Good morning. The council will come to order Madam clerk.
Please take a quorum roll call.
Good morning. Please login to your devices. Please login to
your device. If you can hear my voice and you're a city
council member, please login to your device is now raise
your hand if you need support.
the core
The Quorum is now open the Quorum roll call is now open.
Please mark yourself present, please mark yourself present.
Thank you.
You getting started?
Good morning. Good morning.
Ladies and gentlemen at the city council meeting has
convened. Please take your seats.
Silence all your listening devices. We appreciate your
cooperation. Thank you.
The quorum is now open. The quorum is now open, please
hit present. If you need some help on your E-device,
please raise your hand.
I will now ask for a voice vote if you have not used your
E-device.
Alderperson Hall is present. Alderman Mitchell. Alderperson Mitchell is present.
Alderman Harris. Alderman Harris is present. Alderman Beale.
Not present in the chamber.
Alderwoman Ramirez is present. Alderwoman Coleman.
Not present
Alderman David Moore. Not present.
Alderman Curtis. Alderman Curtis is present. Alderman Mosley.
Alderman Mosley is not present. Alderman Burnett.
Alderman Burnett is not present. Alderman Taliaferro.
Alderman
Taliaferro is not present. Alderman Conway.
Alderman Conway is not present.
Alderman Conway is present.
Alderman Burnett is present.
Alderwoman Clay is not present.
Alderwoman Hadden, we'll come back to you.
Alderwoman Silverstein. Alderwoman Silverstein is not present.
The voting is now closed.
Alderman Moore is present
for the record
there
There are 43 members present. We do have a quorum.
Madam Clerk
Madam Clark will read.
Good morning.
Reading into the record is the city of Chicago
city council rules of conduct for public meetings 2023 to
2027 pursuant to the Chicago city council Rules of Order
and procedure rule 49, the sergeant of arms at arm set
forth the following rules of conduct. We follow during the
public comment period and duration of all committee and
city council meeting profane or vulgar threatening abusive
or disruptive language is not permitted the meaning
discriminatory of harassing behavior and speech directed
towards others is not permitted disruptive behavior,
including disruptive or disrespectful conduct during others
or presentations is not permitted banners wires or signage
are not permitted backpacks large backs and sharp objects
are not permitted clear bags not tinted in color that do
not exceed 12 by 6 by 6 will be permitted are subject to
search food and beverages and food and beverages including
and metal containers are not permitted cell phones
must be placed on silent prior to entering the meeting
room.
and
individuals must
Individuals must be seated public comment speakers are
permitted to stand only when providing public comment small
handheld devices may be used only while seated at and the
user must refrain from interfering with the view or hearing
about their individual individuals or groups failing to
adhere to these world to be asked if these disruptive
contact and failure to comply will result in and they're
being subject to removal from the meeting by the sergeant
of arms.
Thank you very much Madam Clerk. Alderwoman Hadden has
requested to participate in today's meeting remotely for
reasons stated their rule 59. Can I get a motion to approve
remote participation and have Alderwoman Hadden added to
the quorum.
It's been moved. All those in favor of the motion signify by
saying I any opposed say nay. In the opinion of the chair the
I's have it Madam Clerk please mark Alder Hadden as a
participant remotely in as present for the quorum roll
call. She is recorded as a present.
Chair recognizes Alderman Taliaferro. Madam clerk,
please. Alderman Taliaferro is added to the record.
Chair recognizes Alderman Mosely, Madam Clerk
Alderman Mosely is added to the record
Very well
Thank you. Please stand for a before we offer our Pledge of
Allegiance. Please stand for a moment of silence as we
honor our brother and fallen.
Firefighter and EMT Andrew Price Truck 44. Please have a
moment of silence for him.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under
God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Please
remain standing for the invocation, which will be delivered
today by Pastor Byron Whitehead of Mount Carmel Bible
Church.
Shall we pray, God our Father the god of Abraham Isaac and
Jacob the creator of all living things we come before your
presence to invoke your presence on today. Thank
you for this opportunity to be able to serve your people
God we pray now that is we meet we would come together.
We pray now did our differences will not make it difficult.
That we do not be divisive. God be pray now for the men
and the women and our mayor of today that they would rule
and judge righteously to deal with the problems in the
predicament send the challenges in which our city faces. God
we come now to pray for peace.
That
surpasses all men's understanding. Give them wisdom.
Give them.
Give them knowledge through your people. In Jesus name we
pray. Amen. Amen. You may be seated.
this portion
This portion of the meeting is dedicated to public comment.
the
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 use to transfer
their time to another speaker any written comments that
have been submitted will be posted and made available for
automatic review. The first speaker is
Peter Csoynkia.
Peter
Please press star 6 to unmute.
Hello. I am Peter Csoynkia from the 45th Ward. Racism is a system
of power racism is a system of power that seeks to divide
people who should be allies.
It is.
It is a system of structuring opportunity and assigning
value based on the social interpretation of how one looks
or where one comes from. This race is system of power may
use racial bias, but it is not limited to racial bias. This
racist system of power may use skin color but it is not
limited to skin color. This racist system of power may use
the politics of division, but it is not limited to the
politics of division.
In the last city council meeting we saw many Alders using
the politics of division to drive a wedge between groups
who would logically be allies of these altars previously.
These alders previously sat silently and even voted for the 1 billion dollar to
hand out in the Lightfoot Administration. There were no
performative cries of my ward isn't getting any
The politics of division of splintering groups from one
another to benefit those in power is an old tactic used by
those in power on these shores since before the US was a
country. In the 1640s three indentured servants escaped and
were subsequently captured, two of the tree a Scotsman and a
Dutchman were sentenced to an additional four years of
servitude. The third John Punch a black man was sentenced to
perpetual servitude American racism requires that groups be
splintered and treated differently as was John Punch. As are
the immigrants.
this
This racist system of power may use the quote volunteers
once paid by the Valles campaign.
To disrupt Council proceedings, but the racist system of
power is not limited to Valles crisis actors. We've seen
credible reports of Aldermen O'Shea communicating with the
Valles paid quote volunteers and crisis actors encouraging
them to disrupt the council meeting by being even louder.
This race is System of power may use black representatives
from the 9th, may use Hispanic representatives from the 15th, and
may use white representatives from the 38th, 41st, and 45th
to engage in the politics of division.
Racism is a system of power racism is a system of power
that seeks to divide people who should be allies. John and
his body are actively engaged in the politics of division.
Stop it. Thank you.
Thank you Mr.Csoynkia. The next speaker is Miss Lisa
Badin.
Good.
Good morning Mr. President distinguish Alders, alderwomen
and alderman. I'm Lisa Bowden a voting taxpayer from the
40th ward in full disclosure. I am a city of Chicago
employee here on my own accord and on unpaid leave time in
order to address the esteemed chamber. I'm honored to have
this opportunity to participate in the Democratic process
of closely follow the 2024 budget discussions, and I
applaud the recent passing of do legislature.
that empowers women
That empowers women identified people. Unsolicited I come
before you today to lift the voices of women identify City
of Chicago employees across all departments. I support the
effort to lift salaries and ranking for women to erase pay
inequality and to increase their retirement earnings City
of Chicago employees are required to live within City
Limits which translates to pay checks going directly back
into the local economy through the purchase of basic goods
and services rent property taxes student loans groceries
gas parking cost of living child care and so on ecosystem
piece of GDP of the city of Chicago and its success as a
direct impact on the financial rating of our city. I
completed a cursory look into the numbers readily available
on the Chicago data portal specifically looking at the
CPD Personnel Services line. What prompted me to look
into the Personnel Services line was the announcement of
the Sergeant's exam for the spring of 2024 during
budget hearings
CPD roughly has 13,000 employees women comprise only
11 to 16% of the fourth the surprising gender disparity. I
found digging deeper into the data that was of the roughly
1,200 sergeants only 80 are women at the estimated amount
not only do female sergeants represent less than 7% of the
salary line. When you review the total CPD Personnel
Services, like they're not even a discernible a half a
percentage of the entire police force. Let this sink in
even further that there's a $23,000 a year pay differential
between police officers the ranking just below sergeant.
What a detriment to the city's GPD. just think of the positive
impact of the promotion to Sergeant us to our economy the
last five years prior to retirement a 23,000 increase which
translates to $115,000 more toward retirement women who are
the generally accepted decision-makers and who procure the
majority of a family units goods and services are making
that much less money.
This is a
This isn't just one Department. What would a further study
look like a cross other departments? How do we create
greater salary equity by gender identity. How do we
lift the roles of women? So they make more money who in
turn inject more money into the local economy and in turn
lift their lifelong earnings so that their years of
retirement are well-funded respectfully. I encourage the
city of Chicago's to continue to lead the way toward
greater parity and leadership equity for women identified
for the employees. Thank you for your time.
Thank you Miss Bowden for your comments. The next speaker is
Jess Yim.
Hello, good morning. My name is Jess. I'm here with the
Honda Center. My organization does organizing work with
community members and we also provide critical services to
provide help for our folks that are like who have just
immigrated here and so forth. And in this moment, we're
supporting new arrivals by welcoming new arrivals into the
new country. We want to keep Chicago a sanctuary city. This
Chicago is a sanctuary City and recent arrivals need basic
human rights to have access to Food Water Shelter
Healthcare and more. This body is spending time tax dollars
and resources to consider a process that will legislate the
ability to reduce the rights and protection the some
Chicago residents solely because of where they were born
and let's just call it what it is any effort to undermine
the welcoming city ordinance. Only those two things first
thing as ever.
This is the right to stay.
This is the right to some Chicago residents based on
xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment second and endorses
the politics of Donald Trump Governor Abbott and other
white supremacist who believe that some people are not
worthy of the same rights and protections as others.
What?
What does not do is address in any single way shape or form
the challenges that Chicago's facing to welcome new
arrivals nor does this address the long-term disinvestment
in black and brown, Chicago?
do if a
Do if a council is concerned with helping vulnerable
Chicago and then the council needs to get back to work on
the real issues that invests in all vulnerable Chicago
residents and communities.
play
Today's budget includes critical items like funding for
mental health clinics and the Peace book ordinance, which
will benefit communities across the city by using
restorative justice and incentivizes peace and healing we
commend the commitments and this budget to funding the
Peace book and we call for continued and increased funding
for root cause Solutions.
and if
And of alderman Lopez truly cared about the communities he
claims to represent support measures like these but he
doesn't know Alderson follow his lead and do his dunks and
focus on what's important building on these purple ones are
moving forward together by working towards solidarity and
not Division and we can and must have policies that help us
all communities. Thank you for your time.
thank
Thank you for your time Miss Yim, the next speaker is
Hay-son Park.
Good morning. Good morning. My name is Hay-son Park. I'm
with Hannah Center today and we organized Korean American
immigrants Asian American immigrants and multi-ethnic
immigrants.
I'm calling at the city council to stop any further attacks
on immigrants in Chicago immediately. You must
you must not point the finger at 1 oppressed group of
people to explain depression of another group of people
because while our collective anger is justified, it must be
directed to the right direction the common thread in our in
all of our anger is a broken system that we must rameshan.
It's the system that maintains generational is the
disinvestment in all communities of color in Chicago.
Did they?
This is what protect the ultra-rich in our city from paying
paying a little more into the public safety net system
while schools and mental health clinic shut down in our
communities.
and tell
And thousands of our neighbors sleep on the street.
This is what resorts in a lack of any action on immigration
from Congress in almost 40 years. Immigrants are not a
priority in his system. That is why we are not yet equipped to support
desperate families seeking their legal rights for asylum
and why we've needed a multi-year campaign to fund
homelessness prevention.
This what keeps black and brown folks unhoused. Whether
they've lived here for 10 months or an entirety of their
lifetime, but this Council has shown that they can reverse
this harm.
you
You all have been able to chip away at this system by
advancing things like paid sick leaves and fair wages
today. You will have a chance to reinvest money into Community
Mental Health infrastructure and Public Safety that
and reverses root causes.
every
Every Alder here has the choice to either demand better
from the broken system rooted in a new today and white
supremacy or they can choose to not address it because it's
easier to blame other. So we invite all the alders here
to think critically about what this city needs from you do
the right thing.Vote for critical investments today
like treatment not trauma and peace work.
after
After that refused to make enemies of the families with
small children literally running for their lives and
seeking safety. Instead, work to continue to lift up our
votes and other plans changed that dismantle this systems that
hurts us all and builds new systems of care and compassion
for all people. Thank you.
Thank you for your comments Miss Parks. The next speaker is
Miss Candice Evasita.
Good morning. No, we cannot.
Okay. Hello. Good morning. Good morning everyone. My name is
Candice Evasita. I'm with Palenque LSNA.
all
Alderman Raymond Lopez seems to think that if only Chicago
would repeal our long-standing welcoming city ordinance.
The buses bringing migrants here from Texas will stop.
Who is he kidding? Texas' Governor Abbott seems determined
to mess with big diverse Northern cities. And with the
Democratic National Convention heading here next year, what
better target could he have? but yeah yet Lopez thinks he
should give in to Governor Abbott and throw away our
long-standing welcoming policies due to temporary
difficulties. He believes without any grounding in reality
it if we only get rid of our immigration immigrant
protection Abbott will somehow give us a break
Alderman Lopez give us all a break
stop pushing the right-wing anti-immigrant agenda stop in
flaming hatred and division and start reading before the
cameras and media and to all the other council members.
Please stop aiding and abetting these attacks on our
immigrant neighbors and their communities and get to work
on building our students.
today
Today's budget is a step in the right direction that we
need to go. Palenque LSNA has long been supportive of
the people's unity platform. And today we are glad to
see the funding to reopen mental health clinic and the
peacebook ordinance included in the budget. These are
solutions that help Chicago is across the city. Let's keep
moving in that direction. Thank you.
Thank you for your comments Mis Evasita. The next
speaker is Miss Michelle Garcia.
Hello, can you hear me?
Good morning. My name is Michelle Garcia. I am the manager
of community organizing and access living.
Through my work at Access Living I have done and seen the
constant and accessibility that undocumented people
especially those with disabilities are experiencing that
leads to further harm. I have spoken to my advocacy about
the inaccessibility of our immigration system and how it's
just how about undocumented people finding and accessing
vital resources.
Policy that prevent further threats to immigrants in our
community in Chicago the welcoming city ordinance has for
four decades protected undocumented people from separating
them from their families from the fear of accessing health
care and or reporting crimes that have affected them as
well. The Ordnance only sets guidelines on how local police
and other City officials or departments engage with federal
agencies.
on a
on immigration-related enforcement. It does not and I repeat
it does not add any additional support or use any city
resources.
for it to be
disputed and stir any confusion now that
can lead to the study of shutting off of vital resources to
undocumented people with disabilities and represent which
would represent a step backward in how we approach
creating a safe and welcoming community. Consider the
current inequities with our housing medical and education
and economic system. It is a misuse of our time and
attention not to address those issues instead of creating
it more potential threatening situation and fear for our
undocumented people by disputing this long-standing policy.
We know it can be done. And in fact, it is being done
today. Treatment not trauma and Peace book are moving forward today as a part
of the mayor's proposed budget. These were critical parts
of the people's play unity platform, and we at Access
Living here to ask me the Alderpeople to look at these
examples for how we can move forward together. people
with disabilities refuse to be divided and we will continue
to support those who experience the inaccessibility and
accessing their community. Let's work together on
one city to ensure our communities and be optimistic about
our future. Thank you.
Thank you, Miss Garcia.
The next speaker is Mister Anton Charles.
My name is Anton Charles and I'm with communities United
and I can't wait until election time, organize
organizations, like ours work to improve and the welcoming
city ordinance and got the support from the overwhelming
majority of the council at the time to do so.
Back then when no one had an issue opposing Donald Trump
because it immigration policies were routed in racism and
hate no one but Ray Lopez. Governor Albert has carried the
mantle and knows races and hateful policies has just been
deplorable then as they are now. Alderman Lopez has stayed
consistent in his anti-immigration stances, but the council
should not shift towards this right-wing Direction. The
council needs to have a political courage to stand up for
all residents, whether it's politically convenient or not.
Yes.
Yes, let's work together to better equip ourselves to
welcome new Chicago residents. Let's work together to
invest in housing and schools and real public safety.
Some of thelines in today's budget include mental health
clinics and peacebook ordinance move us in that right
direction. As the youth organizer I can tell you that young
people are struggling with their mental well-being but to
spend even a second of our time working today undo the
protections we stood by as a city for years in advance of
white supremacist take talking points is embarrassing.
Alderman Lopez and others who support these efforts should
be ashamed in any council member with any sense will move
off move this off the table. Speaking as a concerned
citizen I believe the people in charge need to stop. Think about why
they are in charge and if those reasons don't include
helping their fellow people than they should step down and
let people who actually care be in charge.
It's time.
It's time for a change. That's it.
thank
Thank you for your comments. Mr. Charles. The next speaker
is Mr. Calvin Insolon Ariano.
Good morning morning.
my
My name is Calvin. I am here representing people at Palenque
LSNA. I know the people that we work with in Logan
Square, Avondale and Hermosa.
Repealing the welcoming city ordinance will make the
Chicago immigrant population at all precedence less
safe.
It would show father mistrust between communities of color
and police in communities of color and schools and
doctors.
Meanwhile it will do nothing to stop the buses from the
southern border them from coming.
So let me explain something to Ray Lopez, Feliz Cardona
and others. The people arriving on the buses as asylum applicants,
or people with temporary protected status are shield from deportation.
Undoing the welcoming ordinance won't affect them. But will affect
the thousands of people
who come to live in the city as your family did.
this
This is not how you fight for resources for all
communities.
This is just an attack on immigrants in Chicago.
So
How do we fight for a resources together? We know how
It is with treatment not trauma and reopening two mental health
clinics.
it
It would use less violence prevention solutions like
peacebook.
This is how we move forward together.
The other people who have endorsed proposals to reconsider
the welcoming city ordinance, should either
reverse their position immediately or they should say
the quiet part out loud. They support about Abbott and anti immigrants
and hateful policies with a chain.
This is what this choice is about, which side are you on?
Thank you for your comments. The next speaker is Young Moon
Han.
Good.
Good morning, president and other people of Chicago. My
name is Young Moon Han, a proud immigrant to this great city also
a residents of little village. I am working as a senior
manager at Hanna Center. We are located in Albany Park the
33rd ward. We have a work to pass welcoming city ordinance
in the future also work to remove the carve-out. We
work directly with the Asian American community members
community of color, especially undocumented people.
And when I say undocumented people, you know, we come in
all different race and face. Just a quick fact one in every
seven asian-americans is undocumented here in the United
States, but I'm here to talk about the world. The world that
Alderman Ray Lopez wants. Let's all imagine the terrible
world together.
He wants to repeal and- I'm on the third floor Alderman
if you want to look at me. He wants to repeal the welcoming city
ordinance and return and turn immigration authorities loose
on our immigrant families and communities with eager
assistance from the Chicago Police and other City agencies.
Think of that
Immigrants will live in terror of any traffic
stop or any encounter with police. Immigrant crime victims will be
afraid to call 911 for fear that their own immigration
status will be investigated and reported and that they
themselves could get arrested and turned over to ICE.
Domestic violence survivors will continue to endure abuse
because they will no longer get help from the city.
parent
Parents will fear taking their children to school or to see
doctors.
City agencies will openly discriminate against people based
solely on their immigration status or what get perceived as
their immigration status immigrant communities will get
denied basic services and racial profiling will be further
exacerbated. This is the reign of terror that Ray Lopez wants to and
emit on our city.
and
And we say no to that.
Chicago is a sanctuary city and will always be. And since I have 30 seconds
here are great ordinacaes we can pass: [inaudible] ordinance
Treatment not Trauma
Eliminating [inaudible] and I'm looking at you
Mayer. Keep your campaign promise please.
And let's keep this a sanctuary city forever. Thank you.
Thank you for your time Mr. Han. The next speaker is
Julie, Miss Julie Bentoula.
Hello everybody, I'm Julie Bentoula. I'm an organizer with the
party for socialism and liberation and I humbly ask
everybody who can if you know the chance to join me really
briefly. So I'll start: from the river to the sea...
Palestine will be free.
From the river to the Sea...
Palestine will be free.
Thank you. This is a call for justice and a call for
liberation. I stand with all the alderwoman Rosanna Rodriguez
Sanchez for tweeting this call.
