For public meetings.
2023 to 2027.
Pursuant to the Chicago City Council rules of order
and Procedure Rule 49,
the sergeant at ARM sets forth the following rules
of conduct to be followed during the public comment period
and the duration of all committee and city council meetings.
Profane, vulgar, threatening, abusive,
or disruptive language is not permitted, demeaning,
discriminatory or harassing behavior
and speech directed towards others is not permitted.
Disruptive behavior including disruptive
or disrespectful, conducting others presentations
is not permitted.
Banners, pliers or signage are not permitted.
Backpacks, large bags and sharp objects are not permitted.
Clear bags not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12
by six inches will be permitted in our subject to search.
Food and beverages including in metal.
Canisters are not permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior
to entering the meeting room.
Individuals must remain seated.
Public comments speakers are permitted
to stand only when providing public comment.
Small handheld devices may be used only while seated
and the user must refrain from interfering with the viewer.
Hearing of other individuals, individuals
or groups failing to adhere to these rules will be asked
to see such disruptive conduct
and failure to comply will result in their being subject
to removal from the meeting by the Sergeant at arms.
Good afternoon council members.
Please remember to log into your devices.
Thank you very much.
City of Chicago, city Council Rules of Convict
for Public Meetings 2023 to 2027.
Pursuant to the Chicago City Council rules of order
and procedure Rule 49,
the sergeant at ARM sets forth the following rules
of convict to be followed during the public comment period
and the duration of all committee and city council meetings.
Profane, vulgar, threatening, abusive
or disruptive language is not permitted, demeaning,
discriminatory or harassing behavior
and speech directed towards others is not permitted.
Disruptive behavior including disruptive
or disrespectful conduct
during others presentations is not permitted.
Banners, pliers or signage are not permitted.
Backpacks, large bags and sharp objects are not permitted.
Clear bags not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12
by six inches will be permitted in our subject to search.
Food and beverages including in metal.
Canisters are not permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior
to entering the meeting room.
Individuals must remain seated.
Public comments speakers are permitted
to stand only when providing public comment.
Small handheld devices may be used only while seated
and the user must refrain from interfering with the view
or hearing of other individuals.
Individuals or groups Failing to adhere
to these rules will be asked to cease.
Such disruptive conduct
and failure to comply will result in their being.
Subject to removal from the meeting by the sergeant at Arms
City of Chicago City Council.
Rules of Conduct for Public meetings 2023
to 2027.
Pursuant to the Chicago City Council rules of order
and procedure Rule 49,
the sergeant at ARM sets forth the following rules
of convict to be followed during the public comment period
and the duration of all committee and city council meetings.
Profane, vulgar, threatening, abusive
or disruptive language is not permitted, demeaning,
discriminatory or harassing behavior
and speech directed towards others is not permitted.
Disruptive behavior including disruptive
or disrespectful, conducting others'
presentations is not permitted.
Banners, pliers or signage are not permitted.
Backpacks, large bags and sharp objects are not permitted.
Clear bags not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12
by six inches will be permitted in our subject to search.
Food and beverages including in metal.
Canisters are not permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior
to entering the meeting room.
Individuals must remain seated.
Public comments speakers are permitted
to stand only when providing public comment.
Small handheld devices may be used only while seated
and the user must refrain from interfering with the view
or hearing of other individuals, individuals or groups.
Failing to adhere to these rules will be asked
to see such disruptive conduct
and failure to comply will result in their being.
Subject to removal from the meeting by the sergeant at Arms
City of Chicago City Council.
Rules of Conduct for Public Meetings 2023 to 2027.
Pursuant to the Chicago City Council rules of order
and procedure Rule 49,
the sergeant at ARM sets forth the following rules
of conduct to be followed during the public comment period
and the duration of all committee and city council meetings.
Profane, vulgar, threatening, abusive
or disruptive language is not permitted, demeaning,
discriminatory or harassing behavior
and speech directed towards others is not permitted.
Disruptive behavior including disruptive
or disrespectful, conducting others'
presentations is not permitted.
Banners, pliers or signage are not permitted.
Backpacks, large bags and sharp objects are not permitted.
Clear bags not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12
by six inches will be permitted in our subject to search.
Food and beverages including in metal.
Canisters are not permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior
to entering the meeting room.
Individuals must remain seated.
Public comment, speakers are permitted
to stand only when providing public comment.
Small handheld devices may be used only while seated
and the user must refrain from interfering with the view
or hearing of other individuals, individuals
or groups Failing to adhere
to these rules will be asked to cease.
Such disruptive conduct
and failure to comply will result in their being.
Subject to removal from the meeting by the sergeant at Arms
City of Chicago City Council Rules of Convict
for Public Meetings 2023 to 2027.
Pursuant to the Chicago City Council rules of order
and procedure Rule 49,
the sergeant at ARM sets forth the following rules
of conduct to be followed during the public comment period
and the duration of all committee and city council meetings.
Profane, vulgar, threatening, abusive
or disruptive language is not permitted, demeaning,
discriminatory or harassing behavior
and speech directed towards others is not permitted.
Disruptive behavior including disruptive
or disrespectful conduct
during others presentations is not permitted.
Banners, flyers or signage are not permitted.
Backpacks, large bags and sharp objects are not permitted.
Clear bags not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12
by six inches will be permitted in our subject to search.
Food and beverages including in metal.
Canisters are not permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior
to entering the meeting room.
Individuals must remain seated.
Public comments speakers are permitted
to stand only when providing public comment.
Small handheld devices may be used only while seated
and the user must refrain from interfering with the view
or hearing of other individuals, individuals
or groups Failing to adhere to these rules will be asked
to see such disruptive conduct
and failure to comply will result in there being subject
to removal from the meeting by the sergeant at arms.
Good afternoon council members.
Please remember to log in your devices.
The meeting will begin shortly.
Speakable content could be found on the screen.
City of Chicago City Council Rules of Conduct
for public meetings 2023 to 2027 Pursuant
to the Chicago City Council rules of order
and procedure Rule 49,
the sergeant at ARM sets forth the following rules
of conduct to be followed during the public comment period
and the duration of all committee and city council meetings.
Profane, vulgar, threatening, abusive
or disruptive language is not permitted, demeaning,
discriminatory or harassing behavior
and speech directed towards others is not permitted.
Disruptive behavior including disruptive or disrespectful.
Conducting others' presentations is not permitted.
Banners, flyers or signage are not permitted.
Backpacks, large bags and sharp objects are not permitted.
Clear bags not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12
by six inches will be permitted in our subject to search.
Food and beverages including in metal.
Canisters are not permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior
to entering the meeting room.
Individuals must remain seated.
Public comments speakers are permitted
to stand only when providing public comment.
Small handheld devices may be used only while seated
and the user must refrain from interfering with the view
or hearing of other individuals, individuals or groups.
Failing to adhere to these rules will be asked
to see such disruptive conduct
and failure to comply will result in their being.
Subject to removal from the meeting by the Sergeant of Arms,
city of Chicago City Council.
Rules of Conduct for Public Meetings 2023 to 2027.
Pursuant to the Chicago City Council rules of order
and procedure Rule 49,
the sergeant at ARM sets forth the following rules
of conduct to be followed during the public comment period
and the duration of all committee and city council meetings.
Profane, vulgar, threatening, abusive
or disruptive language is not permitted, demeaning,
discriminatory or harassing behavior
and speech directed towards others is not permitted.
Disruptive behavior including disruptive
or disrespectful conduct
during others' presentations is not permitted.
Banners, pliers or signage are not permitted.
Backpacks, large bags and sharp objects are not permitted.
Clear bags not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12
by six inches will be permitted in our subject to search.
Food and beverages including in metal.
Canisters are not permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior
to entering the meeting room.
Individuals must remain seated.
Public comments speakers are permitted
to stand only when providing public comment.
Small handheld devices may be used only while seated
and the user must refrain from interfering with the view
or hearing of other individuals, individuals or groups.
Failing to adhere to these rules will be asked
to see such disruptive conduct
and failure to comply will result in their being.
Subject to removal from the meeting by the Sergeant of Arms,
city of Chicago City Council.
Rules of Conduct for Public Meetings 2023 to 2027.
Pursuant to the Chicago City Council rules of order
and procedure Rule 49,
the sergeant at ARM sets forth the following rules
of conduct to be followed during the public comment period
and the duration of all committee and city council meetings.
Profane, vulgar, threatening, abusive
or disruptive language is not permitted, demeaning,
discriminatory or harassing behavior
and speech directed towards others is not permitted.
Disruptive behavior including disruptive
or disrespectful conduct
during others presentations is not permitted.
Banners, flyers or signage are not permitted.
Backpacks, large bags and sharp objects are not permitted.
Clear bags not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12
by six inches will be permitted in our subject to search.
Food and beverages including in metal.
Canisters are not permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior
to entering the meeting room.
Individuals must remain seated.
Public comments speakers are permitted
to stand only when providing public comment.
Small handheld devices may be used only while seated
and the user must refrain from interfering with the view
or hearing of other individuals, individuals or groups.
Failing to adhere to these rules will be asked
to see such disruptive conduct
and failure to comply will result in their being.
Subject to removal from the meeting by the sergeant at Arms
City of Chicago City Council.
Rules of Conduct for Public Meetings 2023
to 2027.
Pursuant to the Chicago City Council rules of order
and procedure Rule 49,
the sergeant at ARM sets forth the following rules
of conduct to be followed during the public comment period
and the duration of all committee and city council meetings.
Profane, vulgar, threatening, abusive
or disruptive language is not permitted, demeaning,
discriminatory or harassing behavior
and speech directed towards others is not permitted.
Disruptive behavior including disruptive
or disrespectful conduct
during others presentations is not permitted.
Banners, liars or signage are not permitted.
Backpacks, large bags and sharp objects are not permitted.
Clear bags not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12
by six inches will be permitted in our subject to search.
Food and beverages including in metal.
Canisters are not permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior
to entering the meeting room.
Individuals must remain seated.
Public comments speakers are permitted
to stand only when providing public comment.
Small handheld devices may be used only while seated
and the user must refrain from interfering with the view
or hearing of other individuals, individuals or groups.
Failing to adhere to these rules will be asked
to see such disruptive conduct
and failure to comply will result in their being.
Subject to removal from the meeting by the sergeant at Arms
City of Chicago City Council.
Rules of Conduct for Public Meetings 2023 to 2027.
Pursuant to the Chicago City Council rules of order
and procedure Rule 49,
the sergeant at ARM sets forth the following rules
of conduct to be followed during the public comment period
and the duration of all committee and city council meetings.
Profane, vulgar, threatening, abusive
or disruptive language is not permitted, demeaning,
discriminatory or harassing behavior
and speech directed towards others is not permitted.
Disruptive behavior including disruptive
or disrespectful, conducting others
presentations is not permitted.
Banners, pliers or signage are not permitted.
Backpacks, large bags and sharp objects are not permitted.
Clear bags not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12
by six inches will be permitted in our subject to search.
Food and beverages including in metal.
Canisters are not permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior
to entering the meeting room.
Individuals must remain seated.
Public comments speakers are permitted
to stand only when providing public comment.
Small handheld devices may be used only while seated
and the user must refrain from interfering with the view
or hearing of other individuals, individuals or groups.
Failing to adhere to these rules will be asked
to see such disruptive conduct
and failure to comply will result in their being.
Subject to removal from the meeting by the Sergeant of Arms,
city of Chicago City Council.
Rules of Conduct for Public Meetings 2023 to 2027.
Pursuant to the Chicago City Council rules of order
and procedure Rule 49,
the sergeant at ARM sets forth the following rules
of conduct to be followed during the public comment period
and the duration of all committee and city council meetings.
Profane, vulgar, threatening, abusive
or disruptive language is not permitted, demeaning,
discriminatory or harassing behavior
and speech directed towards others is not permitted.
Disruptive behavior including disruptive
or disrespectful conduct
during others presentations is not permitted.
Banners, flyers or signage are not permitted.
