Good morning. I am CH person Rodriguez Sanchez it is.
Good morning. I am CH person Rodriguez Sanchez it is um
11:09 on februari 13 2024 and this meeting of the Chicago
city council committee on health and human Arielle.
city council committee on health and human relations will
now come to order.
Um, we are discussing the following items the approval of
rule 45 report from our meeting on the December 18.
rule 45 report from our meeting on the December 18th of
2023 and introduction to Chicago Department of Public
Health commissioner.
Health commissioner Dr. E.
Uh, we will now call.
Uh, we will now call the role to establish quorum.
um Alderman Robinson
not present other mananci
uh Vice chair Ramirez
uh
Elder woman
alderwoman Gutierrez
I saw her a little bit ago.
chairwoman ottoman Robinson is present my apologies.
Oh, we we're not there yet Alderman rabbit.
Oh, we we're not there yet Alderman Raven, but we will get
to you. I promise you.
to you. I promise you I'm sorry alderman.
to you. I promise you. Um, sorry other malope.
other woman called man not present, uh trim
other woman called man not present, uh tremendous
uh Allure woman Fuentes not
Uh Allure woman Fuentes not present.
Um alderman
um Alderman Rosa
not Preston
alderwoman Cruise
um Elder woman Mana hoppenworth
chairwoman Haden
um and chairwoman Rodriguez Sanchez
I have a total of 7 members.
I have a total of 7 members present we are um at quorum.
Oh.
all the woman
Alderwoman Gutierrez is here. We have 8 members present.
And oh, I'm so sorry.
mother Lawson
Alderman Lawson is present so we're at 9 members.
Um, and we have a quorum are there any non-members that
would like to be recognized?
Can I get?
Can I get a motion to approve the remote participation?
Elder woman Harris Alderman Robin?
Elder woman Harris Alderman Robinson alderwoman Haden and
alderman?
Alderman Carlos Rosa, uh citing.
Alderman Carlos Rosa, uh citing rule 59.
so moved by Elder person Ramirez
uh all those in favor signify by saying I
all those supposed to say nay
in the beginning
in the opinion of the chair the eyes have it.
Welcome, uh colleagues.
Um, we will begin our meeting with time for public comment.
this period is limited to 30 minutes and each speaker is
limited.
limited to 3 minutes.
Um, we have 3 registered speakers, uh to speak to today.
Um, and we are going to start with Jessica.
Um, and we are going to start with Jessica Jackson.
Good morning. Good morning.
so
a couple of things since this is
the committee on health and human relations and I want to
focus on the issue of human relations.
So this morning we went to court.
for George Blake
for George, Blakemore
and bask
And Vasquez ultimate Vasquez has said that he was going to
show up.
And that he was sorry. He was going to apologize for what
he had done.
he had done by violating.
George's rights to speak that day well
George's rights to speak that day. Well, of course, he
didn't show up. So just for the record.
that shot
That shot of foot that that's um, shoot.
That shot of foot that that's um shoots.
you in the foot of
You in the foot of the black brown Coalition thing clearly?
that's not happening.
and then for you miss chairperson, it's
And then for you miss chairperson, it's my understanding
could be just a rumor. I don't know.
that when that whole situation with Rosa happened when he
cheated the whole city out there opportunity to vote.
on the sanctuary city is
on the sanctuary City issue
um, it's rumored that you said that if the black CAU
Um, it's rumored that you said that if the black caucus
stood up against Rosa you would file.
stood up against Rosa you would file a sexual harassment
charge on some of the uh, ultimate so if that
charge on some of the uh, ultimate. So if that happened you
should have made that claim.
should have made that claim in a private court and not hold
the city hosts.
the city hostage about that.
again, there goes the black brown Coalition, right and then
then this all the men.
This gentleman right here when it was the big.
this gentleman right here when it was the big Palestinian
thing that day and he got up and he gave his comments and
he clearly said that he felt that
the communities needed to be protected.
He said that the Jewish Community needed to be.
He said that the Jewish Community needed to be protected
and the Palestinians need to be protect.
and the Palestinians need to be protected. And then he said
and the Latino Community needs to be protected.
and the Latino Community needs to be protected and the
Asian Community needs to be protected.
Asian Community needs to be protected, but he didn't say
that the black community needed to be protect.
that the black community needed to be protected. So I guess
this no Coalition there either because clearly we need
protection and for
To just blatantly leave us out of that group.
To just blatantly leave us out of that group, which he did
run the tape.
run the tape
because you did.
Know it's not a you did.
know it's not a you did because I was sitting right there
and I heard you it's not a
and I know you want to our issues.
and I know you want to our issues you all want to.
our issues, but
Our issues, but you said it and you need to be accountable
for that?
Because we need protection too.
Rosa needs to get out of office.
for suppressing the vote
and if you want to work on human Arielle
and if you want to work on human relations include all
human beings.
Thank you for your comments. Uh next I have George
Blackmore.
Health is wealth.
now
our health department
is now some of these resources we be going to these
illegals.
undocumented new arrivals refugees
You know money.
Who's gonna?
Receive Health Care.
When you have a homeless black people.
when you have a homeless black people people with mental
and physical health problem.
so
So I challenge you you you you young.
so I challenge you you you you young lady coming into uh
this dinner snake.
with this political
With this political system here.
And uh what?
and uh what motivates you uh to
And uh what motivates you uh to or I'm sure you going to
answer this question. What motivates you but remember 1
thing you don't work.
for for the political hat
You work for the people of the city of Chicago?
That's to you I don't care.
That's to you I don't care who appoints you.
if Brandon Johnson appointed you and the and they will
approve your appointment. You don't work for them.
Their name is not on.
Their name is not on your paycheck you are now coming in.
Their name is not on your paycheck. You are now coming in
at a public service.
And we black people.
And we black people are.
public
Public people here. We pay taxes here.
And the idea that a illegal group can come.
And the idea that a illegal group can come here and and you
have to divide these resour.
have to divide these Resources with them. This is this is
these politicians are are making black people.
these politicians are are making black people wake up.
these
These they wake up and see how they are being.
These they wake up and see how they are being treated and
how we have been.
how we have been mistreated.
mistreated so God sent the illegal IMM
Mistreated so God sent the illegal immigrants from
Venezuela to to wake.
Venezuela to to wake up the black people here.
to wake
To wake us up.
And that's why we gonna try.
And that's why we're going to try to change our political.
political system all these people. That's right. Here are
all Democrats.
all of them are Democrats
so perhaps
So perhaps we black people have to go to another.
So perhaps we black people have to go to another party, uh
on our way to Freedom Lane.
So it's very important that you see that the the speakers
look how.
look how empty these seats.
look, that's the you know why they empty because the
Democrats don't want the people here.
They don't want us here to speak out.
So young lady do not get in.
So young lady do not get involved with these political
snakes this
snakes. This is a den you coming in too a den.
snakes. This is a den you coming in too a den of snakes.
the black ones
The black ones the white ones they hid stand.
Thank you for your comments Mr. Black.
Thank you for your comments, Mr. Blakemore. Uh
our next speaker
Our next speaker is Natasha Gray.
Good.
Good morning. I'm going to take my time to uh
say that um
I would like to.
I would like to thank I'm just down coming in to
I would like to thank I'm just now coming into uh being
interested to the political Arena.
interested to the political Arena and I've always known
that it has not been perfect.
that it has not been perfect anytime. You're trying to
please.
please, uh, multitude of people everybody's not going to be
satisfied, but I'm going to say
Okay.
I don't choose certain positions for a reason. Okay, even
on the job because if I cannot handle it.
I play in my ass. I'll stay in my place. Okay?
if you all
If you all are not willing.
To fulfill your duties to the people as you should.
To fulfill your duties to the people as you should I don't
care what what person over your head.
care what what person over your head is possibly putting
pressure on you making threats. You should already come
into your your position understand.
into your your position understanding that you're going to
have pressure on you. Okay?
have pressure on you. Okay, and you may have to do
something that may put yourself.
something that may put yourself at risk, maybe even your
family at risk or your reputation at risk, but if you're
not willing to accept those harsh realities, you should not
be in the position that you're in okay, making decisions
over people's lives.
over people's lives and I don't like the rhetoric that's
going on around here.
going on around here the last few meetings I've had for the
subject.
That uh that uh surrounded around immigration.
That uh that uh surrounded around immigration everything 1
Thing the world could not deny. Is that the black
people we are a loving people, okay.
every immigrant that has come to
Every immigrant that has come to America.
to this day forth
To this day forth has been welcome into our community.
You bring them in our community because we do not
discriminate against them.
discriminate against them unlike you know, who okay.
discriminate against them unlike you know, who okay, so I
want those of you that are descendants.
want those of you that are descendants of immigrants either
if you came here illegally or legally.
if you came here illegally or legally to not forget that
okay and do not forget that.
okay and do not forget that our people came here not
because we wanted to not because we were running away from
being poor not because we were running away from violence.
We were brought here forcefully, so me and my people for
Generations have been born and bred and and raised on this
land, okay.
