Rock.
Why you think that's bear rot?
You talking about you worked with the game and balance?
How are you?
Uh,
yeah.
How's it going?
Just checking. Are we having problems with the,
um, streaming?
Because it's starting to act up.
I don't know if it's my phone or what.
I can't see anything, so I'm just stating.
Hi, alderman. It looks okay on my end,
but I'll take another look for you.
Okay. Then maybe I'll just resign in my,
my screen is all green and, and, um, blurry.
I signed down and signed back in. It's looking okay now.
Just waiting for get started.
Okay. Thank you.
Good afternoon. Committee on a budget
of government operations will come to order.
Um, we'll start with the roll call. Alderman Lasa.
Alderman do. Alderman Robinson. Alderman Yancy.
Alderman Mitchell. Alderman Harris. Alderman.
Bill Alderman Ramirez.
Alderman Quinn, Altman Lopez, Altman Moore.
Auman. Osha. Altman. Mosley. Altman Rodriguez. Alderman
Moore is on. Alderman Moore is online.
I got you. Gimme a second. Altman Scott. Che Lopez.
Altman. Burnett. Alderman. Patalia Farrell. Auman. Cardona.
Cardona. Alderman Rodriguez Sanchez.
Alderman Conway. Altman. Cazada. Altman. Viegas.
Altman. MITs Aldo Altman
Nugent Auman Vasquez.
Em N Napolitano, Alman.
Riley Auman, Knutson Alman.
Martin Alman, Manhattan. Alman Silverstein.
And, uh, chairman Irvin, vice chair.
Okay, we have a team members. We have a quorum.
Uh, we have Alders, uh, Harris Moore, mitts,
Napolitano and Knutson, uh,
who have signed up under provisions of Rule 59.
Is there a motion to accept those five individuals
for remote participation?
So move Baldman Martin. All in favor signify by saying aye.
Hey, chairman Poll, appear in the chair. Ayes have it.
And these als, uh, will be added to the role for, uh,
for virtual participation.
Alderman Harris, are you with us here? Altman Moore?
Yes. I, I'm here. Thank You. Alderman Mitts.
I'm here. Altman Napolitano. Present.
Altman Knudson. Altman Knudson.
Okay. Uh, we do have a quo. We're all here.
Chairman Altman Yancy's here too. Altman Yancy.
Uh, can we add motion
to add Altman Yancy under provision Rule 59 is a motion.
So moved. All in favor of signify by saying aye.
Any opposed? Appearing Chair Ayes Habit Alderman.
Rob, I'm sorry, alderman Yancy, you are, uh, virtually
with us, uh, approved under Provisions Rule 59.
Uh, now's the time for public comment.
We have two speakers for public comments.
Um, we have, um, Sandy Norman, followed by,
uh, George Blakemore.
You all may proceed.
Good morning everyone.
Um, much honor to you, alderman Irvin,
and to all the, um, chairman, uh,
well actually counsel here on today
and all the, um, organizations that are represented.
And so the reason why, um, I wanted to be a part of,
let me say my name is, uh, Dr.
Sandy a Norman, or Pastor Sandy, a Norman.
I am the founder of Life Beyond Limits Inc.
And I'm the di um, the director of Chain Breakers.
V-I-P-V-I-P stands for Violence Intervention and Prevention.
And so we, we are a community based, um, intervention, uh,
prevention team.
We have an initiative where we work on the south
and west side of the Chicago.
And so I don't come here
and say that I do violence prevention,
but you can actually see me in action.
I invite you guys to, uh, to come out
and that's one of the reasons why I'm here.
I want to say, um, to all of you that, you know,
when we deem, um, violence intervention as a, um,
a health crisis, I'm in agreement with that.
But I also wanna say
that not only is it a a public health crisis,
it's a systematic crisis
because the very people that I wanna say
that should be getting the funding, um, people like myself
that are grassroot, um, organizations that are actually, um,
on the street doing the work, a lot of times, uh,
the funding is misappropriated
and the funding is not getting to us.
And so we provide street outreach, we do crisis response
to shooting trauma informed engagements, uh, mentorship.
In fact, you know, we had killings if you saw the
news on last night.
So this is a, a very, the subject, again, it's not something
that I come to, um, you know, just to come to,
to talk about, but it's something that I actually see.
And when people, you know,
give you a life expectancy based on the neighborhood
that you live in, you know that that is a problem
that needs to be corrected.
