Good morning, members of the city council.
The meeting will begin shortly.
Please remember to log into your devices. Thank you. I
Good morning, members of the city council.
The meeting will begin shortly.
Please remember to log into your devices. Thank you.
Good morning. The council will come to order.
Madam Clerk, please take a quorum roll call.
The quorum is now open. The quorum is now open.
Please use the eev. The quorum is now open.
I will not take a voice vote
that has not used the Eev device.
Alderman LaSpada. LaSpada is present.
Alderman Hopkins. Hopkins is not present in chambers.
Alderwoman Dow. Oh, Hopkins is present in chambers.
Alderman Dow is present in chambers. Alderman Robinson.
Robinson not present in chambers.
Alderman Hall Hall is not present in chambers.
Alderman Mitchell. Mitchell is not present in chambers.
Alderman Beal. Beal is present in chambers.
Alderman Lee Lee is present in chambers.
Alderwoman Ramirez, not present in chambers.
Alderwoman Coleman not present in chambers. Alderman Moore.
Alderman Moore is present. Alderman Curtis.
Curtis is present. Alderman Osha. OSHA is present.
Alderwoman tab Baras not present in chambers.
Alder person, Fuentes present in chambers.
Alderman Burnett Burnett present in chambers.
Alderwoman Cruz Cruz present in chambers.
Um, alderman Wapac. Wapac is present in chambers.
Alderman Ada Keda is present in chambers.
Alderwoman mitts. Mitts is present in chambers.
Alderman Sato Sato is present in chambers.
Alderman Vasquez present virtually.
Oh, I'll come back to you Alderman.
Uh, not present in chambers. Alderman Riley.
Riley is present in chambers. Alderman Lawson.
Lawson is present in chambers. Alderman Gardner.
Gardner is not present in chambers. Alderwoman Clay.
Clay is present in chambers.
Alder woman, Mona Howorth not present in chambers.
Alderwoman Hadden Hadden is present.
You're mayor. We are, your honor. We have a quorum.
Very well. There are 41 members present.
Uh, quorum has been established for reason stated
in Rule 59.
The following members have requested to participate
in today's meeting remotely.
Alders Ramirez, Cole Coleman, tabes, mana,
Haworth and Vasquez.
Madam Clerk, could you confirm their attendance online?
Alderwoman Ramirez. Present Ramirez is present.
Alderwoman Coleman Present.
Coleman is present. Alderwoman Tabes.
Present to borrows is present. Alderman Vasquez present.
Vasquez is present. Elder
or per older woman, Mount Haworth Present.
Mount Haworth is present very
Well. All members have
confirmed their partic
their presence online.
All those in favor of the motion. I'm sorry.
Can I get a motion for the approval of those members?
Very well. It's been moved.
All those in favor signified by saying aye.
Any opposed, say nay.
And the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.
Please add those following members
who have verbally confirmed their presence remotely
as a part of the quorum roll call.
Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge allegiance
To the flag of the United States of America
and to the republic.
For Richard stands, one Nation, nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice. All
Thank you. Please remain
standing for our invocation,
which will be delivered this morning
by Reverend Stephen Thurston II from New Covenant
Missionary Baptist Church.
Let us pray. Gracious God, we gather in this chamber
where decisions are made not in isolation, but in echoes.
We recognize that decisions made today will reverberate
through classrooms not yet built.
Your neighborhood's not yet imagined
and lives not yet born Grantee's, leader's wisdom
that runs deeper than consistent consensus.
Wisdom rooted in conscience in moments when political
pressure whispers in one direction
and their moral compass points.
Another. Straighten them to trust their inner north star.
But Lord remind them that this compass points not just
to principle, but to people.
Help them lead with emotional intelligence and open hearts
and set up situations.
God, where the adversary across the aisle who's carrying
wounds we don't even see to transitions into an ally.
I ask that you'd employ grace
to foster understanding, to crack open.
What argument never could bless this
service and their sacrifice.
Sustain their mental health during the seasons
of criticism and critique.
Guide them through this sacred complexity
of serving the 2.7 million residents whose lives they shape
with every vote, every moment of courage
as they deliberate and decide today.
Remind them that they represent possibilities,
that they carry forth the dreams of those
who built this city and the hopes
of those who will inherit it.
God, thank you for making Chicago the best
freaking city in the world.
Now help us prove it through our words
and our works today. Amen.
Amen. Thank you. You may be seated.
All right. This is the portion
of the meeting for public comments.
Mr. Clerk.
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 automatic review.
Our first speaker this morning is Sam Toya.
Please press star six to mute.
We can hear you. Welcome.
Alright. Good morning, members of the City Council.
I'm Sam Toya, president
and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association.
I'm here today to express my support
for the proposed ordinance regarding hemp products.
I'd like to start off by thanking Alder Quinn
for bringing the hospitality industry
to the table on this matter.
All we say, I'd rather be at the table than on the menu.
He worked with us to craft an ordinance
that benefits all parties under this ordinance, bars
and restaurants will still be allowed
to serve hemp beverages.
Well, hemp sales will be restricted to those 21 and older.
We're keeping hemp out of the hands
of children while preserving an important source of revenue.
For many members of the hospitality industry,
this is especially important
as our industry has struggled in the last few years.
Wholesale food prices have increased 38% since the pandemic
and labor costs are up 35%.
According to the Wall Street
Journals, there were more there.
More restaurant bankruptcy in 2024 than any year since 2020.
And in Chicago 496 restaurants closed in the first half
of 2025 alone.
These closures affect more than just business owners.
They're also hurting service bartenders, cooks, busters,
everyone who plays a role in the hospitality industry due
to surging costs, many restaurants
and buyers have been forced to cut employees shifts,
introduce new technology that reduces the need for employees
or even layoff workers, entirely allowing restaurant
and borrowers to keep a lucrative source of revenue.
Especially as people are ordering fewer alcohol,
drinks keeps owners from having
to make these tough decisions.
Having hemp beverages on the menu made it be defining factor
that allows the borrow a restaurant to keep its stores open
and its workers employees throughout our 77 communities.
I would also like to thank Alder Quinn for the guardrails
that will ensure these drinks are limited
to those ages 21 and older.
We don't wanna see hemp beverages ending up in the hands
of children or teens, restaurants and bars.
Staff are already well trained at carting patrons
who wanna purchase alcohol.
And we're ready to do the same thing with hemp beverages.
This ordinance preserves a crucial source of revenue
for good actors while also making sure kids can't have a
hold of hemp beverages.
For that reason, I encourage members
of city council vote yes on this ordinance.
Thank you.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Arnold Bradford.
Good morning City Council. Good morning, mayor Johnson.
My name is Arnold Bradford in the
neighborhood they call me Mr.
B. I'm an active senior, currently serving
as executive director of the Crossroads Collaborative
and as a member of the South Works Coalition,
as a resident of the South Chicago community
and the 10th Ward, I'm here to ask the Chicago City Council
and my alderman Peter Chico
to support a community benefits agreement.
We want this agreement for the South Chicago community
because of the contamination
and the work being done at the former US Steel
site on the lakefront.
Our coalition currently supports clean development on
that site and we've been doing it for over a decade.
But without resident displacement,
we don't wanna lose our homes
because we can't pay our bills.
I think most of you understand that bills are going up,
taxes are going up.
You know it. We don't
want resident displacement.
We don't want increased electric bills, utility bills.
We don't want increases in our data rates
'cause that's coming and they
haven't told you the whole story.
Now let me just say one more thing. I have a list of things.
It's so long I didn't bring it with me,
but I just have a few bullet points.
If you bear with me. We are asking you, that's the council
and our other elected official to protect us from a century
of accumulated poisons and pollutants.
You say, wait a minute. Now the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency's already doing that for you.
Oh no, they, they passed the buck
because you are the ones that do permitting.
You are the ones that control construction in this city
and you've been doing it since I was a baby.
So let's get on it. I'm sorry,
I sometimes I get a little excited.
Mayor, we want you
to monitor the fast track permitting process,
the construction process.
You know what fast track means? Somebody slipped it through.
You understand that. We know it's important to the state.
We agree with that.
It is important, but let's do it the right way
to protect our children, families,
and adjacent neighborhoods, schools and parks.
We wanna do that for them near our quantum site.
The quantum site, for those that you don't know, it's
between 79th and the and the Calumet River.
It's a huge site. It's gonna affect all of us.
It's on the late people.
And we want you to protect our health.
Don't we have a health department here?
We want you to watch and observe and monitor.
We found as residents fugitive dust
being produced by the construction.
Thank you very much for your comments. Our next
Speaker this morning is Zoe Lee.
Happy New Year. Um,
my birthday is Friday Aquarius season.
I just came back from um, Atlanta. That's where I came from.
You know, where I started this fight.
Be with my friends and uh, I was at this event
and a couple of our guys was like, yo,
y'all may are doing good.
And I'm like, Brendan Johnson, you know,
and I had to like break it down to him.
But for me to come back
and you banned my whole group, except for me
for 60 days is wild
because I wanna know why
December 11th, 2025.
'cause we're in a 0.1 what? $1.5 billion deficit.
So I decided to tell my homeboy like, anyway,
you gave Trinity United
Church Childcare Center,
$16.5 million.
Then when I started going
and looking, it's like 4 million,
5 million, 6 million, 9 million.
But property taxes is through the roof.
People are losing their properties,
they're losing their equity in their properties.
All of this. And y'all keep talking about Trump.
Trump don't got nothing to do with you giving that money
to Trinity United Church Childcare Centers.
We cannot pay taxes.
I wouldn't pay no tax, honestly, like even the little taxes
that they have like on a receipt, I just get a guess.
Get a restaurant cash
because we need a forensic audit.
Okay? We need the Department of Justice
to come in here, okay?
Because you have a spending problem.
Well, you have a stealing problem and the, and the,
and the legislative body.
Y'all let it happen. 'cause y'all stealing too.
And then y'all can't tell on nobody
'cause y'all do stuff like what Michael Scott Jr.
Just did to Andre Smith.
Y'all are like, y'all just, it's just sad.
You know what I'm saying? Like, it's just sad.
I said that for my new year. I wasn't gonna curse.
Like I'm like, I I'm not drinking no more.
So I'm not gonna do that anymore.
But I just want, I just had to let Atlanta know that you
are a 6.6 mayor, okay?
And they also are losing.
So Andre doing something wrong down there too.
'cause y'all like this.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is John Strat.
Um, thank you very much for listening.
Uh, what I have to say, millions of words.
Uh, basically what I'm proposing is that I've been in, uh,
software for 62 years.
I started programming the day
after Kennedy got shot 30 years ago.
My partner and I, uh, Paul Esco, who's now deceased, uh,
founded Kognito Incorporated, which was an AI
company far beyond what we have today, as a matter of fact,
but not for PCs.
I've worked with software for in the city, uh, and voting
and census, uh, in a lot
of different government departments.
Folks, this is 2 20 25.
What I propose to do is set up the ai.
So it's like a little Pacman jump, jump, jump, jump, jump.
It speaks 192 languages plus
all the software languages.
So if I tell my little Pacman, translate this into Java
or whatever, it'll do that.
And within a very short period of time, the whole
software systems will be redesigned into a unified set.
I have it all defined in this book.
I published from Dystopia to Utopia.
It's at Barnes and Noble and on Amazon.
And it's also my life story as to how I learned,
what I learned and why I learned.
The whole idea is that we're all one family,
whether we like it or not.
I traveled the world and I know that if I got cut in Africa
and I needed a blood, I would never ask
whoever donated the blood to replenish me
what color their skin was.
Folks we're all blood brothers
and sisters, whether we like it or not.
It's a stupid ego attitude.
The gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme the fear fearful one
that they're gonna lose something they never owned.
None of us own anything.
As soon as you say you own something, it actually owns you,
your spirit, part of your spirit.
You give it up in order to say, I own that folks,
we're all one big, beautiful picture.
DaVinci said it, learn
to see everything is connected.
The love of karma. As Isaac Newton is saying,
for a reaction, there's an equal and opposite reaction.
Let's throw out some compassion.
Let's throw out some love out there.
Let's pick up a homeless person for a Sunday dinner.
Give of yourself. You'll, you'll gather much,
much more than you ever imagined.
That's my message.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Prosperity Group.
Thank you.
Hello. And I'm gonna jump right in.
This is for you Brandon Johnson, Isaiah 10 and one.
Woe to those of you who enact unjust decrees
and write grievous laws that were not
given by God.
Think about it. Your executive orders
and all these other things that you do out of spite
to hurt the American citizens,
preventing us from getting our federal funding from
Donald J. Trump to give
to the illegal aliens, the ones
that you won't call out when you went down
to Washington DC when all of those congressmen called out
that name and you said, not a word, just sat there
with your mouth muted.
Interesting. But then you can jump on one
of the journalists, Mark Armstrong for saying that word.
Interesting. You pick and choose who you wanna jump on.
Do you? Okay, and let's go now to my next bullet point.
Alderman Hall, though none of you all accept that agreement
that he wants to sign into, uh, a ordinance for giving laws,
fines and fees to the social media platforms
because he outright didn't tell the truth.
He started off talking about the black communities
and saying that the money was for them,
but then he didn't wanna appropriate it directly for
that funding and said, it's for all lies.
Tired of the lies.
That's what frustrates me watching this BS go on down here.
And no one that has a right mind
will generally have to say too much
because they might get punished.
We know all of you who do stand up
and we know all of you who don't.
Your names are on the list of the dos and the don't.
So don't think we don't know, but you who stand up for us.
Thank you. For those of you who don't get a life, get out
of the position, get outta your
roles 'cause you're not needed.
Now let's also go to, um, my next point
that you black people who are still on the plantation,
I'm just gonna bring it to you.
Y'all need to get a life, get your new master, a God
and not man who runs your life
because you need to understand where you gonna have
to answer to when it comes to the end.
For those of you who turn on us,
who are black Americans calling yourselves the
tethers of this world.
Forget you all because we don't need any of you.
So I'm just gonna keep it real with all of you.
You all need to get this stuff cleaned up down here
because it is raunchy.
$200 million, two illegal aliens to service them.
Brandon Johnson, with property taxes hitting the black
communities south and the west side.
Oh, you will have to answer to that to God.
I'm letting you know that you heard it.
It's gonna be recorded, documented,
and play back by the time you go to answer to Judgment day.
Have a good
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next, our next speaker,
Thank you, sir, would ask
that you refrain from the outbursts.
Sergeant at arms please restore order
And no one
and no one standing.
Want, want, want it Now.
If, if you continue to make an outburst, I'm gonna ask
that you be removed as well.
Thank you for restoring order.