So if you want to see here.
so if you want to sit here and act all smart, because it's
a few faces I've seen before I I knew before I even got
here and I'm highly Des.
here and I'm highly Des offended just by the looks on some
of you guys.
of you guys faces the absolute disrespect of this thing you
have for us just because we may have a violence in our
communities and stuff a lot of us are very very
people. Okay?
and the way you all conduct these meetings I seek to
challenge the way you all conduct, uh business, okay.
because the the language in the rule book is 2 gray area it
It allows you all to have a discriminatory practices.
It allows you all to have a discriminatory practices on
when uh, how you allow us to get up.
when uh, how you allow us to get up here and speak and who
you choose to speak and how long all of that should not be
a matter of you know, whenever you feel like, you know, it
should be a standard. This is business your head on in the
lives of thousands of people, okay?
Thank you for your comments. Um there be no further
speakers. Um, we conclude the public comment period uh,
thank you to all of our speakers.
I would like to know that the committee received 4 recent
comments from the public that were sent out the committee
members via email.
Our first item of business is the app.
Our first item of business is the approval of rule 45
report from our December meeting. Can I get a motion to
approve the December 2023 rule 45 report?
other women Gutierrez, so
other women Gutierrez so moves all those in favor signify
by saying I
opposed name in the opinion of the chairs the eyes have it.
Uh, we will now move on to the next item today, which is
the introduction of the Chicago Department of Public Health
commissioner, Dr. Ollie Sun.
commissioner, Dr. Ollie sunbow EIG.
Um, Dr. EA comes to us after previously being the managing.
directors of programs at the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation.
and has previously served as the assistant commissioner for
the New York.
the New York City Department of Health and mental hygiene.
Dr. E. If you could please introduce yourself
Good morning.
Chairwoman Rodriguez Sanchez. Good morning.
Chairwoman Rodriguez Sanchez. Good morning, Vice chair
Ramirez.
Ramirez older man. Older women.
my name is Olu symbol e
my name is
I am a public health.
I am a public health doctor.
and I come to
And I come to Chicago with 20.
And I come to Chicago with 20 years.
of Health Care
and public health leadership and administration
I have had the privilege to lead programs.
I have had the privilege to lead programs lead
organizations. Um
organizations, um at the county or local level.
at the national level and at
At the national level and at International level.
I have worked at the intersection of Health Care and
Health.
I am excited about the opportunity.
To serve as the commission.
to serve as the commissioner of Chicago Department of Public
Health
It is febuary.
It is Black History Month.
and I
And I sit here before you today as the first.
And I sit here before you today as the first black woman.
to occup
To occupy this sit in a permanent role.
after 200 years of this institution
I am excited about partnering.
I am excited about partnering with the community.
in Chicago
I come with a lot of experience and I've done different.
things in different places.
but today
But today I want to share with you.
What I have been.
What I have been doing in the last few weeks that I've been
here.
because the key question
Because the key question to me right now is what works in
Chicago.
It is 1 thing to serve in New York.
It is 1 thing to serve in New York or to serve in Atlanta
or to work in 23.
or to work in 23 different other states or 30 other
countries, but this is Chicago.
This is the best city.
This is the best city in the world. Like we like to say.
so I have
So I have spent my time paying attention.
in December, I had the opportunity to participate in
In December, I had the opportunity to participate in the
blue Christmas event.
on the west side
it was a collaboration with
It was a collaboration with the faith community and many
other partners who?
other partners who have been working to respond to the
opioid crisis.
In that meeting I had the opportunity.
in that meeting I had the opportunity to listen to the
families that had lost loved ones from the opioid crisis.
I have also visited.
I have also visited with faith leaders in the Southside.
in the first self because in the black community.
The faith community is so important.
So that is where I went.
So that is where I went to listen to people.
We brought.
We brought services.
to the faith
To the faith community and I took that opportunity to ask.
questions and to listen.
because like
Because like Mr. Blakemore said I am a public servant I am
here.
here to serve and that starts with listening.
I have also spent time.
I have also spent time with the lgbtq community
participating in.
participating in the caucus learning about the successes of
our collab.
our collaboration.
And the hopes and admin.
And the hopes and aspirations of the community.
I introduced myself to Eno unidos.
again to listen and to learn
while we work towards our first report on the state of
Latino.
Latino health. I wanted to listen.
I have spent time understanding.
I have spent time understanding the work of the mayor's
office of people with disabilities.
office of people with disabilities and now we're working to
bring them to the Chicago Department of Public Health. So
that we can be trained on inclusive hiring.
that we can be trained on inclusive hiring practices.
I have spent.
I have spent time with the Immigrant and Refugee community.
I visited with Swedish Hospital recent.
I visited with Swedish Hospital recently.
in Lincoln Square they serve
In Lincoln Square, they serve a unique community of
refugees from all over the world.
refugees from all over the world learning how they adapt
their services to better meet the needs of the community.
listening and understanding is
Listening and understanding is where I have started my
work.
but
But I also understand the importance of the work.
But I also understand the importance of the workforce in
meeting the desires and the needs of the community.
So I have also paid attention there.
the Chicago Department of Public Health
Had a Workforce of almost.
had a Workforce of almost 2,000 about 10 years ago.
in 2019, we were down to less than
In 2019. We were down to less than 600.
There is a national public.
There is a national public health Workforce crisis.
People are burnt out.
Coid has taken a toll.
on the staff morale
we are facing.
We are facing a funding cliff.
We have many Conte.
We have many contractors almost 700 contractors that work
with us doing.
with us do in Koh that we will not be able to renew their
contract.
We have numerous vacancies. So I have spent time trying to
pay.
pay attention to the needs of our employees.
pay attention to the needs of our employees the Mental
Health crisis that is rampant in the city is also impacting
our Workforce. We cannot give what we do not have.
so the employee
So the employee health has also been an area where I have
paid attention.
partnership and collaboration has been the highlight of my
Partnership and collaboration has been the highlight of my
career.
and I have also
And I have also spent time understanding who are the
partners.
What have we learned in Chicago that?
What have we learned in Chicago? That works?
There are several Co
There are several coalitions of community Advocates that I
have met with and I will continue to meet with
I have reached out to the elders to schedule.
I have reached out to the elders to schedule 1-on-1 so that
I can better understand the needs of your constituents.
and your Wards so that we can
And your Wards so that we can serve you better?
we
We have safety net providers who are the most.
We have safety net providers who are the most in tune with
the values that we espouse for.
the values that we espouse for no barrier Access to Health
Care.
So understanding what works and what the barriers are.
another area we have spent time.
I share all of this with you.
I share all of this with you so that
you see my values.
spending
Spending time with the community and listening and paying.
Spending time with the community and listening and paying
attention.
So my Approach
So my approach to this work.
Is an approach that?
Is an approach that will Center people and places.
We know the years of inequities. We know the years the
structural racism. We see the gaps in health outcomes
across.
across board.
but we also know that
But we also know that we cannot dig ourselves out of this
hole by address.
hole by addressing 1 disease at a time.
if it is not coid, it is HIV if
If it is not coid, it is HIV. If it is not HIV. It is
mental health if it is not.
mental health if it is not mental health. It is opioid
crisis. So we've been playing wacamole in public health. It
is now time to Center people and places because the people
and the places that have the most impacted continue to be
the most impacted.
So I bring to you.
So I bring to you my experience in racial Justice and Health
Equity.
Equity to bring to the center those that have been in.
in the margins.
and that is the approach that I
And that is the approach that I will be using in my role.
There are many needs what I've heard from.
There are many needs what I've heard from listening is that
there are many needs.
and when I take
And when I take stock of the resources that we have.
I realized that we cannot meet all of those needs on our
own.
Cdph has 1 Institution.
Cdph has 1 institution cannot fully address the health
issues.
issues of Chicagoans.
So I also bring to you an asset based approach to my work.
For example as we respond.
For example as we respond to the new arrivals.
the state has
The state has been helping we resettlement and out
migration. The city has been helping with shelter
operations. The county has been helping with health care.
These are the kinds of collaborations that are necessary
for us to succeed in public health.
on Saturday I met with an organization that
On Saturday. I met with an organization that has received
over a hundred million dollars from the state of Illinois
to help increase health care access in the South Side. They
are working to bring on.
are working to bring on 100 providers Primary Care
Providers to the South side and
Providers to the Southside and 50 special to the south
side.
I also know that there's the Illinois Association.
I also know that there's the Illinois Association of free
and charitable clinics and have over 16.
and charitable clinics and have over 16 clinics in the city
of Chicago.
the county
The county also has free and safety net clinics. How can we
collaborate cdph has 5 clinics and SDI clinics and IMM?
Immunization Clinics. We want to serve 2.7 million
Chicago's we cannot do it alone. So this is the asset based
lens that I bring to the work. Where are there already
resources and services and how can we collaborate and join?
our forces?
I also bring to you my desire to go be.
I also bring to you my desire to go beyond crisis
management to Crisis Prevention.
We have a lot of work to do in increasing access to
We have a lot of work to do in increasing Access to Health
Care.
but
But if diabetes is the pre.
But if diabetes is the precursor to premature mortality.
the precursor to diabetes
The precursor to diabetes is obesity.
lifestyle issues
Lifestyle issues and the precursor to that is the food.
access to physical activity.
So when we have programs like play Streets.
that is going to be
in 180 streets
in Chicago over summer
This will be an opportunity for.
