All right, everybody. It's 1:01. We just missed it.
We just missed starting on time.
All right.
Good afternoon, everybody. Today, April 9th, 2026,
this meeting of Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs, and Recreation is
now called to order. We will now have a roll call.
What's he waving me for?
You're good. Go ahead.
Okay. Okay. Roll call. Chairman Sposato is
here.
Alderman Hopkins is here.
Robinson, I don't see him.
He's here.
He's here? Alderman Robinson's here. Okay.
Alderman Hall, he's remote. Coleman, I don't see her.
I saw her in the hallway. She's not here. Curtis is here.
O'Shea, I don't see him. Mosley, I don't see him.
Rodriguez,
here. Cruz, remote. Conway, I didn't see him.
Nugent, here. Palitano, here.
Lawson, here.
Gardner, here.
Let's get to it.
Oops, sorry, Scott. I have you counted as being here, but I missed you. Okay.
All right.
Two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
The roll is taken. We have 10 members present.
We now have a quorum.
We have a few committee members who are using Rule
59, requested to participate remotely.
This list keeps going up, so I'm not sure, Dan, who we have here.
We have Vice Chair Scott. You here, Vice Chair?
Present. I'm present.
Alderman Hall?
Present.
We have Cruz. Alderwoman Cruz?
Here, Chairman.
And then non-members, who do we have? Taliaferro?
Chris, you here?
Taliaferro's present. Thank you, Chairman.
We have Jeanette Taylor. Alderwoman Taylor, are you here?
I'm here, Chairman. Thank you.
Alderman Taylor is here. Okay. We have a motion to add,
I'd say, was that six or was that seven?
Two,
three, five.
Five. Five people remote. Motion to add these members to the
roll. Do we have a motion? A motion by Alderman Lawson to approve the
remote participation. All in favor signify by aye.
All that oppose say nay. Nay. In the
opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The members are approved.
Public comment. I think we have... Let me just double-check with everybody.
Alderman Mosley is here.
Add him to the--
Alderman O'Shea is here. Four, five, six,
seven, eight,
nine, 10, 11, 12. So we have 12
members. I'm not going to scratch anybody. I'm going to let everybody speak.
We're going to give you your three minutes.
Doesn't mean you have to take your three minutes.
So, if you need it, use your three minutes, and
we'll start now with, and I just shuffled them up, so Nora Daly is first,
followed by on deck, Lori Demun. Lori,
you're following...
Who was first again?
I'm sorry. Right here.
Okay.
Nora, followed by Lori
Hi, good afternoon, everyone. I am here today to offer
my very strong support for Kenya Merritt as the next commissioner of the
Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Kenya is a proven advocate for Chicago's arts and cultural
community. She understands at a fundamental level that
investing in the arts is an investment not only in people, but in the
economic vitality of every neighborhood across our
city. Over the past year, I had the opportunity to work
closely with Kenya on the Chicago Architecture Biennial.
When we wanted to activate vacant retail space on Michigan Avenue,
Kenya not only understood the vision, she helped us navigate the
process to make that activation possible.
She knows how to move ideas through the city and turn
them into real, viable impact. I also
work with Kenya as my role as chair of the Illinois Arts Council, and I am
excited about the opportunities to further expand our partnership
with the city of Chicago.
As a commissioner, she would understand how to align city
resources and state efforts to better serve artists,
organizations, and communities.
She understands the power of partnerships and what
true collaboration looks like, and she recognizes that
this is what makes Chicago truly unique, our ability to bring
people together, the public, the private, and civic
leadership, to build something larger than just any one institution.
Kenya knows how the city works.
She has the experience and the relationships to align public resources,
expand access and opportunity. She believes in strengthening
Chicago's cultural ecosystem, from individual artists to
major institutions, from small businesses to global platforms.
She understands that a thriving arts sector drives tourism,
supports local economy, and helps make Chicago a place where
people want to live, work, and visit.
I say without hesitation that every arts and
cultural leader that I know believes Kenya is the
leader we need at this moment. She's collaborative,
strategic, and deeply committed to this city.
I strongly urge you to support her appointment. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Nora. Followed by Laurie.
And after Laurie, we have Joey. Joey, I'm not sure how you say your name here.
I see an M, but that's about all I could read.
An M in the beginning, an L at the end. Do we have a Joey here?
Mogle.
Joey, you're going to follow
Laurie.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and all of our council members here today.
I won't repeat what Nora said, but I stand alongside Nora
in support of the appointment of Kenya Merritt for
Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
I have the pleasure of being the President and CEO at the Harris Theater for Music
and Dance, and I will speak to the experience I have
had as a tenant of Millennium Park, which is managed and
operated by our colleagues at DCASE, as well as a home for
30 local companies that perform at the Harris Theater.
And to say that Kenya has showed up for us since day
one, as soon as she was appointed as interim, and actually prior to that, she was a
huge fan, came to many programs at our theater.
I've seen her not only show up for us in our space in Millennium Park,
but in the neighborhoods of each of those companies that exist around the city of
Chicago. I've seen her standing up for the work that we're
doing. It's a critical time for our sector.
She has been an absolute partner. To imagine what she has
done in this short amount of time, given the longevity of this
role, will be absolutely instrumental in the
success of our sector going forward.
So I attest to and hope that you
will consider her for this position. Thank you.
Thank you, Laurie. Laurie, followed by Joey.
And after Joey, we got our old pal Mark Kelly.
You're up after-
Good afternoon. My name is Joey Mogle.
I am the board president for Chicago Torture Justice Memorials
Foundation, and I co-founded the original organization, Chicago
Torture Justice Memorials. And I'm here on behalf of our
organization and several members who've submitted on behalf in
support of the open space impact fee expenditure to build
this memorial. This was a memorial that was promised
in legislation passed by Chicago City Council in
2015. It's part of the reparations legislations for
Chicago police torture survivors.
This is necessary funding that we need to build this memorial on
the South Side of Chicago.
And this memorial will be the first of its kind in the nation to
both honor the resilience and perseverance of people who were
tortured by Chicago police officers here in our city, but
also to memorialize and honor
all of those who have dedicated themselves to seeking justice,
accountability, and redress for the
torture, this pattern and practice of torture that occurred here in the city from
the '70s to the '90s.
We have greatly appreciated the support we've had of many of the City
Council, many of whom supported and passed the reparation
legislation. And we'd like to say that we've really also worked
with, collaboratively, members of the Department of Planning and
Development and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events,
particularly under Kenya Merritt's auspices.
So we would also be supporting her nomination today.
We truly hope that each and every one of you will support this expenditure.
We absolutely need this in order to bring this memorial to the South Side of
Chicago. In building this memorial, the city of Chicago, yet
again, will make history. It will be righting a wrong,
and it will be doing justice. Thank you.
Thank you, Joey. Joey, followed by Mark Kelly, and after Mark, we have Sonia
Lopez.Good
to see you, Mark
Alderman Sposato, it's great to be in front of you again.
Thanks for your letter.
So I am Mark Kelly, former DCASE commissioner,
longtime arts advocate, and I'm present the chair of the Loop Arts
District. And before I make my remarks about Kenya,
I want to just talk about the Chicago Torture Justice Memorial and how thrilled I
am that this is moving forward, and
I can't wait to see the day when the memorial is actually
something that we can visit and acknowledge what it represents.
But, most of all, I'm here to support Kenya Merritt.
I've known Kenya for over 10 years.
She was my deputy commissioner for finance when I was
at DCASE. She was exceptional, and I was so
sad to see her go when she took on new challenges and
opportunities. In the last 10 years, she has
continued to have a storied career, both within the
city of Chicago and with foundations
supporting the cultural life of this city.
I can say without question that she will bring the authority
to right the ship of DCASE. It's no secret that there's been
some challenges at DCASE over the last couple of years.
But Kenya will bring the care and leadership to
support the great talented DCASE staff.
Kenya will continue to build those partnerships with all of our neighborhood
cultural organizations. Kenya will be a
connector. And Kenya's going to remind all of us that
one of the reasons this city is so great is because of its cultural
vitality. The birthplace of house music and gospel and
jazz and modern architecture and storefront theater.
We need a great leader at the helm at DCASE that's
going to help all of us galvanize this city around its cultural
life, and that it's enjoyed by citizens and it attracts tourists.
And without question, Kenya Merritt is the person at this
moment, this critical moment, to bring DCASE forward
and to celebrate arts and culture in this city.
And, in closing, Alderman Sposato, didn't we have a little bet
for dinner before I left? We'll have to
talk about it because
I think I won that bet.
All right.
Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
Sonia following Mark. But before Sonia, before you speak, we have Jennifer Ash
following you. I just want to recognize a few people.
Alderman O'Shea is here. Alderwoman Coleman is here and Alderman
Conway. Also Alderwoman Doll, who's not on the committee,
is also here. I don't know if we missed anyone.
I do want to mention one thing before we continue on.
Everybody's comments, I think we gave you 15 of them, 15 people weighed in with
comments.
But three were extra special to me, and one was you, Mark, one was Michelle
Boone, and Jennifer Johnson Washington.
Two former commissioners and one former deputy commissioner, so means a
lot that you guys are still communicating with us, still thinking about the
department. So I personally appreciate it.
Sonia, you're up, followed by Jennifer Ash.
Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Sonia Lopez, and I am the chief steward for
Local 2912, representing employees across 15
departments and the union employees at DCASE.
I'm here to speak about the appointment of Kenya Merritt as commissioner of
Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Our members were optimistic about her appointment, given she understands DCASE,
and they have had positive interactions with her.
However, they feel strongly, since they're still reeling from the environment
created by the last commissioner, that new leadership needs to address issues in
human resources for the culture to change.
In human resources, one of the most important aspects of the job is to make sure
employees have a safe, fair workplace, and to ensure there's open
communication to relate any concern. That's not happening.
There is a pattern of even basic requests going unanswered for weeks, and when
responses do come, they are often dismissive or passive-aggressive instead
of helpful. HR has power, and instead of using it to protect
employees, it is being used against them.
When rules are weaponized, it creates fear, not accountability.
And while this is happening, work is being weakened.
When employees are pushed out or silenced, our Department of Cultural Affairs and
Special Events is worse off, and our city suffers for it.
We hope the council encourages the nominee to take these concerns seriously so we
can truly turn the corner on bad leadership at DCASE. Thank you.
Thank you, Sonia. Jennifer, you're up, followed by
Tim Johnson.
Good afternoon, council, committee. My name is Jen Ash.
I am the executive director for Chicago Torture Justice Memorial's
Foundation.
You heard our board chair and co-founder, Joey Mogul, talk about the
history and the significance of this memorial.
And many people in this room probably were here when almost
11 years ago, the legislation was passed that granted
the historic reparations legislation to survivors of
John Burge.
In addition to this being historically significant and putting Chicago on the map
in that way, the site will be an active site for the Washington
Park community in particular. It'll bring visitors to the area from around
the country, whose dollars will be invested back into the neighborhood.
And the site will also support a workforce development program
that will be
centered around maintenance of the site,
landscape design and maintenance, as well as docent work
for folks to learn how to give tours of sites like this, and
oral history collection and curation.
The folks that participate in that workforce development program can either be
hired there on-site or go out into other cultural centers around
the city and the state, and receive jobs there as
well. And so we
will be opening up for the first cohort to participate in that
program when the memorial opens, and we will center that program
around folks who are coming home from incarceration who have been directly impacted
by state violence. So in addition to the historic significance
of this project, there is a real economic
and social impact that will happen, not only in Washington Park, but around the
city. Thank you.
Thank you, Jennifer. Tim Johnson, you're up, followed by Vershawn
Sanders.
Good afternoon, all. My name's Tim Johnson.
I'm a graduate student at University of Illinois at Chicago, as well as a
volunteer with the Chicago Torture Justice Memorial Foundation.
I'm also here in support of the open space impact fee expenditure
for the memorial. I'm going to keep this brief because I think Joey and
Jen already expressed everything I would want to say, except to
add that
this is the culmination of decades of struggle.