Backpacks, large bags and sharp objects are not permitted.
Clear bags not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12
by six inches will be permitted in our subject to search.
Food and beverages including in metal.
Canisters are not permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior
to entering the meeting room.
Individuals must remain seated.
Public comments speakers are permitted
to stand only when providing public comment.
Small handheld devices may be used only while seated
and the user must refrain from interfering with the view
or hearing of other individuals.
Individuals or groups.
Failing to adhere to these rules will be asked
to see such disruptive conduct
and failure to comply will result in their
being subject to removal.
From the meeting by the sergeant at Arms
We're able to Good afternoon,
we're able to do what I said.
Yes. Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats
and silence your listening devices.
The Special City Council meeting will convene momentarily.
Please take your seats, silence your listening devices
and be respectful of your neighbors.
We appreciate your cooperation. Thank you.
City of Chicago City Council Rules of Conduct
for Public Meetings 2023 to 2027.
Pursuant to the Chicago City Council rules of order
and procedure Rule 49,
the sergeant at ARM sets forth the following rules
of conduct to be followed during the public comment period
and the duration of all committee and city council meetings.
Profane, vulgar, threatening, abusive
or disruptive language is not permitted, demeaning,
discriminatory or harassing behavior
and speech directed towards others is not permitted.
Disruptive behavior including disruptive
or disrespectful, conducting others'
presentations is not permitted.
Banners, pliers or signage are not permitted.
Backpacks, large bags and sharp objects are not permitted.
Clear bags not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12
by six inches will be permitted in our subject to search.
Food and beverages including in metal.
Canisters are not permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior
to entering the meeting room.
Individuals must remain seated.
Public comments speakers are permitted
to stand only when providing public comment.
Small handheld devices may be used only while seated
and the user must refrain from interfering with the view
or hearing of other individuals.
Individuals or groups Failing to adhere
to these rules will be asked to cease.
Such disruptive conduct
and failure to comply will result in their being.
Subject to removal from the meeting by the sergeant at Arms
City of Chicago City Council.
Rules of Conduct for Public Meetings 2023 to 2027.
Pursuant to the Chicago City Council rules of order
and procedure Rule 49,
the sergeant at ARM sets forth the following rules
of conduct to be followed during the public comment period
and the duration of all committee and city council meetings.
Profane, vulgar, threatening, abusive
or disruptive language is not permitted, demeaning,
discriminatory or harassing behavior
and speech directed towards others is not permitted.
Disruptive behavior including disruptive
or disrespectful, conducting others'
presentations is not permitted.
Banners, pliers or signage are not permitted.
Backpacks, large bags and sharp objects are not permitted.
Clear bags not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12
by six inches will be permitted in our subject to search.
Food and beverages including in metal.
Canisters are not permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior
to entering the meeting room.
Individuals must remain seated.
Public comments speakers are permitted
to stand only when providing public comment.
Small handheld devices may be used only while seated
and the user must refrain from interfering with the view
or hearing of other individuals.
Individuals or groups failing to adhere
to these rules will be asked
to cease such disruptive convict.
Good
Afternoon, the council will come to order.
Madam Clerk please take a corner roll call.
Good afternoon. The voting is now open.
The voting is now open. Please mark yourself present.
Okay, I will now call on those who have not yet,
um, passed their votes.
Who are in the chambers?
Alder person, hall Alder person Hall is present.
Alder person. Mitchell not present.
Alder person. Osha not present.
Alder person. Nugent not, not present.
Okay. Everyone who's in chambers has voted.
Voting is now closed.
There are 33 members present. We do have a quorum.
Um, we have, there are several elders that have requested
to participate in today's meeting remotely
for reason stated in Rule 59.
They are as following Alders Hopkins,
Yancy Harris, Lee, Coleman, Taylor, Mosley, Burnett, Irvin,
Ramirez, Rosa, mit,
Knutson, Lawson.
Clay, can I get a motion to prove their remote participation
and have them at his quorum?
I hear a whisper. So moved. Thank you.
All those in favor signify by saying aye.
Any opposed, say nay. And the opinion of the chair.
The ayes have it. Madam Clerk,
please mark those following are, uh, alders as
participating remotely present on the quorum roll call.
Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty
and justice for all.
Please remain standing.
Uh, for our invocation which will be delivered
by Pastor Myron McCoy of the first United Methodist Church
at the Chicago Temple.
Let us pray. Holy one, known by many names
and beyond all names.
We ask blessings upon your public servants
who have been called and charged to lead this great city
in which we live and work
and play how grateful we are
for the sacrifices each makes to serve this body.
We give thanks for the different gifts each person brings
and I pray that they see
and recognize the giftedness of one another.
Give to each health a body, mind, and spirit.
Give to all the spirit of love for everyone
and a desire for the flourishing of all the city
while not confining concerns to their aldermanic boundaries
Help all to see that when one sector of the city suffers,
the entire city suffers spark
between all the cooperative spirit where integrity
and justice reigns
and as leaders fulfill their responsibilities
as stewards of the city.
This I pray, may it be so.
Thank you. May be seated.
Clerk please read the call for today's special meeting.
The following call for a special meeting
of the city council was filed in the office
of the city clerk on Wednesday,
March 27th, 2024 at
3:44 PM Clerk Valencia.
We the undersigned, members of the city Council of the city
of Chicago to hereby call a special meeting
of the City Council of the city of Chicago
to convened on Monday, April 1st, 2024 at 2:00 PM
The special meeting is for the following purpose
and for no other purpose whatsoever
for the immediate consideration
of a resolution amending the 2023
through 2027 Rules of Order and Procedure.
We move in Alderman Byron Ccho Lopez's, chair
of the Committee on Housing
and Real Estate as this has been requested
of Mayor Brandon Johnson.
In advance of this meeting,
should Alderman Citro Lopez resign his post in writing
before this special meeting?
We glad we will gladly rescind this request.
Signed and electronically submitted on behalf of the city
of Chicago, honorable Chris Tero, alderman 29th Ward,
honorable Bill Conway, alderman 34th Ward,
honorable Gilbert Viegas, alderman 36th Ward,
honorable Anthony Beal, alderman Ninth Ward,
honorable Peter Chico, alderman 10th Ward,
honorable Marty Quinn Alderman 13th Ward Honorable
Raymond Lopez Alderman 15th Ward, honorable
LV Tavares Alderwoman 23rd Ward,
honorable Monique Scott Alderwoman, 24th Ward,
honorable Felix Cardona, alderman 31st Ward,
honorable Scott Waba, alderman 32nd Ward,
honorable Nicholas Podo, alderman 38th Ward,
honorable Anthony Napolitano, alderman 41st Ward,
honorable Rendon Riley Alderman 42nd Ward
and Honorable De Deborah Silverstein Alderwoman 50th Ward.
Thank you. This is the portion
of the meeting for public comments.
The council will now begin the public comment period which
is limited to a maximum of 30 minutes.
Each speaker is limited to three minutes.
Speakers cannot yield
or transfer their time to another speaker.
Any written comments that have been submitted will be posted
and made available for automatic review.
Our first speaker today is Peter Sno Sno.
Hello, can you hear me? We can hear you. Welcome.
Thank you. Alright.
My name is Pete Zika. I live in the 45th Ward.
First I'd like to recognize the 15 members of this council
who are also members of the brand new Un American.
Let's reignite McCarthyism caucus
Alderman political opportunists
and Sham Patriots, Beal Cardona, Chico,
Conway Lopez, Napolitano Quinn,
Riley, Taliaferro, WABA
and Viegas, Aldo Women political opportunists
and Sha Patriot, Scott Silverstein, Tavarez
Alder person political opportunist and champ Patriot Spto.
For those of you who served in the military,
you're dishonoring your service.
For those of you who find your ideas at the end
of the Boss bar sober up, for those of you
who never found a grift you didn't like, you need to go.
For those of you who appear on flow news
to spot right wing nonsense, your failures are evident.
For those of you who support the increasingly fascist
and authoritarian Israeli governments crimes against
humanity, including apartheid, war crimes
and genocide, shame on you.
Search for your seemingly missing humanity.
For those of you who sponsor MAGA rallies,
your critical thinking skills are suspect.
For those of you who don't help people
but support handouts to corporations like sound thinking,
start to do your job.
If Alders are accountable for everything
and everyone at public rallies they attend, we need
to call out Spto Napolitano
and Gardner for speaking at an event attended by Proud Boys
and to be convicted Insurrectionists
who desecrated flags were displayed.
Flag burning is free speech, so is sham patriotism
if you're upset over a burnt piece of cloth,
but not the 32,000 dead Palestinians.
Something is seriously wrong with you.
Quoting now from Alder Manhattan to make a claim
that speaking at an anti-war protest organized
by Chicagoans, where demonstration of First Amendment rights
that have been upheld by the Supreme Court were exercised
and makes one unfit
for committee leadership sets a dangerous
precedent for our council.
In divided times, our nation becomes more divided every day
because people take offense at the viewpoints of others
and instead of exercising, debate, deliberation,
critical thinking and prudence, they lazily perform disgust,
shaming, and punishment where one city, one council
and we must be better.
We owe it to the people we represent
and the city that we serve.
Paraphrasing Alderman Moore's Balkanized shot spotter
ordinance of earlier today, no alder shall be penalized
for speaking out against the increasingly
fascist and authoritarian.
Thank you very much for your comments.
However your time has expired.
Our next speaker, our next speaker this afternoon is
Anthony P. Anthony P.
Good afternoon, esteemed members of Chicago,
this great city council members Mayor Johnson.
Thank you for coming down
and beloved citizens both near and far.
Today we convene not merely as spectators,
but as active agents in the ongoing quest for justice.
Let us draw inspiration from the unwavering resolve
of Malcolm X, who fearlessly challenged systems
of oppression in the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi.
Let us embrace nonviolent resistance
as a powerful tool for social change.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr reminds us
that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
We must heed this call to action and strive for equality
and justice for all, not just some.
As followers of the Prophet Muhammad, we're reminded
of the importance of compassion, justice,
and standing up for the oppressed.
Let us emulate his teachings
as we work towards a more just society
and let us not forget the teachings
of the prophet Jesus Christ who preached love, compassion,
and importance of standing up for the marginalized.
His message of love and forgiveness should guide our actions
as we seek to dismantle systematic injustices.
For too long, our black brothers
and sisters have been regulated to the sidelines,
denied the dignity and respect they deserve,
but today we declare that enough is enough.
We will no longer accept the status quo.
We demand our rightful place at the table of equality.
Together let us unite as a powerful force for change.
Let us hold our leaders accountable
and demand that they work tirelessly to uplift
and protect all citizens regardless of race or background.
In the mor, in the mortal words of Malcolm X.
You can't separate peace from freedom
because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.
Let us work tirelessly. It's not just for peace,
but for true liberation.
For every person, every corner of our city
and every corner of our world deserves this in regards
to police and fire, age, retirement,
the old ideas did not work.
If they cannot pass the torch, how can they truly lead?
We've all been entry level at some position
in regards to the shot spotter.
We sat here earlier and saw the gentleman
who was representing that not
be able to answer any questions.
We saw somebody who wasn't first in line get up
and speak and sold her pitch.
This is not a room for sales.
This is a room to hear the voice of the people.
For you have been voting to officers in positions
of leadership, not just power
'cause the God Almighty, he's so powerful.
If he snaps his finger, we are gone.
We are but a mist in the great scheme of things.
Let us stand arm in arm united and walk
and let us sing that old Negro spiritual free at last.
Free Atla. Thank God Almighty,
we shall be free at last.
You you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Mark Kaplan,
honorable members of the city council.
Uh, my name is Mark Kaplan.
I'm here representing North Side Action for Justice,
which is a grassroots community led organization on the
north side of Chicago with its base in uptown Edgewater
Rogers Park and West Rogers Park.
I'm here to say that the move by
the all the people who were trying to remove
our strong ally,
all the person Byron Cjo Lopez from the committee chair is
nothing but a cynical attempt to remove and silence
and all the person who historically has
been fighting for people
in communities all around Chicago.