This will be an opportunity for children during summer to
engage in.
engage in physical activity and start Inc.
engage in physical activity and start inculcating healthy
habits because we know that there is not as much.
habits because we know that there is not as much time in
school to be physically active.
These are some programs that begin to take us.
These are some programs that begin to take us higher
Upstream.
We have family connections initiative. That's not waiting.
for mothers to be sick.
and waiting
And waiting for mothers to die before we respond. This is
an initiative that when a a parent has a baby they are.
offered a home visit within 3 weeks.
of delivery
this programs take Services into the home of Chicago and
especially in the south side and the in the west side to
assess.
assess the conditions of the home.
to provide education and support and connect people to
resources long before there is a problem.
These are the areas.
These are the areas we want to invest more in Upstream
prevent.
preventive approaches.
2 help support the health of Chicagoans while we continue
to help increase access to services.
We have a lot of work.
We have a lot of work to do to ensure that our work is
equitable.
And she Chicago Department of Public Health now.
And she Chicago Department of Public Health now has a chief
racial Equity officer. That is helping.
racial Equity officer that is helping to bring that lens
into everything. We do including our Contracting our hiring
our promotion.
And all the services that we do making.
And all the services that we do making sure we are centering
people and places.
people and places that are the most impacted.
We want to redefine.
We want to redefine success.
We want to pay attention.
We want to pay attention to the things that matter.
but
But we cannot do it alone.
and I know in
And I know in all of my previous roles that 1 of the key
ingredient.
ingredients to success is the political will
and that is why I am excited to be a part.
and that is why I am excited to be a part of the change
movement that is happening in Chicago.
I am excited that we have a health and human services
committee that has priorit.
committee that has prioritized health.
and that have been champions of
And that have been champions of change and I am excited
that I'm working Within.
that I'm working within an Administration where Health
Equity and social justice is a priority.
So this is who I am.
by demonstrating what I have already started paying
attention to and my hope is that we will continue.
attention to and my hope is that we will continue to work
together to make Chicago.
healthier
saf
and more resilient than ever before.
as the first black woman in this role I am
attention.
thank you so much commissioner e
Thank you so much commissioner eay.
we are so um glad to have you here in my conversations with
you I have
you. I have learned a lot about your background and the
vision.
vision that you have brought to this position.
Um, I am glad that we are on the same page.
Um, I am glad that we are on the same page about working,
uh on Mental Health.
uh on Mental Health, um and and your vision to expand uh
services.
um
I know that you came into this position.
I know that you came into this position after a rigorous
process and National.
process and National search. You were the consensus
candidate. Um that was selected by a panel of
candidate, um that was selected by a panel of um of experts
and and community.
and and Community, uh, Representatives. Um, so
and and Community, uh Representatives. Um, so I I am I'm
very happy that you're here. I'm very happy to have the
first black woman Commissioner of Public Health in Chicago,
and now we're going to open uh space for questions from the
committee.
committee, um, and non committee members, uh, we're going
to start with Alderman Lopez, uh, if you have questions,
please raise raise your hands so we can
Go ahead. Thank you chairman and good morning.
Go ahead. Thank you chairman and good morning members of
the committee. I'm over here. Thank you. Um quick question.
When will the confirmation take place?
um
Um Alderman, I thank you for that question. Um, my
understanding is that will be a question for the mayor's
office. Uh, well actually, it's a question for the
committee chairman. Yeah. I'm I'm happy to respond in your
email. Um, you have uh communication that we sent with the
current code. Um,
current code, um for the appointment of the commissioner it
was changed, uh last term
it was changed, uh last term on the mayor Lori Lightfoot
the council voted to change the code and it was amended and
it is now a mayoral appointment but for more
it is now a mayoral appointment, but for more rigorous
explanation, I have refilling Santos.
explanation I have right feeling Santos here that can talk
about the code.
given the
Given the gesture. I'm gathering that you're looking for a
little bit more.
little bit more is an answer Lopez.
Uh
to the
It's the best of my knowledge the commissioner of Public
Health of the city of Chicago.
Health of the city of Chicago has never required
confirmation.
confirmation by the city council.
So what is the language change that says that we don't have?
to because you said we've never had to and the chairman.
just said that we changed it so we don't have to so which
is which is
on in
On in 2021 the uh C.
on in 2021 the uh council did amend the code section how
However neither before 2021
However, neither before 2021, uh nor after uh was
However, neither before 2021, uh nor after uh, was there a
requirement for confirmation?
so if I'm understanding this correctly, so I'm assuming the
section of the code that you're referring to is 2-12-1 0
which states?
the executive department for Public Health
The executive department for public health blah blah blah
and at the very end says Shelby appointed by the mayor.
and at the very end says Shelby appointed by the mayor,
correct? Yes.
in the same Municipal Code that deals with the mayor
2-4-0 1 0 the mayor shall appoint buying.
2-4-0 1 0 the mayor shall appoint buying with advice and
consent of the city council all officers of the city whose
appointment is not otherwise provided by the law.
appointment is not otherwise provided by the laws of this
state or provisions of this code. So, is there a part that
I'm missing from the municipal code that says we do not
have to give our consent to this appointment.
And where is it?
well
this section you you you correctly read the 2 sections.
this section you you you correctly read the 2 sections, uh,
and I'm basing that on memory. Um, but I did review it this
morning. Um,
The code is specific.
The code is specific when it asks for.
The code is specific when it asks for confirmation of um.
all appointment
All appointments by the mayor require the consent of the
city council.
Doctor has the commission.
Doctor has the commissioner of Public Health is mayoral
appointment.
If these are the municipal.
If these are the municipal codes of the city of Chicago,
then it would stand.
then it would stand to reason that a vote is required
because an appointment.
because an appointment is required by the mayor.
And under his authority.
And under his authority as mayor to make that appointment
in the municipal.
in the municipal code. It clearly states that we as a body.
must give our consent.
So unless there's a part that says.
So unless there's a part that says the CD cdph commissioner
is exempt.
is exempt from city council approval which I did not find.
What part are you guys?
what part are you guys reading so that I may educate myself
and the public can be educated as to how we are.
and the public can be educated as to how we are not allowed
as a city council.
to vote on a mayoral appointment
I will agree.
I will agree with you that there's nothing in the code that
says that.
says that the council shall not confirm and as we both
know.
uh there have been
so then the reading that says buy and with ADD
so then the reading that says buy and with advice and
consent of the city council is the law of the land.
still stands, correct for mayoral appointments
There as as you saw there is an exception Within.
sentence.
where
all officers of the city whose appointment is not otherwise
provided by the laws of this state which were not talking.
about.
Or provisions of this code. So which provision?
Or provisions of this code. So which provision of the code
are you referring to? That exempts us from having to vote
on a mayoral appointment?
what I'm saying, is that this statement that
The commissioner shall be appointed.
the commissioner shall be appointed by the by the mayor
without more.
as we for example if you look at the appointment for
As we for example if you look at the appointment for
commissioner, I believe of Transportation Commission.
commissioner, I believe of Transportation Commissioner of
student sanitation, certainly Commissioner of environment.
student sanitation, certainly Commissioner of environment,
which is the chief off.
which is the chief officer. They all say that uh with
confirmation of the or
with the advice and consent
With the advice and consent of the council I believe is the
is the correct terminology.
is the correct terminology, um and each of those and here
it is absent.
but under the mayor's Authority in the
But under the mayor's Authority in the municipal code.
Which is before?
Which is before all departments.
Is quite literally the second item?
Is quite literally the second item in the municipal code
under his authority as mayor.
under his authority as mayor and this is true whether it is
Brandon Johnson, Lori Lightfoot.
Brandon Johnson, Lori Lightfoot Rahm Emanuel, whomever.
that the
That the mayor's appointments have to be.
Under the consent the advice and consent of the city.
Under the consent the advice and consent of the city
council.
every position where it says after which that the mayor
gets to appoint someone
so, how is it we could appoint.
so, how is it we could appoint members to
An SSA board we could appoint members to the human Arielle.
relationship commission. We could appoint members to every
department but all of a sudden the cdph commissioner is
exempt.
because the law says
Because the law says again.
the mayor's shallow Point by and with the advice and
consent of the city council.
unless otherwise
Unless otherwise stated in the code.
There's nothing in the code that says.
This appointment is exempt.
from Alder manic
consent
so
So when is the confirmation because until?
So when is the confirmation because until the doctors
confirmed? She is only acting Commission.
confirmed? She is only acting commissioner.
Because the city council has not confirmed her.
Her predecessor was confirmed. Everyone has been confirmed.
every
Every department is confirmed whenever there's a vacancy
and appointment by.
and appointment by this Administration regardless who it
is.
So the question again is when are we going to have that
which is the right of a legislative body and the law of the
city?
city of Chicago?
Well, according to the understand.
Well, according to the understanding that we have of the
municipal code.
municipal code confirmation is not required so there.
municipal code confirmation is not required. So there is no
scheduled. Um
scheduled, um meeting for confirmation of the commissioner.
and chairman. Can you do me a favor and cite the email that
you're referring to because I'm trying to pull it up.
specifically where it says the municipal code does not
apply the representative of the Department of Law has
already answered your question Alderman. Um, I would like
to move on with questions from the rest of the committee.
