt staying in the prison of hell,
because you all are responsible
for your own war to protect us
and make sure we're safe, instead of that, you let call Rosa
Block Alderman Mi and Kadoma
and, and everybody else to vote, allow these illegal
aliens in our city to take over
and mess us up economically.
But you all stay silence about that.
That's a impeachable offense to me.
And then here he is with these dry tears
talking about what the police are doing.
Ice are here, they getting rid of the legal.
Well, I'm glad they are
because now I could sleep much better.
But you all over here condemning Trump
for doing his job.
We voted for him.
We want our city safe from the crime, the drugs
and these illegals.
Are you listening to me on the memo more? Please do.
And, um, my thing is that you all,
you all are over here
twiddling your thumbs on your cell phone, talking
to somebody else, being arrogant on TV and stuff,
and then you lie to the public
and we can't even get, you all cannot even make a budget cut
of the unnecessary spending that's been going on ever since
Emmanuel Lightfoot.
Now Brandon Johnson, who gonna be next?
We ain't we tired of these Democrats?
And we're gonna vote half of you all out
if y'all don't get it together.
Thank you. The next speaker is Sandy Norman.
Greetings to um, everyone Today,
I wanna just say good afternoon, chair members
of the committee and all
of our respectable organizations that are here.
My name is, uh, Dr. Sandy a Norman.
I'm the founder of, uh, chain Breakers, um, VIP,
violence Intervention and Prevention,
life Beyond Limit, Inc.
And so we are a Chicago based organization working on the
west side and south side of Chicago with high risk youth,
uh, returning citizens and disconnected adults.
And so I just wanna say to the council today,
when we talk about, um, license
and consumer protection, most people just think about
business reg regulations.
But in our communities,
licensing is is also a public safety issue,
an economical development issue,
and it's also a violence prevention issue.
And so many of the people
that we are serving in our communities is not
that they are unwilling to work,
but they are locked out of legal, um, economics.
And so there's a lack of, um, occupational license guidance,
um, capital documentation
and a clear pathway to become legitimate business owners
and also certified workers.
And so what we find is that, um, a lot of the young men
that you see when we talk about violence prevention
that are being killed in the street, they don't have a lot
of the opportunities that they need to thrive
and to be successful.
And so when I'm in my community,
I see every other nationality benefit, um, off
of the young men that are in the community.
I see Palestinians, I see Arabs, Jews,
I see everybody else except for people that look like me,
that actually own, uh, property that
where we can actually create, uh, generational wealth.
And so I wanna say to you all, um, one of the things
that we do, we work to bridge the streets, um, from survival
to, uh, structured opportunities.
And so I'm asking that we, uh, expand access
to licensing pathways also for returning citizens and,
and high risk populations.
One of the things that I saw, I saw a lot of,
and I have a degree in criminal justice,
so I know a little bit about the law,
but I saw a lot of black men that were locked up, you know,
for petty marijuana charges.
And, but what I see today is that the people
that actually now when it became legal that own, you know,
all of the marijuana shops that we go to illegally,
they are not people that look like me,
but we were the ones that were always getting
incarcerated and going to jail.
So my prayer is that we expand access to licensing pathways
for returning citizen and high risk populations,
and that we support community-based business incubators
and certification pipelines.
And also that we, uh, partner
with trusted organizations like myself that can help,
you know, educate, um, people that actually need the help
and that we actually help the very people that we
incarcerate, that we have all these violence prevention
programs and funding and psychologists, police
and nurses is that are benefiting off of the people
of course in our communities where they don't get anything.
Thank you. That concludes the public comment period.
Thank you to all of our speakers here today.
I also want to acknowledge Alderwoman Coleman as part
of quorum and we are going to get started on today's agenda.
We have six items on the agenda today.
The first item is the approval of the Rule 45 reports
for December, 2025, which were sent out to committee.
Wo MITs moves to approve the report.
All in favor say aye, any opposed?
And the opinion of the chairs, the ayes have it
and the reports are approved.
The second item on the agenda is oh 2 0 2 5 dash
0 0 2 1 7 0 7,
and amendment of the municipal code section four dash six
to allow additional packaged good licenses on portions
of South Kedzie Avenue and Alderman Gutierrez's Award.
The chair recognizes Alderwoman Gutierrez.
Thank you Chairwoman, and good afternoon, committee
of Licensing and Consumer Protection.
I'm asking for the committee for a favorable consideration
of lifting this moratorium
to allow additional package goods licenses
on South Kesy Avenue for Aldi.
