Good afternoon, everyone.
The Committee on Contracts, Oversight, and Equity will now come to order.
We will first have a roll call to establish a quorum.
Vice Chair Espada.
Present.
Alderman Mitchell.
Harris, Alderman Harris.
Alderman Ramirez.
Alderman Coleman.
Alderman Taylor.
Alderman Burnett. Alderman Irving.
Alderman Taliaferro. Alderman Burnett is present.
Present.
Alderman Taliaferro is present. Alderman Villegas.
Villegas is present. Alderman Nugent,
and Alderman Gardner.
Alderman Mitz is present.
We have 10 members present. We have a quorum.
We have any remote participation?
No one requested for remote participation.
Non-member Alderman David Moore.
We have a non-member Alderman David Moore present
remotely. Can I get a motion to accept Alderman Moore?
Move.
So moved by Vice Chair Lospada.
All in favor signify by saying aye.
Aye.
At this time, we begin our public comment period.
It'll be 30 minutes.
Oh.
Due to the amount of speakers we have, we're going to limit our speakers
to two minutes. One, two,
three.
And not to exceed 30 minutes. Two, four, six, eight,
10, 12,
14,
16, 18, 20.
Okay, I just counted them up. We can do three minutes
per speaker.
Okay.
Our first speaker is going to be
Quishonna Harris.
Yeah. Stand by.
Quishonna Harris.
Her name's supposed to be on here as the chairman. I don't see it.
Okay.
Thank you and welcome.
Hi. Good morning. I mean, good afternoon. Hi, Emma.
Good morning.
It's good to see you guys and the rest of the committee.
My name is Quishonna Harris, and I'm representing my organization, my nonprofit
organization, Chicago Shower Association.
And
it's actuallyI'm here today not only to present
a solution, but to talk about the importance of transparency and
ethical standards. So this sanitation
service will actually bridge all of the critical gaps that we're facing here in
Chicago together with housing crisis, workforce development, education
purposes, and things in that nature.
I have developed a system where we can do a central intake for
individuals experiencing homelessness or hardship, even if they're
immigrants, refugees, whoever needs the help.
So as they come to the facility, we will offer clean clothes, hygiene
supplies, and access to referrals and other
nonprofit organizations that can help with community
needs.
Sorry, guys.
The issue is that we're currently facing a visible and
invisible crisis in Chicago, the lack of
hygiene services becoming a critical
problem in our city because we have hygiene
problems with the health. Health and hygiene go hand in hand.
So where individuals have a lack of access to the proper
sanitation services, we are causing higher healthcare costs for the
city and preventable illness. So just getting this
system in place, we could lower some of the expenses that we have with the
unnecessary doctor visits and
the critical gap that we have with community
care and public safety.
Thank you, Kawana.
Thank you.
I just put the name with the face now.
Yeah, Kushana Harris.
Yeah.
We spoke greatly on the phone.
Right.
That was a magnificent conversation that we had.
Thank you for your direction, and I'm just looking for the support in making this
a reality here in Chicago. Yes, it will be in
Bronzeville as a model blueprint, but it will service all of our communities until
we are fully developed around Chicago.
All right. Thank you very much. Thank you for coming down.
Our next speaker is Wendy P***k.
Good afternoon,
Chair Mitz and-
Good afternoon
... members of the committee. My name is Wendy P***k.
I'm a former union carpenter and founding member of
Chicago Women Carpenters that evolved into Chicago
Women in Trades as more women entered various construction
trades. Today I am asking for your yes vote in
support of the Chicago Construction Workforce Equity Ordinance.
This ordinance will go a long way in countering the federal government's
evisceration of the rights and opportunities that women and Black and
Brown workers have relied upon for decades to obtain and retain
high-wage jobs in the construction industry.
It cannot be overestimated the vital role the federal
Executive Order 11246, its implementing rules and
goals, and the monitoring and enforcement by the federal
Office of Contract Compliance Programs have played since
1965 in ensuring that women and people of color have a fair
shot at being hired and retained in the construction industry.
I know from my own experience as a tradeswoman, I would not have been
hired, let alone retained, if it were not for those federal
mandates and
the accompanying monitoring and enforcement.
Unfortunately, this remains true for many of those actively pursuing
the trades now in today's world.
But the federal government has rescinded the executive order, has
rescinded implementing rules and
goals, terminated the federal employees whose job it was to monitor
and enforce compliance, and has dismantled the Office of
Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
In addition, just in the last few months, the federal government
has dismantled the guardrails around apprenticeship
programs. We cannot allow the construction industry in
Chicago to go backwards in terms of hiring and retention of
women and Black and Brown workers, and we cannot rely just
on the McLoughlin Ordinance. I was part of the coalition that
advocated for and won the McLoughlin Ordinance back in the day.
Awesome.
This ordinance offers financial incentives to construction contractors for
hiring women and people of color. However, the ordinance has never lived
up to our hopes and our expectations, and without more, is
unlikely to do so
in the future.
So I ask you today for your support of the Chicago Construction Workforce
Equity Ordinance. It can play an essential role in making sure Chicago
does not move backward and instead moves forward in
its hiring and retention practices in the construction industry.
Please vote yes. Thank you for your time.
Thank you.
Our next speaker is
Kena McAfee.
Yes, good afternoon.
Good afternoon.
My name is Kena McAfee. I retired as a union
carpenter
since
I was able to get into the apprenticeship as a result of a lot of community
organizations back in 1985,
bringing a lawsuit against Washburn Trade School.
It was based on that that I had started my apprenticeship and was able to
complete it. I have to say that there were very few women,
very few people of color,
very few African Americans who attended Washburn Trade School at the same time
that I did, but I was able to complete my
apprenticeship. I advanced and worked as a journey-level
carpenter, frequently the only woman and only
African American on many of the job sites that I worked
on.And well, I don't want to talk about the
treatment that
we received. I'll talk about that a little bit later with our apprentices.
But I do want to emphasize the importance of when
you're working, it's critical to have steady work in the
trades. The steady work and the hours that you work are
critical for your healthcare. The employer pays based
on your working hours. So if you work one week and
then you're off for three months,
that's no good for any carpenters or any of the tradespeople that we
represent in Chicago Women in Trades.
I went on, after becoming a journey level carpenter, to serve as an
administrator in the carpenter's apprentice program, and
immediately while I was teaching, even before I became an administrator,
constantly I would be approached by African Americans, our
apprentices, and women about the treatment they were receiving on the
jobs and about the steadiness of their work, getting hired
and getting laid off a very short time later.
And it is impossible to complete an apprenticeship, much less
support your family, if you're only working intermittently.
And I saw this particularly when I was working as an
administrator for the apprentice program, where contractors would call
based on that executive order that Wendy was talking about,
to get people who lived in the city of Chicago, to get women on a job
site. But that was without any oversight.