Well, I I have questions for the
for the would you like to ask another question?
for the would you like to ask another question because I I
have questions but there's a procedural matter here.
chairman and the fact that well, but this
chairman and the fact that well, but the the the agenda
item is an introductory meeting. It is not a confirmation.
item is an introductory meeting. It is not a confirmation,
um meeting and it is not about anything else. This is a
meeting for the commissioner of the Department of Health to
be able to introduce herself.
yourself to our colleagues and for our colleagues to ask
questions about her vision, uh her work and that's what we
are trying to do. That's what this uh is about there is an
agenda that says that no vote will be taken in.
agenda that says that no vote will be taken in this um in
this in this meeting. So I would appreciate if we could
move on so that we can ask the commissioner the questions
that uh have to do with her role.
Appointments are part of her role. Just so you know.
But moving on shall we?
Thank you.
Commissioner. Good morning.
thank you for being here today and congratulations on your
Thank you for being here today and congratulations on your
appointment.
Thank you.
Thank you in this role a couple things. I just want to.
Thank you in this role a couple things. I just want to uh
touch base on quickly before I get to.
Some of the question some of the questions and comments. I
have I do want to thank uh members of your team.
have I do want to thank uh members of your team with
regards to play Streets.
And being very adept.
and being very Adept and working with us to try and
issues when organizations and partners.
issues when organizations and partners the assets that
you're referring to have failed.
you're referring to have failed communities because I don't
think that anybody should be left out in the cold simply.
because of communities inability.
to
To work on what we've asked them to do. So I want to thank
Alonso and people in the play Street who help with play.
Streets for getting the job done particularly for the
gauge.
Park Community.
um
There are a number of topics that I want to talk about, uh
brief.
briefly. Um, but I noticed that you mentioned South and
West Side numerous times. Um,
and when we talk about
diversity when we talk about inclusion and we talk about
those 2 neighborhoods in particular, you know, I understand
the lack.
the lack of uh investment and lack of
the lack of uh, investment and lack of uh in the specific
disinvestment on the south side and having repres.
disinvestment on the south side and having represented West
Anglewood for nearly a decade.
Um, but I also want to make sure that in your ALEKS.
Um, but I also want to make sure that in your Lexicon
you're remembering that 1 third of the city's.
you're remembering that 1 third of the city's Latino.
And that they are also not being.
And that they are also not being forgotten.
uh, or
left out of the conversations when we talk about where
we're putting our dollars where we're investing in issues
where we're dealing with.
where we're dealing with, uh, whether it's uh, some of the
things that are univers,
things that are Universal to both communities, but I want
to make sure that they are not forgotten.
to make sure that they are not forgotten because oftentimes
as we've seen under previous administr.
as we've seen under previous administrations and beginning
to see under this 1 as well, you know, we we work in silos
that only focus on 2 areas while excluding everybody else,
so I want to make sure that that's on your
So I want to make sure that that's on your agenda and in
your world view.
We talk about HIV and SDI.
We talk about HIV and STI prevention. I heard you reference
that. Um
lgbtq Healthcare, um and
Lgbtq Healthcare, um and condom distribution are things
that have gone by the wayside by this department.
that have gone by the wayside by this department, um in
part because of some of that asset based serving that we've
seen where we Farm out that work to some of our partners
who just simply do not provide the work that we need where
instead of helping for example provide free condoms.
angle would we rely on Howard Brown Health Center?
or UIC
who?
Who in their roles do not go far enough to ensure that
we're getting?
we're getting condoms into the hands of individuals who
need them?
need them most?
What are we going to do in terms of?
What are we going to do in terms of metric based analysis
to ensure?
to ensure that when you are creating this asset based?
service and collaboration that we're actually helping the
people in those communities that we're talking about and
not simply just giving grants to our friends and friendly
organizations.
organizations who are not actually delivering for the
people in those communities that you're talking about.
Thank you. Alderman.
and
the lens of Health Equity
and social justice that you have described.
and social justice that you have described is a shared lens
it.
lens. It is important that we pay attention.
to all people
and that is my commitment.
Um
We are in the process right now.
We are in the process right now of developing the state of
Latino.
Latino health.
to be ready for the Hispanic Heritage Month later this
year.
So we want to pay.
So we want to pay attention and see what are the issues
that disproportionately impact the Latino.
that disproportionately impact the Latino community.
in selection of Partners CD
in selection of Partners cdph
has a multi-level process.
Um, I also mentioned that we now have a chief racial Equity
officer.
officer and as the executive team of CD.
officer and as the executive team of cdph is also involved
in reviewing.
in reviewing contracts as is.
um
Um other departments the department of contracts and
procurement.
procurements.
so
if there has been
um inequity in this distribution of funds, uh
we
We will look at that closely.
and see what
And see what can be different to the best of my knowledge.
Um, I believe that the process of partner selection is a
multi-stage process that involves several different people
in making those decisions.
I do know that we have some.
I do know that we have some constraints in terms of partn.
partnership.
For instance. We know that small organiz.
For instance. We know that small organizations have a
harder time because of how long our processes take.
um and how
Um and how long it takes for invoices to be processed?
Um and how long it takes for invoices to be processed so
they're not able to wait for many months.
they're not able to wait for many months to get paid. Those
are some of the issues that have been raised.
are some of the issues that have been raised and that we're
working on.
and
And I also know that because cdph most.
And I also know that because cdph most of our funding over
90% of our funding.
90% of our funding comes from the federal government as
grants and that means that you have committed to do.
grants and that means that you have committed to do X and
so you can only spend money on X. So when we see other
issues that are not X we are not able.
issues that are not X we are not able to use that money to
support it even though um
We have resources. That's also another barrier that we have
noted and so looking at opportunities for more.
noted. And so looking at opportunities for more flexible
funding is another way we can um mitigate some of the
inequities in the space.
That was that was standing flexible fun.
That was that was standing flexible funding. It seems the
department has become focused on.
department has become focused on just being a pass through
for a lot of those grants. For example.
for a lot of those grants. For example, I am very much
aware that a lot of your
Grant a lot of your funding is Grant.
Grant a lot of your funding is grant-based. You also have a
lot of funding for for going back.
lot of funding for for going back for HIV STI prevention.
and that seems to be just passed through whereas before the
department itself.
department itself used to manage a lot of those programs to
ensure that you could get.
ensure that you could get for example the tests out into
the community where you could get condoms for both men and
women out into the community where you could do Outreach to
those individuals who are unfortunately performing sex work
in our neighborhoods because they have no other
to go. So I think you know, I'm worried when I hear you
state.
state that you want to focus on asset Based Services.
because that's 1 micro of what we're discussing and we've
seen where this has gotten us before because there are many
people in this chamber who have spoken out about
focusing on the partnering assets
Focusing on the partnering assets particularly as it as it
relates to Mental Health.
relates to mental health right where we saw that we've
closed Mental Health.
uh low facilities in Back of the Yards for example and
across the city to provide. Tella Health to provide.
to push for the county and other assets and while your
predecessors how
predecessors, how did that success many people felt it.
a disservice to the community that just focused on
Number without focusing on the outcome. So I just want to
caution you that I understand.
caution you that I understand what you're saying.
But many of us have been around.
But many of us have been around here long enough to see
this wheel reinvented time.
this wheel reinvented time and time again.
And it never works out the way we say.
And it never works out the way we say it doesn't here. So I
want to make sure that we are focusing on if we're going to
talk about something.
talk about something as basic as getting condoms into the
hands of young men and women.
hands of young men and women who are out there doing their
thing.
That we're going to do it.
that we're going to do it that we're going to commit to it
and then we're going to make sure that it's not just a a
new version of whack-a-mole that we're playing.
lastly
your department has basically become like the repository
for all the co 19.
for all the co 19 money.
Correct.
um, you said reposit
Um, you said repository isn't that where a lot of like Lori
Lightfoot? How is a lot of the co funds that are you know
things of that?
things of that nature?
I believe coid funds.
I believe coid funds from the federal government are
earmarked.
earmarked for certain programs and coid was a public.
earmarked for certain programs and coid was a public health
emergency. So, yes, we will have been the lead for
responding to co and the fun.
responding to co and the funding well have been as as we
heard from our public speakers. What was earmarked has been
redirected to other things. So I'd like to know how much of
the co earmarked money is still within your department.
Yes, uh, we have several funding.
yes, uh, we have several funding sources from coid for coid
from the federal government and we have been using the
funding for the programs that have been they have been
earmarked for.
earmarked for um,
some federal funding are expiring earlier than others. So
we have started made sure we spend down.
we have started made sure we spend down the ones that are
expiring in 2024.
expiring in 2024, um versus those that are expiring in
2022.
2026, um is also important to distinguish between spent and
obligated for
obligated. For instance if we have a contract with a
delegate AG
delegate agency and it's a multi-year contract they will
not have spent the money in 2024, but they will be
committed to the money, um obligated to spend the money
2025 and 202.
2025 and 2026. So my understanding based on our assessment
is that we have obligated much.
is that we have obligated much more than what we have spent
because they are multi.
because they are multi-year processes. And what are those
numbers?
I do not have of the top of my head what?