This was promised 11 years ago by the historic 2015
reparations legislation,
and it's time that we finally build this memorial.
We're excited for what it will mean for the community.
We're excited about what it will mean for our survivors, and we look
forward to the economic impact that Jen was raising earlier.
But for all of that to happen, we have to get this memorial built, and for that to
happen, we need this open space impact fee expenditure. Thank you.
Thank you, Tim. And also thank you for your written comment. We appreciate it.
Vershawn, you're up, followed by Rich Regan, it looks like.
Good afternoon, Chair and members of the committee.
My name is Vershawn Sanders Ward. I am the founder and CEO of
Red Clay Dance Company, proudly based in the Woodlawn community, so I want to say
good afternoon to my alderwoman, Jeanette Taylor.
I am a 30-year member of the Chicago Arts and Culture community, and I am
proud to offer my strong support for the confirmation of Acting
Commissioner Kenya Merritt as a new commissioner of
Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
As you all know from Kenya's work, she brings a deep
understanding of the vital role of arts and culture and
the role it plays in shaping our city, not only as a
source of creativity and identity, but as a powerful economic
engine. She understands how our sector supports neighborhoods
across Chicago, especially small businesses like mine
that depend on a thriving and safe community.
Kenya has consistently provided steady and thoughtful
leadership during a critical time of transition in our field.
She understands the balance of supporting neighborhood-based arts
and culture organizations, as well as
downtown institutions. That balance is
essential to a vibrant and inclusive cultural landscape.
She's also demonstrated a clear commitment to equity and
access, ensuring that resources and opportunities reach
communities that have too often been overlooked.
From my perspective in the field as an artist and an arts leader,
I've seen how Kenya has stepped up to steady this department in
very challenging times. And at a moment when our sector continues
to face real challenges, I am confident in her ability to lead with
vision, stability, and responsiveness, and I fully
support her appointment and respectfully urge her
confirmation. Thank you for your time and consideration today.
Thank you, Vershawn. Rich Regan, you're up, followed by John Collins.
Good afternoon. I'm Rich Regan. I'm the CEO of the Auditorium,
Chicago's national historic landmark theater.
And I'm here in support of Kenya Merritt's nomination as commissioner of DCASE.
Arts and culture matter.
It's about the vibrancy and the relevance, the magic, and the healing
qualities inherent to live entertainment experience.
There simply is nothing like it. In an area of isolation
and digital entertainment as an easy entry point for
everyone,
we need entertainment like never before.
Nothing can replace the communal experience of witnessing laughter and
joy together.
That's what builds bridges and mends us back together.
This is why arts and culture matter.
If nothing I just shared resonated with you, then economic
impact should. We all know there's a massive multiplier attached
to every single dollar spent on a ticket to a show.
Kenya Merritt appreciates the gravity and importance of this role.
She appreciates the necessity of strengthening Chicago's cultural
ecosystem. She appreciates the need to expand access to the
arts to every neighborhood of Chicago, and she understands
the importance of creating opportunities for artists and cultural
organizations just like the Auditorium.
A couple of months ago, I called the interim commissioner, and I asked her for
help on an event we were hosting. My request was
refreshingly met with enthusiasm and support
and a willingness to participate.
This is exactly who Chicago needs in this role right
now. Please approve Kenya Merritt as commissioner of
Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Thank you.
Thank you, sir. John Collins, followed by Rhonda McFarland.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, committee members.
My name is John Collins, and I have the privilege of serving as the executive
director of Goodman Theatre.
On behalf of the board, staff, and artists of the Goodman, I'm here today to
express our full-throated support for the confirmation of Kenya
Merritt as commissioner for the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Not only is she a consummate professional, but Acting Commissioner Merritt
has already proven herself to be a valuable partner at what is a
deeply challenging and consequential time for our sector.
This year, Goodman Theatre celebrates its centennial anniversary season.
Having served as Chicago's flagship theater since 1925,
this year we will serve more than 300,000 people with programming
downtown and throughout all 50 wards.
We drive an estimated annual economic impact of nearly $55
million.
In Acting Commissioner Merritt, we have found a partner who understands
these challenges and the opportunities our sector provides.She
knows that culture is key to promoting Chicago's vibrancy,
and we see her building the relationships across our community that
will bring new ideas and new initiatives into being.
This is most immediately apparent in her enthusiasm and
advocacy for our recent launch of David Byrne's "Theater of the
Mind" as a new permanent cultural attraction for Chicago.
With her help, we now project more than 80,000 visitors in the
next year, including both locals and tourists, to this
project that would not have been possible without public support.
We believe in Acting Commissioner Merritt's vision to build a stronger,
more visible, and more connected cultural ecosystem throughout all of
Chicago, and personally, I hope to collaborate with her on
this work for many years to come.
She is the cultural visionary our city needs right now.
With her leadership, we will nurture our creative sector, brighten our
neighborhoods, and shift our national narrative.
But perhaps just as importantly, Kenya is a sincere
champion of artists and of the art form,
what we in our business would call a true believer.
She knows that a healthy cultural sector contributes to the quality of life here in
Chicago. Her vision and enthusiasm make her an
inspired choice for this role, and I've no doubt she will have
tremendous impact on this great city we all call home. Thank you for your time.
Thank you, John. Appreciate your comment.
Rhonda McFarlane, followed by Kimberly
Byers or Bears. I'm not sure how to say it.
Good afternoon, Chair and committee.
A special greetings to my aldermen,
Robinson, Dowd, and a small sliver of my
footprint with Taylor for 20. I'm Rhonda
McFarlane. I've already issued a written notification.
I want to echo every single thing that the speakers before me
said in full support of Kenya
Merritt's appointment to commissioner of DCASE.
Kenya has brought to us one,
excuse me, a leader that does not shy away from connecting
to every department within the city.
We work with many city departments, but we don't see many leaders that don't
have a problem connecting to different departments.
That is critical to connect culture, art, commerce,
small business, economic development, and the health and wellbeing of our
residents. We know that Kenya stands on integrity,
partnership, and respect. These are the things that are
not just going to move DCASE forward, but they're going to move our neighborhoods
forward. At Quad Community Development Corporation, we
oversee economic development in four of these neighborhoods, and
the success we've had would not have occurred in the last
10 years without Kenya Merritt in the multiple roles that she has
chosen to serve in for the city.
We say in the greater Bronzeville area that the roots in our
community are made of culture, art,
and entrepreneurship. The flowers that we are planting
today with new businesses, whether they're cultural businesses, service,
or
amenities, is based on those roots, and Kenya
exemplifies the respect for neighborhoods and
how we bridge all of those things to make this city great.
We please ask this committee to appoint Kenya Merritt.
Thank you, Rhonda. Next up, Kimberly, followed by George Blakemore.
Good afternoon, Chairman Svezzotta and members of the committee.
It is really wonderful to see all of you here, and I just want to take a moment and
acknowledge the people that are here
to lend their support for the confirmation of Kenya Merritt.
As I was sitting here and listening, I was just at the opening of "Ma Rainey's
Black Bottom." I went to see the show at the Harris
Theater,
and we worked with Nora and the Chicago Architectural Biennial
to house them on Michigan Avenue. So just a small sliver of the work that
we have done
on the Mag Mile. So again, Kimberly Bears is my name.
I am the president and CEO of the Magnificent Mile Association.
I've had the pleasure and honor of knowing Kenya Merritt since she was the chief
small business officer with the City of Chicago under
Mayor Emanuel. And you've heard so many of us
talk about what she brings to the role with the perspective of arts.
I'm here to underscore what she brings to the role with her experience in business.
Kenya understands that a strong arts community is also good
for business, and we understand at the Mag Mile that strong
neighborhoods and arts throughout the city are good for downtown.
There is no downtown without strong neighborhoods.
There
aren't strong neighborhoods without a strong downtown.
So we fully embrace a holistic approach to this,
and we have found a wonderful partner and advocate
in Kenya Merritt. I have submitted written
comments, so that's why I'm not reading those.
But we strongly encourage you to support the confirmation of Kenya Merritt
as commissioner for DCASE. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Kim.
Last but not least,
Mr. George Blakemore.
Yes, what is culture? Cultural affairs and
events.
Who defines or who give a definition
of what is culture and what is not culture?
We need a national search
because this Department of Cultural Affairs have
gone down, down, down, and it's
become political.
Political.
And the last one, I didn't like the way
she was operating
And perhaps,
I don't know enough about the new ones coming in.
However, I do believe that we should have
a national search. Too much
in-house is not good. Everything is
political here. What is culture? What is art?
Who's art?
It's
connected to the politics,
and it's connected to money. But these people getting
up with their different organization and
different--
Not only organization, these theaters.
Everything is politics.
Politics.
And they're all Democrats.
What is culture?
Who's going to define culture? Who's a artist?
Who's a musician?
The theater.
Now, my primary interest is in the Black community, to
make sure that you recognize our culture and our
theaters. The last one, I thought she was very racist,
the last Hispanic lady.
So I advocate for a national
search for the most qualified person.
Too much politics is connected to culture.
Is Mr. Blakemore a culture-- Is he a culture man?
All this old painting he got,
is he culture?
So who defines or give a
definition? So again, it's politics
here with the Goodman Theatre and all these theaters.
It's political because it's a one-party system,
a Democratic system, six and nine in each other, in the
disguise of culture, and it's about money.
It's about money, and Trump's not here.
It's about money. Goodman want money.
And the Black community needs
money. And when do we want this money?
We want it now because we're the only people in
America that was enslaved in America.
We have a rich culture.
So again, I'm neutral about her.
Thank you, Mr. Blakemore.
One acknowledgment here. It's just Buffy.
Buffy just wanted to be acknowledged as being here.
So Buffy, thanks for coming out. I believe you just wanted to say you're here in
support of Kenya. So, Kenya, Buffy showed up for you to say he supports you.
With that, I just want to say one thing.
So I always appreciate people's comments, and I don't like cutting people
off, but you guys were very respectful.
And we certainly got 13 speakers in certainly less than half an hour.
So I appreciate everybody's comments, and I appreciate you keeping it brief and to
the point. And with that, we have four items on the agenda today.
First item on the agenda is approval of the March 2026
monthly Rule 45 report. All members of the committee should have received a copy of
the report electronically.
Are there any questions or comments regarding the report from anybody?
Looks like none. Move to pass,
motion and recommendation to pass by Alderman Rodriguez.
All in favor signify by aye.
Aye. All opposed say nay. Any opinion to chair, the ayes have it.
The first item, or second item, I'm sorry, the second item on the agenda
is an ordinance
O2026-0024100,
expenditure of open space impact fee funds for
development of Chicago Torture Justice Memorial at
5520 South Martin Luther King Drive.
Here today to present the project is our friend Meg Gustafson from the Department
of Planning and Development. Also here, if you have any questions, from
Chicago Torture Justice Memorial, Jennifer Ash.
Meg, you can run.
Thank you so much. Department of Planning, Meg Gustafson.
Thank you for the people that came in support, to speak in support of
this memorial.
This has been a long time coming. We're here specifically for open space impact
fees, $280,000. These are derived
from the Washington Park community area.
This is in Alderman Taylor's ward, and we have her support.
Here's the zoning map and location map.
It's across from Washington Park.
This monument will include
pathways, the memorial monument itself, landscaping, seating,
picnic tables, lighting, and storage.
Here is the elevation
and a nighttime view of the memorial.
The total budget is about $4.6 million.
This 280 in impact fee funds
will close a gap, so now the project is
funded, and we ask for your support.
I'll be happy to take any questions. Thank you.
That's it? You're all good?
That's it, yes.
All right.
Thank you.
Anybody have any-- Looks like no questions from anybody. Okay.
Thanks, Meg. Although she's a non-member, and without object--
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Okay. All right. Alderman Lawson.
Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Meg, for the presentation.
I just wanted to acknowledge Joey Mogul for all of the work you have done.
I met you two probably 20 years ago with Tom Tunney, and you have been steadfast
in this work, and just wanted to give you the recognition that you and the team
here, I know Jen Ash is here as well, deserve.