The sergeant at arms chair, clerk, please continue.
Our next speaker this morning is Life Beyond Limits, Inc.
God bless everyone. I wanna honor you, mayor Johnson.
I honor, uh, the council on today
and I honor all of the, um, organizations
that I represented.
I wanna say to the, uh, council on this morning,
and I wanna just dispel the myth of black people are angry.
What we just saw was a black
mother that's hurting.
I had a teacher by the name of Lou Meyers, who was one
of the best, uh, civil rights attorney of our time.
And one of the things that he taught me, he said,
laws are made for the people who make them.
And, and nothing ever happens until it happens
to the people who make the law.
And so Mayor Johnson, there was something that stood out
to me that you said, you talked about my condolences to you,
but you talked about having a brother by the name of Leon
and you talked about how the funding was cut, um,
from the federal level.
You talked about mental health and addiction.
Well, I wanna say to you, just as you have a brother
by the name of Leon, I have a brother by the name of Kevin
and he died from Fentanyl.
So when I'm out in the street advocating, you know,
for the things that we have going on in our community, it's
because just like you, I'm out there
and I see the real issues of the people
that are hurting in our community.
We just had a young lady over in Woodlawn, a mother
of five shot in the, in an alley.
We just had a, a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King.
I wanna say to the council, I know
that Dr. King probably would be proud
that we have a black mayor, that we have a, a black, uh,
cook County president over the board,
that we have a black police chief, uh, that we have all
of these, uh, different black aldermen
and all of churches on every corner,
really in our communities that are black.
But I think that he would not be happy with all
of the violence, the murders, the shootings,
and even when we have things going on in our community,
where's the outcry?
Where are the pastors
and leaders that get all of this funding?
They come and they're, you know, they have,
they sit on boards, they have all
of these connections to you.
But when all of this stuff is going on in our communities,
where are the pastors and the leaders?
They are nowhere to be found.
I can't even count on my hand, 10 churches
where we have pastors
and leaders that actually go in the community
where these young men are in poverty killing each other
to really bring about solutions.
And so I'm saying to you, as I've been saying, uh,
as I come here, you have author.
I mean, you have a lot of pool.
As the mayor, we can bring truces to the city of Chicago.
I think that you can make one phone call,
you can call G Herbo.
You probably can call Oprah Winfrey.
I see all of these people that come
and they get the red carpet treatment.
Uh, mayor Johnson, they take pictures
with you when it benefit them.
But where are these people when we have all of this violence
and killing going on in our communities?
And so it just, it, it is time for change.
We gotta change the system because the system is flawed.
And I say this respectively to you.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker this morning is Esme Marcos.
Good morning everyone. My name is Esme.
I'm proud to be part of Tiva Cafe
where I've dedicated the last two years promoting the
benefits of hemp in our city.
We provide a safe space for adults
to explore hemps benefits,
helping our customers and community thrive.
When I joined Tiva, I was homeless, sleeping on couches,
and prior to that, I was sleeping in
a tent in a forest preserve.
I was excited to be part of an innovative
and sustainable business, not only to serve my community,
but to help rebuild my life.
However, recent developments have put all of that at risk.
Alderman and Marty Quinn has introduced a new ordinance
that rather than genuinely regulating
seems to be a power grab.
Many remember Mr. Quinn's history dating back
to the Mike Madigan days a time filled
with questionable decisions.
This ordinance is presented as a means of safety,
but feels like a way to control our industry.
The heavy restrictions threatened
to stifle local businesses like ours
and local livelihoods like mine,
prioritizing power over support.
Instead of fostering responsible practices,
it creates fear and barriers.
I urge all you to stand with me, TIVA Cafe
and the rest of our industry.
Let's push back against the misuse of power
and advocate for fair regulations
that truly support our community and entrepreneurs.
Together we can ensure our voices are heard
and our stories are acknowledged.
We deserve an industry that thrives, not one stifled
by political maneuvering.
Thank you for your time and support.
Thank you. Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Glenn Mcg Elfish,
Mayor Johnson, alderman Quinn
and others of the city Council.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak today.
My name is Glenn Mcal and I'm the CEO of Ply,
a Chicago based hemp beverage company.
A co-founder of Perfectly Dosed the leading hemp beverage
ingredient company, also based in Chicago
and a board member of the Hemp Beverage Alliance.
And perhaps most importantly,
I'm also a proud resident of the 50th Ward.
I'm here today to show my strong support
for Alderman Quinn's Hemp Regulation Ordinance.
I'm deeply grateful for, to Alderman Quinn
and the city council for creating a pathway
for responsible hemp beverage businesses like ply
and perfectly dosed to operate in Chicago while putting an
end to the unsafe hemp products found across the city.
This ordinance is a step forward for Chicago.
I'm happy to be a resource for anyone on the council
and I deeply appreciate the opportunity to testify today.
I respectfully encourage all of you
to vote yes on Alderman Quinn's ordinance today.
Thank you Alderman Quinn, thank you
to the council and thank you Mayor Johnson.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker this morning is George Blakemore.
Listen to the speakers
and I say, now what are you going to speak on Mr.
Blakemore? You deserve the government.
You get all you black ones deserve,
the government you get.
You deserve the ghetto.
You deserve, uh, uh, your people, uh, uh, youth,
12 years in school and reading on a fourth grade level.
You deserve these no good black altimas.
You deserve these no good white altars.
You deserve the Hispanic and the Asian Alt you deserve.
What, what you get.
You deserve a non-functional government here.
You deserve that.
So you getting exactly what you deserve or outrage or,
or something stinks here.
Something is funky here. Something is un-American here.
Maybe it's America.
This country was built on fighting and, and, and misery
and pain of the black man, the black man
and the black woman was enslaved in America.
So, uh, uh, if I ancestors could see us right today,
we deserve this.
You deserve these bigay white men telling you what to do.
You deserve being in slavery.
You deserve a corrupt, uh, uh, uh, government.
You deserve a, a full desert.
You deserve no economic development.
So you get exactly what you deserve.
You get it because you deserve it.
You got to do what you got to do to empower you.
You got to become selfish.
Not go red, not go blue, but to your black b***h.
You got to be true on this new plantation.
You deserve this man here you deserve
and the deal you deserve all of 'em.
All of 'em. That's why you got 'em. That's why you got 'em.
You deserve Mitchell.
You deserve all these non-functional people here.
You deserve exactly what you get
and you get what you deserve.
And if you don't use what you got, don't need what you got.
Look at it now and the bill, look at him, look at him.
Look at all of you.
You got all these black faces in high places
and you, you deserve it.
You deserve exactly what they're giving you.
Look, Mr. Hall, how you doing? Sit down.
You deserve all of them. All of them.
You deserve all of them. Evan, sit down.
You deserve all of them. All of them. Don't go.
Don't get mad at them.
Look in the mirror, nasty hair, your big nose
and your black homes.
All right? Be selfish. Black mans. Be selfish.
Black women, birds of a feather brought together.
You deserve the government you get.
So you deserve all these.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker this morning is Charles Wu.
Exactly what the black,
Just, just a second.
Alright. Very well. Oh, are we,
Can you guys hear me? Yes,
We can please. Morning,
mayor. Good morning. And members of the council.
My name is Charles Wu
and I'm here on behalf
of the Illinois Hemp Business Association.
I'm also here as the owner of Sativa.
We operate two retail hemp storefronts in Wicker
Park and the South Loop.
More importantly, I'm here on behalf of my two employees
who are here with me, Mariah and Esme.
You heard Esme, she's a little passionate.
And right now the economy is tough.
And after hearing the story of Esme,
what you didn't hear is she was complaining
to me this morning that she's now in a higher tax bracket.
And that's a good thing. But all
of this will disappear if the Quinn Ordinance passes.
As written now about us,
we do not allow people under 21 onto our premises.
We card an ID scan every customers.
Our products are tested, we pay taxes.
And many of you have met me
because I've been advocating to ask to pay more taxes
to the city because we are not a bad actor.
We've been asking to be regulated even on par
with the cannabis industry.
And that's what's important
because the Quinn Ordinance is not about safety.
This ordinance is about economic favoritism.
I am not part of the alcohol industry,
nor as I am influential as the restaurant association.
I'm just a small business owner
with a standalone hemp business
that isn't given a seat at the table.
With this ordinance passing, I have no way to comply
and I will have to shut down.
I will have to lay off ESMI and Mariah
and our other employees,
and they will be out trying to fend for themselves.
Additionally, this favoritism creates issues
that exposes the city to unnecessary litigation.
If intoxication is the concern,
that concern does not disappear in a beverage.
If safety is the concern, banning storefronts that are 21
and only that card
and rigorously test their products makes no sense.
And if fairness is the concern,
we should all be given a seat at the table.
Alternative ordinance language has already been circulated.
Language that maintains strict standards on testing,
age limits, labeling, enforcement,
and licensing, while also ensuring parity across industries.
I am not here asking for special treatment.
I'm asking for clear rules, consistent enforcement,
and a path to compliance that applies equally to everyone.
Please consider the proposed regulatory alternatives
and work with operators like me to build a framework
that protects consumers, supports small businesses,
does not pick winners and losers,
and keeps the market transparent
and accountable. Thank you for your time.
Thank you. Thank
You very much, your Honor.
There are no further speakers
who have timely signed off for the public comment
Very well. This completes
our public common portion of the meeting.
Before we get to our resolution, there's uh,
one acknowledgement that Alders Lawson
and Robinson would like to make a memorializing
of the life of Mr.
Rick Garcia. Chair recognizes Alderman Lamont Robinson.
Mr. Mayor, thank you very much. Uh,
It is, uh, weighing
heavy on my heart as
Altman Bennett takes his seat, uh, as we recognize
the memory of Rick Garcia, uh, trailblazer
and the LGBTQ plus community,
often we think about a city
that, uh, is accepting of everyone, Mr.
Mayor. But this work was shaped
by Rick and others.
And unfortunately, as we look at the world today,
particularly with the headwinds
that are coming from Washington, DC uh,
Rick Rick's work is still necessary
in 2026, unfortunately.
And so, uh, behalf, behalf
of the L-G-B-T-Q Caucus, and if I may, Mr.
Mayor, the City of Chicago, uh,
I'm sending today to thank Rick Garcia for his work
and to continue his legacy that is much needed
as it relates to not only the city
of Chicago with the United States.
And so I want to thank my colleague, partner in crime,
Altman Lawson for drafting today's resolution.
Uh, and Mr. Mayor, I want to thank you
for your continued support of the lgbtq plus community.
And lastly, as I've stated
before, there are 50 wars in the city of Chicago
and 77 neighborhoods understand that
in all 77 neighborhoods, undoubtedly
there is a member of the lgbtq plus community.
And we are looking for
continued support, not only from you Mr.
Mayor, but from every member and this council.
Thank you very much. Thank you.
Chair recognizes Alderman Lawson.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Uh, apologize that I, I had stepped out.
Um, I am proud to be able
to bring this resolution honoring a real trailblazing
leader in our community.
Um, who passed last week, Rick Garcia was, uh,
an activist from high school on, um, where he saw injustice.
He spoke out, um, with a sharp tongue usually, um,
and a great wit, uh, that had a way
of bringing people in around him.
Um, he was part of the Gang of Four that lobbied this body
to pass our Equal rights bill in 1988.
Um, the, uh, half of them are now gone.
Um, John Henry Naski and Rick Garcia.
Uh, Lori Ditman has retired from City Service
and Art Johnson, of course still still runs Sidetrack.
But, um, it's amazing to think, uh, what they had to do then
and who the opponents of equality were.
Um, it was the parish priest. Um, it was the local business.
It was, uh, the labor union in in some cases.
And, and all of that has changed.
Um, thanks to the leadership and work of Rick Garcia.
I got to meet him when I was a very young man, uh,
starting out in politics, working the
state's human rights bill.
Um, I worked for State Senator Carol Ronan,
who carried the bill in the Senate.
Um, and Rick was the chief lobbyist.
Um, and so we would do a lot of role calling.
That's probably where I learned how to do it.
And he had the angle on everybody, um, who,
how do we get to this person?
Well, she's got a lesbian sister, she's got, you know,
her pastor is good with it.
We can get to her. Labor came in for equality
and that changed the game.
But he knew what everyone's angle was
and he knew how to talk to everybody to get to everybody,
um, and to put things together.
And that's a skill that, uh, we admire.
Um, and it really takes, uh,
somebody who's dedicated to what they're doing.
Um, Rick wasn't afraid
to say something a little controversial every now and then.
Um, he could go viral before you could go viral, um,
and was good at it and, and brought awareness, uh, where
otherwise we may not have had it.
And so, um, I thank him for the work that he did, uh,
on behalf of our community, the groundwork he laid
that makes our nine member caucus possible today.
And, and we can invite every, every member here to,
to co-sponsor this resolution.
Um, I know Richard Streetman is here, uh, who is, uh,
here on behalf of the family.
Um, and so we send our deepest consults on behalf
of a grateful city, uh, for a life well lived.
Thank you, mayor. You're
Welcome. Thank you Alderman.
I do wanna acknowledge
and thank the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated
celebrated 118 years of service
to all humankind on January 15th,
Delta Sigma Theta commemorated 113 years
of sisterhood on January 13th
and Zeta five beta who celebrated 106 years
for finer womanhood.
We extend our sincere thanks for their enduring service,
leadership, and commitment to our city, alderman Mitchell
for a motion for the temporary suspension of the rules so
that we can take up for immediate
consideration this resolution.
Before I do that, please uh, like
to be counted as, uh, present for
Court. Please add Alderman
Mitchell as part
of the quorum roll call Alderman Mitchell. I
Move every, uh, temp
for the temporary suspension of the rules.
Very well, hearing no objections sole ordered.
Um, in the interest of respecting people's time,
we will forego reading the resolution
and go straight to the remarks of the city council.
Uh, this resolution commemorate commemorates,
the International Holocaust Day
of Remembrance Chair recognizes all Alderwoman Silverstein.
Thank you Mr. Ram. Mayor, I don't believe the copy
of the resolution was passed out to my colleagues,
so we're gonna get that.
Okay. Thank you. Um, esteem members
of the Chicago City Council and distinguished guests.
Today we come together
to recognize international Holocaust Remembrance Day,
a day set aside by the global community to remember one
of the darkest chapters in human history
and to reaffirm our shared responsibility
to confront hatred wherever it appears.
As we reflect on the Holocaust,
we remember the 6 million Jewish men, women,
and children who were systematically murdered
by the N Nazi regime
and its collaborators, along with millions of others
targeted because of their identity, beliefs,
or perceived differences.