Before Byron was an older person,
he was the executive director of the Pilsen Alliance
and he was one of the leaders
and organizations that came together for a campaign
that Northside Action for Justice is involved in
called the Lift the Bad Campaign,
which is a sit statewide coalition
to implement rent control, which we desperately need
to tackle the problem of homelessness
and the dismantling of communities around the city
and the destabilization of families.
Byron has a track record
that is unmatched in this council
or around the city for that matter of
being a fighter who will stand with every community,
every people in the city, be they black,
brown, white Palestinian,
fighting for justice in his own ward.
He has fought for the PE
and worked with, not spoken for,
but with the people that are, um,
in the CHA housing developments which are under attack.
I think this council really needs to consider
Byron's historic, historic commitment
through practice
and really not at all
be swayed by this cynical maneuver to use
a rally
that Byron spoke at for justice.
So he was asked to speak there
and then come up with some contrived
story about because there was an American flag
that was burned at some point when he wasn't even there,
that he should be removed as his chair
as the chairperson. Thank you so much.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our our next speaker is Jeff Tischhauser.
Uh, thank you. My name is Jeff Tischhauser.
I'm a resident of the city
and I've worked as an investigator
for over 10 years looking into far, far right groups
and attacks against democracy
and I'm here to talk about fairness
and what an actual threat to democracy looks like.
Attacking an alder
for attending a anti-war pro protest is absurd,
but let's apply this logic
to other people in the room right now.
Three alders were present at a
spoke at a rally attended by proud Boys.
Some of the people in that room in that
rally went on on J six to attack police officers.
One of them who Jim Gardner spoke to hurt someone,
hurt a police officer with a flagpole,
stabbed him with a flagpole.
Should these alders be held to account for their actions?
Well, these authors, they create a space
that enable proud boys, right enabled space
for proud boys to grow and thrive.
Proud boys seek to do harm against a range
of perceived enemies including women, Jewish folks,
LGBTQ plus communities, migrants.
Plenty of research at this time fall
of 2020 when this rally happened showed
that proud boys were using these rallies to
radicalize conservatives.
I mentioned this. I emailed Jim Gardner, I emailed der sdo,
I emailed all their Napolitano, never heard back.
These alders did not pronounce denounce the proud boys then
and they didn't even seem to care.
But instead of applying your logic to these alders,
we're here talking about something absurd.
Vet's burning flags is a time honored tradition of protest
that goes back to the 19th century vets.
Burning flags is mainstream.
Democratic voters believe that burning a flag is not,
it should not be illegal
and nobody in the audience
of this anti-war pro protest was speaking about violence.
It was just the opposite. They were trying to stop violence.
So what's worse? What is the bigger threat to democracy?
What shows better judgment?
Supporting alders who give safe spaces to proud boys
who viciously attacked police on J six
or attacking an alder who listened to an anti-war speech.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Daniel Lake Macher.
My name is Daniel Lock Macher.
I'm a US Navy veteran and a board member member.
Just second Please. One A moment. Excuse
me sir. Just a
second.
I would've ask that you all refrain from your outburst in
the middle of people's presentation.
Please start the gentleman's time over please.
Just a second sir, you may commence.
My name is Daniel Lamaer.
I'm a US Navy veteran
and a board member of about face veterans against the war.
I'll first read a statement from about face
and then I'll report from my firsthand experience at the
event on March 22nd.
About Face is a membership organization
of more than 2300 members.
They're active duty and post nine 11 service members.
We stand today with Alder Byron Joe Lopez
and we condemn the politically motivated attacks
and this attempt at removing him from his committee position
On March 22nd, Marine
veterans Zachary Cam burned the flag
that he flew in Afghanistan
to highlight US complicity in the ongoing genocide
of Palestinians in Gaza.
He did this as an act of personal accountability as well
for his own participation in the unjust occupation
of the Afghan people.
There is no honor in attempting to use Zach's personal act
of accountability to call attention to the genocide
of Palestinians as a reason to target Alder CJ Lopez.
We urge the city council to return its focus
to addressing the urgent needs of residents.
We encourage the city council to build on its support
of just causes in the wider world, such
as the City Council ceasefire resolution.
The Alder CJ Lopez worked tirelessly to support.
Now for my personal statement
as a person present at City Hall on March 22nd, I was there
before the protest began.
I was present a few feet away from Zach when he burned his
flag and I was still there at the protest later, well
after Zach spoke and when Alder cer Lopez arrived
and gave a speech, I know many of the people
who were present and nobody has said
that they saw all their Ciro Lopez there
during Zach's speech or when Zach burned his flag.
I've also spoken with the event organizers who confirmed
that si Joe Lopez hadn't been told either before or
after his arrival at that event
that the flag birding had occurred.
These are undisputed facts among those who were present.
Now, I'm not even going to use my full time
because there's little else to say pertaining
to these actions that are targeting other Alder CIL Lopez
'cause there's no basis in facts of what happened
that give reason for the city council
to continue considering this issue.
However, there are life
and death matters that the city council should consider.
These include how Chicago can work toward ending the
genocide of Palestinians abroad and providing housing
and funded community services for all,
whether newly arrived here
or having lived here for generations.
Focus on investing in our communities
and supporting the cause of liberation
and the end of the occupation from Turtle
Island to Palestine.
Thank you.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Mr. Bravo.
First of all, I'm on time. Is Zachary here? Zachary?
Zach, are you here? Just Zach. Come over here. Zach, please.
I'm on time here. Lemme say what I have to say here.
First and foremost, I am a 100% disabled
Vietnam veteran, uh, 19 67, 68.
I am here today to stand up
and come to support Alman Byron Scho Lopez, accused
of burning the American flag
or falsely speaking out of our American flag.
Alman Scho Lopez is a fine supporter of veterans.
He has supported our veterans at the American Legion,
Manuel Perez Jr.
Post 10 17 in past events such as
attending the Memorial Day
ceremony every year since he got elected attention,
attending the uh, labor Day events
and also on, um, on Veterans Day.
He has attended our events at our plaza
that is located on 26th Street and Colon in Little Village.
He has attended the military, military funerals
and a supporter of the or of various
or veterans organizations as well as well
as donating food,
Excuse me, Sir, on to various organizations.
Excuse me, sir. As per
the, as per the hold
Your stop his time.
Please stop his his time. Stop his time.
Please remove Gentleman Sergeant at Arms.
Please remove this gentleman. Thank you.
8,000. Just a second please.
You may commence.
He has attended many military funerals
and has supported other various veteran organizations
as well as donating food to the needy in the Pilsen area
and Little Village area during the holiday seasons.
As for the, as for the Dirty Dozen, I call the alderman
for calling for him to resign.
Shame on you. Do you all have nothing more
to do than wasting your time to bring someone down?
Read the newspapers, watch tv.
Alderman Byron six Lopez is always in the news
because he cares so much for people
and where they live, how they live their needs.
He cares for the people you haters need to stop, chill out
and take care of your own business, of your own ward.
I I ask this of you the courage to address all of you.
He will close the book on all of you.
I want to thank you and Zachary here. I still got time.
Zach. Zachary, come on Zach, I got time.
Zach there.
Alright, well, I wanna thank you all anyway.
I had the perpetrator that I don't wanna use that the fella
who burned the flag was supposed to be here.
Maybe they wouldn't give him a ticket to, to speak.
Hold on Zach. Come Time cannot be
transferred to another speaker.
Thank you very much. Your time has expired.
Our next speaker is Zoe Lee.
This three minutes is for the citizens of Chicago
and the citizens of United States of America.
I'm not speaking to anyone in this room,
so while the public servants are ignoring
me, this is for y'all.
Black people and the citizens of Chicago need
to stop relying on the Democratic Party
to fight for our interests.
The Democratic Party are funding wars, genocides,
illegal immigrants with our tax dollars.
There is an urgent housing
and property crisis unfolding across America
and it seems that not enough attention is being given
to this pressing issue.
My family has been waiting for six months
for an answer from the judge in northern district federal
court for our building being illegally demolished
and was never compensated by the city.
With the help of the 17th Ward Alderman, David Moore,
who was a disgrace this summer,
grand Lux restaurant closed down due to rising taxes.
It was a beloved staple in downtown Chicago.
Every night they would generously donate leftover
food to the homeless.
Unfortunately, due to the increasing cost
and their commitment to providing affordable dining
for families, they made the tough decision to leave Chicago.
It's sad to see the impact on downtown.
Due to businesses leaving, we're losing a
significant part of our city.
The cost of living is causing people to go bankrupt.
People can't afford rent, groceries, healthcare, education.
As someone who has never aligned myself with a particular,
a particular political party, I'm troubled by the lack
of focus on our communities,
by prominent black figures in Congress
and black civil rights organizations.
Despite the dire conditions in our neighborhoods,
there seems to be an unwavering loyalty
to the Democratic Party, which I find perplexing.
I believe it is time for a shift in our voting culture
and a revelation, a reevaluation, reevaluation
of the two party system.
While I may not agree with all the policies
of the Republican Party, I believe in the importance
of having open and honest conversations.
Black America is funding America in a democratic party,
and of course, America, with the help
of the Democratic leadership in Congress
does what it does best.
And that is keeping people,
especially black people oppressed.
The biggest corporation in America are black people,
and we have yet to receive our reparations
or 40 acres and a mule.
We fought through slavery, we fought through reconstruction.
We fought through Jim Crow.
We are still fighting and they're giving illegal immigrants.
What our ancestors fought for,
the Montgomery boycott took place December 5th, 1955
to December 20th, 1956
and was the first large scale us
demonstration against segregation.
Black people economically disrupted those bus companies.
Why are black people paying taxes?
Why are Chicago citizens paying property tax at this point?
Why are American citizens paying taxes?
And we can't and we can't afford to live?
The Democratic party doesn't care about
anyone but themselves.
They have learned how the victim shame the Republican party.
The black elected give government officials
starting from the federal to the state.
You can't push a socialist agenda in a capitalist society.
So to all the Democrat Socialists of America,
especially the Hispanics.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is George Blakemore.
Yeah, please check my time. Uh, uh.
Anyway, I'm appalled to see these white
Arabs and these white Jews fighting over Africa.
I'm gonna give you a brief history lesson that's Africa.
It belongs to the black men.
The white Jews are, are the real Jews are from Ethiopia.
I'm giving you a little brief history left.
Uh, after World War ii, the British
and the others white folks in Europe say,
we don't want 'em all in America,
but where you gonna send them?
Send 'em to Jerusalem, send 'em to Israel.
But the Arabs white A was already there, so they didn't,
it doesn't belong to neither one of you.
It doesn't belong to the white Jew or to the white.
A this is a black man's land, the black man's land.
So again, this flag
that you talking about have enslaved black people, the same
flag have killed black people have raped,
black people have disenfranchised black people.
Don't tell me about this flag.
Now, all these years, this red, white,
black people have fought in all these war,
the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, world War I,
world War ii, the, the A war,
the Korean War, all these war.
And when these black people came back,
they treated them like second class
citizens used the N word.
So all of this mess that's going on between these Arabs
and these, uh, so-called white Jews,
I have no interest.
I'm a selfish man.
Self preservation is the first law of nature.
And my main concern is black people.
When I see another people coming over here, uh, uh,
displacing black people on on the sanctuary mess,
never been enslaved in America on the sanctuary do-do
and and they getting jobs.
They getting good service and, and everything.
Black man, you stay out of that stuff with these white Arabs
and these white Jews.
This is not your fight. This is not your fight.
Something is evil here. Something is corrupt here.
All of these people are democratic here,
or one party city or one party.
The democratic machine.
You go to China, they got one party, one party rules town,
one party rules.
The city of Chicago, the Democratic Party.
I'm tired of all of them.
The black ones, the white ones, the Asian ones,
all of 'em, and the Hispanic ones.
So, uh, look, something is evil here.
Very un-American here. Well, what is America?
America enslaved black people. We are not migrants.
We're not new or rivals. So
Thank you very much Mr. Blakemore
for your comments. However, your time has expired.