As you can tell most Chicagoans support it. In fact
300,000 people gathered in DC on November 4th to
make the exact same call for justice. The tide is turning
for people to recognize the struggle for a free Palestine
as completely justified, you know, many people are mistakened
to call for peace instead of justice. You can have peace
without liberation. You can have peace with oppression. You
can have peace with apartheid. And that is a mistake this
city council made when condemning the Palestinian
resistance on October 13th. What we really need to condemn
is the 40 million dollars of Chicago taxpayer dollars being
sent to the Israeli occupation to use white phosphorus to
murder journalists from sharing the truth with the world.
there
There was a march for Israel in DC recently recently
organised by a bunch of out-of-touch bourgeois forces. What
were their slogans? Justice for All in Palestine? No, they
said let Israel finish the job in Gaza. They said no
ceasefire. Disgusting. The pro-israel camp routinely calls
for genocide. And right now it's obvious. There's two sides
Liberation for all Palestinians or a colonial ethnic
cleansing. We need money for jobs in education, not our
taxpayer dollars going to war and occupation. I support
Alderman Rodriguez Sanchez and the fact that she's on the
right side of history.
I humbly ask that you all stand with her, stand with the
call for a free Palestine and stand for a call for the
liberation of all oppressed peoples or expose yourselves as
ignorant clowns. Thank you.
Thank you for your comments Mister Bentoula. There
are no further speakers that have time we signed up for the
public comment period. Thank you for the public comments, this conclude the public comment period. We do not have any resolutions next
up communications.
Communications from the mayor to the honorable city
council city Chicago. Ladies and Gentlemen, I request the commissioner of housing
here with an ordinance authorizing the execution of a loan
modification agreement with Revive Center for Housing and
Healing and Illinois Nonprofit for Corporations.
Your favorable consideration in this ordinance will be appreciated. Very truly yours Brandon Johnson Mayor.
Refer to the Committee on Finance. Ladies and Gentleman, I request the commissioner of Planning and Development
to transmit here with an ordinance
authorizing execution of an amended tiff redevelopment agreement
with 4300 Rosevelt LLC.  Your favorable consideration in this ordinance will be appreciated.
Very truly yours Brandon Johnson Mayor. Refer to the Committee on Finance.
Ladies and Gentlmen, I request the commissioner Commitee of Planning and Development
I transmit here with ordinances authorizing
minor amendments the Greater Southwest Industrial East in Lincoln
Avenue tiff district.
Your favorable consideration in this ordinance will be appreciated. Very truly yours-
Brandon Johnson Mayor. Please refer to the Committee on Finance.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the request of the budeget director transit here at the Fun 925
Amendment. Your favorable consideration in this ordinance will be
appreciated. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson Mayor.
Refer to the Committee on Budget and Goverment Operations.
Ladies and Gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Planning and
Development, I transmit here an ordinance
authorizing a class 6B tax incentive for a property
located at 328 West 40th Place. Your favorable consideration in this ordinance
will be appreciated. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson Mayor.
Refer to the Committee on Economic, Capital, and Technology Development.
Ladies and Gentlemen, at the request of the Inspector General, I transmit here with
an ordinance authorizing the execution of the Second
Amendment of intergovernmental agreement with a public
building commission.  Your favorable consideration in this ordinance will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson Mayor. Refer to the Committee on
Ethics and Government Oversight.
Ladies and Gentlmen
at the request of the Commissioner of Housing. I
transmit here at the ordinance authorizing the execution of
a license scription services agreement with Prolink
Solutions Incorporated. Your favorable consideration in this ordinance will be
appreciated. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson Mayor.
Refer to the Committee on Housing and Real Estate. Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have appointed Kylie Cooper as a member of the police board for
a term effective immediately expiring August 10th, 2024
to succeed Jorge Montes who has resigned. Your favorable consideration of this ordinance will
be appreciated. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson Mayor. Refer to the Committee
on Police and Fire.
I, City Clerk Valencia, inform the city council and all these
matter should be considered by the city council meeting
special meeting held on November 2nd 2023, which were
required by the statue to publish in book or pamphlet form
when one or more newspapers is published in pamhplet form on
November 15th, 2023 by being printed in full text and
printed pamplet copies of the journals of the proceedings in the City Council of,
Chicago. I, City Clerk Valencia, also inform the city council
that all those matters are considered by the city council's
regular meeting held on November 7th 2023 required by
Statute be published in book or pamplet form. Or in one or
more newspapers was published in pamphlet form on November 15th
2023. By being printed in full text and printed pamplet copies of the
journal proceedings of City Council City of Chicago.
I, City Clerk Valencia, also transmit here with the following
miscellaneous: Communications reports requiring city council
action zoning, reclassification of a particular areas to be
referred to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building
Standards, claims against the city of Chicago to refer to the Committee on Finance
a recommendation by commissioned on landmark designation.
2678 West Washington Boulevard is a Chicago landmark, which
is reffered to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards.
Your honor, that concludes the reports and communications from
mayor's other City officers.
Thank you very much
for our budget conversation debate. Before the passage, the chair
recognizes Chairman Irvin
Thank you.
Thank you Mr. President.
members of the council. Before we go into
the budget conversation. I want to take this opportunity to
recognize the young man from Garfield Park for the MAAFA
Redemption Project. They're here today with
Pastor. Not Pastor. I'm giving him a new title of Reverend Marshall
Junior Deacon Ervin. We are not related, good friends. And the
rest of the MAAFA team, if you guys can stand I want to
recognize these gentlemen here.
Thank you.
Thank you again. Most of these young men between the ages
of 17 to 26 that are making a very positive tracts and paths
in life. And it's our responsibility to support and
recognize them for the positive work they're doing on
the West Side Chicago. At this time I want to suspend
the rules to consider various items of Unfinished Business,
which will notice and file with the court pursuant
to Rule 41. Pertinent to the consideration of passes are
the 2024 budget.
there are
They are as follows. Item number one the Corrections
ordinance the amendments. Item number two, amendments to the
2024 budget recommendation and text portion. Item number
three the 2020 for propitiation ordinance as amended. Item
number 4, the substitute management ordinance
Item number 5, the substitute motor fuel tax fuel allocation
ordinance. Item number 6, the motor fuel tax allocation
intergovernmental agreement with Chicago Transit Authority
and Cook County. Item number 7, the substitute salary
resolution. Item number 8, the 2024 tax levy ordinance and
item number 9, the substitute revenue ordinance.
Hearing no objections so ordered. Chairman Irvin
Do you wish to begin the discussion on the budget package?
Yes, I asked the council to discuss the entire budget package at
this time, which includes the matters that have been
previously stated and I reserve the right to close
along with Chairman Dowell.
Very well. Thank you. That deference will be granted.
Okay, if there aren't any further discussions around the
budget we can just. Oh. I was ready to just go pass it.
Just a second. Just a second. Chair recognizes Alderman
Conway. Mr. President after after much soul-searching I
have decided to vote Yes on the budget and I commend you Mr.
President on
putting forth a
Putting forth a budget that does not raise property taxes
provides a a modest increase for for law enforcement and
also reopens mental health clinics in and mental health
treatment. I do have 2 grave concerns, the first one being
the removal of of nearly 100 million dollars from the
LaSalle Street tiff. This at a time when we need to be
investing in our downtown, just like every city in the world
is rethinking its central business district. It can't
just be a place where people work it has to be able to be
a place where people can live and eat and shop and the
previously announced Tiff projects are a big part of of
making that happen. However, I have had encouraging
conversations with your team as well as dpd as well as our
budget director Guzman on this matter, which is giving me a
bit of comfort and I also appreciate
the financal
The financial document I was shown sent to me that shows
room in the tiff to still fund all five of the projects in
the 25 and 26 projects when they were more likely need those.
My greater concern is 150 million-dollar blank check for
the migrant crisis. It is no secret that this issue is
tearing the city apart and having known you a long time Mr.
President. I know you're you're a person with a big heart and
I know you feel that personally but it's also
well-documented that your administration has not worked or
minimally work with with myself and and several other
Alders before the opening of shelters in our Wards didn't
really work with us prior to the GardaWorld contract or
renewing favorite staffing. So this is a major humanitarian
crisis, and we need to work together to to solve it. So I
I hope I this body. We, I don't speak for everybody
but I think we
But I think we need more more collaboration and most of us
in this body wants to help we all need to work together to
solve it. But with that all said, Mr. President, I commend
you on passing your your first budget. Thank you. Thank
you, the chair recognizes Alderman Sposato. Sorry the chair
recognizes Alderman Laspata.
I love it. Thank you mister president.
I'm am very proud to rise in support fully of this budget.
I remember.
Sitting here four years ago with a a lot of new fresh faces
glad to still be sitting here with a lot of you when the
previous first year budget for us was introduced at the
time I felt like it was a low ambition budget night. I
said that publicly and what I meant by that was you are a
highly constrained in your first year. We are all of us
many folks just six months into this job, it constrains
ambition, but what you can do like we're out on a dark
night, you can use that first budget as a flashlight to
point the direction out of the darkness for where we're
trying to go and I feel like that's what this budget does.
It's the promise of a lot of deferred dreams and a lot of
deferred justice.
For folks who've been aching for years for decade to see
the Department of the Environment restored. You did
not wait on that. You didn't equivocate you accomplished.
out of the gate. I really appreciate that the investments
that we're making that we're asked for for the last four
years for more years and that on expanding
Mental Health
Mental health expanding crisis base mental health makes me
really proud and across-the-board. I would say stick to
counterpart this narrative art. Our new neighbors as much as
they are a challenge
More than a crisis but I believe they will bear out to be
an opportunity for City what they are going to contribute
to our cities to our neighborhood to our schools to our economic
corridors. It cannot be overstated. I really do believe the
investment that we are making in our new neighbors now is
going to bare out tenfold. I believe that truly and I
believe the future will bear out that for all of us. I'm
really proud of what we're doing. There's only one
direction that I hope that we continue to work on and
that is related to gender based violence in the budget. I'm
glad of the work that we're doing again. Where were your
pointing? I will say I believe as advocates and survivors
as the community committed to the health and safety of
people within their homes have said that that is work that
should be grounded in our neighborhoods in our communities
in those
the most relevant and compassionate experience network
I know that we're going to look back.
I know that we're going to look back on our investments and
I believe that we can put pivot in that direction and I
commit to continuing to work with you and your team on
that. I'm very proud to say that in light of all that again
really proud of this budget.
I Will
I will go ahead and say this there there might not be
a space for it later. But I stand in solidarity with those
in the box who stand in solidarity with all hurting and
suffering people. I don't know that we'll ever have a
moment within this space to call for solidarity with peace
solidarity with the people of Gaza and for a full
For a ceasefire that brings peace that opens the door to
Healing. I will say that now and that is my peace. Thank you
Mr. President.
Chair recognizes Alderman Beale
Thank you.
Thank you mister president.
Mr. President I rise to not support this budget.
but
But to raise question on what exactly is or is not in the
budget.
I need to open my iPad real quick Mr.President to open my notes
There's three reasons why I'm not voting for this budget. Alderman, pardon me, can you
raise your microphone just a little bit so we can hear you. Thank you, sir.
There are three reasons why I'm not supporting his budget.
Number one, the budget is not balanced.
Number two
The budget is not balanced.
Number three
the budget is not balanced.
Now why do I say the budget is not balanced. Because we know
we are spending 40 million a month today on the migrant
crisis.
What?
40 million. That gets you through four months. So what are
we going to start doing come April?
when we run out of money
what are
What are we going to do? Hope and pray that the federal
government gives us money. Hope and pray that the state
gives us money.
inaudible
In order for a budget to be balanced we have to identify
how we going to get through the rest of the year and we're
not doing that. Even if we say we're going to tap into the
rainy day fund you have to identify that. If you're looking
at a potential tax increase property tax you have
to say that in order to balance a budget. But this budget
doesn't say that.
This budget just says we're going to hope and pray that the
federal government steps up to the plate. Well, let me give
you all the dose of reality. We have a big election in
November and we have a president who's fighting for his
life and we have a republican house in DC.
the likelihood
The likelihood of us being bailed out of the federal
government during election years is very slim to none. That's
number one. Number 2 the governor has already said
don't come to Springfield.
bet you
They are, they are tapped out. So what are we going
to do mid-year? Not even mid year. What are we going
to do come April when we run out of this hundred and fifty
million dollars.
that's
That's one of the questions we never got an answer to. We
never got that answer about how we're going to balance the
budget going forward.
Also, we have 2300 police vacancy. I know some of you all
say oh 23. That's a big number. Well, I always say 23 the
book the book says 17, but if you add the 614 that the
prior administration wiped out in 2019 that gets you.
to the 23.
so we
So we have 23 police vacancies 2300. With crime running
rampant
we
We're not even addressing the crime issue here in the city
of Chicago.
do
Do you think 400
civilian positions is going to help us? It's going to take
you 3-4 years to hire 400 people.
you
You may not even get to that point. Meanwhile, there's no
urgency about hiring more police to put on the street that
all of us need in our community. We're all dealing with
carjacking, car break-in, murders. You name it. We're all
dealing with it. And there's no urgency to hire 2300 more
police that we need on the street.
That's a huge problem in my opinion.
Also
we talked about
adding more staff I know that's real popular with some of you
guys here.
I'm all for hiring more staff if we can justify it
now
Now if we haf said that we are going to create a working group
We're going to create a working group to see how many calls
are coming into each Ward office. How many city services
you all are putting into your ward office in the 311.
I'm not interested in hiring more staff just to tweet and
put stuff on Facebook.
I know that's unpopular, I get it.
However, a study should have been done.
That's one of the things that we're not doing today you all
We're not getting hard data to justify our actions. We're
acting off of instinct, gut feelings. You know, what popular
in the paper today. We're not making concrete decisions on
how to move forward. That's a recipe for disaster.
No, let me go on the record to let you all know about the
800-pound gorilla in the room.
when
When that aren't money runs out and we're not doing
anything in this budget to make our physical house in order
going forward is a problem.
I'm all good. We ain't gotta raise taxes. I like that, that's
good. But we're not addressing was coming down the pipe.
We're not laying the foundation to move forward in the
future.
we're doing what's okay for right now, but what about the
future y'all. Is everybody in this room ready to vote on a
1.3, 1.5 billion dollar tax increase
cuz that's what
we're going to be faced with.
that's
That's the reality that we are facing coming down in the
near future when our money runs out.
We're not doing anything physically responsible to plug the
whole going forward and we are spending money migrant money like a madman.
That's a problem in my book. So those are just a few
reasons why I cannot come to grips with voting for this
budget.
You know, if something changes along the way I'll be more
than happy to help aid and assist but as of today, I can't
support this budget. Thank you Mr.President. Thank you.
The chair recognizes Alderwoman Lee.
Thank you Mr.President.
You know, city staff often don't get recognized or they get
recognized last during budget. So I'm gonna start my remarks
with some some gratitude in some acknowledgment to ensure
that they're recognized. So to Director Guzman and your
budget team, you hit the ground running as soon as you
got here. And I think you had to go to run a series of
sprints to get us through this process. So I thank you for
all of your work since you got her not just in the past
month, although I know this past month you're going to
hopefully have a massage or something scheduled for after this meeting.
And to everybody on your staff who work so hard.
As budget vice-chair I was here for every single meeting
starting at 10 and sometimes leaving not until very late
at night. And I know that they were hours of work after
those meetings for the chair. Through the chair request, to the budget
committee staff as well to help us through that process the
budget last year was a very educational thing for me. So
hopefully for my newer colleague the budget did that
for them as well this year in this is something that each
of us as Alders have to spend time considering what this
budget will do and it's not a simple budget. Math is simple
tbis budget process never is especially as we have to
navigate to really trying times at the city as a state in
the country.
and I
And that makes the economics of it's pretty impossible.
But thank you every department committee and council that
came together before this body to take every question and
not all of them always gracious, but even but always
well-intended with were these questions came from
appreciate the professionalism with which you held
yourselves and provided information to us so that we can
make these really heavy decisions.
Mr. Mayor
Congratulations to you an advancing on your first budget. I
will be a yes on this budget today. I'm going to tell you
why forecasted 538 million-dollar shortfall is a really
daunting thing to any any body of government much less the
third largest city in the United States. And to be sure
there can be no perfect budget and all of this is all the
more true we have when we have to work to find ways to
close this gap. And we did so without sacrificing some of
our priorities including re-establishing the department of
environment.
You can clap for that. That's okay.
Helping to relieve the burden on automatic staff giving
us a fourth staffer. Like I haven't been around as long as
many others. I don't know how they've done it this long
with only three full-time staff. So I for one I don't have
the date on Alderman Beale, but I know that especially with
the crises that we've been dealing with with the migrant
crisis and the additional burden on our staff with a remap
of my ward with the 11th ward having all of
Chinatown, that's almost like two mini wards in one. So I
have felt the burden of that and I for one am very relieved
to be able to have an additional staff member and help
for Shalaw, who people on the call will not know but Shalaw is
the one person in the clerk's office that manages the
entire city council HR department. She is one person. So
we're doubling that with one additional staff.
Thank you for all of that work.
And finally beginning the process of making our black
community financialy whole. That's a conversation that I'm
glad is being acted upon meaningfully with a with a budget
line item here.
My team and I review the budget book. We always grounded
ourselves in this question. Where is help needed? Where is
help needed for our city and constituents? And how can we
get help for the city staff to do their work? We saw in
every single department that there were vacancies and we
heard over and over again how difficult it is to hire. So I
want to thank the budget office as well as the HR
department from this administration and previous for the
work that they did
to adjust pay schedules
so that
So that we can become more fair with how we're paying and
compensating our workers as well as being competitive.
You know
Over the course of the hearings one thing became really
apparent. We need to replenish our city workforce that will
help us with our pension obligations, department's cancel
the demands that we place on them both from
an aldermanic perspective and on behalf of our
constituents if we don't adequately resource them. And at the
expense of our pension liabilities and our city's economic
future. We need to get people back to work, back to work for
the city and I'm encouraged that the amendments that we've
made through the HR department help us do this. We also
need to replenish our CPD Workforce. We have to acknowledge
the safety concerns that all of our constituents have and
adding a hundred new detectives, a hundred more sergeants
and a hundred more field training officers is a start.
To adressing those constituents concerns and I will give you
we have to hire too, right. We have to acknowledge all of
that but it's a good start and I'm encouraged that this
budget keeps the police budget whole as well.
we
We also need to acknowledge that beat integrity is
something that's very important to all of us and it's
definitely something that from my perspective in the 11th
ward is is integral to making sure that our city feels safe
and that our residents feel safe. We also need to be able
to meet people where they are and I was very encouraged
with all the
departments talking about language accessibility for all
of our non-english-speaking residents of the city.
and I know
And I'm no different than any of us in this room. I have my
own concerns about the migrant situation and the budget
we've allocated for a management of this crisis when we
have an uncertain future with federal funds.
We're meeting the moment right now, and I'm more than
hopefully I'm ready to work real at my sleeves with you,
mr. Mayor to work to find ways to make sure that we can be
fiscally responsible and account for all of the things that
we need to account for. this budget is a start and I look
forward to working together as a city with all of my
colleagues to make sure that we have what we need as a city
to move forward. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for the
acknowledgement of the staff. Chair recognizes Alder
Fuentes.
Thank you. Mr. President. How you doing, by the way?
I'm doing well. Thank you very much. You deserve to feel good
today and congratulations in advance on passing your first
budget. Today is a deposit on campaign promises you made to
the city of Chicago to communities, to 77 neighborhoods
promises that would address the needs of our unhoused
neighbors, promises that would address the needs of
individuals that were being released from prisons and
needed to truly have wrap around
quality reentry services. Promises to black communities that
have been historically disinvested in
it advances treatment not trauma by ensuring the we can
reopen mental health clinics. It passes components of Peace
book so that young people can finally feel apart
of the process in building a safer Chicago. So I want to
also congratulate Alderperson Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez and Alderperson
Jeanette Taylor on the leading for those two pieces for the city
of Chicago.
I also want to help us manage expectations.
you see
You see one budget is not going to solve all the world's
problems.
But it is a step in the right direction. To ensure that
when we are public facing with our constituents and our
neighbors and our stakeholders and our organizers and when
we're saying 'We are going to show up for you'
that
That our budget also represents that.
Our budget reflects
reflects our moral compass and our ethics
and I'm proud to vote Yes on a budget Mayor that reflects
your morals and your ethics for the city of Chicago.
And yes, we all have concerns around the migrant and
whether or not this budget allocation is going to get
[unintelligible]
But I don't expect that any of us are going to sit back and
hope and pray.
I think we're going to pass this budget.
I wasn't.
We're going to do exactly what we have been asking for and
that is to collaborate that is to get to work. As soon as
we pass this budget to demand for our federal delegation to
invest in on our migrant mission.
To hold our governor accountable and our state legislators
to have skin in the game. You see we can't sit back
and hope and pray.