Uh, located at 49 34 South Kesy Avenue.
Um, Aldi has agreed to a plan of operation community, um,
input as well.
And again, I'm just asking for the favor,
uh, consideration of these item. Thank you.
Any questions by committee Alderman Moore moves to pass.
All in favor say aye. Any opposed?
And the opinion of the chairs, the ayes have it.
The motion is passed. The third item on the agenda
is oh
2 0 2 5 2 7 7 2.
An amendment of the municipal code section four dash six
three to allow additional package good licenses on portions
of West Garfield Boulevard, the 16th ward.
The chair recognizes all the woman Coleman.
Thank you Chairwoman and happy New Year everyone.
I do ask for this committee. Committee's favorable support.
Uh, this was one of the unfortunately, uh, businesses
that I inherited, uh, at 2019, had been closed for years
and, uh, just had not been a good steward in the community.
And, uh, former operators have now chosen to, uh,
purchase the property as well as the business has enhanced,
uh, have hired community members
and I asked for a favorable role call support.
Any questions? Alderman Gardner moves to pass.
All in favor, say aye. Any opposed?
And the opinion of the chairs, the ayes have it
and the motion is passed
and I would like to recognize Alderman Martin as part
of court's
It. Thank you.
Moving on to the fourth item oh 2 0 2 5 dash
0 2 1 3 26.
An amendment of municipal code section four dash
6 2 27
0.375 to allow additional alcoholic record license
on a portion of South Morgan Street in the 27th Ward.
Um, is staff from Alderman Burnett.
Thank you Madam Chair.
Uh, alderman Burnett approves of this item.
Could you just, uh, state your name please for the record?
My name is Marcellus Turner
and Alderman Burnett approves of this item.
Okay. Is there a, do you know if
there's a business coming in?
Do you have that information?
Uh, I'm not as, not at this time. I don't know per se.
Okay. Are there any questions?
Alderman Riley moves to pass. Um, all in favor say aye.
Any opposed? And the opinion
of the chairs, the ayes have it.
The motion is passed.
The fifth item on the agenda is oh 2 0 2 5 dash
0 2 1 6 9 9.
Amendment of the municipal code section four dash
6 3 8 2
to allow additional package, good license on portions
of North Milwaukee Avenue.
Is there somebody from, oh,
somebody from Alderman ADA's office?
Good afternoon, chairwoman Silverstein
and members of the Committee on
Licensed and Consumer Protection.
For the record, I'm Charles s Director of Policy
for Alderman Casada 35th Ward, uh, here today
to speak in support of this ordinance,
to lift the moratorium on packaged goods licenses on
Milwaukee Avenue between Kedzie and Kimball.
The purpose of this ordinance is to allow
for the establishment of a new grocery store with, uh,
packaged goods, uh, in line with our offices, uh, policies
and procedures on requests to lift moratoriums.
We, um, asked the applicants
to attend their local caps meeting
to present the proposal to the neighbors there.
And we conducted a, uh, survey through our newsletter
to gather feedback from neighbors.
Um, we, um, accepted feedback for two weeks.
The majority of the feedback we received
was in support of the proposal.
And so with that, I respectfully request your
favorable consideration of this item.
Thank you.
Any questions? Alderman? Wax back. Moves to pass.
All in favor, say aye. Any opposed?
And the opinion of the chairs the
ayes have at the motion is passed.
These six item is oh 2 0 2 5 dash
2 1 8 8 5.
An amendment of the municipal code section four dash six
zero to allow additional package good licenses on portions
of North Sheridan Road.
Um, in the 48th ward,
the chair recognizes all the women mono howorth.
Good afternoon chair and Committee on License
and Consumer Protection.
I'm here to speak on Hollywood Marketplace on, uh,
Sheridan at 57 0 1.
And this applicant was asked
to gather feedback from the community, including asco,
the Association of Sheridan, condo Owners,
and Hollywood Towers, and got good feedback
and we're working on a plan of operations.
So I ask this committee for favorable consideration
to lift the LI Moratorium.
Are there any questions? Moves to pass.
All in favor say aye.
Any opposed in the opinion of the chairs? The ayes have it.
The motion is passed. This concludes the agenda
of the committee on license.
The past matters will be reported as a re recommendation
to pass at the next city council on January 21st, 2026.
There being no further business before the committee.
Alderman Cardona Motions to adjourn hearing. No objection.
So ordered the meeting is adjourned.