Our next speaker is Wan Sims.
He,
So we, um, so I thought, I had a thought in my head.
Are we pledging allegiance to the flag or to our heritage?
It says one nation under God, indivisible.
But in this room right now, we divided
over C Joe Lopez there and his political stunt
because that's all we can call it.
Because I use the word and I'm gonna use it.
Please forgive me, but n don't n****r me,
don't play me for stupid.
Don't play me for somebody not who don't understand.
So Mr. Lopez, if the, like I said, the flag burned,
the smoldering remains at your feet.
There's no way you don't look down
and see the remnants of the red, white, and blue.
There's no way as a elected official here, representation.
But still, we gonna over in this area stand up for Seago
because of heritage in this area.
We gonna say no go.
Because of pledging allegiance to the flag
as a United States citizen, as a citizen, as an American,
black people should be burning that joint.
Every five minutes, every time you think
of the middle passage, just burn a flag for no reason.
Look, every time you think of 1940 through 50 Selma, Alabama
through Mississippi, burn a flag, let it burn.
However, the sensational the way he sensationalized
that event, and no one's saying that you can't protest.
Please protest this course. Please protest inequality.
But I don't see nobody over here protesting the genocide
that's taking place in Chicago.
Black children dying.
Look, 32, 33 people shot and, and less than 48 hours.
But I don't see no flags burning over this.
But y'all sensationalize everything else.
So we gonna say these new arrivals, y'all gonna have flags.
Y'all going to wear these garments, y'all do everything.
Y'all open y'all doors, but not to those black Americans.
But I ain't want to use the word that most
of y'all would rather me prefer use.
But still, y'all gonna stand up here.
My grandfather fought for the liberties that y'all share
with American people from sure Toho
to ensure the liberties that y'all share.
You owe the American people an apology.
You should be standing up and apologizing.
That's what you should be doing.
You shouldn't hide them trying to champion you
because it's wrong.
You can't say I don't see the flag even
after that, man, I, I, whoever he was a stunt political.
But this is not politics. This is reality.
And what's happening with Chicagoan,
black Chicagoans is a reality that y'all choose to ignore.
Y'all keep y'all mouth shut today,
but we going to stand in front of flags.
We going scream for Palestine.
Why black blood running in the streets of Chicago
and all over this country though, but y'all screaming.
We got 12, 11 people right now up against him.
That's y'all colleague.
But s**t, shouldn't we be talking about the real issues,
homelessness, death, murder, all these different things
that's mixed up in this committee.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Our next speaker is Neil Nik.
Please remember that people of all ages are listening
to public comments and we ask that you maintain respect
for others and refrain from personal attacks
or using profanity.
Thank you Sergeant Ed Arms for restoring order.
I believe we have, I believe we have
one more public speaker.
Our next speaker is Neil Resnikoff.
I'm speaking for the Chicago Anti-War Coalition.
Alderman Byron Scho Lopez
has been opposing the US government incited genocide
of the Palestinians.
He deserves support for this alderman Byron
Scho By I
Alderman Byron Scho Lopez has been demanding greater federal
funding for displaced migrants seeking
shelter in Chicago.
He deserves support for this alderman.
Byron Scho Lopez has been supporting
priority development in Chicago of affordable housing
and housing for the homeless, not gentrification.
He deserves support for this alderman, Byron Sig.
Joe Lopez has been opposing the Democratic National
Convention in Chicago
because the lack of support by genocide Joe
and the Democratic Party on the issue
of the Israeli genocide, on immigration,
on environmental justice
and affordable housing among other issues.
Alderman Byron Scho Lopez deserves support
for his forthright and outspoken stance for peace
and justice and not criticism, not censure,
not attempts to remove him from the chairmanship
of the housing committee.
Alderman Wapac is one of the ones to be condemned.
Unensured for daring to call Alderman
Scho Lopez, anti-American,
you few alderman who should drop any resolution
criticizing Alderman Byron Scho Lopez.
Instead, you should support the stands he has taken
for rebuilding the public health department
and other issues.
Thank you. Thank you very much for
Your comments, your Honor.
There are no further speakers who have timely signed up
for the public comment period.
Thank you very much as set forth in the letter
calling for the special.
Thank you. Uh,
we, we, you, you, you did not sign up in time to speak.
I'm sorry to hear that. Sergeant at
arms please restore order.
Okay. Those of you who are here
to participate in democracy, I'm in the gallery.
I will respectfully ask, excuse me,
I will respectfully ask you all to show some decorum.
If I have to stop again,
I'm gonna have to clear the chambers.
Okay. Alright.
As set forth in the letter calling for the special meeting,
Sergeant Ed Arms, please remove these individuals,
Sergeant Ed arms, please remove these individuals.
Excuse me, sir, if you continue to speak, I'm gonna ask you
to be removed as well because you
please remove this gentleman from the, from the, uh, listen,
you're forgiven, but please remove them.
Thank you. I hope that more people are willing to forgive.
Please. J Sir, please. This is out of order.
You either sit down or be removed, which, okay.
Sit down or be removed.
Alderman Lopez, just wait a second. Okay.
Just wait a second. Thank you. I I see your hand.
Just wait a second. We're trying to restore some order here.
Those of you who wish to continue
to participate in democracy, I would ask
that you do it respectfully.
If you cannot, I will ask you to be removed now
as set forth in the letter calling for the special meeting,
the only item up for consideration is a resolution calling
for the removal of Alderman se Cho Lopez as the chairperson
of the Committee on Housing and Real Estate.
I know there are individuals that wish to speak to this.
We will take them in order.
Chair recognizes Alderman se Cho Lopez.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Mr. President.
There is no point of order.
The chair is recognize Seig Cho Lopez.
I will recognize you when that time comes. Please continue.
Alderman Seig Cho Lopez.
Thank you. Um, thank you Mr. President.
And first and foremost, let me, let's remind us
and I'll be try to ground all of us.
It is holy week
and I think there's no no greater lesson
on this holy week than the resurrection
of our faithing humanity.
And I think that we spoken you, I think we hear
from veterans, right?
Because I think this is the issue at hand.
I think it's incredibly important, especially in this body,
that we ground our conversations on facts and evidence
and not in propaganda or opinions.
Some people here may have an opinion
on First Amendment rights.
That doesn't make it okay to try
to strip anyone on the very same thing
that veterans have fought for us,
which is the First Amendment, right?
So, make no mistake, this is an opportunity
for the council to start doing the business of the city
of Chicago or continue to pander
and to put the lives of people at risk.
That's what I'm very grateful for.
All the mental affair who met with me
in good faith over the weekend, actually.
And that's what I bring it up on Easter Sunday, we met
and we discussed how this
pressure may have been presented
and may feel some people, I hope now
that you have heard from veterans directly
veterans who also need housing, veterans
who need mental healthcare, veterans
that need your attention just
and anybody other chicara needs.
Unfortunately, there are those agendas
that wanna keep us divided that yesterday
blame the central city status
for the conditions inner city.
But forgot to mention the reason why we became a target
of fastest Governor Abbott.
It was the DNC and common sense
will say that the least that the party can do
is to stop funding wars, to stop funding the, the,
the inhumanity that this is including for the veterans
that have served with dignity
and respect protecting the First Amendment right.
At least there's two colleagues of mine
that need to have that conversation with me, Castile,
and I wanna refer to Alman Conway
and Alman Gil, which I proactively reach out to
so that we discuss this as adults that we are,
but yet I'm he, I'm yet to be listened
as I have apologized even for the way
that may have presented all my actions.
But one thing I'm not going to do is to condemn a veteran
for using his first amendment right that
I find reprehensible from veterans
not to listen to a veteran themselves.
So Alderman Conway and Alderman Gues.
I know that you have no regrets
for having put my family at risk.
I know that 'cause we discussed that on Sunday.
But I tell you right, that we do have a responsibility
in this body to make sure that the lives
of anybody are sacred.
That's why I stand firm condemning the inhumanity
or dehumanization of anybody.
I make no apologies for standing for First Amendment rights.
I think some of my colleagues need to have maybe a lesson of
what First Amendment rights mean.
But I'll tell you that in this body,
I made my commitment just as Alderman tell Pharaoh to look
for a different direction.
But now what you see today expose are the forms
and the tactics of division
and irresponsibility
who do not have any care for human life.
Because if there's no care
for the life of myself
and the three babies that I have at home, I find it hard
to believe that some of these colleagues
care deeply about veterans
and Chicagoans the way they claim to be.
So I challenge us today
and Alman fair to stop the political posturing,
to stop the divisions that stop us
for doing the work, for working people.
And they start today in Holy Week
to two to take the priorities that we have today, housing,
education, jobs or youth that are literally dying.
And the same guns that are being used on the south side,
on the west side are being used to keep people in Gaza.
So today you have my commitment to work
with every single one of you
to not only respect the constitution,
but when it's time to speak
up and say that something's wrong.
I would like to see my colleagues taking on this issue just
as the urgency that you can take in today.
So again, I will make my remarks
clear that if they any way, shape
or form my actions have offended
anyone, especially veterans.
I'll take full accountability.
But not, not once.
By no means I'm going to condemn a veteran
for using his first amendment right.
And furthermore, I do think that you have,
and you have always had my phone
at your disposal when you wanna talk about any veteran
issue, alderman Viega knows that
Alderman Congress knows that.
But when is it the time that we as a council,
when is the time that we're listening
to what's happening in the streets
and put aside our differences
or opinions to do the job of Chicagos
who need housing, especially in the black community.
And I've been critical hard
for those 20,000 homes in the west side on my colleague
when they've been, have left hanging
after declaring a natural disaster,
having vocal as well as that.
But one thing I'm not going to allow is
to receive messages threatening my life
or worse when we just saw seven migrants killed
in the bridge in Baltimore.
Immigrants we like it or not, also making a difference.
Palestinians in our city, building the city,
there's no businesses
and they don't deserve to be dehumanized.
But worse, I find this reprehensible
when we find in our voice messages, messages
that say Wetbacks do not deserve the first amendment right.
And I find that reprehensible.
So today you got my commitment as I made my apologies clear.
I have no condo, I have not participated
in any of those actions that unfortunately,
sir, my colleagues claim.
And at the same time, I'm not condemning a veteran
for his first amendment rights.
So wanna make clear
because these facts have become
a little bit fuzzy when it's convenient.
And I urge all my colleagues to work together.
Every single one of us.
I have even one of my colleagues who was there before me
and said, look, I probably wouldn't have seen anything
either, but this is conversation is not about that.
Make it loud, unclear. This conversation is about keeping
the status quo because there are those of us
who are not complicit
and have every right to express our opinions.
I hope that in the council, we found in this holy week,
not only the mercy, the compassion,
but also their determination to tackle together
the see the many issues
that our city is facing when we are under attack.
I appreciate the opportunity to engage with every single one
of you to discuss any concerns or any issues that you have.
But to distract us from the real issues in the city is a
disservice to Chicagoans
and to try to infringe on First Amendment rights.
It is a really dangerous precedent
because every Chicagoan
and every American has a First Amendment right.
And you have heard from veterans that I had the privilege
to serve and talk and discuss and bring together.
So I hope that the next step is bringing us all together,
ultimately affair with all the veterans, so that we look
for a better way to addressing this without putting
anybody's lives at risk.
Thank you so much, Mr. President. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
Chair recognizes Alder. Talia Farro.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I rise to speak on this issue
and I want to thank my colleague for his passionate speech.
Uh, let me back all the way up to we,
when we first began, uh, conversation regarding this issue,
uh, this issue never came up with regard to, um,
anyone violating First Amendment rights.
Um, in fact, we all support First Amendment rights.
Uh, we support your right
or the right of the veteran to burn a flag.
It's a right that he's been granted constitutionally.
And so we support that, although we may not agree with it,
and although we may agree that it's reprehensible conduct,
we support the rights that he's been granted
and all of us have been granted.
So the issue for me was never about whether
or not you stood with an organization that burned a flag,
nor was there an act, nor was there an accusation
that you burned a flag.
I think the issue that that arose for me and for others
and many of my colleagues, was who you did it with.