The mayor and his administration they're going to get to
work and I hope that every member of this 50-person Council
will do the same.
because
Because the one thing we will always be is a sanctuary
City. We always have been.
Migrant immigrant families alike have built this city. They
have become a part of the very fabric.
This budget is saying yes to leading on a migrant Mission
shows not to Chicago but the rest of the world that we are
going to continue to show up for individuals that come to
Chicago that seek Refuge, that seeks safety.
And that also want to contribute to what it means to live in
the greatest city in the world.
We're always going to have concerns and I think that we can
always walk into every budget process and ask the critical
questions Alderwoman Lee thank you for raising the
professionalism and the rapid response of our budget
director whose mine and her team and how poised she was and
walking into a situation that was quite difficult but
meeting the moment.
She's met the moment by proposing a budget that I am quite
satisfied. What is it perfect?
No.
Nothing is.
But nothing is in this council
But this budget allows us to move into this new year and do
the work that we all start to do when we ran for office and
that is to make sure that we can make all people hope
That we can affirm our communities, that we can give them the
right to housing. That we're going to increase the workforce
for young people.
we
We are here to meet the moment and I'm confident that we
will, and we also have to meet the moment after we vote on this
budget today, and I'm also confident that we will.
It's been a tense few months. You see crisis and hard moments
can bring the worst out of people.
and
And that's okay, but dust ourselves off and we're going to
get better. We're going to enter this new year with this
budget with increased staff
resources for all of our communities
and Chicago will be better for it, and thank you. Mr. President
for proposing his budget and today I'm yes vote. Thank you.
The chair recognizes Alderman Moore
Thank you. Mr. President. Just like my colleague Alderman Lee
Budget Director Guzman your entire team thank you
so much for one, your professionalism and your ability to
reach out anytime. I needed to communicate that does not
fall short on me and I if nothing else I know your heart and
I look forward to future projects from you and supporting
those budgets. I want to thank Chairman Irving for running
an effective
and a very good budget hearing. I appreciate that. I want to
thank Alderman Dowell for her leadership and around the
when we were done with some issues in finance. Also want to
thank Kofa for being thorough and giving us some good
information that we can go with. I appreciate that so much
and I look forward to you building on that because I'm
hoping next year we'll get out books on time and then
you'll be able to get those done things to us and a timely
fashion. Also want to go without saying Clerk Anna Valencia, you and
your entire team have worked diligently throughout this
process. I've seen it before but I really saw it up close.
I really never really paid attention to it before but not
like I did this time around and I want to thank you all so
much for the work that you did now as we get into
this
This budget I'm start out saying.
government
Government is for the People by the people. For the People
by the people. Not for the elected official by the elected
official. Not for the Alderman by the Alderman. For the
People by the people. I was elected by the people to do the
work for the people and I'm always going to do that whether
it was, I'm on my third mayor, whether it was Rahm Emmanuel who's
first budget I didn't vote for because it didn't
represent
the 17th Ward and also it asked for a 300 billion dollar tax
increase when it asks you to ask for 800. I mean 500 when
it should've asked for 800 million kick-the-can-down-the-road came
back and then head to ask for that three or four hundred
million again, which impacted our people even negatively
because somebody out there when out there and bought a
house. Somebody went out there and bought a car they cannot afford it
because they didn't know another four hundred million in
property tax increases were coming. We put in place a CPI
for a reason and that's to be diligent now only with our
fiscal responsibility here, but to make sure that we give
constituents an opportunity to keep they purses in line.
And so I'm disappointed that we did not do the CPI because
we are going to be coming back here.
We are.
we are the
We are going to be coming back here asking for a larger tax
increase. So that's going to happen the other part which is
more important because I could have dealt with the CPI.
That's just that's what they called understand the politics
of that. I don't think no mayor. I can't remember if it was
Lightfoot first term or... she only did one term
So I think it was her first budget that she CPI
I can't remember. But anyway, but most mayors don't like to
touch that in their first budget. If I
remember correctly, Mayor Daley didn't like to touch it at all and kicked
it down. That's why we had to do that 800
million down the road. But sometimes you have to be do
what's fiscally responsible.
but I'm going to back to
But I'm going to back to my constituents.
There are things that I want in my ward that I tell my
constituents that I want, but that's what they say. They
say. No, that's what I do. I listen to my constituents
I give you them the facts. I give them why they should do it and they say
no there's some things that I want or I don't want and they will say
yes. Yes. It is. It's not about me. I ask God
everyday to remove David, you come before me allow me to
listen to my constituents.
and that's
And that's what I did in this budget
That's what I did in this whole process. From day one
everyone in this administration verbatim knew what my
constituents priorities are. Not what Davis priorities are
what my constituents priorities are, my babies. Park
don't want to be in a prison.
Don't want to fieldhouse that look like a prison.
Ask for ten million dollars. I remember when
first
this administrations first City Council meeting
Alderman Beale and I DMP'd an item based on some committee
funding.
we were
We were asked not to DMP it. We talked about
this field house. Okay. I can't promise you but I'm going
to try to work on it. Trying to work on something is an
action item not a silent item, but then we get to 150
million dollars. We cannot escape that. I'm not saying that we can't
help everybody. But I mean it's about that either or it's
both in but when I'm at 150 million dollars if we can find
that and we can't find 10 million for kids at Ogden Park
to start to get towards the 35 million dollars a night for
the whole 35 million dollars this year ask for ten million
dollars.
For the kids, not for David. This is coming from my constituents
to bring us something back home.
Don't vote on nothing unless there's something in there for
the community. That's what they told me. Well, I voted
on one fair wage. I voted on Bring Chicago home.
I'm proving.
I've proving not only in this administration
I'm proving as an alderman. One thing I don't listen to is pie
in the sky. I listen to people with showing some action not
just words and saying okay this is what I can do, this is
how we going to do it not just I will do it. But this is
the path to do it so that I can take it back to my
community and say wait I'm supporting this but this is the
pathway to do it. Not a whole. I don't live by the whole
factor.
I live by action factor, making things happen and so because
of that because of that
I cannot support this budget because I can't I can't go to my
constituents and say this is what I'm bringing home to you.
And that's from them and I listen to them every day of the
week. I only get home can hope
That going forward in the future before we get to a next
budget before we get there anything else
we
We can work together to get these priorities done
extensions of Englewood and West Englewood as we continue
to work on the things that we started two years ago in
Auburn Gresham.
And
So until that happens and you'll hear some people say well,
this is not a
development budget. This is an operation budget, this is not a
capital budget, somebody will get up and say that. 150
million dollars is building. All I want to do is build in
my community. I want it. I want to see some of that and if
asking for the less than
10% think it's around 10 million 150 around what 6.7% of
some like that?
6 %
6%. If my kids ain't worth 6% then
I can't vote for this budget if they not worth 6%. Thank you
so much. And I'm I look forward to hopefully working in a
future. Thank you very much. The chair recognizes
Alderman Sigcho Lopez.
Thank you, Mr. President and thank you for all the
residents and people who provided testimony today.
I can tell you that this is my fifth budget.
And it's a new day.
I think that was
today as we have seen the tensions and the bigotry of the
hate, but we also have seen the work.
dedication and commitment
of
some public servants to the city of Chicago and indeed
budgets are moral documents. So let's
dive in what this budget has.
And when we talk about serving our residents I think it's
important that we talk about the most vulnerable.
So it's great to see in this budget
the office of reentry
An office that will have initially at least 4
staffers and nearly 5 million dollars in something that
represent a departure from the platitudes and promises and an
investment to the people in the city of Chicago.
the commission on reparations
is budget now not only names I commissioned but it puts
funding to make sure that we can talk about reparations on
the harm
that continues to be inflicted in many communities.
It is hard to hear even in 2023, policies are redlining
shameful evictions
and under constant disinvestment and pitching of people against
each other.
I think it's important that we can talk about reparations
and we connect the Great Migration with the South and we
connected all the way in the global South.
So it is important that we invest in these commissions so
that we can find a way forward, away out of decades of
neoliberal policies on this investment on closing schools.
many
Many people like to talk about violence but forgotten
50 schools
over 10 years ago were shut down in the poorest areas of the
city of Chicago. Half the mental health clinics shutdown in
this very areas to benefit home
and to create callus and violence.
And Gaza is not too far.
When you talk about occupation style
tactics.
On the south side or west side young black kids have been
subject to
for years
so when we talk about reparations
and we talk about investments
We got to make sure that we put our funding where our mouths
are.
We talk about youth and programming.
This administration
true to their values is investing 76 million dollars
dedicated to youth employment and programming in a budget
that cannot forget about our youth
this
This is an increase of the number of jobs by 2024 over
4,000 young people being employed.
but we
When we talk about mental health
and the disaster that had being the previous
administrations.
We can talk about
the national crisis among young people
the crisis of mental health in our communities that have been
met by budgets that prioritize surveillance and more
violence instead of treatment and no more trauma. So I want
to command one of our colleagues who has been leading on
this effort
with the many community members and residents. So I want to
personally thank Alderperson Rosanna Rodriguez Sanchez for
her advocacy.
This budget invests 50 million dollars per year for mental
health safety net in our city that is badly needed.
and I
And I cannot want one alternative response team. So
thank you Alderperson Rosanna Rodriguez Sanchez.
the
The politics of old will tell us that there's no way to
balance the budget.
the politics
The politics of old will tell us that we are irresponsible.
and
And under same politics and politicians, but they have no
problem voting for the 2.3 billion dollar giveaway to to
developers under the previous administration.
Today we said those phones belong to the people of the city
of Chicago.
That's why we're grateful that investment
to reopen the department of the environment so that we can
hold polluters accountable.
and we
And we can bring environmental justice to the city of
Chicago.
The budget committs 250 million dollars to decarbonize
they want to one to four unit homes for legible Chicagoans,
six million dollars in Chicago primary infrastructure
grants to put real money into the hands of organizations that small
businesses who can help meet environmental goals.
Six million in our city for a composting system to start talking
about real sustainable green policies.
When it comes to housing as chair of the housing committee,
I want to thank the administration for their commitment.
To the residents right to housing with over 250 million
dollar investment to homeless support that includes an
increase in the city's investment in a flexible housing
pool and the successful rapid re-housing program.
We also want to thank the administration for adding ten million
dollars to the housing home repair program so
low-income homeowners in need of repairs can improve the
living conditions and stay in their communities.
We also thank you for those who truly believe in democracy.
So the
so that
So that we have voted to put in the hands of Chicagoans an
important referendum so that we can bring Chicago home and
address the homeless unhoused crisis
by the disinvestment in our community so that we can have a
dedicated revenue stream to address the crisis of an
unhoused that today leaves 70,000 people unhoused 20,000
children of them a new neighbors.
It is important.
It is important that we talk about housing as a human
right and we're grateful for the administration to make
those investments in our community.
when
When it comes to new arrivals, new neighbors
someone who have come to the US as a minor at 17 years
old
in sake for a better future.
It is hard
to swallow the images in a police districts
and emcampents
And I'm extremely grateful for the residents of the city of
Chicago for all their efforts and all the volunteers and
people who have been helping address a humanitarian crisis that is
unfortunately being handled as a political
football
The parties that are more interested in profit and
political gain rather than simply saving lives and putting
best practices and real legislation to address the issues
that are federal.
In that sense, I want to thank two of my colleagues that
came with me to the border, Alderman Robinson and Alderman
Hall
in the real display
of solidarity to understand the root causes of the issue
and to deliver on legislation that would truly address the
issues and bring us to better conditions in our communities
without eroding the quality of life.
unfortunately
in
election time
Bigotry and hate have found ears
in a minority
very vocal
an organized and well-funded minority.
that
That is not only terrorizing people in our communities by
just here in the public safety meeting. We heard some of
these bigotry even going to abortion clinic to harrass
patients.
when they're at their most vulnerable
So we're proud to be in a sanctuary city.
That
that Mayor Harold Washington wisely
fought for and
it is unfortunate a political game is trying to score
cheap points
trying to race
the stakes on who can be more cruel when we have children
in police stations in the middle of the winter time.
we say
let's talk about bringing people to our solutions to
address the issue
let's talk about
why people have migrated
under
Under economic sanctions that the previous president in
post have continued and have continued to exacerbate
migration.
From
Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti, and other countries
so
So this is a bit of a problem that must be addressed with
federal support because we cannot have it both ways.
That's why.
We're not letting bigotry and hate change the narrative and
just yesterday we came back from DC joined by over 500
Chicagoans that came to DC to the man immigration reform to
the man investment in order to manatees the five billion
dollars that can be invested in cities of destination due
to the neglect and horrible federal policies that create a
humanitarian crisis in the global south. So we say that
the 100 million dollar investment
to address
the humanitarian crisis
It is
a responsibility of the federal government and the state
government to support the city of Chicago as a destination
city of their own choosing of the federal government.
So when we say
that we must hold people accountable and then November
we're going to have a critical election, I think this is a
great opportunity to organize and the amount of the state
and federal officials what Chicagoans deserve and urgently
need.
when
When it comes to community safety, 209 million dollars
investment to anti-violence programs, restorative justice
reentry programs, domestic violence and gender-based
violence prevention intervention, and the city's community
safety coordination center.
We're also moving in the same line as other cities like LA
or New York to have at least 30% of positions filled by
civilians. So we welcome 300 more civilians to fill those
positions so that they're not police positions as well as
increasing the number of the detectives in the Chicago
Police Department to improve the homicide clearance rates
that are badly needed in our communities.
When it comes to investing in our communities, we also got
to talk about the investment on critical infrastructure
lead service line replacement that's going to see a critical
53 million dollar investment. The Department of
Technology Innovation so that we can plan and think and
coordinate for the future.
and I want
And I want to thank you specifically Mayor Johnson for doing
all these without raising property taxes or communities have been hit
and continue to be responsible for mismanagement corruption
and neglect.
Yet Chicagoans continue to fight and continue to believe in
the city of Chicago.
I'm grateful
that there will be
support for a small homeowners and I look forward to
working with my colleagues in city council so that we can
go on a strong agenda to Springfield to make sure.
the
that
That we change this horrible system. The balance is budget
in the backs of working people while subsidizing the
super-rich developers and corporations that pay little to
the city of Chicago. So today
we say
We say that we are up for the challenge and I'm welcome to
join the subcommittee to look at Revenue options so that we
look at you. We can look at all the ways to balance the
budget but I'm glad that our values cannot be negotiated.
So the welcome meeting to pay the pensions for workers,
and we also I'm making an important investment in 1 billion
dollars so that we can have
lead
Lead service replacement and other
service organization programs in the most vulnerable city areas of the
city of Chicago. So Mayor, members of the city council I look
forward with you to organize and demand of the state and
federal government what all Chicagoans need on this Earth. What
we're not going to do is to allow Republicans or a couple of
corparate Democrats or whoever they are to divide us to pitch
against each other to raise tensions in our neighborhoods.
And in this chamber continue to fuel those divisions. So today we say
in our community we're glad that we have a new day, and I'm
glad to cast a vote in support of this budget. Thank you Mayor
Johnson.
Thank you.
Before I call the next Alder I will take just a point of
privilege as chair, chair recognizes state representative
Nick Smith is here. Representative, please. Thank you.
Thank you for joining the most functioning body of
government.
The chair recognizes Alderwoman Taylor.
You know when your life people pass you and they say stuff
and you quite sometimes don't forget what they say. And so
I got a little cousin and her favorite phrase is I'm sick
of y'all.
We have a responsibility to all Chicagoans to take care of
all of them. And the reason why our city is in chaos is because
we in chaos, we don't work with each other. We don't talk
to each other. We pick and choose who we going to talk to
who we going to work with. We don't hold each other
accountable. And so y'all expect for our city not to be
acting a fool... we all down here acting a fool.
we
We had a co-worker
who died last week. Miss Sharon.
And for you all that don't know Miss Sharon. Miss Sharon was the
clerk that set on the third floor and took care of
everybody. She had a smile for everybody.
She knew I had a black thumb. She got a plan up there that she
was taking care for me.
She was just all-around good woman. She left here early on
a Friday cuz she wasn't feeling well and went home and died
on a Sunday.
Do y'all not see the responsibility that we have as folks
who are elected by our people? Do we not? We don't.
we
We are sitting here fighting over the bare minimum for no
reason.
and we
And we all sit here and get up and give these elaborate
beautiful speeches about working together that ain't what I
see.
That ain't how I'm calling it. That's not how my city sees it.
I appreciate every young black man that got up today to
come in here because I want you to know that at some in point
time you wouldn't have been allowed in this space and
neither would I. And so while we've come a long way, we
got a long way to go.
young people in
Young people in my community have been fighting for the
Peacebook since I've before I got in the office and all
that says is we will give money to young people to help
solve their own problems.
It's always funny how I got people in here who voted to
close schools, who voted to close mental health clinics, who
voted to sell the parking meters and Lord knows if we have
the parking meter we wouldn't have known that. So let's
call it like it is.
and
And so
I'm I'm tired. And we do have various things called
rehabilitation. There is a thing of called change of heart,
but that change of heart can't happen on the backs of
people who ain't done nothing to us.
We got a responsibility to take care of black Chicago.
You all ain't even got to clap. I don't care.
we
We have a responsibility.
it
any
It is wrong for us to not do what we should have done a
long time ago. And that's have a conversation with black
Chicago about what it really needs and what it really
wants.
is
it's
It's always easy for me to sit here and say nay or yay. I'm
going yes because good kids going to get the peace
book. We always talking about what young people do or don't
do but we vote against their interest.
are
Every time that ordinance has been called somebody calls
into rules. It got called to rules for no reason
whatsoever no more than ignorance and arrogance, but then they
worry about why they in downtown. They
wouldn't be if they have things in their community.
I sit in this place on a consistent basis. And what I say
to myself is I can learn from everybody in this city
council and what y'all don't know is I have.
There are not a lot of people, what we have to
understand is we going to be allies sometimes and sometimes
we going to be enemies.
And that's because just because we don't agree what y'all
don't know is there are some people in city council that we
count out, that we don't talk to, that are not a part of our
spaces.
I asked Alderman Riley my first year here, Alderman Riley I
got a question for you, I need some help around something.
You know what Alderman Riley said to me, Oh sure of
course all me. That ain't what y'all rhetoric was saying
was it
Your rhetoric will tell y'all he hung up the phone. He
didn't answer. That's not what I get for my co-workers. And
so we got a responsibility and duty to work with everybody.
I don't care if you don't like me. Join the club we got
jackets.
I don't care, but at the end of the day we have a
responsibility to work with each other and work for what we
are paid to do. We are paid to represent the citizens of
the city of Chicago and we have not done that cuz we're too busy. I'm
not going to say it but you know what I want to say. We too
busy BS'ing. We too busy with our egos. We too busy
fighting over who got on red and who got on orange. Our
young people are watching us.
They are watching us and unlike us there a lot of things
they ain't scared of.
We scared of social media.
They ain't.
We scared to say what we feel, they not. And at some point
they going to take this over and I hope ultimately they
fixed what we messed up.
we
We got an opportunity to get it right and yes this budget
it ain't perfect.
Hell I've been looking through this book for weeks and I'm
like Lord we spend money on that. Thank you black girl
magic over there missing that. This the first time that I've
had a budget of that I actually understood and I feel like I
was more part of the process than I wanted to be. Y'all
had us down here a lot of times but I'll take that I'll
take that work because too often we get up here and say I
will help everybody and don't move mounts.
Nobody wants your job. Mr. President, or at least I don't.
You got a hard job. But what I would ask for you from this
point on is to make sure you look at all fifty of us as
your allies. Thank you. Mr. President.
The chair recognizes Alderman Rodriguez.
thank
Thanks.
This is like the third time I have to apologize and I'm like man Oh My God
Thank you mister president.
Root causes huh?
Look, I was doing some reading this morning a number of
different outlets reporting on this budget and one
really caught my eye for talking about our budget as both a
moral and political document.
And that framing really really stuck really spoke to me.
And I think about what morally Chicagoans deserve.
I think morally speaking Chicagoans deserve an office of
labor standards
that works on their behalf.
more
Morally that can speak multiple languages of the city to
make sure that we are processing worker complaints. I think
morally Chicagoans deserve more mental health support not
less.
I'd
I think morally Chicagoans deserve a government
that invests in our financial future.
That covers our pensions. I think morally public workers
deserve upon their retirement what they are promised upon
working.
I was reminded last week by my sister from the 14th Ward
about how morally our cities are cities citizens, our City's
residents deserve not to feel like if they go to church
they can be deported.
Our brothers and sisters morally deserve that they can get
a job if that's what they want.
that
That morally that they don't have to feel like if they take
their child to school that they could be apprehended in a
country that they lived in for generations potentially
and be deported. The fact is my father's lived in this
country for 70 years and is not a US citizen my friends.