Just a quick question, maybe, on the design.
It's an interesting memorial.
Any comments on how we arrived to this design specifically?
I'm just sort of curious.
I actually want to defer to Jennifer or Joey, please, if you wouldn't
mindI'm on the funding side and not the design side.
This has been a process in the making, but we commissioned
various artists and architects across the city to submit
different proposals. We then had a jury project of
survivors and others who then selected a proposal.
This is the proposal that was brought to the City of
Chicago, and this is something that we've workshopped and worked through with the
Department of Planning and Development and the Department of Cultural Affairs and
Special Events.
And also, we went through the
community process with Alderman Taylor's ward in terms of
workshopping and working through this process.
This was something that represents the struggle that
survivors went through, and that is the design and kind of thinking of
the oval process and the circular nature of going through
something in particular. This design
includes
testaments to the struggle and resilience of the
survivors, as well as the decades of organizing that occurred over
time.
Great. Thank you very much. Thank you, Chair.
Thank you. Any other colleagues have any questions or anything? No? Okay.
Although she's a non-member, we have
Alderwoman Taylor here, who would like an opportunity to speak in support of this
project. So,
Alderwoman Taylor, are you here?
Okay, I guess she's not here.
All right, so no more-- Oh.
What are they saying?
They have somebody hold on.
We're calling her. I don't know what more-
Pass.
Motion to pass by...
You have a comment?
Held as a no on this. Oh, we didn't get to that yet. Okay. Okay.
Who's motioning to pass on this? Okay, Alderman Rodriguez motioning to
pass.
All right. All in favor, signify aye.
We have a no by Alderman Napolitano.
Any other noes?
In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it.
I just want to make a comment myself while it's passed.
This is in no way an indictment on the Chicago Police Department.
It's about a bad individual who did really bad things
to people. So, I just want to let everybody know where I stand on
this.
Third item on the agenda.
Yes?
Make a comment on that as well? I would like to speak on it really quickly as
well. I support Alderman Taylor in this project,
I think, and I agree with what you said, Nick, as well.
In no way, shape, or form is my no against the project that's going into her
neighborhood, but I think
this should have been done in conjunction with
maybe a couple other projects. And then not going back
to Burge and to present day, if we go back just seven years ago,
we should be building monuments or
ceremonial locations in four corners of our
city for, in the last seven years, for the 23,000 people that
have been
victims of violent crimes and have been shot in the city of Chicago.
And if we even narrow that margin down for the last seven years, we should be
building
monuments in four corners of the city of Chicago for the
4,617 people that have been murdered in the city of
Chicago. So we should be building monuments to those victims
as well, those victims that seem to always be passed over, those victims that are
never talked about except for the day that they're in the media, and then it's gone
the next day. And as we try to
point out that we have a major crime problem in this city, but deny it at the same
time, I think these monuments, as well as Alderman
Taylor's, is a great thing. But we should be building monuments to
other victims, a lot of victims in the city of Chicago.
Like I said, 23,000 people shot in seven years.
4,617 murdered in seven years.
There should be just as much advocacy for the same
group for those people as well, and I would love to be a yes on both of those.
So that's why I'm a no on this.
Thank you, Alderman.
Third item on the agenda is an ordinance,
02026-0024101,
Expenditure of Open Space Impact Fee Funds for
Development of Territory Community Garden at
557 North Central. Meg from Department of
Planning is here to present again.
Joining her to answer any questions on this territory is
Helen Slade. Meg, go ahead with your presentation.
Great. Thanks so much. Meg Gustafson, Department of Planning and Development.
This is another open space impact fee expenditure for
$270,000 in Alderman Mitts's ward.
This is located at Ohio and Central, 557 North
Central. This is an existing garden
run by Territory Non-for-Profit.
It's approximately
7,500 square feet.
This budget will
fund
a storage shed, landscaping, and
lighting, security, a water hookup, and
some environmental work.
Here is the site plan,
which features a peace circle, and you can see
some swings and a sculpture. Here are some renderings.
There will be concrete pads and pavers,
seating, a basketball hoop.
This pink sculpture is a reference to the pink house in Austin
that was across the street.
Territory is a non-for-profit that works with local youth.
Here are some of the placemaking activities that they've been working on for the
past few years.And I have Helen Slade
here for any programmatic or detailed questions that you may
have. I'll end my slideshow on the budget
here. Thank you very much. That concludes my presentation.
Okay. Alderman Gardner?
I just heard that briefly. Can you go back to that pink house in Austin?
Yes.
Well, it's a representation of the pink house.
Oh. On the street Austin, in the Austin community, correct?
Yes. It's directly across the street.
It's been sold, and someone painted it gray, unfortunately.
Right.
But it was the pink house.
Yes. That's a very iconic home there, right?
Was a fireman in that area for many years.
It caught our eye many times. So
I just wanted to see an image of it. Thank you.
Yes. Sorry, I don't have an image of it in this presentation.
Thank you, Alderman. Anybody else have any questions about this project?
Okay. Can I get a motion for passage of this item?
Alderman Robinson so moves. All in favor signify by aye.
Aye. All opposed say nay. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.
A due process recommendation of this ordinance will be reported out at our next
city council meeting on April 15th, 2026.
Meg Saari, thank you very much, Meg, as always. It's always a pleasure to have you.
Okay.
Point of information, Chairman.
Yes.
This is Alderman Calafaro.
Just a point of information.
The pink house that Alderman Gardner was referring to in the 29th
Ward at Ohio and Central was sold, as Meg said,
but it was completely renovated, interior and exterior, and it's a
beautiful site in the 29th Ward. Thank you.
Yeah.
Where's she at?
Okay.
Where's she at?
There she is. Okay.
All righty.
Before
I announce our fourth item, I want to recognize another of our old pal.
Michelle Boone is here. Michelle, good to see you. Always a pleasure to see you.
Fourth item on the agenda is an appointment,
A2026-0024049,
appointment of Kenya Merritt as Commissioner of Cultural Affairs and Special
Events. Kenya and her DCASE team are here to answer any questions.
You have been given her written resume,
and many letters in support of her.
I'll give her an opportunity to speak and introduce her great
staff and herself. Kenya, you want to tell us who you are?
And let's start with your staff, and then tell us about yourself.
Sure. So joining me today, I have Frain Lewis, who
is our Deputy Commissioner over Program.
I have Meda McNeil, who is our Deputy Commissioner over Grants and
Cultural Resources. I have Natasha O'Quinn, who is our
Deputy Commissioner over Film, and I have Yesenia Mota, who is our
Director over Neighborhood Permits.
We have Lydia Ross, who is our Senior Strategist, working
on all things visual arts. And then we have James Castillo, who is
our Director over Public Art. And then
we have Brett Sweeney, who is our Director over
Exhibitions.
And so with that, can I read my statement?
Sure. I mean, are you going to be brief like everybody else is?
I will go super fast.
All right. Then go fast.
Good afternoon, everyone. Chairman Sposato, Vice Chair Scott,
and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear
before you today. I am honored to be here as the Interim
Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events,
and to be considered for permanent appointment to lead this critical
department. I come to this role not only as a public
servant, but also as a lifelong Chicagoan.
I've experienced firsthand how culture shapes our neighborhoods,
creates opportunity, and brings people together.
This perspective grounds how I lead this work with both
urgency as well as with intention.
Over the past five months, I have approached this role with a clear focus
on execution and results because arts and culture are not
ancillary to Chicago's future, they are essential.
They are the driver of our economy, a cornerstone of our
neighborhoods, and a defining part of our local, national, as
well as our global identity, and we are delivering.
Through DCASE's work, Chicago's creative economy generated more
than $168 million in business
activity, contributed over $22 million in tax
revenue, and supported more than 31,000
jobs. In just a short period, we've expanded our
grant-making to record levels, strengthened our partnerships,
and elevated Chicago's national profile,
including securing a major New Year's Eve broadcast that
brought unprecedented visibility to our city, reaching over 33
million viewers. We are also advancing Chicago's position
as a premier destination for film and television production.
Through the Chicago Film Office, we are actively engaging studios and
industry leaders to position Chicago as a full-service
production hub. This is about growing jobs,
supporting local talent, and ensuring Chicago remains
competitive in the global creative economy.
At the same time, we've stayed grounded in access as
well as equity. Across the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and
throughout our neighborhoods, we've delivered free world-class
programming to millions, offering every Chicagoan a
way they can see themselves and benefit from our cultural
ecosystem.And stepping into this role, I
focused on strengthening the department from within.
We engaged our cultural advisory council, we've stabilized and advanced
our grants process, we've executed on winter programming,
we've reconnected with our external cultural partners, many that you've
heard here today, and we are
establishing stronger internal
norms that prioritize communication,
accountability, and team development.
I have spent my career in public service focused on one thing,
serving the residents of Chicago.
And as a lifelong Chicagoan, that has always been my priority,
approaching this work with clear intention and a deep sense of
responsibility to the people and to the communities that shape this
city. Over the past 26 years, I have been
entrusted to lead across multiple departments,
spanning early childhood education, small business, economic development,
and arts and culture. In each role, I have not taken
that responsibility lightly. I have been asked to lead, to reset
teams, to stand up new initiatives, and to steady organizations
through moments of challenge and crises that just come with public service.
Well said.
That trust has been earned through a leadership approach that is grounded in
execution, focused on strategy, and committed to equitable growth.
I believe in delivering results that people can see and feel in
their communities while also building systems that last.
As we move forward at DCASE, we will deepen our investment in our creative
workforce and organizations, strengthening our grants
program, expanding professional development opportunities, and creating
accessible entry points for young people to engage in the arts.
We will amplify and advocate for our artists and the cultural sector,
elevating Chicago's creative assets locally and globally
while using our platform to position arts and culture as a core
economic driver, and we will connect a more coordinated
ecosystem, working more closely across agencies, partners,
and institutions to support collaboration, align
investments, and maximize impact.
This is not theoretical work.
It builds on my previous experience supporting the efforts to shape one
of the city's most comprehensive cultural plans, engaging
stakeholders across Chicago's cultural and business communities to
co-create a shared vision for our future.
Together, these efforts ensure that arts and culture are
treated as amenities, essential infrastructure for
Chicago's continued growth.
At a time when cities across the country are facing uncertainty and disinvestment
in the arts, Chicago, we have the opportunity to lead, to show
what's possible when you invest in creativity,
communities, as well as opportunity.
Over these first five months, we've built real
momentum, and with your partnership, we can continue to do that work
with clarity, stability, and purpose.
I want to acknowledge and thank our partners, who are not only the
foundation of what makes Chicago's cultural landscape
so strong, but who truly set our city apart.
Their voices, their advocacy, and their willingness to
show up matter, and I'm grateful for the letters of
support and for those who are standing here with me today.
And I just want to acknowledge them.
Nora Gaynor from the Art Institute, Rhonda McFarland from Quad
Communities Development Corps, Jennifer Johnson Washington, the former
DCASE first deputy, Mark Kelly, former DCASE
commissioner and chair of the Chicago Arts Loop District,
Michelle Boone, former DCASE commissioner, Anh Hil, who is the
executive director now of Court Theatre, Gigi Pritzker from
Madison Wells, Claire Rice, the executive director of Arts
Alliance, Rich Regan, CEO of Auditorium Theatre,
John Collins, executive director of Goodman Theatre, Tony Carman,
president of Expo Chicago, Marilyn Gardner, president and
CEO of Navy Pier, Lauren Amos, managing partner of
Designs Creative Agency, Eric Williams, owner of Silver Room,
Abby Pucker, Jack Guthman, Gabriel Lyon of Illinois
Humanities, Greg Cameron from Joffrey Ballet, Tamar Neuburger,
chair of Sister Cities, Jack Lavin, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce,
Rashan Ward of Red Clay, Nora Daley,
as well as Lori Diamond. I also want to thank the team
here,
my DCASE team, for their continued commitment as we move
forward. Your dedication to this work
and to each other
is what will carry our department forward,
as well as our city.
Thank you so much, Chair, for your consideration, and I welcome your questions.