I stood firm with you, alderman Lopez.
I stood very firm with you denouncing the actions
of those police department members who associated
with the Proud Boys.
And along with you, I called for discipline
that they should be disciplined because of their actions.
Now, is it their first amendment right to do so?
It absolutely is.
They have a right to participate and associate.
And so it was never about that.
It was never about your right to stand up for veterans.
Please direct your comments towards me.
Ultimate what it is about Mr.
President thank you, is a call
and a higher standard that we call ourselves to,
to stand with organ organizations
that are neither far right nor far left.
And the organization that our colleagues stood with
stood for overthrowing what they call the US Empire,
that they should stand
and they should build into a powerful, militant organization
to overcome and rise against the US empire.
That the US empire was the enemy,
and that the US empire was the belly of the beast.
That, that Mr.
President is what I found reprehensible.
Because if we're going to fight on one end to stand against
other department members that have chosen to associate
and affiliate themselves with a right wing organization,
we can certainly stand against one of our own colleagues
and to stand with an organization that's far left.
So it is not about removing anyone's
or infringing upon anyone's first amendment right.
In fact, they should be enjoyed.
But every now and then, we have to call ourselves
to a higher standard to say whether
or not we should associate with certain groups in order,
in order to exercise our rights
or when we exercise our rights.
But I do wanna say this, I certainly appreciate my colleague
for the text messages that we've corresponded with
or amongst one another.
Uh, I want to thank him for meeting with me, um, in public
or in private rather, um, even on Easter
to talk about these issues.
And it is for that reason.
I joined in a statement with him today
because we have issues that are facing this city
and that are facing our wards individually that we have
to stand up for and that we have to fight for.
And that oftentimes this can take away from the
work that needs to be done.
But I also wanna make it very clear,
and not just to my colleague,
but to all of us, that we have to be careful at times
when we exercise our rights.
Um, certainly all of us would like to exercise our right
to live where we'd like to, but it's
because, uh, it is because of that, right?
That we can do so. But we understand
that in taking this responsibility and city employees
and city employees who take that, uh, responsibility
of city employment, that we give up that right?
And if we choose to live outside the city,
there's a recourse.
Even though we're exercising our rights, there's a recourse
when we choose to do so.
Our good friend in this council a year
or so ago, apologized for this council
because he exercised his rights.
That was a demonstration in which in his heart
he felt that he needed to do.
But he could have argued
that I am exercising my first amendment right
and there is no need for an apology.
But he did so because he felt it was the right thing to do.
And I accepted that apology as a man.
And then I could go on and talk about the rights of our, uh,
former superintendent that certainly has a right
to associate and have friendship
with anyone he chooses.
It's his privilege. But in taking on a responsibility
as a superintendent of police, he gave up that right
to associate with non non fellas.
And I've had to do the same.
So it's our responsibility when we take on certain,
uh, positions within this city to understand
that yes, we do have a right,
we have a first amendment right to do a lot of things,
but there are times when we have to recognize that
exercise, exercise of that, right?
The exercise of that right may not be best for the people.
So yes, I agree that we need to stand up for our veterans.
I agree that we need to address our concerns
regarding what's going on in Gaza
and the harm that's being caused to the
thousands of women and children.
I agree that we need to continue to fight so
that our wards are better and that the city are better.
But I believe that we also have to look at how we do that
and understand that the way
and the manner that we do it will sometimes cause
harm to others.
And so it's, it's with that, that I'm glad
that we had an opportunity to speak
because both of us want to go about doing the work
of the people and the 68,000 veterans
that are homeless in the city.
And the 1,173 veterans that reside in my ward, we have
to take this opportunity to make it better for them.
And so it is with that, that I stood up for what I believe
that although in the exercise of my colleagues', uh, rights,
I just wish they could, they could have been, um,
done in a more careful manner and in more thoughtful manner
because the way in which it was done,
or the group in which it was done
with brought concern to me.
And it's because of that, that I became involved.
And I want to say to my colleague, I condemn any,
any threats, be it against you
or your family, uh, is uncalled for, uh,
and is reprehensible as well,
because we are here to serve the people.
And folks need to realize that oftentimes
we are gonna advocate for something they may disagree with,
but it does not rise to a level where you should threaten
a man and his family.
And so I condemn that
and I stand with you in condemning that.
And so I, I say with a heart, um,
and as a man that I am willing to apologize for that to you
if in any way I had any role in that,
because I certainly do not want anyone sending death
threats to you and your family.
But at the same time, I want to say that I'm very grateful
that we were able to sit down
and speak as to our concerns about the organization, uh,
that you associated with on last Friday, Mr.
President, I called for a resignation
of his committee manship.
Um, but
after speaking with my colleague,
as I have in other occasions,
and as I have asked for my own, in my own personal life,
I've asked for forgiveness because I'm not a perfect man.
And nor have I ever been, been,
and I've had to ask for forgiveness on
for some certain things.
And when my colleague
and I spoke, I forgave him for what I had in my heart
with believe what I believe to be an improper action.
So it's with that, that I could accept his apology
and say, that is enough for me
before removing him from this position.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. So, just for some clar clarification,
and thank you to the alders who want this,
this resolution that is being considered is for the removal
of Alderman Sigil Lopez as the chairperson
of the Committee on Housing and Real Estate.
And there are individuals who are speaking to this.
Once this conversation is over, there will be a moment
where a motion for this resolution can be made.
That is the order in which I'm operating.
So with that chair recognizes
Alderman David Moore.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Um, thank you, alderman Tele Federal.
And before we all speak, I'm, I was hoping
that maybe others would probably stand out,
but if not, um, I'll just go ahead.
Um, first of all, I'm not even clear
what the purpose is of removing him.
Not saying that it's not, um, valid,
but it's not spelled out here.
I've heard many different things I've heard.
We are removing him 'cause he burned a flag.
Today is my first day I'm hearing that we are removing him
because he was connected to an organization.
I heard we're removing him because he didn't apologize.
And he doubled down. And then I heard we're removing him
because he's a Democrat.
And he spoke out against Biden.
What's the reason I'm not clear?
So how can we remove a person
when we're not clear on why we're removing them?
That's number one. Number two,
just so happened, uh, it was budget hearings that day,
and it was late.
Officers said, you all need to go out another door.
There's a protest going on, Mr.
President, what they protesting the
budget for what's going on?
Nobody knew why. I walked downstairs standing two feet away
from Byron Lopez.
I hear him talking about a cease fire,
something we've stood for, as well as releasing the, um, um,
Hamas, releasing the hostages.
So he was talking about the cease fire keys.
I've supported the cease fire,
almost went there to stand with him.
I had somewhere to be, would I have been caught up in this
when I didn't see no flag, when I didn't see smell, no fire.
And like we all do when we support something,
we just go stand at the camera and say, I support.
I have no doubt that that's what Derman,
Byron Citro Lopez did after being here in his budget hearing
and running late for a press conference.
So if any one of us would've stood there
saying no smelling, no fire, saying no smell,
I'm two feet away saying nothing but a camera.
Will we all be then saying, Hey, you support X, Y,
Z when he's thinking he's standing there supporting
justice ceasefire.
With that said, I cannot support nothing like this.
But it needs to be made clear.
Somebody gotta stand up and make it clear.
Not just 10 different individuals saying one
thing, this one saying another one.
But I've heard that I listed out four different
things of why he should go.
And I don't think that's that's clear here,
because I can say why everybody should go.
And so, and so, I I just hope
before we everybody get into these comments, uh,
that's why I, I I I, I hope taking my hat off to,
um, alderman, Chris Taylor Farro, if the apologies
what I was hearing everybody wanted.
We got that. We got it.
So I think we would get, we got bigger fish to fry.
We got Ogden Park to build Mr. President.
We got 69th between National and Damon to take care of.
And so we got some real business to take care of,
and we need to move on from this.
Thank you, Mr. President
Chair recognizes Alderwoman.
Scott.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Um, it wasn't easy
to put my name down on that list.
Um, but one thing that always stands out
to me is integrity, right?
I wanna read a few words.
Honesty, morality, incorruptibility,
honor, character, truth, decency,
uprightness, and wholeness.
Those are things that we hold ourselves,
that we're all supposed to hold ourselves to be, uh,
being an elected official.
I am not here to play God.
I like you, and I know I'm supposed to direct you,
but I like you.
Tell Me you like that. But
I, I like Byron.
But I do think that when you do hold an elected position,
you have a certain accountability, right?
And it's important for us to all make sure that we're,
we don't align ourselves with people.
That may not be those words that I read off of brightness,
Having integrity for me.
It wasn't about the burning of the flag.
The group that was here just made themselves a mockery.
Being right here on in the gallery.
You don't, I can't tell you who to align yourself with,
but I do expect for you to hold yourself with an integrity.
You know? And so when you look at things like that, it's,
it's a, it's a certain decency that we all must have
with our, within ourselves.
When we take this oath, it's the oath that we take.
And so I, I look at the struggles that we have within this,
just being a black woman, the struggles that we have.
And when you look at the, this is no matter
where we come from, this is America.
We know that that American flag represents all Americans.
And we all have a choice. Some of us don't have a choice.
We're stuck here. And so it is important
that we just hold true to ourselves and, and,
and hold true to what leadership really is.
You made a comment about let's start doing the business
of the city of Chicago.
But when we align, when we align ourselves, that with,
and there's no disrespect to is Israel Palestine,
but there's nothing that I can do sitting on the city limits
of Chicago in the 24th ward
that I can do anything for, for those groups.
I can only align myself,
Be older woman.
There will be order here, there
This girl shot in the city of Chicago,
Older, older woman.
Just a second. Okay? Thank you very much.
Thank you for restoring order, Sergeant at arms.
And so there's No older woman. Just a second. Okay?
State stands.
You don't live in my ward.
All right? Please continue.
All the women to direct your ward.
So there's no disrespect. I respect all lives.
We're all here. We all make this world.
We all make this world great.
Black, white, brown, Jew, Jewish,
um, what other religions?
Buddhism? Everybody make this world great.
There's no one person bigger or better than the other.
And that's what we need to all recognize.
When we respect human lives
and each other, then maybe we'll get somewhere.
But right now, we don't. We don't respect human lives.
We have young African American men,
brown boys killing each other in the street.
There's no outcry for that.
Ever, ever over 32
people were shot this weekend.
There's never a outcry. Never.
15 people were shot in my water.
And I'm gonna repeat that until everybody knows.
15 people were shot in October.
I didn't get, I got five, probably aldermen
to stand up with me that day.
15 people. I had nine females shot one person killed.
No one stood up with me.
This violence happens every day in our communities.
Where is the outcry?
Where we're sitting here taking up time?
I could have, I could have had ward night.
But instead I'm here dealing with issues that I want us all
to do better, all do better.
So when we deal with city issues, deal with the housing,
deal with the 3000 vacant lots that I have in my community,
and I'm looking for developers deal with the fact
that we don't even have a grocery store.
And I gotta go to Oak Park to go to the grocery store, deal
with the fact that I have homeless people living on the
streets or Viox that are about to co come in
or streets that I can't fix.
'cause I get $1.5 million just to spend a year.
And my whole entire neighborhood has 49 miles of alley.
Let's deal with that. Let's deal with the real issues
that impact us in our community.
Let's deal with the gun violence.
Let's deal with people, children
that are carrying AK 40 sevens on the streets daily.
Let's deal with that. Let's deal with the teachers
that are impacted with the AK 40 sevens
that are entering into their schools
and the kids are being killed right outside
of their, their school.
Let's, let's, let's deal with those issues.
Thank you. Uh, so again, just for a second, Alder, uh,
Sergeant Ed arms, please restore order.
I'm gonna ask those individuals to be removed.
Please for disruption, please. Thank you.
So again, I'm not here to play, God,
I'm not here to play with your life.
I'm not here to play with your committee.
But we gotta make the right decisions
that's gonna affect all of us.
And we gotta do it in a decent and orderly way.
I want this, I I want us to sit here and think about it.