He was a third shift truck driver for the Chicago Sun-Times,
a teamster worker, but is not a citizen of this country, and
he potentially can be deported
if we work
as a city
with our federal governments if there is a conservative
federal government, that would have him deported. This is
personal.
Thank you for speaking today so many of you on behalf of
our brothers and sisters in the shadows, but who deserve to
be brought
to the light.
So in this budget, we increase our office of labor
standards by 50%.
We re-establish a department of environment.
we
We pay an extra three hundred million dollars
towards our pension that we put ourselves on a path to be
90% covered by 2050.
This budget adds 300 civilian positions to see CPD to
streamline our work.
Look
This budget is a moral and a political document.
and
And it has earned my support. Thank you. Mr. President.
Thank you.
chair
Chair recognizes Alderwoman Ruth Cruise.
thank
Thank you president. I also want to start by saying thank
you to our budget director Annette Guzman for all the work
that you and your stuff have done throughout the budget hearings.
Aalso all departments that have been here but also a
special thanks to Chairman Irvin. It definitely was two
long weeks and
everything was executed. I remember with my colleagues will
say two weeks you won't see your staff, you won't see
your residence and you won't see your family. They weren't
kidding. Definitely were two long weeks, but very productive
weeks. I came in here with open mind and ready to learn and
ask questions. Like that's was full of books and
information was trying to understand Alderman Cardona
last week. I mean, last year numbers and trying to see
what will be the difference this year. So I came in to
represent my residenta with their needs and concerns
but also throughout the budget hearings it was important
for me to see a budget that reflects the values of a more
progressive tomorrow.
and
And that's what we have seen in this budget. We have seen
skillpath to reopen Chicago's mental health clinics. We are
helping to ensure mental wellness. And for that very
thankful for the work you have been doing Mr.
Presiden. Also bringing back the department of
environment. I think we have to make sure that we are
addressing a climate environment concerns throughout the
city, but also quality of life of the residents from home
repair programs continue the program for the lead service
line replacement programs forestry and other
services that
will be included also youth summer programs. I told
my youth that you're all going to be busy this summer
working for the city of Chicago and really doing an impact on your
community. But also the extra staff and some other wards
may not need it, but I can say for my ward which is really
need that extra staff were based on that, you know,
everything that we have, you know, we're working and making
sure that we're bringing the change in the services that
community wants to see. Today marks exactly six months since
many of us got sworn in as a freshman Alderman and I think
we are proud of the work that we have done in the 6 months
that we have been here. So I'm proud of the work that we
all have done and again because of things like this I will
be supported this budget other changes that I would love to
see all the things. Absolutely. I don't think anything is
perfect but that's something we'll address next year.
But again, you have my support and let's continue
helping
Helping the city moves forward. Thank you. Thank you chair
recognizes Alderman Burnett.
thank
Thank you very much. Mr. President.
16 billion dollars. 6 months
I just want to say congratulations. I like to thank
everyone from your team from the finance to controller
to budget, everyone who put this budget together. They did a
dynamic job to figure out everything with 16 billion
dollars and six months. Also want to commend your staff
Mister Mayor for listening. I got up here and I spoke about
I have no problem with helping the migrants, but we had to
help returning residents. We had to help other parts of our
community and you all figured out a way to do that for new
staff people for a permanent office not Opera money for
returning residence.
in
You know, it's funny because as I look at this budget and I
look at some of the highlights
to me it all comes together very holistically as being
it's a
And some people made different but to me is like a
different way of looking at Public Safety right this is a public
safety budget. I mean, you didn't even you didn't hire more
police officers, but you put three hundred civilians in the
police department, which is going to relieve the police
from working inside and putting them out on the street.
you
You helping return the residents who are coming home. We
get about 10,000 returning residents every year. West Side
South Side, North Side- quiet as it's kept, all over the city
in Chicago. Quiet as its kept. Not just African-Americans
and Latinos, people of all nationalities and I know I visit
the prisoners in the jail. All types of folks have
challenges and when you help those folks to sustain themselves
and get themselves back on track. You help our whole
society, we end up saving money because it's not costing us
money. The same thing with
mental
Mental illness. Putting money back into mental illness is
holistic. And if we help those folks to get their medicine
get the help that they need, then we help our whole society.
So we have less people sleeping in tents in the streets. We
have less people sleeping on the [inaudible]. We have less people
doing things that cause them to be unproductive in our society
or possibly hurt someone else. This is a very holistic
straight to the heart budget.
and then
And then we talked about
4000 more youth. Not just 4000 youth, we're talkin about
4000 more youth for the summer. 4000 young people who
potentially could just have idle time and start fights on
Facebook and end up doing something to hurt one another.
4,000 youth who could potentially be doing something
productive in our society, but we're giving them an
opportunity to be productive and to do something to
contribute to our society. This is a very holistic budget
and then I even think about it I was just looking at my
notes in 2020, I was on the task force for brainstorming
brainstorming downtown.
So I was on that task force to brainstorm downtown, one of the
alderman on that task force and one of the things that I
mentioned in that task force and I think I had a
conversation with you about I was talking about how in the
80s how you know, presidential Towers is in my ward, how
Rostenkowski and other people when the economy was bad the
real estate market was bad they went to DC got money
and you'll be surprised of all these buildings this downtown
that have Section 8 in them, they had 20% Section 8
even Presidential Towers. A lot of folks don't know that but
those buildings couldn't have been built if government
didn't help them out right in and so I mentioned that with
this task force brainstorming for downtown and I like
to think that's what idea came from a reimagining LaSalle
Street, right? Because that's a very important thing to be
able to help sustain downtown, get those buildings built
but also at the same time be able to get affordable housing
with people in the city of Chicago and let everybody know
that downtown is not just for certain people. It's for
everybody, it is all of ours. So when you move all types
of people downtown then everybody know that downtown is for
all of us. So I commend you and your office for working
with
alderman
Alderman Conway and also Alderman Riley on making sure
that those things continue and I'm going to tell you Mayor and
I didn't say anything but I think that's very important
that we continue to have affordable housing downtown and we
make sure that reimagine downtown continue to happen
because it's beneficial to the city of Chicago, it's
beneficial to labor in this city because construction
workers get their jobs and so on and so forth.
but I'll
But also it brings a lot more activity to the downtown area
in and help to sustain our downtown, you know, the things
you're doing with Department of Environment getting that
money put in that office back in place is very important
all of the money that's going back to homelessness
helping people with homelessness  goes back to what I
said earlier, community safety.
put in
Putting money in place to use folks who may have made
mistakes in their lives, but now want to give back to our
community and help our community to get back on track help
their kids in their grandkids not to make the same mistakes
that they made. It's very important and I commend you Mayor
on putting more money into that pot to help these guys or
that that goes right into the return of residents. Please
help those guys to be able to get back to our society be
the role models that they should be instead of the role
models that they have been right? And so I just want to say
this is a very straight to the heart of some of the
challenges that cost us so much money in our society that
we're putting into this budget. So I just want to say Mayor
thank you to lead service replacement, you know.
play
53 million dollars. 53 million dollars to fix and remove lead
pipes all over the city Chicago which we found out dealing
with the water department in summer by hearings that there's
going to be opportunities for people to work people to
create businesses in the plumbing industry, in the labor
industry for years to come. This is an investment in
our city. This is an investment in our people. This is an
in our health. So I just wanted to say this is a
very fiscal responsible budget 16 million dollars making
sure that we continue to deal with the pension payments
that we have to make. So I just want to thank you Mayor
and I want to thank all of your staff. I'm going to be
voting for this budget because it gets to the heart of our
challenges here in the city of
Chicago
Thank you very much.
chair
Chair recognizes the person who may not have seen the
80s.
Alderman Mosley
Mr. President, you know, I'm a 90s baby, '91.
I rise because this is a people center budget.
I say that because normally my ward will get to see one or
two things that they can really point to but here we're
making investments in community safety, homelessness , mental
health, youth jobs, a commission on reparations, and a new
office of reentry.
That's the Chicago that I want the world to know and as the
city that does the pizza best,
I will
I would submit that if our budget was a pizza the Chicagoans
will see themselves in the crust, in the sauce, in the
cheese, in the toppings. And guess what? Everybody is getting
a slice.
And the folks who have been impacted the most are going to
get the biggest slice. So I say yes to that Mr. President,
and I'll be a yes on this budget. Thank you. Thank you.
Barely
barely
Barely the eighties, the chair recognizes Alderman Knudsen.
as
As a point of information, I didn't see the eighties
either I'm 1990. It's my biggest regret not seeing me 80s. Also
following up Alderman Mosley, I have no good pizza
analogy and that's going to weaken my my speech. I want to
start with something just that Alderman Taylor said as
we've all been shuffling around these past six weeks that
feel like we packed in months. We had some some great loss
Miss Sharon Munson on the third floor was someone who is
so kind and I know City Hall staff is really grieving while
they're working hard and my heart goes out to them. My
heart goes out to her family. She give the best hugs my
first office in a year ago was just passed her desk she
she really should was helpful with me not ever remembering
my key and in teaching me where things were and just such a
kind person and so heartbreaking to to have her loss.
I'll
I also want to you know, say again the loss of the
firefighter this week Drew Price. Drew served in in my
ward Engine 55 Truck 44, lived in Ruth Cruise's ward and it's just
heartbreaking. It's the ultimate sacrifice and my heart
goes out to the family, you know final thing before I make
a few budget points, Director Guzman
Amazing job. You've been approachable throughout this whole
process IGA. I'm going to miss talking to you all really
late at night all the time. And who knows, in a few
weeks it'll probably happen again, but you're all
working so hard and you just appreciate it really
greatly. I want to say if you outside of this budget, we
really asked for a budget out of our Ward that invests in
public safety. That means so many different things to
different people and I'm voting yes on this budget because
I think the approach to Public Safety is dynamic and as
Alderman Burnett's said holistic, this budget invest in
the police, but it also investing community safety, violence
intervention, youth programs, and youth jobs. It
does so in a way that looks to civilianization. These are jobs
coming into the CPD the police department that we have an
easier time filling and they free of our officers, they
destress our officers to do the work that they're tasked
to do.
then
Then hopefully will help us see increased patrol the route
to beat integrity in our wards. We do so with the pathway
to 200 detective jobs, increasing the clearance rate, making
sure that we see justice word where justice is fit. I also
want to say something parallel to civilianization is a goal
of treatment not trauma that we're looking into and it's
the end of the correspondence model to mental health calls.
We talked to Superintendent Snelling on his way in about
his belief in that
and I feel like
And I feel like his appointment was the first investment in
Public Safety in this administration, and I'm so happy the
mental health response calls are going to be responding to
you through specialist that are are specifically trained to
handle these jobs.
The Department of the environment, you know, Chairwoman Hadden and I
I think of a lot of goals for environmental policy making
sure that we as a city really invest in the innovative
environmental hub that we can be and need to be going
forward for our duty to fulfill to the whole world. But
also acknowledging that were connected to Lake Michigan a
massive freshwater lakes source and we will be the hub
for climate migrants in decades to come we have to look
at these innovative jobs and in doing so we have to knock
off the low-hanging fruit and environmental policy. We got
to watch your by things like snow blowers and leaf blowers.
We got to look at anti Island. We've got to look into
decarbonization and setting up a department of environment
gives us the staff infrastructure to do so. I also want to
say I'm in no. No property tax increase. I think the some
alderman made very valid points about, you know, hoping that
this doesn't just kick a revenue can down into the future.
As we make sure that doesn't happen I think ways we really
need to lean in- tourism, the business community natural
sources of growth revenue in our city, but looking into to
the next few months, we've got a foster those are ways that
advertise Chicago worldwide and create natural revenue for
us us leading into that is how we avoid coming back to ask
for more property tax increases which none of us want to
do. I want to give a final thinks, you know, to all of our
local staffs are working so hard we have had a lot of
council lately and I know everyone's exciting to get back
their wards and really show that at the core of this job
serving as an alderperson is getting results done in your
ward and this budget also sets us up to better do that.
It's not a small think. Craines has written about this quite
a bit, how our offices are not necessarily set up for
success because we are very lean. We have hard-working
staff that work beyond regular working hours
just like so many mentions today and we need to
get things done for our community or else we have no
business being here. This additional staff person freeze up
places in a lot of our expense budget to invest in
technology, to even make it a sweeter sweeter deal in
getting results done for our communities. I strongly
believe that that the core this job and I don't think that
that piece this budget can be overlooked. So with that
being said, I'm a yes on this budget vote. I appreciate it
really
everyone noted
Everyone noted and you Mayor for bringing this forward and now
it's time to get back to our wards and get to work. So
thank you. Thank you.
chair recognizes
Chair recognizes Alder Gutierrez.
[inaudible]
But I can definitely say something. Alright I have you down, we're just
on a roll, people who were not born in the 80s. Let's just keep it going. So for me being a
new alderwoman and I love to use alderwoman term because
it's few of us here. And also I would love to girls in our
community to look at us women
sacrificing
Sacrificing our time with our family and also sacrifice in
the time of our wards. Sometimes we're here for a long time
being part of these budget I want, you know, I was one of
the few that stood here until 8:30 at night for several days. It
was just five or six of us, but also, I understand some of
my colleagues have been longer they do
understand and know already there by the department and
everything before us new ones I think it was amazing to
learn from every single department and that's why I would
like to give thanks to Mrs.Man all work team
and everybody that has been working towards this great
budget and I am just confident that if we were able to
pursue amazing things in 6 months
I forsee
I foresee
Good time for everybody. I know it's not been easy. We're
dealing with many things at once, difficult decisions
but we
But we always need to remember why we're here and for me
having the heart in the community, being an immigrant, being
a mom it's a pleasure for me to be here stand and vote Yes
for the budget. Because I am confident that we're going to push
forward for the city and sometimes I understand we want to be in agree
with some of my colleauges but I am confident that we're going
to come against the table discussing and for the better of
our communities.
I do.
I just want to remind all of you as my colleague Rodriguez
said, let's not lead into misinformation. Let's understand
history and not repeat it.
We are a sanctuary city
for many reasons
and we need to continue to be like that.
It is.
it just
You just go home to my 90% of Latino immigrants in my
community.
I do have.
I do have thousands of people undocumented in my ward and
I'm happy to serve the same way as a citizen or an or a
permanent resident. They all work hard. They all chose
Chicago for a reason. I thought I did as well. So we're no
one to neglect services when they're not citizens. You
know, I'm now the proud Alderman of the 14th Ward after 54
years and the last years I also faced that neglection
myself cuz I was not a citizen myself. I'm tired of that
and we need to continue to do better every single one of a
residents and newcomers deserve the resources and the
service. It's tough times, yes, but I'm confident that
we can get it done.
There's people in this council, in this
administration, and all the departments. It's not going to
be easy. But as my first remarks when I got there, when I
just started as a council member, we just need to
continue to unite, work together, and not point
fingers, because that's not going to get us anywhere.
so
So, please people do not misinform our community.
something is
Something is about helping newcomers and something real different is about
being a welcoming and sanctuary city.
we
We cannot go back to the raids and for people to be afraid of
not being able to go to school church and continue their
life in the city.
[Spanish]
We cannot afford having deportations. We cannot
afford kids to be here they're citizens. They were born
here. We can afford for them to be here alone while we are
facing and their parents are here. Imagine if their parents
just go back to their country. Imagine all of those people
that have their small business or big businesses cuz some
of them have already created the great entrepreneurships.
What if they lose their houses? What's going to happen to
our city overall?
let's
listen
Let's not be so selfish cuz we don't want to help the
newcomers. Let's think about every single one of our
community members that we are elected to serve equally.
so
So I'm voting yes for these and I'm happy to continue to be
part of this amazing
efforts to move forward the city as a vice chair of the
Workforce Development to have the most progressive
ordinance in the whole country.
Give
Giving me the opportunity for our workers to be able to be
with her families and to be able to if they're sick to
recover a home or go to the doctor.
if
If we were able to do Bring Chicago Home and One Fair Wage and all
of these amazing things in six months, imagine all the
great things that we're going to accomplish together.
So with that said, I'm just so excited as you can tell I'm
happy. Yes, it's been hard days. And I'm also glad that
we're having that other stuff for office.
you
You all know me and I do work Monday through Sunday. Me and
my staff are out there morning, evening, to nights.
And we do need another staffer so we can continue that
mission of serving every single one of our 14th ward
residents. So, thank you all and God bless. Thank you.
Thank you
Just for clarity, I have three more Alders that that
according to my list I have Alders Gardener, Vasquez, and
Coleman. Alder Garner did I get that right? All right. Sorry
for the break from the 80s. Welcome. Chair recognizes Alder
Gardner. No worries. Yes said I wasn't born in the 80s just
to be safe, too.
If it was before or after.
if it was before or after but
it's another story. Thank you, mr. President and prior to
getting to my opinion of this budget I would like to give
thanks to members of your staff. Beth Beatty for many of us
we worked with her for quite a time. This will be her
last budget. She's done an excellent job. She's been
awesome to work with and we all wish her the very best. I
think we all agree on that.
right
Raida, my Palestinian sister, thank you for your friendship
and your diligence, please may I do whatever it takes to
keep her around for many of us. It's very uplifting to have
somebody of the Muslim Community here representing people
of their community. So please do whatever it takes to keep
her.
budget
Budget director Annette Guzman, Chairman Irving, thank you
very much. Shoutout to Jason Lee who called and tried to sway my
vote last night. I didn't even know he knew I existed so
that was a welcome call to have, it was great to talk to him. Budget
votes tend to get our attention and what grabs my attention
is the 150 million dollars set aside for migrants for 6
months.
now
Now, I know we stacked the gallery with many people who are
in support of this and we have a nice kumbaya and
everybody's holding hands today. And I think that's great.
But I'm going to speak on behalf of many people not only in
my ward but throughout this city.
I will start by saying I'm a first-generation American. I'm
one of seven children.
believe it
Believe it or not. My mother and father are from Ireland.
We grew up in a household with one income, one-bathroom. My
mother raised seven children and she raised many of the
children in our community as well. Fed them, looked
after them.
They taught us to love everybody but they also taught us to
be fiscally responsible.
and
And you can't overextend yourself and you have to realize
when you are doing so and you have to pump the brakes at
times.
in
In 2023 Chicago taxpayers will pay an estimated 361 million
dollars towards migrant issue.
then
The next 6 months will pay another 150.
now I'm
No, I'm not a math major. I didn't major in math at Saint
Xavier University.
But it tells me that for six months 450 that would equal
for 12 months. We're going to be at another three hundred
million dollars in 2024.
which
Which would put us over a half a billion dollars in 18-24
months.
There's a
There's many people in this city.
Black brown and dare I even say white.
Okay.
Who can utilize that money who can use those funds.
one
One thing my parents taught me
Was that you have to take care of what is within your realm
your family first before you start taking care of other
people.
And I think that applies here. I think we have many unhoused
individuals already here that need our assistance
whether fiscally, whether it be our time or energy, we
have veterans are in grave assistance, who need grave
assistance as well. And I think we need to be fiscally
responsible and think about that before we just
rubber-stamp a budget that is going to give like I said
three hundred million dollars towards the migrant issue.
I want to be very clear.
It is.
It is not is not has nothing to do whether or not I'm close
minded. I have a big heart just like everybody in this
room. I don't feel good when I see individuals sleeping
outside of our police stations or begging for money at
every every other corner.
but
But for the for the safety of the 20 over 20,000 migrants
that are already here in the city of Chicago and the safety
of our residents that are already here.
we
We need to pump the brakes and say hey, we need to take a
bigger look at this and what we are doing we need to be
fiscally responsible with our taxpayers money.
No, I commend you Mayor. There's no increase in property
taxes this year in 2024 rates.
I will.
I will bet anybody in this room my entire next year salary
that the following year we will guarantee have a property
tax increase.
You can only order steak so long in the restaurant before
the bill will come and that bill is coming.
we
We will pay it in 2025 and we will pay it in 2026.
Obviously we won't do it in 2027 because that's an election
year and you guys all know how that goes. We won't ask all
the men to vote on a budget increase when they're running
for re-election.
that's
That's the rules.
you
You know that but you won't say that.
so if
So if you need a bad guy in the room.
you
You know, no longer needs a point to my colleague Ray
Lopez. You can point at me as well.
because
Because I will be the fiscally responsible one saying this
is the problem and we need to pump the brakes. So I am a no
on this budget. Thank you. Thank you.
chair
Chair recognizes Alder Andre Vasquez
thank
Thank you.