Okay, thank you. Before we go to questions, I just want to...
Alderman Mosley is looking to rule 59. Alderman Mosley are you here?
Okay, Alderman Mosley's not here.
Alderman Moore, I just want to recognize non-member Alderman Moore here.
Anybody else I miss? Okay. All right.
Do we have any questions? All right. Starting off with Alderman Rodriguez.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Kenya, I've got to admit, this is one of the best packets that I've seen
for a nominee. It speaks to your interest
in being comprehensive and dot the Is and cross the Ts,
so congratulations on that.
I do want to recognize
our AFSCME members that are here today and who
spoke in public comments.
Excuse me.
I have heard from them, and I have heard
from the testimony
that there is a sense that there has
been potentially morale issues with those union members
in particular, and I'm wondering if you could just talk a little bit about that and
maybe your role in potentially resolving some of those issues.
Yeah. Look, it's not a secret that the department has
gone through some
transitions.I recognize that,
and I stepped into the role knowing that.
But one of the things that I am committed to doing is
shifting the culture, but more importantly, shifting it and creating
it collectively with our team members.
So since I've been there for five months, we've taken a couple of
approaches. One is within the first month
of my starting, I partnered with the Department of Human Resources to
come in and to provide a two-day training to our team
members to share if they had concerns, if they had
challenges, how do they work with the neutral body
outside of DCASE to express those
concerns.
I'm committed to ensuring that those concerns are
addressed swiftly and that we build a
culture and a department where our staff is supported, but while we also
have accountability.
In terms of our represented staff, I welcome the
conversation with the AFSCME leadership.
I met with them a couple of weeks ago and said that I'm committed to having
ongoing conversations to ensure that we're creating the
space for communication and dialogue to happen.
Because at the end of the day, I have an amazing team, but I also want them to
feel good about doing the work, and I'm committed to doing that work.
Yeah. And I hear you saying you are very much willing to meet with them in the
future and continue to meet with them. Is that right?
Absolutely.
Okay.
And
I will just add that in our first meeting,
we agreed that we would have a second meeting where we would go a little bit
deeper. We also agreed that we would
work in partnership to provide training to our represented
staff at the cultural center, and we also agreed that we would
have ongoing conversations.
Okay. Well, I'll be remiss to not mention the fact that my brother
endorses your nomination as well. You've done some good work together.
With that said, look, union labor is the backbone of our city-
Mm-hmm
...
and the backbone of our city departments,
and a good working relationship between management
and union is important. Look, I was on the opposite side of unions when
I was in management over at the county. I get it.
At the same time, I think we built great relationships that
made conflict resolution that much easier.
Mm-hmm.
I do think you're committed to that, and
I
appreciate the way you've gone about this.
I'm going to keep tabs, but I think-
Sure
... you'd be doing the same, and we'll continue to work together on this.
But, thank you for the time, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Commissioner, because
you're still a commissioner.
Thank you. Alderman Waguespack.
Thanks, Chairman.
Ms. Merritt, thanks for being here today, and I appreciate everybody who came out
and spoke for you.
I wanted to talk a little bit about what you just said in terms
of HR coming out to DCASE and providing a two-day
training.
What specifically did they do?
So they provided training on a series of topics.
One was on,
you can say, the process if a team member is feeling like
they're having concerns,
the process by which staff can go directly to DHR
to express those concerns. They also provided training
to our managers on the disciplinary process as well.
We also did a training on creating
norms and professionalism in addition to the training that we've
partnered with the Department of Human Resources on.
We do monthly trainings with our staff, or I shouldn't even say that they are
trainings. They're monthly opportunities
for us to get together as a staff to talk about what it is
that we want in terms of the culture for the department.
And so we're serious about what we want the
department to be for our team, for our staff, as well as holding people
accountable. So in addition to the DHR trainings, we're working through
co-creating a cultural plan internally that we will
hold as team members and as an organization.
Did all of your managers and staff take the DHR training that everyone's
required to do?
Everyone was mandated to take that training, yes.
In the past year, two years, they all took it?
I can speak for the past five months, when we had the training in person, that all
of our staff were mandated to take it, yes.
Okay. So that's the same training that everybody's supposed to take when DHR sends
us an email that says, "You're a supervisor of someone,"
or whatever it might be.
I would imagine so. Without knowing the specific
training that you're talking about, I can't confirm.
But I would imagine that some of the trainings, yes, are similar.
Yeah, it's the one I'm talking about where every city employee has to take all the
different DHR training manuals.
So
when you mentioned the,
let's see, I think it's the Cultural Advisory Council.
What types of things did you talk to them about?
So when we met with the Cultural Advisory Council a few months ago,
talked about our budget, we also talked about upcoming programming that
was in process.
Okay. Did you talk to them about the complaint that they
filed back in April of last year?
The Cultural Advisory Council?
Yes. It was a letter.
Well, it was not a letter from them.
It was about the
issues and complaints underway
due to the severity and allegations to the
OIG, the mayor's office, Cultural Advisory
Council about
treatment of DCASE
employees.
No, the Cultural Advisory Council members did not bring that up.
No, I said the Artists for Chicago regarding the
Cultural Advisory Council.
Okay
There was a letter that went to the commissioner that
was made public here about how staff were being treated.
So that I'm clear about the question, are you asking me about the
Cultural Advisory Council meeting that was had last year, or
you're asking about-
Yes
... the letter that he sent?
Well, did any of the HR issues come up at your meetings with them?
No.
Okay.
So over the last five months, you said you've been trying to
work on these HR issues, which
over the last several months, we've seen some pretty serious patterns with this
administration in terms of
really pervasive, destructive, unreasoned behavior in a lot of departments
at commissioners' level. Your predecessor had
issues with harassment, bullying, resigned,
I think once those things started coming out.
So more recently, we've seen that there's been a lawsuit filed
by
one of the employees against you and the city.
How are you addressing those issues filed in that complaint?
Excuse me. So I don't believe-
That is a legitimate question-
I know. I'm just-
... for the soon-to-be commissioner
... a person of law
For what we've had problems with in terms of not just
several commissioners, but deputies and the last
commissioner.
So just so I understand-
Very pervasive issues that need to be addressed in
public.
So I'm just asking you so I understand, so I don't do the wrong thing.
Are you asking about the lawsuit or no?
Because my understanding was we can't talk about pending lawsuits.
So I think we have law here. Is-
Well-
... you asking about the specific lawsuit or...
I just want to understand your question so that we understand.
Yes, about the lawsuit.
What?
The lawsuit.
Can you address the lawsuit?
I cannot address or comment on pending litigation.
The law.
But what I can talk about, again, is the work that we're doing within
DK's. Again-
So let me ask a follow-up question to that.
So there's been an amended complaint,
as of yesterday, that said
you did talk about this and made statements to members of the city council
questioning the competence, loyalty, and qualifications of that commissioner.
So obviously, something's been happening with
IGA or aldermen where discussions have been had about
this issue.
So my concerns are, like the other whistleblower
cases that we've had
where we've had to pay out millions of dollars, where are we right now with this
issue, and what are you doing to resolve it?
So alderman, again, I can't speak on pending litigation.
What I can talk about is the work that I'm doing within the department to
address morale issues, to address some of the
concerns that have been raised in the past.
I talked about that a little bit with our partnership with DHR.
One of the things that was incredibly important for me was that staff felt
supported, and they felt like there's a path
when there are concerns to be able to express that directly with a neutral party,
which is why we partner with DHR.
Alderman, I-
Well, DHR is the
oversight department for all allegations.
Now, I would question how great of a job they do sometimes.
So my problem here is that obviously people are
talking while this complaint was out
there. They filed an amended complaint as of yesterday, which
says that somebody has been talking about
this to the alderman,
and
that's a pretty serious issue right ahead of the confirmation hearing here
today.
Alderman, I have law here-
And a quick question
... maybe he can interpret.
I'll let the Department of Law jump in, which I know you're just going to say that
we're not allowed to speak about it, but we're having a
serious issue here. If somebody files a complaint and then files an amended
complaint because somebody in the administration is having conversations
either off the record or on the record that goes back and increases the
volatility of this lawsuit based on allegations
from a deputy.
So what I will say for me is that I've worked for the city for 26
years
in multiple roles,
multiple politically appointed roles, and I've never
had any issues with my staff.
I take it seriously around the culture that I set,
around the work that we do, how we show
up, and I'll continue to do that in this role.
And so while I can't speak to pending litigation, I
can share with you all of my experience over these
26 years, four different administrations, my commitment to this city,
to its people, as well as to my team, is
unwavering.
I believe you. I'm just trying to figure out
why we're in this position
and why a deputy is filing this complaint, and it's a
whistleblower complaint. It went to the OIG.
It's a lawyer who filed it,
so I would hope that they're not doing it in an egregious way that would lead
to them losing their license. But I guess
here's my question: What have you done specifically over the
last five months to
take accountability for what has happened with the prior commissioner beyond
DHR,
and really focus on getting rid of this
pervasive problem that we have in this department?
Alderman, if I may.
Can you identify yourself?
Yes. This is Justin Edge, Assistant Corporation Counsel, Department of Law.
As you said, you do know what I'm going to say, that the official position is
always that we can't comment on pending litigation.The reason
I just chose to step in right now is because
as much as I appreciate
Acting Commissioner Merritt's explanation up to this point,
and I do think she is trying to
speak to your core concerns as well as she can,
I would be concerned when trying to answer a question like you just asked
about righting previous wrongs,
because that very well could be what is
part of the
contention around that lawsuit. So that's why I just
chose to step in now.
Yeah.
And it's not by any means to shut down conversation.
I understand your line of questioning, but I wanted to express that.
Yeah, I'll leave it there in terms of this specific department.
I've just had a problem watching over the last several months, as you
can go down the long list of people who've resigned
recently for the same exact reasons as we're hearing
about in this case,
with harassment, retaliation, filing whistleblower complaints.
You
look at the Gateway situation with Weald,
Nancy Andrade, and the CHA board now.
I'm just having a problem here watching as a lot of
these issues are being brushed off,
and
they come back later on, where the taxpayers are asked
to pay for whistleblower complaints and
lawsuits in the millions of dollars.
And I just want to make sure that it's got
to be on the record that we have a serious problem here,
and to load it up and just say, "Hey, everything's A-OK,"
is not the right approach to what's happening in this administration.
So, no offense to you, but I really want to know, and
I think you answered some of it,
but there's a little-
Mm-hmm
... problem when DHR has to come into this
department and say, "We're going to give you additional training."
There must be serious, deep-seated issues in this department
that
we're not being told about if DHR has to do additional training
beyond what all of us in here are required to do.
Well, Alderman, let me clarify, that's something that I asked them to do when I
started. I wanted to make sure that when I was
starting to lead the department, that we're all starting with the same
information, and that we're in the same room hearing it and
learning together. So one of the things that I am bullish on is
we're all in the same room, learning, building
together. One of the things that's incredibly important to me for
culture is that we're building a department where people feel like they can
express themselves,
where
there is this culture where people can share while also do a great
job. And so within my first month, that's why I exactly
reached out to DHR. Let's have this training, but let's also, as a team,
start to meet on a monthly basis
to talk about what it is that we want as a department,
how we want to show up,
collectively as well as individually.
Any other questions, Alderman?
Okay. Thank you very much.
Thank you. Thanks for the question, Alderman. Any other committee member?
Okay, Alderman Gardner, followed by Alderwoman Nugent.
Go ahead. I think she was waiting. Go ahead, Alderman Nugent.
I just had a quick question because
Alderman Wiezbisk just brought up
the lawsuit. I'm not here to question your commitment or your passion to serve.
Ms. Merritt,
just regarding this lawsuit, are you being indemnified by the city?
Again, I'm not sure. That's something, I think, in private we could
maybe... I don't know. I'm not sure. Again, I'm guessing she would be.
I don't want to speak on behalf. Law's coming back up to interpret this.
She should be. I would hope she is, but-
Alderman, could you... Justin Edge, Department of Law.
