City of Chicago City Council Rules of Conduct for Public
Meetings 2023 to 2027.
Pursuant to Rule 58 of the Chicago City Council Rules of
Order and Procedure, the Sergeant at Arms sets forth the
following rules of conduct for members of the public.
These rules shall be in effect at all times that a viewing
gallery or room is open for a meeting of the City Council or
any of its committees. All individuals and their belongings are
subject to search at entry or upon request.
Individuals must remain seated at all times except,
one, when entering or exiting the gallery,
two, when providing public comment during the portion of a meeting
set aside for that purpose,
or three, when asked to rise and be acknowledged by a member
of the City Council. Profane, threatening,
harassing, abusive, or defamatory behavior or
speech which, in the judgment of the meeting's chair or the
Sergeant at Arms, may lead to a breach of the peace or
disrupt the orderly conduct of the meeting
is not permitted.
Disruptive or distracting actions, such as the stomping of feet,
waving of arms, throwing any item, whistling,
booing, shouting, or other loud utterances are not
permitted when in the judgment of the meeting's chair or the Sergeant at
Arms, such actions are disrupting or impeding the orderly
conduct of the meeting.
Any item that poses a potential safety hazards, as determined by the
Sergeant at Arms, is prohibited in the gallery.
Such items include, but are not limited to, one, any
pointed objects, including knives of any kind.
Two, banners, flyers, or other forms of signage.
Three, food and beverages, including in glass or
metal canisters. Four, backpacks, large bags,
and sealed packages. Clear bags, not tinted in color,
that do not exceed 12 inches by six inches by twelve
are permitted and subject to search.
And five, firearms, ammunition, fireworks,
laser pointers, stun guns, tasers, mace, pepper
spray, and toy weapons. Cell phones and other small
handheld recording devices must be placed in silent
mode, can only be used while seated, and can only
be used in a manner-
Good morning, members of the City Council.
Good morning. The meeting will begin shortly.
Please remember to log in to your devices.
Thank you
may lead to a breach of the peace or disrupt the orderly
conduct of the meeting is not permitted.
Disruptive or distracting actions, such as the stomping of feet,
waving of arms, throwing any item, whistling,
booing, shouting, or other loud utterances are not
permitted when in the judgment of the meeting's chair or the Sergeant at
Arms, such actions are disrupting or impeding the orderly
conduct of the meeting.
Any item that poses a potential safety hazards, as determined by the
Sergeant at Arms, is prohibited in the gallery.
Such items include, but are not limited to, one, any
pointed objects, including knives of any kind.
Two, banners, flyers, or other forms of signage.
Three, food and beverages, including in glass or
metal canisters. Four, backpacks, large
bags, and sealed packages. Clear bags, not tinted in
color, that do not exceed twelve inches by six inches by
twelve are permitted and subject to search.
And five, firearms, ammunition, fireworks,
laser pointers, stun guns, tasers, mace, pepper
spray, and toy weapons. Cell phones and other small
handheld recording devices must be placed in silent mode,
can only be used while seated, and can only be used in
a manner that does not interfere with the ability of other
individuals to view or hear the proceedings.
Individuals or groups failing to adhere to these rules
will be subject to removal from the remainder of the meeting
by the Sergeant at Arms.
City of Chicago City Council Rules of Conduct for Public
Meetings 2023 to 2027.
Pursuant to Rule 58 of the Chicago City Council Rules of
Order and Procedure, the Sergeant at Arms sets forth the
following rules of conduct for members of the public.
These rules shall be in effect at all times that a viewing
gallery or room is open for a meeting of the City Council
or any of its committees. All individuals and their
belongings are subject to search at entry or upon request.
Individuals must remain seated at all times except,
one, when entering or exiting the gallery.
Two, when providing public comment during the portion of a meeting
set aside for that purpose.
Or three, when asked to rise and be acknowledged by a member
of the City Council.
Profane, threatening, harassing, abusive,
or defamatory behavior or speech, which in the
judgment of the meeting's chair or the Sergeant at Arms, may
lead to a breach of the peace or disrupt the orderly conduct
of the meeting is not permitted. Disruptive or distracting
actions,
such
Madam Clerk.
Good morning, members of the city council.
The meeting will begin shortly. Please remember to log into your
devices. Thank you.
Of conduct for public meetings, 2023 to
2027.
Pursuant to Rule 58 of the Chicago City Council Rules of
Order and Procedure, the sergeant at arms sets forth the
following rules of conduct for members of the public.
These rules shall be in effect at all times that a viewing
gallery or room is open for a meeting of the City Council
or any of its committees. All individuals and their
belongings are subject to search at entry or upon request.
Individuals must remain seated at all times except,
one, when entering or exiting the gallery, two,
when providing public comment during the portion of a meeting set
aside for that purpose,
or three, when asked to rise and be acknowledged by a member
of the city council.
Profane, threatening, harassing, abusive,
or defamatory behavior or speech, which in the
judgment of the meeting's chair or the sergeant at arms, may
lead to a breach of the peace or disrupt the orderly conduct
of the meeting, is not permitted. Disruptive or distracting
actions, such as the stomping of feet, waving of- Good
morning, City Council. Good morning, City Council.
Please use your e-device to log in. We are about to begin.
As determined by the sergeant at arms, is prohibited in the
gallery. Such items include, but are not limited to,
one, any pointed objects, including knives of any kind.
Two, banners, flyers, or other forms of signage.
Three, food and beverages, including in glass or
metal canisters. Four, backpacks, large
bags, and sealed packages. Clear bags, not tinted in
color, that do not exceed 12 inches by 6 inches by
12 are permitted and subject to search.
And five, firearms, ammunition, fireworks,
laser pointers, stun guns, tasers, mace, pepper
spray, and toy weapons. Cell phones and other small
handheld recording devices must be placed in silent mode,
can only be used while seated, and can only be used in
a manner that does not interfere with the ability of other
individuals to view or hear the proceedings.
Individuals or groups failing to adhere to these rules
will be subject to removal from the remainder of the meeting by
the sergeant at arms.
City of Chicago City Council Rules of Conduct for Public
Meetings, 2023 to 20-
Good morning. Good morning. Good morning.
Could everyone please start taking their seats?
City Council will start shortly.
Can everyone please start taking their seats, please?
Thank you.
Two, when providing public comment during the portion of a meeting
set aside for that purpose,
or three, when asked to rise and be acknowledged by a member
of the City Council.
Good
morning.
The council will come to order.
Good morning. The council will now come to order.
If we can have quiet in the chambers, please.
Good morning. If you could bring your voices down, please.
The City Council will now come to order.
Madam Clerk, please take a quorum roll call.
The quorum roll call is now open. It is now open.
Please use your e-device. The quorum roll is now open.
Please raise your hand if you need support.
I will now call on those that have not used the e-device.
Alderman Lapada.
Alderman Lapada is present. Alderman Doll.
Alderperson Doll is present. Alderperson Robinson.
Robinson not present. Alderperson Yancey.
Yancey is present.
Alderperson Hall, not present. Alderman Mitchell, not
present. Alderwoman Harris. Harris is present.
Alderman Beal.
Beal is present. Alderwoman Lee.
Lee is present. Alderwoman Gutierrez, not present.
Alderman Lopez, not present. Alderman Coleman,
not present. Alderman Moore.
Moore is present.
Alderman Curtis.
Curtis is present. Alderman O'Shea.
O'Shea, not present in chamber. Alderwoman Taylor, not present in
chamber. Alderman Rodriguez, not present in
chamber. Alderwoman Scott.
Scott is present. Alderman Teacher Lopez.
Teacher Lopez is present. Alderperson Fuentes, not present in
chambers. Alderman Burnett.
Burnett not present in chambers. Alderman Irvin.
Irvin not present in chambers.
Alderwoman Rodriguez Sanchez,
not present in chambers.
Alderman Quezada.
Present. Alderman Sposato.
Sposato is present. Alderman Riley.
Riley is present. Alderman Gardner.
Gardner is present. Alderwoman Clay,
not present in chambers. Alderman Mona Happenworth.
Present in chambers. Alderwoman Hadden.
Not present in chambers. Anyone I mi--
Alderman Lopez is now present. Anyone else I missed walk in?
Okay.
The quorum roll call is now closed. Oh.
Okay. Alderman Irvin is present. Alderman Burnett
is present.
Anyone else? Last call.
Okay, the quorum is now closed.
37-
Very well. Thank you, Madam Clerk.
There are 37 members present, 14 that are absent.
We have a quorum. Alders Coleman, Clay, Hadden, and Taylor
have requested to participate in today's meeting
remotely for reasons stated in Rule 59.
Madam Clerk, can we confirm their attendance online?
Alderwoman Coleman.
Coleman is present. Alderwoman Taylor.
Here.
Taylor is present. Alderwoman Clay.
Present.
Clay is present. Alderwoman Hadden.
Present.
Hadden is present.
Very well. Thank you, Madam Clerk.
All four members have confirmed their
presence online. Can I get a motion for remote participation?
All right. There's a motion to add the following alders
to the quorum roll call, participating remotely.
All those in favor signify by saying "Aye." Any opposed say "Nay." In the
opinion of the chair, ayes have it.
Please add those four members to our quorum roll
call.
Mayor, we also have Alderman Gutierrez who just walked in.
Very well. Please add Alderwoman
Gutierrez to the quorum roll call.
Very well. Thank you. Let's rise for the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of
America, and to the republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty
and justice for all. Thank you. Please remain standing for our
invocation, which will be delivered today by Rabbi
Shoshana Konover from Temple Shalom of
Chicago.
Thank you. So it's wonderful to be with you today, where we
are in this month with so many heritages, including
Jewish Heritage Month. So I'm very grateful to be here with you.
I want to do a thought experiment, and then
a real kind of participation, and then a
blessing at the end,
all within one minute, because why do a prayer if you could do a blessing?
So firstly, I want you to think about what first
got you involved in wanting to be part of civic life.
What first got you involved? Who was it that said to you, "This is
important"? What issue was it that really got you to say, "I
need to protect this"? And what would you do in order to walk with
others in order to do so? If you could think about that for a moment.
And then if it is that it's justice and
liberty and freedom for all,
or thinking about the way in which you want to see kindness and mutual
respect more present in our society, or if you want to
have it that there is worthy dialogue to take place in a
respectful mannerWhatever it is, I want you to
imagine how it is that you put it at the center of what you
do. Because I want to share with you that in
this week's Torah portion, what I am able
to study and I'm grateful for, we hear about how there
were many different tribes, 12 of them, who were
stationed around the tabernacle as they were journeying through the
desert, and they were wanting to know how it is that they could
protect and safeguard what they wanted to have at the heart of their
society, justice, freedom,
righteousness, kindness, mutual respect, right at
the center. And so they had it that all the different tribes would
be surrounding it, as well as then the priests at the
very center, making sure that they would safeguard it.
But here's the thing. They didn't only stay within their tribes.
They made sure that everyone was going in a similar
direction. And so today, I pray that
all of us will make sure to think about what it is that we
want to have at the center of our city, at the center of
the way in which we go about protecting the rights of all
in our city, and how we do that together
as a city. And so it is my great honor
to bless you in English with a blessing that we hear
from this week's Torah portion, when the priests blessed the
people in their tribes and beyond their
tribes as a people, as one people.
So I'll do it in the English with a little bit of a variation because I'm not a
priest. And so I'll say to you, may
God and whomever you believe in,
may that protect you and bless
you.
And
may the light of goodness shine upon you and be
gracious to you.
And may you always feel lifted and
well-girded in all that you do. May you find
paths to walk together, and may this bring
not only you, but all of us peace.
Amen.
Thank you. You may be seated.
Amen.
Yes.
This is the portion of the meeting for public comments. Mr. Clerk.
The council will now begin the public comment period, which is limited to a maximum
of 30 minutes. Each speaker is limited to three minutes.
Speakers cannot yield or transfer their time to another speaker.
Any written comments that have been submitted will be posted and made available for
aldermanic review. Our first speaker this morning is Sam
Toya.
Good morning.
My name is Sam Toya, and I'm here on behalf of the Illinois Restaurant
Association. I'd like to start out by thanking Alders Burnett,
Quinn, Villegas, and Nugent for their tireless work on the tip
credit issue. I want to be clear about one thing.
We do not support the elimination of the tip credit.
We believe the tip credit is an important part of our industry
compensation model and one that benefits many tipped employees.
The proposal we put forward during negotiations would have guaranteed
tip workers a wage equal to 124% of
the standard minimum wage.
We believe that was a meaningful step forward toward more predictable pay,
which has been one of the main concerns raised by supporters eliminating tip
credit. We felt this was pragmatic and progressive.
Under our proposal, operators who committed to the higher
guaranteed wage would've been able to maintain the 24% tip credit.
We continue to believe that was their policy.
If tips were strong, the worker benefited.
Tips were low, the employer had to make up the difference.
The employer could keep the tip credit only by accepting the
risk of guaranteeing the worker more than the minimum wage.
Again, more than the minimum wage.
That approach was simple, clear, and balanced.
It showed that preserving the tip credit and protecting tip workers do
not have to be in conflict. That said, we recognize
where the discussion stands today.
This ordinance is not the ideal outcome for our industry, but it is more
workable and less harmful than allowing the current phase-out to
continue. The most important part of this ordinance is that it
extends the current 24% tip credit allowance through
June 30th, 2028, and slowly phases it out until
2030, except for the smaller operators.
The additional time matters. Chicago restaurant industry is in crisis.
According to the Federal Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Chicago's
full-service restaurant industry lost 21 jobs in
2025. Additionally, in the first half of 2025
alone, nearly 500 restaurants closedRestaurants are
facing increased costs for labor, food, rent, and insurance,
utilities, taxes, and fees. Operators need time to
adjust so they can keep their doors open and their staff employed.
Predictability matters for workers, too.
Abrupt changes can lead to reduced hours, fewer shifts, higher
menu prices, more service charges, and fewer opportunities for tipped
employees.
So while this ordinance is not perfect, it gives the industry more time to adjust
and better manage increased labor costs.
For those reasons, while we will always oppose the elimination of tip credit, we
can support this ordinance as a compromise. Thank you.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker this morning is Katia Balba.
Thank you all. Thank you, city council and the mayor.
Good morning, Alders. My name is Katia Balba, and I'm here on behalf of Alliance
of the Southeast, a community that has been fighting for environmental justice
and economic justice and housing justice for decades now.
This morning, we're urging the city council to act on three fronts.
We support Hazel Johnson Cumulative Impact Ordinance because our community in
Southeast knows what it means when pollution gets zoned into neighborhood
generations after generations. Landfill after landfill,
truck depot after truck depot, each one approved in isolation as if
cumulative weight on our air, our health, and our children doesn't exist.
Cumulative Impact Ordinance fixes that.
It requires the city to assess the full burden of a community already
carrying before adding more.
Putting health data and community voices into the permitting process before the
damage is done. And it honors the legacy of Hazel
Johnson, who spent her life naming what is happening to us as environmental
racism.
And let's be clear, people should not have to leave their homes to find a clean
environment. So the Southeast Side is our home.
These are our blocks, our churches, our schools, our families.
We're not asking to be relocated. We're asking for the same clean air and healthy
neighborhoods that other parts of the city already enjoy.
Cumulative Impact Ordinance is how we get there, by stopping the next polluting
facility before it gets approved, not after the harm is already done.
And that is why we urge you to support the Accountability, Accountable Housing
and Anti-Discrimination Waitlist Ordinance, or AHAD.
Environmental justice and housing justice are not inseparable,
not because people should have to move, but because no one should ever be trapped
in a polluted neighborhood with nowhere to go either.
AHAD immediately makes three thousand seven hundred units of affordable
housing easier to find and apply for, cutting through discriminatory
barriers that have locked working families out for so long.
Together, the Cumulative Impact Ordinance and AHAD ensure that every
Chicagoans can live in affordable housing in a clean environment right
where they are or wherever they choose to be.
None of this is sustainable without making corporations pay for their fair
share. The same companies profiting from Chicago's workers and
infrastructure exploit tax loopholes while working
families absorb the health costs and housing
burden, and the disinvestment their decisions leave behind.
When corporations pay what they owe, Chicago can invest in affordable
housing, public transit, healthcare, and living wages that
strengthen our communities.
Alders, these three campaigns are one fight.
Clean air where we live, homes we can afford, an economy that
works for working people. The Alliance of the Southeast urges you
to vote yes on Cumulative Impact Ordinance, yes on
AHAD, and yes to corporate accountability.
Our communities deserve to thrive right here, right now,
right where we are. Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Our next speaker is Jessica Swim.
Hello. As they said, I'm Jessica Swim.
I'm a Chicago resident, and I'm the advancement coordinator at Women Employed.
Before coming to Women Employed, I also spent a total of six years in the
restaurant industry, working various positions, including manager,
bartender, and server. We know so many of us are struggling
financially right now, businesses and individuals alike.
As a small business ourself, we at Women Employed have been watching our budget
every day due to the rising costs. But employee wages are
just one component of our overall budget, just like any small
business. We also earnestly believe that no one deserves less than
the minimum wage, no matter their station in life, gender,
race, age, ability, anything. Particularly when even our
current full minimum wage is not an actual living wage.
While we are grateful to and stand in support with the city council members who
have worked with us the last few weeks to fight back an even greater blow to
workers, the fact is the subminimum wage means that the most
marginalized are the ones we are telling to accept less than the minimum.
Servers are the majority of workers in these tipped positions, and women make
up almost two-thirds of servers. Full-time, year-round women
and people of color who are servers earn less than their male
counterparts in every single state.
This is mainly due to women and people of color being more likely to work in
low-paying sectors, such as casual dining, instead of fine dining
establishments where tips are usually higher and where there are many more white
men working.
I've experienced the stress of living on tips firsthand, not knowing if I'll make
enough to pay my bills, dealing with sexual harassment and
dehumanizing treatment because I didn't want to risk losing my tips.
At the same time, we can see that businesses in our most vulnerable communities
who employ our most vulnerable workers need support.
The compromise amendment to the One Fair Wage ordinance will give those small
businesses who are struggling the breathing room they need.But the
reality is that this four-year pause and the longer phase-out for those
smaller establishments also means that the gender and racial wage gap
will increase. Since Black and brown women are the most likely to be
working for those small businesses, they will have to wait two years longer for
their base pay to increase. While this amendment may be an agreement, we
must name that impact. We know it's a huge
shift and effort to try to reverse something unjust that is still
deeply ingrained in the business model.
But we all lose when we try to solve our business problems on the backs of workers,
especially when the ones asked to sacrifice the most are workers of color and
women. Thank you.
Thank you very much for your comments. Our next speaker is Albin Puthral.
Good morning, everyone, and thank you for allowing me to speak today.
My name is Albin Puthral, and I'm speaking on behalf of Southwestern
BP and CERT MAC BP in the 25th Ward.
Alderman Byron knows me and my family well, as we are an active family that
has businesses in this ward. My family and I have worked hard for many
years to build our business and serve our neighborhood.
With the upcoming vote on sweepstake machines, I felt it was important to come here
today because decisions like this directly affect small
businesses like mine
and the neighborhoods we serve every day.
A lot of people only see these machines and make assumptions, but for many of us,
this is what has helped keep our business alive during very difficult
times. These machines help us pay employees,
cover payroll, pay our mortgages and rent, and continue operating in
neighborhoods that depend on us every day. We are not large corporations.
We are small business owners trying to survive in an economy where everything
continues to get more expensive. Our stores are part of the community.
Many people come to our locations every single day, not just for gas,
but for milk, bread, groceries, drinks,
household items, and things they need for their families.
For many residents, especially seniors, working families, and
people without transportation, we are their grocery store.
We are their convenience store. We are part of the communities where there
are food deserts in place. If these machines disappear overnight,
many small businesses will be forced to raise prices on everyday
goods just to survive. That means higher prices on milk, bread,
eggs, drinks,
household items, and everyday necessities such as medicine.
And who pays the price for that? The consumers, the same working
families already struggling with inflation and high cost.
I also want to say clearly that we understand the importance of regulation and
accountability. Illegal operations should not exist.
We support oversight and responsible business practices.
We pay tax on this money every year when we file through our 1099 that is
distributed annually. But I respectfully ask that the city not punish
responsible small business owners who are operating legally and
trying to provide for their families and employees.
These are real jobs, real families, real neighborhoods.
For many of us, these machines have allowed us to continue employing people
from our communities and continue investing back into our neighborhoods we serve.
Instead of banning everything, I ask the council to consider a balanced
solution. Regulate legal sweepstake machines, create
license pathways, enforce strict oversight, and
continue targeting illegal operators.
Please give small businesses a chance.
Please think about the impact that this decision will have on neighborhood stores,
businesses, employees, and working families across the city.
Thank you again for your time and for listening to our concerns.
Thank you very much for your comments. Our next speaker is Jordan Sorrell.
Good morning, Mayor Johnson, Clerk Valencia, members of the City
Council. Thank you for the opportunity to speak.
My name is Jordan Sorrell. I'm here on behalf of my mother, a
39-year resident and retired public school teacher in Hyde
Park, as a past board president and current board member of
the Southeast Chicago Commission.
On Sunday night, she called me concerned.
She saw youth and young adults coming from Promontory Point,
moving behind the Hyde Park shopping center, walking in the street,
stopping traffic, and in a few cases, stepping on cars.
For her, and for many longtime neighbors, who have seen increased
activity and teen takeovers recently, the concern about
safety, while still believing our public spaces should remain
open, welcoming, and used responsibly by everyone.
But we also have to acknowledge another truth.
Chicago has a long, complicated history of policing Black and brown
youth. That history shapes how young people move through our city
and how they respond to authority.
We cannot talk about public safety without holding that reality.
And gatherings in Chicago are not new.
People come together at the lakefront, in parks, on commercial
corridors every day. But when those gatherings grow too large,
without
structure and lack of coordination, they become quickly a potential issue and
liability for the community. When coordination falls short, the
impact is immediate on seniors getting to the store, workers
coming off a long shift, parents with children, small
business owners operating in stores, and the young people
themselves.I want to acknowledge the leaders working towards solutions, including
Alderman Yancey, Alderman Robinson, local CPD district, and the many
community groups and youth-serving organizations stepping up to strengthen public
safety.
So here is my ask. We need deliberate coordination,
real-time communication, and the agility to adapt as
circumstances shift.
CPD, elected officials, community organizations,
and neighborhood institutions must work together.
And yes, accountability must be real when laws are broken,
without tipping into over-policing or inaction.
Hyde Park, like all of our 77 neighborhoods, are communities built on
belonging. Sunday challenged that, so our job is to
restore it through clarity, coordination, and care.
Thank you, Mayor Johnson, members of the City Council, for your service and
attention to this matter. Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Our next speaker is Jane Ruby.
Good morning.
Dear members of City Council, my name is Jane Ruby, and I serve as president of
the League of Women Voters of Chicago.
On behalf of the League, I am proud to submit public comment in support of the
Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Fair Access to Democracy Ordinance.
At a time when democracy is facing mounting threats at every level of
government, Chicago has both an opportunity and an obligation
to lead. This ordinance reflects a visionary and
practical commitment by the mayor's office and City Council to assess the
gaps in our local democracy and take meaningful steps to make
elections safer and more accessible, and more trusted in
both short-term and long-term sense.
The League believes that fair, free, and accessible elections
are the foundation of democratic government.
That means protecting voters from intimidation, protecting election workers from
harassment and doxing, and ensuring that every eligible voter
can participate without fear, confusion, or unnecessary
barriers. The provisions in this ordinance address real and
growing concerns, including threats to election personnel,
barriers to vote-by-mail access, and the need for sustained public
engagement around voter access and election safety.
We are especially supportive of the creation of a working group dedicated to
strengthening access to democracy in Chicago.
This kind of ongoing structured review is exactly what responsible
democratic governance requires.
Elections do not run on ideals alone.
They depend on infrastructure, public education, community trust, safe polling
places, accessible systems, and the people who carry out this
work every election cycle. Taking the time to examine those
needs and recommend improvements is not symbolic.
It is essential. Naming this ordinance in the honor of Reverend Jesse L.
Jackson Sr. is a fitting tribute to a Chicagoan whose life's work has
expanded the meaning and promise of democracy.
The League of Women Voters of Chicago commends the mayor's office, the City
Council, Rainbow PUSH, Chicago Votes, and the broad coalition of
community and civic organizations supporting this
effort. We urge the City Council to pass the Reverend Jesse L.
Jackson Sr. Fair Access to Democracy Ordinance and help ensure that
Chicago remains a national model for voter access,
election integrity, and democratic participation.
Also, as we look further at what we need to do to protect
Chicagoans here in the city, please support and pass the Hazel Johnson
Committal Impact Ordinance. Thank you.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Darren Bailey.
Mr. Mayor, City Council, and Chicago, good morning, and thank
you so much for this amazing opportunity that the people's voices are heard.
My name is Darren Bailey, and I'm the Republican nominee for governor of the state
of Illinois. Now, I'm not originally from
Chicago, but I've recently moved here
because this is where I want to be. The only way to get what's
in my heart for this city, to the people of this
city, is to be present, to be active, and informed,
so here I am. Now, to this city,
I owe you something. I owe you an apology.
I said some things about Chicago that were wrong.
What I meant was that the political class is failing us, and I should
have been more clear, and I wasn't, so I apologize.
If I'm elected to be your next governor, my three priorities will
be affordability, public safety, and education.
And nowhere in Illinois do all three of those
converge more urgently than right here and on the South and on the
West Sides of Chicago. I want to work with the city and
use CHA, HUD, and every state budget and policy tool
available to turn renters into owners and build generational
wealth in neighborhoods that have been promised development for 50 years.
Friends, that's not Democrat, that's not Republican. It's justice.
On education, J.B. Pritzker let 15,000 kids
lose their scholarships, most of them Black and Latino, most
from households earning under $50,000 a year,
gone because he hates Trump more than he loves Chicago.
I know this city believes in investing in schools as a path to
educational equity. I respect that conviction.
I believe every family deserves the freedom to choose the school that's right for
their child, and that competition makes every school better.
Chicago, my offer is simpleI want to work with you and make this
state better, so please share your ideas, frustrations,
and concerns. Believe me, I will listen.
When Cindy and I lost Zach, Kelsey, and our grandkids in that
helicopter crash, we were forced to understand just how
short and precious life is. That tragedy
accelerated our fervor to want safety for our children, and I
don't mean that in a judging way. It's coming from a place of care
and concern. J.B. Pritzker has been governor for seven years.
Chicago is still
waiting for fully funded schools, still waiting for a
plan. Friends, I'm not interested in waiting, and I know you are not
either. Thank you so much. God bless you.
God bless this great city. Reach out to me,
Darren@baileyforillinois. I want to get to meet you.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next
speaker is
Shakila Froh.
I would ask
that
the members who are joining us in the audience is if they
will remain with some level of decorum.
Thank you all. Our next speaker, please. You may commence.
Good morning, everyone.
Good morning.
My name is Shakila Froh, and I represent ApnaGhar, an
organization that provide critical, comprehensive,
and culturally responsive services while advocating to end
gender-based violence in immigrant and refugee communities.
We strongly support the Data Disaggregation
Ordinance because disaggregated data is
essential to ensuring that our community are
accurately represented in public systems, policies,
and decision-making process.
Far too often,
Asian, American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander
communities are grouped into broad categories that
erase the unique experiences, needs, and disparities
faced
by the individual ethnic groups. Many of the immigrant
and refugee communities ApnaGhar serves
experience language barriers, economic insecurity,
housing instability, and challenges access healthcare,
legal assistance, and culturally responsive services.
Without accurate and detailed data, these disparities
remain invisible, making it more difficult for community
organizations and policy makers to advocate for
equitable resources and targeted support.
We also recognize the importance of collaborative
initiatives like Change
Insight in advancing equity through
community-informed data practices.
ApnaGhar participated in Change
Insight Needs Assessment Survey in 2022 and
2023, which focused
on
screening for social determinant of health
within Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander
communities to better understand health disparities and improve
equitable access to care and services.
Through this work, we witnessed firsthand how meaningful
disaggregated data can identify
gaps in services and strengthen community-based responses,
and ensure that underrepresented populations are no
longer overlooked in public systems.
At ApnaGhar, we work directly with survivors whose
experience are shaped by culture, language access,
immigration status, and systemic inequities.
Improved data collection and reporting would help ensure
that service.
Funding, outreach efforts, and public policies are informed by the
real needs of community that have historically
been overlooked. We urge the City Council to
pass Data Disaggregation Ordinance and affirm the
importance of making all communities visible in Chicago.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Pastor Sandy A. Norman.
You
are so funny.
I first honor God.
I honor the council. I honor you, Mayor Johnson.
I honor everybody that's in this building today.
I want to be very brief, and I want to be quick.
I'm not here to play politics this morning.
I believe in being on the side of truth.
I do want to say
the Lord allowed me to be able to speak today.
I think my name was picked for a reason, and sometimes God will have you to be
a voice to those that are not able to speak.
And so I want to first say, Flip Red, Chicago
hear you. I want to commend you, Danny, as a Black
woman, for standing up for the City of Chicago and even
running for mayor.
That's something that's noteworthy.
I was told to disassociate myself with Flip Red
because I would never be able to get help from the City of Chicago.
But because I stand for truth, I'm not going to disassociate
myself from people that I know that are coming down here that are speaking the
truth about what's really going on in the City of Chicago.
When I see property taxes on the West and South Side of
Chicago and people that I
knowLives being damaged by
corruption. As a pastor, I can't be silent about that.
We did have a constitutional ruling, whether you want to hear it or not,
where it was brought out that a judge ruled that it is the truth.
But we have nobody to say anything about that.
I want to acknowledge Darren Bailey, because I've never really heard
any politicians to publicly say, "I owe you an apology,"
or, "I owe Chicago an apology." And I do think
that is noteworthy. I want to say, I do violence prevention in
the city of Chicago as a pastor. I'm on the street corners.
Me and my team, they're here all throughout the week.
You can find us doing the work. And so I want to say, the way that we
have been treated and the way that we have been disrespected is just
so dishonorable, Mayor Johnson. I want to say to you, Alderman
Garner, my team came today, and I have my team here.
I'm not racist. I got a white man, a Hispanic mother, and an
Italian mother with me. Okay? I want to thank you
for coming out and being a part of what we do.
I want to thank you that because you're from the 45th Ward, that you had
enough heart to say, "I see the violence that's going on over there
in Garfield, and I'm going to come out there and be a part of what you all are
doing." You walk with us, you stood with us, and you talked
to business owners, and you did, really, that day, what an alderman is
supposed to do to show compassion.
I look on TV, I see you're suing the city.
I was told some things about you, but I really want you to be encouraged,
too, because from what I saw, and even the corruption, it allowed me to
know that it's not just against people, but it's people in
here that are in the same situation that you're in, and that you have
with the attorney general and the things that you face.
It's time-
Thank you very much for your comments. However, your time has expired.
Our next speaker this morning is Judy
Runnick.
Our next speaker this morning is Judy Runnick.
Good morning, everyone. Honor to you, Mayor
Johnson, and to all the council people. God bless you all.
My name is Judy Runnick, and I'm an administrator for Dr.
Apostle Sandy, who just spoke. Life Beyond Limits and
Chain Breakers. You're going to hear from us.
We're not going anywhere. Hallelujah.
I've been working with Dr. Apostle Sandy for the past six years, my
husband and I. We know her passion.
We know her heart for the people of Chicago.
I've seen her pour out her blood, sweat, and tears out on
the streets on the west side. We go to where nobody really
wants to go. I call them the forgotten people, but we
don't forget them. We go there. We were just Friday on
streets where it's not
a nice place to go. But what do the youth say?
"Thank you for coming. We need you here."
This is who we are. We do a violence
intervention prevention
all over the city of Chicago. We feed about
200 people per outreach, and we do about three per month.
We do prayer walks. And so we fund ourselves.
Apostle Sandy has funded herself.
We have asked, written letters, emails, talked
with city officials that say, "We're going to help
you," and no, they did not. We ask, "Can we just get a
garbage can when we're out on the street?
Can we get a porta potty?" "Yes, we will help you," and nothing.
And so-
So I'm here to say that the work that Apostle Sandy
does is from her heart. And so I've seen her
turn in guns. I'm an eyewitness, and
eyewitnesses tell the truth. And so I'm here to tell the truth that
I've seen her where there is maybe a lot of violence,
guns are coming out, and she is in the midst of it, and
stopping what could've been a real disaster.
We're
not begging for money here because God is our source, but
we know that there is money that is allocated for
violence intervention prevention organizations, and we just
want to be considered for that. So thank you for letting me
speak today from the heart, and God bless you all.
Yay.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Your Honor, there are no further speakers who have timely signed up for the public
comment period.
Thank you.
This concludes our public comments.
For resolutions, before we attend to the resolutions,
we have eight acknowledgments. The first acknowledgment,
Chair recognizes Alder Dowell, Harris, and Rodriguez, who
would like to acknowledge Older Americans Month. Chairwoman Dowell.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. Are we putting any of
them in the box this afternoon?
For acknowledgments, they should be a part of the audience.
And so if they're here,
those older adults-
As you all-
If you wish to stand
... please stand.
There we are. Let's give it up for our older adults.
Thank you, Mr. President. Every May, we celebrate
Older American Month.
This is the time to recognize the contribution of
our seniors and reaffirm our commitment to
them. This is a club that if we're
lucky, we're all going to become a member of
someday
And today I'm delighted to present Ms.
Geneva Searcy,
a proud resident of the Third Ward, who retired from
AT&T
after 29 years
of service with that corporation in
2021. Ms. Searcy, could you just stand and let people
see who you are?
I know you're behind the pole. I know you're there.
Geneva lives in the South Loop and has been an advocate for
other seniors in the South Loop community.
She's made it a focus to help make the
built environment more comfortable and more accessible
for seniors who live in the area.
She's a leader in her building,
and she has been outspoken on resources that
help seniors age independently in place.
Geneva is pleasant. You will never
see her looking like she's upset. She has a
winning smile, and I am grateful for all of
the phone calls and information that she gives me to
be able to continue to provide services to all the seniors
in the South Loop.
Geneva, on behalf of the members of the City Council
and the City of Chicago, we thank you for your work and for your
contributions. And I want to also acknowledge and
congratulate all of the other seniors who will be acknowledged today.
You are all an inspiration to us. But I would be remiss
before I take my seat if I did not acknowledge Margaret
LaRaviere
and Yolanda Curry from the Department of Family and Support
Services.
For the care and the love that they show all of our seniors
across the City of Chicago.
We could not do this work in our own wards without the support of
you two and the department. Thank you so much for your
service. Again, congratulations to our seniors for
Older Americans Month. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Alderwoman. Alderwoman Harris.
Thank you, Mr. President.