Thank you mister president.
these
These are pivotal times for our great City of Chicago in a
time of opportunity but also of crisis, it is responsibility of
this council, city departments, and our new mayor to envision
a path forward that serves all Chicagoans.
The public understands our challenges and feels them deeply
they want to have the confidence in their elected
government to deliver on the promise of Chicago's
potential.
It is.
It is in that spirit and in full understanding of our
responsibility to the public that I will be voting yes in
support of this 2024 budget.
whether
Whether it is reimagining Public Safety Solutions that
break us out of generational cycles of harm and violence
balancing the challenge of new arrivals looking to build a
better life with the needs of families who have been here for
generations and still pays poverty and disenfranchisement
or thinking about our City's global responsibility to
protecting the future of our planet. This 2024
budget is the first step. The pivot that will lead us to
a more progressive path forward.
I will.
I would like to commend your choice and Leadership Mr.
Mayor. Budget Director Guzman, CFO Jill Jwarski and
Comptroller Ray Winkel showed not only a passion and work
ethic necessary for this endeavor. But also the focus on
improving our operations that I believe are needed
desperately in city government. The work that Director Guzman and
and team did on the front end to hear the different
caucus and alder priorities helped informed much of the
direction of the 2024 budget which in turn helps facilitate
negotiations once the budget was introduced. I also very
much appreciate that Director Guzman and I share a vision
for a year-round aldermanic budget workshop to help develop
ideas. Not just react to challenges and become more
forward-thinking fiscal steward. Thank you for
your leadership Director Guzman.
I do.
I'd also like to thank Chairman Jason Irving for his
leadership in the budget hearings. You had some very big
shoes to fill after Chairwoman Dallas masterful run last
term. You rose to the occasion by finding ways to
consolidate Department hearings to make them more efficient
digging in the follow up on points raised by members of the
council and fearlessly holding to account those who could
have come better prepared. It showed a responsibility to
the role, but also a deep care of the process and I want to
thank you for bringing your full self to these hearings.
Mayor Johnson, I don't believe the hand that you've been
dealt just six months in your term as mayor can be
understated. Those of us to begin our political careers in
the last term felt the tension of being newly elected one
year in as we face in global pandemic as challenging as it
was for us we found our path forward together.
It's
Mr.Mayor,  you don't have that luxury of having the
first year in your position without a crisis instead from
your first day on the job you faced a true scale of a
humanitarian crisis. The challenge of over 20,000 new
arrivals, of mothers, fathers, and children fleeing violence and
seeking refuge in our city just like many of our parents
and grandparents did presents the kind of humanitarian
grounds that defines generation.
is
Is a moment that demands are resolved of true principled
leadership that recognizes the humanity in all of us.
at
At the same time it is also been made painfully clear the
inequity that our city has been plagued by since its
inception. The segregation and marginalization of our black
siblings here in Chicago. We have long lived in a nation
and a system that pits one group against the other fighting
for resources in a zero-sum race-to-the-bottom. I commend
you Mr. Mayor for not accepting that premise and it said
working to address the needs of all to the best of a city's
ability in this budget.
in the
In this budget, we said we see a substantial amount, 150
million dollars appropriated towards the migrant mission
while we can all admit that the number isn't enough, it
does show a commitment to finding solutions rather than to
ignoring the problem while acknowledging them more support
is needed by our federal and state partners. Chicago can
stand proudly knowing that when asked to embody the values
this nation reports the champion, we unlike nearly every
other city in the union didn't hesitate or flinch away from
our responsibility as a sanctuary city to other human
beings who come seeking our help. We can be proud of
Chicago.
No.
nor
Nor did we forsake our responsibility to those communities who
were already suffering from disinvestment before this
current crisis. This budget and recognizing in addressing
the historical an equity in our City's investment centers
Those who need our support most knowing that a rising tide
lifts all boats and then we when we rise we do so shoulder to
shoulder as one people.
is blue
This budget establishes office of reentry, it strengthens the
office of labor standards, and invest funds to establish a
reparation commission subcommittee as well as a treatment
not trauma and Peacebook ordinances.
That's right
Right, give it up.
These steps are tangible, progressive, equitable solutions to
the problems we Face. Instead of repeating the fail
strategies and rhetoric of the past. This budget jettisons
us forward by addressing the causes of poverty of violence
and criminality of homelessness and trauma at their roots
rather than miserably treating its symptoms.
This budget also establishes the department of environment
a win for our city and our planet. This is a measure that
many of us fought for unsuccessfully last turn.
this
This term to go to the TV without a fight and in a true
spirit of collaboration. There is much more work to do
there. But in this budget the seed has been planted.
Now in my time and government I've strived to operate
fairly and independently and in full transparency, there's
some concern is this budget that I would be remiss not to
mention.
there were
There is what I believe to be an over-reliance on surplus
in tiffs and a lack of structural revenue in his budget that
I fear will lead to larger deficits and tougher budgets to
come so my colleagues point.
I'd
I do believe that the CPI index tax increase that passed
last term should have continued in his budget and it is as
it is better to have incremental increases rather than the
larger more unpredictable increases the bill larger
accumulated deficit in future years. I do not believe it is
the most responsible path forward, especially
as we have yet to identify other structural
identify other structural revenue sources, I'm not being a
bad guy. I'm just saying the truth.
I'm also concerned about the unaccountable spend on the
police budget, which currently takes up over 40% of the
corporate fund. This budget not only continues that trend. it
increases it to over two billion dollars when factoring in
the appropriations related to the police and the Office of
Public Safety administration building facility management
and other departments. When we have 36 City departments, and
only one takes a 40% of the corporate fund, I do find it
irresponsible to increase that Department's budget without
an independent forensic audit of how that money is spent
and how effective its operations are
it's
in talking to
In talking to our officers on the ground to take on some of
the hardest most dangerous work in government, even they
don't see the results of that spend. We fail those who put
their lives on the line by failing to do our due diligence
and ensuring that the dollars we appropriate towards Public
Safety are spent effectively. My hope is that in advance of
future budgets we engage in the necessary work of auditing
the Chicago Police Department to ensure that it is
effective and well-managed of a resource as our city and
taxpayers deserve. We have much work to do but I do want to
thank you for negotiating in good faith as a negotiations
I was directly involved in led to improvements and Direct
Services to neighbors of the 40th Ward and across town
among others the re-establishment of a department of
technology and information, in increasing positions in the
city clerk's
office
An increase in ward office staff to every ward in the city
of Chicago.
I'll add that I don't need a study
I'll add that I don't need to study.
I don't need to study to know that we need
more help because I'm in my ward office in my ward dealing with
our constituents. We know we need the support which is why
so many of our members were support of that Aamendment.
We also in this budget and part negotiations work
towards a commitment to reparations. Thank you Mayor
Johnson and team for working with us to make those necessary
changes. By modernizing our City Works in every department
and the city clerk's office, we make government more
convenient more efficient and therefore more effective
which benefits us all. By increasing the staff in each
office, we improve that level of service for the
constituents who pay our salaries, we deliver better for the
people we serve every day. This is even more important
given the changing nature of our work as we have dealt with
more trauma and crisis and the generations of all those who
came before us this government belongs to the people and
it's our duty to ensure that the delivery of service as
well as I can situate experience is constantly improving
and held to the highest standards it is what our people
deserve and I think you and your team for engaging and a
good-faith negotiations that led to those improvements. As
we consider the work left unfinished I ask that in future
budgets we invest more directly in the organizations that
address gender-based violence rather than appropriating those
funds
to the police department
That we invest in true and
meaningful language access for all of our neighbors and
that we find structural revenue to keep us on a responsible
fiscal path forward. Next year I also hope you'll consider
spending time to dissect the finance general spending as
call for myself , civic accountability, and KOFA. I'm
sure we share the stance that we all deserve those details
just as a public deserves a deeper understanding of what we
choose to do with the tax dollars we are entrusted with.
While there's always more work to do, I believe this is a
budget that all of us can be proud of, especially given the
challenges a brand new administration tackles during the
same time as it was being developed.
if
It forges a solid and intentional path forward that sensors
that humanity of all the Chicagoans and dare I say it the
soul of Chicago that we serve and I'm proud to support this
budget. Thank you very much. Thank you.
chair
Chair recognizes Alderwoman Stephanie Coleman. Thank you Mr.President for
coming back to the late 80s. While not a perfect budget, growing up in a black Church, we were taught that the one thing perfect
is God and I think in less than 80, 180 days of being under
this administration it has been an answer prayer to work
with the budget director of Annette Guzman. I want to thank
you all for your inclusiveness, your collaboration with the
Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus.
enter
and tell
And just being a good person to work with and just being
having good vibes. It was a never immediate no it was
always let me take this back and let's work on this.
To Jason Lee whose listening, you are a delight. To my
brother from the Westside Chairman Jason Ervin, I want to
thank you for helping your passive-aggressive passionate
sister from Inglewood and this process and following your
your footsteps and leading the black caucus and holding my
hand, you and Greg Mitchell held my hand.
in
and
And understanding and advocating for our caucus.
it
It has already been mentioned protocol has been met on what
we were able to accomplish, but I just want to reiterate
what Vice Mayor Walter Burnett has said a fully-funded
office of reentry.
a full
A fully-funded office of reentry to help brothers and
sisters not return back to 26th and California and
Statesville that will be able to legislate good legislation
of good policy so that we can get our delegate agencies and
those that are helping returning citizens to be productive
citizens right here in the greatest city ever.
thank
Thank you Chairman Dowell, you know, I've been asking in
2019 and 2020 and then I start begging like Keith Sweat.
do
Down On Bended Knees like Boyz II Men for that restorative
justice and for reparations and this budget now reflects so
that we can get that commission and get on a strict
12-month process in the subcommittee under Chairman Mitts in
the committee on contract oversight and equity to
transition so that the Conrad Worrill Reparations Committee,
and I know they're listening and hearing that we will have
this document. This will be real life in 12 months and
have a real commission that was promised 4 years ago.
I want to thank vice-chair Mitchell, Harris, Curtis on your
expertise with Department of Streets to ensure
that their department will restructure and make sure that
they're high list in districts on the south and west side.
And also we get the city services that are boards deserve and
last but not least I want to uplift Chairwoman Jeanette Beatrice
Taylor and let you know that Alderman Dowell, Robinson
Yancey who celebrating a birthday. Paul, Mitchell, Harris, Beale
myself, Moore, Curtis
Ronnie, Mosley
scott
Scott, Burnett, Irvin, Taliaferro, Hadden
Clay
and Martin
That's all y'all right. That we're going to uplift you and
continue on the work that Alderwoman Leslie Harrison
started and make sure that the committee on education as
well as workforce and health and human relations so that
those young men from East Garfield Park and the young
people that I just met from Lake South Shore, Walter Payton
Will you young people stand up?
And that people will make ensure that every young person in
the city of Chicago not only has an opportunity to work in
their city, but to be a part of solving the challenges in
our city and I want to reiterate to you Alderwoman Jeanette
Taylor that we are supporting you and getting the
Peacebook again, what was written in those six pages that
it will become a reality to better our Chicago. Thank you
Mr. President for a great hundred and eighty days again
while not a perfect budget, but certainly we only have the
perfect love for God and the perfect love for the city of
making it a better place and the greatest
city ever.
Thank you. Thank you.
So the next three Alders that I have and I will call in
this order Manaa-Hoppenworth, Sposato and Villegas. The chair
recognizes Alderwoman Manaa-Hoppenworth.
Thank you. Mr. President. I cannot
top this incredible these words from Alder Coleman and
thank you to the black caucus for all your work I look
forward to what's to come especially with the commission
for reparations. I stand before you to say, thank you.
Thank you to our budget director. Thank you to chair Irvin
and also to Vice chair Lee for the budget process, which
I learned some so much about. I believe that we are on the
right path. It's unbelievable to me in comparison to where
we were just a year ago when we're talking about the budget
and this truly is a a people's budget. I want to thank
everyone who has joined us today in the gallery, especially
those who are here from the 48th Ward and the advocates who
are fighting on behalf of every
single neighborhood in Chicago. Thank you for showing up.
it
It is 80% of our work to show up and I promise that we will
continue to do that to help each other show up here and
city council to represent you. I believe that this budget
is on the right path. I have concerns to and including how
we are addressing Public Safety and what does that look
like in a year from now. I would like to be able to say
that I truly understand where our dollars are going and how
what we have done it in the previous 12 months where we are
putting our dollars.
As Alder Rodriguez said, budgets are a moral document and
also a political one. And so I want to say also that we do
have a moment here where we must say whether or not we are
fulfilling our campaign promises. I want to thank you Mayor
President for
stepping up
Stepping up to address the inequities in every single ward
in the 48th word. We are one of the most diverse words
including the highest number of lgbtq plus people and it is
trans week of remembrance. So I want to shout out to my
trans siblings out there because public safety belongs to them
too.
and
And we are a eacon of hope in chicago.
the
The greatest city in the world, and so we want to continue
to to be that, to be the welcoming City, to be the sanctuary
City that we say that we are and I look forward to working
towards that end in the 48th Ward and every single
neighborhood in Chicago, so I support this budget. Thank
you.
Thank you.
the chair
The chair recognizes Alderman Sposato. Thanj you Mr. President. I
promise to be less than 16 minutes I can assure you that. I
didn't prepare an eloquent eloquent speech like some of my
colleagues did and some of them were very good but I have to say
I can't say I agree with everybody but I also don't
disagree with everybody. As my esteemed colleague from the
West Side likes to say, you're entitled to your
opinion, but you're not entitled to your facts. Mister
present I want to congratulate you and your team
I've seen for the past 4 years, 8 years I've seen people
that were very critical of the budgets, never supported them
and I'll somehow someway you and your team have people
gushing for joy for this budget. So I congratulate you
on that.
I am I do have some concerns. I am a little concerned
about the 150 million. I think it's going to end up being much
more than that. I also I'm very concerned about the people
staying in the police station still. I'm a passionate man.
I'm a generous man. I think I've at least proved to
people that I'm a generous person. That's for sure. I don't
have to answer so we have to try to figure this out. So I'm
glad that this hundred fifty million at least be a start
toward clearing out the police stations so these
asylum-seekers live a better life. And also the police
officers will have a more productive easier life and to work
and serve the residents of their districts.
Annette I may just call you Annette and that's like
the only one on your team I was really talking to so the
extra employee Mr. President is huge. Not as huge for
me and some other people as you newbies, I tell you when
I started it was tough for 3 employees. Let me tell you we
tried to figure out this juggling act because and more than
ever now it just seems to be everything is a meeting.
Everybody wants a meeting. I had a meeting last night. I
have a meeting tonight. It's just nonstop. So our employees
get beat up a little. I think as a person that's been around
for 12 years
I do think they are
a little underpaid. Some people may think and be thinking
I'll take I'll take that job, I'll work for an alderman. I'll
make the money they made but they're difficult very
demanding jobs, you know weekend, nights, meetings, so on and
so forth. Also the extra money, you know, some of my
colleagues, I pay two grand for rent so it's not that big
of a deal for me, but I know some of my colleagues are
playing up where it about 4 grand and two of my colleagues
can't even afford the rent an office and our large and they
they have to have their office at City Hall. So I took
this I took this very serious I think the chairman to say
it or I don't know if anybody was here more often or as
long as I was, I came early I stayed late I did miss one
day though I had to take a break is just have to get back
back to the ward to take care of business.
So but I do have first you're all hating on Ray Lopez then
Jim Gardner volunteered to be hating on so now I'm going to
be the guy to be hated on.
I do have a problem with the reparations committee. I
don't know what it's about. I don't what the five hundred
grand is going to but overall I've always said you can't
pick one item in the budget to vote No on it. I was a yes
until the reparations thing came around but now I told you
told you they could hate on me. I was expecting it. But I'm
a I'm a man that speaks the truth. All right. I'm going to
give it a year. I'm going to see where it goes. I don't
know where that money is going.
I don't know if it's going towards a commissioner. I don't
know what it's going towards but it's your first budget I
will be supporting this budget. And lastly. I just want to
say as she's on her way out, Beth, you're a pleasure to work
with. I consider you a lifelong friend. I wish you the best
you'll be certainly be a smite me and I'm just guessing 49
other of my colleagues. So with that Mr. President,
congratulations you converted many people. You had me, you
lost me, now you have me back. So congratulations. I will be
voting yes. Thank you. As one of the three people born in
the 50s. I'll be voting yes. Thank you.
Alright, the chair recognizes Alderman Villegas.
Thank you Mr.President. I did want to clear up some some comments around
the closure of CPS schools and how the city council did not
actually vote to close schools CPS board and then Rahm Emanuel
then agreed to close the school. So I just wanted to put
that on the record becaus I don't want to get calls from
constituents saying hey, why did you go to close the
schools and city councilman was there was something that
CPS board Board of Directors did. I want to thank
my colleague from the 27th ward who has been a huge advocate
for returning citizens and congratulations that that
appropriation is in the budget to the tune of 5 million.
but I
But I also want to talk about the other attorney citizens
the 65,000 that we just celebrated this past weekend and
last week we spoke most majority of the members spoke in
favor of the resolution that talked about the veterans.
So I need my colleagues help to make sure that we can beef
up the office of Veteran Affairs. We have 65,000 veterans
here in Chicago. We have thousands that come back, tens
of thousands that come back every year and we want to make
sure that we're welcoming them to the great state of
Illinois and the great City of Chicago. So definitely need
your help colleagues for that.
one of
One of the items in this budget that I'm excited about this
to the decoupling of the IT from AIS which was a disaster
from the get-go, but after advocacy for my colleagues, I'm
glad to see that this is in the budget. It's an
important
department because of the fact that we need to start
doubling down on delivering IT
because there's money to be saved.
I'm talking about real money hundreds of millions of
dollars if we can get this IT mod up and running quickly
and I would ask Administration to act in earnest to get
this done because it's tough to take a look at the upcoming
budgets where there's going to be gaps and we can realize those
savings if the IT department moves quickly to implement the
modernization around the ERP which in turn will help
Finance, which will help HR, which will also help procurement.
So we need that
immediately, we need to get that done.
the
The body has taken two steps with the guard report as well
as the appropriation of 350 million and appropriations
still in the budget for the IT mod. We just need the
executive branch to get thqt CIO going.
The
IT modernization will also help with getting development
going quicker. So often times cities are looked at how
they're succeeding by the cranes and they are right now we
have 11 cranes in the air.
2024 projected to have two or three.
That's because of the bureaucracy within the planning
department. And so I hope that the that the IT mod can help
with
quick
Quickly approving and getting these projects up and running
because we need that revenue. We need that revenue. That's
rather that's sitting on the table. And so Mr.
President
although
Although this budgets not perfect, there are a lot of
things that we need to improve on and the fact that there's
nothing stopping this body in coming back mid year to
coming back and ammending things. That's why I'll be
supporting this budget. Mr.President congratulations. I'm
putting forward a budget that begins to address some of the
issues that are facing the city, but again this city of Chicago
this city council, wee need to make sure that we're going to be
very active in Springfield.
very
Very active in Washington DC to take a look at how we can
get some assistance whether it's the expansion of sales
tax to offset some of the revenue or to get some new
revenue or wired Washington DC advocating for some
assistance with the new arrivals. Thank you Mr.President. Thank you.
Chairman Irving is asking for deference to allow Chairwoman
Dowell to provide the closing remarks. So with that being said
Alderman Villegas is the last person that I have recorded
as someone who wishes to speak. Are there any other Alders
that wish to speak to this budget?
before we provide the defference that
Before we provide the deference that Chairman Irvin has a
requested.
Okay.
Okay, then with that the chair recognizes Chairwoman Pat
Dowell. Thank you Mr. President. You know when I've been
asked why I supported you for mayor I tell people that you
spoke with your values.
and
You lead with your values in this budget.
I saw a man who saw our community. I saw a man a black man
who lived in a black community who saw the entire city.
are
And I think this budget is a reflection of your values. I
think this is a very good budget. It fufills the city's
commitment to the residents and it moves the needle forward
on some transformational priorities that we have heard you
speak about in the past. Many of which we all in this body
agree with and I'm going to take the liberty of just
putting down what I was asking which was the mental health
care for all.
the homeless prevention
The homeless prevention and support, the stabilizing of the
CPD officers ranks, the establishment of the office of
reentry and I want to acknowledge Alderman Burnett's
advocacy for this something that he's been advocating for
for a long time, the implementing of a non-police Public Safety
response model that Alderman Rodriguez Sanchez has been
working on for a number of years, the re-establishment of
the Department of Environment and I know Alderman Hadden
is still up there on with us remotely. I want to
acknowledge your push for this and many others, the funding
of summer jobs for youth I think was huge, the funding of a
reparations commission, and Alderman Sposato we're going
to make you a member that commission so you know exactly
what's going on.
investing
Investing in street-level community focus violence
prevention services, expanding the utility bill relief
program to three flats was huge, debt payment forgiveness
programs and continuing to make supplemental payments to
shore up our pension obligations I don't think a lot's
been said about that but that is really important to the
workers that have retired.