They can, again, hire them, bump up their numbers, and then
lay them off in a short period of time.
I do also want to emphasize the need for
oversight. It's not just getting people hired.
We need to have a coalition between unions,
community organizations, and the
contractors who hire them to
look over the hours that these tradespeople are working, because they
can say anything, but the hours tell the story.
So oversight is critical. Thank you.
Judy.
Thank you.
Is there a Judy? Hadden.
Judy?
Is Judy here?
Haddell. Haddell.
That's her name.
Okay. She's not here. Mr. Blakemore.
Thank you very much.
And I looked at the agenda, and I see once
upon a time,
Madam Emma Mitch was the chairman of contract and
compliance. I demand in the future, whoever's
making up the agenda, have your name on there as the
chair lady.
So,
we're having a crisis here in our city
dealing with Black people receiving
contracts in the procurement. Blacks only
receive 2% of the contracts. The lady that's
previously spoken,
talking about the Black people, was able women, and I
guess men, in the carpenter business.
Well, what the unions are doing,
they're hiring illegals,
and they pay them less, and they work on the same job.
But none of you ladies have brought this up.
And then when they have an accident,
then they go out to the county, and they
get free medical care. Well, there's a connection
between Cook County
and
the City of Chicago.
Madam Pret Winker says that for everybody,
she told Sheriff Dodds, "Do not turn them in when
they do criminal acts or even when they also
break our laws
in working."
But unions. Your unions are corrupt.
They got them right on site. Some of them are union workers, and
some are illegal workers
on the same site. And you can look at when they're
paving the streets. But Madam
Emma Mitch, Madam Emma Mitch, you must stand up now.
It's your time.
Make sure that anything that comes out with that, that you are still
the chairman. They have purged our people so many of each
chairmanship, and we have so many Black faces in high
places selling Black people out.
Oh, I'm so loud.
2% of the contracts, only 2%.
It's something evil here. It's something un-American here.
It's something corrupt here. A system of all
Democrats fixing out in each other.
Trump didn't do this. It's the corruption right here.
Mitch, you worked on the job, and you know you did, on that job with
illegals. Yes, you did. Yes, you did.
They got two payrolls, the union. The unions are corrupt, too.
Oh, yes they are. And you know that.
The truth will set our people free.
2% of the contract. It's something wrong with
our leadership. No leadership at all.
At all. This is a sad school. Come on.
It's so confusing. It's all confusing here.
Our next speaker is going to be Carissa
PouncyYou
all gonna work it up.
Thank you Chairman Micks and
members of the committee. My name is Caress Pouncy.
I'm a proud local 63 iron worker, and I have been in this trade for
11 years. My career began through the opportunities and support
I received from Chicago Women in the Trades,
where I successfully completed both the
Technical Opportunities Program and the
Welding Program. Those programs opened the doors for
me to enter a field that I quickly grew passionate
about. For me, this work has never been just about earning a
paycheck. I truly love my craft. I love fabricating,
building, and bringing people visions to life through metalwork.
There is a sense of pride that comes with driving through the
city and being able to say, "I worked on
that."
Knowing that your hands have helped build something lasting for the community
is the feeling that cannot be replaced.
There's Stephanie.
Throughout my career as an iron worker journey woman, I have worked alongside
many hardworking tradespeople from different backgrounds and different
trades. Many of those coworkers became close friends and people
I deeply respect. Construction work teaches
discipline, teamwork, resilience, and pride in workmanship.
However, my journey in this industry was not always easy.
There were many times where finding consistent work was difficult, and often
it felt like I had to work twice as hard to prove myself because I was a
woman in the trades. I experienced racist remarks on job
sites, unequal treatment, and situations where I was not given the
same
opportunities as others. Too often, I felt like I was viewed as
just a number to satisfy diversity requirements, instead of being
recognized for my actual skill, dedication, and work ethic.
Many times, it felt like I was the last one hired and the first one laid
off. Completing my apprenticeship was a struggle,
not because I lacked the ability or determination, but because the
opportunities were not always equal.
Those experiences are a part of what motivated me to start my own
company.
Today, I am a residential and commercial metal fabrication
contractor, and I am
proud to be signatory with my local union.
As both a tradeswoman and now a contractor, I understand
firsthand how important it is for the city of Chicago to support
workers and ensure accountability on the construction projects.
We need stronger oversight to make sure opportunities are truly being
provided fairly, and that workplace
diversity is not just talked about but actively enforced.
Workers deserve access to real opportunities, fair
treatment, and the ability to remain employed on projects they help
build.
This ordinance is an important first step
toward
That would take us... I would have to start doing it for
everyone else. Hold on.
Yeah, 30 seconds.
This ordinance is an important first step toward greater accountability,
transparency, and workforce diversity in our industry.
It sends the message that inclusion should be meaningful, not
performative. I respectfully ask for your support and urge the committee
to vote yes. Thank you for your time.
Thank you very much. Thank you.
Next speaker is Katrina Bailey,
followed by Bobby
Ibarra.
Good afternoon, everyone. I'm just here to support and ask for
support for the Hispanic subcontractors
to be put on more jobs out here in the city.
It's a lot of work out here that can be explained or
divided amongst all Black and brown.
And there's a lot of Black and brown that's not on all these high-rise positions.
And I'm just asking that we get the opportunity to be put on there.
Thank you, Katrina.
Bobby
Ibarra.
Hi. Bobby Ibarra with Chicago Unidos in Construction.
I am a Latino
business. We're a fabricator in Little Village.
We've been around for 16 years, and throughout my
career,
I've noticed that with the mega projects that are in the city,
a lot of Latinos are not given the opportunity as primes.
I'm here to encourage our committee
to
give us the opportunity, to allow us the opportunity to sit
on the board
of these committees so that we can have this
opportunity of having the inclusion, and
having an equal playing field amongst our black
sisters and brothers.
Again, I encourage, please, for that consideration. Thank you.
Our next speaker is
CastanoChristina
Behrend.
Good afternoon, everyone.
Dear Chairwoman and honorable committee members,
as board president of Chicago Unidos in Construction and a
Latina MBE WBE Chicago construction company,
I am urgently requesting a committee hearing
regarding the lack of Hispanic construction firms
in
leadership roles on the City of Chicago projects and
most city development.
Latinos make up a large share of the construction workforce,
yet Latino-owned firms remain underrepresented in
early-stage planning, project leadership, and prime
contracting opportunities.
I respectfully urgent that Chairwoman, Vice President, and
honorable committee members to schedule a needed
hearing to listen to public testimonies and review all
supporting information, including analytics of Latino
participation.
Include Latino-owned firms in prime
contracting opportunities. Engage diverse Latino firms
in early
and procurement. Strengthen
accountability for meaningful
participation goals.