And so I wanna say, um, again, I'm asking that, you know,
some, the funding, uh,
that you guys take a look at this budget, um, there due,
it needs to be oversight.
Um, when we talk about fiscal, you know, um, those audits,
a lot of people are not gonna wanna do the audits
because again, there are organizations
that do the work out there,
but let's not overlook the ones that don't.
And this is one of the reasons why I'm here.
And so my prayer is that, um, even as you,
we talk about this budget that you guys be, uh, mindful
that we do need funding for violence intervention,
but that funding should not only just go to larger, um,
organization who monopolize
and who gatekeep all the funding.
And again, this is not just a public health crisis,
this is a systematic, um, crisis.
Because the thing that we really need
to start asking ourselves is do we really want this
violence, uh, to really stop?
Or are we just interested in money, you know,
flowing while we have young black men
that are dying on the street,
like someone just got killed last night.
And so I'm bringing this to your attention.
I'm asking you all to include, uh,
smaller organizations like Life Beyond Limit Inc.
Chain Breakers, VIP
Thank, thank you for your comments.
Uh, pastor Norman, we want to add the alderman, uh, Mosley
and Robinson, uh, to the corn, uh, for the purposes of corn.
Mr. Blakemore, you may proceed.
Thank you. And I don't see your lottery
and you begin to be a little more civil.
You know, you are black and you know,
your award is predominantly black
and you have a, a no economic development in your world.
You go out on Madison Pulaski,
you see every ethnic group selling,
and you see your people buying,
you know about the food deserts
all then all of them move out.
Please sir, embrace your blackness.
Embrace your blackness.
I think that you basic, uh, our young men
and women are basically good people.
We old ones, we old ones have dropped the ball.
Ed Smith, these old hustlers
have watch, uh, the young ones watch the old ones
and then the, the, the young ones become old hustlers.
Your example was bad. You had a bad example.
So the reason we don't progress is, is
because our background,
my background is different from yours.
I was brought up in Fort Worth, Texas in a ghetto,
but our ghetto wasn't like your ghetto.
We had Black Wall Street, we had black business people.
So you and I are are, are cut off a, a,
a, a different pattern.
You black like me, your hair is nasty like mine,
but your environment was toxic.
You were probably a great man, but you came under Ed Smith
and, and these other shysters,
old hustlers from the west side influenced you.
Basically. That's why we always have dropped the ball.
Old Catfish or whatever his name out there on Madison,
all these old hustlers influenced you.
You was a, a young man and you are a gifted man,
but you had bad role models.
And it is time for you to change. Now.
It is time for you to become great now
because you are a black man.
You and you, you have that greatness in your DNA.
You can change your ghetto communities.
You can change Madison and philosophy. You can do it.
I know you can do it. Just do it.
Just do it. So it's time for you to cut all these old ties
with these old black hustlers
that you came up under as a young man.
You were young, gifted and black,
but you came under the domination of old black Huff.
Thank, thank you for your comments Mr. Blakemore.
The committee will now, uh, vote
to approve the monthly Rule 45 report for December,
covering meetings on the 17th, 22nd
and 29th, which were
transmitted electronically to all members.
Uh, can we get a motion to accept?
So move Alderman Rodriguez al in favor
signify by saying aye.
Any opposed? Independent says aye Ha. Ayes have it.
Okay, so item number, uh, two, one and two.
Uh, we'll move to consider those items
to serve Merrill appointments for the Chicago Library Board.
Uh, both are with us today, Jacqueline Rosa
and, uh, JD Van Sly.
Uh, both are with us. They're gonna give, uh,
opening statements in which we would then, uh,
go into a Q and A period.
So, uh, who's gonna go first? Alright, go ahead.
Uh, Ms. Rosa,
hold on.
They're gonna turn your mic on.
Is it working now? Oh, there we go. There you go. Okay.
Wonderful. Good afternoon,
chairman Irvin and members of the committee.
My name is Jackie Rosa.
I'm a proud Chicagoan, born and raised,
and I'm honored to be here today for consideration
for the appointment of the Chicago Public Library Board.
I began my career shortly
after college as a librarian assistant
and Outof school time coordinator at Sullivan
High School in Rogers Park.
While I grew up using my local library,
it was working directly with young people in a school
and library setting that showed me
how critical libraries are as safe spaces.
I saw students thrive through access
to books in enrichment programs
and trusted adults, often in environments
where they had few other supports.