This being Older Americans Month, the Eighth Ward
is proud to celebrate two outstanding community leaders,
Mrs. Sandra Patterson and Mrs. Sherry Rogers Hamlin,
whose dedication, compassion--
Sorry, I can't see y'all. Despite the
glasses. Whose dedication, compassion, and lifelong
service continue to inspire residents of all ages.
Sherry, are you up?
She is standing.
You should get up, girl.
Yes.
Okay. Okay, now us.
Through their unwavering commitment to uplift seniors, strengthen
neighborhoods, and mentoring future generations, they embody the
spirit of leadership and community pride.
Their work has made a lasting impact across the ward, reminding
us that older Americans are not only pillars of wisdom and experience,
but also powerful forces for positive
change in the City of Chicago. So today, I acknowledge these
wonderful women who have changed my life in
ways that they will never know. They have become an inspiration to
me and to the ward, and so I am so proud of both
of you for all the work you do inside of the community,
and the partnerships that you have made across the ward.
So, thank you for your service. I've got to
say that Margaret... Come on, stand back up. LaRaviere, come on, stand back up.
She comes to every meeting I have.
And I want to say thank you for the Department of Aging, along with
my partner in crime, Alicia Henry.
You all are partners who always show up and show out in the community.
I am grateful for your leadership and the fact that you take
so much time with communities and older Americans across the City of
Chicago. So I thank you both, Sandra and Sherry, who have
become
such an integral part of my personal life.
So thank thank you for your friendship and everything you do.
I appreciate you so much, and I'd like to congratulate every older
American that is here with us today. Thank you for your service.
Thank you. Alder
Rodriguez.
Thank you, Chair. And I'd be remiss if I didn't also take an opportunity
to recognize Margaret. You know, we've worked together-
But the thing I wanted to get is standing.
One stop to-
We make sure that-- Oh, very well. Thank you. Thank you for coming in.
We worked together on the other side of the building at the county together in
Child and Family Protection for the county.
And your excellence
is easily noted, and I want to thank you for all your work.
Thank you and the mayor for bringing me on, as well as Alderwoman Dowell, onto the
advisory committee here for our aging adults.
It's a task that I don't take lightly, that I really, really
enjoy.
I haven't expressed opportunity to-- I had the opportunity to
acknowledge two individuals who are leaders and
legends of the 22nd Ward. First and foremost,
Andrea Munoz. If you would stand, Andrea.
Andrea,
yes.
She is-- And talk to her, and you will find out real quick, she's a Boston
native.
But she was serving as a nun
when her young, handsome-Farmworker organizing
husband who worked side by side with the farm workers and the Dolores
Huerta, Marcos Munoz, swept her off her feet,
and they came together to live in Little Village
as one of the first and probably foremost
supporters of our late great aldermanic candidate at that
time, Rudy Lozano,
who together were firm supporters of our first Black
mayor in Harold Washington.
Andrea was a founding board member of then LVCDC, which
is now Enlace Chicago, a public health leader and
advocate, served our county at Cook County Hospital, was one
of the leaders of the campaign to open the Jorge Prieto Clinic in our
neighborhood. Andrea, nowadays, you'll find her at
home helping her neighbors. At home
filling out Social Security benefits, pension benefits, all for
free, but don't line up, folks. You have to make an appointment,
and you have to make sure she knows you're coming.
She's also currently leading a campaign to
rename a school two blocks from her house that's named after
an anti-immigrant, anti-worker judge of the late
1800s, Joseph McGarry. She's leading that effort to rename
that school.
Please join me in thanking Andrea for her leadership.
And I have also the pleasure,
and please stand up, Ron "Ronnel" Mustin, of
recognizing my mentor, many people's
mentors. Ron is actually a lifelong Chicagoan,
born at Cook County Hospital. Graduate of Phillips High School,
politicized by activist leaders who were involved with the Freedom
Rides and lunch counter protests.
He graduated from a great HBCU and where he
was a non-silent dissenter to the Vietnam War.
He's visited Cuba twice. He was a part of the Venceremos campaign,
where he helped build housing in Cuba.
He was an advocate for the ANC, hosted a
fundraiser at his home with Rudy Lozano and Harold Washington
present. There's a beautiful picture in my office on the second
floor. I think a couple of you guys have been in my office.
That picture is in Ron's basement.
After the assassination of Rudy Lozano,
he helped the 22nd Ward IPO together with his brother,
Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, becoming Chuy's first campaign manager.
And today he is very active.
Forty-five years as a precinct captain, and I got to say, look,
I don't do politics too much here, but the number one precinct in the
city of Chicago for Juliana Stratton was Ron's precinct.
The number one precinct, right?
We were also the number one ward, but I'm not going to go further on that.
Largely due to Ron's efforts, and he had some fights with Juliana
actually early on in the campaign, moved her on some issues.
But he continues to be an advocate.
Side by side, we marched together this May Day for
workers' rights. He's an advocate for federal voting rights
legislation and locally for the fair treatment of migrants.
Give it up for a true leader, Ron Mustin.
Thank you, all three of you. Next, Alder Ramirez would like to
acknowledge Imagination Library, the team, and their work in
the 12th Ward and beyond. The chair recognizes Alder Ramirez.
Thank you. Good morning, Mr. President, all of my colleagues.
Good morning.
I'd like to have our representatives from Conlin Public Strategies, Share
Our Spare, and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
I have placed a folder on everybody's desk so you guys can reference
this. I wanted to bring awareness to Imagination
Library. So prior to meeting with this amazing coalition,
I actually signed up my son with Imagination Library.
In enrolling my son, he receives a book every month
until his fifth-year old birthday.
He will receive a book in the mail, and let me say, it's the cutest thing that my
son gets mail with his full name. I would love to have all of our
wards to engage our residents and take advantage of this
program. So Share Our Spare is a local nonprofit
focused for ensuring that all Chicago area children ages zero
to five have the essentials like diapers, baby care items, and clothing,
all things that they need for a healthy development.
Share Our Space is the local program partner for Dolly Parton's
Imagination Library here in the city of Chicago.
Inside of your folder, you will see all of the zip codes
that can go on shareourspare.org to sign up their
children for free books. So please give it up to Dolly Parton's Imagination
Library. Thank you.
Again, thank you, Alderwoman Ramirez.
Next, Alder Moore would like to acknowledge Ms.
Irma Jean Barnes for her contributions to the community.
The chair recognizes Alder Moore.
Alderman David Moore, right? Yeah.
Anyway, thank you,
Mr. President.
You're welcome.
So I would like
Ms. Irma Jean Barnes to please stand.
There you go. You're standing already. She is so beautiful.
Y'all don't even know why y'all clapping yet.
Anyway,
there's a saying that said, "It takes a village,"
and she exemplifies that. Ms. Irma Jean Barnes
has resided in the Altgeld-Reginald community
for well over
50 years. She's 87 years old, but she look like she's in her 50s,
looking good.She's run this daycare.
Through Little Folks Daycare, she has helped raise three generations of
children, leaving fingerprints of love, care, discipline, and
compassion on an entire community.
In a touching reflection of her devotion, she has kept the same home
phone number for over 50 years so her kids could
always find her. Today, she is a proud matriarch of a beautiful
family that includes her seven children, 16 grandchildren,
and 17 great-grandchildren. Mrs.
Barnes is not only a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother,
she's a community treasure, a living legacy, and a woman whose
love has shaped generations. Let me tell you, her impact
also shapes this city of Chicago, because it's our own Deputy Mayor
Lori Lipson, who was at her daycare
and started out in her daycare to become the successful
young lady that she is today. And so, you all help me honor
this great lady for running a daycare for well over 50 years,
Kids On The Run Daycare, Irma Jean Barnes.
Thank you, Alderman Moore.
Next, we have Alderwoman Tabaras, who would like to acknowledge the Hubbard High
School JROTC program. The chair recognizes Alderwoman Tabaras.
Yes. Hi, good morning.
Good morning. Thank you, Mr. President.
I'd like to ask my guests to stand up, please.
I'd like to ask the Hubbard High School's JROTC
cadets and instructors to stand up.
This morning, I am very honored to acknowledge and congratulate
Hubbard High School's JROTC cadets and instructors
for qualifying and competing in this year's United
States Army JROTC National Championship.
They are the only CPS school in Chicago to qualify
and compete.
This group works very hard, and they have had the opportunity
to show what skills they have gained on a national level.
I want to recognize Cadet Command Sergeant Major Juan Espinosa
and Cadet Battalion Commander Ricardo Duran.
Congratulations on your dedication and leadership to
your platoon.
I also want to take a moment to thank those who have supported these cadets
on this achievement. First Sergeant Spearman,
Lieutenant Colonel Franklin,
Hubbard Principal Angelica Altamirano,
and all the parents who have watched these cadets grow.
You have made our city proud,
and we wish you continued success.
Let's give them a big round of applause and congratulate Hubbard High
School's JROTC cadets.
Chair recognizes Alderman Quinn.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I also wanted to echo
Alderwoman Tabaras' words here. Uplift Hubbard and
their great tradition with their ROTC program. Ms.
Altamirano has been a rockstar on the Southwest Side for many, many years.
So, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Hubbard.
You're welcome. Thank you, Alder Tabaras and Alderman Quinn.
Next, Alderwoman Cruz would like to acknowledge the centennial
anniversary of Jonathan Wise Scammon Elementary School.
Alder Cruz, you are recognized.
Thank you, Mr. President. If Scammon Elementary School leadership, please
stand. I am honored to acknowledge 100 years of
Scammon Elementary School, 100 years of academic
excellence, a century of learning, growth, and
community. Today, we recognize students, parents,
families, educators, and staff who have shaped this school
for generations. But I also want to say thank you to our
teachers, staff, and administration for their leadership,
dedication, and commitment to student success.
And today, we have our outstanding leadership
from Scammon. We have Principal Dr.
Madden, we have Assistant Principal Mrs.
Grimaldo, and also the Instructional Coach, Mr.
Zuniga.
But also a special thanks to Friends of Scammon,
who has shaped students' and parents' experience outside of the
classroom. And today, we also have Katie Schaefer with
us, the President of Friends of Scammon and a member of
LSC. Which I have to say, Scammon is very lucky to have
Katie be part of their team as well.
Scammon legacy is grounded on community, resilience, and the
belief and power of education. So, I want to say
congratulations to everyone who is part of Scammon's story,
whether it's past, present, and future.
Please join me in celebrating 100 years for Scammon
Elementary School.
Thank you, Alder Cruz. Next, we have Alderman Conway, who would like
to recognize ALS Awareness Month. The chair recognizes Alder Conway.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for allowing me the opportunity to recognize
May as ALS Awareness Month.
ALS, as many of you know, is a devastating disease that robs
people their ability to walk, talk, eat, and
breathe. Estimates vary, but at any time, 6,000 Americans are
living with ALS. And it is also worth noting that US military
veterans are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed as other
Americans.
ALS also impacts thousands of caregivers, family, and
friends of those living with ALS. I'm sure many in this
room have a personal connection. I myself do, as my
stepmother passed away from ALS just a couple of years ago.
Now, there are many groups working to increase research funding and
caregiver support in this area. But I especially want to highlight I AM
ALS, a national organization founded here in the Chicago
area that has worked tirelessly to pass the Federal
Act for ALS Law, which is the single largest source of
ALS research funding that's led to groundbreaking clinical
progress and expanded access to treatment across the US.
So, I want to thank you all for recognizing ALS Awareness Month.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Thank you, Alderman.
Thank you.
Thank you again, Alderman Conway.
Next, Alder Vasquez would like to acknowledge the five-year
anniversary of Daniel T. O'Connor, which is the
Great Lake Jumper. Alder Vasquez.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, members of the City Council.
As you stated, I stand in proud support of this resolution
recognizing Daniel O'Connor, a 40th Ward neighbor, I like that,
AKA the Great Lake Jumper, who has demonstrated incredible tenacity by
jumping into Lake Michigan for over 2,000 days in a row.
What began as a search
for calm for Dan during the pandemic has now evolved into a tradition that brings
joy to so many people in our city.
The practice also reflects Dan's deep commitment to the community.
Dan has used the attention he's gotten to support organizations amplifying
independent music and performing arts in Chicago, like the Chicago
Independent Venue League. His dedication embodies the resilience, grit, and
generosity of true Chicagoans and his continued willingness to embrace this
challenge every day in the spirit of our great city has been an inspiration to so
many.
I'll say it,
we have a lot of folks who've gone through a lot of challenges during the pandemic.
I think people were very much traumatized.
And so when we all think about how we try to pull away from those kind of
moments, I know I've never thought about jumping in the lake, so I got to give some
respect for that.
But to be able to take that kind of time and to have that kind of
commitment, and have so many other people be drawn in and
find other ways to reflect and to pull themselves away and be in the moment, I
think it's something we should all appreciate.
And so I very much want to thank Dan for everything you do, for
being a great 40th Ward neighbor, and a great Chicagoan.
We're proud to honor him today through this resolution, and I'd like to pass it off
to Alderman Martin, who would also like to share an acknowledgement. Thank you.
Very well, thank you. The Chair recognizes Alderman Martin.
Thank you, Mr. President. Good morning, colleagues.
Morning.
When most of us look at Lake Michigan in January, I think we look at it and
we say, "Absolutely not. Under no circumstances." And maybe with the
exception of Alderman O'Shea in February or March,
that's what we're saying. But Dan
looked at it for what? 2,100 consecutive days and said,
"Absolutely."
It was raining, didn't matter. If it was snowing, wind chills,
90-degree temperatures, the Great Lake Jumper was there.
Dan turned this personal ritual for mental clarity during the
pandemic into a public symbol of perseverance.
And he didn't just jump for himself, as Alderman Vasquez mentioned.
He used it as a platform to uplift the Chicago Independent
Venue League and our local musicians, and in the process reminded us that
while the lake might be our backyard, our independent
venues are the city's heartbeat.
What started as a solo mission for shared civic experience
brought together first responders and neighbors and strangers, turning the
lakefront into a place of healing and connection.
Five years. That is an absolutely staggering feat.
And Dan is a testament to what happens when you show up for your community
and yourself every single day.
I think you've, Dan, officially earned your place in the lore of
Chicago traditions. Your boldness and big shoulders are
things that we will talk about for the remainder of our time in Chicago.
Dan, thank you so much for reminding us that even in the coldest
Chicago winters, that there's warmth found in community, in
humor, and a very cold splash of lake water.
Congrats.
Thank you to both Alders Vasquez and Martin.
And now our final acknowledgement
is brought to us by Alderman Ervin,
who would like to congratulate Darlene Jackson on her
retirement and her 44 years of service
in the City Clerk's office. The Chair recognizes Alderman
Ervin.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.
I want to first tell Andre to go jump in the lake.
Second, I want to recognize Ms. Jackson.
Darlene Jackson has been a fixture in the Garfield Park
community all of her life. But she's been, more
importantly, she's also been a worker in the City
Clerk's office. Her tenure spans some, I think, eight
mayors. I don't know how many clerks.
But Darlene has always been very conscientious.
She's been a election judge for umpteen years.
She's been a
great asset and a person that's been a part of the fabric of the
community on the West Side of Chicago.
Even though she doesn't live in the 28th Ward, her heart-- and actually, I
met her as a precinct captain in the 28th Ward, and she was one of
the people that kind of showed me the ropes of everything that I know and do
today. So again, just wanted to just take this opportunity to
acknowledge her service to our city and to our community.
And I believe the clerk may want to add
a word on that as well.
That is fine. Leave from the body to allow our clerk to speak on behalf of the
44-year retirementAll right. Very well.
The Chair recognizes City Clerk Valencia.
Ms. Jackson, 44 years of
service. Give it up. No, you all need to stand.
You all need to stand for that.
I just want to say, when they talk about
what a public servant looks like, it is
exactly Ms. Jackson. Here at
31 years, young and wise, I came
in as your city clerk and she could've been like, "Who is this young
person? What are these crazy ideas?" Some were good, maybe some not so good.
But she was so helpful to
me, encouraging to the rest of the office, I think convinced the rest
of the office to give me a chance. And not only that, she brought in
joy, decorated for every holiday, created a
culture that was inclusive,
always was the life of the party. I don't know who's going to plan all of our
parties. I guess that goes back on me.
But she has such a love for the city and her neighborhood, and someone
you could always depend on. And so I just want to thank you, Ms.
Jackson, for giving this city 44 years of your
love and loyalty, and I hope that you enjoy this next chapter.
Thank you.
Very well. Thank you so much for your indulgence and your patience.
And thank you again, Alderman Irvin and Clerk Valencia, for that
recognition.
Now, we do have four resolutions today.
We have a memorial resolution honoring Amisha Patel.
We are celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month,
Haitian Heritage Month,
and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
So Alderman Mitchell, for a motion
for the suspension temporarily of our rules.
Mr. President, I move for temporary suspension of rules for immediate consideration
of this resolution.
Very well. Hearing no objections, this is so ordered.
Now, in the interest of time, and respecting
the people's presence here, we will forgo reading the
resolutions. We will go straight to the remarks from City
Council. And again, our first resolution
is a memorial resolution honoring
Amisha Patel. Are there any members that wish to speak
to this resolution?
The Chair recognizes
Alder
Quesada.
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in full honor
and respect and admiration for my former colleague
and comrade, Amisha Patel.
In the short amount of time that I've been engaged in community organizing
for the past 13 years, there is a mentor that I think
about, someone who has communicated a lot of wisdom
in our coalition spaces, in our progressive movement, and Amisha
Patel is one of those architects of our great
progressive movement here in the city of Chicago.
I'm very grateful for all the lessons that Amisha has
imparted on new organizers, old organizers,
in helping build and unite working class people across our
city to fight against the closure of our schools, to fight to tax the
rich, to fight against the rise of authoritarianism and fascism in our
country today. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the
great work of Amisha, and I'm grateful that we're honoring her today.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you.
The Chair recognizes Alderman Rodriguez.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I too rise to be associated with this resolution
honoring one of Chicago's best.
Amisha
was a strong organizer,
and her strength could never be more witnessed
than the last term of her life,
where she taught us how to live.
I can't remember how many social media posts when I would go
to and see her positivity, her sharing of her own
hurt, but in a way that was so powerful and impactful, that
made me, as a living human, feel the need to carry on her legacy,
to understand that what she stood for doesn't die with her.
It lives with her spirit and all the work that she's done over her
years. To all her family and very close friends
in the box,
my brothers and sisters, we stand together today in recognition
of a life very well-lived, a life that
continues to be lived through all of us. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Alder Fuentes.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Amisha lived a life with
purpose. She knew every single
day what she sought to achieve.
She was a master organizer, and the level of
mentorship and training she has given so many of us
is why we were able to achieve a $15 minimum
wage when we were doing Fight for 15, why we were able to prevent
school closures, why so many of us have come
into elected office. When we think
about conflict, Amisha always led with
love and restorative justice, and so many of us learned
these skills to be able to be in tough spaces, to have tough
conversations, and to be critical in our self-reflection on how we
fight for our community. And in the last few months
of Amisha's life-I feel as if she lived
more with purpose and clarity. And she left
us very clear mandates before her departure, and
that is the fight for liberation is a fight in perpetuity.
We may not see the things that we are fighting for in our lifetime,
but we must continue to fight for them because that is what is just, what is
right,
and what we must do for the people of the city of Chicago and ultimately across the
world. To her partner, her family members, and all of the
organizers who felt Amisha to be family
beyond blood relation, we are extremely sorry
for your loss, but we feel Amisha every day.
We feel Amisha in the organizing, in the work,
and in her legacy, that so many of us here in City Council will
fight like hell to continue on. Thank you all for being here, and I'm proud to be
associated with this resolution. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Alder Fuentes. Are there any other alders that wish to speak to this
resolution?
Very well. I do want to thank Nina,
Amisha's wife, Kasum, her mother, Varsha, it's her
daughter,
Natine, Wewin, Anjali,
Kaitlyn,
Maya, Nadine, Abby, Ellenberger, and all the individuals that are
in the box today.
I stand with this entire body, the City Council, and speak
favorably for this resolution. Amisha was truly
an amazing human being, a Chicagoan who fought for
social, racial, and economic justice.
Some of the most dynamic organizing happened under her leadership.
She truly dedicated her life to advancing and uplifting and
empowering the very people in this city through organizing and
education. I did have the chance to work even closer with
Amisha back in 2023 when she served as my senior
advisor on my transition team as I prepared to take this office.
We spent many hours working to ensure that my administration started off on a good
foot,
one where people were put first and where progressive policies can truly make a
difference for the people of Chicago, no matter the zip code that they live
in. The contributions that Amisha made to Chicago and the
people will truly be felt for generations to come.
And I'm truly honored that she decided to make her mark here in our
beloved city,
and that I had the opportunity to know her and to know her family and to, most
importantly, stand with her and the people that she was fighting for.
I, along with the entire city of Chicago, we send, of course, our deepest,
deepest condolences to the Patel family and we'll always
remember some of the most radical transformation that ever happened in this
city was because of the organizing of the great late Amisha Patel.
We honor you all.
Let's allow just a few moments for the Patel family and the friends to
exit the box for our next resolution.
In the meantime, I understand that
Alderwoman Rodriguez Sanchez
has requested to participate in today's meeting
remotely for reasons stated in Rule 59. Mr. Clerk, can you confirm?
Madam Clerk, apologies, confirm if Alder Rodriguez
Sanchez is actually available.
Alderwoman Rodriguez Sanchez, are you there?
All right. Very well. Thank you.
Our next resolution
is a resolution honoring Jewish American Heritage
Month.
My
apologies. We did clap for
Amisha Patel, but we did not make the motion to pass
the resolution.
And so with that, Alderman
Quesada, can I get a motion for the passage of this resolution?
All right. It's been moved.
Thank you. All those in favor signify by saying aye.
Aye. And opinion of the chair, ayes have it.
This motion passes. This resolution passes.
Very well. Again, our next resolution is celebrating Jewish American
Heritage Month.
Alderwoman Silverstein has asked to open the remarks, and with
that, we will acknowledge
Alderwoman Silverstein.
Thank you, Mr. President. I stand in full support of this
resolution.
As alderman of the 50th Ward, home to the largest Jewish
community in the city of Chicago, and as the only Jewish member of
the City Council, it is a special honor to rise today in recognition
of Jewish American Heritage Month.
We are honored to be joined today by representatives from several outstanding
Jewish organizations, and I thank you all for your leadership and
your partnership.
This month gives us the opportunity to celebrate the generations of Jewish
Americans whose contributions have helped shape our nation and
our city. This year's resolution recognizes the Jewish
Americans who have been part of Chicago's story since the
1840s, when Jewish immigrants first arrived here
seeking freedom, opportunity, and a better life.They came
with little, but helped build so much.
They helped grow Chicago's commercial sector, opening
businesses and building industries that transformed our city.
They founded vital institutions like Michael Reese
Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital,
institutions rooted in the Jewish value of caring for
others and preserving life.
Jewish Chicagoans strengthened our labor movement, advocating for
workers' rights and dignity in the workplace.
They enriched our neighborhoods with vibrant synagogues, schools,
community centers, and institutions.
And Jewish Americans helped define Chicago's
identity in ways many people may not even realize.
From Viola Spolin, whose groundbreaking theater work
helped make Chicago the birthplace of modern improv, to Sid
Luckman, the legendary Chicago Bears quarterback who led the
team to four NFL championships.
Jewish Chicagoans have also led through service and philanthropy.
Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears, Roebuck and Company,
used his success to expand educational opportunities
across America, directing more than $70
million towards public schools, colleges, and
African American institutions.
Hannah G. Solomon founded the National Council of Jewish
Women and helped pioneer social reform
efforts that improved the lives of women, children, and
immigrants throughout this country.
And today, we continue to see extraordinary
courage from people like Chicago-born Rachel
Goldberg Polin, whose advocacy followed the
abduction and eventual murder of her son, Hersh, after the
October 7th Hamas attacks, has inspired people
around the world with her strength, dignity, and moral
clarity.
These stories remind us that Jewish American history is not
separate from Chicago's history, but it is woven into
it.
But as we celebrate, we must also confront a painful
reality. Antisemitism is rising in
deeply alarming levels. Across our country and here
in Chicago, Jewish residents are facing harassment,
threats, and violence simply because they are Jewish.
That is unacceptable. The fight against
antisemitism is not just a Jewish issue,
it's a moral issue. When hate targets one community,
it threatens every community. So, as we honor Jewish
American Heritage Month, let us do more than celebrate history.
Let us recommit ourselves to standing against
antisemitism in all its forms, and to ensuring
that every Chicagoan can live openly, proudly,
and safely in our city. Thank you, and happy Jewish
American Heritage Month to everyone.
Thank you. Thank you very much, Alderwoman Silverstein.
The chair recognizes Alderman Lawson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to
support this resolution, and I want to thank my colleague, Alderwoman Silverstein,
for bringing it forward. I would like to have Lakeview East
added to the cultural important neighborhoods for our Jewish
community, an area that I'm so proud to represent.
I have many friends that are in the box, and of course, Rabbi Conover
is a Lake Shore Drive
rabbi. So,
I just also wanted to acknowledge the increasing antisemitism,
which has not stopped as other hate crimes have gone down.
The other targeted community is gay men.
And we have to find ways to work together that are specific to address
antisemitism, to address anti-gay hate, and all of those
others. And so, I know we have partners throughout this room, throughout this city,
in doing that, and we all stand together while celebrating our diversity in our
communities that make us great, especially our great Jewish community.
So thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Professor Silverstein.
Thank you, Alderman Lawson. Chair recognizes Alderwoman Lee.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. President. I, too, rise in support of this resolution.
I love the month of May. We get to celebrate so much, and I love that Asian
American Heritage Month is the same month as Jewish American Heritage Month,
because I get to talk about a couple of my favorite topics, food
and games.
Mahjong, which we share, which is having a moment right now everywhere
else.
And
wontons and kreplach, right? So our love of meat that's wrapped
in dough and served in soup.
All joking aside, though, we share so much more culturally.
Our communities share so much in terms of the struggles that we've had,
both in coming to this country, preserving our
culture, which is so important to all of us,
and
our focus on family and education, and
ensuring that our communities continue to thrive no matter what.
So it is really an honor for me to stand here before you in support of
this resolution, and to stand with you as
antisemitism is on the rise. We know that hate in all
forms is terrible, and I thank you for your support, especially during the
times during COVID, especially, when the rise in anti-Asian hate was
happening. You stood with us, and I appreciate that.
Thank you for all that you do, for every single member in the box here, for what
you do every day for the Jewish American community. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Alderwoman Lee. Alderman Lampada.
Thank you so much. I am
very proud to rise in support of this resolution.
As I was walking
down the hall of council yesterday, where we have these
wonderful photos and exhibits of Jewish Americans and their
contributions to our city
I saw Maurice Sendak, and of course, what is pictured is Where the
Wild Things Are. But the book of his that has been most
influential in my family is actually one called Brundibar.
Are there folks here who know?
Okay, I see you nodding. So this is a book that is based off
of a children's opera
that was originally written in the 1930s.
It was
mostly
originally performed in a concentration camp by children,
most of whom perished during the Holocaust.
But it was refound in the United States
through a children's book, as retold by Tony
Kushner with illustrations by Sendak.
I
found it at a used bookstore reading with my daughter, and she could
not stop
talking about it. Like everything from Kushner and
Sendak, it is deeply wonderful, has a
wonderful strangeness to it, but is so beautiful.
And what I love most about it is,
as has been taught to me by
most of my friends in the Jewish community, a deep sense of empathy,
a deep sense of community, and a deep prevailing sense of
justice. And to have a book that is so accessible
that I can share with my daughters, that has lessons still to teach to
me,
is profoundly important to me. And so I'm
grateful for all of these contributions and how they still live with
us. And to bring in the Chicago connection, the first performance
of the Sendak
Kushner version of this was actually by the Chicago Opera Theater
in 2003. It's a marvelous history.
It's a marvelous book for adults and children, and I would encourage
everyone to check this out. But thank you again to all of you and for
this resolution. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. Alderman Knudson.
Thank you, Mr. President.
You're welcome.
I also stand in strong support of this resolution.
I want to say that I have the honor of representing a really strong Jewish
community on the Near North Side in Lincoln Park and the Gold Coast.
I want to give a special thanks to someone in the box because she's our constant
partner on so much. Jane, you're amazing.
You're so helpful to both me and my office in trying
to solve issues fast and really look into the future on how we can make our
community a more positive place to live for all people, including
Jewish people. I want to give a shout-out because I think it's really cool that in
the resolution, we are talking about Sid Luckman.
In the 43rd Ward, we have a resident who is 100
years old as of last year, Marv Levy.
Marv was the longtime coach of the Kansas City Chiefs,
and he appeared in four Super Bowls and won 11 playoff games.
Marv comes to our community meetings still when we have
them in the lakefront, and I want to give Marv a huge shout-out as
well as his wife, Fran, because I think whereas the legacy lives
mostly in Kansas City, we really honor him in Chicago for being a
43rd Ward resident. So with that, I just want to say to the
box and anyone listening that
you have my commitment to continue to pass and look into legislation like the
Stop Hate Littering ordinance that we passed now over a year
ago to try to hit back and reduce hate speech of all kinds in our
city, especially the rise in antisemitism.
So I thank you all for being here today and for being our constant
partners.
Thank you.
Both teams, the Chiefs and the Buffalo. It's fine. We get it.
All the sports fans are... He did coach for the Chiefs,
but the Super Bowls, of course. All right.
The chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.
Thank you, Mr. President, and good morning, members of the City Council, and good
morning to our guests.
I rise as well in support of this resolution,
but it's very difficult to do so
when we're in a room that intends to
call for the release of someone who was
convicted of trying to throw Molotov cocktails at
Israeli soldiers in Israel.
This same body that is standing with the Jewish
community now
is going to stand with their adversaries in two hours.
Which side of the mouth are we speaking out of today?
What is truly going on
in this room?
Because in this building,
yes, we talk about we stand with the Jewish community.
Yes, we're proud of and appreciative of their
contributions, but yet we simultaneously will also whitewash a
report that single-handedly describes the fact that
Jewish hate crime, antisemitism, is on the rise
58% year over year.
But yet we want to equate it, dilute it, and say it's no better,
no worse than any other one else's hate crimes.
That is a fallacy, ladies and gentlemen.
And if you are truly going to stand with the Jewish community, then you need to
understand, appreciate, and say with as loud a voice as you can that they are
being targeted specifically in this
city.
If you can't commit to saying that when we see time and time again
our own commissions are proving that, our own dashboards are
proving that,
and we would rather push out a public servant than publish the
truth in this building,
you can't tell me that you're here to celebrate the Jewish
community.That
the devil is a liar,
and we're exposing that
by having this conversation now.
Because if you truly believe that our Jewish brothers and
sisters
are positive contributors to our community, and every community,
even all the way down on the Southwest Side by me,
where we have one of the lone Black synagogues in Chicago Lawn,
where I've had Holocaust victims
who remember fondly back in the yards coming back from Austria
when they were liberated,
then we need to be real
and truly commit ourselves to stating that if
we are going to recognize you, if we are going to value you,
then we better damn well start defending you.
And that lip service, sadly,
isn't unique.
We talk about helping youth
and turn a blind eye as they're causing madness in our
city. We talk about
the duplicity of these resolutions.
But I, for one, Mr. President,
know that I can stand up with a clear conscience
and look every single one here today in the face knowing that I have
stood up with them when everyone else tried to make scapegoats out of all of them,
when they would rather attack our colleague and bring people in to
intimidate her from over the bench that separates us.
We can do better.
And yes, there are remarkable people listed and many more that are not.
But if we truly wish to honor a community,
then we need to stop playing games, stop pretending that we actually
care in this building when we're pushing people out who are trying to raise the
alarms about what's going on. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. Alderwoman Clay.
Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. I, too, rise in support of this
resolution. I have the esteemed privilege of having two
amazing synagogues in my ward, Temple Shalom and Anshe
Emet. Rabbi Shoshana, who was here earlier giving our
invocation, is one of my personal
heroes.
That woman has instilled so much power into me
on so many levels. Before I got into this role, she sat me down.
She said, "Are you sure?"
And I said, "I'm sure." And after that, the partnership has been
amazing. Because of our Jewish brothers and sisters, we have a
community that is so multifaceted.
When we were dealing with so many issues three years ago, they were the first to
open their doors and say, "How can I help?" And because of that, we have had a
community grow. We've had an amazing
diverse business. They have been super
inspirational in making sure that our businesses are flourishing, and also
just making sure that our young people have access.
They have some great, amazing
opportunities for our young people to learn and grow all over our city.
So I just wanted to say thank you so much for your contributions, and I'm so proud
to represent you in the 46th Ward.
Thank you. Alderman Robinson.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I rise also
to support this resolution. I want to thank
Alderwoman Silverstein
for recognizing Mercy Hospital.
Many of you know that Mercy Hospital was on the brink of closure.
June 1st will mark five years
that we were able to save that hospital, and I want to thank, again, Alderman
Silverstein and the Jewish community
for its investment in healthcare
and
making sure that everyone was able to receive quality healthcare.
There's someone that's very special to me, Mr.
Mayor, that's in the box today that I would like to recognize.
John Oppenheimer, who turned 80
last month could not be with us today.
But his wife, who is a dear, dear friend of mine, is in the box today,
and I just want to recognize Anne Oppenheimer.
Anne, good to see you.
And thank you for your continued support.
Thank you. Are there any other alders that wish to speak to this resolution?
Very well. Again, thank you to all of the
individuals who have shown up this morning and now
close to this afternoon. I do want to just shout out some of the names that
are with us. Thank you again for Rabbis Soroka
and Mark Weiner,
Eileen Adler, Fannie Marks, Saron Jane,
Eric Sedler, Sarah Block, Natalie, Dan,
Annie, Danielle, Jessica, Jan Swords, Sandy,
Allison Pereslavin,
Yosi Held,
and of course to our entire Jewish American community that call
Chicago their home.
This body and this council speaks favorably for this resolution,
as do I.
As we know, Chicago is home to a very proud and
vibrant Jewish American community that have made indelible
contributions to our city and to help make this city the
global epicenter as it is today. Their influence can be seen throughout
our city through the arts, world-renowned institutions,
museums, restaurants.
Our city is made better due to the indelible contributions that have made
its contributions, again, in our economy, science, of course government,
that have all touched every single corner of our city.I do want to recognize and
thank Alderwoman Deborah Silverstein and all of our Jewish Americans
who represent our city at the various levels of government.
It is important to come together to celebrate our Jewish American community
because it allows us to reflect on not just the hardships of the
past, but looking forward to a brighter future.
With the rise of antisemitism and violence against Jewish people, we must stand
together to advocate for and protect our Jewish communities.
By celebrating and recognizing the contributions of Jewish Americans,
it is important to keep the vibrant history, culture, and traditions of our Jewish
community thriving for generations to come.
And with that,
Chair recognizes Alderwoman
Harris for the passage of this resolution in the
omnibus.
Mr. President, I move these in an omnibus.