You know, people go to jail
where we have second chance programs, right?
Everybody makes a mistake,
but it's how we rectify the mistakes when we make them.
Those are lessons that we teach our children, correct?
So if we continue
to do things the the wrong way all the time,
and you just get a slap on the hand,
then you're gonna do it again.
Let's not do it at all.
Thank you. The chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.
Wrong one.
Thank you Mr. President
and good afternoon members of the city council.
I think we need to clear up some things.
So allow me the opportunity to try.
I I think all of us have said ad nauseum
that we understand that burning
of an American flag is a guaranteed, right?
I'd say super majority of us find
the execution of that, right?
Repulsive 'cause it is none of us would ever choose
to do such an act, whether it was last week
or just 20 minutes before this meeting started.
People are choosing to express themselves in what is
GU a guaranteed, right?
Got it. But we are here not
because of that to my colleague's question.
We are here because of two words,
character and judgment.
When you are in leadership in this body for this mayor,
you are expected to have
both good character and solid judgment.
We expect our leaders in this body
and indeed in this building to exercise
good judgment and knowing that what they do is a reflection,
not just of their wards,
but of this city,
of this historic chamber.
And the good that we say we do.
Do mistakes happen? Of course they do.
But when our colleague sought as one speaker said today
to sensationalize and build and point fingers
and self victimize himself for his own political ment,
that was a failure of judgment and character.
And make no mistake, ladies
and gentlemen of this body, that is exactly what happened.
Because there was no immediate apology saying,
holy crap, I'm sorry.
Or I didn't see what is clearly two feet away from him.
None of that transpired.
Actually, what did transpire were emails, accusations,
and questionable threats made to us, his colleagues,
that we were doing this
because we are racist, we're fascists, we're xenophobic,
or we are trying to appease our donors.
As he told one news outlet, not that it was
because of his actions,
which he has never once taken recon responsibility,
even in a recent interview this weekend,
he could not bring himself to condemn the activity
that transpired before he spoke.
That ladies and gentlemen, is why we're here.
Because if we are going to hold our own employees
to a standard that we tell them that they have
to use better judgment because they are in positions
of power, then god dammit, that applies to us too.
You cannot live by a double standard.
You cannot claim that this is a conspiracy simply
because you're a Democratic socialist.
That is bull crap.
And you know it because what is at stake, Mr.
President, is the integrity of your agenda.
When your leaders' motives are questioned,
when they sit in the positions of authority, given
as we heard from the veteran who was thrown out
just a short while ago, that how can you trust someone
to make decisions for you when he is stamp stomping
on everything you believe in?
And that is before we get to what his
newfound friends esp
to go greater than 1968,
what happened in 1968, Mr.
President, a convention that went off the rails
and decimated the west side, the likes it has never,
ever recovered from that is what we're espousing.
That is what we're promoting. That's what we're proud of.
To have an alderman of the city of Chicago say,
let's do worse than 1968.
Have you lost your mind?
Nobody, nobody has the right
to want to do more damage
and carnage to the black community while pretending
that they care about black is.
Nobody has that. Right?
You can hide behind the flowery rhetoric.
You can hide behind the crocodile tears,
but you cannot hide from the truth.
Whether you knew or didn't know fine,
whether you were there, didn't,
didn't know the sign about genocide, Joe, fine.
But it is, it is plain as day what
that group advocates for.
And you willingly showed up,
Direct your attention towards me
and do the very best that you can to use, um, uh, language
that is more suited for, for children.
Okay?
Sometimes Mr. President kids gotta
hear 'cause it is what it is.
I will say this, Mr. President,
all of this, as my colleagues have said, numerous times
could have been avoided if someone had just simply
said, I didn't know.
I'm sorry. And Mel meant it.
That never happened because that was never the case.
This has been used to trivialize
and deflect from everything
that everyone said we should be focusing on.
Yes, we should be focusing on housing.
Yes, we should be focusing on immigration.
And the migrants like the 2,500 who are in a box
with 52 cases of measles swirling around them.
All of that should be at the forefront.
This distraction served only those who have no solutions
to any of the problems, but needed a new enemy to focus on.
Mr. President, I support this resolution
because it is plain as day that when character
and judgment were in doubt, the actions
and continual actions
of our colleagues failed time and time again.
And no one in this chamber thought
to hold him accountable to it.
Now we can do that. Thank you, Mr. President
Chair recognizes Alder woman in,
Um, thank you, Mr.
President. So I rise to oppose this resolution.
Um, I uh,
brought this up in my newsletter that I sent out
to 49th Ward constituents, um, every week.
And I won't waste time restating the, the reasons
that I think some people have spoken to.
I appreciate, um, clarifications that obviously this,
you know, we've got a First Amendment rights are sacrosanct.
Um, I appreciate the, the questions
and the clarity around the fact that, um, some
of the actions and the conflation
of the flag burning were attributed
to Alderman Sig Cho Lopez and they weren't.
Um, I think
people should vote against this resolution.
'cause I appreciate, I appreciate colleagues who signed on,
who brought this, who brought this
to a special city council meeting.
I appreciate the offense that you've taken in the position
that you think that the behaviors
or the actions were not becoming of, of leadership.
Um, you have your right to your opinion as well.
Um, we saw how many,
this isn't a real question from Mr.
President, but look at the number of times that you had
to clear the room today.
I want you all to look around. We are here together.
I think almost everyone is here in attendance,
either in person or virtually.
Um, I had someone tell me today that they grew up in Chicago
and, you know, watch the council wars on TV as a child.
And I'm sure that's the experience
of actually many people here in this room.
And how, what they're seeing in council now
just pales in comparison.
Um, we call for better ethics and, and stronger character.
I have made calls like that similarly,
and I support those calls.
We do need to be better. We need to be smarter.
We need to think about our actions and our consequences
and the repercussions.
And also, I don't think that there's a person in this room
that hasn't not been 100% on that all the time.
And as colleagues, I'd hope that we'd be able to speak
with one another, um,
and not go through, you know, um,
people have accused Alderman Sig Cho Lopez
of aggrandizing this
or using this for kind of political things.
Um, and I've heard similar claims made
to people calling the special meeting.
And I think people's intentions are true.
I'd like to believe that, um, that people really wanted
to have a conversation that people really had concerns.
And also, we did not need a special city council meeting
to have that conversation.
Um, I think we all have each other's phone numbers.
Um, I am gonna stand here, right, as a leader
of the Chicago Progressive Caucus to say, um, to any
of our colleagues, if a member of our caucus
does something or says something that has offended you
or brings you cause for concern about their leadership
or about their place in this council, um, please call me.
'cause let's set up a meeting. Let's
sit down and talk about it.
Right? We can hold each other accountable
and we've got multiple tools and ways to do this.
This has become way too complicated. And Mr.
President, maybe I'll introduce a resolution, uh,
in council in April to suspend everybody's Twitter account.
Like, please, can you guys just get off Twitter, um,
or X, right on X, whatever we wanna call it these days.
Um, can people please think before they we speak?
Can you think about your own actions?
Can you think before you file a
resolution for a special meeting?
Can you think before you call a press conference,
can you think before you call someone anti-American
or Marxist or Socialist
or whatever the latest like bad word, what do we have?
DEI. What's the thing? Fascist. Thank you.
Um, can we think before we call names, um, can we turn
that little key right next to our mouths?
Um, and maybe have private conversations more than we have
public ones When it comes
to our own behavior and accountability?
I think we'd all do better in service to the people here,
um, to the people back in our wards.
Um, I think some really good things have come out.
I'm glad there's been apologies.
I'm glad there's been forgiveness.
If you have questions about the leadership of our colleague,
you should take those to him.
You should take them to the mayor.
Um, I know that we are the body
that determines our leadership,
and so we do have the right to,
to ask these questions and to bring these things.
But I think we should give our colleagues, um, the same,
um, right?
And, and I think privilege that I hope I would have.
Um, in thinking about my own statements
and the way I felt about this, I tried to think about
how I would act or if my opinion would be the same if it
were kind of a converse thing
or something that was particularly offensive
to my own beliefs.
And this goes to Alderman Morris points.
Um, there are things
that colleagues in this body have done since I've been in
office that I have found as deeply offensive.
There are, there are groups
that colleagues have associated themselves with,
comments they've made on social media that I have found
as deeply offensive as I think some of,
some people have found, right?
The, the actions and the words of the group, um,
where Alderman si Lopez spoke,
but I didn't feel like I had the need
nor the right to call them out
and say they shouldn't be in a leadership position.
We are hired by our voters,
and ultimately our constituents will have the
say in who represents them.
And I think that's an important thing
that we need to understand.
And of course, consequences have actions
or actions have consequences, and those things come down to,
but we could be dealing with this in a different way.
I think we should be. Um, so I urge my colleagues, I I,
I haven't heard or learned anything here
or heard any kind of compelling argument from anybody
who brought this resolution to say that
Byron Sig Cho Lopez should be removed as housing chair.
And ultimately just to kind of bring it back,
that is like why we were brought here today.
Um, I will be voting, no, I encourage my colleagues
to vote no, um, on this so that we can move forward.
And I encourage you if you have any further concerns, um,
that you take them up with Alderman Chil Lopez, um,
or Mayor Johnson, right, to talk about the leadership team
and let us get back to work.
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you.
Chair recognizes Alderman Conway.
You know, how did this get so far? I agree.
It seems so unfortunate and unnecessary.
Heck, I haven't, I haven't tweeted about
this, about this one time.
But I will say days ago, uh,
I had asked Alderman Sigil Lopez to apologize,
to ask the mayor to condemn the unbecoming actions
of a member of his leadership team so we could all move on
to the important issues that we have a responsibility
in this chamber to address,
making our communities a bit safer, creating good jobs,
getting our fiscal, uh,
improving our city's fiscal standing.
But, but here we are.
I actually will say, I, I, I believe Alderman Seigel Lopez
to be a good and decent person.
But in looking at the pictures,
it strains credulity that he didn't know
that the charge charge remains of our flag, read his feet.
And this all happened right outside our, our
outside our front door here.
But the scarier part seems to be
that he did it at the invitation
of an organization whose goal is to create chaos
and incite violence at the forthcoming
Democratic convention.
Now in the Navy, I fought to protect freedom,
and that includes the freedom of speech.
I fully support the First Amendment right to burn a flag
or speak freely with its ashes, uh, at your feet.
Heck, I crawled into a bunker in Afghanistan under Mor
to fire, to, to preserve and defend that freedom.
And I do it again. I know other people in this
chamber did similar.
Now, ultimate Sig show Lopez has a right to be inflammatory,
but he has a bigger responsibility as a leader in this body
and leader in this city
because this job isn't about elevating people
who want to burn things down.
It's about bringing people together who want
to build our communities up.
The First Amendment protects our right to speak,
but it doesn't avoid those consequences as city leaders.
There's no first Amendment right
to be chair of the housing committee.
There's no first Amendment right to be part
of the mayor's leadership team.
Now, I'd rather not be standing here today.
And frankly, I I was really torn on this, uh, myself and,
and, and Alderman Viegas were actually in the room
with Alderman Seigel Lopez and,
and Alderman Farrow and the mayor.
I'm not sure why we edited out of that, but we were, um,
but I was torn on this.
But in the aftermath, he seems
to have reveled in the division
and fan the flames of those who wish
to incite violence in this city.
And he continued to do so today, wagged his finger at myself
and, and alder in vie throughout all of the public comments.
And therefore, I firmly believe that he should be removed
as housing committee chair.
But I will also say in, in, in echoing some of the, some
of the comments that have made here, that whatever happens
when this is over, I hope that we can all in this chamber
come together and get back to doing the people's business.
Thank you, Mr. President
Chair recognizes Alderman Hopkins,
chair recognizes Alderman Hopkins.
Yeah, thank you. Uh, Mr.
President, uh, I wanna begin my comments by honoring
and thanking those like the previous speaker, uh,
alderman Conway, who served in the military
or in the case of Alderman Conway
continued to serve in the military.
Um, and,
and I salute those even, uh, the ones who spoke today
that I vehemently disagree with.