There is a quote by Andrew Carnegie that says,
A library outranks any other one thing a community can do
to benefit its people.
That belief has guided much of my nearly 20 years
of work in nonprofit leadership, philanthropy,
and public service, focusing on strengthening public
institutions and community-based resources.
Today as vice president
of strategic initiatives at United Way of Metro Chicago,
I provide strategic oversight to 2 1 1
of Metro Chicago support board governance
and lead cross sector initiatives
that bring together government, philanthropy,
and community partners to address issues like housing
instability, access to services, and basic needs.
Previously serving as the,
as overseeing community engagement for the city of Chicago,
I oversaw citywide engagement strategies,
resident led budget process,
and co-governance models that ensured community voices
to shape public policy decisions and multiple departments.
That role reinforced the importance of transparency,
accountability, and accessible civic institutions.
Throughout my career in United Way in government
and earlier in Mikva Challenge, I have worked
to elevate community voice steward public resources
responsibly, and build partnerships
that strengthen neighborhoods.
These values closely align with the mission
of the Chicago Public Library.
As a mother raising two sons in Chicago,
I am deeply grateful
for the library's programming from U Media,
Lego Club, and Summer Reading.
My children are direct beneficiaries
of the inclusive high quality services
that make our libraries true community anchors.
I am excited about the opportunity
to serve on the Chicago Public Library Board
and bring my experience in governance, community engagement,
and cross-sector collaboration to this role.
I look forward to helping ensure our libraries remain safe,
accessible, and welcoming spaces for all.
Chicagoans. I'm happy to answer any questions
and thank you for your time in consideration.
Thank you. Uh, thank you Ms. Rosa.
Also want to add, uh, alderman Scott, uh, to, uh,
to our, uh, quorum.
Um, next we'll have, uh, Mr. Van Sly.
All right, chair and members of the committee, thank you
so much for the opportunity to be here today.
My name is JD Vanslyke
and I'm honored to be considered for this appointment
to the Chicago Public Library Board.
Um, while libraries have been constant throughout every
chapter of my life, um, uh, during adulthood,
my understanding of what libraries are
and what they can be took on new dimensions.
From 2018 to 2024, I worked for the City of Chicago
focusing, um, on community engagement education
and human services initiatives.
During that time, CPL was an invaluable partner As libraries
across the city became heating
and cooling centers, trusted sites for the 2020 census
through Chicago's complete count committee, safe Spaces
for Teens, a welcoming place for new arrivals
and community anchors during COVID.
Um, in fact, when I served on the city's racial equity rapid
response team during the first years of COVID-19,
the Hare Washington Library's Winter Garden literally became
my workplace as the city's COVID-19 Operation Center.
And my current work, um, in the private sector,
I focus on strengthening civic partnerships
and working across institutions to connect people,
which I hope to use to help Chicago Public Library
and its branches thrive.
I'm so excited about what comes next, including the opening
of the Obama Presidential Library, CPLs new strategic plan
and opportunities to strengthening, strengthen programming
that resonates with all Chicagoans.
I hope to support libraries as safe, welcoming spaces
for young people and strong partners
with community organizations
that help residents access services, resources,
and connections close to home.
Thank you all so much for considering my appointment
to serve on the Chicago Public Library Board
during all the exciting things that'll come next.
Thank you. Uh, Mr.
Van Slake also add Altman Conway to the, uh, quorum.
Any questions for the two, uh, two nominees?
Oh, uh, alt Chairman Dow, followed by, uh, Altman Spotter.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, just a quick question.
First I want to thank, uh, John Dale Van, like,
and Jacqueline Rosa for putting themselves out here
to serve on the Chicago Library Board.
Um, Ms. Rosa, just a question for you.
To your knowledge, does United Way, which, um,
you were affiliated with fund any initiatives
of the Chicago Public Library?
No. United Way does not fund any
initiatives of Chicago Public Library.
All right. Thank you very much.
That's the only question I have.
Thank Chair, uh, Altman Spaa.
Hey, thank you so much, chair.
Um, Ms. Rosa, we got got a chance to at least
text a couple nights ago,
and we're gonna have a chance to have a longer conversation.
JD, it's great to meet you.
I feel like it's, we probably met in the past, given
how long you've been working here,
apologies for that statement.
Um, but I, I love your work.
I, I appreciate your commitment to stand up in
this time for our libraries.