The Holocaust stands as a chilling reminder of
what happens when antisemitism, bigotry
and dehumanization are allowed to grow.
Unchecked remembrance,
however, is not only about the past,
it is also about the world we are living in today.
Anti-Semitism is not a relic of history.
It is a present and growing threat here in Chicago.
anti-Semitic hate crimes increased by 58% last year.
A staggering and deeply troubling statistic.
My community strongly felt this reality when a Jewish member
of the 50th ward was shot.
Recently while walking
to synagogue on the Sabbath around the world.
We are also witnessing a shocking rise in anti-Semitic
violence and rhetoric, including the horrific
terrorist attack at Bondi Beach,
which killed 15 innocent people
and injured another 40 who had gathered
to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.
These acts remind us that the lessons
of the Holocaust are not abstract
and not relegated to the past.
They are urgently relevant today
and right here in Chicago, which is why it is so important
for us to recognize Holocaust Remembrance Day
and to learn more about the horrors of the Holocaust.
I am grateful to my colleagues
who will be joining me tomorrow on my yearly delegation
to the Illinois Holocaust Museum.
And for those of you who have not yet RSVP'd,
you are all still invited and would love for you to come.
It is a unique honor that we are joined here this morning
by our Holocaust survivor, Yvonne Aronson.
It is truly a privilege to have you with us.
We do not take lightly the courage it takes for you
to share your story
nor the responsibility we bear as listeners.
Your presence is a living testament to resilience,
to survival, and to the moral obligation we all have
to remember and to act.
Hearing directly from a survivor is a profound gift.
And we are grateful beyond words that you are willing
to share your experience.
I also want to recognize
and thank all of our distinguished guests who are here today
and whose work ensures that the memory
and lessons of the Holocaust endure.
Besides Yvonne, we have from the Illinois Holocaust Museum
and Education Center, Bernard Kosoff, Amanda
Erman, Allison Satir
and board members Andy Lowenthal and Ari Ari Ette.
And from the Jewish United Fund,
the Jewish Federation of Chicago.
We have Daniel Goldwyn, Eric Sedler,
Natalie Glick and Jane Charney.
And we also have Yesi held from Stan with us.
He's here and Alison Slo was here from the Simon
Weisfeld Center as well.
Thank you all for your leadership, your advocacy,
and your unwavering commitment to preserving the memory
and lessons of the Holocaust on this international Holocaust
Remembrance Day let us recommit ourselves to the promise
of never again.
Let us honor those who were lost.
Stand with those who survived
and resolve here in this chamber
and beyond to confront anti-Semitism
and hatred wherever they appear.
Thank you so much for allowing me to speak
and I now move that Yvonne Aronson, our holocaust survivor,
be granted leave to address the body
Al Alt woman Silverstein.
If we could, um, reserve that moment, uh, for the end
to give Alders an opportunity to speak, we're happy
to grant that leave, right?
Okay, sure. Are there any elders, any additional elders
that wish to speak to this resolution
before we grant leave Chair recognizes Alder Hadden.
Thank you Mr. President.
Um, now our guests can make sure to you get
to wrap everything up for us.
We can be lengthy sometimes, uh, in our comments.
Um, I want to thank, uh, chairwoman Silverstein
for bringing this resolution and our guest
and the survivor, uh, here today.
Um, I've enjoyed the annual visits that you've done.
I've been able to go a couple of times
and visit the Holocaust Museum and this week
and this year as we acknowledge Holocaust Remembrance Day
and talk about the commitment for never again.
Um, I can't help
but think about what's happening in Minneapolis,
what's happening in Chicago,
what's happening in other cities across our country.
Um, we are, um, meant
to hold our histories close so that we can learn.
Um, I have a tattoo on my arm that you can't see
'cause I'm very respectable during city
council meetings of course.
Um, and it's a Sankofa, which is a West African symbol.
It comes in a couple forms
and um, it largely encourages us
to return and get it.
So it's a symbol of a bird.
It's reaching back over its back
and it's about learning from our history
and bringing that forward for our future.
So the bird's feet face forward,
Holocaust Remembrance Day and the visits that I've gone
and all the efforts for lifting up the stories
of the survivors and of the people who didn't survive,
I think are core to the American experience
that I have as well.
Because as a black American, we are always looking
to our past to center ourselves in the fights
that we also still face.
And right now in our country, as we think about the extremes
of ethnic cleansing, antisemitism,
anti-blackness, uh, xenophobia, we're seeing
that carried out from the halls of our highest office.
We have a president in this land that is demonizing people
that don't look like him.
We've seen that before.
We've got armed troops without the authorization
of Congress acting on American soil, breaking down doors
of homes and stealing people out of their houses.
I've heard these stories before.
Um, I've heard these stories
before they've happened, they've happened here, especially
to black Americans.
They've happened to Jewish people around the world.
They're happening now.
And so I appreciate this remembrance day
and also that lesson of never again
and about us taking action
and encourage all of us in this moment, in this body,
in this audience, to be aware, to do your homework,
to pay attention to what's happening.
'cause it's happening now.
And it is upon all of us to take action.
We have our history, we know the lessons,
and right now we have ethnic cleansing, xenophobia,
anti-blackness, anti-poverty happening
and being carried out by our government.
They are acting against us, they are stealing our people,
they are kidnapping them and they're trampling our rights.
And what's next? From the stories that I've heard
of survivors like Ms.
Aronson, we know what's next and it's ugly
and we don't want it to happen ever again.
So, Mr. President, thank you for allowing me to speak
and to my colleagues, pay attention, um,
heed what's happening and let's work together
to protect Chicagoans and to take action for our country.
Thank you. Are there any other
elders that wish to speak to this?
The chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.
Thank you Mr. President
and good morning members of the city Council.
Good morning to all of our guests
and to whom we're gonna hear from shortly.
I rise in support of this resolution
and in support of our Jewish community as St.
John Paul would call them, our beloved brothers and sisters.
We oftentimes hear the saying
that we can never allow the holocaust to happen again.
And as we have seen unfold,
October 7th happened again
on the beach, happened again.
And even in discussions here in our own city
with our own comm commission on human relations,
which held hearings in this body, in this room, excuse me,
discussing as our colleague from the 15
50th ward said the 58% increase in
Jewish hate crimes in the city
of Chicago in the year alone last year alone, we continue
to have issues with calling out
the origins, the inklings,
and the initial acts of Jewish hatred in our own city.
We allow public spaces to become breeding grounds of hatred.
We allow demonstrators to burn an effigy.
Those who would stand against the very beginnings of
what we saw happen decades ago.
We continuously ask those of us that care,
how is it something so her so horrible
can happen in modern times
and yet we're living it every single day.
It's easy to fall back on
generational tropes that victimize one group
point the finger play stereotypes.
But it's much harder for us to educate our own families,
our own communities, to stand up and say this is wrong.
To remind people that are faiths that we claim to care
so much about says this is wrong.
I've had to witness friends of mine both in this room
and out break down
because they don't know how to walk out the door
head held high in their own heritage without feeling the
fear of being attacked.
Most of us have never felt that way.
Some of us can never stop.
The Holocaust was not a singular event, ladies
and gentlemen, because it exists in the hearts
and minds of so many, both the victims
and families of those who survived and who are here,
but also those who seek to perpetrate it again,
who deny that it even happened
or question what we all know was
one of the darkest chapters in human history.
This isn't something we just remember in January.
It is something that we should fight against every single
day and everything that we do.
And yes, we can recognize that there are communities
who feel and have been victimized, who've been tortured,
who've been the targets of racism and oppression.
But we cannot dilute
what we know is overwhelmingly going on in our city right
now as we speak.
We have to continue to be the bears of light
so that we never allow the memories of those who perished
to be extinguished.
This is something that transcends all of us,
many of us who say we have faith
and practice it.
Your faith commands you to stand up, to defend
our dear beloved brothers and sisters.
And I'm glad that we have the chance to hear from one today.
Thank you Mr. President.
Thank you. Are there other members of the body that wish
to speak to the resolution before we provide leave for Ms.
Aronson? Very well.
There are no other hands.
And let me just again, thank um, older woman Silverstein,
all of the guests that are with us today.
Uh, Yvonne Aronson,
Bernard Sheva.
So Allison Sati, Andy Lowenthal,
Amanda Friedman, Ari Sege, Jane
Charney, Eric Sr.
Daniel Goldwin, David Golder, Natalie, uh, Glick.
Um, Chicago is home as we all know,
to a very proud Jewish community whose rich culture
and heritage has greatly contributed
to the fabric of our beloved city.
Our Jewish community has deep,
profound impact on our entire city.
The Jewish community, of course, deeply affected and harmed
and brutalized by the Holocaust with many residents being
direct descendants of Holocaust survivors,
victims or refugees.
January 27th was designated international Holocaust
Remembrance Day by the United Nations as a day to remember,
recognized and honor the millions of Jews killed
by the Nazis and their, uh,
collaborators in concentration camps.
Uh, through the horrors of those camps 81 years ago.
We are seeing sadly, a dramatic increase in hate crime
and outright violence against the Jewish community.
Now more than ever, it is important
that we fight back against the actions of antisemitism,
holocaust deniers and racism
and hatred against any single group of people.
I do want to thank the Illinois Holocaust Museum
and Education Center, the Jewish United Fund
and 3G Chicago for their ongoing efforts
to educate people about the Holocaust
and uh, as well as to honor the legacy of Holocaust victims
and survivors administration is committed
to making Chicago the most welcoming city
and show the world that it is no place for hatred,
discrimination, or holocaust denial.
And that is why I'm proud to stand with you all to recognize
and celebrate the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
And with that leave from this body to allow for Ms.
Yvonne Aaronson to speak.
All right, leave is granted that the floor is yours.
Good morning, mayor Johnson
and members of the City Council. Good
Morning.
Thank you Alderwoman Deborah Silverstein for the honor
of inviting me to speak today.
My name is Yvonne Aronson and I am a holocaust survivor.
My world and that of my family forever changed in May
of 1940 when the Germans invaded
and occupied Belgium, a neutral country.
Soon after my father, who was originally from Austria
and not a Belgian citizen, was rounded up
and sent to a forced labor camp in southern France.
My family had celebrated my first birthday
just a month earlier.
My mother, great-grandmother, great aunt
and I remained in Brussels, the Belgian capital.
As conditions for Belgian Jews deteriorated
and deportations began.
We went into hiding in a convent.
After a time my mother grew concerned about the safe,
our safety in the convent,
and we returned to our apartment in Brussels when my mother
became seriously ill, our local pharmacist at great risk
to himself and his family took us in
and hit us in his cellar while my mother recovered
once she did with help from the Belgian resistance,
my mother located a kind widow who agreed to take me in.
I lived with her under a false identity for three years
until the war ended and the danger had passed.
Belgium was liberated by Alled forces in September, 1944,
but the war did not officially end until May 8th, 1945.
Following the end of the war known as victory in Europe
or VE day.
My mother came to the widow's home to reclaim me.
I soon learned that my great-grandmother
and great aunt had also miraculously survived.
Also with the assistance of the brave non-Jewish Belgians
who risked themselves to help my family.
I was six years old
and began school while adjusting
to being reunited with my family.
We would soon learn that my father tragically was
among the nearly 25,000 Jews deported from Belgium
who were murdered at the Killing Center at Auschwitz
Birkenau in March of 19, 7 47, just weeks
before my eighth birthday, my mother
and I immigrated to the United States.
We settled on the south side of Chicago
and I became a Chicago public school student
enrolling at Kenwood Elementary School now Kenwood Academy.
Gradually I learned English, made friends
and bega began a new life as an American.
People have asked me why I share my story.
Some have asked me why I think my story is important
for people to hear when I wasn't imprisoned in a
concentration camp or according to them,
didn't really suffer to those.
I say, rather than attempt to compare
or quantify the suffering of others, we must empathize with
E, pardon me, empathize with it and learn from it.
My father was taken from me when I was just a year old.
I was separated from my remaining family as a toddler.
Three years later, my familiar routine was disrupted again.
As I was returned to my family members, I barely remembered
their survival and mine were nothing short of miraculous,
but the upheaval was difficult
and confusing for a young child.
Soon after our lives were upended again as my mother
and I began our lives over yet again.
This time in a place
where we did not speak the language and knew no one.
And why did all of these things happen to my family?
Why was my early childhood so different from
what we think of as normal?
Not because of anything we had said or done, but
because of who we were.
Because my parents, grandparents,
and countless generations of my family were Jewish.
We were targeted. We were taken from our homes
or forced into hiding and separated from our loved ones.
Antisemitic hatred was allowed to grow and spread unchecked.
My family was in some ways luckier than many even.
So we were targeted and victimized
because of who we were while the world stood by and watched.
Please learn from my family's experience, remember
what happened to us and so many others
and think about what you can do
to prevent something similar from happening
to someone else. Thank you.
Thank you
Altman Mitchell, can I get a motion
for the passage of this resolution?
I move passage of this resolution.
Unanimous hearing. No objections. So ordered.
Thank you all again for being with us. This today.
Thank you Altman Mitchell.
A motion to return to the regular order of business.
Ms I move that return to the regular hearing. No objection.
Sole ordered Communications
Publicity Council, the city Chicago.
Ladies and gentlemen, the request
of the comptroller I transmit here
with an ordinance approving the 2026 municipal depositories.
Your consideration, this ordinance will we be
appreciated very truly years.
Brandon Johnson, mayor per the committee on finance.
Ladies and gentlemen, request the comptroller transmit here
with an ordinance amending the municipal code
regarding the publication requirements for rules proposed
by the Department of Finance,
your favorable considerations ordinance be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, mayor,
further the committee on finance.
Ladies and gentlemen, request
of the commissioner planning and Development.
I transmit here with an ordinance authorized an execution
of an amended redevelopment agreement
with BR Congress owner LLC
and Congress Cedar, LLC, your favorable considerations.
This ordinance will appreciated. Vary to yours.
Brandon Johnson, mayor for the Committee on Finance.
Ladies and gentlemen, request of commissioner Planning
and redevelopment and Development.
I transmit here with an ordinance authorizing the execution
of agreement and instruments necessary for implementation
of section 1 0 8 Housing
and Urban Development loan for the Congress Theater Project.
Your consideration
of this ordinance will be appreciated very two years.
Brandon Johnson, mayor referred the committee on finance.
Ladies and gentlemen, request
a commissioner Planning and development.
I trans here with an ordinance authorizing
the sale of city owned property.
Located at 10 14 South ca,
California Avenue in a good company in
to end, good company Chicago.
Your favorable considerations ordinance will be appreciated.
