Good afternoon.
The Committee on Licensed
and Consumer Protection will now come to order.
We will begin with a roll call
to establish quorum Vice Chair Chico
Alderman Moore,
uh, alderman Cardona.
Is that here? Alderman Wax. Back present. Alderman Conway.
Present. Alderman Viegas. Present.
Alderman Spto Silence There. Alderman Lawson.
Alderman Gardner Present. Alderwoman Clay.
Alderman Martin not present.
And, uh, chair Silverstein is present.
There are nine members present.
We have a quorum and now we have 10, uh,
alderman Cardonas here.
We have some people, um, that want to, that have Rule 59
and would like to be on virtually.
That's, uh, alderman Napolitano
Coleman, Riley Mitt,
and Scott Alderman Lawson moves, um, to allow them in.
All in favor, say aye. Any opposed?
Um, are you here? Alderman Napolitano.
Alderman Coleman, nobody's.
Hey Steve. How you doing?
Who was that? Al? Who just said something?
That's Alderman Scott.
I was unmuting myself,
but that was someone else. But I'm present.
That is present. Uh, alderman Riley.
Are you by any chance Alderwoman mitts? Okay.
So we will allow Alderwoman Scott in
to be included in quorum.
At this time, we will begin the public comment period.
The period is limited to 30 minutes.
Outta respect for everyone's time.
Each speaker is limited to three minutes.
The first speaker is Michael K. Harris.
Good afternoon.
Alright, hear me? Good afternoon.
Michael Harris, manager of Government Relations
for the Illinois Retail Merchants Association.
Thank you Madam Chair, members of the committee.
We appreciate the intent behind item six
and share the goal of addressing bad actors.
But we ask that you'll be open to holding number six
until we have a chance to meet,
to discuss the concerns in more detail, and then bring back
and come back to this committee with potential refinements.
We believe we can work together on an approach
that targets problem actors without making the overall
licensing process more burdensome
for responsible businesses.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you. The next speaker is George Blakemore.
First, I would like to thank you for beginning your
meetings, this meeting on time.
So I'm making some progress.
I am making a difference.
You, you was only six minutes late,
but something is going egregious is going on.
They having another city meeting over in the chamber.
Why would you have two meetings at the same time?
One in 2 0 1 8 and one in the chamber.
As a citizen, I have every right to go
to both of these meetings.
So again, you all need to get together in your scheduling
that Sierra is having that one over there.
But that's the city agency also.
Anyway, license, Emma, Mitch had this committee
and, and consumer affairs license.
But when it comes to these liquor license
and now down here with item six, uh, Ron Mo, Mr.
Honorable say that, uh, these smoke shops,
these liquor license black folks do
not get these license.
Not one. But when you go in the ghetto
and see these fabulous liquor stores,
you would think in, in the ghetto, the heart of the ghetto,
the interiors and the lights.
But, but it's not black businessmen.
It's Arabs, it's whites, it's everybody except owning these
and getting these liquor license.
But I can't beat up on, on, on these white folks
and on these Mexican folks and these Asian folks.
Well, I got to beat up on you black people.
No economic development.
It's money with these liquor license.
And if you don't get 'em, and these are smoke shops and,
and, and some other person come into your community and,
and get these guys, you deserve it.
You deserve to be ghetto minded people
in the ghetto for no economic development.
But you have black faces in some of these high places.
Your job is to teach, inform and to educate your people.
So blacks don't have no liquor life,
no smoke shop, but,
but the fabulous other people are getting rich
on the black people because they don't know any better.
You don't tend to your business.
Business is money, honey,
and you don't have any economic development.
Mr. Moore in your neighborhood and you other Black Altima.
Thank you that com.
That concludes our public comment period.
Uh, we will now start today's agenda.
We have six items on the agenda today.
The first item on the agenda is the approval
of the Rule 45 reports for January, 2026,
which were sent out to committee Vice Chair Chico moves
to approve the Rule 45 report.
All in favor say aye. Any opposed the opinion of the chairs?
The ayes have it. The reports are approved.
And Madam Chairman, could Alderman Riley be admitted
for purposes of quorum?
Yes. I see. We actually have Alderman Riley
and we have Alderman Napolitano. Are you here now?
Alderman Napolitano is here.
Thank you Madam Chair. Sorry to be late.
That's okay. So Alderman Lawson then renews his motion
to include them as part of quorum.
All in favor say aye. Um, any opposed?
Yes, you are here. Yes, A non-member, um, alderman Gut.
Alderwoman Gutierrez is here as well. Sorry about that.
Um, and you're next on the agenda.
Um, the first two ordinances are in the 14th ward.
Um, we're gonna do them together.
Um, number two is oh 2 0 2 6
dash 0 0 2 2 5 2 7.
An amendment of municipal code section four dash
6 3 2 6
to allow additional package, good licenses on portions
of South Pulaski Road.
And then item number three is oh
2 0 2 6 2 2 5 2 8.
An amendment of the municipal code section four dash six
eight to allow additional package good licenses on portions
of West Street.
The chair recognizes Alderwoman Gutierrez.
Thank you so much, chairwoman and good afternoon committee
and licensing and consumer protection.