And supporting Latino professionals in projects
leadership roles. Thank you for your commitment
to equity and inclusion.
Okay, perfect.
Juan, I can't pronounce your last name. I'm not sure.
Is this
Calarano?
It's Calarano. Thank you.
Okay.
Followed by Zoe Lee.
Chair and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to speak.
My name is Juan Calarano. I serve as the executive director of Chicago Unidos in
Construction, representing more than 30 Hispanic-owned general
contractors, developer firms, specialty trades, and professional
services across Chicago. I'm here to address a critical
contracting gap. Hispanic contractors remain significantly
underrepresented as prime contractors and in leadership roles of the city's
largest and most transformative projects, despite having the cr-
uh, and proven performance to lead.
Chicago's entering a historic period of public and private investment.
Major initiatives now underway or moving into
procurement include the O'Hare International Airport expansion, the Red Line
Extension, La Salle Street reimagined, Citywide Bridge and
viaduct modernization program, CP, uh, CPS Capital,
Cedar Arterial resurfacing and streetscape upgrades.
On the private side, catalytic developments continue to reshape the city.
Founder of the Air Station, major West Loop
developments, the 1901 Project, the Chicago Fire
Stadium at 78, the Brownsville Lakefront development, and
the arrival of the PCI Quantum, which positions Chicago as a
national center for innovation and construction growth.
These projects will define Chicago's economic future.
Latino-owned firms are ready to lead on them, not simply
participate at the margins. To advance equitable
participation request, uh, we're respectfully requesting a meeting with this
committee to discuss strategies to expand prime contracting
opportunities for Hispanic-owned firms, increase leadership roles and
mega and impact-- high-impact projects, and strengthen
transparency and early access to bid packages, address the
structural barriers that rest- uh, restrict, I'm sorry, Latino
contractor advancement. We welcome the opportunity to meet with the committee at
your earliest convenience to move these solutions forward.
Chicago Unidos in Construction stands ready to partner with the city to ensure
Latino contractors prefer visible and meaningful role in building
Chicago's future. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Thank you.
Our next speaker is Zoe Lee.
Hi, Chairman. Um, it's
couple of things. First of all, um, that H...
You got a H... Y'all got a bill, uh, H.R.
1909.
Y'all got all that stuff in there.
We don't have one yet, and we don't never get one. You know what I'm saying?
Y'all put the Black and brown, y'all put us all together, and then we don't never
see the legislation part. Um, but since we in Contracts,
Equity, and Oversight,
um, MMS, you asked me the other day how my mom was doing, and she's doing great.
Um, but you, you know the situation that happened with the city, right?
So I need someone to
figure out how many demolitions on the
South Side
that have been compensated
versus the ones on the North Side. That's number one.
Number two is I need to understand
why did Richard Daley b- think that he could give
Quakenbush the other six lots
on, on, on my godfather's 10 lots. See, four lots was a s-
Sandpiper Lounge. In 2008, they just decided they was gonna just
put a Save-A-Lot on his lots and then not pay him.
But Quakenbush is getting paid, and Richard Daley
and Quakenbush are like this, and Quakenbush ended up telling my mom
that the TIF money that they come in here and wear their
suits, and, and you guys give it to them, they use that
same TIF money to buy land that's already purchased.
Like how my godfather's had his land purchased since
1965 and then it was paid off in
1993. So I'm gonna need someone to contact...
Richard Daley's still alive, just like my godfather's still alive.
I need somebody to reach out to Daley and reach out to Quakenbush
and figure out if they're gonna sit down with my godfather and
figure out, umThis money that they owe him from
2008 until now, that's number two.
Three is, except for here, for the contract oversight and
equity,
the $900 million
that was given in TIF funds to the Lincoln Yards, Lincoln Yards,
they
even axed that. So I need to know where that
$900 million is,
because that could go back into the Invest South West money-
Mm-hmm
... that was supposed to be intended for the South Side and the West Side.
Thank you. Thank you.
Our next speaker,
the next speaker is Jessica Jackson, but I
would like to acknowledge
Alderman Coleman,
Alderman Burnett for the purpose of our
quorum roll call.
Oh, and Alderman Mitchell. Where did he go? Back over there.
Jessica Jackson is now next speaker.
And we got one.
So while you have these people in here talking about
Black and brown and contractors and all that, which you all know is...
I'm going to use your words, Stephanie Coleman.
When I asked you about our South West Invest money a couple of years
ago, and you told me that was a hoax.
Yeah. Yeah. While you got whatever that flag is up there that you
representing, because you can't represent Black people.
So
in terms of what was said in here today,
all this conversation about women, Black women, and
all this and that,
I want to know, Alderman Emma Mitts, I want to know,
Alderwoman Michelle Harris, I want to know,
Alderwoman Stephanie Coleman, this
concern about Black women.
Where's the concern about
this article that's in the Injustice Watch,
where the caption is, "Illinois is the last state to
unlawfully strip wealth from homeowners caught in tax
foreclosure. The US Supreme Court recently ruled
unconstitutional a decades old practice of
taking every cent of people's home equity
over unpaid property taxes. Experts say
Illinois lags behind the nation by continuing the
racist policy, mostly impacting Black
communities." Where's that? Huh?
Now, here's the other article, Michelle Harris, entitled
"More than 100 US Political Elites," that would be
AKA and Delta, Delta Sigma Theta and them, "Family
Links to Slavery." And in 2023, they did the survey with
Steelhos, that there are more evictions
in South Shore than any part of the city of
Chicago. Where's your concern for that?
Where's your concern for that? As you have these white
liberals come in here talking about some Black and brown junk,
while you got these Hispanics coming in here acting like they ain't getting
work.
Yesterday it was all over the internet, Towan Sims went to
a work site, a construction site, and there was only Hispanic
workers there.
Illegals are the reason why these people don't have jobs.
You going to advocate for more Hispanics?
How much more should they get? How much more should they get?
Because I live in South Shore, and I see where Black people built
South Shore, and now we don't have nothing because immigrants are getting
everything. So I'm trying to figure out how much more should they get
while they sit here and watch us have nothing, and take
everything that our families came here and made
for this country and for this city. How much more should they get?
All right. Our last
speaker is Rakeem.
Last
speaker
is Rakeem Seton.
Rakeem?
Is there a Rakeem in the audience?
All right.
Rakeem is not here. That would be our final
public speaker.
There are no other speakers for today.
We're going to start with today's agenda.
We have five items on the agenda.
Our first item is the approval of our monthly
Rule 45 report for the month of January
2026, February 2026, March
2026, April 2026, for the Committee on
Contracts Oversight and Equity.
Can I get a motion to approve?
So moved
by Alderman Mitchell. All in favor, signify by saying
aye. In opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.