Hearing no objections, so ordered. Thank you all.
This is terrific. You may be seated.
As the box empties
with our resolution honorees, we do have just a couple of
more to go, so hang in there with us.
But our third resolution
is honoring our Asian American Pacific
Islander,
as we celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Alderwoman Manaa Hoppenworth has asked to open our
remarks for this resolution, and then Alderwoman Lee
has requested to provide the closing remarks.
And with that, the chair recognizes Alder Manaa Hoppenworth.
Thank you.
Good morning, Mr. President.
Good morning.
Esteemed colleagues, special guests, and to
all today's honorees and your families.
As one of two, half of the Asian
caucus, with Chair Nicole Lee, it's an honor to
stand here today to celebrate Asian American, Native
Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the city of
Chicago.
And I think one of the most important things that we can remember is that
the AANHPI community is incredibly diverse.
So we have a lot to celebrate today, and I thank you all for being
here. We are a massive mosaic of
immigration and refugee stories, made up of dozens of
countries and 50 distinct ethnic groups who
speak well over 100 different languages.
We are multi-generational Chicagoans, healthcare
workers, teachers, organizers, entrepreneurs,
artists, public servants, and small business owners,
and we are deeply woven into the story of this
city.
Today, we are honoring Asian Americans who work often,
happens quietly behind the scenes in neighborhoods, community
centers, schools, churches, cafes, and organizing meetings.
And we did honor Amisha Patel earlier.
I want to also say that her generosity, all of her work,
especially with the Grassroots Collaborative, inspired me.
All of the work that she has done through Alternatives for
Policing, Treatment Not Trauma. I don't think that anyone here
has not been touched by her work, so I want to honor her today, too.
I had the pleasure of highlighting several of our honorees today, and
I want to first start out with Sari Lee.
There she is. Hey.
So Sari has been organizing all of their life
around social justice issues, including abortion rights,
unions, and more. And I want
to point out that during Operation Midway Blitz, when many
immigrant families across Chicago were living in fear and
uncertainty, Asian American community leaders such as
Sari stepped up as a deputy organizing director of
One North Side, and with other mutual aid groups.
They organized know your rights trainings, helped families prepare
emergency plans, coordinated rapid response
teams block by block to verify ICE sightings, and
support impacted residents. They made sure seniors
and families still had groceries, medication, and trusted people
were checking in on them.
And relational organizing work does not make headlines
every day,
but it matters deeply, and it reflects something that we've seen
over and over again in our neighborhoods when people are scared.
Community organizers such as Sari help restore
calmProvide clarity and strengthens
our resolve. So thank you, Sari. Please,
thank you for all you do, and please let's give her a round of applause.
Thank you.
We also honor Dr. Kumar Ramanathan, who
is not only a volunteer leader at One Northside and Asian
Americans Advancing Justice Chicago, but is also a
political scientist at University of Illinois,
Chicago, my alma mater.
His research challenges the tired stereotype that immigrant communities
are politically disengaged. In fact, his
work confirms something many of us already know from lived experience.
Immigrants care deeply about democracy and civic life.
His research found that even non-citizens participate in their communities
at rates equal to citizens in many spaces,
organizing, volunteering, advocating for neighbors, and showing up for their
communities in meaningful ways.
And I think it's important to recognize that civic participation is not
limited to voting alone.
It's people like Dr. Ramanathan helping shape the future of their
neighborhoods every single day. Thank you, Dr.
Ramanathan, and thank you for being here today.
We honor Andrea Chu.
Not only is she the Midwest organizing director of Asian
Americans Advancing Justice Chicago, Andrea's
also founded Chicago Asian Americans for
Environmental Justice, the only Asian
American organization in the Midwest focused on climate and
environmental issues. Because no matter who you are
or where you live, environmental justice affects all of us.
The air we breathe, the transportation we rely on, the health of our neighborhoods,
and the future generations who will inherit this city.
Andrea Chu, you understand how deeply
representation matters in those conversations.
Thank you for not giving up on the strength of our diversity
across languages, geographies, and
generations. Thank you, Andrea.
We honor another from the great 48th,
Hina Mohammad.
A neighborhood mom of public school kids, supporter of the
arts and all things local. She's also the executive
director of the Illinois Accountability Commission, whose
leadership helped document the impact of federal immigration enforcement
across Chicagoland and Illinois.
Former Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino summed up the
federal approach to Operation Midway Blitz in saying, "We are going to
turn and burn.
We are going to go throughout Chicago with reckless abandon."
The commission's findings raised serious concerns about racial profiling,
excessive force, and the broader harm these operations cause to
families and communities, including fear that kept people from going to work,
school, or doctor's appointments.
Hina's statewide work on accountability reminds us that every person, no
matter who they are or where they came from, deserves dignity
and due process. Thank you, Hina, for your ongoing work to
protect human rights, and thank you for being here
today.
My final spotlight is for Iman Bien.
With her father, she helped found Chinese Mutual Aid Association more
than four decades ago to support refugees and immigrant
families arriving in Chicago. That work began in Uptown
in the 48th Ward and continues across the city today through
housing, workforce development, education, and social services.
CMAA has helped thousands of immigrant and refugee families
build stability and opportunity here in Chicago,
and that legacy says something really powerful about this city.
That so many people who arrived here looking for support
eventually became the people providing support to
others.
That is our Chicago story. Thank you.
Thank you, Iman, for being here, and thank you for Ria
also for leading the helm at CMAA today.
As the first Filipino to serve in this chamber, I know how meaningful
representation can be, but it is not where we
stop. It is not enough. What matters is what
we do with that representation, how we open doors for
others, how we build trust across communities, how we protect
people when they are vulnerable, and how we'll continue creating a city where
everyone feels like they belong. So today, during
AANHPI Heritage Month, I hope we celebrate not only
culture and history and food and coffee,
but we also celebrate the service of organizers and
advocates of immigrant families who helped strengthen the city for
generations. To all of today's honorees, thank you for your
leadership, your compassion, and your commitment to
Chicago, and happy AA and HPI
Heritage Month. Thank you.
Are there any other alders that wish to speak to this resolution?
The chair recognizes Alderman Sigcho-Lopez.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. President, and members of the City Council.
I do also like to rise in support of this important
resolution
Recognizing the heritage of many
Chicagoans across the country, I'm proud to rise in
support of this resolution honoring Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and
Pacific Islander, the heritage month of people who make us proud
every day. As a
former representative of the Chinatown area, I tell you, it made me extremely proud
to see the only Chinatown in the country that continues to grow
because of the leadership of many people in this box.
I am extremely grateful for the support and the contributions
to our city that make us proud, from railroads
to the beautiful culinary art and the many
contributions of many leaders in our community as small business
owners, and many people who make our city proud every single day.
As someone who has children, triplets, who also share that
heritage, I tell you,
it couldn't make me more proud to see so many beautiful people here today
and the many that make us proud. It is the largest eastern community with
the fastest growing population in our city.
Something to be proud, celebrate, and continue to support. Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you, Alderman. The chair recognizes Alder Vasquez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I also rise proudly in support of the
resolution recognizing Asian American Pacific Islander Month.
As
the 40th Ward, we try really hard to enter into the Asian caucus.
As far as our population, we've worked through the remap to grow.
Very proud to have Chinese Mutual Aid Association and Japanese
American Service Committee in the 40th Ward,
but even more proud of the partnership in this moment.
I think we all know what it feels like when we have families come into this
country that is viewed and othered, and the amount of work we all have to
put in just to be considered some level of equal,
and then to have the weight of the model minority myth put on all of us and
having to live up to it.
It's so much of a weight to carry just to have our children have a better life than
we do. And so when I think about everyone that I've had the opportunity to partner
with in the community, especially in the moment where the federal government is
actively attacking all of us,
I am incredibly grateful for all the work being done, not only in making sure our
city government is working well, but that we're doing everything possible to hold
the federal government accountable, and that we're making sure we're protecting our
neighbors who need it the most. It is
an unfortunate and real opportunity that when we're all under attack, we can all
come together. And so I thank you so much for that partnership
because everything you do at every stage, whether it's opening up a business or
just talking to your next door neighbor, it means so much.
And as much as we have challenges that we're going to endure together, I'm glad
that we're able to do that together. So thank you all so much. Thank you, Mr.
President.
You're welcome. Alderwoman Clay.
Thank you so much, Mr. President. This is
extremely meaningful to me because there are so many-- I think
everybody in the box, I know, on a different level.
Because in certain parts of my life, whether it's Hina Mahmoud, who
met a young, ambitious 15-year-old who asked a ton
of questions,
who would always say, "Angela, you advocate for
yourself.
Angela, you stand up for yourself.
Angela, you will be somebody." And I'm on this council floor
speaking to one of the women who have made my life
immeasurable.
Kumar, who has done so much for me outside
of here, because I'm on my city time,
has been an amazing neighbor in the 46th Ward and has used his voice
to go above and beyond for our community,
right?
Asian Americans Advancing Justice, everybody who touches that
organization is super special. One Northside is
home. Home. I hope you all hear that.
I also want to recognize the contributions of
one of my mentors, Mabel Bernard. There are two folks here who are
representing. Bethel, can you stand up so my good people can see you back
there? Mabel Bernard was an
instrumental piece of my work as a young person.
When I was 20 years old, this woman took me to the top of the
Sears Tower and said, "All of this can be yours if you work with
community."
She had an amazing vision for our city, and she was
impeccable to the life of our Asian American brothers in
this city. So I just want to say thank you and appreciate you for being here
and carrying her legacy. To you all in the box, thank you for
doing this hard work with us. Thank you for being family.
Thank you for being community. This is legit what we strive for,
is to have people doing the hard work and have leaders making sure that they
represent you. So thank you so much. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you. You're welcome. The chair recognizes Alderwoman Ramirez.
Hello. Good afternoon to everybody in the box.
I'm lucky enough to have the best seatmate in Alderwoman Lee.
She's a mentor to me. She's the chairwoman of the Women's Caucus,
and so she's a great leader in representing what we're
celebrating today. And so in her leadership, I'm so glad that we're
able to work together. Our maps, we're closely
in proximity. We have Chinatown right east of
us. And in our ward, in the 12th Ward, we're a majority
Mexican Hispanic ward. But we've seen throughout the past five to 10 years
that a lot of folks in Chinatown nearby are actually coming to the 12th
Ward. So it's important for me to work alongside so many of you in the box,
alongside Alderwoman Lee, about sharing cultures and
being folks that are inviting.
Last year and this year, for the Lunar New Year parade that
happens in the 12th Ward, we actually incorporated Ballet
FolklóricoWhich is a traditional Mexican dance alongside the
traditions of Chinese culture. And I hope that we can continue doing that,
sharing culture, inviting folks to come into the 12th Ward
as new neighbors. And then also along Archer Avenue, we have
two new businesses. We have an anime store that just opened
within the past couple months, and a convenience store, Fung Bao.
And so I bought a bunch of treats for the 12th Ward office for us to share.
And so I'm so glad to be doing this work with all of you, and especially with
Alderwoman Lee. Thank you so much.
Thank you. Are there any other alders that wish to speak to this
resolution before, or we pass it to Alderwoman Lee to
close? Very well. Seeing no hands, the chair recognizes Alderwoman
Lee.
Thank you, Mr. President.
You're welcome.
And thank you all for being here today as we
celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage
Month here in the city of Chicago. I'm so proud to stand here as the first Asian
American woman to represent on the City Council, and the first woman
ever to represent the 11th Ward, home to Chinatown, my home
neighborhood, and generations of immigrant families who've helped to build this
city. I'm especially honored to welcome several
extraordinary community leaders who are with us today.
When I call your name, please stand, then sit back down.
I've worked you all into my speech.
I don't have individual things for everybody.
So Tuan Nguyen of Viet Five Coffee.
Viet Five Coffee in the 34th Ward. I'll give you a plug, Bill.
Viet Five Coffee. Go get some if you haven't had it. If you know, you know.
Karen Chu from Project Vision.
Rea Yap from Chinese Mutual Aid Association.
And from the Chinese American Service League, Paul Liu and Thi Nguyen.
These leaders represent something important about our AA and NHPI
communities in Chicago. We are not one story.
We're many stories, many languages, many cultures, many
immigrant journeys, many generations, all making our
lives here in America.
And yet across those differences, there's a shared belief in community and family
and hard work and making sure that the next generation has opportunities better
than the last. I especially want to recognize Tuan Nguyen, my
friend, and the work that he's done through Viet Five Coffee.
His story is one of resilience, redemption, and deep respect
for his Vietnamese heritage.
Through his business, he's created opportunities for returning citizens and members
of the disability community.
He's actually been awarded several prizes for this as well,
proving that entrepreneurship can also be a vehicle for dignity, second
chances, and inclusion.
His work reminds us that success is not just measured by profit, but
by how many people you lift up along the way. Thanks a lot, Tuan.
Organizations like Project Vision, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, and the Chinese
American Service League support people at every stage of life, from new immigrants
learning English and navigating city services, to working families
seeking childcare and healthcare, to seniors aging with dignity and connection.
Their work reaches far beyond Chinatown.
They serve families across Chicago and across ethnicities, across
generations, and across neighborhoods.
In fact, Chinese American Service League serves clients in all 50
Chicago wards.
Chinese Mutual Aid Association celebrated a 45th anniversary today.
I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge Min Vien
as well. I happen to be a board member of Chinese Mutual Aid for many years and
actually served as its executive director for a short time.
So I am also here because of Chinese Mutual Aid Association.
And today, this council has an opportunity to match words with action.
Later today, we're going to pass a first-of-its-kind ordinance to disaggregate
Asian American data within programs in the Department of Family and Support
Services and the Chicago Department of Public Health.
And thank you to Chinese American Service League, AAAJ, and other
organizations that helped to shepherd this ordinance forward.
We are going to begin to disaggregate data so that we can
show where the needs are in our community, that we are not monolithic
within the Asian American community.
This matters because we can't serve people properly
if the data renders us invisible, and we're here to be seen.
When we lump dozens of ethnicities and languages into a single category, we
miss disparities, we miss needs, and we miss
people. We're also going to advance
today more than a million dollars in support for transformational
affordable housing,
led by AAPNAGR. I know they're not in the box, but they are
in the room, and I thank them so much for all the work that they've done, and its
partners for creating 100% affordable housing for survivors of domestic violence
and gender-based violence. This project
reflects another truth about our communities.
Dignity and safety matter.
Survivors deserve stable housing, culturally competent support, and the
opportunity to rebuild their lives.
These actions are about more than celebration.
They're about recognition, investment, and inclusion.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities have helped shape
Chicago for generations as small business owners, healthcare workers,
laborers, educators, public servants,
artists, organizers, and neighbors.
Our communities continue to grow, continue to contribute, and continue to believe
in the promise of this city. So this AA and NHPI Heritage Month,
let's celebrate the richness of our diversity of our communities
and ensure that we are working together to build Chicago as a better city for
all of us to live in. Thank you very much. This is historic.
We've never had Asian American legislation like this, two in one day.
And to all of you, thank you for all that you do.
Thank you.And thank you to all of the
alders who have spoken favorably towards this
resolution. Again, to Siri Lee, Dr.
Kumar, Andrea Chu, Hina Yaman Veen,
Tuan Tuan Huynh, Paul Lu, Thai Nguyen,
Ree Yap, Karen Chiu, and all the individuals that are
with us today joining to celebrate
the Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Chicago is certainly home to a very proud and vibrant
AANHPI community.
Culture, tradition, history have greatly contributed to the
fabric of our beloved city. They have achieved greatness across many
fields and are making great strides in every level of government, both
here in Chicago and really across the entire country.
I do want to recognize again and thank both of our alderpersons, Nicole
Lee and Mana Hoppenworth, and all of our Asian American and
Pacific Islanders who represent our city at various levels of government.
Our city is what it is today because of our diversity and the
incredible rich mixture of culture and traditions that together have made
Chicago a truly welcoming global city.
So this month and every month, let us continue to come together to celebrate and
uplift and support our AANHPI community, and
embrace our shared humanity that defines, of course, the great soul
of Chicago. Thank you all again. And with that, I ask
Alderwoman Harris for the passage of this
resolution in the omnibus.
Mr. President, I move the passage in the omnibus.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Congratulations you all.
Wow. Well, thank you. We are down to our final resolution, so as
these incredible
honorees depart the box, we will prepare for our
final resolution this
city council, and it's a resolution honoring
Haitian American Heritage Month.
Very
well. For this resolution,
Alderman Yancey has requested to have opening remarks.
And if there are any other alders that wish to speak to this resolution,
just please lift your hand and I will recognize you.
Very well. The chair recognizes Alderman Yancey.
Thank you, Mr. President.
To the City Council and distinguished guests, it is my honor to recognize May
2026 as Haitian American Heritage Month,
along with members of the Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus.
The 15-year Haitian Revolution, which ended in 1804, made Haiti the
first sovereign state in the Caribbean, only the second republic in the
Americas, and the first country in the Americas to officially abolish slavery, and
the only country in history established by a slave revolt.
May 18th is
Haitian Flag Day and a constant reminder of Haiti's story, which begins with
revolution and lives with the resolve and resilience of her people. Viva Haiti.
Thank you very much, Alderman Yancey.
The chair recognizes Alderman Ronnie Mosley.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Haitians
community impact on Chicago is nothing new.
It's in fact woven into our city's foundation and
still present today.
Let me share with you just some of the ways that it shows up in our
21st Ward. I know John Claude, the owner of
Leores Cafe, and Business Commissioner of
SSA 45 is present with us.
Mayor, I think you will agree, the best oxtails-
... in the city of Chicago,
and the only Haitian dine-in
restaurant on Chicago's South Side.
It shows up with Pauline, who's here, who every day
she leads youth engagement in the 21st Ward.
And after hours, she is an entrepreneur
bringing forth Max Candles that's lighting the way, and you can take
some of that light home with you todayAlso, I want
to give a shout-out to Lizzie G., who does a lot of
anti-bullying
campaigns throughout our schools in the 21st Ward, and
Fonzie and Gerald of Boudreaux Gallery and
Architectural.
So today, City Council, we are honoring and celebrating a
heritage that is rooted in resilience and excellence,
and I want to say thank you to the Haitian community
for that foundation. I also want to say thank
you to our Illinois Attorney General, Kwame
Raoul,
who through his excellence, has ensured
that our state has maintained over $8
billion
to make sure that vital services and resources are still
here in our city. So thank you for this world-class City
of Chicago. Thank you for your resolute spirit,
and may it continue on with us each and every day forward.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. Alderwoman Harris.
Thank you, Mr. President. I, too, rise to be associated with this resolution.
Today, I want to thank everybody who's sitting in the box for your
contribution. Again, as Alderman Mosley said,
it's historic for us. So today, I have my good friend sitting in the
box, Paul Montes,
who is fighting so hard for the Jean Baptiste
DuSable Park. So, I want to hope that we can continue to move
that project forward. We've been working on it for eight years
now. Seems like a lot longer, but eight years now we've been working on
this. And I want to thank Alderman Moore for, again, being
that person who has taken
the lead on starting that project when it really began, so
appreciate his. And then Fonzie and Gerald, again, I want to thank them,
and I want to thank the huge population of
Haitian residents that live in the Eighth Ward, in the Burnside community.
They are fabulous. They continue to be an integral part of that
community and the wind beneath my
feet. So, I thank you all today, and God continue to bless you.
Thank you, Alderwoman. Alderman Robinson.
Mr. Mayor, thank you. I also rise to support
this resolution. I was pleasantly surprised, Mr.
Mayor, to walk into my ward office and to have a
book there, Haitians in Chicago.
I would like to
ask that my colleagues please check out this
book, Haitians in Chicago. It gives a great history of our
city and the connection to the Haitian community.
We certainly know that our founding father who
created Chicago and
has allowed us to be able to be the greatest city in the
world.
With all of the disconnect that is coming from our
nation,
I think it's important, Mr. Mayor, that Chicago
continues to support and honor the Haitian community.
There would be no Chicago without our
brothers and sisters that are from
Haiti, and so I want to thank you all for
continuing to be
excellent, continuing to make sure that history
be told here in the City of Chicago and the nation.
Thank you very much.
Thank you. You're welcome. Alderman Moore.
Thank you,
Mr. President. I stand definitely in support of this resolution.
As it was stated, no Chicago without Jean
Baptiste Point DuSable. No business district without Jean Baptiste
Point DuSable and the leadership of the Haitian community.
For the sake of time, I am so proud of
my brother, my friend,
Ronnie Simeon, high school alum, Mosley.
He said it all and spoke very well. It touches my heart when I
hear
young men like that speak, and so I just echo everything that he
has said. And then just want to give a special
shout-out to the consul general. Thank you so much for all that you're
doing to uplift Haiti. And to my friends in Chicago here, and
I have many, but the main two for me that's always uplifting
throughout this
city, Patrick Brutus and Cindy Montes, thank you so much.
I love you both, and let's continue
to push. And I have to give back to Lior's,
and thank you for bringing that great restaurant.
I was there for the pre-opening, and I haven't been back because of my schedule,
but I will get back, and Ronnie Mosley going to treat me. God bless you.
All right.
For incoming OIG, it's under $25.
Chair recognizes Alderwoman Coleman.
Thank you, Mr. President. As the proud
chair of the Black Caucus, I say, "Sak pase."
Yeah.
I was so honored to join you, our consulate general, as well
as the other dignitaries of so many organizations that were
represented on to Monday.
Monday, for the flag-raising ceremony.
While it rained a little bit on our parade, certainly it was
such a historic moment, and I know that Alderman
Yancey and the rest of the Black Caucus, Alderman Mosley, as well as Moore,
and all of us a part of the Black Caucus will ensure that we will
continue on the tradition so that thousands will
see the pride that we have for Haitian
Heritage Month. I'm so sorry I missed the
oxtails, collard
greensmacaroni on last
week for the reception, but certainly we know that
this community not only makes us proud, but
it's making the 21st Ward proud, and Alderman Mosley.
As an honorary daughter of Haiti, thank you, Cindy Newman,
for that honor. I am just so delighted and look forward
to continuing on congratulating this community.
And on behalf of the Black Caucus and City of Chicago, I
say: "Mande beni Chicago,
mande beni Haiti." God bless you all, and God bless Chicago.
Thank you.
Alderwoman Dowell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I, too, want to be brief and
stand with this resolution. I just want to congratulate the
Haitian community on Haitian Heritage Month.
I acknowledge and celebrate your proud and
rich history in the City of Chicago, and across the world,
actually. And I just want to also acknowledge Paul
Montes, and my friend and former
work
buddy in the Department of Planning and Development, Patrick Brutus.
Today is a great day to honor the population and the
community, and congratulations. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Alderwoman Dowell.
Are there any other alders that wish to speak to this resolution?
Very well. Seeing no other hands, again, we want to thank our Consul General for
being here today, Haiti,
Jean-Joseph Liane. Thank you, Patrick Brutus, for your leadership,
Cindy, Jean-Claude Arielle, Brandon from Lyor's
Cafe,
Pauline, Claude, Rolande, Uremara, all of the
individuals who are in the box, we thank you.
This body has done an incredible job celebrating and honoring
Haitian Heritage Month. Chicago would not be the city that it is today,
with all of its glory, without the individual that established this beloved city,
this trading post that became the global capital of the world.
And so we are proud of the vibrant Haitian American community
that continues to play an important role in every single corner of our
city as community leaders, every industry,
at the local level of government, every level of government, business leaders,
entrepreneurs, of course, organizers.
There are communities, of course, that are
often left in fear because of
the immigration enforcement,
and it's been unjust.
But the Haitian community has stood strong, even after being
berated by the President of the United States of America, spreading evil and
vicious lies against an incredible group of people that have
established a long history and tradition of revolution
throughout this globe. And so on behalf of the City of Chicago, we will
continue to come together and celebrate and lift you up to ensure
that the legacy of liberation through
the lens of Haitians will live on. So this month, and quite frankly
every month, let us continue to embrace our Haitian
siblings and, of course, our shared humanity.
And so thank you very much. And with that, Alderwoman Harris, I would ask
for a motion for the passage of this resolution in the omnibus.
Mr. President, I move this resolution in the omnibus.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Well, this was great. I know this was a lengthy
resolutions and acknowledgments, but it's important that as a city we continue
to celebrate the vibrancy of our city, which our people play
an incredible role in doing that.
With that, I would ask Alderwoman Harris for a motion to
return to the regular order of business.
Mr. President, I move that we return to the regular order of business.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Chair recognizes Alderman Hall.
Very well. Madam Clerk, could you please add Alderman Hall to the
regular quorum roll call?
Are there any other members that wish to be added?
The chair recognizes Alderwoman Fuentes.
And I would also like to be added to the purposes of-
Very well. Thank you, Madam Clerk, could you add Alder Fuentes to the roll call?
Alder Robinson.
Very well, Alder Robinson would like to be added to the roll call. Alderman O'Shea.
Thank you. Madam Clerk, please add Alderman O'Shea as well.
Are there any other alders that missed roll call and would like to be added?
Very well. Seeing no other hands, thank you all for your patience today.
Next up, communications.
Communications from His Honor, the Mayor, to the Honorable, the City Council of the
City of Chicago. Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of Corporation Council, I
transmit herewith an ordinance amending the municipal code regarding social media
amusement tax. Your favorable consideration of this ordinance would be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor. Referred to the Committee on Finance.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of Chief Financial Officer, I transmit
herewith an ordinance authorizing the approval of ownership transfer pursuant to
the Chicago Metered Parking System Concession Agreement.
Your favorable consideration of this ordinance would be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor. Referred to the Committee on Finance.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of Chief Financial Officer, I transmit
herewith an ordinance authorizing the appointment of a successor servicer and
execution of Agreement of Assignment, Acceptance, Consent relating to the City
Council Assessment Improvement Bonds Refunding Series
2022-Lake Shore East Project. Your favorable consideration of this ordinance would
be appreciated. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor.
Referred to the Committee on Finance.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of Commissioner of Housing, I transmit
herewith an ordinance authorizing the issuance of financial assistance for the
development of Abrams International Village Project.
Your favorable consideration of this ordinance would be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor.
Referred to the Committee on Finance.Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the
Commissioner of Planning and Development, I transmit herewith ordinances
authorizing the execution of intergovernmental agreements with the Chicago Board of
Education to provide TIF funds for improvements at specified schools.
Your favorable consideration of these ordinances will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor. Referred to the Committee on Finance.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Planning and
Development, I transmit herewith an ordinance authorizing the execution of
intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Park District to provide TIF funds for
improvement at Madigan Park. Your favorable consideration of this ordinance will be
appreciated. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor.
Referred to the Committee on Finance.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Planning and
Development, I transmit herewith an ordinance authorizing the execution of
redevelopment agreement with Axiom Flame LLC to provide Neighborhood Opportunity
Funds. Your favorable consideration of this ordinance will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor.
Referred to the Committee on Budget and Government Operations.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Planning and
Development, I transmit herewith an ordinance authorizing the execution of 2026
Service Provider Agreement with the Greater Southwest Development Corporation for
Special Service Area Number Three.
Your favorable consideration of this ordinance will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor.
Referred to the Committee on Economic, Capital, and Technology Development.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Planning and
Development, I transmit herewith an ordinance authorizing the execution of Interim
2026 Service Provider Agreement with the Greater Southwest Development Corporation
for Special Service Area 59-2022.
Your favorable consideration of this ordinance will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor.
Referred to the Committee on Economic, Capital, and Technology Development.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Planning and
Development, I transmit herewith an ordinance authorizing Class 7B property tax
incentive for properties located at 2640 and 2646 West
Madison Street. Your favorable consideration of these ordinances will be
appreciated. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor.
Referred to the Committee on Economic, Capital, and Technology Development.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Fleet and Facility
Management, I transmit herewith an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of
management of the property located at 630 West Harrison Street from GH Chicago
LLC. Your favorable consideration of this ordinance will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor.
Referred to the Committee on Housing and Real Estate.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Fleet and Facility
Management, I transmit herewith an ordinance authorizing the execution of a lease
agreement with Logan Square Preservation, a nonprofit corporation,
regarding the city-owned property located at 2420 North Sacramento Avenue.
Favorable consideration of this ordinance will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor.
Referred to the Committee on Housing and Real Estate.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Planning and
Development, I transmit herewith ordinances authorizing the sale of city-owned
lands. Your favorable consideration of these ordinances will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor.
Referred to the Committee on Housing and Real Estate.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Fleet and Facility
Management, I transmit herewith an ordinance authorizing the execution of amended
ground leases for senior housing buildings on North Park Village Campus.
Your favorable consideration of this ordinance will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor.
Referred to the Committee on Housing and Real Estate.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Transportation, I
transmit herewith an ordinance authorizing the establishment of Curbside Electric
Vehicle Charging Station Pilot Program.
Your favorable consideration of this ordinance will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Public Way.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Planning and
Development, I transmit herewith an ordinance amending the Municipal Code regarding
transit-oriented development streets.
Your favorable consideration of these ordinances will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor.
Referred to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have reappointed Walter Schroeder as the member of Chicago
Emergency Telephone System Board for a term effective immediately and expiring July
1st, 2031. Your favorable consideration of this appointment will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor.
Referred to the Committee on Police and Fire.
Ladies and gentlemen, I transmit herewith appointments to various special service
areas. Your favorable consideration of these appointments will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor.
Referred to the Committee on Economic, Capital, and Technology Development.
I, City Clerk Ann Valencia, hereby inform the City Council that the following
documents were filed in my office relating to the respective subjects designated as
followed. Executive Order Number 2026-2, known as Investing in Youth
Leadership to provide community-based peacekeeping and establishing working groups
to develop a peace book program. Amendment Number 6
to Central West Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Project and Plan.
Amendment Number 4 to Pilsen Tax Increment Financing Relevant Project and
Plan. Office of Inspector General's Audit of Department of Finance Management of
Outstanding Debt. Office of Inspector General Audit to the Council Office of
Financial Analysis Report Requirements.
Office of Inspector General's Audit of City Metered Water Billing.
Office of Inspector General of Public Safety Section Follow-up Report regarding
Demographic Impacts of Chicago Police Department's Hiring Process, and the
expression of opposition to proposed zoning and classification of property at 1704
North Milwaukee. I, City Clerk Valencia, inform the City Council that all those
matters which were considered by the City Council at the regular meeting held on
April 15th, 2026, required by statute to be published in
a book or pamphlet form or one or more newspapers, are published in pamphlet form
on May 20th, 2026, by being printed in full text and printed pamphlet copies of the
journal proceedings of the City Council of the City of Chicago.
Issuance of City of Chicago Second Lien Water Revenue Bonds, Project and Refunding
Series 2026. The City Clerk informed the City Council that the ordinance
authorizing the issuance of City of Chicago Second Lien Water Revenue Bonds,
Project and Refunding Series 2026, which were considered by the City Council on
April 15th, 2026, which were requested to be published in pamphlet form, was
published in pamphlet form on April 17th, 2026, by being printed in full text in
special pamphlet, published by authority of the City Council in accordance with the
provisions of Title 2, Chapter 12, Section 50 of the Municipal Code of Chicago as
it passed on July 27th, 1990. I, City Clerk Valencia,
also transmit herewith the following miscellaneous communications and reports
requiring City Council action. The zoning with classification of particular areas
to be referred to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards.
Claims against the City of Chicago referred to the Committee on Finance.
Amendment of ordinance with the reclassified area shown on Map Number 1F at
212-232 West Erie Street,
6.59-679 North Franklin Street, 217 West Huron,
which is referred to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards.
Your Honor, that concludes the reports and communications from the Mayor and other
city officers.
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Alderwoman Rodriguez Sanchez
has requested to participate in today's meeting remotely for
reasons stated in Rule 59.
You able to confirm that she's joined us online?
I'm here, Mr. President.
Very well. Can I get a motion for the participation of Alder? It's been moved.
All those in favor signify by saying "Aye." Any opposed say "Nay." In the opinion
of the chair, the ayes have it. Please add Alderwoman Rodriguez-Sanchez to the
quorum roll call. With that, next up are committee reports.
We'll start with the Finance
Committee. The chair recognizes Chair Dowell.
Thank you, Mr. President and members of the City Council.
Reporting for the City Council's Committee on Finance, which held a committee
meeting on May 18th, 2026, the following
items received a do pass recommendation from the committee.
Item number one is an ordinance amending Section
2-32-085 of the municipal
code regarding the voluntary charitable payroll deductions
program. Mr. President, unless someone wishes to speak on this
item, I move passage of this item by a roll call vote.
Very well. Seeing no hands. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Members, please use your e-vote application to record your vote
at this time.
Oh, the voting is now open. The voting is now open.
Please use your e-device. The voting is now open.
Raise your hand if you need support.
I
will
now call on those that have not used their e-device. Alderman Robinson.
Robinson is a yes. Alderman Hall.
Hall is a yes. Alderwoman Coleman.
Coleman is a yes. Alderwoman Taylor.
Yes.
Taylor is a yes. Alderman Mosley.
Mosley is a yes.
Alderwoman Rodriguez-Sanchez.
Aye.
Rodriguez-Sanchez is a yes. Alderman Gardner.
Gardner is a yes. Alderwoman Clay.
Clay is a yes. Alderwoman Hadden.
Yes.
Hadden is a yes.
All right, the voting is now closed.
Very well. Thank you. There are 50 yays, zero nays.
The matter is passed. Alderman Mitchell on the motion to reconsider.
Mr. President, move to reconsider the vote.
All those in favor of the reconsideration of this vote signify by saying "Aye." Any
opposed say "Nay."
No.
This motion fails. Chairwoman Dowell.
Thank you, Mr. President. Item number two is an ordinance authorizing the
issuance of multifamily program funds for the mixed-use
development 4% project at 3959
North Lincoln Avenue in the 47th Ward, in an
amount not to exceed
$11,007,814. I move
passage of this item by the first most favorable roll call vote on the Committee on
Finance report and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
Hearing no objection, so ordered.
Item number three is an ordinance authorizing the issuance of
multifamily program funds for the mixed-use development
9% project at 3959 North Lincoln
Avenue in the 47th Ward, in an amount not to exceed
$357,186. I move
passage of this item by the same motion.
So ordered.
Item number four is an ordinance authorizing an intergovernmental agreement
with the Chicago Board of Education to provide TIF funds for
improvements at Mollison School at 4415
South King Drive in the 3rd Ward, in the amount not to exceed
$5 million. I move passage of this item by the same motion.
Hearing no objection, so ordered.
Item number five is an ordinance authorizing the first amendment to the
redevelopment agreement with West Side Health Authority to
modify the disbursement structure of tax increment financing
assistance for the Aspire Center project at
5500 West Madison Street in the 29th
Ward, in an amount not to exceed
$12,250,000. I move passage
of this item by the same motion.
Hearing no objection, so ordered.
Item number six is an ordinance authorizing the redevelopment agreement
with the Workshop Arts Collaborative LLC to provide
tax increment financing assistance at 3741
through 49 West Lawrence Avenue in the 33rd
Ward, in an amount not to exceed
$1,550,000. I move passage of
this item by the same motion.