Very true years. Brandon Johnson, mayor
for the Committee on Housing and Real Estate.
Ladies and gentlemen, the request a corporation Counsel
transmit here and or here with an
ordinance amending the municipal code.
Provide clarification regarding the sports weight wage
during license, your favor, concern,
concerns in ordinance to be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, mayor
for the Committee on Licensing consumer protection.
Ladies and gentlemen, request the
Commissioner of Planning and Development.
I transmit here with an ordinance authorizing the
expenditure of open space impact fee funds
for outdoor space improvements at
Disney two Elementary School.
Your favorite consideration of this ordinance
will be appreciated very two years.
Brandon Johnson, mayor
for the Committee on Special
Events cultural Affairs and Recreation.
Ladies and gentlemen, requested Commissioner of Planning
and Development I transmitted to here
with an ordinance authorizing the expenditure
of open space impact fee funds for the development
of a turf field at Riley Elementary School.
Consideration. This ordinance will be
appreciated very two years.
Brandon Johnson Mayer
for the Committee on Special Events
Cultural Affairs and Recreation.
Ladies and gentlemen, request the commissioner
of transportation and transmit here
with an ordinance authorizing the re
subdivision of land to facilitate.
Facilitate the development
of residential properties n this ordinance.
Be appreciated very until years.
Brandon Johnson, mayor
for the Committee on Transportation Public Way.
Ladies and gentlemen, request
the commissioner Planning and Development.
I transmit here with an OR ordinance authorizing execution
intergovernmental agreement
with the Regional Transportation Authority
of the Belmont Blue Line Equitable Transit Orient plan.
Favorable constituent ordinance.
Ordinance will be cons, will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson Mayor referred the
committee on zoning landmarks and building standards.
Ladies and gentlemen, I transmit here with appointments
to various special service areas.
Your favor consideration, these appointments be appreciated.
Very truly. Brandon Johnson May referred the Community
Committee on Economic Capital and Technology Development.
I city clerk Anna Valencia hereby informed the city council
that the following documents were filed in my office
relating to the respective subjects Ased as follows,
notification of Sales City, Chicago, Multi-Family Housing,
revenue Bonds and D trails.
Apartment Project series 2026, office
of Inspector General's.
Fourth quarter report for year 2025
I City Clerk Valencia informed the city council all those
matters which were considered by the city council.
The regular meeting held on December 20th, 2025.
She required by statute to be published in
Booker pamphlet form in one or more.
Newspapers were published in pamphlet form on
January 21st, 2026.
By being printed in full text
and printed pamphlet, copies of the Journal of Proceedings
of the City Council, city of Chicago I City Clerk Valencia,
also informed the city council that all those matters
matters, which were considered
by the city council at the regular meeting held on
December 29th, 2025.
Drew required by statute to be published in Booker pamphlet
form or one in more newspapers were published in pamphlet
form on January 21st, 2026 of being printed in full text
and printed pamphlet copies the journal Proceedings
of City Council, city of Chicago ICD clerk also transmit
here with the following miscellaneous communications reports
requiring city council action zoning reclassification
of the particular areas referred
to the committee on zoning landmarks.
Building standards claims against the city
of Chicago is referred to the Committee on Finance
recommendation by commission on Chicago Landmarks
for designation of original Providence Baptist Church at
five 15 North Pine Avenue Chicago Landmark, which referred
to committee on zoning landmarks
and building standards in correction of December 19th, 2025.
City Council Journal and Proceedings, which referred
to the Committee on Committee's rules, your Honor,
that concludes the reports and communications
to the mayor and other city officers. Thank you
Madam Clerk, for our committee reports.
We will begin with the finance committee chair
recognizes chairwoman Dow.
Uh, thank you Mr. President
and members of the city council reporting
for the City Council's Committee on Finance,
which held a committee meeting on January 14th, 2026.
The following items received a due pass
recommendation from the committee.
Item number one is the substitute ordinance executing a TIF
redevelopment agreement with 30 North LaSalle MF
redevelopment LLC
and downtown Chicago Neighborhood Council NFP
for the property at 30 northwest South Street in the 34th
Ward in an amount not to exceed 57 million.
Mr. President, unless someone wishes to speak on this,
I move passage of this item by roll call vote hearing.
I see no hands members, please use your EVO application
to record your vote 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 who have not used their Eev device
and those virtual alderman Hopkins.
Hopkins is a yes. Alderman Hall not present.
Alderwoman Ramirez?
Yes, Ramirez is a yes. Alderwoman Coleman.
Yes, Coleman is a yes.
Alderman Moore not present. Chambers.
Alderman Rodriguez Rodriguez is a yes.
Alderwoman tab. Yes. Tab is a yes.
Alderwoman Rodriguez Sanchez not present.
Alderman Conway not present. Alderman Vasquez?
Yes, Vasquez is a yes.
Alderman Knutson not present.
Alderwoman man. Howorth.
Yes. Yes. Mana Hoppen is a yes. Anyone else I missed?
Alman Hall, you're a yes. Alman Hall is a yes.
Alman Moore Moore is a yes. Anyone else walk in?
All right. The voting is now closed.
There are 47 yays, zero nays.
This motion passes Altman Mitchell on a motion
to reconsider vote to reconsider the vote.
All those in favor, reconsidering
of this vote signified by saying aye.
Any opposed, say nay. This motion fails.
Chair recognizes Chairwoman Dow.
Item number two is the substitute ordinance approving the
first amendment to the tax increment financing redevelopment
agreement, and the amended city deed covenants
with Sinai Health System at 1500 South Fairfield Avenue
to convey the property at 3,100
through 58 West Ogden Avenue
and at 31 42 West 16th Street
to one Lawndale Children's Discovery Center in the 24th
and 28th wards.
I move passage of this item
by the first most favorable roll call vote
of the Committee on Finance report in the associated
unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
Thank you. The chair recognizes Alder Rodriguez Sanchez.
Thank you Mr. President.
I would like to be added as a yes to the, uh,
first item on finance, please.
Very well. And clerk, please add Alder Rodriguez Sanchez,
uh, to the row to the yes vote.
The first item chair recognizes Altman Knutson.
Um, mayor, I'd like to be added
as yes on the first finance item on roll call. Thank
You can do that as well. Thank
you. Mad clerk. All right.
Hearing no objections of this, the second item. So order.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Item number three is the substitute ordinance authorizing
the submission of the US Department of Housing
and Urban Development Section 1 0 8 loan application
for the rehabilitation of 2135 North Milwaukee Avenue,
better known as the Congress Theater in the first ward in an
amount up to $25.25 million.
I move passage of this item by the same motion
Hearing. No objection.
So ordered
Item number four is an ordinance introduced
by Alderman Samantha Nugent
of the 39th Ward amending Article 26
effective dates of the 2026 Municipal Code Revenue
Ordinance alternative.
I move passage of this item by the same motion hearing.
No objection. So ordered
Item number five is a substitute resolution introduced
by Alderman Jason Irvin of the 28th Ward, calling
for a public hearing on the formation
of the Chicago Tourism Improvement District
to be held on February 27th, 2026 at 10:00 AM
in the city Council chambers on the second floor.
I move past of this item by the same motion
Hearing. No objection.
So ordered.
Item number six is a communication transmitting reports
of cases in which verdicts, judgments
or settlements were entered into for the month
of November, 2025.
And this item will be placed on file with the clerk.
Item number seven is a communication transmitting reports
of cases in which verdicts, judgements,
or settlements were entered into for the month
of December, 2025.
And this item will also be placed on file with the clerk.
Item number eight A is an ordinance authorizing the
corporation counsel to enter into
and execute a settlement order in the case
of Nicholas Santos versus City of Chicago,
case number 21 C 53 27 in the amount
of $162,500.
I move passage of this item by the same motion
as was applied to item number two with the exception
of Alderman David Moore
and Alder woman Jeanette Taylor, who both wish
to be recorded as voting no on this item very
Well like division, so ordered
Item number eight B is an order
authorizing the corporation counsel to enter into
and execute a settlement order in the case of Tim Anderson,
etal versus David Brown,
et Al case number 1 23
CV 2245 in the amount of $875,000.
Mr. President, I recuse myself from voting on this matter
during the January 14th finance committee meeting,
and I'm recusing myself today during counsel
from voting on this matter under Rule 14 of the Rules
of Order and Procedure out of an abundance of caution
as the plaintiff is the constituent of the Third Ward,
and I have had interactions with the plaintiff
regarding matters in and outside of the Ward.
Rell, thank you very much. Chair
recognizes Alderman Lopez.
Oh,
did you make the motion already? I did not.
Thank you. My apologies. Please.
I move passage of this item by the same motion
as was supplied to item number two with the exception
of Alderman Hopkins, Quinn Lopez, osha, Scott
Cardona, WABA Riley,
and Silverstein, who all wish to be recorded
as voting no on the item.
Very well, the Chair recognizes Altman Viegas.
Oh, I'm sorry. I thought that was satisfactory.
Just a second. Altman Lopez.
Thank you Mr. President.
And again, good morning members of the City Council.
I rise in opposition to this settlement as I, as we
discussed in committee a settlement
for 21 individuals, only two of whom made reports
to Copa, none of whom could identify actual police officers
and none of them who could identify their injuries.
We talk constantly ad nauseum
about settlements that we can win, about settlements
that we should fight and defend the city from,
and settlements that reward bad behavior.
This is the epitome of all of those.
We must reject this settlement.
We must fight when we are right because it sends a strong
and clear message that our check writing
days are coming to an end.
And for that, Mr.
President, I had encourage all of my colleagues
to vote against it and ask
for a roll call vote on this settlement
Chair recognizes Alman, ano.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Um, I, I agree with my, my colleague Fullheartedly, um,
for years now, uh, 11 years in, in my short term,
I feel like we come down here
and we look at these, uh, cases
and a lot of times it's looked at the amount
that is requested
and how much it's gonna hurt the city in the long
run if it's prosecuted.
And a lot of us come down here
and say, well, let's take a look at some of these cases
from a broader view and see if we actually can put our legal
teams to work and, and, and,
and try some of them instead of just settling it
because the settlement in some cases is a payout
to people in here, but in other cases, it's an assumption
of guilt to a department
without even having their day in court.
So to make this as short as possible, I,
I think we should start looking at some of these cases
and finding a way to put our legal team to work.
They're getting paid, they're on salary and, and,
and pushing some of these cases so
that we can close the city checkbook
because everyone knows it's called the city lottery.
You give a shot at it,
there's a great chance you're gonna get paid out,
and if it's below a certain number,
there's an even greater chance
that you're going to get paid out.
So for that reason, I too would like to be recorded as a no,
and I appreciate the
opportunity to speak on this Ms. President.
Well, there's a roll call vote.
It's been requested for Item eight B.
Madam Clerk, if you can make the EVO application available
so that members of this body can record
their votes 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 take a roll call.
Uh, voice vote for those
who not use their Eev device or online.
Alderman LaSpada not present. Alderman Hopkins
Oh, did not go through.
Oh, there it is. Okay. Alderwoman Ramirez.
Yes, Ramirez is a yes.
Alderwoman Coleman Alderwoman Tera,
no Alderwoman
Tera, no.
Tab is a no.
Alderman ro not President Chambers.
Alderman Rodriguez Sanchez, not President Chambers.
Alderman Conway. Yes. Conway is a yes.
Alderwoman Nugent. A
Nugent is a yes.
Uh, alderman Vasquez. Yes. Vasquez is a yes.
Alderwoman Hadden. I'm sorry. Alderwoman. Mana Haworth. Yes.
Mana Haworth is a yes.
Alderman Ro Aye to Farrah is a yes.
Anyone else walk in? Okay.
The voting is now closed.
31. There are 31 Yays 16 nays.
This motion passes Alderman Mitchell on a motion
to reconsider reconsidered vote votes in favor
of the reconsideration of this vote, signify by saying Aye.
Those opposed say nay. This motion fails.
Chair recognizes Chairwoman Dow.
Uh, thank you Mr. President.
Item number eight C is an order authorizing the corporation
counsel to enter into
and execute a settlement order in the case
of Orlando j Ramirez and Jesus Alvarez Vasquez,
and as joint special coad, administrators of the estate
of Angel e Alvarez, Montesinos deceased
versus City of Chicago, Michael Spilotro iii,
Eric Arroyo, John Doz individually
and his agents of the City of Chicago.
Case number 2023 L
0 1 0 1 6 4 in the amount of $22 million,
22 20 million by the city
and 2 million by the city's insurance.
I move passage of this item by the same motion
as was applied to item number two, hearing.
No objection. So ordered
Item number nine in 10 consists of orders of authorization
for the payment of various small claims against the city
of Chicago and the denials of payment
of various small claims against the city of Chicago.
This was a direct introduction,
and if there are no objections, I move
that these items be placed
with passage in the omnibus and Ms.
President. That concludes my report.
Hearing none so ordered. Thank you Madam Chair.
Committee on Aviation Chair recognizes chair osha,
Mr. President, members of
the city council reporting
of your Committee on Aviation,
which held a meeting on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026.
The committee recommends passage of the following item,
ordinance
2 0 2 5 0 2 1 6 8 2,
an amendment of municipal code sections 10 dash three,
six dash 3 51
and 10 dash three six dash 3 55
through 10 dash 3 6 3 58.
Adding provisions regarding fines for violations
occurring at both midway and O'Hare International Airports.
Very well. I move passage of this ordinance
by the first payroll call roll call vote
of the Committee on Finance and associated unsuccessful
motion to reconsider hearing.
No objection. So ordered.
Mr. President, this concludes my
Report. Thank you Mr. Chair
for the committee on budget
and government operations chair recognizes
Chairman Irvin. Thank
You Mr. President reporting
for the committee on the budget
and government operations,
which held the meeting on January 15th.
The committee has a series
of reports recommended passage of the following items.
Items one and two are communications recommending the
appointments of Jacqueline Rosa
and John Dale Van Sly, each as a member
of the Chicago Public Library Board, I move passage
of these items by the first favorable roll call vote
of the Committee on Finance
and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider
Hearing no objections. So ordered.
Item number three is a communication
recommending a proposed ordinance
concerning an annual appropriation ordinance year 2026,
amendment within fund 9 2 5.
I make the same motion. If there is no objection,
Hearing none so ordered.
Item number four is a communication recommending a
proposed ordinance concerning an annual appropriation
ordinance year 2026 amendment.
Shifting appropriation code for CVI funding
and CDPH,
which moves funds from one account to the proper account.
9 9 29 E Community Violence Intervention Program
and also puts the project administration position position
back in the CDPH, uh, from the Department of Environment.