This does this and more without raising property taxes or
cutting the institutional support that are the foundation
of good government. The budget ladies and gentleman meets
our duties as alderman and that is proven
by the recent credit rating upgrade that we received from
Wall Street. This is good public policy and fiscally
responsible government.
This budget builds upon many other historic achievements
already underway do the leadership of you Mr. Mayor such
as the Bring Chicago Home and One Fair Wage, I'm not like
what you would call a real strong progressive type, but I
support
I think these have been huge wins for the city and taken
all together the budgets and needs other initiatives will
have a giant positive impact on the daily lives of our
residents and this is just the beginning.
we now have a
We now have a full year before the fiscal year 2025 budget
to really get down to the nitty-gritty, to work on the
machinery of government, and how the city Works and
implement policies that are still the promises that we all
were elected to bring to our residents. You know, it's hard
turning a ship that has been going in a certain direction
for very long time and make that shift is really difficult.
And I think you're beginning to make that shift the shift
that is going to be a benefit to the entire electorate.
and
And I think this budget is a down payment on those
priorities. It's a huge down payment. One of the things I'm
most proud of during this budget was the willingness of
everyone involved to collaborate and compromise in order to
come out with the best version of the budget. I want to
thank Annette Guzman Chase R., and Jill Jaworski for their
support and for being available to the caucuses and to the
individuals when we called and have questions. I want to
thank Chairman Irvin. I am so glad that I do not have
supposed to talk to you, but I am so glad but I'm so glad
not to have been the budget chair this year.
but I
But I will.
But I will say that Chairman Irvin made improvements in the
process, the information from Kofa, the way that the hearings
went. I think they've all been positive improvements and I
just want to congratulate him. The budget shows that we
can work together and when we do we can be more than the
sum of our parts. I hope that we can extend this good
feeling and the spirit of togetherness and uphold a
respect that each of us in this chamber deserved as we work
collaboratively on what is best for our city moving
forward.
and I
And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that all of these
accomplishments were made while tackling the
migrant crisis. This is a real crisis, the one manufactured
by forces outside of our control with the goal of sewing
division among our community and disrespecting the lives of
the minority population in the city. I'm so proud that we
are tackling this issue with humanity and empathy something
many other jurisdictions are not doing. This is not an
either-or issue. We can work together through the migrant
crisis and provide for the existing chicago residents at
the same time.
and
And I wanted to thank you Mr. Mayor for handling this issue
with grace, strategic thinking, and humility.
We must tend to the needs of everyone in the city. So let
me close by saying the last thing, what kind of city do I
want to live in?
I want one that fights for the least of us, that
prioritises equity and inclusion and uplifts all communities
together. Not one that pits neighborhoods and people
against each other. I want one that supports businesses and
residents at the same time. I want a city that supports
black, brown, white, and Asian residents and remains fiscally
prudent in the spending.
I want people to feel safe in every community and I think
this budget gets us on the way of being such a city. I
think back to the long list of accomplishments that I
mentioned earlier in my remarks. These are real wins.
I think we should take these wins and I'm asking everyone
in the castle today to join me in supporting this year's
budget and let's make Chicago the best city that it can be.
Congratulations. Mr. Mayor. I'm an enthusiastic yes.
thank
Thank you very much.
The chair recognizes Chairman Irvin
thank
Thank you. Mr. President, members of council. I too want to
thank Annette Guzman our budget director. I think we
probably talk to on the phone this time and going
through this process we were both rookies in our
respective positions, but I do appreciate the collaboration
in this process. Also Chase and Jill, I thank you all
for the information and things that you all are provided in
the leadership of getting us through this process. Also want
to thank the staff of the council office of financial
analysis, Janice Gray and Dan Fristrom for their hard
work in this process as well as the committee staff that
were here everyday, Terry and [inaudilbe]. Also, we cannot forget our
council services team that make sure that every day all of
our stuff is arranged in nice and in order.
Our
Sergeant at Arms
Where is he at? Is he not here today? Okay. Mr.Stark and his
team for all the work that they've done and also the
members from the Chicago Police Department Child Services.
You one of the first deputy's office for doing the
best. They can giving all of us and our unique
circumstances and maintaining order here. Also want to thank
our Vice Chair Lee for starting things up
after lunch because his brother got the itis sometimes.
wasn't able to get back on time, but you have been a
great and gracious help in this processing always had a
positive word of question just trying to understand the
process and I appreciate that as part of this. And
I want to thank each and every one of y'all for your
participation, this is always an interesting process and
this is probably the most time that we all spend together
doing any process
that we generally undertake and we get to as we
go through this process get the really understand one
another understand who each other are understand our
communities and talk about a lot of things that we just
normally don't do on it on a daily basis. So I want to
thank everyone for their participation. I want to thank
Beth. Beth, number 1, I want to congratulate you
there are two city managers in here, you rank number
three behind Waguespack and I and I want to congratulate you
on your new role and wish you the best in your future
endeavors here. Let's give her a hand for all the work she's done for us.
and
And we also cannot forget the Eric, Jamila, Rawaida, and
Malik and congratulations to you as well I understand that
you will be departing us as well and wish you the best of
luck.
It has been stated previously the budgets are more than
just financial documents, they are moral statements about
where we are as a city where any legislative body starts in
in mines are at that particular appointed time.
and in
our legislative term. Interestingly enough, I'll
say this
elections
Elections have consequences. It was very clear ahead on
where the mayor was in this conversation and gave a very
clear thought and direction as to where his thoughts were
put it out there for evaluation and criticism as well. But
at the end of the day the citizens of the city decided to
move forward with the vision that he presented versus that
of his opponent.
I tell people this all the time, fair exchange is not
robbery.
fair
Fair exchange is not robbery.
Last night I had the opportunity in a community meeting to
have three district commanders out of area 4, for those you
don't know the Westside, area 4 it comprises of the 10th
11th, and the 15th districts. Some of the most challenging
districts in the city of Chicago, the only area in the city
of Chicago with just three districts in it because of the
challenges that it faces and every last one of the
commanders that spoke last night talked about the need for
additional resources outside as purely being about law
enforcement.
Again, elections have consequences. The mayor laid out very
clearly that this was about how we can invest in the people
of this city, how we could lift up those who have been
challenged. This budget lays out and does that. Again, we've
added our particular items as Chairman Burnette
talked about the office of reentry and what we can do to
help those 10,000 or 12,000 people are returning to
our communities and a big chunk of them come back to the 10th
11th, and 15th districts and how we can help service and serve
those young people. He also talked about how we can help
along the lines of the mental health crises that people are
facing not only just our police officers, but the residents
in general and how through Chairwoman Rosanna Rodriguez that we
talked about treatment not trauma and dealing with
different types of methods to deal with our mental health
population.
Me and my sister at the Peacebook talking about how we
can again invest in people. When the commanders of the
most violent districts in the city of Chicago are talking
about they need resources beyond just officers that's
something I think we all need to pay attention to. Not just
police officers
oolice officers but mental health workers, violence
intervention, all of the other things that we have talked
about. The capital, the city of Chicago has more police officers
the New York, LA, and any other major metropolitan cities, but our
homicide rate has not shown the same changes. Again
elections have consequences and it's clear that the
citizens of the city of saying hey, we can no longer
continue down the same path
of doing the same thing and expecting something different
Now, we're doing something different in hopes that we see
something different by the investing in people in our
respective communities.
Again, we ask hey, what is it that we want to see? We said
we wanted to see the department of environment, check. You
said we wanted to see AIS decouple from 2FM, I'm
sorry, what's that department?
do
Do it wasn't getting it done. So now we got technology and
again, these are things we ask for that have been done in
this particular budget. We ask for additional
staff.
Those of you who don't want extra staff who don't need it I'm
sure we have some people that will take it up for you. If
you don't don't need to have that but again, that's what we
ask for. These things have been delivered in the
spirit of cooperation and collaboration. But I say this
fair exchange is not robbery. So the only thing that we've
asked is that people support what the citizens of the city
have said that we need to support. Is it perfect? Of course it is
not, nothing is perfect. As smart as my successor
as stated from the black caucus the only perfect man a
perfect day to walk this Earth is no longer with us in the
in the flesh but in the spirit, and so we know that
there's always challenges with anything
that has been put off. But again, I think that overall when
we look at everything that's been done here that this is
something we all should be able to support again. I'm glad
to hear i
what my colleague from
What my colleague from the 38th Ward, you know went one way
and came back and is now back on the right side of the
issue as it relates to this budget and again having a conversation
to be able to understand you see in Chairman Dowell's move
to say hey join with us so that you can collaborate it and
see what what it is that's happening. This is all about
collaboration, ladies and gentlemen, division
I don't.
I don't know why we have a street named division in this
city.
But division is a form of subtraction.
Division is a form of subtraction and we all need to work
together and be united and this is something again while I'm
not perfect has met a ton of the requests and needs that we
as a council have collectively asked for and I know some
people have had some individual things that they have asked
for. But as I said before fair exchange, it is not robbery
know. Now are there some things that we need to work on? Yes there
are. As I talked about with my colleague Alderman Mitts, we
talked about flooding in the community of
Austin. We see that we have our challenge with our brother out
South about a park issue. These are all items that I
believe that we will find solutions to, may not found a
solution right now, but I think the commitment to trying to
do that is worth more than trying to not be supportive
of what it is that we know it's
going to benefit
benefit the residents of the city
The benefit the residents of the city moving forward. We
talked about the safety aspect. We talked about
civilianization. This is the first budget that actually
puts civilianization in the budget and not just talked about
it. Again, when you see members of the Chicago Police
Department at press conferences taking pictures when we
know there's somebody else can do that job and replace that
individual back into it back into the beat. These are the
things that we've been asking for collectively, but this is
the first time that they have been delivered upon. Again
investment in the people of this city not just on certain
aspects of it.
Again, I think this is something that we all should be able
to support, we all talk about it, now it is time to be
about it. And let's talk about the fiscal aspects of this.
We talk about the property taxes, the CPI. The man said
that he was not going to raise taxes and then we sit
back and say hey we don't believe you didn't didn't do it.
Again. Everything that has been stated, that was put out has
been delivered upon. At the same time adding a extra $300 million to
the pension payments so that we can stay on the
on the right side of the ramp and not fall off of the ramp
as we get to the 90% funding.
and
And so again, I believe as I stated before that fair
change here is not robbery. This is one of our actual
codified responsibilities to appropriate in annual budget
again, I think that while it may not be one hundred percent
of what everybody want I think we came damn close to
getting it done.
I will say this
We talked about
vacanies
Vacancies, we talk about other things in the past. This
council has made some interesting financial decisions in
previous administrations.
We sold off assets
that we can still use today.
one
One Council eliminated 1400 police vacancies.
nothing
Nothing was said.
Now as we decide to write.
The ship based on the data, based on the vision, based on the
people, we can't have it both ways. Either we're going to
do what we do what we mean and mean what we say or
otherwise, we're just going back and forth in the wind.
I'll be
I believe that this is at this point in time the best.
We will have and of course, we have budget amendments on a
monthly basis and if we need to make some adjustments we do
that at times and situations change again, we have gotten
both
work
Work to support the migrant mission as well as support the
challenges that we face in the in the black and brown
communities of our city, especially those on the south and west
side and I will continue to say that if we do nothing
around the issues of poverty and trying to help those who
are in the throes of it all of this that we do will go down
the drain and I believe this is the down payment that we
as the city must make if it is our true goal to lift
everybody up because again as this tide rises it is going
to lift others up. So all I say is this, I think that we
have done an enormous job. I want to thank everybody that
has helped and
participated in the
Participated in this process and again while it may not be
perfect I think it's a move in a start in the right
direction and with that Mr. President, I move to concur in
the recommendation of the Committee on Budget and
Government Operations and adopt a 2024 Cold Corrections
ordinance, which was ordered to be deferred and published.
It appears in the journal of proceedings of November 7th, 2023
as ordinance 20230005292 by a voice vote. I've given
everybody a sequence of the votes that we will have today
and they'll be a total of nine. Thees first two will be by
voice vote and item number three will be by roll
call. Thank you Mr.President. Thank you. Hearing no
objections so ordered
alderman
Alderman Mitchell
All those in favor, signify by saying I. All those
opposed say nay and in the opinion of the chair, the I's have it
Alderman Mitchell on the motion to reconsider.
Mr.President, a motion to reconsider the vote. On a motion to
reconsider all those in favor of reconsideration signify by
saying I all those who opposed say no. In the opinion of the chair the
motion fails
alderman
Alderman Ervin
toucan
to concur in the recommendation of the committee on budget
and government operation and adopt a series of amendments
to the 2024 budget recommendations together with the
text portion which was order to be deferred and published and
appears in the journal proceedings of November 7th, 2023 is
ordinance 2030005837 as I noted this is simply the
amendments to the appropriation ordinance which we will be voting
on next after this. So I move passage by a voice vote. All
those in favor this motion for this item 2024 budget
recommendation signify by saying I
all those opposed say no and in the opinion of the chair the eyes
have it, Alderman Mithcell on a motion to reconsider.
Mr.President motion to reconsider the vote. On a motion to consider
those in favor signify by saying I those opposed say no.
This motion fails. Alderman Ervin. I don't know but three I moved
to concur in the recommendations of the committee on the
budget of government operations and adopt the 2024 annual
appropriation ordinance with the amendments and text portion just
adopted which was ordered to be deferred and published and
appears in the journal of proceedings of November 4th, 2023
is ordinance 2023-00051405 a roll call
vote. Was that for November 7th? November 7th 2023 by roll
call vote. Very well. Thank you. Madam Clerk. This vote is
for a roll call vote. We will provide the E-Vote operation in
just a moment.
The voting is open. The voting is open. Hit refresh and
please submit your vote. The voting is open. If you need
support, please raise your hand.
It's the green button
on my
I will ask Alderwoman Hadden could I get your voice vote.
I was so excited to use the virtual. Thanks Alderman Lopez,
but I. Awesome. Thank you. Thank you for being our hype
person to. Alright, the voting is now closed.
there
There are 41 yays, 8 nays. This motion passes. Alderman
Mitchell on the motion to reconsider.  Mr.President, a motion to
reconsider the vote.
on
On a motion to reconsider those on the motion to
reconsider this vote those in favor signify by saying I
those who opposed say no. This motion fails. Alderman Ervin
Chairman Ervin. Mr. President. I moved to concur and the
recommendations of the committee on the budget and
government operations and adopt the 2024 substitute
management ordinance, which was ordered to be deferred and
publishing and appears in the journal of proceedings of
November 7th, 2023 as substitute ordinance 2023-0005294 by
roll call vote. Very well.
this
motion for consideration of for passage has been requested by a
roll call vote. Use your E-vote application once it's available,
Madam Clerk.
the voting
The voting is now open. The voting is now open. Please use
refresh, refresh your devices and raise your hand if you
need support. The voting is now open.
with
With all members that have voted the Voting is now closed.
They're 40 yays.
9 nays. This motion passes. Alderman Mitchell on the motion
to reconsider. Mr.President I move to reconsider the vote. Those in favor of the
On the motion to reconsider those in favor signify by saying I
those opposed say no. This motion fails. The chair recognizes
Chairman Ervin.
Mr.President
item number five I move to concur in the
recommendation of the committee on the budget and
government operations and adopt the substitute 2024 motor
fuel tax allocation ordinance, which is order to be
deferred and published and appears in the journal of
proceedings of November 7th, 2023 as substitute ordinance as
20230005296 by the same roll call vote as was applied
to item number 4, the substitute management ordinance and
the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
hearing
Hearing no objections so ordered. Chair recognizes Chairman
Irvin. Thank you. Mr. President. I move to concur in the
recommendation of the committee on budget and government
operations and adopt the 2024 motor fuel tax forms
allocation intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago
Transit Authority in Cook County, which was ordered to be
deferred and published and appears in the Journal of
proceedings
November 7th, 2023
November 7th 2023 as ordinance 2023-0005297 by the same
roll call vote as was applied to the item number 4, the
substitute management ordinance and the associated
unsuccessful motion to reconsider. Hearing no objections, so ordered. Chair
recognizes Chairman Ervin. Thank you. Mr. President. I
move to concur in the recommendation of the committee on
the budget of government operations and adopt the
substitute salary resolution, which is ordered to be deferred
and published and appears in the journal of proceedings of
November 7th, 2023 as substitute resolution 2023-0005299
by the same
roll call as was applied to item number 4, the
substitute management ordinance in the associated
unsuccessful motion to reconsider. Hearing no objections, so ordered. Chair
recognizes
Mr. President. Thank you. Thank you. Chair recognizes
Chairman Ervin. Mr.President that concludes items
of unfinished business related to the committee on the
budget and government operations. Thank you.
thank
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
chair
Chair recognizes Chairwoman Dowell.
Yes, thank you Mr. President. I move to concur and the
recommendation of the finance committee and adopt the 2024
tax levy ordinance, which was ordered to be deferred and
published and appears in the journal proceedings of
November 7th, 2023 as 02023-0005291 by roll
call. Very well, there is a roll call vote to concur the recommendation
2024 tax levy ordinance. There's a roll call vote that has
been requested. Please use your E-Vote application once it
is made available. Madam Clerk.
the
The voting is now open. The voting is now open. Please hit
refresh on your device. Please set refresh on your device
raise your hand if you need support.
I will now take a voice vote for anyone who has not voted
on the E-device.
Oh
Just got it okay. The voting with all members voting the voting
is now closed.
Thank you Madam Clerk. There are forty yays, nine nays. This
motion passes. Chair recognizes Alderman Mitchell on the
motion to reconsider. Mr.President I move to reconsider the vote. On the motion to
reconsider all those in favor signify by saying I , those
opposed say no. This motion fails. Chair recognizes Chairwoman Dowell.
Thank you. Mr. President. Item number 9, I move to concur
in the recommendation of the finance committee and adopt a
substitute 2024 Revenue ordinance, which was ordered to be
deferred in publishing appears in the journal of
proceedings of November 7th. 2023 as SO2023-0005293
by roll call vote. There's a motion on the floor for
roll call vote substitute 2024 revenue ordinance.
Please use your E-Vote application once it's made available.
Madam Clerk.
the
The voting is now open. The voting is now open, please use
your device.
and refresh your device.
please
Please raise your hand if you need support.
all
All members have now voted, the voting is now closed.
thank
Thank you Madam Clerk. There are 40 yays, 9 nays. This
motion passes. Chair recognizes Alderman Mitchell on the
motion to reconsider. Mr.President I move to reconsider the vote. On the
motion to reconsider those in favor signify by saying I
those opposed say no. This motion fails.
chairwoman
Chairwoman Dowell. Mr.President this concludes
items of Unfinished Business relating to the committee on
finance. Thank you very much. The chair recognizes Chairman
Ervin.Mr. President I move that we return to the regular
business area. No objection, so ordered.
Committee reports, the chair recognizes Finance Chairwoman
Dowell.
thank
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 November 14th, 2023. The
following items received a do pass recommendation from the
committee item. Number one is an ordinance concerning the
authority to enter into and execute an intergovernmental
agreement with the Chicago Board of Education for the
provision of tax increment financing funds for improvements
at Kenwood Academy High School at 5015 South Blackstone
Avenue in the fourth ward. Mr. President, unless someone
wishes to speak on this item. I move passage of this item
by a roll call vote.
Before we pass this item, Alderwoman Gutierrez
is requesting to participate in final portion of this
meeting remotely.
per
Per rule 59, can I get a motion to approve of remote
participation for Alderwoman Gutierrez?
It's been moved. All those in favor signify by saying I all those
who opposed say no. Madam Clerk, please add Alderwoman
Gutierrez as a part of our remote participation.
All right. There's a motion on the floor for the passage by
roll call. Members please use your E-Vote application to record
your vote at this time. Madam Clerk.
the
The voting is now open. The voting is now open. Please hit
your device and refresh your device raise your hand if you
need support. The Voting is now open.
Alderman Lopez
alderwoman
Alderwoman Gutierrez your vote. Yes, please.Alderwoman Gutierrez
is a yes. With all members having voted,
the
The Voting is now closed.
Thank you very much. There are 49 yays, 0 nays. This
matter is passed. Alderman Mitchell on a motion to reconsider.
Mr. President I'm a Bronco and I reluctantly move to
reconsider the vote. On a motion to reconsider all those in
favor signify by saying I all those opposed say nay this
motion fails.