Hearing no objection, so ordered.
Item number seven is an ordinance authorizing the first amendment to the
redevelopment agreement to provide tax increment financing
assistance and the modification of the disbursement structure for
the United Yards 1B project at 4700 South
Ashland Avenue in the 20th Ward, in an amount not to
exceed
$1,813,375.
I move passage of this item by the same motion.
Hearing no objection, so ordered.
Item number eight is an ordinance approving amendment number three to the
redevelopment plan for the Canal Congress tax increment
financing redevelopment project and plan to provide for
the redevelopment of the expanded area in the 28th,
34th and 42nd wards. I move passage of this item
by the same motion.
Hearing no objection, so ordered
Item number nine is an ordinance designating
the expanded Canal Congress Tax Increment Financing
Redevelopment Project Area as a redevelopment project
area pursuant to the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment
Act in the 28th, 34th, and 42nd wards.
I move passage of this item by the same motion.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Item number 10 is an ordinance adopting tax increment
allocation financing for the expanded Canal Congress
Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Project Area in the
28th, 34th, and 42nd wards. I move passage of this
item by the same motion.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Item number 11A is an order authorizing the corporation
council to enter into and execute a settlement order in the
case of Access Living versus City of Chicago,
case number 18CV3399,
in the amount of $2,250,000.
I move passage of this item by the same motion, with the exception of
Alderman Lopez, who wishes to be recorded as voting no on this item.
Hearing no other objections, so ordered.
Item number 11B is an order authorizing the corporation
council to enter into and execute a settlement order in the case
of Jose Gonzalez as special administrator of the estate
of Jose Almanza Martinez, deceased,
versus City of Chicago, Officer Ashton Smiley
and Officer Michael Carrion, case number
24L14052, in the amount of
$3.5 million. I move passage of this item
by the same motion, with the exception of Alderman Quinn,
Lopez, Curtis, Scott, Taliaferro, Villegas,
Sposato, Riley, and Silverstein, who all wish to be recorded
as voting no on this item.
Chair recognizes Alderman Gardner.
I'd like to be recorded as a no as well.
Very well. Please add
Gardner as a no.
Chair recognizes Tabares.
Record it as a no.
Did we already have her name? Tabares. Please add Tabares as a no.
Chair recognizes Alderman Beale.
Record it as a no as well.
Thank you. Please add Alderman Beale as a no. Alderman Chico.
Record as a no, too. Chico, thank you very much.
Alder Napolitano.
I'd like to be recorded as a no, please.
Very well.
The chair recognizes Alderman Cardona.
To be recorded no.
Chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise in opposition
to this settlement
because, as we heard during the finance committee,
the traffic review board found that we had done nothing
wrong. Our officers stopped
pursuit, and yet the
criminal,
the parolee with cocaine and drugs in his car,
continued on for another two blocks,
where he ultimately,
recklessly killed someone.
Our taxpayers should not be on the hook for this.
The city of Chicago should fight this
because it's the right thing to do.
But yet we are again offering a settlement
to cover and pay for the
decrepit actions of people who do not care
about life in the city of Chicago.
We need to say no.
We need to say no loudly,
because we cannot continue to pay settlements,
especially when we're cleared of wrongdoing.
When our own commissions say that we did what we needed to do, and yet we're
still going to offer them money.
We're still going to say
that we're going to take the responsibility.
And my heart goes out to the family,
but the criminal
who was trying to evade capture, trying to evade going to
jail because he knew he was violating his parole,
gets to walk away without any liability,
without any restitution to the family he
shattered with his recklessness and his
disregard for life.
We tell our officers to respect the sanctity of life,
and yet here we are saying that even when you do that, we're still going to
reward the criminal
and let them off the hook.
We had a discussion about how do we go after, how can we apportion
judgment, I think was the title, and we're still waiting for that kind of
conversation.
We've heard the need for Springfield to get involved, and for the law department to
step up and say that we're going to fight the appellate court decision
from March that's handicapping us in this moment.
We should do that before we start writing any more checks.
So with that, Mr. President,
I
will be voting no and encourage all of my colleagues to do the same.
Very well. Thank you. There is a motion on the floor for the passage.
Chair recognizes Alderman Irvin.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would actually agree
with the alderman from the 15th Ward if we had an
opportunity to make decisions in a vacuum.
Unfortunately, we do not. You're correct in the fact
that the traffic board did clear the officers
of their actions. However, the traffic board is not the state
of Illinois, it's not the courts, and we have to operate in
the system that we are in. You are correct
that the law in Springfield does need to be tweaked.
But we also have to think about the
preservationOf our taxpayers in these
conversations as well.
Our corporation counsel has done great work in bringing forth
settlements after they've done all that they believe that they can do, and bring
forth something that makes sense financially for the
taxpayers. And again, I agree that even though in some cases
when you look at it, it doesn't seem to appear to be right, but we
also have to understand what the law is
and operate within the framework that has been
given to us. So, no matter how we land this plane,
I think the risk of exposing our taxpayers to
even further damages is something that we have to think about in our fiduciary
responsibility. And I appreciate the work that corporation counsel has done
to try to bring these numbers down as best she can, and her team.
But at the end of the day, we still have
to make these payments, and I don't think it's on us to decide to roll the
dice, per se, with the taxpayers' money. Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you. Alderman Pizarro.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I'm also a no, but my no is no indictment on corporation counsel.
The facts were presented to us. They don't add up to me, as they do
to many of my colleagues. So,
I don't know if I'd call it rolling dice.
I'd think it's rolling the dice by paying this off.
So, I say let's fight this. We're being wronged here.
I want to protect the taxpayers also.
I guess we have my esteemed colleague from the 28th Ward, we have a different
opinion on how we protect the taxpayers.
So, I'm a no, but it's nothing against corporation counsel.
I know you work very hard. I know it's an unfair fight.
It's a couple of you against a whole army of Dewey, Scrollman, Howe, and
it's a tough task to do. So, I am a solid no. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. Chairwoman Dowell, on your motion.
Yeah.
Excuse me.
Yes. Yes. Alderman Dowell. Chairwoman Dowell.
To say that this case is not cut and dry.
I appreciate the comments from my colleague, Alderman
Chairman Irvin.
The traffic review board is not the end-all, be-all
decision-maker for the police department.
We do have a series of general orders which were not
followed in this particular case.
And related to the actual person who hit the car,
he's judgment proof, so there's nothing to go after.
So, I would also congratulate the law
department for doing the work that needed to be done and
looking at this case very closely.
They don't
know about the
cases that you win, the ones that we do fight and we
do win. And I think at some point we need to be able to give that information
to my colleagues so that they can see both sides of the coin.
With that, I believe one of my colleagues might have called for a roll call.
That is correct. And thank you for that.
We'll make sure that that information is provided.
There's a roll call vote for item 11B.
Very well. Madam Clerk, thank you for making the e-vote
application available. Members of the council, please record your
vote at this time.
The voting is now open. The voting is now open. Please use your e-device.
The voting is now open.
I will now on call on those that have not used the e-device.
Alderman Hall?
Hall is a yes.
Alderwoman Taylor?
Yes.
Taylor is a yes.
Alderwoman Rodriguez Sanchez?
Aye.
Rodriguez Sanchez is a yes. Alderwoman Hadden?
Aye.
Alderwoman Hadden is a yes.
The
item is now closed.
There are 34 yays, 16 nays. This motion passes.
Alderman Mitchell, on a motion to reconsider.
A move to reconsider the vote.
All those in the favor of reconsidering this vote signify by saying aye.
Any opposed say no. The motion fails.
The chair recognizes Chairwoman Dowell.
Thank you, Mr. President. Item number 11C is an order
authorizing the corporation council to enter into and execute a
settlement order in the case of Arnold Day versus Kenneth
Boudreaux, case number
19-CV-7286, in the amount of
$13 million. I move passage of this item by the same
motion as was applied to item number two.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Item number 12 is a communication transmitting reports of
cases in which verdicts, judgments, or settlements were entered
into for the month of April 2026, and these will be placed on file
with the clerk. Mr. President, that concludes my report.
Thank you, Madam Chair. For the Committee on Budget and Government Operations, the
chair recognizes Chairman Irvin.
Thank you, Mr. President, members of the council, reporting for your Committee on
the Budget and Government Operations, which held meetings on April
27th and May 13th. The committee has a series of
reports recommending passage of the following items.
From our April 27th meeting, item number two was a communication recommending a
call for hearings on the status of the city's progress
implementing efficiencies and other programmatic reform options
identified in the financial and strategic reforms options
reportI move passage of this item by the first favorable roll call vote of
the Committee on Finance and the associated unsuccessful
motion to reconsider.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
From our meeting on May 13th, item number one is a communication
recommending a proposed ordinance concerning an annual appropriation ordinance
year 2026 amendment within Fund 925.
I make the same motion, if there's no objection.
Hearing none, so ordered.
Item number two is a communication recommending a proposed ordinance concerning the
redevelopment agreement with Southside Community Arts Center to provide
Neighborhood Opportunity Fund assistance for the renovation of a property at
3831 South Michigan in the 3rd Ward.
Sorry, did you make the motion?
Yeah. I'm sorry, I was going to ask if Chairman Dow had anything she wanted to add.
Okay. Alderman Dow?
I make that motion, if there's no objection.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Items three through five are transfers of funds within Wards 10,
13, and 31, all of which are for year 2026.
I make the same motion, if there's no objection.
Hearing none, so ordered.
Mr. President, that concludes my report.
Thank you.
For the Committee on Contract and Oversight and Equity, Chair
recognizes Chairwoman Mitts.
Thank you, Mr. President. Reporting for the Committee on Contracts, Oversight, and
Equity,
we held a meeting on Monday, May 18th at
12:30 PM.
And the following items was heard: approval of the Rule 45
report for the month of January, February, March, and April
2026.
I move that the City Council concur in the recommendations of the Finance
Committee and pass this item by the same roll
call as item number one on the Committee on
Finance and associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Item number two, amendments of Municipal Code
Chapter 2-45 by adding new section
2-45-150, establishing an
online database to track MBE/WBE
utilization compliance.
That number was
S02024-0012388.
I move passage of this item by the same roll call as item number
one on the Committee on Finance and associated unsuccessful
motion to reconsider.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Item number 3,
S020250018753,
by Alderman Rosana Rodriguez Sanchez, was held in
committee. Item number
S02026-0023320,
passed as a substitute,
amendments to the 2025 program agreement,
authorize execution of the New Technology Service Agreement
with Local Initiatives Support
Corporation.
Introduced by Mayor Brandon Johnson.
I recommend passage of this item by the first
most favorable roll call vote on Finance and the associated
unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Final item was a subject matter hearing.
No votes taken by Alderman Villegas.
The City of Chicago, Middle Eastern
North African Business Enterprise Research
Study.
Mr. President, that will conclude my
report at this time.
Thank you, madam.
I move passage of these items by the same
motion, if there's no objection.
Which items, Madam Chair?
You didn't have any additional items, right?
No.
Okay. Very good.
That was the subject matter-
So this concludes your report.
Yes.
Very good. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you.
Now for the Committee on Environment Protection and Energy, the chair recognizes
Vice Chair Knudson.
Thank you, Mr. President. Reporting for your Committee on Environmental Protection
and Energy, which held a committee meeting on May 11,
2026. The committee has two reports and recommends the
passage of the following item. Item one is
02026-0022796,
amendment of Municipal Code Section
10-32-055 to limit the height of
non-tree plants in native and pollinator gardens to
36 inches. I move passage of this item by the first favorable
roll call vote of the Committee on Finance and associated unsuccessful
motion to reconsider.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
The second item was a subject matter hearing on Commonwealth Edison's annual
summer preparedness. No votes were taken on this item. Mr.
President, this concludes my report.
Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. For the Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight,
the chair recognizes Chair Martin.
Thank you, Mr. President, and good afternoon, members of City Council.
Reporting for your Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight, which held a
committee meeting on Tuesday, May 19th.
The committee recommends passage of the following two items.
The first item is appointment
2026-0025389, which is the
appointment of David Glockner as Inspector General.
This item passed unanimously amongst all members present.
I move passage for this item by the first favorable roll call vote of the Committee
on Finance and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
We're happy to do that, unless there's any members of this body that would like to
provide some remarks. Hearing and seeing no hands,
there's a motion on the floor. Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Congratulations.
Yeah.
No
It's quick.
Chair recognizes Chairman Martin.
Mr. President.
I do apologize. Alderman Moore, the moment did pass, but if you want
to just... You good? I'm good. We're all good.
That's very good. Chairman Martin.
Thank you, Mr. President. Item number two is Substitute Ordinance
2026-0024036,
which amends Municipal Code Title 2 by adding new Chapter
2-200, titled the Reverend Jesse L.
Jackson Sr. Fair Access to Democracy Ordinance, and establishment
of the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr.
Working Group on Access to Democracy.
This item passed unanimously amongst all members present.
Unless someone wishes to speak, I move passage of this item by the first
favorable roll call vote of the Committee on Finance and the associated
unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
Seeing no hands.
One hand. The chair recognizes Alderman Sposato.
Thank you, Mr. President. Sorry to rain on everybody's parade.
I wasn't at the meeting. It's not something I believe we need.
I think it's unnecessary oversight and expense, so on and so forth, so I would
like to be recorded as a no.
Very well.
Despite the division, the chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I, too, wish to be recorded as a no.
Please add Alderman Lopez as a no. The chair recognizes Alderman Gardner.
I, too, would like to be a no.
Very well. The chair recognizes Alderman Napolitano.
I'd like to be recorded as a no.
Very well. With those four nos, despite the divisions, hear no other objections.
The chair recognizes Alderman O'Shea.
I didn't want to speak on this, but now I have to.
Go ahead.
What was frustrating to me, Mr. President, was
the hearing lasted well over an hour.
There were numerous people on this panel.
At various points during the meeting,
they referenced working with the Chicago Board of Elections
many, many, many times.
I sat through this. Finally, when I was called upon to ask a question,
I asked the entire panel, "All these
people who've been working with the Board of
Elections on this,
are any of the commissioners here from the Board of Elections?"
Nobody knew.
Said, "Can any of you name any of the commissioners?"
Nobody on this panel could name a single commissioner from the Board of
Elections.
I then asked, "Is the executive director from the Chicago Board of Elections here?"
Nobody knew.
I then asked, "Can any of you name who the executive director is of the
Chicago Board of Elections?"
Nobody knew.
Mr. Mayor,
we continue to add to government.
We continue to make up fancy platitudes that make it sound
like we're doing something.
Nobody as part of this panel can answer basic questions as to who from the
damn Board of Elections they've been working with.
I'm a no vote, and I wish people would start being straight and
do a little bit of homework and actually working together instead of having
fancy lines in the newspaper.
Alderman Sigcho-Lopez, you are recognized.
Thank you, Mr. President, and I also wasn't planning to speak.
But in line of
this rhetoric that we have gotten here in city
council,
when we speak on both sides of our mouths,
on one side we have people who are taking
action when we cite a federal government that is ready to take
the 14th Amendment rights. That's what we're up against.
In the midst of these attacks on our city,
and we have recognized
Reverend Jesse Jackson on multiple occasions
on this council.
So to hear that we, in this council,
are not taking any steps to protect the
right to vote.
We just saw what happened in Tennessee.
One Black district taken away
by white supremacy.
And what are we doing then here but oppose
the bare minimum to talk about fair and accessible elections?
Shame on this council for that rhetoric.
I encourage us to rather be working with the Rainbow
PUSH, with Chicago Votes, to encourage more people to
vote,
especially young people.
It's a damn shame what I hear every day in this council.
Then be part of the solutions that you want to see.
Criticizing is cheap.
This federal government is going to rig the elections in November.
Make no mistake about it.So choose
a side.
You're on the side
of history when Reverend Jackson
was fighting to encourage voting rights and protect them,
or you're on the side of the fascists taking those rights away.
So in this moment in history, every local government has a responsibility
to do everything in our power-
Mm-hmm
... to protect rights that have taken blood, sweat, and
tears
of many people.
So I'm proud to stand on the right side of history, on the history
of voting rights
in the history of our city, and the legacy of Reverend
Jackson, Jesse Jackson.
That's what we are here to do.
If we want to review this ordinance, and we're part of that, and encourage more
young people to vote, then let's be part of that in every ward.
But doing nothing
is not an option.
Doing nothing in a moment like this is a shame.
I encourage all of us to take action ward by ward and start
working
with actions to protect the legacy of Reverend Jackson and the
leaders of the civil rights whose lives were taken by
the same group of white supremacists trying to take the voting
rights.
I'm not going to stop.
Alderman
Sigcho-Lopez, direct your comments to me, please.
It would be order. Order. Alderman Sposato,
order, please.
Alderman Sposato, please.
Alderman Sigcho-Lopez, can you please conclude, sir?
Alderman Sposato, please, sir, some
decorum. Alderman Sigcho-Lopez, direct your comments to me,
sir.
Alderman Sigcho-Lopez, direct your comments to me.
I am not going to be disrespected as a city council member.
Let's have some decorum and some respect.
I don't like many things that people said here, but you got to listen quietly.
And I'm not going to be disrespected during the time that I have to speak, as my
community has elected me to speak, and especially in a time like this.
So again,
this is the kind of rhetoric,
this is the kind of actions that we see, being silent, doing nothing.
Communities like us are being disappeared.
They're shooting people in plain broad sunlight,
and they have the audacity
to tell me to stop.
Mr. President, I rise in support of this important resolution and
urge us. If there are things to work on, let's work on them.
But doing nothing is not an option in the time of fascism. Thank you, Mr.
President.
Alderman Coleman.
Thank you, Mr. President. I never thought I'd be quoting my neighbor here in
the 15th Ward, but the devil is a liar.
I want to just uplift
State Representative Kim DuBuque, as well as Speaker of the House Chris
Welch, who originally passed this particular
legislation in the Illinois legislature, and I want to commend your
office. While there were some kinks that had to be worked out in this
ordinance back in March, I want to commend you all for taking the time,
listening to the feedback from not only the Black Caucus, but other members of City
Council, and ensuring that this passes.
Good job, Chairman,
for carrying this through your committee.
And I want to remind my colleagues, for those that have a problem with the Board of
Elections or not having the collaboration and partnership, let's keep
that same energy when they come before us in the budget season. Thank you, Mr.
President.
You're welcome. The Chair recogni-- Alderman Sposato, was there anything else that
you wished to add, sir?
I just would ask for a roll call vote because this is
2026, not 1976. Thank you, sir.
There's a motion on the floor for a roll call vote. Mr.
Parliament, does that...
So with a roll call point, that ends the discussion, and so...
But just a second, you all. Maybe not.
Okay, so he didn't call the question.
Thank you for the clarification, but he is requesting a roll call.
Very well. The next person that is on the
list to speak, the Chair recognizes Alder
Waguespack.
Thank you, Mr. President. I actually was not going to speak until I
saw the interaction between my colleagues there.
I sat through that committee hearing, and I did read
the ordinance.
Alderman O'Shea was correct. We did ask about the Board of
Elections,
and there was no response. In fact, there was silence.
The Chief of Policy said that everything that the Board of Elections does
is ad hoc.
And I would remind those of us who sit here during the Board of Elections
hearing when they come for the budget,
that's not what I hear. What I hear from the Board of Elections is that they are
doing robust work in terms of language access,
in terms of outreach, in terms of public service announcements.
And what we heard yesterday was, "No, whatever they're doing is just ad hoc."
When Alderman O'Shea followed up on some of the questions that I had as well about
the Board of Elections,
it seemed to me that nobody can answer any of those questions.
No one could say that they had actually had the opportunity to
have discussions in depth about what the Board of Elections, the
commissioners have done or will do with this.
So I don't disagree that the state passed something and said, "Hey, this is an
opportunity for us to work on things."But,
in this instance, there clearly
was a poorly drafted and contradictory ordinance put
before us that did not meet the level
needed to make sure that we have an ordinance that will do what it
says or what the drafter said it was going to do.
So it's not about
creating this
situation here where
dissent
over a poorly drafted ordinance is something that should equate
to divisive language that should be halted
on the opinion of one person in this council.
One of the other comments that was made yesterday,
probably by one of the drafters, was, "If you don't pass this,
we will have a knife to your throat."
And that kind of set me back a little bit when I was sitting in that committee
meeting, because I heard that and I thought,
the same people who want me to vote on something
recognizing the achievements
and what is hopefully to be the long-lasting legacy of Jesse Jackson
said, "If you don't pass this, we will have a knife to your
throat."
What kind of language
are we talking about in our committee meetings and in here where we
can't have a decent discussion and allow people,
without fear of retribution,
like we see in DC,
without fear of
having somebody push back on the opinions that I have.
I don't get it.
I don't understand why we get to this point.
And I'm not going to sit here and yell and scream about it, but I'm also going
to say that I took offense to that,
and it carried through to the discussion today.
That kind of rhetoric just doesn't have any place in those committee meetings, and
it doesn't have any place in this room.
There are significant disagreements between some of the people in this
room. What my opinion is, is on this
actual ordinance, which doesn't meet the standards of a good ordinance to
say that the Board of Elections, which we have voted for to have
a budget of $7 million plus tens of millions more for other
elections, aren't doing their job.
That's what it was read out yesterday, that they're not doing their job.
So is the opinion of the mayor and of the council members that
we should get rid of the Board of Elections? I don't think so.
But shouldn't they be at the table to decide what part they should play
in this new ordinance? Yes.
The fact was, they were cut out of the conversation.
Other entities were cut out of the conversation.
So my opinion was, don't diminish what Jesse Jackson Jr.
has done for this city, for this country,
but embolden it more by actually sitting down with the people who've been carrying
that torch to make sure that our elections here in Chicago have been
free, fair, have been open, have been improving
on all aspects of the Board of Elections, whether it's
language access,
the ability to get into a polling place.
When each one of us have issues with polling places, we call the
Board of Elections. You can't tell me you don't.
And the accessibility issues have improved over the years
for everyone.
So to hear what was happening yesterday, to say to blow off the Board of
Elections as if somehow they haven't done their job over the last few
decades and they haven't improved, was pretty embarrassing.
So I would just say that
the responsible thing to do today is either vote no on something that
doesn't
come up to the responsibilities that have been undertaken by the
Board of Elections, or
send it back to the committee so it can be improved.
And the people, like the chief policy officer who testified yesterday but
really couldn't, will go back to the Board of Elections and do their
job, tell us what the cost is, tell us what the problems
are, and tell us how they're going to improve this.
But until then,
I think everybody needs to chill out a little bit
in making accusations against those of us who might not want
to vote for an ordinance that is simply not ready for prime
time, and that's what this is about.
So please, when you're talking about dissent,
don't bring up this rhetoric issue as if somehow
a yes or no vote means you're evil or you're not.
I think we've had enough of that in here, and we need to get back to
working on the issues as they are presented before us.
What the laws are,
who's doing the work,
and less rhetoric.
Thank you, Mr. President.
You're welcome. Alderman Dowell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I believe in voter
access and improving democracy,
but I don't think that this ordinance goes far enough.
I think we let off the hook the United States
Postal Service and put all of the
requirements for securing mailboxes on property
owners and landlords. They are not the only
ones that are a culprit
in having mailboxes that are not secure.
And they don't deliver the mail on time.
They don't fix mailboxes.
When they're supposed to put in a new key, it takes forever to
get them to pay attention to the calls that we make from our
respective wards. And so I would ask
thatWhen this is approved,
that whoever this committee is, or the policy director, or
whoever needs to reach out to the post office and
make them do their job. I raised this in the briefing.
It was not addressed in the ordinance, and so I want to raise it
here. And hopefully, your administration will look at that.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Chair recognizes Alder Vasquez.
Thank you very much, Mr. President.
I appreciate the opportunity to speak on the matter.
I was also in the committee hearing.
And I think in the interest of trying to get the temperature back down,
there are a couple of things that I think we wanted to clarify.
If
the standard for this council was to not move
legislation that wasn't ready for prime time, we'd only be doing permits and street
namings.
Everything we work on tends to be unfinished.
The fact that it's legislation means that they're living documents we continue to
work on. And so I think the proposal to create an advisory council
in the moment we're in is a fair one to make.
We understand that there is a real fear, and had been a fear, that ICE
or federal agents might show up at polling locations during these
elections. The President of the United States has intimated and said as
much as we're heading into more elections.
So there's a real concern, not in what the Board of Elections currently doing, but
in the moment we find ourselves in and what we need to do to prepare.
Because if we're having a hard enough time holding the post office accountable,
what do you think we're going to do when the federal government comes down?
So to have any of the conversations about that is important.
Our colleagues who say we can do better are also correct.
There should've been more engagement with the Board of Elections to discuss what's
currently happening and how to improve it.
So it's absolutely fair to raise that up as well.
I just wanted to correct a little bit, shared by my colleague Alderman
Waguespack. There was a comment made about a knife to a throat.
The actual comment was, "If there isn't anything done to help improve the
situation, it would be like putting a knife to the throat of
the reverend's legacy."
Now,
I would say the language in itself is inflammatory.
It could be interpreted in different ways.
I don't think it was viewed or meant to be as a threat.
But because we have heightened tensions in this moment, there's a lot of different
ways to look at the situation. Now, you add on top of that campaign season.
Lord knows we had a candidate on public comment, and everyone on the mic wants to
make it even more of a issue. But if we're talking about just improving our current
situation, it is fair to do so. Board of Elections does come before a budget every
single year. And every single year, we talk about what they're not doing.
Language access in the city of Chicago is deplorable, even in the time where we
were trying to protect our undocumented neighbors. It's still horrible.
We've been talking about it for four or five years plus, and it hasn't been
improved. So it is fair to say that it needs improvement.
And we've had the conversation through multiple budget seasons about consolidating
our Board of Elections with the counties or someone else's.
So to act as if those conversations have never happened, and it's brand new to talk
about trying to improve the current Board of Elections is
just being oblivious to conversations we've already had as a
council. It is fair if you want to vote yes or no because you think there needs to
be more work done. But to kind of raise the stakes and say you're either a
fascist or not based on your vote, I get we're on our feelings.
This is still a council. We have to figure how to think like adults here, and I
would appreciate that we all do so and have this respect for each other, even when
we don't agree on things. I'll be supportive.
Just because people vote no doesn't mean I think they're fascists.
There's plenty of people do other things for us to think that way. Thank you, Mr.
President.
Alderman Lopez.
Thank you, Mr. President. And again, good afternoon members of the City Council.
So I just want to make sure that we're fully understanding, and that the public
fully understands what exactly the substitute says.
And bless you, whoever's allergies are kicking in.
But before I speak to
what the substitute is, let me just say this.
First off, there are a litany of more
appropriate ways we could remember a man who's meant so
much both to this room and to this city.
And this ordinance ain't it,
first and foremost. It's not.
But when we look at what's in here,
a lot of the rhetoric doesn't necessarily match what we're talking about.
For example,
the first
item, past definitions, deals with whether or
not public employees' information can be made public.
We're talking about... Now, obviously, some of this is common sense.
We don't want people's Social Security numbers made public.
But it also talks about addresses,
non-work phone numbers, social media accounts, financial
information, consumer information.
So I guess if any of you give a review or go to a store, we can't be posting where
that is. I guess our salary webpage is going to come down
because now we're no longer going to allow anyone to see what city
employees' salaries are.
Sexually intimate visual depictions.
So if I give my husband a hug, now someone is breaking the law if they
share that?
And any information that provides access to a person's teleconferencing, video
conferencing, or digital meeting room.
Incidentally, as it continues on,
it says that all of that
is unlawful if you disseminate, disclose, or publish any
of that which I just described.
Which means, in this setting,
again,
if I were to give my husband a hug,
you just committed a crime if you took a picture and tweeted it out
per this.
The enforcement for this,
and this is just for government employees.
Government employeesThe enforcement of
this is a fine between $500 and
$5,000. Let me put this in perspective.
Do you know what the fine is
for the teen takeovers?
Do you know what the fine is to the parents who turn a blind eye to what's going on
the streets in the city of Chicago?
Or the fine for wearing a mask while you're stealing someone's ATM
right out of their gas station?
It's not $5,000.
But we are creating this document
to put our own selves, and indeed government as a whole,
even further from the people.
If that's not fascism,
I don't know what is.
Because all of us
are supposed to be
approachable.
All of us are supposed to be accessible.
And we are now creating a barrier between us and the
people under the boogeyman that we're somehow going to be doxing each
other.
Now,
truth be told, there are some people running around this
building
who absolutely should have the light shined on them, because they are working
contrary to this country, to this city,
and to this room.
And if their information went public while they're out burning flags and
parading people past security, so be it.
But this
is not the way.
An advisory council
to have yet another conversation to give the appearance of doing something
yet again. How many advisory councils do we have here
in this room?
There are more advisory councils elevating people up,
giving them a platform to which nothing gets
done in this city.
Some well-intentioned, some
too long in existence, but yet we are adding yet
again,
something to discuss
something
that does not apply to the city of Chicago, county of Cook, state of
Illinois. Because the last time I checked, this state, this
county, this city, has some of the most accessible
voting options in the nation.
You can literally walk right in
without being
registered,
register and vote.
We all know what the rules are for campaigning.
Well established.
Some of you even still have the blue cones in your office.
We know what the rules are.
There's no boogeyman trying to take that away from you.
And as one of my colleagues said,
if we really want to have a discussion about what's impacting voting here in the
city of Chicago,
county of Cook, and state of Illinois,
there are other more important things that I think the good reverend would have
wanted us to go after. For example, why are we
disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of people by allowing the post
office to get off the hook on no longer using a correct
postmark date?
Our seniors, our homebound, now have to plan
at least two weeks because we can no longer guarantee that the ballot's going
to get there in time. That's an issue that's not here.
Why are we allowing
the federal government and our election regulators
not to thoroughly purge the lists of individuals and work more
collaboratively to find out who's really on our rolls?
We talk about low turnout,
all of our stats are wrong anyway.
Because a third of the people don't even belong there because they're either dead,
moved, or duplicates, and have been inactive for 10 years.
But the law says we have to keep waiting and keep waiting. That's not in here.
But that falsely makes communities look as though they have poor turnout when
in fact they have great turnout if you got rid of everyone that doesn't belong on
the rolls.
And there are many other issues that we could address when it comes to
voting.
85% of us wear dual hats in this room anyway,
as both aldermen and Democratic committeemen.
We know firsthand what it is to run an election.
We know firsthand what it is to have accessibility issues,
and we also know what it's like to have to
struggle to find polling places that appease the
requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, of which we get zero
waivers.
Another issue that we're having.
But that, again, is missing.
That, again, is not here.
Those are the conversations we should be having.
Those are the
charges we should be putting forward,
regardless who's sitting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Because many of these things are systemic, recurring, and have been
happening through multiple administrations and are finally coming to a head.
This is not the way.
Because at the end of the day,
once this commission puts together a list of
what we need
to preserve democracy in the most democratic state in the Union,
who's going to get the report?
At which point did
our authority for this commission
mandate other governments to take action?
There are better legacies
There are no better legacies
than the good Reverend Jesse Jackson Jr.'s.
We should be using that, if we are going to use that, on things that make
sense and that would make him proud.
And quite frankly, Mr. President, this falls short of that mark.
Thank you.
Alderman Gardner.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I will try to carry on after Alderman Lopez
made great points here. But often, ordinances or resolutions are
introduced
and a name or organization is tied to it for marketing purposes,
in my opinion. In this case, Reverend Jesse Jackson,
who I have publicly praised on this floor several times,
his name is on this piece of
legislation.
Often, when you place powerful names on an ordinance, it ensures electeds
will vote for it in fear of being ostracized
as a racist or other names, as we just heard earlier.
Just as
in 2021, where the marketing for the Illinois
Safety Act
was passed,
and we recently saw, just very recently, how
that allowed a suspect be released
onto our streets,
kill an officer, and gravely wound another officer,
how that impacted our city, how it impacted these families.
So out of respect for Reverend Jesse Jackson and his life's work,
I am strong, and often many others in this room, as I've just heard our colleagues,
are strong enough to stand up, regardless of your race, and vote no on this
poorly crafted ordinance. Thank you.
Alderman Quezada.
Democracy is a fragile thing. It's not just being attacked
by
people in office at different levels of government, but it also happens at the
grassroots, right? Social movements come from all different sides
of the political spectrum and philosophy, and we have to do our very
best to use our tools and our capacities to help keep our
democracy safe.
I believe what my colleague was saying is that is that
threat at its very nature. And I think it's important to
uplift the fact that we have a very strong civic
culture here in the city of Chicago, and there are over 30
organizations, including the League of Women Voters, who have worked on this
ordinance and who support this ordinance.
And it's because of those organizations, because of those civic leaders that have
been doing the work much longer than I've been alive, working with our Board of
Elections for over 100 years. That is why I support this ordinance, and I urge an
aye vote. Thank you, Mr. President.
Alderman Lospada.
Since we're all piggybacking on other people's words, everything that Alderman
Quezada said, but I will add, if the work that we want to be
about is purging voter rolls and
doxing public employees, the White House is already on board with that.
You've got a great ally in DC for that work,
or you could even join the Bears in Indiana.
There's so many places that are working so hard to undermine
democracy these days. I am proud to stand with and
for legislation that is a rebuke to those energies.
Thank you, sir.
Alderman Napolitano.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'll make this really, really quick.
Piggybacking once and again,
I think we should go back to the conversation that we're constantly having in
budget
or in finance when we're making these judgment settlements, and it's the effect
that it has on our taxpayers. So in that regard, why don't
we do a proper cost analysis or have
a cost analysis at all done before we make any type of movements, and
so we can tell our taxpayers how this is going to affect them?
Because that's what we're always talking about in this room,
of the decisions that you make here, how it is going to affect the taxpayers.
That goes for the judgments that we make and the rulings that we make in
ordinance, resolutions, or anything we pass in this office.
So until we do that, we shouldn't be voting yes or no.
We shouldn't be voting at all. I think we should just do our due diligence first.
Thank you, Mr.-
The motion on the floor for the...
The chair recognizes Alder Vasquez.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just for reference for all of our members of the City
Council, COFA has an ability for any member to request official impact statement on
any piece of legislation. It is something we moved on for over a year now, so
anyone here can do that. You can absolutely look it up and ask for it before it
comes up for a vote. Thank you very much.
Alderman Robinson.
I'm sorry, Alderman Rodriguez.
He does have a great haircut.
Supposed to laugh? I don't know. To the piece of
legislation,
2-200-030 states, "It is unlawful for
any person to disseminate, disclose, or publish any personal identifiable
information of a government worker without their consent
if that person acts with the intent to cause death, bodily injury, et cetera,"
and nothing in this section, in Section B there, states, "Shall prohibit any
activity protected under the Constitution." This legislation
also allows a private right to action for government workers.