Could you repeat the question, please?
Sure. Is she being indemnified by the city?
Sorry, who is she that you're referring to?
I think the commissioner.
She's in the lawsuit. Is she not named in the lawsuit?
No. Questions of indemnification would probably be core
to any litigation. So again, I'm going to
say that we don't comment on pending litigation.
If you'd like to speak offline, I could talk to you about
how the general principles work with...
And generally,
indemnification is limited to the scope of your work.
Yeah.
And when you're working within the scope of your duty-
Sure
... and your defined job, then those principles
don't apply universally to all city employees.
It's a complex area of law, but that's, I believe, what you're
referring to.
I'm glad you brought that up, that it doesn't work universally, because I'm a prime
example of it not working universally.
I actually have an email from the former corporate counsel, Mark Flessner,
that said I was not indemnified in the lawsuit based on ill
feelings that Mayor Lightfoot had against me.
And it was hard for me to believe, but he actually put it in writing,
and I brought that up to the current mayor,
the law department, and I continued not to be indemnified
by frivolous lawsuits by people who are politically motivated.
And when Alderman Wiezbisk brought that up, it just kind of rung a bell
with me to,
since we had the law department here, to ask questions.
But you can't answer the question of whether or not she's being indemnified?
It's a simple question, yes or no.
Generally,
there are state laws on these
matters as well as provisions within the municipal
codeWhen employees are working within
the scope of duty-
Mm-hmm
... of their job-
Mm-hmm
... city employees, we typically do indemnify them.
But there is, again, lots of complexity to it
due to insurance, insurance law limitations,
many different things.
So I excuse me-
Mm-hmm
... again,
can't speak to this specific situation, but it
does often come up. And I will just say, and I don't know all of the
specifics of your situation as you described it, but-
Yeah
... generally in this area of law,
it really does depend on the actions, and elected officials
are treated differently, and speech, for instance, is
treated differently, both the speech of constituents as well as that
of employees. So there's a whole political doctrine around it.
I think this is something you guys-
I would-- No, no. Excuse me
... can talk about possibly in the back room or something.
So this is a whole separate issue.
Be quite happy to.
I mean, this is public information, right?
This is public taxpayers'
information that we would want to know about.
And I can't agree with you anymore, what you just said there, that there's a
difference for different people in different situations.
I've learned that the hard way. And I say that because
I'd hate to see any of my colleagues have to suffer some of the same things that I
have suffered over the last few years.
But it seems to be there's obviously a political
motivation there.
Alderman Letterman, we're getting a little off topic here, okay, so-
Not really
... well, I think so. This is something...
We're talking about an appointment over here and something that's going on, so,
you have any questions pertaining to her specifically anymore other than
the indemnifying her?
No. Again, I don't question her commitment.
It's just when my colleague, Alderman Waguespack, brought that up, I thought that
that would be relevant, not only for myself, but for everybody serving in city
council and learning the behind the scenes, if you will,
how decisions are made here, and especially on the
sixth floor. Thank you.
Do you have time after the meeting to meet with him?
Absolutely.
Okay.
I'd be happy to speak with you after the meeting.
Thank you. Thank you. Next up, Alderwoman Nogen, followed by Curtis,
and then O'Shea.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Might as well stay here.
Our role as alders is not simply to move nominations forward.
It's to make sure that the people we confirm to lead city departments meet a
standard of leadership, accountability, and trust.
Right now, there's an active whistleblower lawsuit involving the nominee we are
considering for DCASE, and that case raises serious
concerns about how leadership within the department has
operated. The complaint alleges that a senior official faced
retaliation after raising concerns about internal misconduct
and cooperating with oversight authorities.
According to reporting, the retaliation including having responsibilities
taken away, being cut out of decision-making, and ultimately being terminated.
These are serious concerns and speak directly to whether employees feel safe
speaking up. And importantly, these concerns are directly tied to
Ms. Merritt and the environment she has helped to oversee at this department.
I cannot, in good conscience, ignore credible, unresolved concerns
when evaluating a nominee for a position of this level.
And unfortunately, I've had some experience that give me concern working with the
nominee while she was serving in BACP.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many individuals and businesses were
struggling to get by, several chambers in my community collectively
received a million dollar grant to support local businesses.
The nominee was in charge of deploying the grants at the time, and quite frankly,
made the process incredibly difficult.
DCASE plays a critical role in our city.
It supports artists, cultural institutions, and major public events that shape how
the city shows up on the national stage.
And that work depends on strong leadership and a department culture that people
trust. Right now, I don't believe we have enough clarity to move forward with the
confidence necessary on Ms. Merritt's nomination.
For the aforementioned reasons, and also what we heard earlier today from
AFSCME, I cannot support this nomination. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Alderwoman. Alderman Curtis.
Thank you,
Chairman.
Well, I
appreciate
the previous conversations.
But I have a couple of questions.
Can you, will you continue both roles?
No.
Both roles?
No, I'll only have one job. I will be 100% focused
on being the commissioner of DCASE.
Okay. Well, honestly, I actually
believe
that you have the attitude
to run that department. And it takes
a person that loves people.
It was interesting to hear about the lawsuits and what
it entails. I understand you can't talk
about it now. Maybe we'll talk about it later on.
But I do believe one thing I love is institutional knowledge
that you have
within all of your roles in the city of Chicago, and
that's really what I
would definitely support because there's been too many people that
have come in without any
knowledge or institutional knowledge of the city, period,
in these positions, and things like the lawsuit
happens. So I am glad to see someone come up through the ranks,
never really hearing about any
lawsuits or anything bad about your character,
anything. So, I will definitely be supporting you.
Thank you.
Thank you, Chairman.
Thank you, Alderman. Alderman O'Shea.
Thank you, Chairman. Good afternoon.
I'd like to kind of follow in line with some of the comments and questions
some of my colleagues have had over the past half hour.
There's a pattern
in this building under this administration
of not addressing very serious issues in
departments,
of not holding leadership accountable.
We saw this with your predecessor.
For 18 months, she served as commissioner of
this critically important department.
Two months into that tenure,
word was out there were problems. Four months into it, we started to see
newspaper articles. Six months, we started to hear about investigations.
Very serious allegations.
Toxic work environment,
verbal abuse, bullying, harassment, sexual
misconduct,
and nothing was done.
Nothing was done.
I wish all the people that were sent to call me, email me, and
tell me about what a wonderful appointment this was had done
a damn thing about all the victims in that
department for 18 months.
And then after all that,
after all that documentation,
your predecessor resigned.
She wasn't fired.
She resigned. She was allowed to resign.
Nothing was done for the majority of her
18-month tenure.
Then she was put on the ineligible for rehire list.
Having worked under a couple mayoral administrations,
that would not have been tolerated.
But there's a pattern in this building.
It's going on right now in multiple departments.
I've got very serious concerns
that these issues
aren't being addressed, that they're being swept under the rug.
And I appreciate many of the people in the audience here today, people that I
respect, people I've worked with,
supporting the arts in my own community.
But I don't trust this administration.
Alderman, can I ask a quick question?
Is your concern with the administration or with the current nominee?
My concern is the administration spent the past 10 days with a full court
press on this, but they didn't do anything when there was sexual
harassment and verbal abuse-
Well-
... going on for a year and a half.
All due respect, my friend, it's a whole different issue.
We're looking at appointment-
No, it's not. It's not a different issue-
Yes, it is
... Chairman. Respectfully-
This-
... it's a problem with leadership of multiple people that have been put in
positions.
It's a problem with this department. I know you said people were complai...
I was the special events person. I could tell you only one
person, one person in DCASE, told me there was a problem over there in all the time
that I was there, and that person is gone.
Obviously, we know why she left, but nobody came to me.
Nobody talked to me about it, so I don't know, maybe you all know about, I didn't
know. I didn't have my head in the sand or anything.
But right now, at this specific time, we're looking at a nomination for somebody.
We could maybe have different subject matter hearings.
I don't know if it will be my committee or not about the issues that we feel, you
feel, everybody else feels, whoever feels, what's going on with the administration.
I don't know, I just think this is-
I think it's important, Chairman, that you
bring us back here in a couple weeks and let us know what has been done.
Because as Alderman Waguespack mentioned,
the two-day
session we had, every department has that.
That's an annual thing that everybody, all of us as city employees
that supervise people, have to take part in. That's not something extra.
That's not something that's put in place.
So do you want to know what happened with the city or what happened with this
department?
We could come back and have a subject matter hearing specific to this department or
to the city, because if it's the city-
Just-
... I don't think it would be me.
Specifically for this department-
Okay. Good enough
... based on the investigations-
Good enough
... and the resignation of the past leader-
Okay
... and that we want to make sure these things are corrected-
I-
... so that folks that aren't in the audience today who witness that, and they're
at work.
I'm with you. We'll have a follow-up subject matter hearing.
Thank you. Any other questions?
Any other committee members?
Alderman. No, we'll get him after we get these questions. We got...
Folks, this is why I don't like Rule 59.
I got people texting me, people calling my staff, trying to weigh in.
After the questions, after we finish with the committee members, after we finish
with the committee members, then we'll hit the non-committee members, then we'll
let you Rule 59 in, okay? So next up.
Yes.
I think we should get rid of Rule 59.
Yeah, you and me both. Thank you.
Yeah.
Then-
Alderman Coleman
... they show up for work.
Alderman Coleman.
Thank you. Thank you, Chairman Sposato.
I remember a year and a half ago when there was another candidate,
and,
I remember not being contacted by that candidate.
And I would like to say that since acting commissioner has been
in this role, there has not been at least two
weeks that Acting Commissioner Merritt has
contacted, or her office has contacted my office to just check
in to right the wrongs of
just a bad season for the happy department.
I grew up in DCASE. I remember Eddie Spaghetti in
the front. Yes. So, acting commissioner, I think the difference, and I
hope that my colleagues have the same grace just as our
communities have had, for those of us that inherited wards.
I know I inherited a ward that lacked city services, that lacked even
communication with residents. And I hope that, again, colleagues,
that we have the same grace that we have been given, that we
give that to someone who knows
usCommissioner Merritt is not new.
Now, while I would prefer a different role for you
that she knows that I've been very vocal about,
COO of City of Chicago. But you are no
stranger not only to us as a council, but you are no stranger to
DCASE. And I believe, and if former
Commissioner Kelly can come out of funtirement
to vouch for you, I believe that it should be
without question or without doubt that you are the
best woman for this role to restore the
integrity, to
restore the confidence, and most importantly, you hear from our
members, our family from the ASMI group,
and you understand with your 26 years of experience, we understand the
legalities, but you also understand that the culture has to be
placed back into DCASE, for certainly we want
Chicago to continue to be the number one toured city,
the best city in the world. And we know that it is with strong leadership
that will work with not only this administration, but most importantly, that will
work with us to ensure not only that Downtown is well-represented,
but every 77 community is represented in the City of
Chicago. I thank you for understanding what
communities like Englewood and North Lawndale and
Bronzeville, the rich history in Hyde Park, and knowing that
investment
should go along everywhere. So I do ask as chair of the Chicago
Aldermanic Black Caucus that my colleague stands in
support and give you a favorable vote of yes to
becoming the commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and
Special Events. Thank you.
Thank you, Alderwoman. Alderman Hopkins, followed by Alderman Napolitano,
followed by Alderman Conway.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My question is for the representative of the Law
Department, and I will preface it by saying this is a
general question, although there's implications for this specific situation here,
so you may feel free to answer it in general terms, but I do want you to
answer it. It's the position of the Inspector General's office
that
wrongful termination complaints and employment protections
still apply, even in the case of Shackman exempt
positions, senior level positions, where the stated reason for
termination can be explicit that there is no reason.
That is allowed under employment law, and apparently that's the case
here. Is that the position of the Law Department as well,
that complaints can still apply to
wrongful termination, whistleblower or whatever, even in Shackman exempt
positions?
Thank you for your question, Alderman. Justin Edge, Department of Law.