Uh, nevertheless, at some point they made the choice, uh,
to put their lives on the line
to defend the cost of freedom.
Uh, and we all owe a debt of gratitude to each of them.
Um, I did not serve, I am not a veteran.
Uh, however, I come from a military family.
As a matter of fact, I was born in a US Army hospital on
a US Army base.
And every morning in that US army base, since its existence,
the dawn begins with the ceremonial raising
of the American flag as it has for centuries
military establishments all around the country.
And it's a, a symbolic act.
It's a ritual done with reverence and with respect.
Not because it's some magic piece of cloth, but
because it's a symbol.
It's a symbol of our home.
It's a symbol of the nation that we call home
and that we protect and serve in all of our capacities,
whether we're in the military or elected officials or,
or whatever it is we do
to keep the fabric of our country together.
So, when I heard the news about
what happened on the sidewalk on LaSalle Street
in the building that I've worked for 30 years,
I was offended to my core.
And my response to that was similar to what some
of my other colleagues have said here today.
I called my colleague Derman Cicio Lopez,
and had a man-to-man discussion with him.
And I won't share the details of that conversation,
but I feel it was the right thing to do.
I had something to say. He listened,
he had something to say as well.
And that is how we need to handle things like this
as a legislative body.
Because the same constitution, the same bill of rights,
the same set of amendments to that constitution
that gives people like Alderman Cicio, Lopez
and others, the right to protest, the right to dissent,
the right to even engage in behavior that people like me
and others find offensive.
The same set of governing documents
creates the representative democracy that we are elected
to participate in, that we are elected to serve.
We have to protect all of it,
not just the First Amendment, the entire thing.
And those of us who have the honor of being elected, the 50
of us who are the legislative branch,
and the one of us, you, Mr.
President, who's the executive, have that responsibility.
And we have work to do,
and we can't do it if we allow these divisions
to continue escalating.
If we can continue pouring kerosene on the flames
of division within this body right now, we'll get
to the point where we won't be able
to tell the difference between.
And that abomination of 30 minutes of public commentary
that we listened to where hatred was
spewed on all different levels.
We can't do that. We
as elected leaders have to rise above that.
And that means we have to find a way to work together
with those of us who we disagree,
we're moving in the wrong direction.
I will not vote in favor of this resolution,
and I do not want my vote
to be interpreted in any way at all as support for the act
of desecrating a US flag for the organizations that organize
that, uh, effort.
My vote is in support of moving forward
as a united legislative body
and getting the work done of the people of the city
of Chicago, because we're going in a direction
where we will no longer be a functional government
and that we cannot abide.
Thank you, Mr. President. I intend to vote. No
Chair recognizes Alderman Wapac.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Um, spent a lot of good comments made in here today,
and, uh, I appreciate the people
that have spoken both in the, uh, public comment period
as well as my colleagues.
And, um, the first thing I wanna say is
that I believe anyone has the right to burn the flag.
I, uh, you know, I apologize if I made comments
that offended a member of this body,
but what I got in return for my First Amendment opinion
was vitriol and more of the, uh, invoking of violence
that we have been asking to cease in this body
for months, if not the last few years.
And I think it is, uh, I think it's imperative, as I've said
before in this body, that we need to get back
to the business at hand, focus on those issues
that we should be focusing on
and not things that we can't affect every single day Here.
The the problem I had with this was the advocating
by an elected official,
and what I estimated was more violence
in this city when we already have too much.
And so I would appreciate if everybody got back
to working on those issues that everyone has talked about.
I would appreciate it as you as the president would lead
that charge to get back to common sense thinking
practical issues that we can deal with
and get rid of this advocacy for violence
that we've seen far too much in this body and in this city.
But again, I believe anyone who wants to burn
that flag has a legal right to do it.
And I have a right to think that it's inappropriate.
But that's, um, that's something that I think we all need
to have that inflection on
and, uh, decide where we want to be as members
of this council and where we want the city
to be in years to come.
Thank you, Mr. President
Chair recognizes Alder Fuentes.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I wanna say I, I appreciate our diplomacy in this meeting.
Uh, both folks who signed on to the letter and,
and folks who will vote no.
And I today will vote no.
And I encourage my colleagues
to do the same for multiple reasons.
I think if we listen to the words
that Alderman Byron Ci Lopez said in that press conference
and in that rally we're not those that incited violence,
he made comments about the DNC.
He talked about ceasefire
and he demanded for support on the migrant mission.
I don't think that any of that was
seeking to incite violence.
I also know that while we are a government
that tries our very best to serve our constituency
and do the work, we have had a history
of letting people don't.
So there is a city of people that are upset, disappointed,
and hurt by our ability to represent them and serve them.
And so naturally people will exercise their democratic right
to raise their voices
and their disappointment, whether that is through rallies,
press conferences, or protests.
I also think in this body, it is absolutely natural
that we disagree.
We all come from a different lived experience,
a different political background,
and carry different ideological perspectives.
And I think when we disagree, it is always an opportunity
to call that colleague in like Alderman Hopkins,
giving Alderman Byron, teacher Lopez, a phone call,
Talia Farrow via gas and Conway having that meeting.
That is how we resolve problems to hash out our grievances
and then find the way where we can get along
and do the work as elected officials.
But I think we're treading a dangerous path.
Alderman, Byron Citros Lopez office was broken into
his family, received death threats.
That should never be a position that we put a colleague in.
It is okay to call folks in,
and it is okay to disagree and debate.
I think it is very different to call someone out
and put their life at risk.
I think it is very different to utilize social media to,
to bash the character of an individual,
to call them an American.
It is very American to protest and to disagree
and to be different.
There's an amazing quote actually in Theran that says,
we are different so we can know each other.
We are different so we can know each other.
There can't be 50 individuals
that are more different than the people in this room.
But will we seek to remove somebody for every time
that we disagree?
And so I ask us to do more
of the calling in than the calling out
because we put each other in danger.
We put each other in danger.
And remember, we are not all alike
and we're not always going to agree.
We're not. But we have to, like today,
be diplomatic in our approach
to raise our grievances and our differences.
And so today I vote no,
and I ask my colleagues to vote no.
And Mr. President, I would like
to call the question for a vote.
If there's a motion on the floor to call the question,
which would means to end debate, I'm happy
to move forward with that motion.
But if I just could offer up some executive privilege here,
I only have two more speakers on the list.
So are you willing to withdraw your motion?
Okay, the motion has been withdrawn to,
uh, call the question.
All those in favor signal. I say, aye.
I opposed ayes have it. Chair recognizes Alderman. sdo.
Thank you Mr. President,
as great meeting under circumstances.
Uh, good move there with their asset.
I only two speakers, so I hope all, all I'm in Vegas.
I hope you're last and I'm not.
So, um, but I just, I just wanna backtrack a little.
So, um, we should never be here,
never should have been here on that day, on the next day
to Saturday, as a matter of fact, Mr.
President, I text you and Jason Lee and Tina,
and my text you was, this guy has gotta go at best.
He's making the mayor and the city look bad.
Didn't hear anything from anybody. I never called Byron.
Maybe I should have, I don't know, should ask for,
you know, see what's going on.
I like everybody else, don't wanna be here.
But I felt it was a must. We had to do something about this.
So I'm taking some notes here.
Um, we're talking about First Amendment rights.
Nobody's, nobody is questioning that. We all said that.
But oddly enough, Mr.
President, the group of us that called for his removal,
me being one of 'em and I stand behind were what I,
what I said, some group
of people mysteriously ended up here.
We were trying to ex exercise our first amendment right,
calling for a special meeting to take him out
of his leadership position.
And me for a number of reasons. Mr.
President, I think, you know, I support you, you
and me are pretty different and, uh, proudly so with you
and proudly so for me.
But I know we have a, a true
and a deep respect for each other.
So, um, if it was up to you
and me, we wouldn't, we wouldn't beat
to a lot of points where we're at.
Um, so, but, you know, forget about the flag burning thing.
All right? We're gonna overlook that.
I believe him if that's what he says,
even though he never told me that.
But he said it repeatedly after doubling down, but whatever.
At this point, I believe him that he didn't know about it.
But also he was standing in front of a sign. Okay?
I am the most right-leaning person in this council.
I know you all think Anthony is, but believe me, it's me.
Okay? Um, but I am jumping for joy.
Jumping for joy that we have the DNC in our city.
This means money in people's pockets.
You know, people say they stand for the working man here.
You don't want the DNC here.
You know, you know how this is gonna help the waiters,
the waitresses, the cab drivers,
the uber drivers, the hotel people.
It's just the economic boom that this is gonna be
for our city, for anybody, especially an elected official
to say they don't want it here
and call our president genocide, Joe, no,
DNC inciting violence at the DNC.
That, that's, that's unacceptable.
So I don't know how somebody could be
for the working man if they stand for that.
If they stand for that. Um, one of our colleagues here,
I won't mention his name, we all know who he is.
Made a big mistake about five years ago,
sent a text to one of his trusted friends,
and that individual's been brutalized, brutalized
for five years that he's been in office for.
You talk about the, that guy can't go
to his office without protesting
that guy can't have a fundraiser without
protesting That guy.
Can't put something on Facebook without protesting.
That man has been totally brutalized
for the five years he's been, he's been in office.
So I don't con I don't condone anything like that.
I just wanted to share with you that it's happened to me.
I know it's happened to Anthony, certainly for some
of us, right-leaning people.
And I'll try to clean it up, Mr.
President, but I had to call the cops on this.
So this would happen to me few years.
Some of you that were here before, you might remember
when the police officers were
attacked at the Columbus statue.
I got a, I got a text, uh, uh, sorry,
a Facebook private message from an individual,
not from my ward, from the 47th Ward.
Matt, I don't think you had anything to do with it,
so I'm not accusing you of anything.
All right? So, um, and here's what it said,
and I'll try to clean it up as best as possible.
Mr. President, just outta the blow.
He sent me a, a private Facebook message.
He said, I think we know who the de who the savage is.
You deplorable s*****g.
I said, responded back three days later.
'cause I never saw it. Thanks Timmy.
Parentheses, keyboard warrior.
What would you refer savages to that try to kill
or remain police officers?
Uh, he responded back in a couple hours, go f yourself.
The pigs are the savages.
S******d, who's, who's the keyboard warrior? Let's go.
I own guns. Now what does that mean? What does that mean?
So my neighbor is a cyber crime police officer.
I went to him, I showed him that.
I'm like, what am I supposed to do?
Because I, we get numerous threats, especially on Mondays.
Everybody, I'm sure everybody here could say
to Monday is threat day from anonymous phone calls,
you know, messages on their answer machine from people, uh,
saying not things, not nice things and threatening us.
So, um, so yeah, it happens.
It's unfortunate that we have to go through that.
So I too, wherever the vote is, I think I know
where the vote's gonna go now, but I feel better.
I'm gonna get a chance, do what I wanna do.
I think I've proved myself to be a compassionate person.
I feel there's three people in this council that really,
really, really hate me, okay?
And he's one of them not dislike me,
but hopefully we could move forward from here,
just like Carlos and me move forward.
I think we're kind of buddies now, so hopefully Byron
and me could move forward and he won't hate me anymore.
Maybe he really doesn't. I don't know. We'll see.
I just think he's one of the three that really hates me.
But I hope I, I hope you prove me wrong.
So, um, and hope, we hope we can move forward.
We could work together, start solving the real things.
I really, really appreciate everybody's civility here.
This was a, a, a, whatever the
outcome is, it was a good meeting.
We showed civility. I know, uh, I'm not gonna flip anybody.
Nobody's gonna flip anybody anyway.
Although I do think one person here was flipped today,
but, uh, it certainly wasn't me.
Um, but with that, um, I yield to my colleague.
I, I guess I'm, I'm not telling you how to do your job,
but I believe my colleague from the
36th Ward is the next step.
So thank you, Mr. President. Good job.
Running a good meeting. And,
but once again, first Amendment rights.
Isn't it odd people were expressing their first amendment's
rights and they got thrown outta this meeting.