I make the same motion. If there is no objection, hearing
None so ordered.
Uh, items five and six were transfers
of fund ordinances within Wards 16 and 39 for years 2025.
Respectfully, I make the same motion.
If there's no objection, hearing
None. So ordered.
Uh, Mr. President, that concludes my
Report. Thank you, Mr. Chair. For
the Committee on Economic Capital
and Technology Development.
The chair recognizes Chairman Vigas.
Good afternoon, Mr. President members
of the city council reporting
for the Committee on Economic Capital
and Technology Development Development,
which meant on Tuesday, January 31st Committee held a
meeting to recommend paths of the following items.
Item one on the report is an appointment with Sergio Garia
to the Community Development Commission.
I move per move for paths of this item,
but a first favorable roll call vote
of the Committee on Finance and the associated unsuccessful
motion to reconsider hearing.
No objection. So ordered item
Two through four on the report are appointments
of Ivy Spec
and Jennifer Deeds to SSA 17 dash 2025,
the Central Lakeview Wrigleyville Commission
and the reappointment of Eve moron to SSA 16 Greek Town.
I move for pass of these items by the first favor
of a roll call of the committee on financing the associated
unsuccessful motion to reconsider
Hearing no objections. So ordered items
Five through six, five.
Items five and six on report are ordinances designated
to Greater Southwest Development Corporation
as your interim service provider
for special service areas number three
and number 59 dash 2022.
I move for passage of these items by the first way,
a roll call of the Committee on finance
and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider hearing
No objections. So ordered Item
Seven and eight on the report are ordinances
to approve Class six B property tax incentives
for properties located at 1 0 4 59 South Muskegon Avenue
and 1532 West Fulton Street.
I move for pass of these items by the first favor
of a roll call of the Committee on Finance
and the associated unsuccessful motion
to reconsider hearing.
No objections. So ordered. Thank
You Mr. President. That concludes
my report.
Thank you Mr. Chair for the Committee on Education
and Child Development chair recognizes Chairwoman Taylor.
Thank you Mr. President and members of the city council.
I'm here reporting on your Committee of Education
and Child Development, which held the meeting on Tuesday,
January 13th, 2026.
The committee had one item to report, one appointment
for the board trustee for the community college
district number 5 0 8 8 2 0 2 5 dash
0 2 1 6 7 5.
The appointment of Fernando Diaz is moved
for passage by the first favor.
Roll call of the finance committee along
with the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider
Hearing. No objections.
So ordered.
That concludes my report. Thank you Mr. President.
Thank you. Thank you. Mad chair
for the Committee on Housing and Real Estate.
The chair recognizes chair Citro Lopez.
Thank you Mr. President.
Um, members of the city council reporting
for your committee on Housing
and real estate, which held a meeting on January 14th, 2026.
The committee has a series of reports recommending passage
of nine ordinances that include one rite of entry agreement
and various land sales.
Item number one is from the Department of Fleet
and Facility Management Ordinance
20 25 0 0 25 1 8.
Second Amendment to right of entry agreement
with Columbia Yatch Club for renewed access
to city home parking lot located under northbound lanes
of South Sabel Lakes.
Sho Drive north of East Randolph in the 42nd Ward.
A move passes of this item
by this first most favorable roll call vote on the Committee
of Finance and Associated
and unsu successful motion to reconsider hearing
No objections. So
order
The remaining, the remaining items from the Department
of Planning and Development are
grouped together for convenience.
Item two through six are for the sale of city owned property
through DPDs Missing Middle Infield housing program in the
sixth, seventh, and 21st wards.
The ordinances are ordinance
20 25 0 0, 21, 6 85 0 0 21, 6 87 0 0 2 1 6 89 0 0 29, 7 7
and 0 0 21 6 8 8.
I move passage of these five items by the same motion.
Hearing. No objection. So ordered
Item seven, ordinance 20 25 0 0 0, 21 6 8 4 sale
of city owned property at 64 21 South Lawrence Avenue
through the Check Block Builder Open Space Land Sale program
to blacks in green.
Um, big NFP.
These land sale will facilitate the creation
of the Teal Mobile House Museum Garden in the 20th ward
and will add to the Teal Mobile House Museum adjacent
to the open Spaceland.
I referred to Chairwoman Taylor to say a few words
and then I move passes of this item by the same motion.
Very well. Thank you Mr. Chair.
The chair recognizes Alderwoman Taylor.
Thank you Mr. President.
Too often we forget about this histories, um,
passed and Emmett Till was a young man
who actually lived in Woodlawn.
Um, and it's important that we honor his legacy.
Um, he is not the first nor the last person to be lynched,
and the system failed Emmett Till and his family.
And so it's important that a community organization
that exists in the community, blacks
and greens, is able to revitalize not only the home,
but the yard next to it,
to allow our community to honor our past.
Thank you Mr. President. Thank
You. All the women. There's a motion on
the floor
for the passage of this item.
Again, hearing no objections to other hands. So ordered.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Item eight, ordinance 20 25, 0 0, 21 6 9 8.
Sale of city owned property at 37 17
and 37 13 West Chicago Avenue
through the Check Block Builder Open Space Land Sale
program to blocks together.
NFP. This land sale will facilitate the creation
of an open public community space in the 27th Ward adjacent
to the main offices for blocks together, NFP at fer, also
to Alderman, um, red Burnett to say a few words
and then we can move passage on this ordinance.
Very well. Thank you. Chairman Chair
recognizes Alderman Burnett.
Thank you Mr. President.
Uh, it's another great initiative, uh,
by the committee on getting green space in the 27th Ward
and allowing the community to activate land that
hasn't been used in the proper way.
So super excited to, excited to,
uh, have this move forward
and for the community process to proceed. Thank you.
Thank you on your motion.
Thank you. Yeah. So move, uh,
so move on This item by the same motion. The
Same motion hearing. No objection.
So ordered
Item nine is Ordinance 20 25 0 0 21 6 85 is
for the market rate sale of city owned property at 25 0 3
through 25 63 West Lake Street
and 25 22 through 25 68 West Maple Avenue
to Commonwealth Edison Company in the 27th water move
passage of this item by the same motion hearing.
No objection. So order,
Finally, the committee held a subject matter hearing
with the Chief homelessness Officer Sandy Soto on the five
year blueprint on the ending and preventing homelessness
because the drop plan is up for review on the mayor's office
and homelessness website
and open for the public comment until January 30th, 2026.
Under the get involved tab, I encourage all to review
and comment on this important report
so we can all participate on the changes
we'd like to see throughout the city.
Mr. President, this concludes my report.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. For the Committee on License
and Consumer Protection,
the chair recognizes Chairwoman Silverstein.
Thank you Mr. President and members of the City council.
I'm reporting for the Committee on License
and Consumer Protection.
We held a meeting on January 13th, 2026,
and the following items were passed by the committee.
Five ordinances regarding liquor moratoriums in the 14th,
16th, 27th, 35th and 48th.
Wards. Oh 2 0 2 5 dash
0 2 1 7 0 1
and others oh
0 0 2 1 7 7 2 0 2 1 3 2 6 0 0 2 1 6, 9 9
and 0 0 2 1 8 8 5.
Mr. President, I move that the city council concur
with the recommendations of the license committee
of the same roll call as item number one
of the Committee on Finance report
and the associated unsuccessful motion
to reconsider hearing.
No objection. So ordered.
Mr. President, that concludes my
Report. Thank you, Madam Chair
for the Committee
on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety.
The chair recognizes Chair LaSpada.
Thank you Mr. President reporting
for your committee on Pedestrian
and Traffic safety for which meeting was held on FE
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026.
Before the committee, there were 340 routine traffic
items, all of which passed.
If there are no objections, I move passage
of these 340 routine traffic items
by the first most favorable roll call from the Committee on
Finance and the associated
unsuccessful motion to reconsider the
Vote. Hearing none so ordered.
That
Concludes my report. Thank
you for the Committee on Public Safety
Chair recognizes Chairman Hopkins.
Uh, thank you Mr. President reporting
for your committee on public safety,
which held meetings on Wednesday, January 7th
and Tuesday January 20th, 2026.
Committee recommends passage of the following items.
Item one, approval of the November, uh, rule 45 report.
Uh, item two is ordinance two 1-898-AMENDING
municipal code section 18 16 22 regarding declaration
of time in site curfew for mass gatherings
and custody procedures.
Uh, we have a substitute for that matter,
which is before you now.
Uh, I would move to accept the substitute at this time
following, which will provide an explanation
Very well. There's a motion
on the floor to accept the substitute,
uh, to the second item.
It's been moved. All those in favor signify by saying aye.
Aye. Aye. Any opposed, say nay. This motion passes.
Chair recognizes Chairman Hopkins.
Uh, thank you, Mr. President.
The first, uh, change that you will note is in the title.
Uh, all the, uh, appropriate sections remain the same,
but the title, uh, has been changed, uh,
from a time in site curfew for mass gatherings
to a Declaration of Disruptive Youth gatherings.
Uh, that's significant
because the problems
with the time in site gatherings is endemic in the name,
time, and site.
The weakness of that proposal is simply this.
If you declare in advance a curfew that applies
to a specific time and a specific site,
and the teen trend decides as teens often do
to change the time
or move the site, the entire curfew application
is voided at that moment.
I'll give you a specific example,
which actually happened a couple of summers ago.
Uh, in Alderman Robinson's ward, there was a teen trend
that was advertised for 31st Street Beach.
The teens got there and for whatever reason decided later
to go to 35th Street.
If you had a curfew that was a time in site application
for 31st Street Beach, it would be null and void
and could not be used by the police for its intended purpose
at that new location.
Obviously, the same thing would apply
if the teen trend is advertised at 6:00 PM
and everybody's late
and it doesn't start till 8:00 PM
you have a different time than
what was announced in the time inside curfew.
It would be unable to be used.
This new ordinance avoids that entirely,
and it does so in a way
that I would argue is better than the original proposal
because it avoids any constitutional questions
that were raised under the original curfew ordinance.
By utilizing authority that the police currently have,
the Chicago police currently have the full authority
to issue disbursement orders for illegal gatherings
or for gatherings that come become disruptive or,
or, uh, start to break out into chaos and violence.
They don't need to have that authority given to them
by this ordinance because they already have it.
There's no question about that,
and there's no constitutional issues about that.
What this new ordinance does is allows that tool
to be applied to specific teen gatherings
and to disperse those teen gatherings with two methods.
The first method, uh,
was successfully employed on New Year's Eve
to communicate the fact that we are aware
of a plant gathering and will not allow it to occur.
For all the reasons laid out in the curfew ordinance,
because of the potential for violence, which we've seen,
a life was lost just last month
because of the potential for criminal activity
and chaos and disruption.
If we have reason to believe
that the superintendent can then declare
that we will enforce the existing laws
for dispersing large gatherings.
The second piece of
that is if the large gathering occurs anyway,
the superintendent and his designated, uh,
officers using the rank of sergeant
and hire can order a dispersal of that crowd,
and anyone who fails to comply with
that order can be taken into custody.
If they are minors, they will be taken into custody similar
to curfew custody, exactly the same way we do it now.
They'll be brought down to the station
and released to a parent or a guardian.
No arrest, no mugshots, no fingerprints,
no booking exactly the same way that it functions.
Now this is a vastly superior tool to the one
that was initially proffered.
It avoids the constitutional questions
and it gives the Chicago police maximum flexibility
to respond to events as they occur
and to not be locked in to enforcing dispersal orders
at only a specific time and only a specific place.
Uh, I would move approval of this substitute at this time
and if no one wishes to speak, but I see someone does.
Okay. The Chair recognizes alderman osha.
Thank you Mr. President. I, I'm uncomfortable
with what's being put before us here on the fly.
W what I just heard sounds like we're opening up the city
of Chicago for more litigation.
If we've got a situation downtown like we did a few weeks
ago where a child went to the morgue instead of going home,
what does this do to prevent that from happening?
It, it, it, it would appear to me, what I'm reading is
that this is just something to placate.
What does this do that gives the Chicago Police Department
a tool to help them prevent another kid from getting shot
and killed in a gang
conflict downtown Chicago.
The superintendent's dispersal order, that sounds
to me like go to the corner young man
for the rest of class today.
Uh, I'm uncomfortable with it.
Is anybody else uncomfortable with this?
What we clearly have is a very serious public safety crisis
downtown, repeatedly.
This came out five minutes ago when every one
of us talks repeatedly about what are we doing
to protect children in our city.
I'm not comfortable with this
and the rest of us shouldn't be either.
Jack, complete your comments. Thank you Alderman o Shady.
Are any other alders interested in speaking
to the motion on the floor
for the substitute ordinance to item number two?
Alright, the chair recognizes Chairman Hopkins.
Uh, yeah. Thank you to closing
and I will, uh, respond to directly
to my colleague Goldman OSHA's question, what would this do?
Uh, this would do exactly the same thing
that the curfew ordinance would've done in that scenario.
In the December scenario
where the young 14-year-old lost his life,
we had advanced warning.
We knew that that teen trend was publicized on social media
under the curfew ordinance that was substituted
for we could have in advance declared
with a 12 hour advance notice
that Chicago police would be on scene attempting to prevent
that event prospectively and proactively.
This dispersal ordinance does the exact same thing.
No difference. The second piece is if the violations occur,
if you declare a curfew starting at 8:00 PM
and at 8:01 PM the crowd is still there,
the police are allowed to move into that crowd
and begin making curfew apprehensions, not arrests.
Again, that's an important point to make for the,
for the youth advocates here,
but curfew apprehensions, it's for their own safety.
If 14-year-old Amani Floyd had been taken into pro
protective custody, he would be alive today.
Unfortunately, we did not have that tool.
This tool would function exactly the same.
A dispersal order for a targeted group of youth would be
for their own protection as much as the, for the protection
of society at large.
This is a superior tool to the curfew ordinance
and it will function exactly
as the curfew ordinance was intended only
with greater flexibility.
Thank you. Uh, I move approval of the substitute.
The chair recognizes alderman osha,
We're, we're calling this an apprehension.
So we're taking children
and we're putting 'em in a police station
and we're making their parents come
and get, what about unlawful detainment?
What about the lawsuits that we continue to have meetings on
and settlements and tens of millions
of dollars in settlements?
What happens when something goes sideways downtown
and we apprehend a group of teenagers down there
looking to create conflict,
but they're held against their will for a parent
that doesn't show up for 12 hours or 18 hours.
'cause that's what's happening a lot of times.
An apprehension that sounds like litigation.
We got plenty of lawyers in this room.
Doesn't that sound like litigation
that we're opening ourselves up for,
for more settlements when the police department is just
doing what legislation we're passing?