Our second item on the agenda today is item number
02024-0012388,
an amendment
of the Municipal Code Chapter 2-45 by adding
new section 2-45-150,
establishing an online database to track MBE and
WBE utilization compliance. I believe that we have a
substitute ordinance.
Can I get a motion to accept the substitute on this
item?So moved by Alderman
Espada.
All in favor signify by saying "aye."
Aye.
Opinion of the chair is the ayes have it.
The substitute ordinance is now before us.
At this time, the chair recognizes
from Department of Planning, Nora-
Sefanick
... Sefanick
from DPD.
Is Nora here?
Okay.
But I can explain the ordinance.
So we're going to bring Alderman
Espada up to give an overview of this
ordinance at this time.
Thank you so much, Chair. So this actually goes back to
2017, when then Mayor Emanuel put forward an
executive order related to planned developments,
asking those applying for planned developments to commit
to three goals: 26% minority business enterprise
participation, 6% women business enterprise
participation, and 50% city resident hiring.
In the eight years or so since then,
270 planned developments have been approved by the Planning Commission.
All 270, 100%,
agreed to
those three goals.
Since then, 70%, 70 of those, got to
certificate of occupancy. Building opened, people moving
in.
Of those 70,
two
completed all three of the goals that they committed to.
On average, we saw rather than 26% MBE
participation, roughly 19%
participation in contracting, and only about
24% city hiring, and that is on
average across all of those projects.
What does that mean for our contractors?
On average, every 1% that was lost during
that time period represents $34
million in contracting opportunities that would have
gone to MBE contractors had those goals
fully been met.
That 24%, that represents
literally tens of thousands of construction jobs that didn't go to
Chicago residents.
This ordinance does not create any
mandates. We know in this current
atmosphere what mandates represent.
It creates transparency, because right now, when you
submit those forms at the end of the day saying how you did on that
planned development,
none of that information is public.
So it makes sure, through this ordinance, number one, that you do have to
complete your final affidavit on how
you did on these goals, because of those 70, only
54 actually turned in their final affidavit.
But it also would put that information on a public-facing
dashboard.
This has a couple values. Number one, it makes sure that
when those developers come to their communities, their Alders in the
future, we can actually check their work.
We can see how they did against the commitments that they had made in the
past to make sure we're holding them accountable for commitments made in the
future.
But we also know from presentations that have been made to the Planning
Commission, it may be that they weren't able to find an
MBE contractor to fulfill a certain role on the project.
Well, now we know that there's an opportunity area for
people to start those businesses.
Also, all of these forms already exist, and the good news is
there has been, since we introduced this ordinance, a
public-facing dashboard created for planned developments.
It's just a matter of adding the information we already
receive to that dashboard.
That's what we're asking the committee to consider today.
Thank you, Alderman Espada. Is there any question by committee
members on this particular item?
If not, no questions, can I get a motion to move to pass by
Alderman Mitchell? All in favor signify by saying "aye."
Aye.
Opposed, in opinion of the chair is the ayes have it.
Item number two.
Oh, item number three.
Ordinance
number
02025-0018753,
an amendment of the Municipal Code Section
2-92-330 to
establish Chicago Construction Workforce Equity
Advisory Board to monitor and report on participation of
targeted population in covered project.
The sponsor
of this
ordinance, Alderman Rosana
Barrilla-Sanchez, requests that it be held in committee
at this time.
Okay.
So item number 4,
02026-0023320,
an amendment to 2025 program
agreement authorizing the execution of new technical service
agreement with Local Initiative Support
Cooperation, sponsored by Mayor Brandon Johnson.
We have a substitute ordinance. Can I get a motion to accept the
substitute?
So moved.
So moved, Alderman Espada. All in favor signify by saying
"aye." Opposed, in opinion of the chair is the ayes
have it. The substitute ordinance is now before us.
Speak on this. Chief.
We have
Jim Harbin from Department of Planning and Development.
Is going to speak on this items.
Thank you, Chairwoman Pitts, and members of the Contracts Committee.
Can you speak into the mic, please?
Yes, ma'am. How's that? Is that better?
Yes.
Okay.
My name is Jim Harbin, Deputy Commissioner for the Small Business
Development Bureau within the Department of Planning and Development.
I'm joined today by Megan Hart, the Executive Director for the Chicago branch of
the Local Initiative Support Corporation, also known as LISC
Chicago.
We are here today to request your approval of a substitute ordinance related to
the Corridor Manager Program. The substitute ordinance authorizes
the Department of Planning and Development-
Sir, could you move the mic just slightly closer?
Little closer? Okay.
Is that better?
Yeah, much better.
Okay.
The substitute ordinance authorizes the Department of Planning and Development to
enter into a new program agreement with the project manager, LISC Chicago.
The city aims to continue equipping its corridor managers with the
knowledge and skills necessary
to navigate the complexities of small-scale real estate development on its
commercial corridors. Our goal is to empower corridor managers
with a better understanding of the real estate development process, advocate for
equitable practices, and offer support to small businesses, helping them to
expand and grow through the expertise of
on-the-ground advocates.
We're seeking 4,550,000 in TIF
funding to be allocated over the next three and a half years, starting
in July of this year and going through December
31st of 2029.
This program will impact 13 corridors within
13 distinct community areas. Funding will come from
18 distinct TIF districts, affecting 15 wards
across this city.
Maps are also being provided within this presentation to illustrate the boundaries
of each corridor.
Right.
The Corridor Manager is a community-based initiative designed to
enhance and revitalize commercial corridors here in Chicago.
It involves cooperative efforts between the city of Chicago, local
stakeholders, small businesses, and aspiring entrepreneurs.
The program aims to support small businesses with capital improvement projects,
attract public, philanthropic, and private investments to each service area,
and boost the physical and economic vitality of each corridor.
Corridor managers are also responsible for marketing their corridors,
tracking corridor outcomes, analyzing data, and
identifying trends that impact the overall economic health of their
respective service areas. In 2025, LISC Chicago
offered tailored development programs aimed at training corridor managers
on the intricacies of community development.
These programs feature specialized training in real estate development,
engaging discussion panels on collaborative neighborhood revitalization
strategies, and organized networking sessions with industry
professionals.
This year, two new corridors are being introduced in the 24th Ward.
In Little Village, a manager will oversee the marketing and support on
Cermak Avenue from Trumbull to Albany.
Additionally, the New Covenant Community Development Corporation will take
charge of the 16th Street corridor, covering the area from Ogden to
Pulaski.
The program will allocate 80% of the funds to the salary and fringe
benefits of each corridor manager.
The remaining 20% will fund the project manager at LISC
Chicago. In 2025, managers recorded over
600 interactions with both active and potential corridor businesses.
More than 200 of these interactions involved actual business engagements,
where managers met with entrepreneurs to provide assistance on specific projects
or to help connect them with city financial incentives.