It's very consistent with many pieces of legislation that this
council
has voted on over the years. Look, who is in the White House
does matter, and we know that this individual in the White
House, and potentially some in the future, may try to strike an
authoritarian tone in our elections.
We know that folks in Georgia and Florida and
elsewhere, their lives have been threatened as poll workers.
We're not going to allow that here in the state of Illinois.
Today in the city of Chicago, today I brought Ron Mustin
here. He's a federal voting rights activist.
I will be damned if I'm going to vote against something that moves us forward
in protecting the right to vote. That's what this is about
today, and I urge an aye vote. Thank you.
Alderman Robinson.
Mr. Mayor, thank you for allowing me this opportunity.
Let me thank my colleague,
Alderman Martin,
for bringing this forward.
I worked with Alderman Martin when I was in Illinois General Assembly,
and I can tell you if there's anybody that is in this
body that
will make sure that
all voices are heard, it's certainly him.
And so my colleagues had mentioned
that
there were groups that were not included.
As a legislator,
there's no perfect legislation, and certainly we can
do better,
and
I believe that we will.
When I was in the Illinois General Assembly,
Mr. Mayor, I worked with Republicans,
and
I knew who they were.
I knew the towns that they lived in.
I knew what they hid in their closets and their homes.
And I was
extremely excited
to come to this body
because
I knew my colleagues.
Forty-nine of us,
77 neighborhoods that represented
minorities across this city. There's no neighborhood that does not
have a African American or Hispanic in their area.
But I'm disappointed today
because
all of us should be able to express
ourselves, express what's going on in our communities,
express that racism still exists.
Although one of my colleagues mentioned the 1970s,
clearly
we
are not watching the news.
Clearly, we are disconnected, what's happening in Chicago,
what's happening in our nation.
My colleague on the other side of this building
or other side of this council,
her community
continues to be targeted. We talked
about
anti-Semitic rhetoric.
But when other communities talk about racism,
all of a sudden,
we are ostracized,
we are disrupted.
Again, when other communities cry out about what's happening in their community,
we're silenced.
But when the African American community or the Hispanic community cries
out, we talk about the 1970s.
This is the City Council of
Chicago,
the greatest city on the planet.
We are the example for the country.
The Supreme Court's recent decision to gut
the Voting Rights Act
is an affront to everyone who
marched, bled,
died
to make that law possible.
Colleagues,
have you not been watching TV?
Have you not been listening to the radio?
Where have you been?
We have made some
strides since the 1970s.
But if we don't get our act together,
we're going back.
And it is our responsibility
as the representatives of 77
neighborhoods to do what's right and
set the example for the United States of America.
So to my colleagues
that want to hang their hat on
groups not being added,
brought to the table,
our job is to figure it out.
Our job is to make sure that everyone's voices is heard,
not ignored.
So I'm absolutely disappointed in
my colleagues today.
And I hope
that we can take a moment,
pull it together,
and listen to one another.
And when we say that our communities that we represent
are hurting,
and the laws
are trying to be reversed,
and our history
is trying to be whitewashed
and taken away,
if you don't believe that, if you have
issues,
talk to us
Ask us to come to our wards.
Come over to our houses.
Come to our churches. Come to our synagogues.
Folks are watching us.
Kids are watching us.
We need to do better.
We need to set the example
of what this country should be doing.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Chairman Martin.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just a few final points
before I call a vote. One,
our turnout's really bad here in Chicago, and it's been getting worse.
1983, our turnout in the
election that put Harold Washington in office was over
82%.
2023, it was below 40%. We've got work
to do in getting people to exercise their right to
vote when it is under attack. And we have dozens of
groups who stand ready to work with one another and to work
with us to figure that out. I know that there was
conversations around the importance of advisory boards and maybe the work
that they need to do that hasn't been happening, and I agree with that.
But to be clear, some of them are, in fact, doing good work.
I think about our recent budget and the work that was done
to preserve funding for domestic and gender-based violence.
That was work that was spearheaded by our gender-based violence task
force. So we do have examples of advisory boards that
do important work.
When it comes to the
Board of Elections,
there should've been a representative there yesterday.
And I'll acknowledge as a chair going forward, I need to do a better job of
ensuring that all of the important departments are represented.
I will say that I did get a message forwarded
to me from Adam Lasker, who's the general counsel
for the board, yesterday evening, mentioning he had a personal issue
that prevented him from being more engaged in recent
weeks. But did say, and I quote, "In regards to the ordinance, the Board of
Elections still prefers to maintain an impartial and neutral position.
While the matters addressed in the ordinance may become beneficial to election
workers and to Chicago's voters, these specific matters do
not fall within the scope of the board's statutory
administrative functions."
So
I think that's something that needs to get out there.
And then lastly, with regard to Jesse Jackson's
legacy,
it is large enough to cast a shadow on this entire
building, and I don't think that it is the province of
this body to make a decision about what that legacy should look
like.
Okay.
That should be led by his family, that should be led by his colleagues
at Rainbow PUSH, one of whom testified at the committee hearing recently.
Right.
So let us listen to them. Let us listen to the family's emissaries as they're
continuing to recover from the trauma of his
loss, and let's move forward with this ordinance.
And you have my commitment, as people want to have more conversations about how to
improve our election system, we'll have hearings in the Ethics Committee ensuring
that leaders from the advisory board come and that we make meaningful
progress in the coming election and ones to come. So call the question.
Thank you, Chairman. There's a motion on the floor for the passage
of items SO
2026-0024036. There's a
call for a roll call. Madam Clerk, please make the e-vote
application available at this time.
And members, please cast your vote at this time.
Sure. Alderwoman Dowell.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I just wanted to correct something.
Your administration, I understand, did do the federal
outreach,
and I got a text while I was sitting here, so I did not get the
information that I requested, and I just wanted to acknowledge that publicly.
Very well. So no need to FOIA, the text did not come from me. Thank you.
The voting is now open. The voting is now open. Please use the e-device.
The voting is now open.
All right. I will now call on those who've not used the e-device. Alderman O'Shea.
Alderman O'Shea is a no. Alderman Taylor?
Yes.
Taylor is a yes. Alderwoman Tabaras.
Oh, it went through?
Oh, yeah. Got it. Okay.
Alderwoman Rodriguez Sanchez.
Yes.
Sanchez is a yes. Alderman Hadden?
Yes.
Hadden is a yes. The vote is now closed.
There are 42 yeas, nine nays. This motion
passes.
Eight nays. Thank you. Alderman Mitchell on the motion
to reconsider.
I move to reconsider the vote.
All those in favor of the reconsideration of this vote signify by saying aye.
Any opposed say nay. This motion fails. Chairman Martin.
That concludes my report.
Very well. Thank you very much. Our next committee is a committee on health
and human relations. This report out will take
place or occur or happen or be delivered by the
vice chair, Ramirez.
Great.
Good afternoon, Mr. President.
Good afternoon.
Reporting from the Committee on Health and Human Relations, which met
on May 7th at 10:00 a.m. and May 19th at 12:30 p.m.,
the committee reports the following recommendations.
First, the committee considered a substitute ordinance regarding the city's
data collection procedures
for the subcategories of Asian or Pacific Islander.
This item, it received a do pass recommendation. Mr.
President, I move passage of this item by the first most favorable roll call vote
of the Committee on Finance and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Next, the committee considered a resolution calling for the immediate release of
Salah Osur and to ensure safeguarding of immigrant rights.
This item received a do pass recommendation. Mr.
President, I move passage of this item by the first most favorable roll call.
The chair recognizes Alderwoman
Silverstein.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I first want to say that I condemn ICE in the strongest possible terms.
ICE's policies have caused real pain and devastation for many
families in Chicago, and our focus should be on protecting and advocating
for immigrants in our communities who have been harmed by these policies.
However, we should not be using the voice of
this Chicago City Council to advocate for the release of
someone with ties to Hamas.
The FBI has identified him as a fundraiser for
Hamas. Hamas, again, is an internationally
recognized terrorist organization, and I would like to
be recorded as no.
Chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.
Thank you, Mr. President, and again, good afternoon, members of the committee.
I too join my colleague in opposition,
which is why we tried to block it the first time.
And what I was discussing earlier today about the
hypocrisy of saying we stand with the Jewish people
while simultaneously calling for the release of someone
tied to terrorism who tried to kill them.
The individual that we're discussing isn't a Chicagoan.
He's from Wisconsin.
The individual that we're talking about spent eight months in
jail for throwing Molotov cocktails into the homes of
IDF soldiers
in Israel.
The individual we're talking about
is on the FBI's known or suspected terrorist
list
and has been known for decades,
before anyone gets the idea of saying
it's a particular administration or regime.
The State Department
says he lied on his application
to gain access to this country,
initially lying through the Israeli consulate,
and then lied again under the Clinton administration.
And for all of us
who represent people who've applied and been given green cards, we
know
lying on that application
comes with results,
revocation
and deportation.
Lying
calls for revocation and deportation
because what we heard in committee was that he was
disappeared. He was kidnapped. He's a freedom fighter.
He's speaking truth. He's a dissenter,
that the Trump administration is just coming after him because he's an advocate for
the people.
Most advocates don't throw Molotov cocktails into people's homes.
So yes, Mr. President,
this is
Jewish American Heritage Month.
But more specifically, this body has yet again
decided to take on a conversation to support people
whose sole goal is to create their
own 21st century
genocide
because they simply cannot exist with Jewish people.
I cannot say this individual
needs this body's support and release,
and I hope all of you do the same. Thank you.
Alderman Waguespack.
Thank you, Mr. President. It was just a point of order, actually.
So the document that I got was just
today said that the committee met on May 7th and that this item was
held in committee due to adjournment.
And I think other people got a document that was updated
that says it was a do pass recommendation.
So could the chairwoman explain
the discrepancy on these
documents.
Vice-
Thank you
... Chair Ramirez. Thank you.
Yeah. As mentioned, we had to
reconvene on May 19th at 12:30, but I would like support in
making sure that they get a new document that states that.
Mr. President, I was referring to why some of us got one document and some
got other documents.
Yeah.
Thank you, Chair-
So if we can get some support-
Vice Chairwoman. You need support-
We can get some support to get new documents
... to get the document to the individuals who did not receive the most current
document?
That's correct.
Okay, from the clerk's office?
Correct.
Is a document available?
I have staff for the Committee on Health that I can-
So folks do have the document, but everybody does not have it?
No, Mr. President. Thank you.
Just a second.
Vice Chairwoman. Vice Chairwoman Ramirez?
So you do have the document.
Right.
Okay.
So I can speak to the staff of the committee, and we can make sure everybody-
That everyone has it, because at least Alderman Waguespack did not receive the
document. Does anyone else here not have the document?
Okay, so there are a few folks who do not have it.
Alderman Ervin.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would move that this matter be held in committee.
There seems to be a lot of confusion about this back and forth.
It either be referred back to committee or held in committee until a further
time we can get all the necessary information that's needed to move forward on
this. So my motion would be to refer this matter back to committee.
There's a motion on the floor to refer this item back to committee.
All right. It's been moved and seconded.
All right, all those in favor of the re-referral of this
item back to committee, signify by saying "Aye."
Any opposed say "Nay."
In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.
This item will be referred back to committee.
And just for clarification, this will be referred
back to the Committee on Health and Human Relations.
Very well. The chair recognizes Vice Chair Ramirez.
Mr. President, that concludes my report.
Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. Now, for Housing and Real
Estate, the chair recognizes Chair Sigcho-Lopez.
Thank you, Mr. President and members of the City Council.
Reporting for your Committee on Housing and Real Estate, which held a subject
matter hearing on May 4th, 2026, and a regular
meeting on May 13th, 2026. On May 4th,
2026, the committee held a subject matter hearing regarding
various proposed legislation at the state and federal level
that concerns Chicago homeowners.
We heard from State Senator Graciela Guzman and State Representative
LaShawn Ford on their efforts in Springfield, including
skyrocketing homeowners insurance, as well as property tax relief.
We also had advocates elevate their work on the Homes for Every
Local Protector, Educator, and Responder Act, also
known as the HELPER Act. There were no votes taken at this meeting.
For the committee meeting on May 13th, 2026, the following
is the report recommending passage of 10 ordinances for a
municipal code amendment, aldermanic introductions, and various land
sales. Item number one is ordinance
2026.0024022, amendment of Municipal
Code Chapter 2-4 by adding Section
2-4-130 regarding the annual report on
homelessness and affordable housing.
I move passage for this item by the first most favorable roll call vote on
the Committee on Finance, an associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
Hearing no objection, so ordered.
Item number two is an aldermanic introduction from Alderwoman Clay, substitute
ordinance 2026.0024086, amendment of
Municipal Code Sections
14x-8-802.2.2
and
14x-8-802.3.2
to modify dates for minimum temperature requirements in dwelling
units, sleeping units, and indoor occupiable work
spaces.
Unless Alderwoman Clay, I think she's not here, but I move passage then on this
item by substitute by the same motion.
Hearing no objection, so ordered.
Item number three is an aldermanic introduction from
Alderwoman Hadden, the substitute ordinance
2024.0012422, amendment of Municipal
Code Title 5 by adding new chapter,
5-30, entitled Centralized Listing Portal Working
Group Ordinance. I would like to recognize first
Alderman Villegas and then Alderwoman Hadden as
sponsors of this bill.
Very well. The chair recognizes Alderman Villegas.
Thank you, Mr. President and members of the City Council.
I am urging an "Aye" vote on this common sense legislation
that
should've been implemented a long time ago.
And so what this ordinance does is it allows for a
central database to be formed specifically
around folks that are looking for affordable housing.
And so if you're someone who's currently looking for affordable housing, you
actually literally have to go to Ida's website
or, in some cases, go to each ward to figure out what
units are being built in that area that have affordable requirements.
And I can tell you that that just doesn't make sense, especially coming from
a
family where we rented for 25 years, and having to think about
having to traverse the city to try to find neighborhoods that had these
opportunities. And so I'm glad to see that we're putting forward this pilot
program, but I would hope that we would do it a lot quicker than the two years
that's being put forward, especially as we're trying to help those
veterans that
need this assistance, and quite frankly, have the opportunity and the
means via the Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing
vouchers, which really deal with the homeless issue around
veterans. And so I-
Very happy to support this ordinance, along with my colleague, Chairwoman Hadden.
And I hope that this pilot program
concludes, and that we get this central database up and running as soon as
possible, so that way folks that are looking for affordable
housing opportunities can do so in a quick manner. So, thank you, Mr. President.
Alderwoman Hadden. And thank you. You're welcome.
Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to the chairman for allowing
me to speak. I too urge an aye vote by our colleagues on
this item.
I want to give a shout-out to all the organizers and advocates
with the Chicago Housing Initiative that are with us today.
Thank you to the Department of Housing,
to the mayor's policy team, of course, to the mayor,
for everybody's work on this. I want to thank my colleagues for giving
us input, attending briefings, helping us to make this better.
And just especially today,
hearing the debate on all the other items we've had come
before us so far.
I want to remind my colleagues, we have a lot of opportunities for things to
divide us, but we have even more work that our residents want us
to do on things that bring us together.
I appreciate working with Chairman Viegas and his team on this as
well.
We're solving problems that Chicagoans want us to solve.
We are taking city-financed affordable housing.
We're working with other levels of government, CHA, working with Ida.
Thank you to Ida.
We're using an existing tool that has been created, and we're going to
use a full representative stakeholder group to work on
improving a process. So we're organizing
people to improve this process by which
city-financed affordable housing is put
into the hands of the Chicagoans who are financing
it.
Solving problems can be done
oftentimes by addressing inefficiencies.
Solving problems can be done through making us better and more efficient.
Efficiency for efficiency's sake isn't problem-solving.
But I appreciate, again, Chicago Housing Initiative, all
of our advocates, for bringing us the problem of saying, "We're paying for
this and we can't find it.
How do we find affordable housing?" For the housing providers saying,
"How can we fill our affordable housing?
Because the bureaucratic processes that we're working through right now
aren't really working as well as they could."
So I look forward to continuing to work with all of our stakeholders
to provide this very clean, simple, common sense
solution to make sure that Chicagoans can find
housing quicker and more easily. And thank you all
for your support.
You are welcome. Chair Sigcho-Lopez.
Thank you.
I move passage of these
items as substituted by the same motion.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Item number four is from the Department of Housing, Ordinance
2026-0024945, sale
of city-owned property at 4321, 4323,
4324, 4327, 4329,
4333, 4335, 4339,
4341, and 4343 South Langley
Avenue and 724, 736,
738, and 744 East 44th Street
in Ubuntu Village to Sunshine Management LLP
under the Chic Block Builder and City Lots for Working
Families in the 4th Ward. I move passage of this item by the same motion.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
The remaining items are from the Department of Planning and Development.
Items five through seven are grouped together for convenience.
They are for the market rate sale of city-owned properties under the
Chic Block Builder platform in the 4th and the 24th wards.
The ordinance numbers are ordinance
2026-0024951-0024952
and 0024948. I move passage of
these three items by the same motion.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Finally, items eight through 10 are for the sale of city-owned property under
the Open Space Side Yard Chic Block Builder
platform in the 17th, 29th, and 16th wards.
The ordinance numbers are ordinance
2026-0024949,
0024950, and 24953.
I move passage of these items by the same motion.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Mr. President, this concludes my report.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. For the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, the chair
recognizes Chair Vasquez.
Thank you, Mr. President, members of the City Council, reporting for your Committee
on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, which held a committee meeting on May 18th,
2026. One item was recommended for passage,
SR2026-0023286,
which is a resolution commending the Mexican Heritage Day Association
for its efforts to call for February 2nd to be declared as Mexican American
Heritage Day. I move passage of this resolution by the first favorable roll call
vote of the Committee on Finance and the associated unsuccessful motion to
reconsider.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Mr. President, this concludes my report.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. For the Committee on License and Consumer Protection, chair
recognizes Chairwoman Silverstein.
Thank you, Mr. President, and members of the City Council.
I'm reporting for the Committee on License and Consumer Protection.
We held a meeting on May 5th, 2026, and the following
items were passed by the committee.
Three ordinances regarding liquor moratoriums in the 15th,
29th, and 42nd wards.
02026-0024913
and others 0024480 and
0024894. Mr. President, I move that the
City Council concurAnd the recommendations of the License Committee by
the same roll call as item number one of the Committee on
Finance report and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
02026-0024893,
regarding a liquor moratorium in the 42nd Ward.
Alderman Riley has requested to speak on this ordinance.
Very well. Thank you, Madam Chair. The chair recognizes Alderman Riley.
Thank you, Mr. President. Pursuant to Rule 33 of the City
Council Rules of Order, I move to accept a substitute ordinance for
02026-0024893, which
has been circulated to all members of the council,
by a majority vote. This substitute corrects a scrivener's error related to
incorrect cross-references related to a liquor moratorium in the
42nd Ward.
Very well. There's a motion on the floor to accept the substitute.
All those in favor signify by saying "aye." Any opposed say,
"nay." Any opinion to the chair, the ayes have it. Madam Chair.
Substitute
02026-0024893,
regarding a liquor moratorium in the 42nd Ward.
I move passage of this item by the same roll call as the item number
one of the Committee on Finance report and the associated unsuccessful motion to
reconsider.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
02026-0024076,
amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 4-156
regarding prohibition and penalties for violations of owning
sweepstakes machines. I believe that Alderman Beale wanted to speak on this.
Very well, Madam Chair. The chair recognizes Alderman Beale.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise to just talk briefly about this
ordinance that was passed in committee,
and to give some clarity about what is really going
on with the argument between the
sweepstakes industry.
First of all,
there is no legal sweepstakes machine,
according to the Illinois Gaming Board.
The Illinois Gaming Board testified a couple of weeks ago in Springfield
that there are no legal
sweepstakes machines, period.
The fact that Chicago is the only city in the
State of Illinois that is allowing
sweepstakes machines to operate
illegally is a problem.
We've been talking about these machines for a long time.
The industry admitted that there are about 7,000
illegal sweepstakes machines operating here in the City of
Chicago currently,
that we are not getting any revenue
from whatsoever outside of
the sticker that the city clerk's office is
issuing for $150.
Now,
we all know...
I don't know, do we need to give leave for the body to have a baby on the
floor, y'all?
Aye.
And so I just wanted to just rise and say just a few things about
this industry
in that we legalized VGTs here in the City of Chicago in the
last budget.
And we put a modest 6.8 million in the
budget
in order to get the VGTs
up and operating here in the City of Chicago.
Because at the end of the day, once these machines get going, we're looking
at between 60 and $100 million that we could
generate here in the City of Chicago.
That's real money.
But the fact that we've allowed, again, I'm going to
reiterate, the fact that we have allowed
illegal machines to operate all across this
city is a problem.
Now, we don't need this ordinance at all
because if something's illegal, the department and the police department have the
right to shut it down. But the fact that we have to have an ordinance
instructing them to do that and to do their job, I think
is a problem.
Some people want to legalize sweepstakes machines.
We cannot legalize sweepstakes machines here in the City of
Chicago, and we can't get revenue from these machines.
Why? Because the state does not
license them. Now, if the state decided to license these
machines,
then we can try to enforce it here in the City of Chicago.
But until then, this body does not have the legal
authority to override the state
by issuing a license and getting revenue from these
machines. So the fight is not here in the City of
Chicago, y'all.
The fight is in Springfield.
The fight, if they want to become legal, if they want to operate, that's fine.
Go to Springfield and get a license.
Go to Springfield and ask them to change the law so you can
obtain a license. That's not the fight for us here in the City of Chicago.
And so I just want to
stress to my colleagues that don't let this industry
twist words by saying, "Well, I
got legal machines."
If they were legal, go to the state and tell the state to give you a license.
Tell the Illinois Gaming Board to give you a license.
Then we can talk about you being legal.
The fact that these machines are in gas stations, 7-Elevens,
taverns, all across the city is a problem because they're not
regulatedWe passed VGTs to be
regulated that you have to have a restaurant liquor license
as such in order to operate.
Why do they get to operate willy-nilly anywhere, everywhere
without regulation? That's a problem.
And so all I'm trying to do is maximize the resources that we have here because we
passed legal VGTs.
I'm trying to maximize the money we can get from VGTs.
And until we do that, allowing a black market to operate
is going to undermine
the legality of VGTs.
And so I understand some of our colleagues have reservations.
I understand we're trying to protect people,
certain stores or whatever.
But if they're operating illegally, we don't have an obligation to protect
people who are operating illegally. I'm sorry.
That is not what government does.
Government goes after bad actors.
So with that, Mr. President, me and Alderman
Lopez are going to defer and publish this for a month and come back and
discuss this next month. Thank you, Mr. President.
Alderman Lopez, you confirm that?
Very well. This item will be deferred and published.
Oh, I know. Don't worry.
The chair recognizes Chairwoman Silverstein.
Mr.
President, this concludes my report.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
For the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety, the chair
recognizes
Chair Lampada.
Thank you, Mr. President. Reporting for your Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic
Safety, for which a meeting was held on Tuesday, May 12th, 2026, the committee
passed the Rule 45 report from April.
Before the committee, there were also 281 routine traffic items, all of which
passed. If there are no objections, I move passage of these items by the first most
favorable roll call vote from the Committee on Finance and the associated
unsuccessful motion to reconsider the vote.
Hearing none, so ordered.
That concludes my report. Thank you.
Thank you. For the Committee on Police and Fire, chair recognizes
Chairman Taliaferro.
Good afternoon, Mr. President.
Afternoon.
Members of the City Council, reporting for your Committee on Police and Fire, for
which a meeting was held on May 6, 2026.
There were three items before the committee, the appointment of Angelique Guzman
as commissioner of the Community Commission on Public Safety and Accountability,
the appointment of Anjanette Young as commissioner of the CCPSA,
and a call on the Chicago Police Department,
and the Department of Assets Information and Services to rename the
Third Police District as Police Officer Durell C.
Brandon Third District Station. Mr. President, Ms.
Alderwoman Maria Hadden has asked to speak to the items regarding
the CCPSA appointments.
Very well. Thank you, Chairman. The chair recognizes Alder Hadden.
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Chairman.
I just want to
thank both of the nominees,
Ms. Guzman and Ms. Young, for submitting themselves to this
application process, for being willing to serve in this
capacity for this very important role.
Speaking personally,
having
worked with Ms. Young for multiple years, I know her commitment to
community safety, to constitutional policing,
and to having the city of Chicago really work on our
relationships so that we can have the best
city with the best public safety departments and the best police department we
can have.
Her tireless advocacy, both through her personal
experience and her professional background,
I think make her a fantastic candidate for this role.
So I appreciate,
Ms. Young, you putting your name forth and the selection of the
committee on this. And for Ms. Guzman, thank you for stepping into this
role to be an important youth voice.
I hope my colleagues support both these nominations. Thank you, Mr.
President.
You're welcome. The chair recognizes Chairman Taliaferro.
Mr. President, if there are no objections, I move the passage of these item by the
first most successful roll call vote in the Committee on Finance and the associated
unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
Hearing none, so ordered.
That concludes my report.
Very well.
For the Committee on Transportation and Public Way,
chair recognizes Chairman
Mitchell.
Chairman Mitchell?
Oh.
That's
a whole lot of
people. A whole lot of people.
While the box is filling, Alderman Desmond Yancey
has asked to participate in the remaining of this meeting remotely
for reasons stated in Rule 59.
Madam Clerk, can you confirm Alderman Yancey's presence online?
Alderman Yancey, are you there?
Yes, I'm here.
All right.
Very well. Can I get a motion for the approval of the participation of Alderman
Desmond Yancey?
Yes.
Mahmoud is your second. All those in favor signify by saying "Aye." Any
opposed say "Nay" and the chair, the ayes have
it.Chairman Mitchell
Mr. President and members of the City Council, reporting for your Committee on
Transportation and Public Way, which held a meeting on May 13th,
2026. The following item was passed by the majority vote of those members
present. Item one, page two, item one, appointment
of William Cheeks Jr. as the commissioner for the Chicago Department
of Transportation. Appointment
2026-0025-158.
Before I proceed with the rest of the agenda, I would like to give an opportunity
for my colleagues to opportunity to speak on this item.
Alderman Moore.
Thank you.
Why are you laughing, man?
I was looking right at you. I wasn't going to miss you this time.
I'm going to be short.
I stand in support of this appointment, Mayor.
This is a
great selection that you've made.
You pick a person by the works, not only what they're going to do in the
future, but what they've done in the past.
And working with William Cheeks in the past at the Water Department, I can speak
definitely not only for the city, but on behalf of the residents of the 17th Ward.
We thank you for your services that you have given over time, and we appreciate
you coming back. You've always been there anytime I've called for
my residents in emergency situations.
And I just want to say thank you, and I look forward to working with you, and we're
going to make sure you have the support that you need to make sure that this
department runs even better. Thank you so much.
Alderman Harris.
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of this appointment to
say what a great appointment Mr. Cheeks is going to be.
I'm glad that you're back.
You have been there before. You got a lot of history in that department.
But more than that, you bring fairness and equity to the table.
So I appreciate you and what you...
And I do know you to be a man of your word.
And so I am happy to know that after I speak to you
about issues, that you will take care of the issues and work on them, and that
speaks again to fairness and equity.
So thank you, and congratulations on your
appointment.
Alderman Mosley.
Thank you so much, Mr. President. I, too, stand in support of this appointment.
Looking forward to continue the great work of the department under this leadership.
You know you have a home in 21,
as we expect to see you often. But thank you so much, Mr. President.
Alderman Silverstein.
Thank you, Mr. President. I too stand in support of this
nomination. Congratulations to you.
I know William and I go back many years.
And I have to say that any time I was having trouble finding
somebody to help me with my issue, all I had to do was call you, and you took care
of it right away. And
I thank you for that, and I look forward to continuing to work with you
in the future. And I also would like to say
that since you are a resident of the 50th Ward, I know you--
As Alderman Mosley said, you'll be in his ward a lot.
I know you'll be in my ward a lot. So,
happy to have you. Happy to have you here, and congratulations to all of
you.
Thank you. Alderman Coleman.
Mr. President, Commissioner, I remember my first
CIP briefing in 2019, and you were sitting at the end of
the table, and at the time, you were the only familiar
face that I knew. And so to see you seven years
later in your rightful place, coming after your predecessor,
will be no easy task. But you have an all-star of a
team here, especially in Deputy Commissioner Sam
Alexander here, our commissioner of Water Management.
Thank you for wearing your pink and green, dedicated to Alderman Harris and I
today.
Uh-huh.
But the stellar team,
and it's so refreshing to see CDOT and Water together,
and we know that the collaboration and the partnerships will be...
You live in 50, you'll be in 21, but I know 16 is your heart.
Congratulations, Commissioner.
Alderman Hadden.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just adding my
enthusiastic support for this appointment.
Commissioner Cheeks, thank you so much.
I know we had a fantastic meeting. I look forward to all of the experience,
professionalism, and just knowledge that you're bringing
to this role. And will echo
Chairwoman Coleman's sentiments.
It's great to see even more collaboration between Department of
Transportation and the Department of Water.
And
also I will, of course, we've got to point out it's great to have some
northeast side representation in
the commissioner's seats as well.
So thank you, and thanks to your whole team.
Alderman Villegas.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is a great appointment.
Glad to see
William back in city government. As was mentioned
before, the collaboration with Commissioner O'Connor is going to really
put a lot of people to work. Commissioner, I would only ask that your department is
an infrastructure department, but it's also an economic development department,
where you have an opportunity to put minority, women-owned, veteran-owned business
firms to work. And I would ask you to take advantage of the Mentor Protege
program that you have at your disposal, so that way we can make sure that
Chicago-headquartered firms are participating on these billions of dollars of
infrastructure. So really looking forward to working with you, and you have our
support tremendously. So thank you and congratulations.
Alderman Sposato.
Thank you, Mr. President. I too support this appointment.
Not sure why, Bill, but we're glad to have you.
I see some familiar faces there. My old neighbor's sitting in the back over there
hiding, and of course, that water guy is up there too.
So,
I
feel an awesome department. SoShould be a smooth
transition. I wish you the best. Anything you need from me, I'll try not
to call you. I'll call your deputies and so on and so forth.
But I got great service from CDOT, and I'm
expecting just as good service with you. So best wishes to you. Thank you, Mr.
President.
You're welcome. Alderman Napolitano.
Thank you, Mr. President. I too rise in support of this appointment.
This is a terrific appointment. Commissioner, you've hit the ground running.
So I'm very excited about that, excited about what comes in the future.
So appreciate it and great appointment. Thank you, Mr. President.
You're welcome. Alderwoman Mitts.
Thank you, Mr. President. I too want to rise to
congratulate you on this appointment and thank Mr. Cheeks.
When you first got appointment, you know your first thought was in the 37 Ward.
I don't want you to forget that. Make that be your first stop all the time.
Thank you.
West Side, Alderman Conway.
Commissioner Cheeks, we had a wonderful meeting.
I really want to thank you for everything you're doing.
We had a great conversation about
bridges and bike lanes, which I appreciate.
So I really want to thank you for coming back to the city and taking this on.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Commissioner.
You're welcome. Alderman Curtis.
Thank you, Mr. President. I too rise to support this.
Welcome home. Yeah. Oh my God, you know, sanitation,
water, and infrastructure is my life, and
thank you for coming out the other night before your appointment even,
to talk to my residents.
I just can't wait to work with you more. Thank you so much. Thank you, Mr.
President. Great appointment.
Commissioner Cheeks, I've never seen Alderman Curtis this emotional, so-
... thank you.
Alderwoman Dowell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I too rise to support this nomination.
Commissioner, you have a deep knowledge of CDOT.
You've got a great team. I look forward to working with you.
And what I always say about you, you speak softly, but you carry
a big stick.
Alderman Robinson.
Mr. Mayor, I also rise to support the
appointment of Commissioner Cheeks.
I also want to take a moment
and thank our water commissioner for being here today.
And someone who, as a new alder, I have
worked very closely with, Mr. Mayor, and I just want to give him some kudos
about being here today, and that is Sam Alexander.
We have tough jobs in the city.
And when you have folks that answer the call at all
times,
it is very appreciative to allow us to do our jobs.
And so, to the commissioner, thank you for answering the call.
Look forward to working with you. Thank you very much.
Thank you. Seeing no other hands, the chair recognizes Chairman
Alderman
Irvin.
I thought there were a few to go. Wonder why he didn't have this much conversation
with the inspector general, but I'll leave that alone.
I'll say this-
Look, Alderman Moore tried. Alderman Moore did try. It's on me.
But no, let me just say this.
The work that Commissioner Cheeks has done in the past, if that's
any indication, we know you're going to do great work for us in the city.
But let me just say this. We all have our various
challenges in our communities, and of course, we all want everything
yesterday.
I pray that you have some strength. I see you have your family.
This may be the last time you see them.
But we hope that you know and understand the challenges, not just
in our infrastructure, and I know that you can.
You got a lot of work before you. There's a lot of things that we need to get done
in this city. Our infrastructure is crumbling.
The bridges that people have talked about.
But we know that you're the guy that can get this job done.
So we appreciate everything, appreciate you coming back into service to take care
of the business on behalf of the people of our city. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
President.
You are welcome. I believe that is all. The chair recognizes Chairman Mitchell.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I know I just made the comment about Derrick Curtis emotional, but I don't think
I've ever seen Randy, Commissioner Connors, as happy about an
appointment.
Since the appointment, I've heard nothing but
good feedback about Commissioner Cheeks coming back, and
I look forward to working with you.
I think you are the right person for this time.
And, as you can see, the support you have,
we expect big things from you, and we'll be right there to support you.
I don't know if he has anything he would like to say.
Okay, we could offer up leave.
Leave from the body?
Very well. Leave from the body. Commissioner, soon to be appointed commissioner,
would you like to address the body?
No. No, I would vote first.
Yeah.
We have to vote first?
Yeah.
All right. Thank you.
All right. Okay.
All right.
If there are no objections on this item, I move passage
of this item by the first most favorable roll call vote on the Committee on Finance
and associated unsuccessful motion.
Hearing no objections so ordered. Congratulations, Commissioner.
Big slap.
All right, we'll hear from the happy groom.
Oh.
Thank you. Is this on?
Yep, you're good. It's on. We can hear you.
Thank you, Mayor, for this appointment.
I appreciate the opportunity to serve under your administration.
Thank you everyone here. I'm glad to be back.
I appreciate all the support that everyone has given me.
I'd like to let the citizens of Chicago know that I'm
here as a lifelong resident to help everyone in the city.
It is within my authority or
my jurisdiction responsibility,
I will do my best to get it done
for the citizens of Chicago.
Alderman, if you feel like you want to call me, call Sam.
And I'll get to you. But no,
please feel free to reach out. I will be contacting each one of you.
Come out and do a ward tour. Let me know whatever
transportation issues you're feeling in
your ward, and we'll do our best to resolve them. Thank you.
Thank you again. Congratulations, Commissioner.