I feel like libraries are both
evolving and I think have never been more essential in like,
our society's fight against misinformation in a society that
has to rediscover what curiosity looks like.
I think that's what a library is.
And so your willingness
to step up in leadership in this space,
I think is really encouraging.
Uh, I got a chance to ask Jackie this question.
JD I'll ask you actually the same question.
When you think about the books that you've read
and how they intersect with your work, could you share
with us a book that inspires you, that informs
and illuminates the work that you do? Oh my gosh.
Oh, wow. What a question. Geez.
Um, right now I'm reading a book called, uh, brainstorming
and it's about the adolescent brain.
And I, I do that as, as as a parent, um, of an adolescent.
But you know, also, um,
because I'm passionate working with young people.
And so, um, I think just understanding all the opportunities
that are, are possible as, um, adolescents brains are,
are developing, um, is gives me a lot of hope.
Would you send that on, uh, text me,
text me the author as well. I'd appreciate it. Yeah.
You got it. Thank You, sir. Yeah, thank you. Chair.
Thank all to Mr. Pdo. Oh geez. Come on, man.
What? No, he, he had his, I said thank you
and then I, I went to Alderman Psdo.
Oh, you're, no, I, I, yeah.
He's thanking you now. He's calling on me. Alright.
Yeah. That's all. Okay. I thought it, I thought it was,
I know we're so used to them mixing us
up 'cause we have so much in common.
I thought he was doing it again. Sorry, sir. No problem.
Thank you, chairman. Uh, I don't have a question.
Just a comment. Just wish you both the best.
You have my support. I even pre Alderman, I've always felt,
uh, always felt like as a kid growing up at a park,
I always refer to myself as a park grant.
I always felt parks and schools
and libraries are huge to our communities.
So, uh, you know, thanks for stepping up
and doing this and I just wanna wish you the best.
So thank you very much. Thank you, chairman. Thank you.
Thank you. Uh, any other, uh, questions for our nominees?
Okay. Altman Silverstein,
Thank you. And I wanna
thank both of you also for stepping Up.
Um, JD is a member of the 50th Ward, so, um,
really happy to have you on board.
As we discussed yesterday, um,
the Northtown Library is amazing.
Um, and that, you know, I just wanna stress the importance
of, um, language availability since the 50th Ward is one
of the most diverse wards in the city of Chicago,
being a safe haven
and, um, being, having access to everybody in the community.
So, good luck and thank you so much. Thank you.
Thank you. And again, uh, I had an opportunity to meet
with the, uh, two of them.
Uh, I only downside, they're both Cubs fans,
but, uh, that's a, that's a whole nother conversation.
But, uh, be that as it may, uh, we will still, uh,
move them forward in the process.
So, uh, Alman Robert, you have motion?
Yeah, I was gonna ask about their
Bears fandom, but move through. Pass. Oh,
Well, everybody's a Bears fan.
At least they should be. Oh, everybody's always a Bears fan.
All in favor signify by saying Aye.
The opposed independent chair Ayes habit.
This matter will be reported out at our city council meeting
on January 21st.
Did I see a hand back there? Uh, chairman do.
Oh. Oh, okay. Oh, okay.
Bear that auto new. Oh, okay. I thought you had a question.
Okay. Alright. Now we consider item number three,
which is a communication recommending the adoption
of an annual annual appropriation ordinance.
Year 2026 Amendment within Fund 9 2 9.
Um, you guys ready?
Hello, uh, my name's Claire Beza.
I'm with the Office of Budget
and Management, uh, for the annual Ordinance Amendment
for 9 2 5.
Today's department, we'll be reviewing our,
the Chicago Police Department, the Office
of Emergency Management Communication,
the Chicago Fire Department, department of Cultural Affairs
and Special Events, and the Department of Housing
and the Department of Family and Support Services.
The total appropriation request is for $9,878,000.
Uh, to start, it will be with the Department of Housing,
which has been awarded Federal pass
through grant funds in the amount of $4 million
by the United or by the Illinois Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity
for the Economic Development Initiative
and Community Project, uh, funding grant.
Next is for the Department of Cultural Affairs
and Special Events, which has been awarded additional
private grant funds in the amount of $750,000
by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation
for the Chicago Torture Justice Memorial.
The following is for the Department of Family
and Support Services, which is an awarded private grant
funds in the amount of $2 million
by the Chicago Community Trust
for the Cross Community Impact Chicago Forever Program.