Alderman, that is beyond my area of expertise, and I do not
know that the Department of Law has an official position on it,
but I will absolutely work with members of the Department of Law who know better
than myself, and we can get you an answer through the chair.
Yeah. Again, the implications for the case before us are obvious,
but this is something we're going to have to address.
It raises these issues. And I'm not sure this is a matter of first
impression or not, but this issue is not going away no matter what the
ultimate
decision is made here. And we are going to have to look at that going forward.
Thank you.
Thank you, Alderman. Alderman Napolitano, followed by Alderman Conway.
Thank you, Chairman.
What's the best way to put this? It might be for legal.
Is Acting Commissioner
Merritt named in a lawsuit
as of right now? In the simplest terms, is she
named in this lawsuit?
Again.
Again, as I've stated before, Justin Edge, Department of Law.
The position of the Law Department is always that we do not comment on official
litigation. Now, I understand that your question is quite simple, Alderman.
However, I have no personal knowledge of that.
So if you would like that... I understand that you have a very narrow
question there.
Yeah.
If you'd like,
we could get you that answer through the chair.
But I will say this,
it is the common practice in lawsuits
to name
individual people in their official capacity,
even as the lawsuits progress, even as roles change.
The famous case names go along with them even
after
Bush is no longer president, or as it may be.
So,
that very well may be the case if the issue is related to the department.
But I do not have knowledge. If you'd like, I can get you the answer to that
specific question through the chair.
Yeah. I would like to have that, if possible, get that to the chair.
And the reason why I'm asking, too, is in fairness to Commissioner Merritt,
this is a situation now where your name's being brought up in front of
everybody, committee and in
the news. And
in fairness, not hurting your career, but in fairness to us as
aldermen here right now,
I'm under the assumption or under the belief that you are named and the department
is named in it. And the unfair thing here, and to not hurt you, but to not
hurt us as well, is we're being asked to vote to
assign you to a position when you have a pending lawsuit.
Now, let's just say in four, five months from now,
it's thrown out and there's no charges, or it's
not thrown out and you're found
guilty or the department's found guilty of all the accusations.
We're going to have to sit in here as aldermen voting you into this position
knowing this. So my question is, if you're in the acting
position right now
and there's a pending lawsuit,
why aren't we
having her acting in the positionAnd hold off
on voting for this until this lawsuit is over,
and so that she could be
given the flowers that she deserves, or we're not forced to
vote for a person that is found guilty or department-
Well, I'd like to take that one. A lawsuit could be for a year, so I don't know.
I don't know. The administration put somebody forward. Okay?
We asked to
put her in position. We have the right to either vote yes for her or no for her.
If you think this is an issue, we have a problem, or it could be a problem,
as you all know, I don't know if I'm stepping on saying something I shouldn't say,
who's ever in charge of whatever department, they're always the ones that are
attacked. The commissioner-
Yeah
... the superintendent, the whatever you want to say, they're always the ones.
Somebody's got a problem with something, they go after them.
If somebody has a problem with somebody in your office, they're not going to go
after that other person, they're going to go after you.
I mean-
No, but in fairness to that, Nick, I get you.
In fairness to her and what she's going through, and the great job that she could
do to this department, if we vote right now for her, and it doesn't go two years,
it goes two months, and her and the department are found guilty, we're going to
look like we didn't do our due diligence as council people to vote
for a person that has a pending lawsuit.
So there is a person in this position right now that does have a pending lawsuit,
and we're being asked to vote to elevate her to the position of
commissioner full time. And I've got nothing against the work that she's done in
the past. I've worked for the city for a very long time as well.
Account would be in from now.
Nick, if it's six years from now, then it's six years from now.
City council, anybody could talk to anybody in law department.
Mary Richardson Lowry spoke with several people.
Anybody, I thought I made that pretty clear.
If people needed to talk to Mary, they could talk to her.
Anybody needs to talk to Mary, they could talk to her.
I just don't think this is the place and time to be talking about lawsuits in this
meeting. That's my opinion. If your opinion is different, and you say-
Got you
... "No way can I support her," then no way you can support her.
I
don't know what more to tell everybody other than he keeps saying we can't talk
about lawsuits, but everybody keeps asking the same question.
No, I got it.
Again.
And before we just keep going on, back and forth-
But not anybody on the spot, and we're saying, "We know it's not you.
We know it's your previous person-"
Yeah
... this, we know that."
I get it, Nick. But what you're asking us to do,
whether anybody can get that information in a timely fashion, is to vote for
something during a pen--
People wouldn't be hired to the City of Chicago with a pending lawsuit, period.
So in fairness to her, and a fairness to us in here,
why are we going forward with this? That's my question.
Who, they-
That's what should be answered here before we go on-
They have to be brought up to the administration.
I didn't just out of the blue say-
I understand that
... "Hey, I want to appoint you as commissioner." So-
I didn't say you did, Nick. I didn't, I-
I don't know for sure if this lawsuit came after or before that.
I don't know. You'd have to ask law, somebody in law.
Maybe they could clarify some stuff.
All right. I've made myself clear. I've got no further questions.
Okay. All right.
Members, we're going to do a members first and then non-members, so Alderman
Conway.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Staying more general, it's not a secret
that
DCASE was considered to be a difficult work
environment under your predecessor.
What have you done to change the culture at DCASE?
Thank you for that question, Alderman.
So again, and I've shared with this earlier,
creating a culture where our staff are
supported, where that shows up in the work that we
do externally is important to me.
I've said several times, throughout the course of this hearing, I've
worked in so many departments across this city, so I know what it's
like to be a junior staff member. I know what it's like to be a
middle manager. And so I want my staff to
enjoy the work,
while at the same time be accountable for doing the work
on behalf of the millions of people that depend on us doing a great
job. And so in order to create a culture to get
to that point, I recognize that it's not going to happen overnight.
But there is a sense of urgency with me, which is why I
did invite DHR. And I know it's a training that we do on an annual
basis,
but under my leadership, with my team, in the
same room, I wanted DHR to do that training
again with us to allow the space for them to
ask questions, to know that they're empowered, that if
they have concerns, that there is a path to express those concerns.
In addition to that, that's not just it, like, let's give you the training and
that's it. No. What do we aspire this organization to
be?
How do we want to show up? What are the values as a
collective team we want to see in that department?
And we've been doing that work for the past couple of months.
My team may be annoyed with me for these 90-minute
meetings that we have once a month, but it's critically
important to me
that our department is strong, because at the end of the day, millions
of people are counting on us.
So that's just a little bit.
Okay. I didn't know if you, that...
Wait, I will just add. I'm sorry.
Please. Yeah.
Well, you know-
I didn't think you were gone.
Yeah. I am. I will just add, too, I am a little bit of a,
I like people in my space.
And so communication and having the team
present is important, right? So beyond if there are
concerns, but creating a space where
our team feels just supported in the day-to-day work.
So one of the things that I established immediately when I started
was all of my managers and my senior staff members,
we have to meet weekly first thing Monday morning.
Let's set the week right. In addition to that, all of our
staff members, we meet on a monthly basis.
In addition to that, because I like to be able to engage with
all levels of the organization up and down, is I brought in all of
our team members
in groupsJust simply to get to know them.
And we have these conversations about how did you get here at DCASE?
What is it that you're passionate about? What is it that you like about the job?
What is it that you're challenged with about the job?
And those are things that I'm committed to doing, things that I enjoy
doing, um, not only as commissioner, but as a
person. And I think our staff sees that, and I think they respect that.
Um, and so even then the comments that Sonia mentioned today
from AFSCME, like I welcome the conversation
with them. I welcome ongoing conversations for
us to set the table and to be able to co-create together.
I'm committed to that.
Yeah, many of the concerns that
my colleagues raise, I share. The fact that the
inspector general on her way out said this administration is
hostile to oversight. Uh, the chief of staff seemingly threatening the
CHA board with unspecified consequences, not to
mention Gary Gatewood saying he was fired because of an inspector general
complaint. Uh,
but I would also note we have somebody before us who's been here for four
administrations. This is hardly the mayor's-
Six different jobs
... henchman, henchwoman. Henchwoman.
Swiss Army knife.
What's that?
Swiss Army knife, I call her.
Okay. Well, you know. Uh
you know, and so someone who has hardly, uh ...
You know, has been at the city a long time, uh, someone who used to work in
this department,
um, someone that's always been responsive to my office, and,
uh, you know, I certainly will take you at your word and encourage you to
acknowledge AFSCME's, uh, AFSCME's concern.
And I think that your long tenure to this city deserves
our respect and benefit of the doubt, so I will
be supportive of this nomination.
Thank you, Alderman. Any other committee members have a question or a
comment before I go to non-committee members?
Alderman O'Shea, again.
The person who served as the HR,
in the HR role in the department,
is that person still there?
The person that has-- Yes.
So the person in charge of HR,
who for all intents and purposes did nothing to address
the many issues we've talked about here, bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct,
is still the HR person?
I know that question annoys you, Nick, but I think that's a very serious question
for all of us.
Matt, you don't know what's going on right now, okay?
People are texting left and right. Who wants to Rule 59? Who's texting me?
Who's texting my staff? That's what I'm frustrated about, Matt. Not your questions.
You're my friend, you can ask anything you want.
You have no idea what's going on today, the chaos in this meeting, which you have
to deal with because of Rule 59. So ask your questions, and then we'll get to the
Rule 59 people, and everybody will get to answer a question.
On that point, I, again, let's get rid of Rule 59.
I'm all for that. I'm a constant no on this.
My question is-
The chaos today is unbelievable
... there was a person who served in the role of HR during the
Hedspeth year
when all these accusations, and investigations, and newspaper stories,
and lawsuits happened.
That person is still the HR person in charge of the cleanup?
Am I correct in that?
I'm in charge of leading the department, and I will tell you that,
um,
we are working to shift the culture in the department.
Um, it doesn't happen overnight, Alderman, but we've made great
strides. Um,
and I'm committed to doing that.
I would think the first-
Yes
... move would be the HR person is replaced.
So, I just want to say one thing, that what I know, she could tell you
more, nobody gets fired without a commissioner's say.
Then they go through
HR, and they say, "Mary, you need to fire this person." That's how it works.
HR can't just say, "I'm going to fire people" without the authority of the
commissioner. That's what I believe.
Yeah.
Point of clarification, Alderman Knowjain.
Thank you, Chair.
And so-
I just wondered, was the answer that is the HR person that has been
responsible or overseeing some of this offensive behavior, is this
HR person still on the payroll of DCASE under your
leadership over the last five months?
The person that oversees HR at DCASE is still overseeing
HR.
Thank you.
Yes.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
And that should be a very serious concern for all of us.
Okay, thank you. All right. Now we're going to go to Rule 59
to get to people again. We're going to try, Alderman Hall, are you here?
Yes, I am.
Alderman Mosley, are you here?
Mosley's not here.
Mosley-
Alderman Hall, you had some questions or comments-
Mo- Mosley's present
... feel free.
Well, first of all, I got to approve you to come in through Rule 59.
All in favor, signify aye for Rule 59.
Aye, and an nay. Okay, and it bi- I'm a nay, along with Alderman
O'Shea. Any opinion of the chair? The ayes have it.
Aye.
Alderman Hall?
Your door is open.
Hmm?
Your door is.
Alderman Hall?
That's Monique talking, that's not me. But I'll wait for her to mute.
Um, first of all, uh, Commissioner, thank you so much.
You said it earlier, but I wanted to get it right.
How long have you worked for the city?
26 and a half years.
26 and a half years, and I just want to first of all say thank you
for overworking and getting underpaid over 26
years. And I do want to start by saying that, you know,
the timing of this is interesting, because we had someone work for the city for
23 years, and it cost the city 60 million directly in lawsuits
and 210 million for bad behavior. And I
just-Think that in 26 years, if you were such a
bad employee to the city, you would've hurt us rather than helped us.
And that's what I do want to suggest today, that you have been nothing
more than excellent. Just less than five days
ago, we held what is called Spending the Black, and
it has been, for the second year, the most economic
centered and prosperous opportunity for entrepreneurs on the
South Side on 75th Street. And I just want to share with those who are
listening, present and online, that if it wasn't for our
commissioner, who literally answered the phone on multiple occasions,
including on the verge of taking off, that event probably wouldn't have happened.