Thank you.
Right way.
Thank
you.
Any other items, Chairman?
Yes.
Introduced by the local alderman from Wards 18, 19, 22,
23, 25, 27, 38, 39,
and 42 through 45. Pages fives includes items
substitute ordinance
2025-0019499, a
vacation ordinance located in the First Ward.
Item ordinance 2026-0024644,
a dedication ordinance located in the 29th Ward.
And item ordinance
2026-0023406, a
vacation ordinance located in the 45th Ward.
If there is no objection, I move passage of these items by the first
most favorable roll call vote of the Committee on Finance and the
associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
Hearing none so ordered.
Mr. President, that concludes my report.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the Committee on Workforce Development.
The chair recognizes Chair Rodriguez.
President and members of the City Council, reporting for the Committee on Workforce
Development, which held a meeting on Tuesday, May 12th.
There were two
items on the agenda.
R2026-0024901,
a calling on US Congress to pass and President Donald Trump to sign the Living
Wage for Musicians Act of 2025. This passed the committee with the due
pass recommendation. I move that the first most favorable vote of the Committee on
Finance and unsuccessful motion to reconsider be applied to this
item.
Hearing no objection, so ordered.
Thank you. The second item was
SO2026-0024043,
the amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 6-105,
modifying timelines for employer allowance minimums in hourly wage
occupations receiving gratuities.
This passed the committee with a due pass
recommendation.
I move the first most favorable vote of the Committee on Finance be
applied to this item.
Chair recognizes Alderman Quinn.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
I stand in support of this compromise as someone who's worked hard to reach this
deal, but mainly as an alderman operating
on a border ward.
While it's not perfect, this compromise ordinance will help level the playing field
for restaurants constantly competing with the suburbs.
Chicago restaurant owners face numerous challenges in
surviving today's environment. Between the cost of food and tariffs
to property tax and rent increases,
they face an uphill battle.
I witnessed that struggle firsthand as I constantly look to
recruit new restaurants in the 13th Ward.
We've built up the Cicero Corridor Avenue well, but it hasn't been an
easy task.
This compromise won't solve all the problems, but I believe we will
alleviate some of the issues our city restaurant owners face.
Many hours, discussions, and negotiations have gone into this
compromise ordinance, and I feel good about the work that
was done collaboratively with all sides.
In some respects, it reminds me of the compromise we reached regarding ADUs
last September.
As a council, we were on different sides of that issue as
well, but we worked to find a deal that worked for
every neighborhood in our city. I see this
as the same positive and collaborative process with a strong result.
I want to thank my colleagues who joined me in leading honest,
open, and fair negotiations, including Alders
Burnett,
Alders Fuentes,
Chair Rodriguez,
Chair Villegas,
Alder Nugent.
The compromise makes sense for the city of Chicago, for our
restaurant owners, and for our servers.
I will vote in support of this ordinance. Thank you.
Chair recognizes Alderman Irvin.
Mr. President and members of the council, um
I stand today to say that I
oppose this pause.
To freeze the wages
we promised to working class people of the city
is not just a policy delay,
but quite frankly, it's an economic betrayal and a moral
failure.
Mind you, this is a pause to get to
a minimum wage, you all. A minimum wage.
I don't look at this as from an academic perspective, but I think about
this from the people that I represent on the West Side of Chicago.
When you think about the families in Austin, Garfield Park,
North Lawndale, that the same residents that we
see hustle and grind on a daily basis, but we also see the challenges that
they face. And this body has dedicated
years to deal with the structural barriers of Black and brown
Chicagoans that looked out for the prosperity.
But we cannot
at the same time
say that we want to help them, but at the same time
not provide the assistance that they
desperately need.
And the economic logic of pausing this just
doesn't add up.
When you look at the numbers,
Chicago's median income is about
$78,000.
The gap, and I'm not going to call it a gap because it's a canyon.
The median wage for Black Chicago is
$36,000 a year.
But when you look at the Asian and the white families, that number is
over $100,000 a year. When you look at the Latino
families, it's $60,000 a year. Now, how can I
represent communities at a level of $36,000 a
year
support something that barely lifts people out of poverty?
Again, we want Black Chicagoans to survive, pay high
rent, high groceries, and all of that on a third of what other
communities are seeing.
Again, and when you break it down even further,
when I go into
Garfield at 38,000,
North Lawndale at 37,000, these are communities
that are predominantly Black communities on the West Side of Chicago.
And for us to sit back and say that we want to not allow them to
reach a minimum wage,
meaning that if they could pay you less, they would.
And that's what we're doing today, saying that we don't want to allow
people to get to a minimum wage. Again,
I know that the art of compromise is one thing, but there's a difference
between compromise and caving in.
This is a cave in on the people on the South and West Sides of
Chicago, and I don't see how
people could support not letting people get to a
basic minimum wage.
Again, but
the ghosts are saying that the businesses are going to leave, the lights are going
to get turned off.
What about the lights of the residents that we represent?
What about their lights?
What about their bills? What about their groceries?
Will they be able to afford to stay in our city?
But again, the real issue and the real cost that I think about, and this is
something that the previous mayor said all the time, that the cost of neglect is
not
free.
And again, poverty
is the most expensive condition that we have to maintain.
It strains our public health resources.
It fuels some of the trauma and violence that we talk about.
And when we're trying to lift people out of poverty, again,
those dollars go right back into the community.
They don't go
tax sheltering and all that type of stuff.
That money comes right back into our communities.
And unfortunately,
I think we are being shortsighted in our decision
today. Now granted,
we're going to pause for two years
for some people, four years for other people, an
11-year ramp for somebody to get to a
basic minimum wage in this city.
Again,
raising the minimum wage helps our city.
Like I said, that money gets spent in our communities, and these are some
of the poorest of the poor in Chicago.
In just a little research, I did not believe that we've got a community in this
city whose median income is $16,000.
$16,000 median income,
and we want to tell those folks that we don't want them to get to a basic minimum
wage?
Come on, y'all.
I know you're silent because I can't believe that we are doing this to
some of the poorest people in our city.
I want to remind us, and I'll go back and look at
a little bit of history and actually,
one of my
staff persons who calls me from the 1900s because
he's born in the 2000s,
brought up some striking points about today's
conditions and the conditions in France in the
18th century. And he talked about
the parallels between revolutionary France
and the parallels actually in the city of Chicago.And when you look
at it, there are some similarities here because at
that point in time,
France was in a very similar situation,
severe fiscal crisis, debt.
Sound like Chicago.
Wealth disparity.
One group holding all the capital.
Economic segregation.
Deep disinvestment in certain communities.
Kind of sound like Chicago.
Severe resource differences.
There, it was about grain.
And the irony is they talk about let them eat cake, and that's always
a
historical misnomer when you actually look at the history of
how that phrase came about.
But what we're telling
some people is to let them eat cake.
We know that your rent is skyrocketing,
inflation is up.
You don't have access to the same healthcare and things that other communities,
but we'll catch up with you in 11
years.
We'll catch up with you down the road.
Ladies and gentlemen,
while
everybody in this room that sits in this body
is above the Chicago's median income
across every community,
the people
in our communities aren't there.
And while we can understand the arguments, and I have
no ought against anybody that's arguing for their
constituency, be it the business community, be it a
ward, but I do not understand
how those of us who have people
living in poverty can take the position that we
would not allow for them to have a ways that
potentially lifts people up out of that same poverty.
So again,
while I had
intended to defer this item,
I do want to let this thing play out
because I just don't understand how we could
treat
the least of those of our communities in such a way.
And I find it ironic
that come October or September,
when the budget director sends out those slips,
how many of us will pause our wages
that we see on an annual basis? But yet, we want to pause
the wages of some of the poorest Chicagoans that
exist.
I'm going to close with this.
There's a guy I grew up with
who found himself in a situation in the Cook County
Jail.
He was from the area I was from,
and where we lived at, we had a bunch
of Black Stones.
But he found himself in Cook County Jail, surrounded
by a group of people that were from an opposing group.
He decided to join that group for temporary survival
because when he got back home, he got war out
at Center Court Eckersall Park.
People, do not abandon your values for a temporary fix
because you got to come back home.
You got to come back to those communities that we represent.
We've got to come back to the communities that elected us.
We've got to come back to the communities that asked us to come
down here to do the business of the people,
not to kill them. Thank you, Mr. President.
Chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.
And are there other alders that wish to speak to this item?
Hold your hands up, please, so that we can get them recorded.
Alderman Lopez.
Thank you, Mr. President. And again, good afternoon members of the committee.
I'd like to thank my colleague from the west side for his brief remarks on this
topic.
And I just want to go on record as that saying I don't view you as Louis
XVI,
and we're not going to be preaching off with his head simply on this matter.
What I do want to mention is that I think I may be unique
in this room
because I believe when we passed this, I was unique at that time as being the only
person who's ever had a career based on
tips.
And forgive me if I'm wrong, if there's somebody else whose life before
this body was gratuity based.
But mine was.
For 12 years, I worked for
an airline as a sky cap.
And yes, my base wage was a whole
lot lower than everybody else's.
My base wage, I don't even think hit
$16,000 when I started.
I wasn't in poverty
because
what that wage suppression allowed was
for more hours, and if I wanted to work, more
opportunities to put myself
before customers who were willing to tip
meWhat we did
trying to negate that opportunity is
create a situation where people whose jobs are
tip-based
didn't see their
overall income
rise.
They saw their hours shrink.
They saw their opportunities to earn diminish,
and they saw, yes, that hourly rate went up,
but I guarantee you nine out of 10 people who work for tips are not
working for that hourly rate.
Because people who know that if I'm serving, if
I'm valeting, if I'm doing whatever I'm doing
so that I get a gratuity out of the service being
provided, the more people I help, the more
likelihood I'm going to make money.
The more money,
usually, well, when I was employed, it was cash
only. The more dollars in my pocket
to do whatever I needed to do, way beyond
whatever that $14,000 salary was that I had.
And if you only looked
at my $14,000 salary, you'd say,
"Wow,
he must be living in abject poverty."
Now rest assured,
I did report my income,
mostly.
But even then, that wasn't the totality of the experience that I was
living or what many of my colleagues were living.
And that is what we're trying to rectify today because in many
instances, yes, there are some people who
are wanting
both guaranteed minimum
and tips.
That is a wildly different conversation than what we're talking about.
Because if we're going to say to a restaurant that you need
to pay a server,
a waitress, $16 an hour without the credit for making the
difference,
then you best be prepared to tell the consumer
that their pricing is going to double.
That the service that you're providing is going to increase
exponentially. And I'm only using the restaurant industry,
but that applies
to everything that we do in life.
Get a mani-pedi, tip them.
Get your hair cut, tip them.
Valet your car, tip them.
There's an entire universe of tipped people out
there who are hurting by what
we did in this room, thinking we were solving an
issue,
ultimately creating another.
Because if we were only dealing in a world where tips were completely excluded from
the conversation, then my colleague from the West Side would be 100% correct.
Then yes, we should not be trying to fight
this.
But that's not 100% of the case.
We're conveniently omitting one important fact, which is that
people are still getting tipped.
The total compensation that they are getting for what they provide,
I am certain,
is far beyond
the $16 that we're saying.
But if a company can't afford to pay that price,
they are going to do what they do every single time they have an expense.
They start cutting costs.
They start tightening the belt. They start making personnel
decisions on how many hours we can give or how
equitable we can be with who's on what shift, or how do we start doing all of these
things.
And then
you have people who will see,
going back to how I started, their opportunity to make money to
put themselves before a customer
evaporates.
Sixteen dollars an hour doesn't mean squat if you have no
hours,
if you have no opportunity to impress the customer
base with your skills.
This is a compromise that we were
promised years ago. And to be fair, I
didn't like it the first time, but was told that we were going to come back and
address this.
Well, we are here to address this, and we're doing it in a
thoughtful way because yes,
there are different levels,
but we have to be cognizant of the reality of the tip working
universe, and do it in a way that doesn't hold harm
everyone that is trying to make their living based on gratuities.
Thank you, Mr. President.
You're welcome. Alderman Sposato.
Thank you, Mr. President. Believe it or not, I'm all about compromise.
I actually wasn't happy with this compromise either.
I let the restaurant association know that I wasn't happy with this.
I will support it, however. I'm glad there's a compromise.
I commend my colleagues that worked hard for a compromise, and once again, I will
support it. But the damage
we've done already,
people have no idea, the tip workers in the restaurants.
I'm a border ward. As my colleague said, it's really tough for us getting people to
come here. Come to my ward when they go across the street to Norris or Elmwood
Park.
Why would they want to come here? I don't know. They could go across the street.
I too was a tipped worker, not for a living.
As side jobs as a kid growing up, I was a tip worker.
Then when I got a real job, I still continued to work part-time.
Even as an adult, as a fireman, I worked two or three jobs to make a better
life for my family, and my side job was a tip worker, a
bartender, a waiter, a delivery man, whatever it
was.But if we want to help people, everybody, the
thing to do is we need to educate people on tipping.
So since this whole thing that they're getting more money and everything, I
don't know if there's any tip workers behind me over here.
Maybe there is, maybe there isn't.
They would tell you, you go to any restaurant, any decent restaurant, that
their tips have gone down. Okay? They don't get the tips they used to.
They don't get the 25 or 30 they used to get.
They get more 18% to 20% tippers. So, and
guess what? Everybody tips on a credit card. Okay?
Tip your servers, whoever, and tip them
cash. They get that fast money every day, makes an easier life for them.
Nothing like getting money every day, especially if you're struggling.
But we can't compare the person,
man or woman, works part-time at Denny's 20
hours a week, to the person that works full-time at Gibson's that makes big
dough. Most of these server jobs are not meant to
be careers for people. They're side jobs.
So my wife was a stay-at-home mom. That was our choice, and I don't
regret it. But guess what? When the kids
got a little bit older,
starting high school, she got a job at a local restaurant
working part-time, four days a week, Tuesday through Friday, three
hours a day, making squat douche, but it
helped. Okay? She was a tip worker.
You don't make any money working lunches. Anybody will tell you that.
You make all your money when, everybody?
Weekends and holidays, that's when you make your money.
So it's a big sacrifice to be a server or a cook or whatever.
The cooks are the ones that really get screwed. I mean, they don't get anything.
At least some servers could actually make a living.
So,
I just want to remind everybody, be a little bit more generous when you go out
there. Tip in cash. When you have your fundraisers, take care of
everybody. Don't think everything's included.
Go to a banquet hall, take care of the server.
And
I've tried my best, and I don't like singling people out, but I'm going to single
three people out that right there were with me, and that's
Riley, O'Shea, and Quinn. They all happen to be Irish, no coincidence.
Have sacrificed a ton of money throughout these years. A ton.
Those guys, probably you guys realize, and I'm sorry to give you this news
flash, but in the 15 years I've been working with you three guys, you probably
lost $250,000. Not counting
probably...
As wife's watching. You probably gave up 250 grand plus about 30
grand a year the rest of your life in pension money. So we have made the sacrifice.
I have made the sacrifice. Not to the level they have, but I have made a sacrifice
to try to help this city, not take my raises.
I am the 10th lowest paid alderman now.
There was a time I was third or fourth, now I'm the 10th lowest paid alderman.
So I've made that sacrifice. But the main thing is we have to bring this industry
back. You talk to any servers, you talk to any restaurants, that life is
a struggle for them. These people are still going to get the minimum wage.
They still have to match it. If you're a restaurant owner, you know if your worker
doesn't make enough money in tips, then you have to
make that up. So I just would encourage everybody, you want to help this
industry, you feel for these people as I do.
You've done it some point in your life, probably.
I know my seatmate over here did it paying for college.
Be a little more generous, everybody, okay? Try to tip in cash.
Walk around with some cash in your pocket so if you go out to eat, you can tip them
in cash. And be a little more generous.
If you think you're doing somebody a favor, if your 20% is
$8.39 and you tip them
$8.39, give them $10, all right? Come on. All right?
So, but with that, Mr. President, I support this.
Not dead happy about it. I let the restaurant associate know, but it's a good
compromise. I wholeheartedly commend,
I won't mention who you all are. You know who you were that were working on this.
Compromise is a good thing. I 100% support this. So thank you, Mr.
President.
Alderman Villegas.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.
First I want to thank
Alderman Fuentes, Alderman Burnett, Alderman Quinn,
Alderman Nugent.
I call Alderman Rodriguez as well, for having a discussion around
this.
I've said before that
this, in my opinion,
has always been a solution in search of a problem.
Only because 99.96%
of these restaurants were in compliance.
That means 0.04% were not in compliance, and those that were not in
compliance had three vehicles to try to rectify the
issue. They had the U.S. Department of Labor, the Illinois Department of Labor,
and Office of Labor Standards. And in those 0.04%
cases, they were all settled.
And so as these owners tried to get away with this,
they were caught,
and as a result, had to pay or risk losing their license.
So again, this was 99.96% of restaurants were in
compliance.
In Illinois and in Chicago,
there is minimum wage. We have to pay minimum wage. There is no subminimum wage.
It's minimum wage.
Now how you get there is
what we're debating here.
The average tip worker in Illinois makes
$28.40. It's about $60,000 a year.
28 times 2080, about 58, $60,000 a year,
versus the 1660, which would be $34,000 a
year. And we saw what happened in Washington, DC where the
mayor said, "Hey, you know what? This has been a bad policy. We lost too many jobs.
Businesses are closing," and they repealed it.
To date, since we're 10,000 jobs below pandemic, and in
2025, we lost 21 jobs in the hospitality industry.
So it's okay to say, "Hey, you know what? We tried this. It didn't work.
Let's pause for a second and let's fix this, and allow the
economics to play out."
Here what we've seen in the city, we've seen
a-Requirement
on your schedule.
We've seen a mandatory paid leave,
mandatory sick days, and we've seen an increase
now in the tip credit,
as well as property taxes.
Not to mention the things that are outside of our purview, meaning
the tariffs, the insurance, all these things that are outside of our
purview. So we're trying to figure out how to give these
job creators an opportunity to make sure they can stay in business and employ
people.
10,000 jobs below the pre-pandemic in this industry.
So again, I applaud my colleagues for figuring this out. Is this perfect? No.
But this gives us an opportunity to go back and say, "Okay, let's try to fix this,"
and I think this pause does that. And again, I want to thank my colleagues for
getting to the table, having long calls to get to a
point where it's compromise. So I urge an aye vote on this, and
thank you for the hard work, everyone.
Thank you. The chair recognizes Alderman O'Shea.
Thank you.
Several weeks ago in this body,
when we were on this topic,
it was stressed that we collaborate, that we bring people together.
Well, that's exactly what Sam Toia and the Illinois Restaurant Association did.
They
worked with several of my colleagues,
Alderman Burnett, Alderman Fuentes, Alderman Quinn, Alderman
Nugent, Alderman Villegas.
And was just mentioned, this isn't perfect.
But I serve as Alderman of the 19th Ward,
an integrated community
with restaurants like Sanders BBQ,
Afro Joe's, Flippin' Flavors,
Ain't She Sweet Cafe,
The Drip Bakery,
Soul Food Lounge, La Catrina, Americanos,
Andy's Sunflower Cafe.
Every one of them is owned by a Latino or a Black.
Every one of them
I've heard from
over the last several years.
Things like, "Matt,
my wife and I are looking at Oak Lawn.
We're looking at Evergreen Park. We're looking at Blue Island." Those are my
neighboring suburbs.
"We don't want to leave Beverly. We don't want to leave Morgan Park.
We don't want to leave Mount Greenwood. We love this community.
We can't continue to operate like this."
And the people that work for them,
they're primarily minorities.
So it's been said here many times, border wards face an even
more difficult battle.
This is compromise.
This is people sitting down. This is people finding
middle ground.
If the restaurants don't exist or the restaurants leave and go to the
suburbs,
nobody's got a job.
I believe we just saved hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs.
That's all I have.
Okay.
Thank you.
Alderman Burnett.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I really want to first say thank you to all of my colleagues
for trusting me to lead this conversation on compromise.
Six months into this job, and you all made it seem possible that we can get
somewhere to get it done. And by no means was this easy.
There were conversations up until midnight the day before to get something in
paper,
well into the morning, hours before the actual committee,
to get something on paper that everyone was okay with.
And I say okay because as has been noted by everyone, no one's happy.
There is a lot of frustration on both sides of the aisle, and I want to
say thank you to Sam and Mary Kay from the Restaurant Association, as well as
Richard from the One Fair Wage team, and the One Fair Wage team.
Because everyone understands the importance in this
moment to compromise to protect
workers. When you have a report coming out from restaurants saying that
94% will either cut jobs or cut
hours, reducing people's ability to have healthcare,
this is a serious issue.
We are a restaurant city at heart, and our food's good.
It's not the best food in the world. I'm sorry.
Wait, hear me out. Hear me out.
But it's the
service,
it is the service in Chicago that makes our restaurants stand out.
So we have to make sure that all of our workers are protected in this season.
Yeah, I was giving a little, I know, I was building up at the moment. Apologize.
Our food's great. Don't get me wrong. Still the best food in the country.
But this is a really great opportunity for us to take the time to
examine the issues and challenges that are happening in the restaurant industry
today.
Between the national issues that aren't our fault at all, the tariffs, the
increased gas prices, the changing technology,
we need the opportunity to study how all of these cost impacts
are making our restaurant industry struggle, because things are
changing.Whether we like it or not, they're changing the technology.
Alderman Sposato mentioned the credit cards and the fees that they pay, and making
restaurants pay in order to just do basic payment
opportunities.
There are a lot of new additions post-pandemic that are
encumbering our restaurants in the city of Chicago because of it.
So let's take the time to do the right diligence, and more importantly, let's make
sure that we figure out how to hold these bad actors accountable.
There is rate stuff that goes on. By all means, there's one in my ward that's still
in litigation to this day.
And we have to figure out how we make sure that our workers are protected, and that
they aren't going two years trying to get their back pay for a job that
they did three, four years ago. That's not acceptable,
and it's on us to figure out how we make sure that those restaurants and those bad
actors are being held accountable for their actions.
But today, today is an opportunity to meet the need of both the
workers and the restaurateurs who are trying to employ people in communities,
whether it's downtown, in Garfield Park, out
in Lawndale. We need our restaurants.
They are the places where our community go to feel like home.
It is our identity.
And if we don't have them, we aren't connected.
So I thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to making
sure that we got here.
Alderperson Fuentes, Alderman Quinn,
Alderwoman Nugent, Alderman Villegas, and
Chairman Rodriguez.
This has been a team collaborative effort.
I truly mean that. It gave me hope in what government
can actually be.
Because we all know where we were a month ago, and it wasn't cordial.
So thank you all for the support, and I please ask my colleagues to support this
endeavor on behalf of everyone.
Are there any other alders that wish to speak to this
item?
Alderman Moore.
The food is the best in the world.
All right. Thank you for that. Are there any other alders that wish to speak
to this item?
All right, seeing no other hands, Alder Fuentes would like to close.
And before the chairman closes.
Thank you, Mr. President. When compromise is
reached,
people don't leave happy.
I know I'm not happy about this. I'm quite heartbroken.
As someone who introduced the One Fair Wage ordinance to this body almost
three years ago,
I did it because I understood one thing, the hospitality industry is
inequitable.
Women in particular have to consistently face sexual
harassment to get tips to make that livable wage to be able to pay
their bills at home.
That not all restaurants are able to send their
tipped workers home with an average hourly rate of $25
an hour.
That so many tipped workers in the city of Chicago do not
report wage theft because we currently have a
system that takes about two to three years to reach a verdict
on whether or not they're going to get their back pay from that
reporting.
There is a system that doesn't allow folks to have confidence
that when they report that wage theft, that there won't be any
retaliation.
We fought for One Fair Wage so that no
matter the color of one's skin or the zip code that they reside in, that they
can take a wage home that will pay their bills and
support their families. That is why we passed One Fair Wage, and I
still to this day believe that that's important.
I do. I still believe today that the commitment we made three years
ago to phase out the subminimum wage and to have folks make a
minimum wage with tips on top is still the thing that this
municipality must do.
But we all came in with concerns,
and we have all heard from the business sector,
and we heard each other the last time that we voted down an
ordinance that sought to eliminate One Fair Wage in its
entirety.
This compromise is an ordinance that will
listen to the business sector and say they need a beat.
They need a beat because of the tariffs that our president has put in
place that has increased the cost of food, oil, gas.
That they need a beat from insurance companies that are doubling their
policies overnight.
That they need a beat to make sure that they can keep their doors open and keep
their folks employed.
And this pause makes a promise
that once business owners have that beat,
that our tipped workers will get a wage increase,
and that we will not capitulate on that commitment that they will get a raise.
I don't love the compromise, but it brings
two sides to the table to meet in the middle.
And the alternative is that we keep a tip
credit and that the conditions that we are fighting
against continue to exist.
And so I ask the body for a couple things.
Allow this to be the last time that we litigate this.
Let us take the pause. Let businesses have the beat,
and then let's give all workers the raises that they deserve.
Let's lean on our state colleagues to figure out how we hold insurance
companies responsible for the level of increases that
are pricing them out of the ability to even be owners of the
hospitality businesses that they have in our wards.
And when tipped workers report to us that
someone has stolen their wages, let us fight like
hell to make sure they get their fair
payAnd so today, we're going to pass this
compromise, but that's not the end of our work.
There's so much that we need to do for workers in the city
of Chicago. Because our business owners are facing rent increases,
so are our workers. Our businesses are facing utility
increases, so are our workers.
And we also have an obligation to them.
And I'm a person of my word. We reached a compromise, and that compromise
I will support today. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you.
Chairman, before you close,
Alderman Knudson has requested to participate
in this portion of the meeting
remotely for reasons stated in Rule 59.
Madam Clerk, can you confirm his-
Alderman Knudson
... presence?
I'm present. Thank you.
Can I get a motion for the approval? It's been moved and seconded.
All those in favor
signify by saying aye. Any opposed say nay.
In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.
All right, our final speaker here for this item, Chairman.
Sorry, Alderman Beale is back.
He wants to speak.
Thank you.
Alderman Beale.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to speak on this
briefly, because I know it's been a long day for everybody.
However,
I just want to play the tape back
from when we first talked about this issue.
And
I want to, first of all, commend my colleagues for
understanding that we were hurting business.
And if you hurt business, you hurt jobs in the end.
Without business, there are no jobs.
And so
when this ordinance was passed
initially, we asked very pertinent
questions about had we done any
research, had we done any background, had we
talked to people about the impact of this ordinance?
And the answer to that question was no.
It was no.
So we can't pass ordinances in this body without
doing research, without doing some type of impact
study on what it's going to do to business, what
it's going to do to jobs.
And so we had to learn the hard way
with this ordinance.
We had to wait to lose jobs. We had to wait to lose businesses.
We had to wait to see how harmful this ordinance was to decide,
"Oh, let's compromise."
Well, if we had just done the work in the beginning, we wouldn't be where we are
today.
And so let me just
remind everyone that if we do that,
we can make better decisions, and we won't have to wait until
people have lost their jobs and lost their wages before
we decide to do something in this body.
So I just want to implore everybody as we move forward that we
cannot continue to pass ordinances because I have a gut feeling,
or
I made a promise during the campaign that we need to do something
for this.
That ain't how government works.
Do your research,
get the data, let's make an educated decision before we move
forward. So I want to commend my colleagues for understanding that we made a bad
mistake, and we had to regroup and compromise. So thank you, Mr. President.
Chairman Rodriguez.
Let's talk about the data. I'd like to.
Since July 1st, 2024, the implementation of One Fair Wage,
the city has issued 1,574
new retail food establishment licenses, RFEs.
The RFE renewal rate is not just steady, it's grown
by a wide margin. In 2022, '23, and
'24, 81% of RFE licenses were
renewed. That rate increased in 2025.
50% fewer RFEs were canceled,
Alderman, in 2024 than were in 2023.
At the same time, there have been net gains in RFE licenses
in the city of Chicago.
Almost 700 in the last two years.
Every study
that's done indicates
that when we set an eight-hour workday, that when
we raise the minimum wage,
that when we create better working conditions for
workers, businesses thrive. The state of
California, it's happening.
Now look,
this president has created unprecedented
damages to our economy. I've heard
that from our businesses. The fact is, we
had an excellent committee meeting.
I was absolutely floored by hearing both
from Saru from One Fair Wage and then Sam from the Illinois Restaurant
Association. Both were extremely articulate, brought
facts.
And listen, I got to step back and say, "I got to hear people out, and
I've got to understand."
So in this environment, under this president at this
time,
I'm very happy to have worked
with Alderman Quinn
and others, principally with Alderman Fuentes
and Burnett, in reaching this compromise.
I know Alderman Villegas and Nugent were also very involved as
well.Look, I get the sentiment from my colleague
on the West Side. I'm with you. I'm glad we talked this morning.
I'm glad we talked it out as well. I'm hearing you.
I'm with you.
But I'm also
with my small businesses, and I'm also with my workers, and I've
got to listen to them. And right now, they're calling for a
compromise, and they're also calling for us not
to roll back the full
platform for us to get to this full minimum wage,
which I'm very much committed to. And with that said, Mr.
President, I renew my motion.
Very well. There's a motion therefore for the approval of this
item,
which the
call was for the move of the passage by the same roll call
that was previously applied to the first item in the finance committee,
as well as the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
Chairman Alderman Ervin?
I'd like to be recorded as a no.
Alderman Ervin would like to be recorded as a no.
Very well. Hearing no other objections, seeing no other
hands,
so ordered.
That concludes my report.
Thank you, Chairman. For the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, Building, and
Standards,
Chair recognizes Chairman Villegas.
Good afternoon, Mr. President, members of the City Council.
Presenting two reports for the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building
Standards, which held a meeting on May 6th, 2026.
The following items were passed by a majority of members present, and are grouped
for convenience. Page one contains document number
R2026-0023384,
a resolution renaming the Austin Satellite Senior Center as the Lillian
Drummond Austin Satellite Senior.
And I move for passage of this item by the same favorable roll call vote
of the Finance Committee report and the associated unsuccessful
motion to reconsider. Mr. President, my colleagues from
the 28th and 29th Ward would like to say a word.
Very well. The Chair recognizes Alderman Taliaferro.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'll be very brief.
Ms. Lillian "Mama Lil" Drummond passed away in
January 2026,
at the age of 104. She was a matriarch, the true matriarch of the
Austin community, and she left a very, very rich legacy.
Part of that legacy included her advocacy for
bringing the Austin Satellite Senior Citizen to the Austin community.
And from that satellite center, she advocated
for resources.
She advocated for rights of seniors and others
on the West Side of Chicago. So I believe it's not only appropriate,
Mr. President, I believe it's very deserving to rename the Austin
Senior Satellite Center in her honor. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Alderman Ervin.
Thank you, Mr. President. I echo the comments of Alderman
Taliaferro of the 29th Ward. Ms. Drummond was actually a
neighbor of ours early when we lived in the Austin community in the '70s.
Was a force of nature then, until her dying days, was still a
force of nature. So, as the chairman has stated, this is a
befitting honor for such a great woman who served the Austin community
for all of those years. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. Chairman Villegas.
Mr. President, on that, I move passage of this item by this last most favorable
roll call vote of the Finance Committee report and the associated
unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
Hearing no objection, so ordered.
Page one also contains two historical landmark designations.
The first is located in the Third Ward at 4644 South Dearborn for
St. Paul Christian Methodist
Episcopal Church. The second is for 30 North LaSalle, located in
the 34th Ward. I move for passage of these items by the same motion if there's no
objection.
Hearing none, so ordered.
Page one through two contain various large signs over 100
square feet in area 24 feet above grade in
Wards 1, 3, 25, 27, 28, 32,
42, 45, and 50. I move passage of these items by the same motion if
there's no objection.
Hearing none, so ordered.
Lastly, pages two through 20 contain various map
amendments in Wards 2, 3, 8, 11, 15, 20, 21,
25, 26, 27, 30, 32, 33,
34, 36, 39, 40, 43, 44,
45, 46, 47, 48, and 50. I move
for passage of these items by the same motion if there's no objection, with the
exception of document number
02025-0016791,
located at 215 North Racine in the 27th Ward,
which will be held in committee.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Mr. President, that concludes my first report. Mr.
President, the second report,
members of City Council,
reporting for the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards, which
held a meeting on May 19th, 2026. The following items were passed by a
majority of the members present and are grouped for convenience.
Page one contains documents number
02026-0024064, the
amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 17-9 regarding waste-related uses,
recycling facilities, container storage, freight terminal, outdoor storage
of raw material, composting, manganese-bearing
material, and I move for passage of this item by this last favorable roll call vote
of the Committee on Finance report and the associated unsuccessful motion to
reconsider.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Page one also contains document number
020260024923, the amendment of
Municipal Code Title 17 by modifying Section
17-3-0207 in regards to gas
stations. I move passage of this item by the same motion, if there is no objection.
Hearing none, so ordered.
Page one also contains document number
020250018447, the amendment of Municipal
Code Chapter 17-7 that establishes the Cicero Avenue Light
Equipment Sales Rental Overlay District.
I move passage of this item by the same motion, if there is no objection.
Hearing none, so ordered.
Page one also contains document number
020250021852, the amendment of Municipal
Code Title 14 regarding stop work order criteria, as well as
excavation work on private property.
I move passage of this item by the same motion, if there is no objection.
Hearing none, so ordered.
Page one also contains document number
SO2025-0017570,
the amendment of Municipal Code Section
17-3-0301 regarding
regulations on public place of amusement licenses.
I move passage of this item by the same motion, if there is no objection.
Hearing none, so ordered.
Page one also contains three historical landmark designations in the 43rd
Ward for the Roger Brown Home and Studio, located at 1926
North Halsted, Burn Hall, located at 2219 North Kenmore,
and Cortelyou Commons, located at 2324
North Chalmers. I move passage of this item by the same motion, if there is no
objection.
Hearing none, so ordered.
Moving on to page two, contains three fee waivers for historical landmark property
in the 4th Ward, located at 3309, 3311, and
3313 South Prairie Avenue. I move passage of these items by the same motion,
if there is no objection.
Hearing none, so ordered.
Page two contains various large signs over 100 square feet in area, 24 feet
above grade, in Wards 1, 11, 23, 25,
27, 28, 29, 35, 41, 42,
45, 48, and 50. I move passage of these items by the same motion, if
there is no objection.
Hearing none, so ordered.
Lastly, pages three through 11 contain various map amendments in Wards
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13,
16, 21, 22, 26, 27,
32, 36, 39, 44, 47, and
49. I move passage of these items by the same motion, if there is no objection,
with the exception of document number
02026002460, located
at 1313 to 1315 West Ancona Street in
the 27th Ward, which will be held in committee.
Hearing no objection, so ordered.
Which one?
Well, that's not in my...
Happy to report that the backlog is complete, ladies and gentlemen, so, Mr.
President, that concludes my report.
Very well.