Thank you Alderman. Osha,
the chair recognizes Alderwoman Nugent.
Uh, thank you Mr. President.
And, um, I wanna thank Alderman Hopkins
for his work on this tirelessly over the last few months.
Uh, however, as this version is, is different than
what was moved out of committee, I, I would
respectfully request if my colleague would perhaps give us,
um, a little more time to review this
before moving it today.
Uh, thank you Mr. Chair.
Chair recognizes Chairman Hopkins.
Uh, yes, as the, uh, the motion
to substitute has already passed and the matter is pending.
Uh, I will hold it for the time being
and revisit it at the next meeting.
Very well. The chair has decided to hold this item.
Is there any other business in this committee? Chairman,
Uh, yes. Mr. President.
Item number three is Ordinance 1 9 9 8 4
amending municipal code chapter six 10
by modifying section six 10
and six 20 to include antisemitism
and discrimination in the Chicago City Council Declaration
of General Rights.
If no one wishes to speak, uh, I move passage
by the first most favorable roll call
of the Committee on Finance and associated motion
to reconsider see
In no hands here, no objections. So ordered.
Item number four is resolution R 1 9 9 7, calling
for condemnation of acts of violence, intimidation,
or harassment targeting individuals based on political
or religious beliefs.
If no, no one wishes to speak, I move passage
of this resolution by the first most favorable roll call
of the Committee on Finance and associated unsuccessful
motion to reconsider
Chair recognizes Alderman Gardner.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.
Um, I first introduce this resolution, um, in September
of 2025, uh, roughly four months ago.
Um, I'm happy to see that it was, was presented pass
through committee for those who didn't get a chance
to see it or read it.
I will briefly go over some of it.
Um, and it, it basically says that we
as Chicagoan, we celebrate our di our diversity,
our freedom of expression.
We, we celebrate the expression of political
or religious beliefs that is protected by our constitution,
that we forbid harassment, intimidation,
and violence directed towards individuals based on their
political or religious views,
which have become unfortunately,
increasingly common across our nation.
It's very ironic that this resolution is finally
in front of the full city Council.
In this resolution I talked about
how important it is the urgent need to reaffirm
that this agreement must never escalate into harm.
That condemning such violent is not an endorsement
of any particular viewpoint,
but rather a defense of the right of all people,
regardless of ideology or creed, to live
and speak freely without fear of harm.
We condemn the assassinations of Republican
and conservative influencer Charlie Kirk and Democrat
and former Minnesota House speaker Melissa Hortman, as well
as all that acts of violence, intimidation,
or harassment, targeting individuals on the basis
of their political or religious beliefs
that is upholding our constitutional rights of free speech,
peaceful assembly, and religious liberty for all Chicagoans.
This resolution does not limit your first amendment right.
It uplifts it, which includes the right to worship,
whichever God you so choose without fear
of harassment and intimidation.
Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues,
what we witnessed on Sunday in Minnesota was a total
disgrace at city's church,
and it was a violation of one's rights as Americans,
as Christians, or any other religion
you so choose to follow.
We can agree or disagree on the immigration problem in this
country, but what we cannot
and will not tolerate are people trespassing in the houses
of worship and berating worshipers, including women,
children, elderly,
in the reasoning the pastor has something to do with ice.
That, that, that was the reasoning.
But instead of organizing a protest on any
of the other six days of the week, we decided
to do it on the day that they worship during the hour
that they are worshiping.
And we don't wait outside the building.
We go inside the building
and be as disrespectful as possible
and get in the faces of these people
as they're worship worshiping their God.
One of these renegades goes by the name of de woke farmer.
William Kelly felt it upon himself
to call these God-fearing churchgoers, white supremacist.
Even Don Lemon got into the act Oh yeah.
And then doubled down on his lawless act
by stating he was being singled out
because of his race and sexuality.
The ironic part about all this, many of these worshipers
actually helping these migrants or immigrants
or people who are who, who are here illegally
in Proverbs, Proverbs 28 states, those
who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
but those who heed it, resist them.
Evil doers do not understand what is right,
but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.
Anyone who truly believes in a higher power knows what,
what those agitators did was wrong.
It was evil. I ask you to join me in condemning that type
of harassment, regardless of your political stance.
And as leaders within this city, take a stand,
take a stand against these type of acts.
It's okay to come out and talk about it.
Even if your political party says, don't talk about it.
And if you stand against these acts of violence
and harassment, please join me.
Please join me as a co-sponsor. Don't be afraid.
Be as bold as a lion. Yeah.
Come out and talk about this and say, that's wrong.
What they're doing that's evil, what they're doing.
You come in and you get into faces of women,
you get into faces of children,
and you think somehow you are, you are fighting for justice.
You're not, you're not. It's wrong.
I ask you to join me in condemning this behavior.
Thank you. Thank you.
Um, the chair recognizes alderman LaSpada.
If I'm, if I may just say,
'cause I'm, I'm trying to hear this resolution out,
but I am, as long as we're talking about it.
I do remember going to church
and hearing about someone who went into the temple
and knocked over tables to pro
to protest the invasion of capitalism
and the corruption of that temple.
I remember hearing that story.
I hear it frequently, and I do know
that there are church goers who are also white supremacists.
And so I just want to acknowledge the truth that exists
and the haziness in all of this.
I, I, I cannot listen
and ignore the, the cognitive dissonance
that I'm experiencing hearing these points.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. The chair recognizes Alderman Hopkins on your
motion again for the passage of item number apologies.
The chair recognizes Alder Manhattan.
Thank you, Mr. President. I, I apologize.
Um, I will pose this question to you.
Um, I similar to my colleague Alderman LaSpada,
I am a little confused on the sponsor
and what kind of, what does a positive vote
for this condemn?
Because is are we condemning discrimination?
Are we dis, are, are we condemning attacks on immigrants?
Are we condemning attacks on people
based on the color of their skin?
Or are we condemning First Amendment speech
for people speaking out against white supremacy?
So, uh, I, I know in committee, I, I supported this
because I thought that it read for what it was on its face,
but in hearing the chief sponsor, um, clarify
and speak on his convictions, it sounds like a vote
for this is a vote for
condemning people standing up against fascism in their city
while their neighbors are being pulled out of the street
or fighting against ice officers who have been
repeatedly violating First Amendment rights in due process,
which is what we've seen upheld in the courts.
Um, so maybe some clarification from the sponsor, um,
if it's, if the chair would allow, would help me
to determine whether this is a resolution
that reads on its face
or if the, the sponsor is in viewing some additional context
to this that maybe is not in alignment with
what I know the constituents of the 49th Ward,
um, are fighting for
Very well. Um,
just a moment. The chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.
Thank you, Mr. President.
And now good afternoon members of the city council.
I rise in support of the resolution written and presented
and passed out of committee
because as the resolution states clearly
that we are condemning assassinations
of Republicans and Democrats.
Yeah. We've seen
lawmakers gunned down in their homes with their spouses.
Our neighbor in Indiana just this weekend
had a superior court judge
and his wife shot in their homes.
This is what we all should be concerned about
because as people express their
constitutionally guaranteed rights, their opinions on
what we do, we have folks here who come here every meeting
to express their rights.
Yeah, that is an enshrined doctrine in our constitution
that is worth absolutely defending,
which this resolution specifically mentioned.
But when you take words
and turn vitriol into murder, into anger
that is designed to intimidate
and harm elected officials, I don't care
who you are in this room,
that is never acceptable a hundred percent.
Whether you are to the left of me, to the right of me,
above me or below me, none of you should feel threatened
simply because you think differently from
individuals expressing their views.
That is what this resolution calls them, all of us,
to reaffirm, to commit to.
I'm reading and taking at face value.
All I can do, everything that's presented to us.
To answer my colleague behind me's question how
what you infer from it.
I'm looking directly at what it is saying
that we are resolving ourselves to do.
It says that we are condemning political assassinations,
that we are upholding constitutional rights of free speech,
peaceful assembly, and religious liberty.
Show me by way of hands who's against that.
That is what we are here for, that we are continuing
constructive dialogue and peaceful engagement
and that we should share this
with others throughout our city.
That is what this resolution as presented
before this body from this committee says.
And in that spirit, that is what I think all of us
who pon co-sponsored it
with our colleague from the 45th Ward believe in
and what all of us, all 53 of us
need to reaffirm and hear in the city of Chicago.
Thank you. Thank you.
Um, I have Alderman PDO next,
and then if the chief sponsor wishes
to offer up some clarification as his colleague has
requested, chair recognizes Alderman pdo,
Thank you, Mr. President.
It's pretty simple to me what he's saying.
Maybe it's not simple to everybody.
I'm, I don't mean that as a knock to anybody, unfortunately,
or fortunately I should say.
This ordinance was before what happened on Sunday,
the deplorable actions that happened on Sunday.
I mean, they could have stood outside with their signs,
they could have done a lot of things, but to go there
and storm the gates with women
and children are trying to intimidate 'em,
that's just despicable.
That's unacceptable.
That's something we need to speak out against.
I wanna share something. What happened to me in 2020 out
of the blue, I got a, I got a Facebook message from a guy
who I don't know, from the 47th Ward,
nothing against you, Matt.
I just, I don't know what this guy was thinking.
This was months
after I called the, I called the Savages savages
that attacked the police at the, at the Columbus statue,
and he added a blue sends me this text that says,
I think we know who the savage is.
You deplorable S*****g thank and I respond to him back.
Thanks Timmy. His name was Tim Chipping.
Thanks Timmy parentheses keyboard warrior.
What would, what would you refer savages to that try
to kill our main police officers?
He responds back to me, go f yourself.
The pigs are savage, savages and shitheads.
Who's the keyboard warrior now? Let's go. I have guns. Okay.
I didn't know what to do. So I reached out to the,
um, to the police.
They have a department, a cyber department.
They took this pretty serious, they got ahold of the guy,
of course the guy who was dying and everything.
He don't have guns, he didn't mean
anything, blah, blah, blah.
What do you wanna do? They wanted to arrest him.
I let him go. I said, if he apologizes, uh, we just happen
to have one common friend on Facebook and, uh,
and he was from a, a local union.
I said, if you're a union president
and a friend asked me to forgive you
or forgive you to ask me, I forgave him.
But this is, this is, this guy doesn't even know me.
I mean, I don't know if he was serious.
I dunno what kind of a nutcase he is. I dunno, anything.
This, this stuff is, is terrible.
And we saw what happened to Hartman
and we saw what happened to Kirk.
This stuff is deplorable.
I I don't, I don't understand
what this world is thinking nowadays.
I I understand 100% what Jim is saying.
We, we shouldn't be allowing this stuff. You wanna protest?
I think everybody hears for First Amendment rights.
Go stand outside, do what you want, but intimidate women
and children and crash a church service.
To me, that's unacceptable.
Jim, I'm with you a hundred percent.
I know exactly what you're saying.
Uh, thank you Mr. President. Thank
You. Alderman
Alderman Gardner. Yes,
Mr. President, I'm gonna
clarify.
Uh, so everybody's, we we're all, I'm, I'm gonna make it
as clear as possible.
In here it says,
condemning such violent is not an endorsement
of any particular viewpoint,
but rather a defense of the right of all people,
regardless of ideology or creed, to live
and speak freely without fear of harm or harm.
In August, August 27th to 2025,
a man broke into a Catholic church.
Ironically, in Minneapolis,
shot multiple people killed two children, a 10-year-old
and an 8-year-old wounded another 30 children, I believe,
and this, this is the same city.
These indi these individuals decided, and,
and again, I want, I wanna make this crystal clear.
This is not condemning people who wanna protest.
You have that right as Americans, right? We celebrate that.
We see that endlessly you can protest
as much as you want, right?
But there should be boundaries on, on
where you're taking your protests.
When you're taking your protest.
Again, you could have protested on
any other day of the week.
You had six other days to do it on.
You had 23 other hours to choose from on that day.
But you chose, these individuals chose the day
to go in while these people were worshiping again,
I wrote this four months ago in September, so I had no idea.
This was just after the shooting occurred in Minneapolis,
where two children were killed, another 30 wounded.
And these individuals now just on Sunday,
took it upon themselves.
They thought it was a good idea. And,
and you could see from the video where they come in
and they, they plan, they strategize in the parking lot,
and then they walk in and they storm in
and they start berating these people
and calling 'em all types of names.
It, it again proves the validity of this resolution by we
as leaders in the city of Chicago, in this great city,
that we should come together, whether Democrat or Republican
or independent, black, white, green, Christian, Jew, Muslim,
stand against that, a house of worship.
I don't care if it's a synagogue,
if it's a mosque, if it's a church.
You don't go into somebody's home, their house of worship
during their worshiping hour and berate them.
If you can't understand that, I, I don't know how else
to explain that to you.
Thank you. Altman Gardner, right.
There's a motion on the floor for the passage
of item number four
by the most favorable roll call vote in the Committee on
finance in the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider
hearing no objections, seeing other, no other hands.
So ordered. Chairman Hopkins.
Uh, thank you Mr. President.
That concludes the report
of the Committee on Public Safety. Very
Well chair recognizes Alderman Conway.
Do I I was remiss in saying, uh,
a little bit tardy if I could be added
to the first most favorable roll call
vote on finance. Thank you
Very much. Very well. Um,
please add Alderman Conway
to the most favorable roll call vote
and the finance committee
and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider
for the Committee on Transportation and Public Way.
The chair recognizes Chairman Mitchell,
Mr. President members
of the city council reporting for your,
for your committee on Transportation
and Public Way, which held a meeting on January 20th, 2026.
The following items with, uh, passed
by the majority of the members.
Present pages two
through four included 21 ordinances from miscellaneous items
introduced by the local alderman from Wards
1, 2, 10, 16, 22, 25, 28, 29, 39,
and 45 pages five includes items ordinance
2 0 2 4 0 0 2 1 9 6 7, a street opening
for a property located in the fourth ward.
If there is no objection, I'll move passion of these items
by the first most favorable roll call vote
of the Committee on Finance in the associated unsuccessful
motion to reconsider here. No
Objection. Sole order.
Mr. President, that concludes my report.
Thank you very much. That completes our committees.
Um, Alder woman mitts would like
to make a couple of acknowledgements.
Can I get a motion to suspend the rules?
All those in favor signify by saying aye. Very well.
This motion passes, chair recognizes Alderwoman Mitchell.
I'm sorry, Alderwoman. MITs.
Thank you Mr. Um, chairman.
Um, I wanted to acknowledge the fact that
for the West siders, uh, Alman, Irving
Alderman, Tyler Farrah, um, alderman Scott,
alderman Burnett, Mr.