I'm asking the committee for a favorable consideration
of lifting the moratorium
to allow additional packaged goods licenses on South Pulaski
Road for Aldi.
Located at 41 0 1 South Pulaski Road.
Aldi has agreed to a plan of operation and again,
and I'm asking, uh, for a favor of consideration, as well
as the one on 26 0 1 West 51st Street.
Currently has been hosting Han's Liquor
Store for over 20 years.
Um, he wants to retire, will be selling the property,
and there's this other new property owner that would like
to, uh, buy the property and is asking to get a new license.
Uh, we'll be, uh, we send out letters to the community
and we are waiting on feedback, uh, for the community
and happy to work with them.
And, uh, they're willing to, uh, continue a good business,
a good neighbor being a good neighbor in the community.
And any additional, uh, feedback
that we get from the community, we, we are happy to, um,
continue to work with a new owner
and, uh, our neighbors as well.
Thank you. Are there any questions by committee Alder
and Moore Moves to pass.
All in favor say aye. Any opposed the opinion of the chairs?
The ayes have it. Thank you. Um, these items are passed.
Um, I see Alderman Moley is a non-member
and he's here too, so we recognize you.
Um, the next two items we're also gonna take together
and, um, they're on the 17th ward.
Item number four is oh
2 0 2 6 0 2 2 4 7 2.
An amendment of municipal code section four dash
6 3 2 4
to allow additional package goods licenses on portions
of Racing Avenue.
And then item number five is oh
2 2 2 4 8 7.
An amendment of the municipal code section four dash six
eight to disallow additional package
with licenses on portion of 69th Street
Chair recognizes Alderman Moore.
Thank you. Thank you Chairman. This thing on?
Yes, on, um, thank you chairman.
The, um, first item, which is at, um, Racine, um,
76 and Racine, as a matter of fact, um, is one where a, um,
grocery store and who also sells liquor there.
But they got a, um, great portion of, um, groceries there.
Had been over, been in that community for over 40 years.
And, um, the owner is, um, ready to retire
after, you know, being a great neighbor
and a supporter of the community.
Um, he worked actually with me to find the right, um, match,
um, for this community.
The reason why I want to keep it there is
because, uh,
there are no other grocery stores within walking distance
and they, um, sell pretty good, um, products
that allow residents within the area, um, to walk, um,
to the grocery store.
And so, uh, I I'm going to ask for your most favor opinion,
um, on that
and lifting that moratorium to, um, so we could continue
to keep that business there under a new management.
That would be just as respect as this management.
But then also on 69th Street, uh, um,
putting the moratorium back on West 69th Street
after lifting it, I think it was a year ago, um, to, um,
bring in, um, a, uh, a new owner
to take in another grocery store that was there.
Um, and so, um, if I can have your support on this,
it would be greatly appreciated.
Are there any questions by committee?
Vice chair, Chico moves to pass. All in favor say aye. Aye.
Any opposed? In the opinion of the chairs?
The ayes have it and the motion is passed.
Fi final item on the agenda
is oh
2 0 2 5 0 0 2 1 7 2 6.
An amendment of the municipal code chapter four dash six
four by adding new section
four dash six four dash five three regarding issuance
of retail tobacco licenses.
We have a substitute, um, alderman Beck moves
to recognize the substitute.
All in favor say aye. Any opposed?
And the opinion of the chairs, the ayes have it.
The substitute ordinance is before us
and the chair recognizes Alderman Mosley.
Thank you Madam Chair.
Uh, colleagues, this is a substitute ordinance
that responds directly to the concerns that have been raised
by residents across the city regarding the impact
of certain tobacco retailers on
neighborhood quality of life.
Uh, while we're still also addressing feedback from the
Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection
and the Department of Law,
the substitute mirrors the existing 35 day public notice
and comment period that's used in liquor licensing
and applies it to new retail tobacco license application.
It does not change who is eligible for a tobacco license.
It does not alter the background checks or fingerprinting
or distance requirement or zoning rules.
All existing standards remain intact.
What it does is provide a structure transparent window
for community members, elders
and police district commanders
to submit written nuisance related concerns
before a license is finalized,
rather than relying solely on enforcement
after problems arise.
The substitute also relies on plans of operations,
a tool already used in liquor licensing to
proactively address documented nuisance
issues when they exist.
This is optional, a corrective tool, not a mandate,
and it preserves departmental discretion.
In short, the substitute
and ordinance aligns tobacco licensing with the tools
that the city already uses and trusses improves.
Transparency, gives community a voice while protecting
responsible operators.
I respectfully ask for this committee's
support. Thank you Madam Chair.
Thank you. I just wanna recognize alderman OSHA
for purposes of quorum.
Are there any questions by the committee?
Alderman Moore moves. Do pass. All in favor, say aye.
Any opposed in the opinion of the chairs? The ayes have it.
I'm gonna sneeze. Sorry.
The motion is passed. This
concludes the agenda of the committee.
Unlicensed. The pass matter will be reported
as a recommendation
to pass at the next city council on February 18th, 2026.
There being no further business before the committee.
Can I, um, alderman, spaza makes a motion to adjourn.
Um, hearing No objection.
So ordered this meeting is adjourned. Thank you.