Thank you. Item number two is an ordinance concerning
the authorization of fee waivers or refunds for the Chicago
Board of Education and its contractors for buildings and
Facilities is used for public or governmental purposes with
annual reporting a fee waivers to the office of budget and
management. I move passage of this site.
I'm by the first most favorable roll-call vote of the
committee on finance report and the associated unsuccessful
motion to reconsider.
item
Item number three and four consists of orders of
authorization for the payment of various small claims
against the city of Chicago and denials of payments for
various small claims against the city of Chicago if there
are no objections, I moved that these items be placed for
passage in the Omnibus order. Item five is an order
authorizing one application for the city of Chicago
Charitable solicitation or tagged a permit but the nature
conservancy from December 1, 2023 through
December 31st, 2023. If there are no objections, I move it
this item be placed for passage in the Omnibus order. Hearing none, so ordered.
Item number 6 is the report of cases in which verdicts, judgements, and settlements
were entered into for the month of October 2023. This will be
placed on file with the clerk.
Thank you. This concludes my report. Thank you. Thank you
Chairwoman. For the committee on economic capital and
Technology development the chair recognizes Chairman
Villegas.
thank
Thank you. Mr. President, members of city council reporting
for the committee on economic capital and technology development
on Monday, November 13th, the committee held a
meeting and recommends pass of the following items. Items
1 through 12 on the report are a series of appointments,
reappointments to various special service areas collectively
voted on by the committee members. Introduced to Mayor
Johnson during September 14th, October 4th and November 1st
City Council meetings. Appointment of Constantino
to SSA number 16 Greektown commission located in 34th
ward, reappointment of Jonathan M. Gordon to SSA number 23,
Clark Street, Lincoln Park commission located 43rd and 44th
Ward, appointment of Richard Juarez Senior SSA number 25
Little Village commission located in the 22nd, 24th, and 25th
wards.
re
Reappointment of Noreen Keaney, reappointment of Matthew Ruff
appointment of Terry and Touhy, and reappointment of Carl
Sullivan to SSA number 34 Uptown commission located at 46, 47
48th ward, reappointment of Diwana M. Browns to SSA 50
50 Calumet Heights Avalon commission located on 5th and 8th
ward, reappointment of Claudia P. Rodriguez to SSA number 25
Little Village commission located 22nd, 24th, and 25th Ward
appointment of Caitlin Hurley to SSA number 27 West
Lakeview commission located in 32nd, 44, 46, 47th Ward
appointment of William
F
Eager to SSA number 47 47th Street in Cottage Grove
commission located on 4th and 20th Ward, reappointment of
Elizabeth B Fault to SSA number 18 North Halsted
commission located 44th and 46th Ward. I move for pass for these
appointment, reappointments for the first of a roll
called the committee on Finance in the associated
unsuccessful motion to reconsider. Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Item 13 and 14 on the report are approvals for
issuances of Class 6 be tax incentives for 5740 North
Tripp Avenue located in the 39th Ward 2717 and 2757 West
Chicago Avenue located on 36th Ward. I move for passing
this item by the first available roll call vote of the
committee on Finance in the associated unsuccessful motion
to reconsider. Hearing no obejections, so orfered. Items 15th throough 39 and on the report
are series of ordinances on tax levy, scope of services,
budget and management agreements . The very special service
areas, which were collectively voted on by the committee
members and introduced
by
Mayor Johnson during the October 4th and November 1st city
council meeting. SSA number 4 95th Street located 19th
Ward. SSA number 23, Clark Street, Lincoln Park located on
43rd and 44th Ward.
SSA Numer 25 little village located in 22nd 24th and 25th
Ward. SSA number 26 Edgewater located on 48th and
49th Ward. Ssa 31 Greater Ravenswood located on 40th and
46th and 47th Ward. SSA Number 35-2015 Lincoln
Avenue located in 43rd Ward. SSA Number 38 North
Center located on 47th Ward. SSA Number 60 Albany Park
located on 33rd and 35th and 39th Ward. SSA Number 71
Roseland located in the 9th Ward. SSA number 3 63rd
Street located in the 13th 14th 15th 16th, 17th and 23rd
Ward. SSA Number 7 Kedzie industrial park located 14th Ward. SSA
Number 13 Stockyards located on the 3rd, 11th, 15th and
20th Ward.
SSA Number 16 Greektown located on 34th Ward. SSA 19 Howard
Street located 49th Ward. SSA 24 Clark Street
Rogers Park located on 49th Ward. 27 Lakeview
located on 32nd,44,46 and 47th. SSA 34 Uptown located at
46 47 48th Ward. SSA Number 39 Brighton Archer located at 12th
and 14th Ward. SSA Number 43 Devon Avenue located in
50th Ward.
SSA
45 103RD Street Halstead located in the 21st
Ward. SSA 50 Calumet Heights Avalon located at 5th and 8th
Ward. SSA 54 Sheridan Road located on 49th Ward
State. SSA 56-2022 Brownsville located the Third Ward. SSA 59-2022
59th Street or 59th Street located in the 14th
15th 16th Ward. SSA 62
thank
Thank you.
thank
Thank God. All right, this is once a year ladies and gentleman.
We're at the end of the year, alright.
SSA Number 72. I moved for
all right.
All right. I move pass of these items are the first three of a
roll call vote of the committee on Finance in the
the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider
and just for clarity it started with item number what and
with which item?
it's item 15 through 39.
Very good.
So hearing
chair recognizes Alderman Ervin
Thank you. Mr. President, can you repeat those?
uh
According to the rules
I do.
I don't have to do that. I don't know which rule that is.
Thank you. Hearing no other objection so ordered. Chair recognizes
Chairman Villegas. Alright sporty through 58th on the
report directly introduced and collectivly voted on by the
committee members on November 13th. SSA number 2,
SSA number 5, SSA number 8, SSA number 17, SSA number 22
SSA 28-2014, SSA 29-2014, SSA 33
SSA 42, SSA 47, SSA 48, SSA 51, SSA 52-2021, SSA 63
SSA 72, SSA 73, SSA 76, SSA 77, SSA 80. I move to pass of these
ordinances by the favorable of a roll call vote the
committee on Finance in the associative
associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider. Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Items 59 and 62 through 62 on the report were approvals for
public hearings and enlargements of boundaries in position
of tax levy approval budget extension of
tax levy. And execution of service provider agreement that
would directly introduce and collectively voted on by the
committee members on November 13th, 2023. SSA number 18
SSA number 44, SSA number 61-2023, SSA Number 69. I move
of pass of these items on the most favorable of a roll call
vote of the committee on Finance in the associated
unsuccessful motion to reconsider. Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Lastly in response to the Department of Family Support
Services recent report on the Chicago Resiliency Community
pilot program AKA to guarantee basic income pilot program
the committee held the subject matter hearing to present
the findings from this pilot. Thank you Mr. President that
concludes my report. Thank you very much for the committee
on health and human relations. Chair recognizes chairperson
Sanchez, Rodriguez Sanchez.
thank
Thank you Mr.President. Reporting for your committee on
health and human relations was met November 14th 2023 at 9
a.m. The committee considered a number of mayoral
appointments to advisory council specifically, we considered
18 appointment to the advisory council on lgbtqia plus
issues, 14 appointments to the advisory council on women, 10
appointments to the advisory council on veterans, 10
appointment to the advisory council on equity, 12
appointments to the advisory Council on new Americans the
full list of names is in the report that each one of you
have.
Mr. President I move passage of this by the first
most favorable roll-call vote of the committee on finance
and associated most unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
hearing
hearring
Hearing no objection so ordered. That concludes my report.
thank you
Thank you chairperson. For the committee on license and
consumer protection, chair recognizes the vice chair, vice chair
Chico. Mr. President and members of the city council. I am
reporting for the committee on license and consumer
protection. We held a meeting on November 8th 2023 to
consider five ordinances regarding liquor moratoriums in
the 8th, 27th, 30th, 34th and 40th wards. The committee has
recommended passage of each of these items.
O2
O
02023-0004752 and others ending 4822,5315, 5533 and
5671. One liquor moratorium 02023-0005699 had a numbering error when
it passed committee and that it was numbered as 30.66
instead of 30.36. That error has since been corrected and I
asked the city council accept this corrected version.
with the prices
Mr. President I move that the city council concur in the same
recommendations of the license committee by the same role
call as item number one of the committee of finance report
in the associate unsuccessful motion to reconsider. Hearing no objections, so ordered.
02023-0004957 on ordnance designating precincts of the
13th Ward as restricted residential zone prohibiting
additional shared housing and vacation rentals. I move
passage of this item by the same motion if there is no
objection. Hearing no objections, so ordered.
Mr. Predident,
Mr. President this concludes my report.
thank
Thank you very much. For the committee on pedestrian and traffic safety
the chair recognizes Chairman LaSpata.
Thank you. Mr. President reporting for your committee on
pedestrian and traffic safety for which a meeting was held on
Monday, November 13th, 2023. Before the committee, there
were 304 items. There were 302 routine traffic
items that passed and one amendment to chapter 9-4-113
of the municipal code of Chicago
allowing vehicles to park with wheels on the curb on South
L Avenue in the 19th ward
n the 19th Ward that also 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.
No objection so ordered. The final item on which no votes
were taken was a subject matter hearing on the topic of
police traffic stops and their impact on black and Latin
residents with the freedom of coalition. That concludes my
report. Thank you. Thank you Chairman. For the Committee of
Public Safety, chair recognizes Chairman Hopkins. Thank you
Mr. President reporting for your Committee on Public Safety
which held a meeting for pursuiant to notice November 13th. 2023
Two items were approved and recommended for passage by this
body, the first item substitute ordinance 3867 to amend
the municipal code chapter 8.4 by adding a section
titled "Assault on
City Employees, Oficials, and Contractors with Enforcement
Authority.: There's no objection and no one wishes to speak
and I move passage by the first favorable roll call the
committee on finance and associated unsuccessful motion
hearing. No objections, seeing no hands, so ordered. The second
item to substitute ordinance 4088 Amendment of the municipal
code section 8:30 by designating noise sensitive zones
and portions of specified streets in the 34th Ward the
sponsoring Alderman of the 34th
ward
Ward seeks recognition to address this matter. Would you like to
close I have two other alders or would you wish to go first?
you
Yes to which one, go last that's all right. So I have two speakers
the chair recognizes Alderman Sposato. Thank you. Mr.
President for allowing me to speak on this item.
I think we're going into dangerous territory here. Mr.
President.
this
This noise ordinance is nothing but anti-abortion
protesters at an abortion clinic. I believe if the role was
reversed if it was a save life clinic with abortion
protesters out there we wouldn't be here. So everything
call the First Amendment once again
what?
What is what is the amount of that suppose we never had law
weigh in on this and every other police waiting on this
police stations have a sound decibel many aldermen here.
I'm sure if you gotten complaints from neighbors saying
their neighbors are making too much noise the police go
there they say will you really can't say we don't have a
sound meter so I can support this. I wish law would have
stepped in on this. I probably should have done more
honest. I certainly could have been. But I'm not going to
bring everybody back again. I've been here twenty-four out
of 25 days. So I don't want to come back on Friday. So I'm
just going to be a no on this but I want to make everybody
aware of this. I think we were going against
First Amendment rights for freedom of speech so I've been
to rallies and I've seen protesters out there
extremely loud and obnoxious. On a reverse thing a pro-life
rally where anti
or
Or pro-abortion people were disrupting banging and making all
kind of noise. Nothing happened. That's their right to
protest. So I believe his people's right to protest. Once
again dangerous territory. I want to be recorded as a no.
Thank you. Thank you, the chair recognizes Alderwoman
Nugent.
President I rise in support of this ordinance today because
the ability to access health care is a fundamental right
regardless of the medical visit or procedure. You should be
able to meet with your doctor in a safe environment without
threats shouting or physical violence in a doctor should be
able to perform their duties and have personal
conversations with patients without amplified sound
shouting and fighting on the very opposite side of a wall.
Often doctors can't even hear their patients in in
conversation with them right now to provide adequate to
to provide adequate care. Since the decision
We have seen an increase in violence outside clinics
nationwide. Health Care is deeply personal and must be
accessible. We must support Chicago and ability to navigate
the health health care system in a way that is both
dignified and respectable. Thank you, Mr. President and
thank you Alderman Conway for your work on this very
important issue.
chair
Chair recognizes Alderman Taliaferro. Thank
you Mr. President. I agree with my colleagues and
especially and noting that our patients in our hospitals do
deserve respect in their trip. They're treaters deserve
that respect when providing treatment and it reminds me of
the hospital in my very own Ward where we have a 100-foot
billboard that sits directly outside their window where
there's a lot of light that comes in during the evening
hours and I support this ordinance. I'm however, I believe that
the ordinance needs to be amended to some degree when we are
sighting folks for violating
Violating this ordinance and they're not aware that they are
in violation of the ordinance, I believe it poses a
problem. Not only legally but it proves that poses a
problem craft financially for those being cited. One thing
that I would ask of this ordinance Mr. President is that
we set a limit to what the decibel requirement is by way of
this ordinance. How do we know when the noise is too loud
or it falls within the parameters set? This ordinance does
not do that. I think this ordinance need some clarity to it
by stating that if if noise can be amplified noise can be
heard from a half a block or block away
providing
Providing some type of a parameter that can an officer can
use to cite the person that would work or if the noises
amplified to level above 75 or 60 decibel levels, then that
would work but as this ordinance sits someone that's outside
waiting on a patient with the radio on can be cited without
having any knowledge as to how he's violating an ordinance
that this city is imposing and so I would recommend that we
hold this item until we can set parameters to which someone
can know that they're being in violation.
Thank you Mr.President.
Yeah.
Yeah, thank you. Give me just one moment.
thank you
Thank you. We will stand at ease for just a
couple of moments here. Thank you.
city
City council meeting will come back to order. The city
council will come back to order.
So there was an initial desire to see city council will
come back to order please.
chair recognizes
alderman
Alderman Taliaferro. Thank you Mr.President I did have an opportunity to
have a conversation with the chief sponsor of this
ordinance as well as the law department and I rise in
support of it, in support of this ordinance. We did have a
chance to speak with regard to the standard which is set
for this particular ordinance. Although it is a subjective
standard. It is indeed a standard that we could cite any
violators by so thank you Mr.President. Thank you. Are there
any other alders that we wish t speak to to this item
before the close?
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yes, right. Thank you Waguespack actually had his hand
up before. The chair recognizes
Alderman Waguespack. Thank you Mr. President. I just rise
in support of this ordinance and want to thank my
colleagues for bringing it forward, you know, but I think
Jeff Levine might have been here in a couple other
colleagues when we first passed the bubble ordinance back
in 2009. I believe it was and when we first introduced that
you know, there were only two people on the committee
meeting if I recall we were lucky to get it through but
that was stood challenges from the US Supreme Court because
we found that that ordinance was not as restrictive as some
ordinances or laws in other cities and other states. So I
think what they've done here with this word intense will
pass that time.
Hes
He's no master as well, and I appreciate you. Mr. President
working to get this thing won't move forward and and
passage for today. Thank you. Thank you chair recognizes
Alderwoman Manaa-Hoppenworth.
thank
Thank you. Mr. President I rise to thank my colleague for
bringing this ordinance forward. Abortion is healthcare and
we are a welcoming city because because of the reversal of
Roe v Wade, there are many from other states that are
coming to Chicago for healthcare. And so it matters how we
present each other and how we're welcoming people and in
and intent matters. So it's already shameful that
we need escorts for women to get health care. And I
think that this ordinance will help to protect the
Protect what is you know a right for a woman to have
healthcare with relying on her doctor and not be not have
been impeded by others on the way into a building it's
wrong. So I rise in support of this ordinance. I thank you
Alderman Conway for bring it forward. Thank you. For
close, the chair recognizes
alder
Chair recognizes Alderman sposato, and once again, it's a
subjective standard that we already have in place. I'm not
the attorney here many of you attornies are much smarter
than me. I believe we're going to be sued. I don't believe
it'll hold up well with that, I'm still in a no, thank you
for letting me reaffirm my position. You're welcome. Chair
recognizes Alderman Conway. Yes, thank you Mr.President. The coorperation counsel is asking
to hold this for another look, so I'm
happy to do that. I haven't been able to work with the law department
months on this, but happy too, been waiting months
happy to wait another one. So your honor, Mr.President
I'm asking to hold this item. Thank you.
alright
So there's a motion on the floor to hold this item. The
chair recognizes Alderman Hopkins.
I thank you Mr.President this item will be held in
committee and we did actually task the Law Department in
LRB with looking into this matter of noise control already
so work has already begun on that, we will hold this matter in
committee and report it out after the next opportunity for
the public safety meeting. Mr.President if I may on
a point of personal privilege, a brief announcement. Sure.
Do I have to before I call for a vote for the more?
So there's a motion on the floor to hold this item that motion
has been received. For point of personal privilege, chair
recognizes Alderman Hopkins. Thank you Mr.President, this concludes the report of the Public Safety
Committee. This Friday from 1 p.m.
to 5 p.m. Alderman Knudsen and I will be co-hosting a
vaccination clinic. We invite all of our colleagues to come
will be offering flu shots and covid-19 boosters. Flu season is here folks and is
we all know several of our colleagues have just recently
gotten over from covid so if you haven't been boosted yet
Please join us. We're more than happy to offer this service
to staff as well. So that again that's this Friday from 1
p.m to 5 p.m. Thank you Mr. President. This concludes my
report. Thank you Chairman. For the final committee,
committee on transportation and public way chair recognizes
Chairman Mitchell.
Mr.President and members of the city council. Reporting for
your committee on transportation and public ways, which
held a meeting on November 9th 2023. The following items
passed by the majority of the members present. Page one
includes ordinance 2023-0005070 a mayoral ordinance
introduced by the mayor's office. Page 3 through 5 includes
22 ordinances for miscellaneous items introduced by the
local all the persons from Wards 3, 6, 8, 16, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29
33, 38, 40, 43, 45, 46, and 47/
page
Page 6 includes items 020230004803 and item 02
023000
4808 two commercial vacation ordinances for property in
located in the 28th Wards. If there is no objection, I move
passage of these items by the first most favorable roll call
vote of the committee on finance in the associated
unsuccessful motion to reconsider. Hearing no objections, so ordered. Mr. President
This concludes my report. Thank you very much for the
agreed-upon calendar.
One moment.
just
Just for absolute clarity, Chairman Hopkins on your motion to hold
the item of the final item that was introduced by Alderman
Conway. That is so ordered.
For the agreed-upon calendar chair recognizes Alderwoman
Harris. Thank you Mr. President. I received from Clerk Anna
Valencia. I told her five items proposed over the
agree calendar consisting of congratulatory commemorative
tributary resolutions from the following alderperson
Alderman Harris, Alderman Taliferro,
Alderman Waguespack
alderperson
Silverstein and from many alderman. Alderman
Harris Alderman Nugent Alderman Silverstein Alderman Dowell and
Alderman Mitchell on our fifth resolution that I'm going to
ask to suspend the rules just to allow us to bring Beth
and allow her to sit in the in the and that we can say
and if the clerk to read the resolution. Hearing no objections to suspend the
rules, so ordered. I believe Alderwoman Harris wishes
to have the resolution read by the clerk.
Where are
Where it's all in the years of dedicated Public Service,
the residence is City of Chicago that spanned four mayoral
administrations Beth Beaty is departing city service to become
the first woman to serve as city manager of Joliet,
Illinois. Whereas the Chicago city council has been informed
this occasion by the honourable Michelle Harris alderman of
the 8th ward, the honorable Samantha Nugent alderwoman of the 39th Ward
and honorable Deborah L Silverstein alderwoman of the 50th Ward
and where she was raised in Moline, Illinois, Beth graduated
from Saint Mary's College before earning a law degree from
John Marshall Law School. And where is following law school
Beth served as a law clerk for the Illinois Supreme Court
3rd Judicial District before beginning her decades-long
City career, and where as over the years Beth served the
city at a variety of roles including working at the policy
analyst for Alderman G Childre, Deborah Silverstein and
Marjorie before
transitioning
to roles as legislative council under Mayor Rahm
Emanuel and the office of legislative council government
Affairs and Deputy Chief Financial Officer wishing to go to
negotiate a managed contract totaling over 3.5 billion.