The following is for the, uh, Chicago Police Department,
which has been awarded state grant funds, uh, in the amount
of $426,000 by the Illinois State Police
for the Floyd Revocation Enforcement Program.
The next is for the Office of Emergency Management
and Communication, which has been awarded state grant funds
in the amount of $500,000
by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency
for the Preparedness and Response par program.
Uh, and last but not least is the Chicago Fire Department,
which has been awarded federal grant funds in the amount
of $2,202,000 by the United States Department
of Homeland Security for the
assistance to Firefighter Grant.
Thank you, deputy Director.
Uh, any questions related to the 9 2 5 Amendment? Ottman V.
Thank you Mr. Chairman. Um, just wanted
to get a little bit more information around the, um,
department of Housing, um, uh, federal Pass
through grant funding program.
I see that this is an additional 4 million.
It was curious as to what the current seven, uh,
plus how it's being utilized.
The, uh, you're asking about the pa the original 7 million
plus to $4 million that is being added.
He's trying to get some understanding of the nature
of the program and what it's, uh, what it's doing.
Ho ho hold on. Your mic is not on.
Can you hear me? There we go. There you go.
For the record, uh,
Meredith Muir with the Department of Housing.
So the additional $4 million was, uh, a grant award
that we won through a competitive process with DCEO
where they were awarding funds to support, uh, projects
that were in the development process
to establish non congregate shelter.
As the city was already, uh, doing that development work,
we applied for the funding and were awarded it.
The award notice came in last year,
but we had to go through several due diligence processes
to process the grant funding.
Um, and we expect to be able
to leverage the funds this year, um, to support the last two
of the non congregate shelter acquisition projects
that are in process right now.
One in the 26th Ward and one in the 21st Ward.
Um, the original 7 million.
Thank you. So I think the 7 million is actually a reference
to funding that has come from the state
to the city.
And so it's actually funding that has goes to an array
of different DOH programs.
So the 7 million is not related to the 4 million.
The original funding for the non congregate shelter program,
uh, is through the, uh,
Chicago Recovery Plan bond funds for $30 million.
And so there's 4 million adds to that to allow for us
to finish the last couple of projects.
Okay. Cool. Any other questions?
Okay. Is there a motion? So
moved by Chairman Dowell.
All in favor? Second of all by saying aye. Any opposed?
Independent chairs of ayes have in this matter will be
reported out at our next City council meeting on the 21st.
Uh, item number four is a cleanup
from, um, I think from, uh, I think Alderman, uh,
vice Chair Lee and Alderman, uh, OSHA had regarding,
uh, violence prevention.
There was also an additional component added, uh,
I think a move of a position, uh, by the department.
Uh, deputy director.
Uh, yes. So, I'm sorry, Jonathan is not here. Okay.
So this is to move funding from the, uh,
or move funding from the Violence
and Reduction Program
to the Community Violence Intervention Program
and then move a person from the Department
of Environment back to the, um,
Chicago Public Department of Public Health.
Okay. Any questions? Question,
Chairman? Yeah,
just, uh, could the, the second one, the
position was moved from where to where?
Uh, it was originally budgeted in the Department
of Environment and it is moving back
to the Department of Public Health.
Okay, thank you. Yep.
Any other questions? There is a motion moved through pass
by Alderman Cazada.
All in favor signify by saying aye.
Any opposed any opinion of the chairs?
A have And this will be reported out at our
meeting on the 21st.
The last two items we have substitutes for, uh, these are
transfers for Ward 16 and 39.
Is there a motion to accept the substitute?
So, move Autum and Scott,
all in favor signify by saying Aye.
Any opposed? Appear
that Chair ayes have it in the
substitutes and not before us.
We'll take items five
and six together, which are transfers, uh, within the, uh,
automatic allowance, uh, allowance, expense allowance,
and automatic wage accounts for the 16th
and 39th awards for years 2025.
Um, is their motion moved through pass Baldman
because, uh, alderman Car Cardona, uh,
all in favor signify by saying aye.
Any opposed any opinion of the chair? The ayes have it.
Uh, gimme one second before we, uh, adjourn.
Uh, gimme one second.
Oh. With, with no further business
before the committee, we entertain a motion to adjourn.
So move Alderman oe Alderman.
Alderman Quinn Al in favor signify by saying, I, we ajour.