By the end of 2025, there were 33 active capital improvement
projects under construction, supported by over $4 million in city
grants. This combination of support attracted more than $12
million in private investment to areas that have
historically struggled to secure such funding.
We aim to maintain our trend of investment by continuing to support
individuals who work directly with our local small businesses.
Our goal is to ensure that managers have access to network of industry
professionals, receive customized training, and have a structured
platform for sharing best practices, regional
trends, and valuable lessons learned from their colleagues.
Contracted partners and managers will be responsible for
marketing and promoting their respective corridors, tracking capital
investments and development activities in their area, and providing regular
quarterly updates and reports to elected officials and city stakeholders.
Mm-hmm.
This process will ensure transparency-
Mm-hmm
... accountability, and measurable outcomes throughout the program's duration.
We will continue to track measurable items such as the number of training sessions
developed, the impact of marketing available spaces, and
financial incentives to new and existing businesses, the corridor's
economic development activity in terms of active and completed projects.
The department, in collaboration with its project manager, LISC Chicago, will focus
on leveraging the next three and a half years to support local managers in
aiding the city's entrepreneurs with capital improvement
projects and development along their targeted corridors.
The customized training being implemented will enhance manager skills
and enable them to provide technical assistance to local entrepreneurs more
effectively. Improved data tracking skills will further enhance managers'
abilities to monitor and analyze outputs and outcomes.
As a result of this support, managers will have the opportunity to build both
new and existing relationships, attract more investment, and create
a pipeline of projects for their designated service areas.We
respectfully request your approval of the proposed substitute ordinance
related to the Corridor Management
Program. Thank you, Madam Chairman, mem- members of this committee, for your
consideration today. That concludes my presentation this afternoon.
Both Megan and I are here and happy to answer any of your questions.
Thank you.
I'd certainly like to say that,
I hope everybody know their corridor managers, because I certainly know
mine. And they've been doing a terrific job out in the
Austin community.
Actually working two wards between 29 and 37
on Chicago Avenue. And they've been doing
a fantastic job since the program started, identifying
property, working with managers, bringing in new business,
and supporting the community.
Hmm. Thinking of strengthening the collaboration
of a lot of the agencies and business on the corridor
at the same time. So,
I'm in support of this ordinance and look
forward to continuing to work with the department.
And,
for areas that's been neglected in a bli- a blighted area for a
long time, these corridor managers really help out
as the alderman don't have... We're dealing with a whole ward,
so one specific area and
spoken that much time,
I think that's what's going to be needed in order to bring
that area back up to par. So, thank you so much
for your support and look forward to continue to work with you.
Alderman Mitchell.
Thank you, Chairwoman.
Jim, I apologize ahead of time for this question, because, man, you have definitely
stayed on me about making sure you updated me and everything.
But it's not even about the 79th Street.
Mm-hmm.
It's actually about the Commercial, Commercial Avenue.
Mm-hmm.
I noticed that it stops on 87th Street.
Mm-hmm.
Why was it not continued to past 87, at least 84th, and
possibly down to 83rd, going north?
Yeah. We looked at the density of businesses along that corridor.
We also tried to align corridor creation with the actual TIFs
that are impacting that area.
If it's an extension to that corridor that you're interested in, Alderman, we
certainly can have that discussion.
Yeah. And I know you're always willing to have that discussion.
So that's why I said I feel kind of bad, funny asking this.
Yeah, can we talk about that? Because I've had some
conversations from business owners to the north of-
Mm-hmm
...
and particularly on 84th. They talked about the SSA and things like that.
So, I think it's worth having a conversation.
Okay.
Yep.
Thank you. Thank you, Chairwoman.
All right.
Okay.
Alderman Villegas.
Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.
I was just curious as to how were these identified, and how can we get some
additional areas identified as well?
It started off with your colleagues, Alderman.
Where we have a conversation about areas that your colleagues
believe needed to be targeted for a program like this.
Okay.
We are certainly happy and welcome to have those type of conversations with you as
well.
Part of the discussion also
went around TIFs that were available, and that had funding to support.
You mean that weren't swept? Those funding that was left.
TIFs that were available and had funding.
No, funding that was available in the TIF, or-
Yeah.
Okay.
And that impacted our decision-making as well.
Okay.
Mm-hmm.
And then, since LISC is involved, I would suspect
that that quality of life plan was also identified along the
corridor. Is that accurate?
Yeah. And I'll let Megan certainly chime in, but absolutely.
Where there were plans, where there was clear direction in terms of what the
community suggested they wanted and the type of investments that they wanted, that
certainly played a role. Yes.
Yes, Alderman. Thank you.
Before you speak-
Yes
... state your name for the record.
Sure. Megan Hart, senior executive director for LISC Illinois.
Yes, Alderman, in some, but not all, of the
corridor manager areas, there is a quality of life plan.
So, trying to line up all of the community interests.
And in some cases, priority corridors were already identified in quality of
life plans, so we did bring that to the Department of Planning as they were
considering.
Okay. Yeah.
All right. Well, I'd love to have this conversation.
Belmont Cragin did spend a lot of time on a quality of life, and love to see if
there's an opportunity to figure out how to incorporate that. Thank you.
Very good.
Thank you.
We have
Alderman Ramirez followed by Alderman Moore.
Awesome. Good afternoon.
I kind of wanted to add on to Alderman Villegas's point.
I do note that it says, like, the boundaries of the priority corridors
should be established by DPD.
Mm-hmm.
So it's really about working with DPD about adding maybe a
corridor in our ward as a priority?
Absolutely.
Okay. Do you guys have any insight about that
process, or do I work with you guys also?
Yeah. Alderman, it certainly would start with a conversation in terms of what
corridors you deem necessary in order-
Okay
... to be targeted. And then from there, we would have a discussion in terms of
what having a corridor manager would look like on that corridor, how we would
select that organization to go ahead and represent your
corridor, and what kind of benefits come along with the program.
So we're more than happy to have that conversation with you.
Okay, great. And then you did mention a map.
Was the map up on the screen or-
Yes
... is that... It was?
Yes. Let me get to it.
Okay.
Right there. You go back.
Okay.
Yep.
I was curious how many, like, southwest side...
Okay.
Baggage
Little Village. Okay, great. So I just wanted to look over and was just kind
of curious about sort of the balance throughout the city and how many
organizations, or rather corridors, are represented on the southwest
side. So, um-
Senator Ramirez, why don't we just request that through the chair-
Yes
... of that map that you're asking for and the organizations.
Perfect.
And happy to work with you guys outside of this meeting about how to build on
this. Thank you.
Yep, thank you.
Thank you. Alderman Moore?
Yes. Thank you, Chairman.