I do not have of the top of my head what percentage it is
that's been obligated, but we are.
that's been obligated, but we are on track if you could
provide through the chair so that we can have what those 4
groups are. What the exact.
groups are what the exact numbers.
of their balances are what is obligated and what has been
spent because I know having stood in this room twice with
the book from the recovery plan.
we've Comm
We've committed hundreds of millions of dollars.
Spent none and then we find out like we did 2 months ago.
We're 150 million dollars of what was in reserve.
We're 150 million dollars of what was in reserve as being
diverted elsewhere without any Authority after it was put
in a 1 bucket or another. So I'd like to know as you are
walking in the door.
Where all of those dollars are in your department?
And what's outstanding so that we can see for ourselves?
just where those dollars are being spent. I will do that.
Thank you. Thank you madam chair.
Thank you. Thank you madam. Chairman
Uh next I have Alder.
Uh next I have Alderman's 6 show Lopez.
Thank you. Um, thank you chairperson.
Thank you. Um, thank you chairperson and um, um.
Congratulations on the appointment.
congratulations on the appointment. I am glad to see um
Public Health
on a not only expert but a public health servant and I
attest of the diligence and your
um on your efforts to make sure that we respond. Um,
2 very difficult conditions
to very difficult conditions by Design and know by the
of care of the city. So I want to uh, thank
particular for um working with us.
particular for um working with us in addressing the the
The many needs and the special condition.
The many needs and the special conditions in our hosted
shelter again a Shel.
shelter again a shelter that uh was planned for a thousand
people and now we have 2,300 people in have no missed.
the last count. So
apprec
Appreciate your spirit of collaboration also to working.
appreciate your spirit of collaboration also to working
with local stakeholders. Um, the many people on the ground
that are looking to help.
that are looking to help but also raise awareness and that
is my first question.
around um the collaboration
Uh, I'm I'm concerned.
uh, I'm I'm concerned about the
politicization of the issue um on migration in particular
and that this has contributed tremendously to um, defund or
public health institutions.
public health institutions that indeed most
expand services in a time of need
I'm particularly concerned about.
I'm particularly concerned about the suspension of new.
registrations of do of undocumented patients that the state
um
implemented last year and the consequences that that has I
personally have talked to president perwinkle. And again, I
think there's support there in the county to go to the
state to be.
state to be able to um, secure critical funds so I want to
state to be able to um, secure critical funds. So I want to
talk in that sense in terms of what is needed. What are
those gaps?
And again, you mentioned a department that are used to have.
2,000 people now with less than 600.
2,000 people now with less than 600 and also what is the
plan to rebuild?
plan to rebuild or Department of Public Health?
as well as
As well as asking for state federal and county Support.
as well as asking for state federal and county Support, um
in this particular not only for um new neighbors, but this
is in general for Chicago.
is in general for Chicagoans that are in need. Um, so
that's my that's my first question. Um more broadly.
that's my that's my first question. Um more broadly and I
think that collaboration is desperately needed. Um, but I
haven't seen it at the state level.
haven't seen it at the state level and maybe this is
something that we can discuss as a public health matter.
Thank you Alder.
Thank you Alderman. Um.
I started by saying that there are so many needs.
I started by saying that there are so many needs and we
need the full force of government.
need the full force of government including at the city.
county state and federal level to fully meet the need of
the moment the some of the success.
the moment the some of the successes we saw with Co was
because of that kind of collabor.
because of that kind of collaboration. Um, so in the
healthcare
care space, especially with Health Care coverage and
insurance there a number of threats right now in
insurance there a number of threats right now, including
the 1 that you have described where um,
people will now be required to
People will now be required to provide co-payment for for
services.
services, uh, simultaneously we also have medic
redetermination where we have hundreds of thousands of
Chicagoans who might lose their Medicaid coverage because
of the enrollment.
of the enrollment process. So in some of those areas we
have been in close conversation with the state in terms.
how we can bridge the gap, um the clinics
how we can bridge the gap, um, the clinics that we operate
in cdph for instance. They Prov,
in cdph, for instance. They provide both free. Um,
in cdph. For instance. They provide both free, um services
and opportunities for those who have Medicaid or other
kinds of insurance to particip.
insurance to participate so our hope is that Chicago can be
a place where health insurance will not be a limitation.
a place where health insurance will not be a limitation to
access care and that's why I I shared that part of my
process is mapping those asset. Where are the free and
charitable clinics?
charitable clinics. Where are the opportunities for those
who don't have insurance to be able to get um, good quality
service and what?
service and what are the opportunity?
That we have as cdph to help.
That we have as cdph to help reinforce that Network by
making.
making sure it is Equitable and culturally appropri.
making sure it is Equitable and culturally appropriate and
accessible to all and also bringing.
accessible to all and also bringing our own resources into
the mix and expanding.
the mix and expanding, um, the number of clinics that we're
operating.
operating are either brick and mortar or Telly health or in
Partnership we have to do more
Partnership. We have to do more to fill the Gap while we
continue to Advocate with the state and with the federal
government for additional
Thank you. Um
thank you commissioner in terms of some
Thank you commissioner in terms of some of the the gaps in
my expand.
my expand uh for instance in terms of senior care. Um
again, and the need for the partnership with the state, you
know, um several years ago the
know, um several years ago. The whole Department of Aging
is within the state. Um yet we are in the city of Chicago.
is within the state. Um yet we are in the city of Chicago
and there is I think from our sin.
and there is I think from our seniors a huge uh need for
for instance meant
for instance Mental Health Services, um, just in general,
um,
seniors that
Seniors that are need attention at the city level. So what
are the um gaps that maybe you see how in delegate agencies
like cha and other partners, uh, we can set the standards
to make sure that we deliver on our premise of care for
residents in our own institutions. So, um just in terms of
senior cares and
senior care as an example, I'm really concerned about like
the mental well-being.
the mental well-being and the uh, physical well-being of
seniors.
Thank you Alderman. Uh, I have some experience in that
space.
space, uh in some of the work that we did in, New York.
space, uh in some of the work that we did in New York, uh,
because
seniors right now, especially with Co um, it's become
harder to to expect that, you know 80s olds are coming to
wait in line and the clinic so 1 of the interventions or
areas where we can improve is bringing services.
areas where we can improve is bringing Services closer to
people um in New York we had you know,
people um in New York, we had, you know Navigators who will
call and do Wellness checks, uh,
call and do Wellness checks, uh with seniors and and check
in with them. Sometimes they need food to be delivered and
they can help order.
they can help order those things. Sometimes they need their
appointments.
appointments help them to schedule their appointment and
they help them with such things.
they help them with such things, you know, so those kind of
wraparound services and not just leaving it to the
individual.
individual to navigate a complex, you know, Social Service.
Health Care system is 1 area where when I say move Upstream
is starting to engage before the crisis.
is starting to engage before The Crisis happen. So these
are some opportunities for us to explore. Um, we have been
in a conversation.
in conversation with dfss collaborating with them.
vaccination as senior centers, so there is an opportunity.
for us to also explore that partnership.
for us to also explore that partnership for more. Um
Services going forward. Um, I do know that you know, we
have uh, resource constraints and services, uh,
have uh, resource constraints and services, uh that are
takes a while to build up.
takes a while to build up but these are some of the
possibilities to help bridge.
That I can explore.
Finally my last question. Um
Finally my last question, um around mental health, you know
treatment know.
treatment not trauma, of course being um an important
effort that our chairperson have champion, and I think it's
badly needed.
badly needed on our in our communities. Um, you mention
you need to um rebuild, you know, our departments, you know
from a 2,000 people.
from a 2,000 people Department to 600 when they the need
has grown tremendously has gone against the best interest
of the city. We're going to talk about, you know,
emergencies humanitarian need we got to look at from the
lenses of Public Health.
lenses of Public Health to me. It's clear that many
unfortunately too many elected officials are not fit to
have this conversation. Um,
but in terms of what is the plan, you know, I think that we
have challenges but also tremendous talent in our
communities people from the city of Chicago.
communities people from the city of Chicago that add to my
opinion the best equ.
opinion the best equipped to care and welcome, you know new
neighbors as well as caring our own neighbors. So what is
the path?
the path to rebuild that department? What are the gaps and
how we make these coordination and collaboration work to
fund?
fund public institutions in a time that many 1 of these
Thank you Alder.
thank you Alderman, uh
every every approach I I believe require.
Every every approach I I believe requires that kind of
interdepartmental Engagement.
interdepartmental Engagement when we say the full force of
government. It truly is the full force of government.
government. It truly is the full force of government, uh
when it comes to hiring staff for instance it it requires
partnership with our department of human resources.
partnership with our Department of Human Resources our
office of budget and management. Um, it is not just the
work of 1 department and and the challenge here, is that
when we have a department that is responsible for
supporting.
supporting all departments in the city, it takes a while.
supporting all departments in the city, it takes a while,
you know, so recruitment through the city processes takes
many many months. So, um, we have hundreds of positions
open.
open right now that we have been working collaboratively.
open right now that we have been working collaboratively to
um to hire and Rec.
um to hire and recruit people. Um, but so are several other
departments on the same.
departments on the same, uh path trying to hire so
expanding that pathway a little to
have
Have more hands supporting the process as some of the ways
we can.
we can expedite um the process.