And so not only am I voting a yes for your nomination,
but I just want to commend you for going above and beyond
and extending yourself to make sure that cultural excellence is
displayed in the city of Chicago. And so, again, thank you so
much for all of your leadership in both roles that you played in my
tenure thus far as alder. And I just want to encourage you
to continue to do the work. I don't know if you're going to be working for another
26 years for the city, but what you've done so
far has made Chicago a better place.
And so I just want to, again, say thank you, and I just want to say to you,
continue to be encouraged. And not only do you have a yes from me, but you have a
yes from anybody who had an opportunity to
experience Spending the Black. So again, thank you so much, Commissioner, and
looking forward to working with you even more in the future.
Thank you.
Thank you, Alderman. I believe you're the last committee member that wanted to-
I wanted to speak, Chairman.
I'm sorry.
Chairman, this is Alderman Scott.
Alderwoman Scott.
Yes, I would like to speak.
You want to speak?
Yes.
Alderwoman Scott.
So I-
Or Vice Chair Scott.
Thank you. Thank you, Chairman.
I support this nomination
for special events commissioner.
I want to say thank you for 26 years in four
administrations.
I know you can do the work. My strong
recommendation for you is to make sure that you hone into your
staff, that you foster the level of communication that
you need within that department, and do what you
have to do to show up and show out for our communities.
And so I want to say this is a nomination that I support, and
thank you.
Thank you, Vice Chair. Alderman Robinson.
Alderman.
Commissioner Merritt,
you
have down two great institutions that you went
to in our city. DePaul University,
University of Illinois at Urbana, two great schools.
Do you mind giving this body a little
background of who you are as a daughter of
Chicago? We don't have that background.
We don't see it, so I'm just curious if you could just share that with us.
Thank you. Just a little bit about myself.
Lifelong Chicagoan,
West Sider. Grew up in North Lawndale.
I currently live in the great community of Austin.
And yes, went to our
amazing schools here, not only in the state, but in the city.
Went to University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, sorry they lost in
the Final Four,
where I studied political science, and DePaul,
where I've earned a master's in public service management.
So I was bit by the public service bug at an early
age. In college, I knew that I wanted to serve and serve our
people. And so I was lucky to be able to
get employment with the City of Chicago and have served in a
variety of roles. From working in the budget
office to overseeing our Head
Start centers, 16,000 babies, making
sure that they had quality care around the
city, to making sure that our small businesses were supported
through the pandemic, working with amazing community-based
organizations, to... This is my second tour of duty
at DCASE, but having worked under two amazing
leaders of Michelle Boone and Mark Kelly, where we have the opportunity to do
great work to ensure that access to arts and culture not only
was housed downtown, but it expanded to our neighborhoods, and that we just showed
up and just provided amazing opportunities for people to experience
all varieties and disciplines of art.
And then I left for a little bit. I went to philanthropy,
and it was good there,
where I still did work around community and
economic development before coming back to serve
again. I made the choice to come
back and serve again because that's who I
am. That's a part of my character. It is in my DNA, and
it is in my makeup to serve our people, and
that's why I accepted this role, to be able to serve our people and
to show up for our people.
Commissioner, thank you for coming back. Thank you for your 26 years.
I'm just curious, and you might have hit on this a little
bit, your budget experience,
all the roles that you have had,
again, 26 years.
Can you paint a picture on how those
experiences, particularly on the financing side, right?
We have some
tough financial constraints.
Yeah.
How do those experience help you in this current
role?
Thank you for that. So my time at budget, well, in addition to
my time as serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Finance across
multiple departmentsCertainly has helped.
I will say my time leading finance at DCASE
was absolutely amazing, and I think that
it's going to serve me very well in this role as commissioner
because I had the opportunity to marry mission with mechanics.
So understanding the mission and the purpose and the
why behind the work that we do, while also having
the skill set and the ability to understand the back office
operations. So I get it, and I've been able to come in and
hit the ground running.
I don't know if you recall, but when I was asked to step into this role on an
interim basis, it was two weeks before our budget hearing.
And it was because of that experience I was able to get up to speed, work with our
team, and figure out what we needed to do in order to present
what has happened over the year, and most importantly, what our plan was moving
forward.
Commissioner, thank you very much.
I think it's something to be said, and I want to recognize someone
that spoke a little earlier that we did not recognize,
and that is Chicago's other daughter
that we have in the house, Nora Daly, who is here.
It says something that we have
one of Chicago's superstars in the room today
who has been at the forefront of culture and has
done some great work in the city of Chicago. Again, I want to recognize her.
I want to thank her for not just being back home today,
but also to support
Commissioner Merritt's
role as the new commissioner of DCASE.
I also want to recognize,
Chairman, two other folks that are here from the 4th Ward, Rhonda
from QCDC, as well as Rich from the Auditorium Theatre.
And
I think it's something to be said, 23 folks,
colleagues, have written recommendations for
Kenya Merritt today.
Civic business leaders, even Jack Lavin, who
sometimes, as we know, has been very critical of the work
that we have done in this body. Again, it says a lot
of
Kenya Merritt and her efforts to come back
and be under pressure and take this role.
It also is important, colleagues, that, look, yes, we could do a
national search.
We need folks that are in city government
to step up and not step out.
Twenty-six years,
all these different roles,
there's something to be said about that. We should be looking internal.
We should want folks that
come out of Chicago public schools, that come out of our
neighborhoods to serve in some of these important roles in
government. It's important. And so I think that we have to be
very careful how we characterize folks
that come before us that put their careers and their life on the
lines of City of Chicago.
And so,
Kenya, I want to thank you again for stepping
up. We need you. In the midst of all of the things that are going on in our
country,
Chicago is Chicago. There's no city like it,
and we need you to be the cheerleader and to get out there and
show our country how great this city is and
bring new, invigorating things to
our city in hopes that we also can fill our budget gap.
And so we're going to be certainly looking for you to do
that and the great folks that you have in the box.
I know you cannot do this work alone.
And so I want to recognize those folks that are in the box.
Thank you for what you do to put our
city on the main stage. So Chairman,
thank you for having such a long, intensive meeting.
Correct.
I think it's something to be said, before I wrap up-
Okay, thank you
... that all of the differences in this body,
we have been able to come together to support Kenya Merritt for
Commissioner of DCASE. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Alderman. Back to a committee member.
Alderman Waguespack, do you have your hand up again?
Yeah, just one question-
One comment from any members
... and a request for just some information.
Let me just ask
you, Acting Commissioner, when you talked to that HR
person, did they share the same commitment that you have to fixing the situation?
All of our staff are... We are committed,
my managers especially, because I meet with them on a weekly basis.
We're aligned in our values of making sure that we're creating a
department that supports our team members,
and that's up and down.
Specifically the HR person who let all the other actions go on.
All of my managers are committed.
Okay. So, Chairman, can we get through your chairmanship
the...
Could you please provide all the learning experience
modules or
any documentation that you provided to all the staff that you
discussed with them?
And please provide all the actions that the HR person in that,
I'm assuming it's like the 0313
position, undertook to adhere to HR
standards over the last couple years.
And then, was anyone else fired during that time
that you took over till now for some of the
acts that took place prior to...
Were any people let go?
Hold on, let me see if I can answer the question.
Okay.
Well, I don't think we're mentioning names, so.
No, I don't need the names. I just want the-
Like I said, we're not mentioning the names, so I thinkShe's
confirming what law he's...
Yes, we've had the termination.
Which position was that?
First deputy.
Oh, okay.
First deputy was terminated.
The first deputy was terminated. That's the lawsuit.
Okay. All right. If you could provide that through the chair
before the city council meeting, I would appreciate that, and that
might
help us see through what
actions have been taken in more detail.
I would appreciate that.
Thank you, Alderman.
Okay, I believe that's it for committee members.
We're going to go to non-committee members.
First we're going to do Alderman Moore, then Alderwoman Dowell, and
then Alderman Telefero, by way of Rule 59.
Alderman Moore, you're up.
Thank you so much. I think Alderman Dowell was here before I did, but I don't know
if she raised her hand before I did, but she probably did, but I'll
let her go first if you don't mind.
Okay.
Is that okay with you, Chairman?
That's fine with me.
That's okay with you, Chairman?
That's fine with me.
All right.
Commissioner,
I am spending my afternoon down here because I believe that you are
the right person for this job.
And I'm here because I don't think you should
wear a jacket that somebody else tainted.
Make your own jacket. You've been making your own jacket for
26 years, and that jacket fits you,
and it fits the city of Chicago. You've done great work,
and I can attest to that. And as you see,
someone that serves my ward has been down here today to
also testify to that.
You are caught in a vortex,
and in a vortex, it sucks everything
inward.
And I know that you are working to create
the best work environment you can for
DCAS.
And I also believe that
if you were somehow involved in this
vortex,
you wouldn't be sitting in that chair now seeking to be the commissioner of the
department, because I know you have that kind of integrity.
Twenty-six years, various administrations,
tells us that you have the ability and the
integrity to do this work.
I would say that
after you're confirmed,
that you focus more on creating that work
environment. You know the things that need to be done.
If there are more conversations you need to have with AFSCME, have them.
If that HR director is not performing up to
snuff, do the paperwork, move that person out.
I don't know if it's a he or a she, but if they're not the right person,
they shouldn't be there.
So I wanted to say that I support you.
But I
do have one question to give you an opportunity.
I have cultural organizations like the South Side Community
Arts Center,
Gallery Guichard,
Blanc Gallery, the South Asia Institute,
Court Theatre,
deeply rooted, hopefully, which is coming into our community.
Can you speak to what your priorities are to
uplift culture in communities like mine?
Yeah. So, I'm super excited about
putting forth a cultural agenda, and we're focused on a couple of things.
One certainly is investment. How we show up and
how we invest in our artists, how we invest in our cultural
organizations. What's incredibly important for me, just as
a patron of the arts, not necessarily an artist, although I do believe we're all
artists in our own way,
is what you get out of it as an individual and as a
collective. And for people to be able to experience that
in their backyard, as well as having the opportunity to do it downtown.
And so to the extent that we can continue to elevate and support our
neighborhood cultural organizations for people to partake
and have those experiences, that is my number one
joy.
The other thing that I am also super excited about
is different ways that we can activate public spaces
and activate in community.
So we're working really closely, and MAEDA has done an amazing job with pulling
together all of our civic partners.
So we're partnering with Chicago Public Schools, the Park
District, Chicago Public Library, and city
colleges. We all have amazing assets.
And sometimes, some of these cultural organizations just need space.
And so where there's opportunity for us to leverage the space that we have
in the public sphere for people to be able to enjoy art, we want to do
that in partnership with our cultural organizations in our neighborhoods.
And then the last part that I just want to hit on is the
connected piece. So you have a rich ward
with amazing organizations doing great work.
One of the things that's important to me is making sure that we have an
interconnected ecosystem, and how we're all supporting one
another, and how we're all lifting up the work that's happening
individually into a collective. SoI'm
excited. I can't wait to get to work and start on these things.
I've been a little distracted,
but can't wait until I have-
You've already been working.
I know I've already been working, but I can't wait to do more of that.
And then I just, again, want to acknowledge some of the folks that you
named are in this audience, our cultural organizations, our
partners
globally. There is nothing like it.
Chicago is unmatched, unrivaled
in what we do here, and the people that are passionate about doing this
work. And so I'm super excited to be partnering with the
people that are here today, as well as others that you've named, Chair.
Thank you for raising that.
Thank you very much, Chairman. I will be supporting this-
Thank you
... next week.
Okay.
Thank you.
Alderman Moore, are you ready now?
Sir, thank you so much, Chairman, for giving me this opportunity.
Usually in situations like this,
people get called down to-
What?
...
speak up and do whatever. Nobody didn't have to call me down. I didn't get a call.
Well, hello.
I was in Alderman Dow's-
What? Yeah, what?