Whereas most recently best served as Deputy Mayor and a
governmental Affairs under both mayor Lori Lightfoot and
Mayor Brandon Johnson where she continue to play a key role
in passing both mayor's legislative agendas and the city's
multibillion-dollar annual budget and we're all throughout
the highs and lows of serving as the government through
recession once-in-lifetime blizzard civil unrest in the
pandemic best maintained her deep passion for public
service commitment to maintaining honesty meeting honest
and open discussion and above all her ability to get things
done. And where is why we may be sad that such an honest
dedicated public servant is leaving the city we can
graduate this year Joliet Joliet and its residents on
excellent selection for their new city manager and we wish
Beth Beaty our most heartfelt thanks for years of service
and success and on her new historic role.
now
Now therefore be it resolved that we and the mayor and
members of city council the city of Chicago do hereby
extend our heartfelt gratitude to to Beth Beatty for a
years of faithful service to the city Chicago and its
residents and wish her continued success in her new role as
a first woman to be city manager of Joliet Illinois to be
at for the result that is suitable copy of this resolution
be prepared and presented to Beth Beatty as a sign of our
gratitude and respect. Michelle Harris, Nugent
Alderman 39th Ward Deborah Silverstein Alderman 50th ward
and add city clerk Anna Valencia as a co-sponsor.
Beth you have been around these halls and walking around these
halls for a long time. Even though you're young cuz you're
still a baby to me but Beth thank you for your leadership.
Thanks for your friendship and your guidance and helping me
navigate government and move on what you have done for me
is invaluable and thank you for your patience. I know it
can be tough because on any given day you get to be the first
receiver of the first kick as we can't get to kick the
right person. But thank you for taking it and love.
Thank you for the never turn your back on me no matter
what the issues were. I love your commitment and your
dedication to this job. I don't know how you maintain
healthy relationships because you definitely are working
night and day and have been for many years. So I appreciate
you. May God bless you on your new journey.
as you move away from this.
You move away from this to do other things. I'm almost
99.99% certain that wherever you go. They going to love
you. Just like we love you here. So take care, but it's
always an open door.
And so we love you and again godspeed on your new journey
in life. Thank you Mr. President and I don't know if other people want
Thank you Alderwoman Harris. The chair recognizes
Alderman Moore.
Thank you. Mr. President. Young lady, when I came in you
were one of the first person I met I think Mayor Manuel
was having a legislative event at Millennium Park and we was in
those tents and didn't know a lot of folks that was there,
but you came up and we talked and we develop relationships
from their units and working together. Y'all was a tag team
and although we battled because I don't believe in a lot of
his policies at that time and you all push me you did it
with respect and and you challenged me and you continue to
do that and we just over the years to develop the great
respect for one another. One of my first job out
of college was an accountant at Ralston Purina living in
the Quad Cities so knowing that you were from Moline
having those conversations, even then, conversation about
[inaudible] cuz I hung out in Ottawa a lot. All those
things were connections, but you are one of the brightest
people
People that I've met. You are one of the fairest people that
have met. Dealing with many different aldermans, many
different personalities, but trying to make sure you
respect the leadership that you're working for and pushing
that they're gentle because that's what you were hired to
do. But you took our concerns back you didn't have the last
call on it, but you took them back and try to educate the
leadership to say hey, this is why this is important to
this person. And if you do this this will happen and you
get some votes out of me because of that and we were able
to 17th Ward is a better place for it because we were able
to get some things done in the 17th Ward because you took
what I said to heart you take it back to the administration
never got everything I wanted but we got a lot of the
things that we did was the 17th Ward is a better place for
it right now. And for that I thank you so much. And are we
going to keep in touch and we'll eventually get on that
tennis courts that we have been trying to do for the past eight
years, right?
All right. Have fun down there in Joliet.
Thank you. The chair recognizes Alderman Lawson. Thank
you. Mr. President. I'm happy to rise today to support my
friend Beth on her next chapter. We have been colleagues
for 20 years actually, even before I began my city service
she was in office running license with Carl who is
still around remarkably too. So right and you know before she
joined Rahm's team, we worked on promoters and pedicabs in
all sorts of fun issues that our business community, but if
someone else has had a life in public service, I know how
hard it can be especially during order a really hard votes in
this body and there's a reason that we've all gotten to be
able to work with you in such a positive way. It's your
competence. It's your demeanor. It's your understanding of
what we need out of the equation as well. And so these
girls are going to serve you well, like any good staffer
should. You're going to be successful because
you got the good foundation. You've got the right head on
your shoulder. So I wish you all the best in Joliet. You
may have some visitors coming from the north. Thank you.
Thank you. The chair recognizes Alderman Napolitano.
thank
Thank you Mr.President. I too rise in support of this resolution
to you Beth simply you are by far one of the greatest. When
I got here probably I probably wasn't the easiest to work
with and present day as well but you never once changed
your attitude towards your job. You knew what your your job
was to do and how to build relationships and how to bring
always how to bring people together and that meant the
world to me and that the world to my staff and I don't
need the world everybody down here. You are going to be
successful wherever you go. I just want to tell you what a
pleasure you were to work with. You are a great person and
you're dedicated to your craft, and I know Julie has to be
better because of it. So congratulations onward and upward and
thank you for all your time and effort. Thank you Mr.
president. Thank you. Chair recognizes Alderwoman Nugent.
thank
Thank you Mr.President. Public service is a vocation
and whenever Beth talks about her role as director of
intergovernmental affairs she refers to it as her dream job,
and that's how it should be and watching Beth navigate and
build consensus among the fifty of us illustrates this
truly is your passion you listen you learn you suggest
compromise and we all know that's no easy feat and it's a
challenge that you have conquered time and time again, and
I have nothing but respect for you and the work you've done
in this building. This is a really bittersweet goodbye for
me and I just love how you exemplify that public service
it is such
a noble profession and you do it with grace and
dignity, but dang Juliet, they have our water and now
they're going to get you we need we need more people like
you and as the great Mr. Rogers said there are three ways to
ultimate success. The first way is to be kind. The second
way is to be kind, the third way is to be kind. Beth keep being
kind, keep doing what you love and best of luck in your
next endeavors. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Keith Swear and Mr. Rogers in the
same day. Very impressive. Chair recognizes Alderman Vasquez.
thank
Thank you very much Mr.President. I also rise in
association with this resolution.
Beth you exemplify what it means to be a public servant
when we think about the dedication andthe passion the
tirelessness that it takes one to do this work but then
also to deal with knuckleheads like us on a regular basis
I really want to commend you to to be able to do that with
this council is one thing to be able to do this for
multiple terms under different mayors is quite another
there those of us who in the past term might have found
ourselves on the other side of the table and a lot of these
negotiations, conversations, fights whatever you want to call it
as we're moving into this term there are members here who
expressed concern but they definitely vocalized how
effective you were on the other side
the table and
of the he table and those conversations I think something I
highlighted to them was you can tell because you're someone
who's worked over multiple administrations that is not
about a loyalty for you it's about execution and a skill
set that you bring them out or what the task at hand is and
I think that's something we need way more up here in the
city just watching you kind of work the council floor and talking
to different colleagues and seeing the same level of
respect, the same level of inside conversation as we come
to deliberation and your ability to understand how the
council moves is something that
can't
Can't be duplicated on top of that a little meeting things.
You also happen to be a 40th Warder. I think there's even
more accurately there. And so I'll say I love you to death.
I will
We'll miss you as you head to Joliet as a 40th warder. You're
still going to be in our hearts. Chicago's lost is Joliet's
gain in this scenario, but we do know that there's always
opportunities to come right back. I will also really
commend you for the leadership as you as a whole new team
comes on board with folks who are still understanding what
it means to be IGA and your ability to support those Folks
at that they're more empowered so that you can kind of
leave the reigns to the next person and go off to to build
more greatness in your career.
yeah, we're going to
Yeah, we're going to we're going to miss you tons. We're
going to stay callning you because I think your insights are
invaluable, and I want to thank you so much for your
service and your friendship anything you need from us, you
let us know. Thank you so much. Thank you, the chair
recognizes Alder Ramirez Rosa.
Congratulations on your new role. It has been such a
pleasure to work alongside you the past 8 years and
particularly the past 6 months late night phone calls. It
has been such a pleasure to be your colleague. You are a
consummate professional, you are so hard-working, and you
have such a big heart. So I'm so happy for you. I'm so
happy for Joliet, Joliet, however you say it but again,
congratulations you deserve this, and I know you're going
to do great things for that city. Is it a city? Nah I'm just kidding. But
congratulations and I'm going to miss you. It's been great
to call your colleague and I look forward to continue
calling you a friend.
thank
Thank you for the
Thank you. The chair recognizes Alder Gardner.
Thank you. Mr. President. I will try to keep this brief
Beth. Thank you so much. You're amazing. Thank you for your
service, your dedication, your honesty, more importantly I
speak to you as a friend, a friend to Sam and I and Aunt to
our children. You and Harley are always welcome at our house
again, we love to break it up with you and have a couple
salads and a couple burgers so we look forward to
continuing
our friendship with you and
Our friendship with you and moving.
our friendship with you and we wish you the very best
on your future endeavors. Thank you. Thank you, the chair
recognizes Alderman Curtis. Thank you Mr.President, I too
rise. Beth, it's bittersweet. I really don't want to see you
leave because whether it's been finance or IGA you
always been my my go-to person, but I am glad to know that
you're going to Joliet because as we sell water and we
talked about it to Joliet, I work a very close by with that
and I'll see you on the other side. So thank you so so much
for your dedication to the entire city council. You've been
great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Alderman. The
chair recognizes Alderwoman Lee.
thank
Thank you Mr. President. I too rise in support of this
resolution, Beth I have not known you nearly as long as
you've known a lot of the people in this room, but to know
you at all is to know your heart for this city your
dedication you are.
But textbook definition of a of a civil servant you have
given this city all of your heart that you were great to
me. As soon as I walked in the door is actually you were
transitioning into the position when I arrived after I
walked in the door and you can always be relied upon for an
honest opinion and a straightforward answer about something
whether it was something I wanted to hear not which I
always appreciated about you more than anything. I'm really
grateful for your friendship and I hope to continue that
for very long time and as of my colleagues have said, you
know our loss is Joliet's gain but we're not
saying goodbye forever. Good luck to you and everything
that you do and thank you for everything that you've done
for us.
thank
Thank you. The chair recognizes Alderman Sposato.
Thank you Mr. President. I also support Beth here. It's been
a 12-year pleasure getting to know when you, I consider you
a lifelong friend. I can't imagine what you went through
like my esteemed colleague from the 40th Ward said dealing
with what 50 Knuckleheads all different personalities that
had to be a rough one, but we all appreciate you somehow
someway you found a way to make 50 friends out of this out
of every turn we have I just wish you the best. I'm happy
for you. I hope you're thrilled to be there. I'm just
guessing Joliet's not like Chicago, but I'm sure you'll
find some good places to hang out at so best wishes to you.
The pleasure was all mine. I appreciate you, love you. God
bless you. Thank you, Mr.President.
Thank you. You too.
Thank you. The chair recognizes Alderwoman Dowell.
thank
Thank you. Mr. President. Beth I just want to wish you well
on your next professional leg. I've always admired your
integrity and you know, when you call sometimes when those
IGA calls come in over the years you look at them and you
know, like nope, not today, but you always someone who came
through without being intrusive and I appreciate that in
you and so I wish you well and moving Joliet's needle
forward. Thank you. Thank you very much. The chair
recognizes Alderwoman Hadden.
there
There you go. Working to unmute. Beth, we're going to miss you. We
appreciate you. Thank you for all of your service to the
city. Thank you for continuing your commitment to public
service and just want to say, you know, a plus one to
everything everyone shared you've done so much with your
years in the city, especially over these six months, so
just really what I appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you
The chair recognizes Alderman Burnette.
thank you
Thank you very much Mr.President I'd also like the rise and
support his resolution Beth. Congratulations to you. We're
going to miss you. Of course, I've been around for your
whole career and you haven't changed since you first
started. You still I still see you as that young person of
working for the alderman back in the day and you've been on
many sides of the fence. You've been in the Aldermans
office so you had to deal with constituents but you also
felt the pulse of the alderman with what the alderman had to deal
with but then you went to the administration and you also
saw things from the administrative part. Then you went to IGA
and you saw things from the inter-governmental part and
those things helped you along your way in your journey here
in city council because you new boss and you understood
what we were going through with the community it made it
easier for us to trust you in the know that you understand
what we're going through and I just want to say thank you
Beth you've always
do
come through for whatever we spoke to you about. You been a great
resource for us and also for the administration that you
work for. You going to be a fantastic resource for the city
of Joliet. I think you're going to end up running that town
if you decide to run for Mayor out there out then I want to hurt your
job. Let me know. Okay, God bless you and good luck to you.
Thank you very much. The chair recognizes Alderman O'Shea.
thank
Thank you, Mr.
Thank you. Mr. President. I too rise in support of this
resolution. I can't imagine what it's been like these last
few years dealing with these knuckleheads. I like to think
that I wasn't part of the problem, but
I'm
I know there were many times particularly when you came in
during a lot of turmoil in the previous administration. You
were a calming force and
as my colleague Burnette just pointed out. You
always listened to our point of view, representing our
community, and communicated that and that's that's always a
difficult process but I
I hope that some of the folks that got to work under you
here
identify
Identify the way you carried yourself you are a true
professional, you have integrity. There is an old quote that I
think will be a prize here
It's a
It's nice to be important.
But it's more important to be nice. You were always kind.
we
Wish you all the luck in the future. The city of Joliet is
lucky to got you. Thank you for your service.
Thank you. Is that author unknown?
Okay, this is a tough crowd, it's getting late. Alright, the
chair recognizes Alderman Riley. Thank you, and I'll be
brief, Mr.President, but I'd be remiss if I didn't get
up and join the chorus of voices who are going to miss you
best. I've worked with you since I got here and I can tell
you having run a public affairs operation in a Fortune 50
company, Joliet is really super lucky to get you because you
could easily shift into a Fortune 50 company and run their
public affair shop, but you are someone is dedicated to
Public Service. We are going to have a big hole here at City Hall,
but when you move on and everyone is right Joliet's very
lucky to be getting you, but I know that that's not the the
last place will see you and I know you'll stay in touch,
but you're one of the most talented people I've worked with
a few and I know you're going to do
great things in Joliet, and I love you and miss you. Take
care. Thank you.
are
Are there any other alders that wish to speak to this resolution? The chair
recognizes Alderman Waguespack. Thank you. Mr. President. Beth, I
appreciate the years of advice that you've been giving me
we go back to James Salters office. It was Carl and Dan and
and Jean and you and I just
really appreciate that you
really appreciate the years of
Really appreciate the years of professionalism that you
shared with us and work with us on and so many different
issues not just on the 47th and the 32nd Ward but here in
City Hall as well. You know, I think like many of our city
employees you're right up there. You set the highest bar for
professionalism for a public servant and I think that
often goes unsaid for a lot of our employees but you have
really set the standard and I really appreciate that. I
think as Alderman Vasquez might have said Joliet's gain is
our loss but we will await your return. Thank you. Mr.
President.
Thank you.
Clerk Valencia to speak. Hi Beth. I just wanted to join the chorus
and singing your praises. I had a front-row seat to see
what you were you started in your career. And the things
you had to overcome that a lot of us women and politics
have to overcome our aid or competence being mansplained
people not listening to us and I bet you're very surprised
by all the athletes get for saying to you when you're
leaving not when you're trying to vote on, but you are a
kind soul that never flashes your title. You don't lead
with I'm from the fifth floor you have to listen to me and
make sure that power and ego are out of it, which we need a
lot more and then you
don't remember your friends that you work
I don't remember your friend that you worked with even if
they're not on the 5th floor any longer, you still take
their calls. You still help navigate crises and you are
very calm and the way that you handle it. So I just wanted
to wish you the best and know that you're so well-loved and
I hope that you'll still take our phone calls when we're
strategizing through chaos, and all of these new times were
in and the political landscape and I hope you also
have a moment to breathe, exhale, find your joy and hobbies
and life, if there are such a thing and we love you.
Thank you. Are there any other alders that wish to speak?
Very well. Congratulations Beth thank you for your
leadership in your incredible dedication to the people of
Chicago your strengthen your guidance during this
transition or these last six months have been well-received
the honor that you are receiving today is deserved and
thank you again. We wish you the best. We look forward to
collaborating in every possible way.
in
In the world that you have and now you have the same 50
Alders and the 50th and the 5th floor to help work through
that collaborative approach that we know you throughout all
of our villages, towns, cities. And of course the greatest
freaking city in the world the city of Chicago. So here's
to Beth
alder
Alderwoman Harris on your motion. Mr. President. I could
just take one more opportunity just to acknowledge the Life
and legacy of Sharon Munson our clerk. Our
tribute to her as in this and just want to say thank you to
the outpouring on behalf of the family for sharing Munson
and everybody that worked with her to know her was to love
her and finally often imitated but never duplicated that is
sharing. And so I hope that everybody will be able to join
have homecoming services on Saturday if you have time to
stop through just to let her daughter's know the impact
that she had on all of our lives with that Mr. President
I move that the agree calendar be approved in the Omnibus
Along with the motion for approval and a passage of the
resolution honoring
Beth
along with
Along with the approval of the resolution honoring Beth
Very well. Hearint no objections, so ordered. For new business, do we have
any?
the
The clerk will call the wards beginning with the first
Ward.
zoning
Zoning amendments referred to the committee on zoning
landmarks and building standards traffic regulations
traffic control signs in traffic signs referred to the
committee on pedestrian traffic safety grants a privilege
on the public way referred to the committee on
transportation and public way exemptions from physical
barrier requirements from commercial driveway ally access
the parking facilities referring to the committee on the
transportation and public way Alderman Lopez has a proposed
ordinance amending Municipal Code section 2-92-644
establishing city council procedures to determine need for
expedited procurement process to address threat to Public
Health referred to the committee on contracting and oversight.
two
Two committees have been called. The item is going to rules.
Alderman Rodriguez has a proposed ordinance during the
street as a nation to honor to honor Leah Herrera way
referred to the committee on Transportation. Alderman Rodriguez
has an ordinance to transfer files within committee on
workforce and development for budget year 2023 referred to
the committee on budget. Alderman Tabares has a proposed
ordinance for honorary street designation as honorary
police officer Andreas and Vasquez
lasso
Lasso Road referred to the committee on Transportation.
Alderwoman Fuentes has a proposed ordinance for approval of a plaque of encontro square
resubdivision referred to the committee on Transportation
Alderman Taliaferro has a proposed ordinance to amendment of
vacation of public allys and areas bounded by West George
Street, West Wolfram Street, North Nordica Avenue, and North
Fair Avenue to release developer from usage restrictions
referred to the committee on Transportation. Alderman
cruise and Aldermen LaSpata
has a proposed
resolution calling for hearings on Chicago cycling
strategy for plans to create community-based cycling
systems refer to the committee on traffic. Alderman
waguespack has proposed ordinance for issuance.
for
Permits and sign boards at 2850 North Ashland referred to
zoning.
Alderman Mitts has a resolution reaffirming
the city council to work together in a collegial manner
referred to the committee on rules. Alderman Napolitano
has a proposed ordinance amending Municipal Code chapter 14
14X-12 through 14A-3 regarding policies and
restrict and registration of vacant or abandoned commercial
storefront referred to the committee on zoning.
your
Your honor that is all for new business. Thank you very much
for the approval of the journal chair recognizes Alderman
Mitchell. Mr.President, I am not aware of any corrections to
the journals from the November 2nd, 2023 special meeting or
the November 7th, 2023 regular meeting and move that it be
approved. Hearing no objections, so ordered. Any unfinished business, I believe we
did dispose-all unfinished business at the beginning of the
meeting. So for miscellaneous business chair recognizes
Alderman Mitchell, Mr.President except for the ordinance and
the date and time of the next meeting I'm not aware of any
any miscellaneous business. Thank you for the date and time
of the next meeting chair recognizes Alderman Mitchell. I've
handed up an ordinance to the clerk setting the date and
time of the next meeting. Thank you very much, clerk may
you please read the ordinance. Being ordained by the city of
City Counil City of Chicago Section 1 the next regular meeting in the city
council to Chicago shall be held on Wednesday, December
13th, 2023 beginning at 10 a.m. in the council chamber on
the second
On the second floor on City Hall 121 North LaSalle Street,
Chicago, Illinois second section to the ordinance shall
take an effect and be enforced from after passage
Gregory Mitchell's Alderman 7th Ward. The chair recognizes Alderman
Mitchell. I move passage in the omnibus. Hearing no objections, so ordered.
For the Omnibus, chair recognizes Alderman Mitchell. I move that
matters in the Omnibus be passed by the first most favorable
roll call vote by the committee on finance in the
associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.
Hearing no objections
so ordered automation. Alderman Mitchell on a motion to adjourn
Mr.President there being no further business with this body I
move that we adjourn. Hearing no objections, so ordered. The meeting is adjourned.