Um expanding treatment not trauma also requires collabor.
collaboration with several agencies. Um, the the pathway
for this work right now is through 911.
for this work right now is through 911 when an individual
calls 911 where does 911 go it goes to the department that
are responds.
are responsible for managing 911
Uh and those reports then have to bring in.
Uh, and those reports then have to bring in support
services from cdph. So the ability to collaborate across
all of those.
all of those departments is a vital component of the
success of this program.
Um, we also know.
Um, we also know that
we need remark.
we need remarkable investment of resources right now.
but
But what gives me joy is we've had 2 years.
But what gives me joy is we've had 2 years of a pilot of
correspondent model in those 2 years we have responded to
12200 over 1200 cases.
Um
of Behavioral crisis and we have zero I repeat to
of Behavioral crisis and we have zero. I repeat zero cases
of arrest and zero cases of violence. So the premise that
we can help.
we can help manage Behavioral Health crisis without
violence.
violence and without an arrest we have proven that to be
true.
true the challenge that is ahead of us right now.
true. The challenge that is ahead of us right now is how do
we scale this?
Citywide how much resources will be required and where will
those resources come but right?
those resources come but right now we have the political
will uh you have in me a commissioner that is interested.
expanding this work. Uh, but we need that collabor.
expanding this work. Uh, but we need that collaboration
among the Departments and we need the resources to be able
to scale this.
to scale this to the level that we know can trans.
to scale this to the level that we know can transform.
from the crisis, uh landscape of the city
Thank you. Congratulations again commissioner. I look
forward to working together.
forward to working together and thank you, uh chairpersons
for for allowing this space.
Thank you, uh chairman. Um Alderman Lawson
Thank you madam. Chair. Hi Dr. E.
Thank you madam. Chair. Hi Dr. E um, we had a good
conversation last week and I appreciated the the 1-on-1 and
following up. Um Regular.
following up, um regularly with you and your staff. Um,
I wanted to just talk about LG.
I wanted to just talk about LGBT health and specifically
HIV because I if memory serves from budget our HIV numbers
are.
are going the right direction.
um that we've we've
Um that we've we've really we've got the lowest number of
new infections in many many years.
new infections in many many years, which I attribute to
prep.
prep, uh being available through Partners like Howard.
Brown. Um,
so I want to make I just want to put on the record that
what we're doing is working. Obviously, I think there's
more work to do specifically among MSM in.
American and Latino Community. Um
but you know to that point I think I also want to highlight
that there is a weekly LGBT Health call that happens in in
the city with all of the major Partners focusing.
specifically on underserved communities. Um,
it's a lot to do every week if you're in this seat, but I
recommend someone from your staff getting plugged in if
you're curious. Um, how are we assessing these Partners
though? Obviously, we Prov.
though? Obviously, we provide a grant we know we can't do
all this work ourselves. So we provide a grant but what
what sort of is the assessment Pro,
what sort of is the assessment process look like for prep,
let's say
Thank you older man for for that. Um
question, um on our website at
Question, um on our website at any time you will see
programs summary and you will see.
programs summary and you will see facts sheets. Um, we had
a fax sheet for HIV in 2022 that evaluated the progress we
have made. Uh, you are right to say that for the 40 years
that we have been tracking h
that we have been tracking HIV. We have been on a steady
decline um in
decline, um in HIV new infections our hope is to get to
zero, so we're not there yet. We also evaluate the partners
that we have. There are some factors that have contributed
to success prep is 1 of those and viral suppression is also
1 of those so connecting people to treatment if you're
HIV treatment your viral load is so low that you cannot
even transmit it and so that has been the main stay of the
change.
change in HIV incidents. So connecting people to care has
been a huge part.
been a huge part of that work. Uh, and we have had
remarkable success by tracking viral load.
depression by tracking access to treatment
Depression by tracking access to treatment and these are
many of our partners.
many of our partners provide treatment and make sure people
are connected to care. So we track that how many people are
staying?
staying connected to the services. We also know that
are several other factors that prevent people from staying
in care, um, including their social circumstances,
especially housing, so
especially housing so providing. Um,
especially housing. So providing, um grants to delegate
agencies that can support housing for people living with
HIV or vulnerable to HIV.
HIV or vulnerable to HIV has been another success area. Um,
I want to say that Chicago is the only Public Health
Department in the country that has extended housing support
to not just people with HIV but to people who are on prep,
um as a way of extending, um,
um as a way of extending, um that wraparound service to the
to
the to the community. So these are some of the assessment
that I have done where are the opportunities for us to do
even
um, and which partners are
Um and which partners are doing the work and which ones are
not but we provide.
not but we provide regular reports and annual reports on
the progress. We're making and these are
Successes that is attributed to many of us.
Successes that is attributed to many of us working together
on this issue, right? Thank you for that. I wanted to uh,
you mentioned the opioid crisis and I saw something on the
news about a new type of fentanyl this morning that is 100
times more deadly or some some ridiculous.
times more deadly or some some ridiculous number. Um, we
have Narcan and Fentanyl test strips in our office. I've
told every Alderman they should I've told every bar they
should um, or or other business.
should um, or or other businesses where it's appropriate.
Um,
Do we know if these new retinal?
do we know if these new retinal type additives are will be
picked up in the test?
picked up in the test strips that we have or do we have
something new coming and just what?
something new coming and just what are we doing sort of
overall? We have you know the prevention.
overall? We have you know, the prevention side, uh,
preventing death with Narcan, but
What what else are we doing on the opioid crisis? Because I
think it's still taking.
more lives than anything else in the
More lives than anything else in the city, right? Right.
Um, there are many many many.
Um, there are many many many different factors contributing
to the opioid Cris.
to the opioid crisis and part of that is even understand.
the epidemic that we have.
the epidemic that we have right now so that we are
addressing the right.
addressing the right root causes. Um, the trend that we're
seeing in Chicago is to the trends that we're seeing in
other cities, but we also I am also happy to see that cases
are down in Chicago relative to new.
are down in Chicago relative to New York or or or La uh in
some of the recent data that we have looked at so some of
the things that we are doing is trying to understand
And the epidemic a little more so we were doing waste.
surveillance for coid now, we're bringing that into the
opiate space.
so that we can to the
So that we can sue the neighborhood level identifying where
their cases that are.
their cases that are concentrated and not just rely on.
their cases that are concentrated and not just rely on the
EMS data for when people have um, you know overdosed.
so in understanding that distribution Network, um, we can
better tailor.
better tailor our intervention. Another thing we want we
are we've started to do is the Narcan saturation. Uh, we
don't know what this new additive.
don't know what this new additive is yet, and if our strips
will pick it up, uh, but generally the strips are sensitive
to whenever there's phenomenal in in there so we know what
we're dealing with.
we're dealing with, uh, but making sure there's nothing
available.
available everywhere. Um, and everyone can use it is
another so that now can saturation map so we have
another so that now can saturation map. So we have our
office of emergency preparedness the police.
office of emergency preparedness the police department the
fire Services Public Library.
fire Services Public Libraries schools orders offices
everyone knowing how to do to do that and then recover.
Services, we just have an
RFP out right now calling for partners who can help support
opioid.
opioid recovery, um including with
opioid recovery, um, including with assisted medication.
Uh, so
uh, so some of the data reveals that if you are a white
person you are 35 times more likely to be offered
medication.
medication assisted recovery than if you are a person of
color.
So those are some of the guys we want to bridge.
every provider can offer some support for people who want
to engage in the recovery.
to engage in the recovery Journey so that they are not
doing it alone and making sure medication assisted recovery
is available to all that's another layer and then the other
wrap.
wraparound services. So when I said I went and visited A
Center on the West Side to see what they were learning.
their Recovery Services, they they talked about
um moving from an appointment.
um moving from an appointment basis system to a
process that when they had appointments people will not
show up for those appointment because the window of making
that decision, you know to start your recovery is so small
so they are open and you people can walk in and they have
created an atmosphere.
created an atmosphere that is welcoming. So we are learning
how these Services operate and they are.
how these Services operate and they are seeing 1500 2,000
people.
people, um every year in in in those locations, so
people, um every year in in in those locations. So this is
what I mean by asset mapping if those services are already
available, how can we part?
available, how can we partner to extend instead of starting
from scratch? So, where are we seeing? What is working?
they success and how can we expand? Um on those?
So those are some of the things
saturation mapping, uh, Wastewater Sur.
I appreciate your very complete answer. Thank you for that.
Do we?
Do we have Narcan in the lobby of City Hall? Do we know?
Yes. Yes ilanz.
Yes? Yes, Alonso. Yes. All right. Good. Good. I just want
to I haven't seen it. So I just want to make sure that my
colleagues touched on some of the other.
colleagues touched on some of the other things. I think we
probably need a code clean up to make this Crystal.
and I think no reflection on you or the mayor or anything.
Uh that's happened that this is such an important.