We do have First Amendment right.
We can't yell fire in, in, in this, in this hall.
We can't go to a movie theater and yell fire.
And one of my black colleagues told me there's a certain
word, an N word, that you can't use
and, and stuff like that.
So yes, we do have First Amendment rights,
but there's certain things that are unbecoming, especially
of elected an elect, a representative of the city.
Somebody that made you look bad, I think Mr.
President and I stand for you and I stand with you.
And with that, thank you very much
and ran a great meeting, Mr. President. Thank you.
Thank you. Well, the meeting's not over yet,
so just hold your breath here.
We do have two speakers. This will be the final two.
The chair recognizes Alderman Viegas.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Um, I also, I wanna first acknowledge, uh, one
of our former colleagues from the 11th Ward Alderman,
Jim Balser, who's served not only in, uh, the city council,
but also served our country in Vietnam, ultimately
Rise to provide comment on the resolution
before this body, we must stand up
and fight back against extremism in this country.
Whether it's the extreme right or the extreme left.
Politicians that validate extreme groups like Q Anon,
where Trump, or behind the enemy lines by our colleague.
Those groups are a threat to society
and our quality of life here in America.
The group our colleague chose to stand with
and legitimized calls for supporting people that have been,
been convict, convicted of espionage against America,
a passage from their organization.
The empire is the enemy, the belly of the beast,
by any way we choose to resist.
Please show your bruises
on A DNC show that CPD is beating up
the people that are coming here to protest.
These are the words of extremists. And it's dangerous.
We cannot allow American politicians
to legit legitimize these conspiracy movements
to destroy democracy.
People who promote hate
and harm to our city have to be called out.
And a situation has to be addressed to ensure safety
for our residents and visitors, all residents.
No one here is saying that our colleague burned a flag,
but he chose to speak in front of it,
and he chose to legitimize an organization.
Yes, a veteran burned a flag.
And yes, veterans participated in January 6th,
and we called them out too.
Ladies and gentlemen, these extreme groups are clear
and present danger to society.
Legitimizing the extremism
by a leader in this body is dangerous
and sends the wrong message to our residents.
That's why we are asking for accountability.
If we do nothing, then we are accepting that our colleagues,
extremism and promotion of extreme groups
that wanna bring harm to our city
and endanger our communities
and visitors during the DNC are okay.
We saw how fragile this democracy is on
January 6th at our nation's capital.
And we must do everything possible to ensure we fight
to protect, protected, protect.
And amber can cause a forest fire.
We must put out those ambers of hate
before they become those forest fire,
those forest fires that destroy democracy.
The extreme left is no ex no
different than the extreme right.
Make no mistake, the extreme left is no
different than the extreme right.
The right is always trying to outright the right
and the left is always all trying to out left the left.
Both want to normalize radical behavior.
Our call for decency is no more fastest than the defense
of an alderman in this call for an anarchy
as a combat veteran, I, along
with my veteran caucus colleagues, took a oath
to defend this country against all enemies, foreign
and domestic, against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
That oath has no expiration date.
That oath is serious to me. And your oath should be as well.
Our job is not down, not to burn the house down.
It's much easier to burn things down.
It's about, it's about building things.
Once you understand that the power of your words,
you just won't say anything.
Our job is to bring people together.
Our job is to deliver the best government.
Taxpayer money can fund safe streets, good schools,
good jobs, and yes, good housing.
Let's all commit today to ensuring
that we are upholding our oats and calling out
and defeating extremism, both on the left and on the right.
Wherever it rears its ugly head,
I would ask my colleague in his own words,
that inciting violence by supporting this organization
can be very destructive for the summer.
Now as president, we had a meeting
as my colleague from the, from the, uh, 34th ward mentioned.
I thought it was gonna play out differently.
I thought we were gonna have an
apology and then we move forward.
But we saw that Divis being divisive is exactly
what some of our colleagues want.
It's an unfortunate because we do have a lot of things
to deal with, and I would ask all my colleagues
to join me if I have two resolutions.
I'm sorry, strike that. Two ordinances.
One that deals with veterans preference.
Since we all love veterans, veterans preference,
and also veteran housing, allowing 10%
of a RO to go to veterans.
That is the population
that's always talked about when we talk about homelessness.
We'll put your money where your mouth is.
Let's call that ordinance in housing
and let's pass it 50 to zero. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. The chair recognizes
Alder Rodriguez Sanchez.
Mr. President, what we have heard
today in support of this resolution
to me sounds like a lot of fine print.
You can exercise your first amendment right,
but if we don't like what it says,
we will stick to punish you.
I want to make sure that we all understand the dangerous
precedent this can set for everyone in this body
and for our city in this incredibly polarized climate.
We cannot pick and choose who gets to speak
or what is the content of the remarks.
Members of this council participated
in a rally with proud boys.
They might have been called out,
but there was no meeting to remove
them from their chairmanships.
This is political persecution and it needs to stop.
I asked my colleagues to vote no today. Thank you, Mr.
President.
So there's an al another one of our elders is, has, um,
asked to, to join us remotely.
Uh, Alder Lamont Robinson.
Uh, is there a motion to allow for, there's a motion.
All those in favor signify by saying aye.
All opposed, say nay opinion of the chairs.
The ayes have it. Please add all Derman Lamont Robinson, um,
as a virtual participant.
And so I would ask for, um, privilege from the floor
or leave to allow for the former al uh, Jim BSer, not
to just be recognized, but I believe he wishes to speak.
Do I have a leave? Alright, leave moved.
Privilege is granted. Alderman Bolser.
Thank Chairman.
I, uh, I gotta admit you guys
performed magnificently in here.
This was great to see this kind of debate. And Mr.
President, let me say, on behalf of a lot
of vie Vietnam veterans that I know, thank you
for supporting redoing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall
that was so important to the families, to the loved ones
that lost people in Vietnam.
2,936 names are on that wall from Illinois.
And I want to thank you to Alderman Viegas.
Uh, thank you for what you've done for veterans
and my other colleagues in here
that have supported veterans issues.
I thank you. Let me say
2,936 Illinoisans were killed in Vietnam.
They came back and flagged draped coffins,
flagged draped coffins.
I have dealt with families for a long time,
and it is not pleasant when your loved one comes back in a
coffin with the American flag.
18,000 Illinoisans were killed in Vietnam.
They came back in flag. Ja coffins.
The Battle of Iwo Jima when the Marines raised
the American flag.
That wasn't a piece of cloth. That was the American flag.
We suffered 6,000 casualties killed in action,
and I think 20,000 wounded.
The Japanese almost went down to a man on that island.
The Marines in the battle of way city, way city.
I could look this up.
The North Vietnamese, when they took over the city,
they put their flag up.
The Marines got tired of seeing that flag.
They had to fight their way into the citadel
and cut the flag down.
I am not a supporter of the North Vietnamese,
but they believed in what they did.
I empathize with them. I know what that was.
And a lot of Marines got killed.
My mother was very in a, in a, uh,
she was a World War II vet.
The American flag draped her coffin.
My grandfather served in World War I and World War ii.
The American flag draped his coffin.
My dear brother John, who I miss a lot,
died a couple of years ago.
The American flag draped his coffin.
The American flag is not just a piece of cloth.
It's not, it's more than a symbol.
Now, I disagree with people,
and there was a lot of what you said that I agree with.
However, and I'll end with this, Mr.
President, I don't believe the American flag should ever be
burned under any circumstances.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, alderman. Thank you. My mistake.
There was one more hand
that I did not recognize participating virtually.
This is the last speaker I believe Chair recognizes
Alderman, Jason Irvin.
Uh, thank you Mr. President and members of the Council.
Um, uh, it is a little unfortunate
that we're here today on such of, uh, you know,
such a circumstance.
Uh, however, uh, as everyone wants to express their rights,
uh, again, members of our council have a right to, uh,
call us together, uh, as the deed arises.
Unfortunately, uh, what I'm, what I'm seeing is that we're,
we're somewhat turned into almost a circular firing squad
where we are unfortunately shooting each other.
And at the rate we're going
and at the, what we're attempting to do, uh,
we will unfortunately kill ourselves.
Um, I don't believe this is what the citizens
of Chicago want to see from its elected leadership.
Um, there is more than one way
to the proverbial skin of cat.
Um, this is something that we should be able
to handle internally, uh, without the, this level
of discourse because again, uh,
how can we expect our communities
and people to be together if we in this body,
can't demonstrate that same level of togetherness?
I'm hopeful that, uh, we reach a, a decent conclusion here,
um, and move forward.
Uh, and not only just in this instance,
but in other instances that may arise
or that have arisen, that we find a way to, uh, come
to an amicable solution amongst ourselves without having
to involve the whole world in the internal workings
of our, uh, body.
Um, again, I'm, I'm hopeful that we will come to a,
a decent solution here, uh, that we all be able
to work together and move beyond this
and not continue down the path of trying to hurt harm
and kill one another for whatever reason that may be.
I'm sure that at some point, if someone does something
that is, is totally out of bounds, that, that,
that appropriate action will be taken.
But again, differences of opinion, differences in, uh,
philosophy, uh, that's a part of the normal discourse
of any legislative body,
and that we all need to understand that,
understand and deal with that.
And again, when we have those types of differences, uh,
let's try to solve them amicably without involving the
entirety of the world in our business.
So, again, uh, thank you Mr. President for this time.
Uh, and I believe if I'm the last speaker,
I'll call the question, uh, for this matter.
Very well. Here are no other objections to that.
There is a motion on the floor for this resolution.
All those, the motion on the floor for this resolution
is calling for the removal alderman Byron six Lopez as Chair
of the Committee of Housing and Real Estate.
The chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.
Thank you. As one of my colleagues pointed out,
there was no motion made. So
The, the motion was to call the question,
But there was no motion presented at the start of this.
So there's a, is there a motion? Thank you.
Is there a motion? Shall I move passage?
There's a motion on the floor to move passage
of this resolution.
Um, all those in favor by roll call vote please. Okay.
Uh, there's been a request for a roll call.
So member members, please use the EVO application
to record your vote.
At this time,
The voting is now open.
And again, just for clarity, a yes vote is in favor
of removing, uh, the chairperson from his committee.
A no vote uh, means you do not wish to remove
the chairperson from his committee.
The voting is now open. The voting is now open.
Please use your e device to submit your vote.
The voting is now open.
I will now call on those that are in the chamber first.
Oh, I, I'll call on those in the chamber
and on Virtual Alderman Hopkins,
Alderman Alderman
Approved Alderman Hopkins is a no.
Alderman Robinson.
Alderman Robinson is a no.
Robinson is a no. Alderman. Yancy
Yancy is a no. Alderwoman Harris.
No Alderwoman Harris is a no. Alderwoman Lee.
Alderwoman Lee. Okay.
Alderwoman Coleman No. Alderman Coleman is a no.
Alderwoman Taylor,
No.
Alderman Taylor is a no. Alderman Burnett.
Okay. I'm I'm gonna go back. Alderman Mosley.
Alderman Mosley votes? No.
Okay, going back to Alderman Burnett.
All right. Alderman Irvin.
Alderman Irvin votes No.
Irvin is a no. Alderman Ramirez Rosa,
No Alderman Ramirez.
Rosa is a no. Alderman mitts.
Alderwoman mitts. Okay. Alderman Knutson.
No. Alderman Knutson is a no Alderwoman Clay.
No Alderwoman Clay is a no.
I'm gonna go through one more
time in case they didn't hear me.
Alderwoman Lee. Okay.
Alderman Burnett Alderwoman Alderman Burn
Alderman Burnett is a no.
Alman. Burnett is a no.
Alderwoman admits Okay
with all those voting, the voting is now closed.
There are 16 yays 29 nays. This motion fails.
Um, Alderwoman do on the motion to reconsider,
Uh, make Motion to reconsider.
Reconsider. Thank you. All those in favor
signify by saying Aye.
All those opposed say no. Motion fails.
All the woman do on a motion to adjourn. Yeah.
I move that we adjourn Mr.
President hearing No objections.
So order this meeting is adjourned.