First of all, on the deck, I know I don't sit on the committee, but can you
please make sure I get a copy of that deck?
Absolutely, Alderman.
The other part is,
so I thought this was part of extending
the corridor from a timeframe, or maybe I'm getting it confused with
something else, because you mentioned a dollar amount, a total dollar
amount. What was that total dollar amount again?
It was 4,550,000 across
18 TIF districts.
Right. And so I remember when we started it, there was an amount
that we stated. So is this new money, or is
that part of the old money that was approved already, and we're just
extending it from a time standpoint, or am I confusing this with
something else?
No, you have it absolutely right. We're extending the timeline because we're
getting started in mid-July of this year.
And so there's going to be a reduction in this year's budget, but we
also felt that we needed enough time in order to have the impact that we intended
for the program. So we're extending it an additional year in 2029,
and that
is responsible for the additional budget.
So, are we asking for additional money for each TIF, or are we just asking
for the time?
It equates to up to $50,000-
Oh
... for each corridor in order to get that extended year.
Okay, 50,000.
Mm-hmm.
Okay. All right. Thank you.
All right. Thank you, Alderman Moore.
Am I hearing it was 15 ward, but how many
districts? You said 18. It's 15 wards, but 18 total TIF
districts are impacted by the program.
Okay.
Actually, I think that it's 16.
Remember, I made a correction with you. You left out 37.
I'm like, "You got to change this." Doing our-
No, we did make that correction.
Okay.
But in terms of where we're pulling funds from, there-
Okay
... there are a total of 18 TIF districts that are impacted. Yep.
Okay. Very good.
All right. Are there any other question?
If not, Michelle Harris has made a motion, a
move to pass.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
Opposed? In the opinion of the chairs, the ayes have it.
Thank you so much,
Deputy Commissioner Harburn.
I'm sure my colleagues and others will be meeting with you,
because it's a great program that we are offering here
for corridor managers.
Thank you, Alderwoman. Thank you.
Finally, the last item on the agenda is
subject matter hearing. It's a no vote taken on this item.
The City of Chicago Middle Eastern North
African Business Enterprise
research study, MENAB, sponsored
by Alderman Gilbert Villegas,
and we have Alderman Villegas
to speak, and also, as well as Colette Holt.
Is Colette...
Oh, she's on Zoom, in case we have questions for her.
Also, we have
CPO Charlotte Roberts
that's here for
presentation as well.
Alderman Villegas, you want to start on this and give a
overview?
Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the Committee on Contract
Equity and Oversight. This is a result of
an initiative that I worked closely with
the Middle Eastern North African American community, where Chicago
was the first city in the country to put forward a
category that identified this community.
As we've seen throughout the process when counting people in America,
this is a community that, unfortunately, does not have its
own designation. And so Chicago was the first city to
identify this community and actually pass
a resolution at doing that. As a result of that,
we worked closely with Colette Holt, who is the attorney that
represents not just the city of Chicago or the state of Illinois, but many
municipalities and states throughout the country, to
defend and put forward programs to help minority and
women-owned communities as they're putting forward programs to help those
communities. And as a result of that, there was a disparity study that was done
a few years back, and this is an opportunity to hear from Colette Holt,
who's the expert, to provide her findings, as well
as allow members from the community.
I have with me as well Rush Darwish, who is the executive
director or president of the Arab American Business Association,
and he will have an opportunity, if you allow, Madam Chair, to speak
about this initiative and anything else that he
feels would add to the
dialogue here.
So, Madam Chair, I would
recommend, if possible, if Colette Holt could just do a
quick presentation. We've been told to be quick, so she'll be quick.
Absolutely.
And then we have our CPO and her legal counsel here as
well to provide testimony or provide any information that's needed.
Thank you.
Colette?
Well, good afternoon, everyone. Hopefully, you can all hear me. Yes?
Yes, we can hear you.
Okay. All right, great. Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity, Madam Chair.
If it is the pleasure of the chair to go through this
brief PowerPoint. I understand someone there is able to run the slides
for me.
Yes.
Yes? All right. Well, briefly, the objectives of the study,
as Alderman Villegas said, was to gather information
about Middle Eastern, North African business owners and
their opportunities to do business with the City of Chicago, as well as any
barriers that they face in the overall City of Chicago marketplace.
We also provided recommendations based on the evidence that we gathered,
and provided this report, which I do believe you all have
on our findings, and to try to build some consensus about
how the city might move forward to make sure that this group has full
opportunities to participate. Next slide, please.
So here are our data sources. We used the US Census Bureau's
American Community Survey. We gathered anecdotal or qualitative
evidence from MENA-owned firms. I do have to note
that there are no data sources comparable to what we have
for other racial and ethnic minorities and women
available to analyze as we have in our other types of
disparity studies. So that's why we use Census Bureau data and
qualitative evidence only. Next slide, please.
So here are basically just the chapters in the study, and you can
follow along in the report. So turning quickly
to our economic analysis, we looked at
the six county region as our unit of analysis.
We constructed some variables with our statistician and economists.
And overall, we found that MENA-owned firms, and MENA
workers were at a disadvantage. Some
somewhat mixed results
about the business formation of construction firms by MENA
individuals. But overall, MENA workers received lower
wages than White men, and that was actually a statistically
significant difference. Next slide, please.
They form businesses perhaps a little faster in
construction, but the earnings that they make are less.
Their
service business formation rates were lower. Their wages were lower.
Unfortunately, there was insufficient data for us to analyze
other broad industry categories of construction-related
services, goods, and IT. Next slide, please.
So turning now to our qualitative evidence, we had individual interviews
with 11 business owners,
and they told us about the barriers that they face in the
marketplace.
Biased assumptions, negative stereotypes were still very much a
problem. That they often found it difficult to
penetrate networks that you need in order to be successful.
And that because they were not eligible
for disadvantaged MBE type programs, that
that reduced their opportunities as well.
Next slide, please.
So here are the recommendations from that group.
Specifically target outreach to MENA firms.
Include them in any type of mentor protege program.
And of course, the usual possibilities,
unbundling contract sizes, making sure people are paid quickly.
Those kinds of things were also suggestions.
We did do an anecdotal electronic survey of MENA-owned
firms, and they told us that they still
suffer from implicit bias, stereotypes,
discriminatory mindsets, and attitude that affect their ability to
compete.
We did have one respondent who said that despite being subjected to
that type of bias, he hadn't seen any negative impact
on his own business opportunities.
So you see here other things people told us. Hostile environments.
Two
respondents had been subjected to threats of actual physical violence.
MENA women reported the double whammy that all women of
color all know about.
And that although they were seen as minority businesses, they were often unable to
obtain business because they were not eligible for the MBE
programs. And certainly wanted to be a recognized
group.
And that they wanted to be a part of the
networking that the City of Chicago provides to other
minority-owned firms. Next slide, please.