Uh that's happened that this is such an important job that
it should be treated like the other Commissioners and we we
can work.
can work on that but I'm I'm not going to be hung up on
that today. Um, the other thing that I I think I mentioned
I just want to put out there is that we should really when
we talk about vacancy be using our local.
we talk about vacancy be using our local universities more
that city colleges public Institution.
that city colleges public institution private institutions
Med schools. Um, you know, there's a lot of debt that can
be written off if you work for a government for a long
time.
and that's very very attractive to someone who has a lot of
school debt. So I just want to push that I know you
acknowledge.
acknowledged some of the constraints that we have with
payment and hiring and that's not unique to your
department, but it might be most critical to your
department.
department and something I think we have to look at. Um
you know, we really with a whole government sort of
approach because it's a it's
Approach because it's a it's an inhibitor to a lot of what
we're trying to.
we're trying to do. So thank you very much best of luck and
everything if I
Thanks. Thank you.
Any other questions?
Any other questions from committ?
Any other questions from committee members?
Um, okay. I'm going to ask the question. Um, we have been
looking at the model that New York has and I understand
that. This is not a government run. Um oper
that. This is not a government run, um operation but um,
there is a safe consumption site in New York that has been
incredibly successful.
Um, and I do understand the challenges of federal and state
law. Um, but I wanted because you have experience working
in New York. I wanted to see if you could talk a little bit
about that. Um, and how do you see possibilities for us to
get there at some point?
Thank you.
Thank you older woman. Uh, so these are the harm reduction.
sites, um that New York piloted and was very successful.
in helping to again prevent over.
in helping to again prevent overdose deaths, uh by
providing safe spaces.
providing safe spaces, uh, the recognition that um,
substance use disorder is a disorder. Um is the starting
point. Um, I think we have a lot of Education to do yet and
that to help people understand. This is not just about IMM.
immoral feeling or a character weak weakness, but that this
is an actual disorder that can um be treated um over time.
Um, but in the moment,
Um, but in the moment our primary goal is how
we stop people from
uh harm and so this is what
Uh harm and so this is what the sites are for. Um, the
community engagement that was required for that and the
kind of advocacy effort.
kind of advocacy effort that was required for that. Um was
intense to be able to to get to that um level and like you
said, you know, it's collaboration with um other
organizations. Um,
When I started I said what will work in Chicago?
When I started I said what will work in Chicago, you know,
we have experiences from other jurisdictions.
we have experiences from other jurisdictions and what work
in different contexts, but I have been trying to understand
what is our unique pollitt.
what is our unique political context. What is the kind of
Engagement that will be required for us to introduce some
some of these new?
some of these new ideas here? And what is the
some of these new ideas here and what is the community
Readiness, uh for some of these interventions and and as I
learn more, I I believe that there are opportunities for
to bring learnings from other jurisdictions to Chicago.
Thank you. That gives me a lot.
Thank you. That gives me a lot of Hope. Um
We have Alderman Robin.
We have Alderman Robinson Alderman. You have the floor.
virtual floor
Alderman Robinson, are you there? Chairwoman? Thank you so
very much. Can you hear me?
We can hear you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much commissioner. Uh, congratulations.
Actually Alderman you are breaking up quite a bit so we can
actually hear you right now. You know what I will I will
pass on my question. Thank you chair.
okay, uh, you can send it through the chair though if you
if you decide um, uh vice mayor brunette.
thank you, very
Thank you, very very much Madam chairman. Um good.
commissioner.
Uh, thank you for the call. We spoke. Um, and I should at
that time gotten your cell number for from you. We'll we'll
ask you if you can make sure that I and I have your cell
number that's a way for us to be they can call you for us.
right if we can get you. Um, so I had a a a constituent to
come in and see me the other day.
Um, she has a son.
Um, she has a son with uh autism.
and uh, he's an adult and she's
And uh, he's an adult and she's a senior.
and um, they
And um, they work together and you know, she telling me.
And um, they work together and you know, she telling me a
myriad of you know challenges it is for parents.
myriad of you know challenges it is for parents dealing
with uh, grown.
with uh, grown children with autism. Um, and um, she was
telling me about the cisa.
Cisa, uh program a phone service.
cisa, uh program a phone service that they have with the
state and she was she was complaining about it.
and she
And she was saying it's it's bad, uh that they can't.
and she was saying it's it's bad, uh that they can't get
through and she was saying why we don't have 1 have a city
cisa.
cisa where um parents people.
cisa where um parents people can call if they need to.
to someone right? Uh, can you can you first of all explain
cisa to uh, you know, I was trying to understand as much as
I could at that time. Can you explain that to us? And then
um, tell us uh,
um tell us uh what the city can do to help with that?
Thank you Al.
Thank you Alderman. Um the cisa initiative is
initiative that provides support for those on the autism
spectrum. Um,
spectrum, um and provides different kinds of uh support for
them. Uh,
either respect care or recommendations or support to the
family or caregivers or to the individual themselves. Um
how to manage different um issues, um, can we do this?
the city?
Yes.
Um, we will require the same kind of support.
Um, we will require the same kind of support that the state
provides for us to be able to do it. Uh, but these are you
know,
know programs that will require collaboration.
know programs that will require collaboration with the
mayor's office of people with disability.
Um understanding what the barriers are at the state.
um understanding what the barriers are at the state and how
we can support uh, but I will look into it a little more
and see what the barriers are, uh for connecting. Um, many
many government services.
many government services have many layers and and that's
what I mean by navigation helping people to just figure out
this very complex systems that we have. Um, so that people
can take advantage of what what exists and if their
barriers that are insurmountable, how can we you know,
Make the system better.
Can I speak a little bit about that? Um
I think treatment or trauma is 1 of the answers that we
have.
have uh for cessa
um
the ability that we have to respond.
the ability that we have to respond to any kind of
health or disability emergency.
health or disability emergency without using Force.
and
And bringing Compassionate Care and trying to reduce harm.
And bringing Compassionate Care and trying to reduce harm as
much as we can is what treatment of TR.
much as we can is what treatment of trauma is about and we
have been trying to build.
have been trying to build that program. I think that this
Administration has starting to devote more resources and
space.
space for it to be able to grow and I think that through
that initiative we are going to be able to address a lot of
the issues. Um that says that is not being able to address
right now not only with people in the autism spectrum but
people with all sorts of disabilities, uh, particularly
when it comes to behavioral health
um
Um, and I I do think that we can do something.
um, and I I do think that we can do something comprehensive
there and we are very fortunate that we have gotten um a
commissioner that is all in in trying to do that work we of
course are going to need support from the whole Council to
be able to grow this um to be able to think about how it
develops. Um,
develops, um, and to keep ourselves accountable in in terms
of the
of delivering that that work.
What well, you know, uh, and thank you. Um
Madam chair, uh you
You can.
You can feel the frustration of that mother.
um trying to help
Um trying to help us a grown son to to be able to allow.
to be able to call and get someone to talk to.
to be able to call and get someone to talk to when in that
in in those moments, right?
in in those moments, right and and how important it is for
them. And um, you know, I don't know if the state
them. And um, you know, I don't know if the State Mental
Health crisis lying is filled or overcrowded or whatever.
the case may be, but there should be some type of altern.
alternative um, because we never know.
alternative, um, because we never know what it can lead to
for a person in that type of Crisis. You know what I'm
saying? So, uh, so I wanted to so I was trying to call you
right so just so you know
right? So just so you know and when I call call your office
I
office I and I connected me to your number and it takes
to a recording.
and and it's
And and it's like a never-ending, you know, I couldn't.
through. Uh, so I was hoping that you can look.
through. Uh, so I was hoping that you can look at that too.
If somebody call what what what would they get especially
even if I call? What would I get? You know, it's like I
couldn't get you.
couldn't get you and uh, I just got the recording.
couldn't get you and uh, I just got the recording and and
then I think it's 1 of those recordings that kept kept
asking me a whole bunch of questions, too.
asking me a whole bunch of questions too, you know, um, uh,
so so we need but I I definitely need your cell number so I
don't have to do that, but I'm concerned about other people
who may be trying to call too. Right? So and I know you're
very new so you may
Just want to check on that. Thank you Alderman. I'll
into that. I'm sorry you had that experience.
Yeah, and I want to you know, try to.
Help that.
Help that lady because 1 I couldn't remember all this
stuff. She was trying to because I don't I don't I don't
know about this. So I want to hurry. I'm talk about it
because I didn't know I don't know about.
because I didn't know I don't know about it. So thank God I
found my notes on it and this is like last week if you can
speak around before.
speak around before like until out we're done. I would like
to share a little bit more information with you before you
go. Okay. I appreciate that.
go. Okay. I appreciate that and and I can I'm telling you
just
Want to craft for that lady?
want to craft for that lady, you know wrong parents. She's
elderly.
elderly and she's been in her senior year is trying to take
care of her grown.
care of her grown son, you know, and it's challenging. So,
thank you. Thank you. I'm glad that you're bringing that up
too because I think when
too. Because I think when we talk about this issues a lot
of times we can talk about the evidence.
of times we can talk about the evidence and we can talk
about the data but when we have
about the data, but when we have real life stories when we
actually see our neighbors struggling, um it I think that
it likes a different kind of fire for us.
it likes a different kind of fire for us to be able to push
forward with with the changes that
those needs. Um Elder woman might not help it worth.
Thank you.
Thank you chair. And congratulations.
Thank you chair and congratulations commissioner on your
appointment. I'm I'm very excited to get to know you more.
Um, I'm a licensed physical therapist also and I represent
the Edgewater Community, which is 1 of the most
the Edgewater Community which is 1 of the most diverse.
w
Wards areas in Chicago and uh, we know that if we Center
black and brown
Black and brown people especially black community then.