The Committee on Economic Capital and Technology, chair recognizes Chairman
Curtis.
Thank you, Mr. President, members of the City Council.
Reporting for Committee of Economic Capital and Technology
Development. On Monday, May 11th, 2026, the committee
held a meeting to recommend passage of the following
items.
Items one through six on the report are appointments of the
following people to the following special service areas.
Eric
Kirshner and Gene
Salator, SSA number
17-2025, Central
Lakeview, Wrigleyville.
Jose Cruz, SSA number 24, Clark
Street.
Lindsey
Moyer, Adam Rosario,
and Loretta Stewart, SSA number 82,
Division and Dearborn.
I move for passage of these items by the first favor roll call
vote of the Committee on Finance and the
unsuccessful motion to
reconsider.
Hearing no objection, so ordered.
Thank you.
I am excited,
Mr. President, and honored to report out
item seven
on this report, an ordinance for Class B
tax incentive with the United Center Joint Venture
for property at 1931 to
1935 West Madison Street,
1950 to 56,
1830
to 1859 West Adams,
21 South Damen Avenue,
1728,
1859, and 1925 West
Monroe Street.
Mr. President,
I'm proud of this item because-
You make your motion first, Chairman
... I move for passage of this item by the
first favor roll call vote of the Committee on
Finance and associated unsuccessful motion.
Now you may speak to the item, Chairman.
Yeah. What I was saying, I am so proud of this
item because,
in the hearing, there was orders and
many groups that were saying that they wasn't
a part of this project.
And
in an amount of 10 days, everyone came together,
compromised, and got this done within the 10 days.
So, congratulations to the 1901 and Alderman
Burnett.
Thank you. Alderman Moore
Thank you, Mr. President.
I think there's a lot of media reporting about the
tax breaks that's being given here, over $50 million.
It gave me some pause at first, but then after
talking with
Alderman Burnett, which is very important for people to know this, and this is what
the media is not reporting,
is that the current parking lots over there,
due to some previous arrangements and past
administrations, are not currently paying property taxes.
And so once we get this done, not only with the
parking structure and the property that's coming
there will be paying property taxes, but the many jobs for
residents that live throughout this city, it'll be
beneficial to them. And so I want people to know
that that's not a concern,
who was concerned about property taxes being passed on to them.
So I think this is a great opportunity, and I thank Alderman Burnett and
everyone else who worked on this. Thank you.
Alderman Lopez.
Thank you, Chairman. Excuse me. Thank you, Mr.
President and members of the City Council.
I, too, wish to congratulate my colleague on this
project, and I also wish to speak to what the chairman referenced, which
was our concerns about Latino participation, and to see that not
only are we addressing the concerns mentioned at committee, but
also putting pathways together moving forward so that we are
being fully inclusive of all demographics
in this city, I think is a great thing that we can all champion and be proud of.
So I commend my colleague and your team, as well as
the development team for bringing that to fruition. Thank you.
Thank you. There's a motion on the floor for the passage of this item.
Seeing no other hands, hearing no objections, so ordered.
Chairman Curtis.
President, item number eight on the report is
the
support of Class L tax incentive with 30 North
LaSalle Owner, LLC for property at 30 North
LaSalle Street. I move for passage of this
item for first favorable roll call vote of the Committee on
Finance and the associated unsuccessful
motion to reconsider.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Item nine on the report is a substitute ordinance amending
SSA 34 Uptown regarding
service provider agreement with Uptown United and
the 2026 tax levy.
I move for passage of this item by the first favorable roll call vote
on Committee on Finance and associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Item 10 on the report is a substitute order
for the city controller directed to activate
provisions of MC
11-12-470
Leak Relief Pilot Program.
This item was passed
in committee on a vote eight to two.
I
make a motion to actually pass this item by the first favorable roll
call vote on Committee on Finance and associated unsuccessful
motion to reconsider.
Hearing no objections, so ordered. Up.
Alderman LaSpada.
Very briefly, I'd be recorded as a no vote on that item. Thank you.
Despite the division, hearing no other objections, so
ordered.
Good.
Thank you, Mr. President. That concludes my report.
Thank you, and that completes our committee reports.
Agreed upon calendar, the chair recognizes Chairwoman Harris.
Thank you, Mr. President. I've received from the city clerk, Andrea M.
Valencia, a total of 114 items proposed for the
agreed calendar, consisting of congratulatory, commemorative,
tribulatory resolutions from Clerk Valencia and
the following alderpersons. Alderperson Hopkins, Alderperson Robinson,
Alderperson Harris, Alderperson Chico, Alderperson Quinn, Alderperson
Lopez, Alderperson Pollman, Alderperson Moore, Alderperson O'Shea,
Alderperson Taylor, Alderperson Mosley, Alderperson
Rodriguez, Alderperson Tavares, Alderperson Cecil Lopez,
Alderperson Fuentes, Alderperson Cruz, Alderperson
Conway, Alderperson Viegas, Alderperson Nugent, Alderperson
Vasquez, Alderperson Gardner, Alderperson Clay,
Alderperson Anna Hoppenworth, and two additional from
Alderperson Emma Mitts from the 37th Ward.
With that, I move these in the omnibus. Thank you.
Very well. Thank you. Hearing no objections, so ordered. New business.
We'll start with the First Ward.
Zoning amendments, which are referred to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and
Building Standards. Traffic regulations, traffic control signals, and traffic
signs, which are referred to the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety.
Exemption from physical barrier requirements for commercial driveway alley access
to parking facilities, which are referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Public Way.
Alderperson LaSpada has proposed ordinance for amendment of Municipal Code Chapter
17-6 by adding a new Section
17-6-0500 to establish a new I
institutional zoning district, which is referred to the Committee on Zoning,
Landmarks, and Building Standards.
Alderpersons LaSpada, Fuentes, and Knutson have proposed ordinance
for amendment of Municipal Code by repealing and replacing Section
2-8-300 in its entirety regarding basis for
ward redistricting, which is referred to the Committee on Committees and Rules.
Alderperson LaSpada has proposed various orders for the issuance of permits for
sign boards, which are referred to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building
Standards. Alderperson Dowell has proposed a resolution to call for hearings on the
2026 primary election updates, vote-by-mail, and
absentee voting procedures, which is referred to the Committee on the Budget and
Government Operations.
Alderpersons Hall and Hopkins have proposed ordinance for amendment of Municipal
Code Chapter 8-8 by adding a new Section
8-8-150 to allow superintendent to notify relevant
social media companies when probable cause exists that social media
posts promote disruptive youth gatherings in Chicago, which is
referred to the Committee on Public Safety.
Alderperson Hall has proposed ordinance for amendment of Municipal Code Titles 2
and 7 by adding new chapters 2-113 and 7-60
regarding pharmacy access, which is referred to the Committee on Health and Human
Relations.
Alderperson Hall also has a proposed ordinance for amendment of Municipal Code
Section 4-60-022 and
4-60-023 to disallow additional alcoholic liquor licenses
and package goods licenses on portion of South Halsted Street, which is referred to
the Committee on License and Consumer Protection.
Alderperson Mitchell has proposed ordinance for amendment of Municipal Code Titles
2, 9, and 11 regarding fines for illegal dumping and adding a new
section, 2-14-132, authorizing impoundment of
vehicles used in fly dumping, which is referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Public Way.
Alderperson Mitchell also has proposed ordinance for amendment of Municipal Code
Section 4-60-073 by decreasing
maximum number of lake
vendor liquor licenses issued during any license period from 31 to
30, which is referred to the Committee on License and Consumer Protection.
Alderperson Chico has a proposed ordinance for amendment of the annual
appropriation ordinance to transfer funds from the 10th Ward Wage Allowance Account
to the Alder Medic Expense Account for the year 2026, which is referred to the
Committee on the Budget and Government Operations.
Alderperson Lee has proposed ordinance for amendment of the annual appropriation
ordinance to transfer funds from the 11th Ward Alder Medic Expense Account to the
Wage Allowance Account for the year 2026, which is referred to the Committee on the
Budget and Government Operations.
Alderperson Lee and others have proposed resolution for submission of a public
question by referendum to Chicago voters at the November 3rd,
2026 general election on if Chicago should develop permanent
festival and outdoor event space for large scale events, which is referred
to the Committee on Committees and Rules.
Alderperson Quinn has proposed resolution for submission of a public question by
referendum of Chicago voters at the November 3rd, 2026 general election
on whether Chicago should restart use of gunshot detection
technology that informs first responders when gunshots are detected, which is
referred to the Committee on Committees and Rules.
Alderperson Gutierrez has proposed ordinance for dedication of public
ways bounded by West 50th Street, South Pulaski Road, West 51st
Street, and West Kamensky Avenue, and vacation of portions of West 51st
Street from West Kamensky Avenue to South Pulaski Road, which is referred
to the Committee on Transportation and Public Way.
Alderperson Gutierrez also has proposed ordinance for amendment of Municipal Code
section 4-60-022 to disallow additional alcoholic
liquor licenses on portion of West 55th Street, which is referred to the Committee
on License and Consumer Protection.
Alderperson Lopez and others have proposed order for the prohibition of the
Department of Law from using certificates of innocence
issued during State Attorney Kim Fox's term as evidence to justify
city settlement cases, which is referred to the Committee on Public Safety.
Two committees called.
The Committee on Public Safety and the Committee on Police and Fire, the matter is
referred to the Committee on Committees and Rules.
Alderperson Lopez and others also have proposed resolution for expression of
support for US partnership with Taiwan and for formalization
of trade and tourism office, which is referred to the Committee on Economic,
Capital and Technology Development.
Alderperson Lopez has a proposed ordinance for amendment of Municipal Code Title 2
by modifying chapters 2-78 and 2-84 regarding
appointments of chief administrator, police board members, and superintendent of
police, which is referred to the Committee on Public Safety.
Alderpersons Lopez, Gardner, and Silverstein have proposed ordinance for amendment
of Municipal Code Section 8-32-065 to
establish noise-sensitive zones for places of worship during service hours,
which is referred to the Committee on Public Safety.
Alderperson Lopez has proposed ordinance for amendment of Municipal Code Chapter
7-38 by adding various sections regarding mobile coffee vendor
requirements and inspections, which is referred to the Committee on License and
Consumer Protection. Alderpersons Lopez, Beale, Napolitano,
Riley, and Gardner have proposed ordinance for the city controller directed to
promulgate rules and regulations for creation of quarterly property
tax rebate program, which is referred to the Committee on Finance.
Alderperson Lopez has a proposed ordinance for establishment of a universal TIF
neighborhood improvement program ordinance, which is referred to the Committee on
Finance.
Alderperson Coleman has proposed ordinance for closing of the public alley in the
area bounded by West 69th Street, South Bell Avenue, West 68th Street, and
South Hamilton Avenue, which is referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Public Way. Alderperson Moore has proposed ordinance for an honorary
street designation as Mamie and E.L.
Till Road, which is referred to the Committee on Transportation and Public Way.
Alderperson Curtis has proposed ordinance for an honorary street designation as
Mamie and E.L. Till Road, which is referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Public Way. Alderman O'Shea has a proposed ordinance for an honorary street
designation as Honorable
Martin McGary Way, which is referred to the Committee on Transportation and Public
Way. Alderperson Mosley has proposed ordinance for amendment of the annual
appropriation ordinance to transfer funds from the 21st Ward Wage
Allowance Account to the Alder Medic Expense Account for the year 2026, which is
referred to the Committee on the Budget and Government Operations.
Alderperson Tabaris and others have proposed resolution to call for hearings
regarding Cook County court system operations and impact on city's annual
budget, appropriations, resource allocation, operations, and
overall public safety, which is referred to the Committee on Public Safety.
Alderperson Tabaris has proposed ordinance for an honorary street designation as
Mamie and E.L. Till Road, which is referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Public Way. Alderperson Tabaris also has proposed ordinance for a
renewal of designation of the 4th, 28th, 29th, 30th,
and 32nd precincts of the 23rd Ward as restricted residential zones
prohibiting additional shared housing units and vacation rentals, which is referred
to the Committee on License and Consumer Protection.
Alderperson Citro Lopez has a proposed order for the issuance of permits for
signs/signboards at 551
West 18th Street, which is referred to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and
Building Standards. Alderperson Citro Lopez also has proposed order for the
issuance of permits for signs/signboards at 2404 South Wolcott Avenue, which
is referred to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building
Standards.Alderperson Burnett has proposed orders for the issuance of permits for
signs and signboards at various locations, which are referred to the Committee on
Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards.
Alderperson Burnett also has an honorary street designation for Honorary Fred
Weiss Way, which is referred to the Committee on Transportation and Public Way.
Alderperson Burnett and Alderperson Espada have opposed ordinance for amendment of
Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 to
allow additional package good licenses on a portion of West Chicago Avenue, which
is referred to the Committee on Licensed Consumer Protection.
Alderperson Irvin has proposed orders for supportive extension of class 6B tax
incentive for the property at 1951 West Hastings Street, which is referred
to the Committee on Economic, Capital, and Technology Development.
Alderperson Cruz has proposed an ordinance for an honorary street designation as
Jennifer Zacarias Carlson Way, which is referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Public Way. Alderperson Waguespack has proposed orders for issuance of permit
for signs and signboards at 2023 West Fullerton Avenue, which is referred to the
Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards.
Alderperson Rodriguez Sanchez has proposed ordinance for honorary street
designation as Zahira Masood Way, which is referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Public Way. Alderperson Rodriguez Sanchez also has
proposed ordinance for amendment of the annual appropriation ordinance to transfer
funds from the 33rd Ward Wage Allowance Account to the Allotment Expense Account
for the year 2026, which is referred to the Committee on the Budget and Government
Operations. Alderperson Rodriguez Sanchez also has proposed orders for amendment of
the annual appropriation notice to transfer funds within the Committee on Health
and Human Relations for the year 2026, which is referred to the Committee on the
Budget and Government Operations.
Alderperson Rodriguez Sanchez also has proposed resolution for expression of
solidarity with Irish Americans and allies who support Good Friday
Agreement, and the people of Ireland to
determine their future in referendums, which is referred to the Committee on Health
and Human Relations. Alderperson Conway has proposed orders for the issuance of
permits for signs and signboards at various locations, which are referred to the
Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards.
Alderman Casada has a proposed ordinance for a designation of 3231
North California Avenue, 2752 through
2762 West Melrose Street as a low affordability community, which is
referred to the Committee on Housing and Human Relations.
Alderperson Villegas has proposed resolution to call on the Illinois General
Assembly to advance legislation to create safeguards
for safety and mental wellbeing of children in face of growing
use of artificial intelligence technologies, which is referred to the
Committee on Economic, Capital, and Technology Development.
Alderman Villegas also has proposed resolution to call on the
Illinois General Assembly to pass the Power Act to ensure establishment of
environmental, water, and energy standards for new
hyperscale data centers in Illinois, which is referred to the Committee on
Committees and Rules. Alderman Villegas also has proposed resolution to call for
hearings to assess status of lead service line replacement efforts,
which is referred to the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection.
Alderperson Villegas also has proposed ordinance for amendment of Municipal Code
Titles 4 and 11 by modifying various sections and adding a new section,
4-228-218,
regarding purchase, collection, transportation, and disposal of airbags not
attached to motor vehicles, which is referred to the Committee on Public Safety.
Alderperson Villegas,
Yancy, and others have a proposed resolution for submission of a public question by
referendum to Chicago voters at the February 23rd, 2027
primary election on if Chicago should withhold funding from its
sister agencies that do not enforce debt repayment plans for
outstanding debt owed to the city, which is referred to the Committee on Committees
and Rules. Alderperson Nugent has a proposed ordinance for an
honorary street designation as Ken Fowler Way, which is referred to the Committee
on Transportation and Public Way.
Alderperson Nugent also has proposed resolution for submission of a public question
by referendum to Chicago voters at the February 23rd,
2027 primary election on if Chicago should create
permanent monument celebrating Chicago's global
contributions to music and arts, which is referred to the Committee on
Committees and Rules.
Alderperson Nugent also has proposed resolution for submission of a public question
by referendum to Chicago voters at the November 3rd, 2026 general election
on if Chicago should make contributions to the city's pension funds in first
quarter of year to reduce long-term debt, which is referred to the Committee on
Committees and Rules. Alderperson Vasquez has proposed resolution to call
for hearings on data and databases utilized by City Council
Office of Financial Analysis, which is referred to the Committee on the Budget and
Government Operations. Alderman Vasquez, Alderman Gutierrez, and others have
proposed resolution for expression of support for preservation and expansion of
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA program protections,
which is referred to the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
Alderperson Riley has proposed orders for the issuance of permits for signs and
signboards at various locations, which are referred to the Committee on Zoning,
Landmarks, and Building Standards.
Alderperson Riley also has proposed resolution as a tribute to the late
Sam Sianis, which is referred to the Committee on Committees and Rules.
Alderperson Riley and Alderperson Waguespack have proposed resolution for
submission of public question by referendum to Chicago voters at the February 23rd,
2027 primary election on if Chicago City
Council should establish and fully fund its own independent legal counsel
separate from the city's law department, which is referred to the Committee on
Committees and Rules. Alderperson Knutson has proposed ordinance for amendment of
Municipal Code Section
2-156-070, prohibiting use or
disclosure of confidential information by current or former board or office
of inspector general employees for prediction markets or
event-based contracts, which is referred to the Committee
on Ethics and Government Oversight.
Alderperson Lawson has proposed ordinance for amendment of Municipal Code Section
17-12-1105-B, authorizing
zoning administrators to install aesthetic roof signs on West Waveland
Avenue and on North Sheffield Avenue facing into Wrigley Field, which is referred
to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards.
Alderperson Lawson also has proposed ordinance for amendment of Municipal Code
Section 17-9-0109A to
require special use approval for all gas
stationsFor additions that would add
seven or EV supply chargers, which is referred to the Committee
on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards.
Alderperson Lawson also has a proposed ordinance for amendment of Municipal Code
Section 17-3-0500 regarding
reclassification of pedestrian retail streets, which is referred to the Committee
on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards.
Alderperson Lawson also has a proposed ordinance for a zoning reclassification maps
numbers 5F, 7F, 7G, and
9G at 3000 through 3432 and 3600
through 3800 North Clark, and amendment of Municipal Code Section
17-3-0503D, establishing pedestrian
streets and retail streets on portions of various public ways, which are referred
to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards.
Alderperson Clay has a proposed ordinance for designation of 3611
through 3625 North Halsted as a low affordability community, which is referred
to the Committee on Housing and Real Estate.
Alderperson Martin has a proposed ordinance for amendment of the annual
appropriation ordinance to transfer funds from the
47th Ward aldermanic expense account to the wage allowance account for the year
2026, which is referred to the Committee on the Budget and Government Operations.
Alderperson Martin also has a proposed ordinance for amendment of Municipal Code
Chapter 2-92 by adding a new section,
2-92-591, prohibiting city departments and agencies from
procuring disposable food service containers composed of
polystyrene foam, which is referred to the Committee on Energy and
Environmental Protection. Alderperson Martin also has a proposed order for the
Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protections, directing them to
formulate a plan for one-stop shop business licensing and permitting portal,
which is referred to the Committee on License and Consumer Protection.
Alderperson Hadden has a proposed ordinance for amendment of Municipal Code Section
4-60-023 to disallow additional package goods licenses on
portion of West Howard Street, which is referred to the Committee on License and
Consumer Protection. Alderperson Hadden also has a proposed ordinance for amendment
of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 to disallow additional package
alcoholic liquor licenses on portions of North Clark Street, which is referred to
the Committee on License and Consumer Protection.
Alderperson Silverstein has a proposed order for the issuance of permits for signed
sign boards at 6191 North Lincoln Avenue, which is referred to the Committee on
Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards, and a proposed ordinance for amendment
of Municipal Code Section 4-60-022 to allow additional alcoholic
liquor licenses on portion of West Devon Avenue, which is referred to the Committee
on License Consumer Protection. Your Honor, that concludes the presentation of
aldermanic introductions.
Thank you. For the approval of the journal, Chair recognizes Alderman Mitchell.
Yeah.
I'm not aware of any corrections to the journal from the April
15, 2026 meeting. Move that it be approved.
Hearing no objection, so ordered.
Alders Irvin, Hall, Hopkins, and Rodriguez have
all asked to participate in the final portion of our meeting
remotely for reasons stated
in Rule 59.
Can we please confirm their attendance online?
Alderman Hall?
Present. Thank you so much, you all.
Alderman Rodriguez?
Here.
Alderman Irvin?
Yeah. Alderman Irvin is present.
Alderman Yancy?
Hopkins.
Oh, sorry. Alderman Hopkins?
Present.
Right. Can I get a motion to approve their remote participation?
Been moved. All those in favor signify by saying aye.
Aye.
Any opposed say nay. In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it.
For unfinished business, Alderman Mitchell.
Mr. President, I'm aware of one piece of unfinished business.
It was filed by Alderman Martin, and I defer to him.
Very well. The Chair recognizes Alderman Martin.
Thank you, Mr. President, and good afternoon-
Good afternoon
... colleagues.
Pursuant to Rule 41 of our rules of order and procedure, I'm
calling for a vote on SO
2025-0015584, which was
deferred and published on April 15th this year.
I want to start by acknowledging that I understand that some may feel that this
ordinance does not solve the entire problem of rising
extremism.
We have one proposal here, but one proposal rarely
accomplishes that. But that cannot be an excuse for
inaction in its entirety. This ordinance has been carefully
workshopped for more than a year, with input from dozens of
organizations, legal experts, and advocates as well, and it
reflects extensive feedback and has earned the support from a broad
coalition, including our police department, community leaders,
and First Amendment advocates.
Now, some have raised concerns that the proposal does not apply to every single
employee or every elected official.
But proposals like this must remain sensitive to distinct legal
and constitutional considerations.
Here, it's important to emphasize that members of our police department
occupy a unique role. They carry government-issued weapons,
they exercise the power of the state, and they are empowered and
entrusted to enforce our laws every single day
and in every single part of our city.
This distinction matters.
As for elected officials, removal is governed by state law, not
local law, and it raises profound questions about
democratic representation and the will of voters.
These issues deserve serious deliberation and should not be
invoked at the 11th hour as a reason to halt progress in its
entirety. I want to emphasize that anti-government
extremism has been a growing problem across our country
for years.
However, the Trump administration has been systematically rolling back
progress in combating extremism and going well beyond the January 6th
insurrection.
The Trump administration, for example, has dismantled Biden-era
directives to root out extremism in both our military
and our federal law enforcementThe Trump administration has also cut
funding for programs that track domestic terrorist threats
from white supremacist groups and anti-government extremists.
And most recently, the Trump administration is proposing to put together a
$1.8 billion fund to compensate
people who were investigated by the Department of Justice.
It's important for us to recognize that our great city is not immune to these
challenges either.
In 2024, our Office of Inspector General found that the city's handling
of extremism in its police ranks has fallen short of
commitments made by city leadership.
And in doing so, the office referenced current and
former police officers' associations with the Proud Boys, the
Three Percenters, and Oath Keepers.
The office also recommended that city leaders craft and implement a
plan to prevent, identify, and eliminate
extremist and anti-government activities across the police department.
The substitute ordinance before you aims to heed that very
call by prohibiting CPD members from actively
participating in extremist organizations.
Active participation is a very high bar.
It means fundraising for an extremist organization, recruiting or
training someone to participate in those activities, using city
property or sharing confidential information with those organizations,
or knowingly wearing clothing or
displaying tattoos with extremist symbols with the
specific intent to uplift those organizations.
And when we're talking about extremist organizations, also a high bar,
seeking to overthrow government by unconstitutional or violent
means, or engaged in hate-based and bias-based behavior like
hate crimes.
Critically, these definitions are content neutral, meaning that they
give no weight whatsoever to someone's political leanings, left,
right, or otherwise. In addition, the substitute ordinance
empowers COPA to investigate allegations of associations
with extremist organizations, as well as directing OPSA
to review CPD applications for the same considerations.
I want to emphasize, we did not put this together overnight.
It took 14 months of work incorporating feedback from the
police department, the HR department, COPA, OPSA,
CCPSA, and I'm proud to have earned the support of
the police department and these other departments.
Indeed, we almost voted on a substitute in March, but we
didn't yet have the police department's support.
So I asked Chairman Rodriguez, "Please hold this and let's give it some
more time." And ultimately, we earned the department's support, and I'm grateful
for that.
Now, in conversations with several of you, you asked me, could this
substitute ordinance be expanded to apply more broadly?
I want to emphasize, my initial ordinance sought to do just that.
Applied not just to the police department, but to officials, to all
supervisors, as well as to employees with access to
sensitive information, buildings, infrastructure, and
systems.
However, following multiple conversations with our law department,
it became clear that we simply couldn't win a
lawsuit that was likely to be filed against that original version.
Now, you all have a summary of those legal considerations.
I passed out a one-pager before this meeting, and it explains the
incredibly high bar that is in place when government,
any state or local government, seeks to constrain First
Amendment rights, free speech and a free association from its employees.
And simply put, my ordinance could not exceed that high
bar, that original ordinance.
However, courts have routinely recognized, including the federal appellate court
here in Chicago, that governments have more leeway when it comes to
law enforcement professionals. Highway patrol,
corrections officers, members of our police departments.
These law enforcement members are treated in a unique way by our First
Amendment because of the unique role they play in public
safety. As I mentioned
earlier, they engage all members of the public,
they respond to the most urgent public safety calls,
and they frequently do so carrying firearms.
Now, if we pass this ordinance today, I want you to know we're not going to be out
on an island.
The Biden administration had nearly identical rules in place for federal
law enforcement and the military before the Trump administration rescinded it.
Thankfully, there are other governments who have kept those policies in place.
The State of California, the State of Minnesota, Washington State.
So if there are colleagues in this chamber who believe that more action is needed
to
address extremist violence,
I welcome that work,
and I hope that others in this body bring forward additional ideas,
additional reforms. But refusing to act because one
proposal is not a silver bullet, that's a mistake.
We should do what we can,
where we can, and with the legal tools that are available to us,
and we should do it now.
So I move for an adoption of this ordinance by the first most
favorable roll call vote and the associated unsuccessful vote to
reconsider in the Committee on Finance.
Very well. There's a motion on the floor to accept this item.
I'm hearing no
objections.
Okay. The chair recognizes Alderman Taliaferro.
Mr. President and members of the council, I'll be very brief in my
request.
I rise to speak on the substitute ordinance,
but mostly from a procedural perspective rather than from the
context itself.
Our rules of order are very clear, Mr.
President, and they state that the Committee on Police and
FireUm, she held jurisdiction over all matters
that relate to the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Fire Department,
excluding items of
domestic violence and items of contract collective
bargaining.
This matter was not heard before the Committee on Police and
Fire. Instead, it was heard in the Committee on Workforce Development.
That prohibited the 18 members of the committee
from carefully considering this item.
It prohibited them from debate, but most importantly, prohibited them
from voting on a
committee level. Uh, and for that reason, if it is within our orders, Mr.
President, I move that this item be re-referred to the Committee on
Police and Fire.
But I do want, before closing, I do want
to caution us as a body,
when it comes down to introducing matters before the committee,
to stop the practice of finding a committee that's more
favorable, but lacks jurisdiction.
That tends to rob those that are sitting on committees of an
ability to vote on matters on a committee level.
Um, so I renew that motion to re-refer this matter to the Committee on Police
and Fire.
Point of information, Alderman Martin.
Um, two things, Mr. President. One, many of our committees, as
we explained in the Committee of Workforce, have overlapping
jurisdiction. There are times where the Committee on Police and Fire,
and then the Committee on Public Safety have taken up matters associated with the
Inspector General's office, which is also the province of the Committee on
Ethics and Government Oversight.
So, as I mentioned at the outset, where the ordinance started was
much more broad, beyond the police department.
So, the Committee on Workforce was appropriate, and it continued to be an
appropriate jurisdiction, even with the substitute ordinance.
Well-
In addition, I would say that,
my understanding under state law is that deferring and publishing an item
requires a final vote, and that in this situation, it would be
improper to-
It is out of order, Alderman. It is out of order.
The chair recognizes Alderman Sposato.
Thank you, Mr. President.
But that was one of my things, so I don't have to talk about that being the
inappropriate committee. But I would like to say, at the meeting,
we had three so-called experts.
I don't know what meeting everybody else was at, but one of the experts...
Actually, none of the three experts could define what extremism was,
hate group or whatever. I gave pretty easy examples for them, and they
all said they'd have to take it case by case.
Certainly, police said they were neutral on it, but then about an hour later, we
all got an email saying that they supported it. So, I don't know what that means.
At the meeting, they were neutral on it, but an hour later we got an email saying
they support this, so. My big problem is, once again,
singling out the popo, the bad police.
Everything's got to be about the police, the evil police.
So, if it's everybody, I have no problem with it.
Every city where, starting with us, if it should start with anybody, it should
start with us. So, all city workers, I'm 100% behind it.
Singling out the police, once again, I can't support this. I'm a hard no.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Alderman Nugent.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to make sure I understood
it. It was my understanding that procedurally, it would be okay for it to
be re-referred to Chairman Taliaferro.
No, for final action for the next regular meeting, when
the report is being made.
So, upon the request of any two alderpersons, any report of a committee of the
council shall be deferred for final action for the next regular meeting.
So, the deferred and publish,
per
this section, 3.14-35, that once it's
deferred and published, it is for final action.
Okay.
So, recognizing that, I think the
most appropriate place, in my opinion, would be for this to be re-referred to
Chairman Taliaferro's committee.
And,
Mr. Mayor, I would appeal that decision.
I would request an appeal of this decision, because I do believe it should go to
Chairman Taliaferro.
Thank you, Alderwoman. This is unappealable. It's pretty straightforward.
Upon the request of any two alderpersons that are present, any report of a
committee of the council shall be deferred for final action.
So, that has already happened, so this is the final action that we can take per our
own rules. The chair recognizes Alder- Um, was there anything else,
Alderwoman?
Sorry.
I move to appeal the chair.
It's unappealable. The chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.
... vote no.
It's unappealable. The rules are pretty clear here.
This is for final action. This body has been governed under this rule
for multiple years. It is very clearly stated here.
This is unappealable for final action.
The deferment of the item is for final
action. You cannot take any other actions on it.
The chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.
Thank you, Mr. President. And now, good afternoon again.
Good afternoon.
Evening, members of the committee.
In accordance with Rule 33,
I motion to amend and substitute this ordinance
with what is being provided and passed out, and has been provided electronically
to the members. So that this ordinance, which my colleague just stated,
if you want to go broader, let's go broader.
The amendment actually would cover all employees of the City of
Chicago and get back to the true origin that he's
professed. And I would make the motion to-
Very well
... substitute and call the question on that item.
The chair recognizes Alderman Martin.
I call to question, sir.
... on the table.
All right, there's a motion on the floor to lay your motion on the table.
Once a motion is being made, the body is
allowed to lay that motion on the table.
So, the motion that you have put for a substitute
motion on the floor to be voted, that motion has
been-Superseded by another motion to lay your motion on the
table. All those in favor of laying this
item... There's a roll call vote to lay the motion that was
initially placed forward by Alderman Lopez on the table.
If you vote yes, you wish to proceed with the initial
motion, which was to pass item
SO2024-001584.
If you vote no, you wish to proceed with the initial motion.
Please make the e-vote application available at this time.
Yeah.
Yeah, motion to lay on the table, the motion to amend those two.
You ready?
Is it ready?
Voting is now open. Voting is now open. Please use your device.
If you're having difficulties, please let us know.
I will now call on those who have not yet cast their vote. Alderperson Hopkins?
No.
Alderperson Hopkins is a no.
Alderperson Yancey?
Yes.
Alderperson Yancey is a yes.
Alderman Hall?
Yes. Yes.
Alderman Hall is a yes. Alderman Mitchell?
No. Alderman Mitchell is a no.
Alderwoman Harris? Alderwoman Harris is a no.
Alderman Chico?
Not present in chambers. Alderwoman Lee?
Alderwoman Lee? No. Alderwoman Lee is a no.
Alderwoman Taylor?
Yes.
Alderwoman Taylor is a yes. Alderman Rodriguez?
Yes.
Alderman Rodriguez is a yes. Alderman Burnett?
Alderman Burnett is a yes. Alderman Irvin?
Alderman Irvin votes yes.
Alderman Irvin is a yes. Alderperson Rodriguez-Sanchez?
Yes.
Alderperson Rodriguez-Sanchez?
Yes. Yes.
Alderperson Rodriguez-Sanchez is a yes.
Alderwoman Mitz?
Alderman Sposato?
No.
Alderman Sposato is a no. Alderman Knudsen?
Alderwoman Hadden?
Yes.
Alderwoman Hadden is a yes.
All right. Alderwoman Mitz?
Alderman Knudsen?
Okay.
Alderman Chico is not present in chambers.
Okay. Voting is now closed.
There are 25 yays, 22 nays. This motion passes.
Anyone else wish to speak to this item?
Alderman Gardner.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Just recently,
we all attended the services for Police Officer
Bartholomew, who was murdered in cold blood.
We all came together for at least a couple of days or a couple of weeks, and we all
said we support our police officers.
We support the work that they do and how they risk their lives.
There's no doubt no one in this room wants a police officer or a
firefighter or anyone else being a part of an extremist group.
Nobody argues that.
But we continue to highlight our police officers, and we continue to place them
under a special light to watch and critique every
single move, and we simultaneously ask, "Why
doesn't anybody want to be a police officer anymore?
Why doesn't anybody want to protect the people of this city?"
Well, if we continue putting them under this scrutiny, and by all
means, if we're going to do this, let's do this, as my colleague Alderman Sposato
said, let's do it for all city workers.
Let's not just highlight, let's not just put the light on police
officers and say, "I'm going to watch every single move you
do,"
which we all know, right? I can relate to that, right?
We found out somebody watching every single move I make. How can I get them?
Right? And then you get disgusted by it. It makes you want to leave your job.
And once again, we ask, why doesn't anybody want to be a police
officer?Well, we continue to highlight them, and we continue to
nick and pick every single thing and every move they make, and we
Monday morning quarterback every single thing that they do.
If we're going to make it for the police officers, let's make it for every single
city worker. Let's treat everybody equally because it's about equality in here,
right?
Thank you.
Alder Tabares.
When
new CPD recruits graduate,
they take an oath.
They take an oath to the Constitution.
It's the same oath we take
as aldermen.
It's because we're both public servants, and
we must follow the Constitution.
Those who create laws have the same
responsibility as those who enforce them.
Other city employees have the same responsibility.
They serve the public by cleaning our streets,
managing
offices,
and making sure our city is working for residents.
Rooting out hate and extremism from city government is a just
cause.
But that's not what we're doing today.
This ordinance
was pushed to focus on only CPD
to hide extremism in other departments,
including this council.
It's a sleight of hand
because we all know many in this room would be in trouble if
we were made to follow the same rules as the Chicago Police
Department. But why just the police?