I was in her briefing, and my staff failed
to let me know and show me the agenda for this meeting, because
I look at the agenda, then I decide whether I'm going to go if it's not my
committee, depending on what's on here.
So I got on them about that, because had I known, I would've had my suit on today,
because I do not like not wearing a suit to committee meetings.
And when I found out, I was like, "I have to go down there,"
not because someone called me, which I didn't get a call, but because of the person
that you are and the work that you
do. And I just want to say, I appreciate the work that you
do. Of these 26 years that they're
talking about,
had you ever had any,
what we call
something put in your employee jacket for not doing a good job or anything like
that?
No.
In your 26 years, never?
No.
And that's great,
because some people can't get past 10 years sometimes.
And, that's a testament to who you are.
You talk about
something that you said that you like people and you like being in people's
faces. You're not just saying that.
That's a good thing, because I like being in people faces, too.
You show that. Some departments you go to, people may say,
"Hey, if you need anything," but you invite people into your office because you
don't know whether you're going to get drilled or what.
So you look for the opportunity to talk, to see what's
going on with people. I've experienced that firsthand a couple of times, even when
I didn't want to come in. And, but in not wanting to
come in, you find out something
that you don't know and something that can help your community.
So for that, I thank you for being that open and being
willing to sit with people who are going to drill you and question
you any time. The other that wasn't--
I didn't even know until someone said it because I didn't peruse the room when I
walked in. The fact that Commissioner Kelly is down here
supporting you stakes a lot because his work is just
some of the best that the city has ever had, and I don't think he would
spend his time down here to
come and endorse your appointment.
And I thank you for that, Commissioner, for coming down here to do
that. That says a lot, and that says that we are making the
right decision. I would also like to go on record to
say, because I hate politics, but I tell people I can play it if I have
to. I'm hoping you're not my last appointment for this
administration that I make. I got a meeting upstairs that's going to decide
that, but I'm hoping you're not, and I want to
continue to support great people
like yourself and not hold up things for politics.
But sometimes it can happen, and I feel sorry for those
people that would may get caught up in that, just like you're getting caught up in
a situation that you're totally not responsible
for. And so with that said, in terms of the questions, as
you know, we didn't have
budget money for the State of Chicago and the
neighborhoods and things like that.
Can you tell me some of the things you may do to
help us get some of that funding back or to make sure that we're doing some of
those things in those neighborhoods that are not represented with events
like Far West Side Marquette Park that
sometimes it's on the Far West Side, almost hitting
Bedford Park, if you will.
But can you talk about some of the things you're trying to do or willing to do to
get those festivals back on the Far South Side?
Yeah. Alderman, thank you so much. Thank you for the thoughtful words.
And activations in our neighborhoods are incredibly important for me as
I shared.
Having grown up in North Lawndale and
living in Austin, I think it's important for our residents that live in
neighborhoods to be able to experience art in their backyards.
And so we have a pretty robust grants program.
We provide
about $9.5 million across three programs, and one of those
programs is a program where we fund neighborhood organizations to
be able to do activations in their neighborhoods.
And so I would love to sit down with you and share a little bit more
about that program and make sure that some of the organizations in your community
are aware of it.
Thank you. And working with the Pritzker
Foundation-- Tremble Foundation, I always say that name wrong. Did I get it right?
Working with that foundation, I know the Alderman Gresham community benefited
when you were there. Can you talk about
a dollar amount or resources that you helped bring
back to those communities when you were there?
Yeah, if you want to talk about over the course of my career, we're talking
billions of dollars.
But while I was at Pritzker and Traubert Foundation, I did
work with the Chicago Prize, which is a grant program that
provides a grant of $10 million
for community investment. And to your point, Auburn Gresham
was one of the organizations that received
the first Chicago Prize, and the second was Sankofa
Wellness Village, which is on the West Side.
So the foundation is making great strides with continuing to
invest in Chicago, and I'm happy
to have spent a little bit of time working there, still doing work in
community and investment around Chicago.
Thank you so much. And in addition to my comments, I echo, without
holding this time up, everything that Chairman
Dow spoke and said. I ditto that. So thank you
so much for your time.
Thank you.
And I am in support of this. Even if it was going to be tough for me to do
it for other reasons, I was still going to do it because you deserve that.
Thank you, Alderman.
All right.
Appreciate it.
Alderman Telefiero, by way of Rule 59.
Thank you, Chairman, and thank you members of the committee for giving me
a brief moment to speak.
I just want to take this moment to
let Ms. Kenya Merritt, Commissioner Kenya Merritt, know that she has
my complete and full support.
Chicago, for decades has been known,
in my opinion, as one that's been committed
to cultural and the arts. And in fact,
a lot of
organizations and businesses seek out Chicago to bring their
festivals or their programs here.
And I think
that is a testament to the leadership that we've had over the time, over the last
decades, in promoting Chicago as a
city to come to.
And I'm very
supportive of this appointment because I've had an opportunity
over the last 11 years to work side by side with
Kenya.
I love your approach. Your approach has always been hands-on.
You've never wavered from coming out to our different
wards to speak with us and to see where your
expertise can help us to build a better ward, and in turn,
building a better city. And so I thank you for that.
You have a strong leadership skills, and you have been committed for over
26 years to the city. And so I think you're going to
carry this into your next endeavor and ensure that
the department that you're running
can be one that you're proud of and that we can be proud of as residents
of the city. It's unfortunate that today, what
is your time to shine
there's
conflated issues surrounding the media responses to the mayor's
administration and your appointment here.
But I just ask that you keep shining, keep
working hard, and
don't let that hold you back. You stand on strong principles, and so I
thank you for that. And you have my complete support. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Alderman. Alderman Mosley, I believe you're the last to speak.
We'll go around when you're done to see where we're at here.
Thank you so much, Chair, and thank you,
Commissioner, for keeping it going so I can get back to
you.
26 has been said a lot here today, and I think this is
the only time that I will be on record of saying that it may be better than 21.
But
I have a lot of folks that are counting on you in 21,
particularly those ASK You members.
Mm-hmm.
Can we get a commitment from you to sit with ASK You members directly,
just you, to hear their concerns unfettered,
unrestricted, so that their fullness can
be in that meeting?
Yeah. Alderman, I shared earlier that I
met with the leadership a couple of weeks ago and committed
to having a second meeting as well as a regular cadence of conversation.
So, yes.
Great.
Yep.
Because
what I've heard earlier was just a call for accountability.
Yeah.
And it's something that I'm very confident that you are able to deliver, as you
have been doing for beyond 26 years now.
Yeah.
But I want to get to the work that you're going to be doing in this role or
continue to do in this role.
Talk to me about how, one,
this past budget season, we talked about the need for
organizations to step up and be a true partner when it
comes to festivals, and how that inadvertently may have
a negative impact on smaller community
organizations that are looking to highlight culture and
an experience in our local communities.
Today, what does that partnership look like for those local communities?
So
again,
for our residents to be able to experience, whether it's festivals
or
different forms of artistic expression in their
neighborhoods, is important to me.
And so we're willing to work with some of our longstanding
events that are happening in neighborhoods to support them.
We're willing to invite them in and have individual conversations
around ways that my team
can be helpful. But we recognize that we're going into a
season where things are a challenge, where things just cost more.
And so we're willing to hear from them and figure out a plan forward.
Great.
And as we talk about seasons that we are in, surely it has been
hard to make sure that our history is not erased.
Mm.
Because there have been attempts to do soFrom your perch,
what will DCASE be able to do and what can DCASE
do to make sure that the stories,
and sometimes struggles, of our communities are highlighted?
I know
citywide we have things like street namings or street
dedications and so forth.
Mm-hmm.
But what can we do to really ingrain and ensure that our
history is enshrined in our local public
amenities?
Yeah. And so I think that work is showing up, right?
I think maybe we can talk a little bit about it more.
But I think across all the different disciplines of art,
we're supporting that work. One example that I will
share is we work in partnership with the Chicago Public Library
for a poet laureate. And this year's poet
laureate, or two-year term, is Maya Del Valle.
Our inaugural poet laureate is Avery R.
Young. And so, these are people that use their platforms
and their voices
to hold our truths up high, and to articulate
it in an amazing way. And so we're supporting those efforts,
just in different ways.
And do we as a city ever do
markers that may be helpful to efforts of Great
Chicagoans like Sherman Della Thomas, who does tours throughout our
city to make sure that that history is there too?
That's an interesting
point.
I would love to explore that with you. You bring up a good point.
It brought something back
to remembrance for me of some of the work that's happening as a part
of our monuments project, which is a
commemoration of the 1919 riot.
So throughout the city, we are doing markers.
Hopefully we'll complete our last marker in
the coming months, and certainly we'll be able to, to your point, when we talk
about history,
be able to talk about and not forget what happened in
1919 in Chicago.
Right. Well, surely I'm not forgetful of the sacrifice and
service that you've given to the city.
Thank you.
I stand in support of your nomination.
And Chair, I'll turn it back to you, but if there's not been a call for a motion to
pass, I will make the motion at this time.
Thank you, Alderman. Before that, we are going to have a roll call.
A roll call was requested.
But I got to get my head on straight a little here, because who left?
Who wants to rule 59 now? But before we do that, I just want to have my say,
because I've had no say here. I tried to run a meeting as good as
possible. This was a very difficult meeting for me today.
Probably my
toughest meeting ever in seven years.
So,
a combination of a lot of things. But
we are voting on appointing a commissioner of DCASE, the
person in front of us right here. This has nothing to do with the past
commissioner of DCASE. This has nothing to do with the administration.
Obviously, if you have problems with those people, you could contact them real
easily. I could give you the number of the former commissioners.
Which by the way, she was a sweetheart to me.
I had never had any problems with her. I understand people had issues.
You could reach out to the administration. IG is here, you could talk to him.
You could talk to Law. You could do whatever you want.
But once again, this vote is on an appointment of
Kiana Merritt for Commissioner of DCASE.
Now I believe we got to try to figure out, Dan, help me here.
We just need to add-
We need to add a bunch of rule 59s, I believe.
Alderman Hopkins and Alderman Rodriguez.
Okay. All right.
So we have a motion.
So motion for Rule 59.
So moved by Alderman Mosley. Alderman Hopkins, are you here?
Present. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
And Rodriguez?
Present.
And he's here also.
Present.
Is there anybody else we missed out there?
Anybody lingering in the weeds that I missed you for Rule 59?
Okay. Anybody hiding under their desk or anything that we missed?
Okay. All right. We're going to do a roll call vote.
Starting off with myself, Nick Sposato is a yes.
Vice Chair Scott?
I'm a yes.
Vice Chair Scott is a yes. Alderman Hopkins?
I'm a yes.
Aye.
Hopkins is a yes. Alderman Robinson?
Yes.
Alderman Robinson. Hall, I'm sorry. I just asked you. Alderman Hall?
Yes.
Alderman Coleman?
Alderman Curtis?
Alderman Mosley?
Present.
Alderman Rodriguez?
Yes.
Alderwoman Cruz?
Aye.
Alderman Conway?
Alderman Waguespack?
I'm sorry, I lost you on that one. I didn't hear, was a...
No, I'm sorry. Okay. Oh, s**t. Okay. Alderman Nugent?
Alderman Napolitano?
Alderman Lawson?
Alderman Garner?
And Silverstein wasn't here today.
O'Shea.
Oh, O'Shea. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Alderman O'Shea.
Alderman O'Shea's a no. My bad.
I'm a little discombobulated today.
Or a lot discombobulated.
Yes.
12 yeses.
Three.
12 yeses.
Passes.
Four no. The motion passes.
All right. With that, the do pass recommendation of this
appointment will be reported out at the next city council meeting on April 15th,
2026. There being no further business before the committee, I have a
motion by Alderwoman Coleman to adjourn.
All in favor signify by aye. Aye. All say nay.
The opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.
Meeting on committee on special events of cultural affairs and recreation, what a
record long meeting of two hours and 20 minutes, is now adjourned.
It's not your fault.
Not yours.