Black and brown people especially black community then we
are all going to be better. Um,
I I'm very excit.
I I'm very excited that cessa at the state level is being.
brought to.
the local level in Chicago
and I'm also
And I'm also very concerned about.
the implementation
because I think that's really where.
because I think that's really where um, and and you've
already said that we are.
already said that we are successful in the
model. I had the um,
I had the opportunity to go to um the police academy, uh
for um to to experience what officers might go through. Um,
if
If they get called to an apartment for instance.
If they get called to an apartment for instance where uh,
someone is having a mental.
someone is having a mental crisis and
um, they're they go through rigorous training, you know
through um as they should right? Um,
through um as they should right, um to have to go through a
particular process.
particular process and then uh practice so that it's like
choreography with your with your partner.
and um
and I think about how treatment not trauma is going to
provide.
provide us with. Um,
a model where we
A model where we don't have um more guns.
a model where we don't have um more guns on the scene where
that's not an that's not a consideration, you know.
That's not an that's not a consideration, you know, um, but
I am worried I do I am.
I am worried I do I am worried about the um implementation
of
this uh ordinance and um, I do
worry about the you know filling in of
Worry about the you know filling in of um, mental health
professionals who?
professionals who um are
fully trained and ready and prepared for every call and I
was wondering if you could speak more on how how we're
going to get to that point.
going to get to that point to um to fill in those gaps.
Thank you older woman and
thank you older woman and um
when I said the the need is huge.
when I said the the need is huge but resources are limited.
This is 1 of the sit.
This is 1 of the situations where that is, so
um
right now we are covering just a few neighborhood.
right now we are covering just a few neighborhoods. Um,
we've been working.
we've been working to extend.
the hours cover weekends
um, she
Um, she Chicago we have 77.
Community areas to cover
um
right now
we that is going to need.
we that is going to need hundreds.
hundreds of
clinicians to support
Um, you all know that there is a national.
shortage of mental health professionals
and she Chicago is no different. Um when I visited with you
know,
you know, switch Swedish hospital. They said it took them
many months.
many months to be able to find a psychologist. Um, and
we're going through that same process where for many many
months some some of the clinical therapies positions. We've
posted for 2 years 3 years over and over trying to recruit
people. So I think the biggest barrier we have is the
availability of the workforce.
to fill this role
um
Um, we we will also need a lot of resour.
Um, we we will also need a lot of resources to pay people
have 3 hour shift.
have 3 hour shifts, um 7 days.
have 3 hour shifts. Um 7 Days 27 24/7
um, we will in effect be taking a
Um, we will in effect be taking a huge share of the 911
calls.
And and trying to replicate the 9.
And and trying to replicate the 911 infrastructure to resp.
respond. That is a huge undertaking. So the pilot that we
have done has indicated.
have done has indicated the operational considerations and
logistic consider.
logistic considerations are significant. Um, and it
take time to be able to roll out.
take time to be able to roll out, um city-wide. Uh, but we
are looking at learning from across all jurisdictions. What
models work where um, there are very few big cities like us
that have Citywide, um implementation. Uh, so this is all
new territory for all of us. Uh, we're learning as we go.
Uh, but what is evident is that there is a world or a
future in which we can respond to.
future in which we can respond to Behavioral Health crisis
without Force.
and without guns, um, and I'm
And without guns, um, and I'm glad that the you know the
police department. They're also investing in the trainings.
Um,
and also educating our communities. Uh, there is a lot of
rhetoric out.
rhetoric out there like when someone has a crisis they are
dangerous. They are more at risk of violence.
dangerous. They are more at risk of violence than they are
to be violent. So changing our mindset and equ.
to be violent. So changing our mindset and equating anyone
with behavioral crisis.
Dangerous is 1 of the starting points.
dangerous is 1 of the starting points for where we can even
start in our community because as long as that mindset is
there people want to you know.
respond with Force because
Respond with Force because they believe that the folks are
dangerous. Um, so there is a lot of work for us to do. Uh,
but while we wait to expand these are some of the things we
can continue to do helping people understand. What is
behavioral crisis. What are the precipitators or or
determinants? And where can we find help? Um,
Before a crisis occurs. Um, so there is a lot of work
ahead, um to fully roll.
ahead, um to fully roll this out.
Yeah, thank you. Another woman can.
Yeah, thank you. Another woman. Can I also follow up in her
response because I do want
response? Because I do want you to know that this is going
to be a consistent conversation. We are not implementing
anything without input and we are working with community
and we are working with experts so there is going to be a
hearing on the work that is being done later this month
where all of you.
where all of you will have an opportunity to come in and
ask more questions about how we are developing this the
whole process is incredibly.
whole process is incredibly transparent. We already had the
first listening session. Um and and we're excited to build
this together and with the best evidence that we can
possibly have from the whole country. You know that we had
a hearing on treatment not trauma earlier. Um,
talked to several models across the country
be in communication with the people, who are
the country and you will have
to be asking questions about implementation
please
Please go ahead. Thank you chair. I appreciate that very
much. And thank you commiss.
much. And thank you commissioner for your answer and I I
appreciate.
appreciate that you're talking about the you know, the
overall social.
overall social determinants of Health which includes.
housing which includes employment which includes, um, you
know food insecurity. So, um,
you know, I I just want to bring up 1 1 more thing about
that.
that training 1 of the things that it seems that it could
be a gap is um the role of 911 and oemc and how
operators are um taking in,
operators are, um taking in information and what's passed
on to you know, who whoever um gets that information.
on to you know, who whoever um gets that information next
so I would I would think that
So I would I would think that that would be a part of the
whole conversation. I look forward to those those hearings.
Um, uh C. Can you just I'm I'm very excited for you. I'm um
excited to hear a little bit more about um, how you are, um
Center,
centering the youth um, and youth health and can you just
speak a little bit on how you're working with? Um CPS?
Thank you. Um
we have a number of initiatives that center youth I will
start with our school health. Uh
programs where
Programs where we partner very strongly with CPS.
programs where we partner very strongly with CPS to
provide, um sexual education age appropriate sexual
education.
education to CPS provide oral and dental screen.
education to CPS provide oral and dental screening on site,
uh in collaboration.
uh in collaboration with CPS. So supporting um,
uh in collaboration with CPS. So supporting um vaccination
events also with CPS. Um, I talked a little about play
streets and what happens to young people.
streets and what happens to young people when uh, they're
on summer holidays and how can we gain fully engage them?
while they're out of school. So we have initiatives like
that that brings fiscal activity and engagement.
that that brings fiscal activity and engagement to young
people.
Um, we also have uh programs around.
Um, we also have uh programs around um violence prevention.
and and positive youth engagement in that space. How do we
Pro create an atmosphere of um,
How do we Pro create an atmosphere of um support because
many people are looking for that connection.
many people are looking for that connection and that
support in their communities and so identify,
support in their communities and so identifying use that
maybe at risk disconnect.
maybe at risk disconnected and how to help them navigate
and connect to resources and find some Community is
area where we are, um supporting youth so those
Those are some of the ways.
those are some of the ways that we are, you know bringing
youth as part of our priority populations into our Public
Health space.
Thank you, and and we know that prevention.
Thank you. And and we know that prevention is the key, um,
you know.
you know, unfortunately even in um in my area.
you know, unfortunately even in um in my area on the North
side and Edgewater, we do seek gun violence and we lost 1
of our own very recently. Uh, we have a community meeting
tonight. In fact at Philadelphia.
tonight. In fact at Philadelphia church at 6 oclock and we
welcome you there or someone from your team. Uh, we have
the grandmother there.
the grandmother there of the of the um,
the grandmother there of the of the um of
of the victim and also we're thinking of um, not only of
Devon but also of the siblings the ones who everyone who
has left, um, including whole communities who are grieving
right now.
right now, and so, um, I just want to thank you and your
department for providing supports.
department for providing supports, especially to the high
school sin and also the elementary schools in the area and
uh, we will be um feeling
Um the impact of this loss for quite a while.
um the impact of this loss for quite a while and so hope to
continue working with you and your team towards that thank
you Alo Woman and
you Alo woman and mental health support is also another
area.
area, uh where we are again trying to bring Services
closer.
to the community including Telly Health Services.
to the community including Telly Health Services, uh and 1
of the the options.
of the the options we're considering is how do we expand
the scope of mint?
the scope of mental health services at CPA?
also, uh so that they are easy access to to
Also, uh so that they are easy access to to support. Um,
when families are grieving, uh, but also,
when families are grieving, uh, but also outside of those
that have been immediately, uh impacted because we know the
whole community
whole Community is impacted when these things happen,
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you Elder woman, um any other questions?
Um, I'm going to ask Alderman Robinson.
Um, I'm going to ask Alderman Robinson again if you're in a
better place and still want to ask a question.
Okay.
so
So with that, thank you so much Dr. E thank you.
So with that thank you so much Dr. E thank you to all the
members of the committee and the members that were here
today.
today, um with there being no further business before the
committee. Can I get a motion to adjourn?
Other person Lawson so moves here. No objection.
Other person Lawson so moves here. No objections. So order
the meeting of the committee of Health and Human Arielle.
Is Now adjourned