Some in this room have a history of supporting deadly and costly
riots. Some have also supported antisemitic
rhetoric and art displays on city property.
If this ordinance covered the whole city,
they'd have to answer for their actions, too.
That's why the only way this could pass is just to
focus on the Chicago Police Department.
Either the law should apply to all or apply to none.
Picking and choosing is wrong and only supports the real
extremism we've seen happen in our
streets. The administration pushed this measure
to focus on police because we all know how they feel
about law enforcement.
"Sickness,"
"effing pigs."
Even the former director of Violence Prevention and Community Safety said
that this administration has, quote,
"a level of hostility toward law enforcement."
This is how this ordinance went from good effort to combat
extremism, to a way to undermine the police and
sow distrust in the communities they serve.
Supporters for this ordinance are the anti-police
organizations. They profit by making the public
fearful and hateful of the police.
Their goal is to make policing more dangerous and to use public
safety funding to line their own
pockets. Their Workforce Development Committee called
this ordinance to fast track it instead of the Police and
Fire Committee. The committee stacked the deck with
anti-police advocates using their usual talking points.
They say police should be singled out
because they have the authority to kill.
It's a common lie used by these groups.
As every officer knows, Chicago police are more
restricted in their use of force than the general public.
That's not a pro-police talking point.
That is the law.
Finally, this measure is sure to end up in court.
Even the law department admitted it.
It's too broad and singles out one group over
others. It's going to cost the city
millions of dollars in court costs, money that
we just don't have.
Because the fact of the matter is, this may have started as a good
effort from the sponsor
to root out extremism, but now it's an
effort from extremists to undermine the police.
Voting yes on this measure does nothing to purge
extremism from city government. It only deflects
attention from actual extremists who seek to create
divisions in our neighborhoods and make police seem more
dangerous by sowing more distrust in law enforcement.
After just burying a police officer, and as
another officer fights for his life, we cannot keep pushing
measures that further divides the community and the police.
I urge this body to vote no. Thank you.
Alder Vasquez.
Thank you very much, Mr. President.
I appreciate the fact that we have such spirited
debate.
Officer Bartholomew was killed in 40th Ward.
That day, we had to go as somebody who shouldn't have been on the streets was on
the streets, and then was apprehended, then had to go to Illinois Masonic as we
were trying to identify who was okay and who wasn't.
So I
take a bit of
offense to anyone who thinks that having accountability in place
means that we're against people who risk their lives every day to make sure other
people are safeIt's
offensive to lump that together. I appreciate earlier we had a whole
conversation about people who want to speak out against
anti-Semitism, and how all it is is rhetoric, and they don't want to do anything
about it. Last time I checked, the Oath Keepers are anti-Semitic as hell.
So somehow talking about the Oath Keepers and wanting to root them out
of our ranks seems to be a problem, when just earlier today we
were talking about how we're speaking out anti-Semitism.
So much so that they're willing to protect those who are currently wearing badges
who shouldn't be officers to begin with.
How does that help the police officers who do their job every day?
How does that help anybody who does one of the most difficult jobs in
government, and has to walk out there in interactions that could get them killed
every single day?
How does that rebuild any level of trust between the public and those who have
been hired to serve them, to keep people in those
roles who shouldn't be there in the first place?
I don't get that. I don't get the equivocation about extremism because
somebody may be at a protest against somebody who's anti-Semitic,
racist, and happens to have a gun on them when they shouldn't have one in the first
place.
It's indefensible. So to watch everybody use these talking points as if that's not
what people are trying to do
is embarrassing.
Yeah, it should be every single department. I agree wholeheartedly.
And this one doesn't cover the whole department, every department.
But it's a start. So if you guys want to work on the other ones, let's do so.
But you guys want to talk about saving money as if we don't have police misconduct
cases every single year, over $100 million
every single year, because people who shouldn't be police officers in the
first place are still on the force.
So setting up filters to keep those folks out because they're
known members of organizations that are, again,
anti-Semitic,
racist. We don't want bigots in a police department.
It's not a high bar.
So I don't get how everyone here is like, "Well, you must be anti-police." No,
I'm anti the racist. I'm anti the bigots.
I'm anti the anti-Semites. I don't care what uniform they're wearing.
I don't care if they're in council or outside of council.
So yeah, everyone wants to talk about the difference in standard related
to how we look at police officers compared to other roles.
I understand how it feels, because at the end of the day, you take away the
uniform, these are still people. They're our neighbors who are serving
a function in government. However,
CDOT's not carrying weapons everywhere.
Streets and San's not pulling somebody over, out of there, pulling them out of
their vehicle.
They're not patting them down. They're not doing that kind of job.
When you are doing that kind of job, which infringes upon other people's rights
potentially, there is a higher standard.
And this city has a over century-long
history of not getting it right, and of people who shouldn't be officers
being officers. So stop making it anti or pro-police.
It's not about police at all. It's about people who shouldn't be wearing a badge to
begin with. But if you want to keep lying about it and hiding behind a
badge to protect bigots, you go ahead and do so. I'm just not signing up for that.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Alderman Conway.
There are few things in this country that are more sacred
than the First Amendment.
The First Amendment restricts the ability of the government to
restrict people's views and association.
And
police officers have a tough job, the toughest job
in fact, and have an awesome responsibility as a result.
Responsibility to carry a gun,
detain someone,
and as a result of that,
the element of community trust is that much more
important with our
police officers.
And
you look at the last year. Last year, I think as we all know,
Chicago made great
strides in crime. Last I saw, we had
416 murders in Chicago last year.
In Los Angeles, they had 230.
230, almost half as many. And probably people ask,
"Why did Los Angeles do so much better than we did?"
And I think a lot of people would agree that the reason for that
is because the Los Angeles Police Department developed a community policing model
long before
Chicago did. Part of the reason we brought Charlie Beck in to be our
superintendent for a period of time, trying to emulate
that model.
And frankly, the courts have recognized that awesome
responsibility that police officers have,
and the additional
community responsibilities that come with that.
And I appreciate Alderman Martin's memo here, and he talks about this, or the law
department talks about this significantly in
the fourth paragraph, which I encourage you all to read.
But there's some of the quotes on here.
Our own
Seventh Circuit here, the federal court that we're in, said,
quote, "Speech that might not interfere with work in an environment less
dependent on order, discipline, and esprit de corps could
be debilitating to a police force."
The Eighth Circuit nearby said, "The police force has a significant
government interest in regulating the speech activities of its
officers in order to promote efficiency, foster
loyalty, and obedience to superior officers, maintain morale,
and instill public confidence in the law enforcement institution." I
read that because it is clear that police officers are held
to a higher standard than everybody else.
Like it or not, that is the
state of the lawAnd as a result of that,
it is difficult for us to
restrict people's views and restrict people's associations
across all of government. Seemingly, it seems like the First Amendment probably
doesn't allow it. Now, after today, we could perhaps revisit
beyond that, but it is clear based
on the state of the law that we can do it for law
enforcement personnel based on the awesome
responsibility and the community responsibility that they
have. So therefore, I'd ask my colleagues, based on that and
based on the lot of work that's gone into this, that we pass this
today. If we
have more consultation with the Department of Law and come to
believe that other government employees can be similarly restricted,
we can visit that at this time. But it's clear, based on the amount of work that
going into, that we are on solid constitutional
ground around the sacred First Amendment
here. So that's what I ask of all of you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you.
You're welcome. Alderman Irvin.
Thank you, Mr. President.
As I listen to this debate,
the police department is a unique department
in our city.
And I think Alderman Vasquez hit on some points as it relates
to their ability to detain, their ability to do other things.
And the issue of bias, I think is what everybody is
thinking about and talking on.
If you fill a pothole, it doesn't matter if you're part of an extremist
organization. You don't have the right to take people's
liberties. You don't have the right under the color of law to even take someone's
life.
So I think that, ultimately, what we're speaking on is trying
to keep individuals who have the ability to
take people's liberties, making sure that those people
meet a standard that is different than those that don't have
that. I think the law department has been very clear on
people's First Amendments, and that's what I think
Alderman Conway was alluding to. So I hope that we can pass this on
today and move on beyond this. As it's been
started, it was broad, it's been narrowed to meet the constitutional requirements
that exist. So hopefully we can pass this today, and I will be supporting this
measure. Thank you.
Alderman Yancy.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
My father spent 39 years in law enforcement in the city of
Chicago, with 25 of those as a sworn officer of the Chicago Police
Department.
So
between being a cop kid growing up and now being
a 54-year-old Black man with that same kind of
time frame of experience with the police department,
one incident that happened to me about 16 years ago
comes to mind as we're having this conversation.
And the short story is I witnessed a Chicago
police car or Chicago police officers in their car using
their PA system, driving around a Black high school in a Black
neighborhood, singing the theme song to "The Monkees," a television
show from the '70s. And I don't think there's any question what it
means when someone calls Black people a
monkey. Now, if this had been a water department car
or a streets and sand vehicle, I wouldn't have to second-guess what my response
would be. But because this was a police car,
the seat of power in this city and in the country,
it was really difficult for me to not react in a way that
didn't betray what my feelings were at that time.
And when we talk about the role of the
police being the thin blue line that separates
the bad guys from the rest of us,
when the blue line includes bad guys, it makes it
really hard to think about how we mend the relationship
between the police and the community.
I mean, we're talking about extremism,
that
whether we're talking about January 6th, or whether we're
talking about John Birch, or whether we're talking about
the
millions and potentially billions of dollars in police settlements we're going to
be passing or voting for in the upcoming years,
this is all related to the same thing.
It is all related to racism in our police
system.
And unless we figure out a way
that is stronger than what Chairman Martin has proposed in his
legislation, then this is the answer for today.
Now, by all means, to the point of one of my colleagues
earlier, if the spirit of this conversation is about trying
to figure out how we're able to root out
extremism and racism in all of our city departments,
I'm all in. We got another month, a couple of months before our August break.
I'd love to see a piece of legislation that gets presented that asks for that,
and I'll sign on to that, too. But in this moment, I can't believe that,
in 2026, we're having a conversation about, one, whether racism
exists, and two, whether it exists in the police department, and three, whether we
have the power to do something about it.
This is way past ridiculous. I urge all my colleagues to vote yes for this
matter. Thank you.
Are there any other alders that wish to speak?
The chair recognizes Alder Sposato, and then Waguespack, and then
Napolitano, and Sigcho-Lopez.
Thank you
once again, Mr. President.
So I would like to start from the beginning.
We started off with the end around on the police and fire committeeThen when we had
our meeting, we had three so-called experts there, and that was
the CPD, that was PSA, and that was
COPA. Anybody who was there, anybody who checks the videos,
they could not answer simple questions I gave them,
easy extremism
questions, what people could be doing to show extremism or
hate or whatever you want to say, and they couldn't answer,
to the point that the police said they were neutral on this.
Of course, an hour later, we got an email saying they're not neutral, they support
it.
We talk about the police, why nobody wants to be a police.
Talk about lawsuits because of the police.
Well,
we forget one thing, and the finance chair could
verify this for me, and I don't know what the percentage is, but many
of the lawsuits we're paying for is in police chases.
They're trying to do their job. They're trying to protect their community.
They're trying to protect your community. They're trying to protect the people.
They're doing whatever, and then with some technicality, because they chased a bad
guy who was doing something really bad, he got in an accident, and now we're paying
a settlement. Today, we just agreed to pay $3,500 to somebody
because of a police chase. Now, I don't know.
I wouldn't say they're a bad police officer. I wouldn't say they're extremists.
I don't know what they are. They were fairly young guys.
They had about five years on the job. I don't know.
In 2019, under Mayor
Emanuel, we talk about people not wanting this job.
In 2019, under Mayor Emanuel, January of 2019, we had to
sign up for the police test. 4,000 people sign up.
That was it. Now, this is a department that has a history of 30,000,
40,000 people sign up. Some of these guys with time over, these
officers, they could tell you when they took the job, there was probably 30,000,
40,000 people signing up, and once every
eight or nine years, they'd have the test.
Now,
2019, we had a test in January, 4,000, 2,000 took it.
December, same thing, 4,000 signed up, 2,000 took the test.
Now, the police department is at a point now, people are one, are running away from
this job. People aren't staying for their pensions.
People are a rolling sign-up.
We're constantly vilifying them.
Now, I'm not naive enough to say every police officer is a great guy and is a
perfect person.
I know there's some bad apples. That goes
for every department, everything, starting with us.
I think we have a higher percentage of bad apples in our council than we do in the
police department. That's just me defining extremism, okay?
So this is just not something I could support.
Once again, I'll go right back to the beginning.
Everybody, I'm for it. I'm sorry if you think, "Oh, this is a
start," whatever.
I can't start here. I'm not going to vilify. I'm not going to single a group out.
Once again, I'm a hard no. Thank you, Mr. President.
Alderman Waguespack.
Thank you, Mr. President.
We've had a lot of talk about extremism lately in the city,
and
I think on this
ordinance, I appreciate what Alderman Martin has done on
it,
writing up the memo
from, I think, the law department. Yes, it's from the law department.
We have city employees, appointed officials, or elected officials near us who
have spewed violence,
induced rhetoric that would create violence,
part of groups that would push hate-based behavior,
had people assault city employees, both physically and
verbally, promote organizations that support violence,
as I stated, but they've done so on city time and in the city venue.
And
what happens here is that the response from the city is
basically crickets, that it can be accepted,
that we allow that kind of speech. I'm not talking about the police department.
We allow the speech, the words, the digital
communications that intentionally stir up
hatred and anger and are designed to cause harm.
So,
I appreciate what this does, but I think the law department really
just
falls short on doing their job here, and that is based on
specific instances that I've experienced, that my staff have
experienced. And I believe that
we should,
despite that, try to root out all the extremism
in every department in the city.
And
there have been instances in the past where people have said things or done things
in other departments that have put the fear of God into other
people.
It's not just the police department.
Those of you who were around for a few years,
if you look a little further back, you can see which departments
did that kind of stuff that led us to have to
remove people.
Removal was not good enough.
So I don't want bigots or racists in any department.
I don't want violent offenders either that
intentionally create the hate, incite violence
that is experienced either by our constituents or by any of our
staff.
So according to the law department, when I read this,
for those who say, "Hey, let's come back another day and redo this,"
according to this, law department says you just can't do it, that
we are not coming back to hold other
officials,
employees accountable for what they do on city time,
in a city venue, or in the one case that was cited,
Lewowski versus City of Des Plaines,
off duty.
So-I don't know
if we're ever going to get to the point where we hold everybody accountable,
but when I hear this type of rhetoric about we're going to
come back to the table at some other point, I just don't believe it.
So,
unfortunately on this one, I think the ordinance falls
short. I think the law department has dropped the ball here in terms of holding
people accountable that have done these
acts, where complaints have been filed
with the Board of Ethics, with HR, with
the OIG, and the only response is crickets.
And this isn't just Chicago. We can talk all day long about all
the other cities that have local school boards,
libraries, where extremists are coming in and dictating how they want
government to run. It's not just exclusive to Chicago,
and everybody is taking a look at that to say, "How do we hold these people
accountable? How do we root them out?" It's not just police.
It is every department, agency,
institution throughout the United States.
It is not exclusive to a police department like we're saying here.
So I would urge my colleagues to not believe that we're
going to go find some other pathway to get this done in the future,
and figure out a way to do it today. Thank you.
Alderman Napolitano.
Thank you, Mr. President. I think
most of you already know where I stand on this, and
most of you probably don't care what I have to say, and I'm okay with that.
And most of you already know the way you're going to vote on this.
But that being said,
say, five, six years ago,
I pointed this out
when many of you, not all of you, but many of you came in here and were
championing the whole defund the police movement,
were actually stating it, were actually running campaigns on
it, were talking about it left and right in here.
And you thought it was a just cause until a lot of you found out that your
community didn't want to defund the police, they wanted more police.
And they were holding you accountable as elected to find a way to get more police
on the job.
So you had to segue away from the whole defund the police movement.
But you didn't want to leave what a lot of you felt was a part of
your political
movement.
So in doing so,
instead of taking the money from the police, calling for defunding them,
you started demonizing the police.
We had riots, paid-for riots, which I always mention. Paid-for riots.
Paid to be here to riot and destroy our city.
And a lot of people in here didn't go after those rioters.
You went after our police,
and you wanted to make them the example.
When we had turmoil in the city and we were having buildings
destroyed and monuments destroyed, and coppers were getting hurt,
you still went after the police.
You still found a way to go after the police, not that kid from Minnesota with a
mask on that's paid to be here to protest.
You went after our Chicago police officers because your movement and your
CliffsNotes
and your agenda book is if we can defund the police, we could
steal that budget. There's billions of dollars there, and we can allocate to our
pet projects what we want to do.
And we'll hurt the city of Chicago, hurt that police department.
And you stayed true to it for a long time.
You know what you're doing here right now.
You know exactly what you're doing here right now.
You have an opportunity to do the right thing and make this about
everybody.
I was proud to wear that uniform. My father was, my whole family
was. My brother, my uncle, my cousins, everybody was proud to wear that
uniform.
And they would want racism and hatred pulled out of the department.
They would want someone to go after them and boot them because it makes them look
bad.
And it was stated already that we can't put the whole city in it because it's a
large
legal issue.
Hell yeah, it's a large legal issue because you're not going to like what you see.
Because if you go after every department, you're going to see it
everywhere.
But you're not going after them. All you want to point out is the police
lawsuits, the billions of dollars of police law- Why is there police lawsuits?
Because every one of you says every time it's the hardest job in the city of
Chicago to go after crime every day when a criminal
isn't going to obey because we have terrible laws like the Safety Act that says
they don't have to. We have terrible things like electronic monitoring that says,
"I'll be out in a short period of time." My good friend and my colleague
over here, Mr. Conway, pointed out a great point.
He said they wanted to model us after Los Angeles
and how it changed and crime came down.
Crime didn't come down in Los Angeles.
In the city of Los Angeles, they got 40,000 gang members,
45 at tops. We have 117,000 here in
Chicago.
Chicago has more gang members and more crime than almost
any other city in the world.
More shootings, more people shot,
more carnage than war-torn countries.
And I'm sure someone's going to get up here and point out the white supremacy left
and right. "I have to go after white sup-" Hell yeah, go after the white
supremacists.
Hell yeah.
Or go after them in every department.
Alderman Martin, I
like what you're doing here. I really do. I like this.
But us not including everybody demonizes our police department
once again and tells them, "We're coming after you."
My colleague, Alderman Sposato, said only 4,000 people took this test.
When I took it in 1997, 38,000, 40,000
people took it.All proud and excited to be a Chicago police
officer, to fight crime, and make the greatest city in the country
an even better city.
And now you can't get 4,000.
And why can't you get 4,000? Because every one of you...
I'm sorry, let me take that back.
A portion of you
want to destroy that department.
You want less people to take that job. You want to get that money.
And what does it do to my ward?
Send those coppers from 16 somewhere else.
They don't have the homicides there, but I got the robberies, I got the burglaries,
I got the car thefts, I got the home invasions.
I've got every crime you could think of. I got stabbings.
I've got
break-ins to businesses. Take the cops out of 41.
We're not stepping over bodies over there. They don't deserve the cops.
But yet,
less are getting in the uniform. Less want to do the job.
You're not going to back them.
City's not going to back them.
The safety act's not going to help them.
An electric monitoring system is getting our police officers killed.
800 to 1,000, they don't even know where they're at.
And yet we're going to come in here
and say, "For legal purposes," or, "We'll come back," which you won't.
I've been here for almost 12 years now.
You're not going to come back because you don't care.
What you're doing right now is set for your election in
2027. Don't tell me you're not. Look what I did.
So,
if you do something like this, I hope my brothers and sisters on the street in blue
don't want to be the police for you.
I hope they want to be the police for me and whoever else votes no for it.
And let's see how you do then.
Let's see how you do when they decide not to show up right away or
be proactive. Granted, you're trying to get rid of proactive
policing. Let's see how they do. Have them pull
back. Have them say, "Whoa, whoa, whoa.
I'll just answer this radio after it cracks, but I'm not going to do
proactive police work because I don't want to get signaled out.
I don't want to be called a racist because I'm the only one in the damn city of
Chicago that holds a city of Chicago employee number
that is held accountable because we carry a gun."
What about the guy with a 50,000-pound truck driving down the street?
What if he's a racist and he runs over somebody?
Or the electrician that wires something up wrong and they're a racist and they
don't do their due diligence in their job.
We're not going to hold them accountable.
You know what you're doing, and you know why you're doing it if you vote yes for
this right now.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Alderman Sigcho-Lopez.
Thank you, Mr. President, and first let me thank
Chairman Martin for taking this effort.
This is an effort that is not new to city council.
In fact, I also want to thank Chairman Taliaferro,
who co-sponsored an ordinance to address this back in December of
2022.
This is how long it's taken us to take on a simple matter
of rooting out extremism from the very same institutions
that are called to protect and serve.
How has this become a controversial issue?
How is
demanding that those who are called to protect and serve
do not join extremist groups
that are dehumanizing
and are involved in terrorist attacks?
So,
when we demand accountability,
and that accountability now is met
with resistance
and excuses,
how long do we have to wait
to make sure that public servants,
public servants paid with our tax dollars,
do not engage with groups
that dehumanize,
that commit acts of terror?
It is incredible to me that we have come to this point.
This same city council
a few years ago
was demanding changes.
And the Inspector General report of 2024 is very
clear. We had a task force
formed to demand changes within the
Chicago Police Department. So, in some occasions, we
are okay following the recommendations of the inspector general.
In some occasions, we denounce
antisemitism, racism, bigotry,
but I guess it matters who makes those remarks.
It's unacceptable. I tell you, we've been waiting for a
long time to have a bare minimum of
accountability for the same institutions that are called
to protect and serve. And I tell you, Chicagoans don't feel that way
when we don't lead by example.
We should all be, by all means, extremism should never have a room
in no institution paid with city dollars.
So I urge my colleagues,
I urge every single one of you in this moment in time,
the time to do right is now.
We waited way too long. December 2022.
The Inspector General report 2024.
We are in 2026 and still waiting. How long
before our community sees justice?
How long longer do we have to wait? I urge our city
council members to take action for the safety of our constituents.
Extremists, no matter where they come from, will not keep us safe.
Long ago,
we learned that resentment and hate will never keep us safe.
I urge us to take action today. Thank you, Mr.
President
Are there any other alders that wish to-- The chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.
Thank you, Mr. President, and good evening, members of the city council.
Today
is
a textbook example--
I was waiting for you to come back in, sir--
of hypocrisy.
Because I just heard everyone say,
"Let's work together. Let's make this more expansive," and 25 of you just
voted against that.
So I must have missed that part.
But I was okay with that, because you know what?
Sitting in the committee right now is the very same
substitute
that I tried to move
half an hour ago. So we will have the opportunity should
the chairman and members of that committee choose to take this up as they've all
pledged to do,
and make this apply equally to all city employees.
And I look forward to their support in that effort.
But I rise, Mr. President,
because
what I truly have difficulty
accepting
is that
from individuals
trying to ascend to the
national stage
are going to sit here and lecture all of us
while associating with groups that are
extreme themselves. Groups which incidentally are advocating for the
overthrowing of these United States.
As I look right now
at the website known as Behind Enemy Lines,
it says, and I quote, "As the rulers of this country prepare for
massive celebrations marking 250 years of the United
States, those who stand with the people of the world must come together to
denounce, disrupt, and expose any celebration of this
bloodthirsty empire."
Behind Enemy Lines is launching some nonsense, three months of
anti-imperialist action exposing the crimes past and current of this
empire, culminating in a week of action in Pennsylvania.
I left out the details because I don't ascribe to them or their
nonsense,
or any extreme nonsense.
But I also wasn't burning a flag with them in front of City Hall.
And while we talk about extremism,
and we talk about
extremism in law enforcement, yes, to my colleague from the 40th Ward,
absolutely, root them out.
To my colleague from the 41st Ward, his seatmate,
absolutely. Go look at the other departments, because if you think that on January
6th that only supporters were in CPD,
in municipal government, you are widely mistaken.
Which is why many of us were gladly willing to support the first version of this,
which said everyone, and rightfully so.
But the agenda took hold.
The nonsense took hold.
The campaigns took hold.
And what we saw was a,
I am reluctant to say a watered down
version, but a targeted version, just to win passage
of those
who are in the most extreme themselves.
And as we have those discussions,
we constantly hear the refrain too that there's no such thing as left-wing
extremism,
but we target right-wing.
I say target them all,
because there are just as many crazies on this side as there are on this side.
They're all nuts,
and they should all be dealt with resoundly
and uniformly.
But yet,
as my colleagues have said over and over again,
that is not the case today.
But I want to elevate
something that was said,
which is that none of us want to see
any of these individuals,
whether in law enforcement,
in our departments,
and most especially in the room that controls most of the lives of 2.7 million
people, city council,
being members of extremist groups that have access to people's
information, have access to people's homes, personal files,
to their requests, their needs,
with the propensity of weaponizing any of that to serve a purpose.
Some of us know a thing or two about weaponization.
We just had a very lengthy conversation
about
what we're going to do not to dox our employees,
about what we're going to do to insulate people.
And yet here we are back again saying,
"It's rules for thee, but not for me."
Chicagoans don't support that.
Chicagoans
overwhelmingly want us to be all covered
by the same rule of law,
which is that if you are an extremist nutbag, you don't belong working for
the City of Chicago.
But that is not what we have here today.
We're cherry-picking again,
winners and losers, so that some people can walk around this building
escorting their extremist friends throughout this
body to intimidate people here, to harass
people on all the floors, and to maintain
thatduplicity
of some people are good and some people are not.
We have an obligation to say no, as my colleagues have said,
and look forward to joining that chorus when we vote. Thank you.
You are welcome. Anyone else wish to speak to this
item? All right. Very well. Well, while we prepare to
revisit the motion that's before us, there are two
more alders that have requested to
participate in the meeting remotely for
reasons stated in Rule 59,
Alders Chico and Burnett.
Madam Clerk, thank you. Can you confirm that both of them are
online?
Alderman Chico?
Here, Clerk.
Alderman Chico is present. Alderman Burnett?
Here.
Alderman Burnett is present.
Can I get a motion for the approval of the remote participation of these two
alders? All those in favor of the remote participation of those two
alders, Burnett and Chico, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed say nay. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.
Now, the initi--
Alderwoman Lee. No need to apologize. Yes.
Can I just speak on this before it gets called for a vote?
Oh, sure. Of course. The chair recognizes Alderwoman Lee.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I've been sitting here going back and forth about whether or not to say anything
about this.
I
echo a lot of the thoughts and sentiments of my colleagues on both sides.
I think extremism is
really
the cause of so many of our issues today on both sides.
It's not just extremism to the right. There's extremism to the left.
Up and down,
left, right, and forward.
And as I've talked to
Alderman Martin, and I really applaud all of the work that he's put into this
because this is not something that is not well thought out.
I do feel it's incomplete. I don't feel like it's fair
that this is only applying to one group of employees of the
City of Chicago.
I was willing to put myself on the line, actually.
I thought if we can't get everybody put in
here, we as alders should be able to be held to this
standard as well. I understand that the rules are such that we cannot just remove
somebody arbitrarily, but that doesn't mean that there can't be consequences
somehow. And I know that that can't be done overnight, and I came to the party late
on this one. I will call myself out on that one.
But I can't in good conscience support an ordinance
that
does what I feel is unfair to one group of
city employees, that being the Chicago Police Department.
Because if it's good enough for them, it should be good enough for me as well.
And I am happy to work with
Alderman Martin as we discussed,
potentially looking at every level of employee and having
consequences. It doesn't have to be full removal, but what we're saying with just
addressing this one group is that it's okay for everybody else,
and that just doesn't sit well with me.
As much as I want to root out extremism everywhere,
I don't think it's fair for this to apply to just one group.
And for that reason, I'm going to be a no.
All right. Are there any other alders that wish to speak to this item?
Very well. No other hands. The initial motion on the floor,
I believe, was for the passage of this item by
the most favorable
item that was passed in the Finance Committee and the
associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
Very well. With that being stated, there is a
call for this item to be voted on for a roll call.
So at this point, with the request for the roll call vote,
thank you to our clerk. Please
make the e-vote application available at this time.
Okay, voting is now open. Voting is now open.
Please use your e-devices. Mark your vote.
You for the fruit.
Okay.
What are you talking about?
Following the... No. Going-
Please mute yourselves. Those who are online, please make
sure you're muted.
Okay, I will now call on those who have not yet cast their vote.
Alderman Hopkins?
Aye.
Alderman Hopkins, you're a yay?
Yes.
Alderman Hopkins is a yes. Alderwoman Dowell?
I don't...
Can I? I don't think I can.
Per the rules, I'm unable to since you're on the floor.
Alderperson Robinson?
Alderperson Robinson is a yes. Alderman Yancy?
Yes.
Alderman Yancy is a yes. Alderman
Hall?Alderman
Hall?
Alderman Chico?
No.
Alderman Chico is a no. Alderwoman Coleman?
Oh, you just voted. Thank you.
Alderperson Taylor?
Yes.
Alderwoman Taylor is a yes.
Alderman Rodriguez?
Yes.
Alderman Rodriguez is a yes. Alderman Burnett?
They are trying to make us believe
that the wrongdoers-
Alderman Burnett?
Yes.
Alderman Burnett, one more time, please.
Yes.
Alderman Burnett is a yes. Alderman Irvin?
Yeah, Alderman Irvin votes yes.
Alderman Irvin is a yes. Alderman Waguespack?
Alderman Waguespack is a no. Alderperson Rodriguez-Sanchez?
Yes.
Alderperson Rodriguez-Sanchez is a yes. Alderwoman Mitz?
Not present. Alderman Sposato?
Alderman Sposato is a no. Alderman Riley?
Not present.
Alderman Riley is a no. Alderman Knudsen?
Yes.
Alderman Knudsen is a yes. Alderwoman Hadden?
Yes.
Alderwoman Hadden is a yes.
Alderman Hall?
Alderman Hall is a yes.
Hall and Hadden are both yes. Yeah.
Alderman Hall is a yes, Alderman Hadden is a yes.
Okay, voting is now...
Did we get Alderman Hall in?
Okay. Thank you. Voting is now closed.
There are 28 yeas, 21 nays. This motion passes.
Alderman Robinson, on the motion
to reconsider. Alderman Mitchell. No, I'm sorry.
Alderman Robinson, on the motion to reconsider.
Did he leave? Okay.
Give me...
Alderman Martin, on the motion to reconsider.
I move to reconsider the vote.
All those in favor of the reconsideration of this vote, signify by saying aye.
Any opposed, say no. This motion fails.
Alderman Mitchell, are you aware of any other unfinished business?
No.
I am not aware
of any further pieces of unfinished business.
Very well. For miscellaneous business, Alderman Mitchell.
I'm aware of one piece of miscellaneous business.
Order, it was filed by Alderman Lopez, and I defer to
him.
Chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.
Thank you, Mr. President, and good evening members of the City Council.
As we enter into the seven and a half hour of today's meeting,
I will make this very simple.
Pursuant to Rule 41, I am making a motion to discharge from the
Committee on Committees and Rules
R2025-0018197,
the submission of a public question by referendum to
Chicago. This referendum question, simply
put,
asks whether or not the voters want us to create a commission
to create a charter for the City of Chicago.
This does not create a charter. It simply says, "Shall we put together a room full
of people and move forward?"
Right now,
we can do this here
via ordinance,
or I can share with you the fact that we have nearly 40,000
signatures already to put this on the ballot in
November.
We have two ways of doing this, and I would rather City Council take
the driver's seat to make that happen.
But to do that,
we need to discharge from committee. So with that, Mr.
President, I move to discharge
said legislation from the committee.
Thank you. There's a motion on the floor to discharge the item
R2025-0018197,
from the committee
on rules. All those in favor, the discharge-
Roll call.
All right. There's a roll call for this item.
Would ask that our clerk provide the e-vote application so that our
alders can record their votes.
We were prepared.
We had it ready to go.
It's why.
He's on it. Okay.
Ready?
Voting is now open. The voting is now open.
Please use your e-vote device to mark your vote.
Oh, yeah. Okay.
It's okay.
Okay.
All right.
No.
Okay. I will now call on those who have not yet cast their vote.
Alderman Hopkins?
Aye.
Alderman Hopkins is a yes. Alderwoman Dowell?
Alderwoman Dowell is a no.
Alderman
Yancy?Alderman
Yancy?
Alderman Hall?
No.
Alderman Hall is a no. Alderman Chico?
Yes.
Alderman Chico is a yes. Alderwoman Taylor?
Alderman Rodriguez?
No.
Alderman Rodriguez is a no. Alderman Burnett?
No.
Alderman Burnett is a no. Alderman Irvin?
Alderman Irvin votes no.
Alderman Irvin is a no. Alderman Taliaferro?
Not present. Alderwoman Cruz?
Not present. Alderman Waguespack?
Alderman Wa-- Oh, sorry. Thank you.
Alderperson Rodriguez Sanchez?
No.
Alderperson Rodriguez Sanchez is a no.
Alderman Conway, have you cast your vote? Yes. Alderwoman Mitz?
Not present. Alderman Sposato?
Alderman Sposato is a yes.
Alderman Riley?
Alderman Riley is a no.
Alderman Knudsen?
No.
Alderman Knudsen is a no. Alderwoman Hadden?
No.
Alderwoman Hadden is a no.
Alderwoman Silverstein?
Alderwoman Silverstein is a no. Alderman Yancy?
Alderwoman Taylor?
Silverstein's a no. Is it in there?
Voting is now closed.
There are 15 yays, 30 nays. This motion fails,
so this item will remain in the committee on committees and rules.
Alderman Mitchell.
Oh, where am I at?
Yeah, I forgot where I'm at. Hold on, I forgot.
I lost-
It's all right.
Oh, oh.
Except for the ordinance,
setting the date and time of the next meeting, I'm not aware of any further
miscellaneous business.
Very well. For the date and time of the next meeting, Alderman Mitchell.
I've handed up an ordinance to the clerk setting the date and time of the next
meeting.
Thank you.
Clerk, please read the ordinance.
Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Chicago, section one, the next
regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Chicago shall be held on
Wednesday, June 17th, 2026, beginning at 10:00 AM in the
council chambers on the second floor in City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street,
Chicago, Illinois. Section two, this ordinance shall take effect and be enforced
from and after its passage.
Thank you. Alderman Mitchell?
I move passage of the omnibus.
Hearing no objection, so ordered.
For the omnibus, Alderman Mitchell.
I move that matters in the omnibus be passed by the first most favorable roll call
vote by the Committee on Finance and the associated unsuccessful motion to
reconsider.
Hearing no objections, so ordered. Alderman Mitchell on a motion to adjourn.
There being no further business before this body, I move that we adjourn.
Hearing no objection, so ordered. This meeting is adjourned. Thank you all.