Financing, bonding, surety bonding, and insurance, of course, were
barriers that they faced. And that they also said they thought they
were under pressure to reduce their prices relative to their
competition. Next slide, please.
So here are our recommendations. We certainly suggested focusing
outreach on MENA-owned firms in particular.
That the city undertake a formal effort to identify these firms.
We of course have the list that we worked with that we've already provided to
procurement.
Leveraging organizations that have MENA memberships and providing
information about the really many race and
gender-neutral programs that are out there for small businesses.
Unbundling contracts, making them smaller would certainly
be a benefit to all small businesses. Collecting data.
One of the real challenges that we faced was that there just aren't any data
sources. So certainly start doing that.
And
use the report to further develop and
flesh out the opportunity to apply for
MBE certification on an individual basis.
The city has had this fordecades, I think ever since I wrote the first
program back in 1990 when I was in the Corporation Counsel's office.
But we thought that, and next slide please,
spelling out the criteria, developing a checklist, giving people
samples,
describing what the standard is, how to appeal if it was denied,
publishing a summary of what happens with these
applications, and then making sure that this option is fully
publicized, and the community is aware of it, were all ways that we could
increase opportunities and reduce barriers.
Next slide. I think that
is it.
We have been working with Ms. Roberts and
the Department of Procurement Services on these initiatives and
making sure that information is available, and I believe she's got
perhaps some remarks about what it is that her
office is doing now.
Thank you. Can I first acknowledge you?
Let me do my job here a little better. I haven't did it in so long.
Okay.
I ain't got that rusty yet, but
...
I apologize.
No problem. Next speaker we have is our
CPO, Sharla Roberts.
Thank you, Chairwoman. Sharla Roberts, Chief Procurement Officer for
the City of Chicago, and thank you, Colette Holt, for the
detailed MENA assessment and recommendations.
So,
all the things that Colette Holt just had on the screen
in her presentation,
the Department of Procurement Services have been working with
the MENA business community to ensure that we accomplish those
goals. We had our first meeting with Judge Hattitt and several
key advocate partners, including
American Middle East Voters Alliance, Arab American
Business and Professional Association, Arab American
Bar Association of Illinois,
American Muslim Task Force.
We met with them to discuss how we could collaborate on all the recommendations
that was outlined in that report, including obtaining information
on the types of firms that were certified that have businesses in the
City of Chicago and that were interested in doing business with us.
We created a survey and provided it to Mr.
Rush, who I believe will be providing some information
shortly. But a survey, so we can
obtain information on those firms, so we can start collecting that
data to see how we can collaborate with our partners,
so that they are aware on opportunities with the City of
Chicago.
We've also created and in
final documentation of a
checklist to make an individual
demonstration of eligibility.
As Colette Holt just stated earlier, the City of Chicago has a
pathway for any firm that
wants to certify with the City of Chicago, and they deem that
they qualify for our program. That checklist will be
online on the Department of Procurement Services
website. We should have it online by June. Thank you.
Mr. Ross. Ross, is that-
Rush. Mm-hmm.
Rush. Okay.
We didn't get that name submitted to us earlier, but-
My apologies, Madam Chair.
I tell you, I've been a little rusty, but I'm watching some stuff.
Make sure we're doing it right.
So, we're going to ask Mr. Rush if he would like to speak on
this.
Well, thank you, Chair. We appreciate it, and thank you, Commissioner.
My name is Rush Darwish, President of the Arab American Business and Professional
Association.
I knew it.
And I want to share something personal with you.
Of course, I've reviewed the data of what was presented,
and it hurts, and it's frustrating because sure, what
was reported only scratches the surface in terms of how we feel and what
we believe and how you're treated.
Because ultimately, numbers don't always give that in terms of
how we were treated. Imagine for decades,
from my father, who came to this country in 1968 with the American
dream,
even till today,
we are told that from a analytical side,
we don't count. Imagine,
over 50 years of no data,
no identity,
feeling from going to the hospital to
registering for school, at no point has there been any data
point where we can check a box that says MENA, that
says Arab American. So we put ourselves in, or not
we, but I would say the system, has put ourselves in
such a category that literally does not exist.
But we cannot afford to keep talking about the past.
That's why we're here today, and I am beyond thankful to
Commissioner Roberts, Alderman Viegas, who was the first one to step up-
Mm-hmm
... and say, "You know what? Let's take this to City Hall.
Let's take this to the next level." So on behalf of the Arab American
community and the MENA community, first I want to say thank you.
Thank you.
Number two is that, yes, I think what's different
from the past and now is that we can talk about it all we want,
but you have to have a system in place, and that is exactly why we're here
today. And another bold step that was taken about a year
ago was that the Arab American Business and Professional Association was
selected as a neighborhood business development center.
We're located at 4130 South State Street, and this is
where we're going to work together with the Department of Procurement, along with
the Arab American Business and Professional Association, the key stakeholders, and
work together on what we would callThe intake process-
Mm-hmm
... and what I call the education process.
And look, I don't want to talk too much about a lot of the open comments about the
contracting, but one thing that we've done when we do our federal contracting
events and workshops is that what most people do not understand that
being recognized is a huge part, but the
education phase and the intake phase is the part
that we must prepare our community for.
And the final thing I will say, and this is extremely important, is that while we
will, uh, if all goes to plan, work with, uh, the procurement
office, work with Alderman Villegas to develop this intake
system, make sure our community gets that opportunity to bid on these, uh,
contracting opportunities, but I want to make it very, very clear that
this neighborhood business development center, and including our office in Palos
Heights, it is not limited to just Arab Americans, it is
not limited to just MENA. Anyone, anyone who comes
through our doors will get the same opportunity, because it's
not just limited to Arabs who don't know the system, who don't
understand how to apply for these contracts.
We want to make sure that we welcome everybody, and our
next discussion, we hope in the near future, is also look into
funding as having the right resources and staffing to make sure
that we have the resources and the ability to be consistent, and
we deliver on making sure that the intake process is working, and we
actually get to the finish line where we have people in Black and brown
communities, Arab American community, that are applying and that they are
thriving and are part of the system of receiving contracting.
Very good.
Alderman Villegas, I think that, um,
you, you have been holding this, um,
item for a minute.
Um,
thank God it then came up now, that you would get an opportunity to let
voices that haven't been heard be heard.
And I, I just wanted to ask you a question.
Um,
so are Arab Americans
doing any construction work?
We are.
I would assume, somewhere.
Here, here's a story. Of course, we are.
Mm.
I, I think most people have, who have entered construction,
sadly, have not even... They've been completely disenfranchised with the idea
that, uh, they could even be part of the system.
They don't even-
They don't know
... know.