Mary, yourself, we lost a jewel
on the west side and uh,
who lived in Ottoman, Tyler Farrah's ward,
but she was so well known at 102
or three, which one is four?
They'll tell me 104 years old.
We've celebrated her birthday for many years
and she was one that would not let you forget
that it was her birthday either.
So I wanted to recognize her
because she was not just known on the west side.
She was known throughout the state of Illinois.
You talk about legislation that's been passed.
I've watched Miss Drummond, Lillian Drummond
take on every governor that went there.
If you started messing with the seniors
and particularly big on a li Heat program,
helped many seniors.
Anybody from West Side knows Miss Drummond,
but she fought a good fight.
She left a legacy that all of us could look back on
and say, Hey, I hope I could do that.
She worked past that hundred
until she just couldn't work no more
and then she would work from her home.
Still that tells us that we need to
get that strength together
because when you find seniors who are still working
because they love helping others,
and that's what she loved doing, helping others, even though
she were a little weak at time,
she still wanted to help others.
You all get me. I want you to fill me here on this
because our seniors are very important to
the city, the state and this country.
Now that brings me to another point that I want
to talk about, which is the oldest
American act, the reauthorization
of the 2025 bill,
Senate Bill 2120.
That has been reintroduced
through the House and the Senate.
But guess what? They did pass the house,
didn't pass the Senate.
Now we are up January this year of 31.
That bill do not get passed.
We'll have our seniors out here.
We're gonna lose that funding, that care caregivers
when we start neglecting the seniors.
What gonna happen to the rest of us?
'cause we trying to get to be there.
So our urges to make sure that we stay focused,
calling our senators, our congressmen
to make sure this bill, whatever we need to do
sometime we got to be bipartisan,
cross some lines to help other folks.
It ain't about just us. We need
to make sure we save this program so
that our seniors would not have to live in poverty.
And I know if Ms. Drummond was alive today,
she'd be one in the front line fighting this fight.
But because I'm here
and I'm getting in that age, I'm there at that senior age.
Now I want you all to recognize
that you gotta travel in the footsteps that we are going
through if you live there long enough,
but you better do the right thing
and the right thing now is to fight
while the blood is running warm in your veins. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you Alderwoman.
MITs, uh, alderman Mitch, you on a motion to return back
to the regular order of business?
Ms. Brown move, return to the red order.
Of all those in favor signify by saying aye. Very well.
And now back to the regular order of business
for the agreed upon calendar.
Um, Alderwoman Harris,
Mr. President,
um, I have 132 I've received from the clerk, uh,
Andrea and Valencia.
A total of um, 132 items proposed
for the agreed calendar consisting
of congratulatory commemorative tribulation resolutions
from the following.
Alder persons, Alder Persons, Robinson and Lawson.
All person Chico,
all person Coleman all person osha older person,
moley Al person debar all person Rio, um,
all person Lawson Al person, Gardner and Al person Clay.
I move these into Omnibus sir.
Hearing no objection. So ordered now for new business.
The court will call the awards beginning with the first
Zoning amendments which are referred
to the committee on zoning landmarks
and building standards, 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,
which is referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Public Way.
All the person LaSpada has a proposed ordinance
for amendment of municipal code section four dash 1 56 dash
3 0 5 to exempt public places
of amusement from license requirements if want
or more video game terminals is present, which is referred
to the Committee on License and Consumer Protection.
All the person Robinson has a proposed order
for their historical landmark fee waiver
for a recertification of the property at 45 43 South Ellis
Avenue, which is referred
to the committee on zoning landmarks and building standards.
All the person Mitchell has proposed ordinance for amendment
of municipal code chapter four dash four
by adding a new section four dash four dash 3 25
to prohibit issuance of additional beauty SH beauty supply
store licenses in the seventh ward, which is referred
to the Committee on License and Consumer Protection.
All the person Mitchell also has a proposed ordinance
for amendment of municipal code chapter four dash four
by adding a new section four dash four dash 3 26,
they prohibit issuance of additional convenience store
licenses in the seventh ward, which is referred
to the Committee on License and Consumer
Protection Alder person.
Mitchell also has proposed orders for amendment
of MSPA code section four dash 64 dash five 15
by prohibiting issuance of additional new
or renewal retail tobacco dealer licenses in the seventh
ward, which is referred to the Committee on License
and Consumer Protection Alder person Mitchell also has
proposed orders for amendment of municipal code section four
dash 1 0 8 dash 80 by replacing in its entirety
to prohibit sale of convenience items
and motor fuel at filling stations between 10:00 PM
and 6:00 AM in the seventh ward, which is referred
to the company on license consumer protection.
All, all their person Beal
and others have proposed resolution to call
for the city clerk to provide Illinois Gaming Board
with certified copies of the city council ordinance allowing
video gaming terminals, which is referred
to the Committee on Finance, while the person Gutierrez has
a proposed ordinance for amendment of municipal code section
four dash 60 dash 23
to allow additional package goods licenses on portion
of South Pulaski Road, which is referred
to the Committee on License and Consumer Protection.
All the person Gutierrez also has a proposed ordinance
for amendment of municipal code at section four dash 60 dash
0 23 to allow additional package with licenses on portions
of West 51st Street, which is referred
to the Committee on License and Consumer Protection.
All the person Moore has proposed ordinance for amendment
of municipal code section four dash 60 dash 0 23
to allow additional package with licenses on portion
of South Racing Avenue, which is referred
to Committee on License and Consumer Protection while the
person Moore also has a proposed ordinance for amendment
of municipal code section four dash 60 0 23
to disallow additional package good licenses on portion
of West 69th Street, which is referred
to Committee on License and Consumer Protection.
All the person, OSHA
and others have proposed resolution to call
for hearings on the city's cash flow situation as described
by members of the press, which
is referred to the Committee on Finance.
All the person Scott has proposed ordinance
for an honorary street designation as Carol Robertson Way,
which is referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Public Way.
All the person Burnett has proposed orders for the issuance
of permits for signed sign boards at various locations,
which are referred to the committee on zoning
landmarks and building standards.
All the person Burnett also has proposed ordinance
for support of a Class six B tax incentive
for the property at 4 0 4 North Armor Armor Street,
which is referred to the committee Economic Capital
and Technology Development.
Al Firo has proposed ordinance
for amendment municipal code section nine dash 64 dash one
70 a to allow parking
of taxi cabs on residential streets within the 29th ward,
which is referred to the committee
as transportation and public way.
All the person Tellier also has proposed orders
for the issuance supremist for signed sign boards at 1619
North Neva Avenue, which are referred to the committee
as zoning landmarks and building standards.
All the person Tere also has proposed orders for amendment
of the annual appropriation ordinance
to transfer funds within the Committee on Police
and Fire for the year 2026 from the commodities
and materials and supplies to personal services,
which is referred to the committee on the budget
and government operations while the person RO also has
proposed ordinance for amendment of the annual appropriation
ordinance to transfer funds within the Committee on Police
and Fire for the year 2026.
From, from the from the contractual services,
the personnel services, which is referred
to the committee on the budget and government operations,
all person fier, all says proposed ordinance for amendment
of the annual appropriation ordinance
to transfer funds within the Committee on Police
and Fire for the year 2026.
From the Miscellaneous Fund to Personal Services,
which is referred to the committee on the Budget
and Government Operations,
all the person Wapac has proposed order for the issuance
of permits for signed sign boards at 2,500 North Elston
Avenue, which is referred
to the Committee on zoning landmarks and billing standards.
All the person Conway has proposed orders for amendment
of municipal code sections eight dash 32 dash zero 60
and eight dash 32 dash one 20 to replace the word churches
with the words place, places of worship
in noise sensitive zones, which is referred
to the Committee on Public Safety.
All the PERSONDO has proposed ordinance for amendment
of the annual appropriation ordinance
to transfer funds from the 38th Ward.
All thematic expense account to the wage allowance account
for the year 2026, which is referred
to the committee on the Budget and Government operations,
while the person NuGen has proposed ordinance for amendment
of the annual appropriation ordinance to trans
to transfer funds from the 30 39th Ward.
All the medic expense account to the wage allowance account
for the year 2025, which is referred
to committee on the budget and government Operations.
All the person in Theano has proposed an ordinance
for an honorary street designation as Judy McIntyre Way,
which is referred to the Committee on
Transportation in Public Way.
All the person in Theano
and others have proposed ordinance for amendment
of municipal code section two dash eight dash zero 40,
allowing all the persons to propose up
to four honorary street designations per calendar year,
which is referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Public Way.
All the person Riley, has proposed orders for the issuance,
SREs for signed sign boards at various locations,
which are referred to the committee on
zoning landmarks and building standards.
All the person law then has a proposed ordinance
for amendment of the annual appropriation ordinance
to transfer funds from the 44th Ward,
ultimate expense account to the wage allowance account
for the year 2026, which is referred
to the committee on the budget and government Operations.
All the person. Lawson also has proposed ordinance
for amendment of municipal code section 17 dash seven dash
5 74 to replacing its entirety
regarding additional dwelling units allowed in RS areas,
which are referred to the committee on
zoning landmarks and building standards.
All the person Lawson also has proposed ordinance
for amendment municipal code section four dash 60 64 dash
2 0 6 to establish Sunday parking media hours on
non-residential streets,
which is referred to the Committee on Finance.
All the person, Lawson
and others have proposed resolution
for the amendment of the City Council.
Rules of order and procedure for the 2023 through 2027 term
to appoint new chair
and vice chair of the committee on zoning landmarks
and billing standards, which is referred
to the Committee on Committees and Rules.
All the person, Gardner and others have opposed Ordinance
for amendment of municipal code section two dash 1 56 dash
3 85 regarding Inspector General's investigative reports
and probable cause findings, which is referred
to the Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight.
All the person. Gardner also has proposed ordinance
for an honorary street designation as J Warner Way,
which is referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Public Way.
All the person Silverstein has proposed order
for the useless permit for signed sign boards at 25 53 west
of V Avenue, which is referred to command
as zoning landmarks and billing standards.
Other person, Viegas
and others have proposed ordinance in many municipal code
section two dash 32 dash 3 92
regarding wage wage garnishments for municipal debt,
which is referred to Committee on finance,
other person Irvin has a proposed ordinance
concerning the establishment of the Chicago Tourism
Improvement District,
which is referred to the Committee on Finance.
Your Honor, that concludes the presentation of all thematic
Introduction. Thank you for the, uh,
approval of the journal
chair recognizes Alderman Mitchell.
Mr. President, I'm, I'm not aware of any corrections
to the journals from the December 20th, 2025
and December 29th, 2025 meetings
and move that they be approved.
Hearing no objection.
So order for unfinished business, alderman Mitchell. I'm
Aware of one piece of
unfinished business, which was filed by
Alderman Quinn, so I defer To him very well.
Thank you. The chair recognizes Alderman Quinn,
Pursuant to rule 33 of the city Council rules of order,
I move to accept a substitute ordinance
for 0 2 0 2 5 dash
0 0 2 1 0 1 8, which was previously circulated
to CI city council by a majority vote.
Very well. There's a motion on the floor
to approve the substitute.
Is that correct? For item 0 0 2 1 0 1 8.
All those in favor signify by saying aye.
Any opposed, say nay. This motion passes Allman Quinn.
Thank you, Mr. Mr. Mayor.
I rise today in full support of a compromised hemp ordinance
that will ban dangerous
and unregulated hemp products citywide.
After last year's discussions, I recognized I had
to make some changes to the original ordinance.
I'm proud to say we've reached a compromise
that protects our city's kids.
How did we get here? We did the lake work required
to reach a compromise.
We looked at a problem and asked
ourselves, how do we solve it?
I personally contacted every alderman in this body
and for that thank you.
I appreciate your patience, I appreciate your feedback.
We heard each other out and had open
and honest discussions about how to move forward.
I'm also pleased to say this new ordinance takes into
account nearly all of bcps issues and concerns.
The compromise before us today allows for hemp beverages,
allows for hemp additives.
We've included a carve out for the hemp topical industry.
We also have a, a carve out
for hemp products intended for animals.
We've changed the effective date to April 1st, 2026.
And effective immediately, you have to be 21 years
or older to purchase.
I think we found a path forward
that ensures our kids are protected and safe,
and that's the bottom line.
The fact of the matter is I success.
I successfully banned these businesses in the 13th war,
and since then, many of many colleagues have asked me
how they can do the same in their own wards.
There is a strong coalition behind this compromise Ordinance
that can move it forward, which is why I presented today.
We believe this is the right move for the city of Chicago
and could be a model for the state
as they also work on this issue.
Uh, Mr. Mayor asked for a roll call, uh,
vote after, after the debate. Thank you, sir. You're
Welcome. Chair
recognizes Alderman Beal.
Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President.
I rise to support, uh, this compromise
and would like to congratulate my colleague on doing the
hard work, uh, in order to reach this compromise.
Uh, this has been a hot topic, um, within the city
of Chicago to make sure that we protect children,
and that's what this has all been all about from the very
beginning, protecting our children
and keeping them out of harm's way.
And so listening to the industry, listening
to your colleagues, listening to everybody
to come up with this compromise.
Again, I commend my colleague
or continue to move forward working together
so we can do what's best for the city of Chicago.
So thank you so much and I'll be supporting this RESO
Chair. Recognizers
Alderman O'Shea.
Thank you Mr. President. I too stand in support.
I'd like to start out by, uh,
thanking my colleague from the 13th Ward, uh,
strong leadership on this Alderman Quinn.
You brought parties together, business affairs,
the business community colleagues that had concerns, um,
and has been stated multiple times here.
This is about protecting children. I support this.
I'd ask that everybody else considers supporting it. I work.
Oh, one more thing.
I'd also like to recognize Sam Toya, who helped broker some
of these meetings and bring people together. Nice work.
The chair recognizes Alderman Conway.
Um, I became very interested in this topic
and a story I've told before,
or my 5-year-old wanted to buy Jolly ranchers laced
with hemp, thinking that they were normal candy.
Um, and there, at that point in time,
I was certainly in favor of rec uh, regulation,
but I was concerned about this ordinance When it first came,
came up, I thought it was, was perhaps too broad.
Uh, so I actually voted no on this in committee at the time,
which it, which it passed through.
And then Alderman Quinn came to me
and asked me a question that we don't often ask each other.
He said, bill, what can I do to earn your support?
And I said, well, Marty, we're on a first name basis.
I said, well, you, uh, I think you should,
I think you should exempt lotion and beverages.
I think you gotta make it a make it over 21 plus.
And you know, I think you need to change some language on,
on, uh, enforceability.
And then on behalf of BACP, you probably ought
to back up the effective date.
Those are the four ass I had,
and I obviously, as Alderman Quinn said,
all of those things were done.
So I really, uh, I am in, in, in favor of this ordinance
and I want to thank you personally, alderman Quinn,
for your, for your Statesmanlike action
and behavior in putting this forward.
Thank you very much.
Chair recognizes Alderwoman Silverstein.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Um, I too wanna congratulate my colleague, Marty Quinn.
Um, this ordinance passed through the license committee
and, um, the original version we knew had some issues
and I had lots of discussions with Alderman Quinn,
and he said to me, please, let's pass it out of committee.
And I give you my word that I'm gonna go back
and make some changes and talk
to people and listen to people.
And that's exactly what he did.
Um, he made the correct changes while
still protecting our children.
I wanna thank you for that, Marty.
And, um, you have my full support
Chair recognizes all the woman Hadden.
Thank you for the support, uh, here, guys.
Um, thank you, Mr. President.
Um, I rise in opposition to this ordinance, um,
but I too wanna actually commend
to our colleague Marty Quinn.
So, um, I appreciate we spoke on multiple occasions.
Um, uh, he reached out early,
we were talking even yesterday.
Um, and I just wanna lift that up as
how we legislate in this body.
So I very much appreciate that.
Um, I also appreciate being able to have conversations
and discussion dis and disagreements on an issue
with people, um, that didn't end in like,
somebody like sliding somebody's character
or, uh, somebody leaving a caucus or a body or right.
Like this felt really nice to just have like,
disagreement on some policy things
and try to solve some problems.
So I appreciate that Marty, um,
and everybody who worked on this, um,
my opposition is based on, um,
feeling like we're not quite there on hitting some
of the protection goals that I know my colleagues had
and wanting to keep, um, certain products out of the hands
of bad actors, OND businesses,
and some of the things that we've seen create safety risks
for not just children,
but even, uh, adults who are unknowingly maybe ingesting,
uh, edibles or products
that they don't know might have some
intoxicating, uh, components.
I will say that, um,
we've also got a small business industry that has really
done that thing that a lot of us love in Chicago.
They have been clever, they have been creative,
and we've had strong entrepreneurs build whole businesses
around CBD
and hemp products, especially a lot
of minority owned businesses that were shut out
by the larger cannabis space.
Um, so from small events companies to little coffee shops
to specialty spaces, there are businesses in Chicago that
self-regulate, that sell to 21
and over that are good actors.
And I'm afraid that this version of the ordinance is going
to harm them right now while trying to do some good.
Um, you know, so my opposition,
I wish we had a little bit more time.
I wish we could work a bit more with our kind
of entrepreneurial, locally based hemp industry folks.
I don't think they were given much
voice in the conversation.
Um, and I'll say as a CBD right consumer, um,
I don't find those non intoxicating kind
of health benefit based things at dispensaries
because the answer, that's
what it's gonna be if you take a CBD, um, uh, gummy
or edible for inflammation like I did.
You guys know I came back from medical leave.
I've been living with endometriosis.
Um, I'm not a recreational cannabis user
for recreational purposes, but CBD
and the broad spectrum products do have a lot
of healing benefits for people.
So whether it's for anxiety, whether it's for PTSD,
whether it's for inflammation, there are a lot of products,
um, I'm not a smoker, I'm not gonna smoke it.
Um, there are additives
and those beverages that we have allowed for carve outs
for those are recreational, right?
Those are recreational in the way that we might use alcohol.
They're not necessarily the types of products
that really fall into the medicinal category.
Um, so it, it hurts me to see us cutting off an avenue for,
for healing for health,
but also for kind of small businesses that are really
the backbone of our local economy.
So, stand in opposition to this.
Um, I hope my colleagues will join me in opposing it so
that we can work to find a better solution
for all Chicagoans. Thank you.
Thank you Alderman Napolitano.
Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, I too rise in support
of this, uh, this ordinance.
And I, I, I'll make it quick.
I just really have to tip my hat to, uh, alderman Quinn who,
uh, did his due diligence to make sure that, uh,
everybody kind of had a say
or had a seat at the table
when it came to something like this.
Um, my, my, my, um, my, uh,
neighboring ward 45th Ward, we had a problem with this,
and we too, like Alderman Quinn had banded
from our, uh, our ward.
Uh, but I think the masterful part about this,
that Alderman Quinn is using that we're using down here and,
and on behalf of my colleague, is we have the ability
to amend as we go.
So the process, the wheels are turning, um,
hopefully this ordinance, ordinance gets passed today,
but as a, as colleagues who are all talking about an issue
that could benefit the city on revenue side,
but can hurt children, and there's that fine line.
We have the ability to use this right here to amend it
and make it better for the city,
but also to protect children.
And I think that's what we do best.
Um, there's a lot of us that have a saying down here that,
you know, when when you ask somebody
to sign their ordinance, you say,
this is the best thing I'm putting forward right now.
But as, as, as colleagues,
we can make it better in the future
or the very next city council.
Uh, and I think that's why this is,
this is a great step forward and,
and taken over by Alderman Quinn,
and I appreciate all of you to support it
because I think we do have to put, um, the negative side
to this ahead of the benefits side right now,
because the negative is affecting a lot of children.
Um, and it's kind of in a sneaky way, it's done.
So I I really appreciate, uh, those
who are supporting it and those who aren't.
Let's find a way to make it better
that it accommodates your awards and, uh,
and the the whole entire city of Chicago as well.
But thank you, uh, alderman Quinn for a great job.
Uh, and thank you for the opportunity, Mr. President.
Thank you. Chair recognizes Alder Rodriguez Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Um, I want to echo the comments
of my colleague, Maria Hadden.
Um, but I also wanna say that I wish that
in this body we spend more time looking at best practices,
looking at research, looking at creating evidence
based policy.
Bans don't discourage people from seeking these products.
They just put them in the black market.
They just, they, they are still going to be accessible.
You are not necessarily protecting children just
because you ban something, people can still have access.
What you are doing is impeding these products being
regulated, right?
And I need us to think about that
because it feels like in this council, we do this so often.
We want to look busy doing something.
We want to tell people, I am I'm doing this
because I hate that kids are being targeted.
But the reality is that people are going
to access these products.
We just, we're just not gonna have control over it.
Um, so I'm very disappointed I'm going
to vote no on this item,
and I really hope that we do better in this council
Chair recognizes Alderman Riley.
Thank you, uh, Mr. President.
And I wanted to, uh, join the chorus of Alderman
who are complimenting Alderman Quinn
on the Workmanlike fashion.
He went about collaborating.
That's the word we use here a lot, collaboration.
Um, but Alderman Quinn actually exemplified that here.
Um, I was one of the alderman
who also had some concerns about the initial proposal, um,
perhaps being a bit too broad.
And I do think that the general consensus here is we don't
want these types of dangerous products
falling into the hands of kids.
And when you have laced Doritos and, and gummy bears and gum
and all these sorts of things,
bright colored packaging available, uh,
unregulated in our corner stores
and our gas stations, that's a real concern.
And I think that Derman Quid has done a good job narrowing
the focus here, um, while also listening
to concerns from members of the restaurant
and hospitality industry
and others about keeping beverages available.
Topicals. Um, many of the CBD products
that my colleague mentioned are exempted here, um,
because there are health benefits that, that are associated
with them, even for our pets.
Uh, and so as Alderman Napolitano said, um,
there is certainly opportunity as we move forward
to make tweaks and adjustments to this as we see fit.
But I do think this is a good start as far
as the regulatory regime goes.
I think it does, for the most part, help us in our effort
to keep these types of products away
from kids that don't know better.
So, thank you Altman Quinn,
for the work you've done on this, and I appreciate you
soliciting my opinion and the
opinion of others here on the council.
I'll be voting yes. Uh, thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. Chair recognizes Alderman sdo,
Mr. President,
uh, congratulate my colleague.
I originally like my esteem colleague from the 34th Ward,
who I affectionately called Bill.
I was also against it.
Um, everything I have
to say was already said, but I'm gonna say it again.
Anyways, uh, Marty, you came up
with a blueprint for all of us.
Uh, been here 15 years, started with you,
and, uh, this was a great job working with everybody.
So, uh, maybe you could,
uh, print it up and give it to everybody.
And for our next 16 months together,
maybe we could all work together a little bit better.
I hope the, I hope to learn from what you did.
Uh, and just a reminder, everybody too, I mean,
this is a working document.
I'm, I'm willing to talk to some of these people.
Uh, for every action there's a reaction
and there's certainly no doubt that some people are affected
by this, uh, negatively,
but I think the positive is more, more than a negative.
But I'm, I'm willing to hear from those of you
that say we're doing the wrong thing.
And I, I know Marty is so, uh, just a great job.
Um, I support it now, um, was a no.
And now I'm a yes, but thank you very
much, Mr. President. Thank
You. Chair recognizes
Alderman LaSpada.
Hey, thank you very much, sir. Mr.
President, um, all Alderman Quinn, like I I wanna say
as others have, I cannot compliment you more in the process
that you've gone about this with.
I think you've been exceptionally collaborative, really open
to feedback on this.
Even when we disagreed on the feedback,
I think everyone in this room would agree
that these products should not be sold to minors.
That they should be regulated,
that there should be responsible dosage limits on this.
I think that the challenge for me was,
and again, like all the women hadn't spoke to this,
but I'll speak to her from my perspective, talking
to small businesses that sell
infused baked goods products that you eat
and soliciting their feedback on this,
they are not the problem businesses in my ward, the products
that they sell, they endeavor to regulate
and they want to be regulated.
They have been consistently safe
and responsible in my community,
and I didn't know how to square with them.
That if you, 'cause it's all about ingestion.
We talked about this earlier. It's all being digested,
but it's legal if you drink it with a straw
and it's illegal if you chew it with your mouth.
Um, I, I can't square that.
Like, what, what makes eating illegal and drinking legal?
And I'm glad that there's the carve out
for the beverage industry.
I couldn't square the rest.
I could not square why I would take
responsible safe actors in my community
and put them out of business.
And again, like as someone who uses
a hemp derived CBD product for going to bed
and actually having healthy sleep habits in my life,
I could not square how that decision
should be made illegal.
So again, like I, I appreciate everything
that you've brought forward in
the manner that you've done it.
I can't support this ordinance
for those reasons. Thank you, sir.
Thank you. Are there any other alters that wish
to speak to this item?
The chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.
Thank you chairman, and
good afternoon members of the committee. Good afternoon.
Um, Of the council, excuse me.
I rise in support of this
and many individuals have said that thanks to our colleague,
obviously for his collaboration.
But I did listen to my businesses
and the problem that I had was
that when I challenged my businesses
and said, what amendment can we make that you can live with?
No one gave me an answer.
When we talk about the bad actors and the good actors,
and there are plenty of people who are doing responsible
things in there, but plenty of people who are not,
we cannot forget that BACP during hearing said
that they've had zero enforcement actions.
Zero. When it comes to cannabis,
you say that we can regulate this and do things better.
We can't even do it right now.
This measure, in my opinion, as I told my businesses,
gives us a clean slate.
Is it perfect for to, for keeping good pe good actors whole?
No. But does it address the large scale
bad actors that we see?
Yes. That's the starting point.
We need, in my opinion, I believe as many
of my colleagues have stated that there are benefits to what
is legally and helpful, helpful
and responsibly obtained.
Yes. But we have to figure out what that looks like.
Because in the,
okay, because in the absence of leadership,
in the absence of enforcement, we have
to take measures into our own hands.
And that's exactly what we're doing today.
And as we hear now
that possibly Congress was gonna push back the date another
year, I don't wanna go back
to my neighborhood saying I did nothing to protect children
or to try to clarify bad actors from good
or to help elevate a growing industry from those
who would take advantage of our inaction.
That's what we're doing today.
And for everyone who says that we need to use metrics
or evidence-based, whatever you wanna say,
where's the resolution
or ordinance that shows exactly that,
what was introduced by that person?
We can't complain and then do nothing.
We can't argue against something without putting pen
to paper and writing something
because that's what got us into this place in got us
to this place in the, the first place.
So we have a choice to start fresh.
And that's exactly what Alderman Quinn's
ordinance allows us to do.
And I urge everyone's support of that. Thank you.
Very well. There's a motion on the floor
for a roll call vote.
Uh, Madam Clerk, could you make the EVO application
available members, Ms.
Body, please record your vote at this time.
And the e-voting is open. E-voting is open.
Please use your eev device. The e-voting is now open.
All right, I will now take the e-voting, uh,
or your voice votes for those who do not use the Evo
or the folks online.
Alderman Hall, not in chambers. Alderwoman Ramirez.
No. Ramirez say no. Alderman Coleman. Yes.
Coleman is a yes. Alder woman. Tab Baras. Yes.
Tabba is a yes. Alderman Conway.
Conway not in chambers. Alderman Sdo Sway. Yes.
Alderman Vasquez? Yes, Vasquez is a, a. Yes.
Alderwoman Mana Howorth. No. Mana Howorth is a no.
Anyone I missed? All right. The voting.
Oh, voting is now closed.
There are 32 yays 16 nays.
This measure passes Alderman Mitchell on a motion
to reconsider move to reconsider the vote.
All those in the favor of the reconsideration
of this vote signified by saying aye.
Any opposed, say nay. This motion fails.
Alderman Mitchell, are you aware
of any other further un since
I'm not aware of any more unfinished business
Very well from miscellaneous business, alderman Mitchell,
Except for the ordinance setting, the date
and time of the next meeting, I'm not aware of any
further miscellaneous business.
And for the date and time of the next meeting,
Uh, I handed up in the ordinance
to the clerk setting the date and time of the next meeting.
Madam Clerk, please read the ordinance being
Ordained by the city council, the City of Chicago.
Section one. The next regular meeting of the city Council.
The city of Chicago shall be held on February 18th, 2026,
beginning at 10:00 AM in the council chamber on the second
floor in City Hall, 1 21 North LaSalle Street, Chicago,
Illinois, section two.
This ordinance shall take effect
and be enforced from and after its passage.
Gregory Mitchell, alderman Seventh Ward.
Very well, alderman Mitchell.
I move, pa I move passes in the omnibus
Here. No objection.
So ordered
for the omnibus Alderman Mitchell. Okay,
Mr. President, I move that matters
in the omnibus be passed
by the first most favorable role called Vote
by the Committee on Finance and the unsuccessful motion
to, we consider hearing
No objection. So ordered
Altman Mitchell on a motion to adjourn There
Being no further business before this
body. I move that we adjourn,
Hearing no objection.
So order the meeting is adjourned.