They don't know that they-
And that's, and that's where, where with, with respect to Colette, who we, who did
a great job with this survey, uh, but that's why what I mean by
there's, the disenfranchment, disenfranchisement is huge,
and there's a massive gap, and we have to close that gap.
Very good. Uh, Vice Chair LaSpada.
Thank you so much, Chair. Uh, number one, thank you so much for the
presentation. Thank you very much for the discussion.
I, I hope that these are
concrete, like, follow-up questions.
I was really curious about the disparity study.
I'm assuming that it focused on the construction industry. Is that correct?
We can allow, uh, Madam Chair, if you could allow Colette Holt to respond to that.
Um, so, um,
Ms. Holt, can you res- respond to the question by Alderman LaSpada?
Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. I can.
No, it was not focused on the construction industry.
We looked at all, uh, industries to the extent that we
could get census data that were, um,
sufficient that they could be, in fact, you know,
analyzed.
Thank you. The, the, the slide, the, the,
the slide kind of, like,
confused the narrative a little bit, uh, as we went through, so that's helpful
context for me. Um,
because it, like, it,
it gets to the point that I wanted to dig into, but that it, it's very
much a procurement issue,
DPS issue, but it's a, it's a CDOT issue.
It's a DPD issue. As we talked about earlier with the ordinance
that I was grateful for the committee's support on today, we're not
just leaving these plan development developers out
on their own to figure this out. They actually meet, um,
with diversity groups who, whose job it is to connect them
with a diverse group of contractors, and figuring
out, like, how we
connect your group with MENA contractors,
with those who have these tens of millions in
development contracts out there, that feels like another
space worth meeting with. So, like, Gil, like, I, I trust your relationships
here to connect these folks with Noah and figure out, like, how do we
get MENA contractors in the pipeline there as well?
Well, not only, um, will I do that with Noah, but they're also, uh,
like a delegate agency with the small business development.
So, so they'll have that ability. They're actually doing their outreach now, and,
and as Rush mentioned, it's not exclusively for the Arab American community
or MENA community. It's for everyone who's looking to get educated around how to
procure with city, state, and federal opportunities.
Absolutely. And I, I wanted to ask,
because I want to be wrong, but I don't think I am.
Are, have MENA contractors
previously been excluded from MBE eligibility?
Yes.
Well, I have words that I'm not gonna say on mic, but you can-
Yeah, I mean-
But it-
... this is where I would, I would-
Yeah
... probably yield to the alderman in terms of the why, but I could say that,
yes.
So, so the, um, any time you're either
expanding, putting forward a program, there needs to be a disparity study-
Even the business o-
... in order to provide data that shows that there is a path. And, uh, Ms.
Holt could give the legal, uh, version of what it is I
just said, but the bottom line is that we need data-
Mm-hmm
... in order to make sure that, uh, if we do get challenged, that it's, it's
defendable
Do we feel like the disparity study was successful to that end?
I'll defer to Ms. Hull, who's the subject matter expert in this.
Ms. Hull?
Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair.
And let me try to be a little bit clearer.
This was not a disparity study. A disparity study
compares the utilization and availability of various groups
to determine whether there's a disparity between who was available and who
was used. We were not able to perform that type of
analysis because there are no data sets available to
do it with.
Traditionally, the Census Bureau and other research
agencies have defined people from Middle
Eastern/North African countries as Caucasian.
That is changing. My understanding is that in the 2030 census, and
Russ may know more than I about this, but that in the 2030 census,
that's going to change. But of course, that hadn't changed at the point we were
doing the research. So there really are not data sources
to conduct what we think of as a traditional disparity study.
That's why you don't see in the report tables that
provide the city's utilization of MENA-owned firms, and
then compare that to the availability of those firms in the overall
marketplace. There just isn't any place to go get that
from. So that's why we turn to census data and
anecdotal or qualitative information to try to get at whether or
not there are barriers to the full and fair opportunities
to compete on the basis of MENA
status. So hopefully that's a little clearer.
Well, I appreciate your being willing to
address that with such an evenness of tone.
I apologize for the lack of evenness of tone of mine, but as someone-
... somewhat of a familiarity of how race and privilege
operate in this country, to say that MENA individuals and
contractors experience the same privilege as white people do in this
country
is ludicrous.
I have a lot to think about on this topic.
But
yeah, there are a lot to think about on that topic. Thank you.
So Alderman Lazpata.
Excuse me.
Mr. Russ has something to say.
Well, there definitely is a lot to think about. You're absolutely right.
But I want to go back to my opening statement regarding not
counting.
Imagine, as mentioned, system after system, forms after
forms, where you have been completely left out.
That's what I mean. We have been data-less.
And while the idea of doing a survey disparity study is
important, but the idea would be to have to draw on
past analytics about our community.
In Chicago alone, we have the fourth largest Arab
American/MENA community with, we estimate, over
300,000 Arab American/MENA, Middle Eastern, North
African. But as mentioned, that is not quantitative
because every form, every aspect of our
existence, we have not had the opportunity to check that
box. So from a government standpoint, we don't exist,
literally. From a
seeing us, you can go to Little Palestine, and you'll see all you need to see in
terms of who we are, what we're about, our culture, our heritage.
But that's the dilemma that we're in.
And while I don't find the federal
government's demographic work surprising,
I just want to share my deep disappointment and
frustration at that
cultural erasure that you've experienced.
And
if anyone has taken a first step at addressing that, I'm glad the City of
Chicago is playing our part.
Mm-hmm.
And that's all I'll say for right now. Thank you, Chair.
Thank you. Alderman Vegas, would you like to close us out with this
topic?
Yes, ma'am. Again, thank you for the opportunity to provide this subject matter
hearing. I also want to thank Attorney Colette Hull for
her great work on this, as well as our chief procurement
officer and her team. I then also thank
Rush Darwish and George Haddad, who had to leave-
Yes
... who has been a staunch advocate for this to occur.
As I stated before, the City of Chicago was the first municipality in the country
to do this. And as we see that
these types of diversity, equity, inclusion programs are under attack at the
federal level, I'd like to say that we're not going to allow these
DEIE programs to DIE. We're going to continue to fight back and
make sure that every person has an opportunity
here. And we're going to make sure that everyone has a chance to
participate on publicly funded contracts.
So with that, Madam Chair, thank you for the opportunity to bring this subject
forward, and thank my colleagues for listening. Thank you.
Thank you very much, and looking forward to hearing back from you as you
continue to work on the issue.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
All right.
So that concludes the agenda of the Committee on Contracts and Oversight and
Equity for today. These items passed today
will be reported out on May the 20th, 2026
at the next City Council meeting.
There'll be no further business before the committee.
Can I get a motion to adjourn?
So moved.
So moved by Vice Chair Lazpata. All in favor
signify by saying aye.
Aye.
This meeting is adjourned. Thank you.