the meeting of the committee on pedestrian and traffic
safety is now called to order for
April
have fun with it.
Appreciate it.
the meeting of the
The meeting of the committee on pedestrian traffic safety
is now called to order for April.
is now called to order for April 11th, 2024. We will
have a roll call to establish Quorum. We'll also please
make sure there are microphones are unmuted.
chairman, laspada Pres
chairman laspada present
ottoman Hopkins
Auto person who Robins
Is going to be joining us momentarily on.
is going to be joining us momentarily on line.
all the person the
all the person Chico
all the person Quinn
ottoman Moore
vice mayor brunette
all the person Irvin
all the person
law
Lawson awesome
all the person Martin
welcome.
and all the
And all the person may not happen North.
Okay, we have 9. Mehm.
Okay, we have 9 members present.
do we
Do we have no none all the person Chico? Thank you so much.
sir.
Alters
Crews Coleman and Robinson have requests
Crews Coleman and Robinson have requested to participate in
the meeting remotely pursuant to Rule 5.
the meeting remotely pursuant to rule 59. Can I get a
motion to allow orders Crews?
Robinson and Coleman to participate remotely
on a person can nuts and so moves all those in favor. Say I
all those opposed say nay in the opinion of the chair the
eyes have it.
eyes have it Alters Crews Robinson and Coleman.
eyes have it Alters Crews Robinson and Coleman are present
here today by video conference and will be counted.
accordingly for the roll call before we go to public
comment just a bit of place setting due to the duration of
Finance today un
Finance today, unfortunately, we have had to postpone.
Finance today. Unfortunately, we have had to postpone uh
the resolution related to you.
the resolution related to you speed limit reduction in the
city of Chicago. That is the date will be firmed.
confirmed with committee members. Uh,
confirmed with committee members, uh shortly, but we will
be looking at May 1st.
be looking at May 1st 10 a.m. If you want to place that on
a hold on your calendars apologize for
inconvenience, so
Inconvenience, so we're just going to be doing our routine
matters today.
That said at the time we will begin.
That said at the time we will begin the public comment
period out of respect for everyone's time.
period out of respect for everyone's Time Each speaker is
limited to 3 minutes. Our first speaker is Jessica Jackson.
if if Miss Jackson is
If if Miss Jackson is not present we will move on.
Okay.
See me don't play.
All right, Mr.
All right, Miss Jackson.
My name is Jessica Jackson.
and I'm here because I have concerns about the fact that
Cook County public administration officials are still.
Cook County public administration officials are still in
black people's property.
black people's property now to the truth of that there is a
meeting tonight by the Chicago Realtors of Chicago
Meeting tonight by the Chicago Realtors of Chicago and the
documentary that they're going to be doing this call.
documentary that they're going to be doing this call The
Shame of Chicago The Shame of the nation.
Shame of Chicago The Shame of the nation and its talking
specifically about how over this uh years that black
people.
people's properties have been taken from them by the
officials.
I know that for a fact because my mother had a will she.
I know that for a fact because my mother had a will she has
a will.
for a property
For a property that's been in our family for 61 years.
And with the public administration office and the prob.
division of the Circuit Court.
they have
They have tried to take my mother's property.
They have no legal right to do so.
I have the documents the cross petition.
I have the documents the cross Petition of will Annex that
they fraudulently.
they fraudulently by judge Terrence Maguire and public
administr.
administrator Lewis apostle.
and public administrator general counsel Leah, josi
with the public administrator real estate invest
With the public administrator real estate investor
investigator Tina leaf.
investigator Tina lioa.
that are taking
That are taking really straight up trying to take our
property.
I wish they would leave us alone.
This has been in Probate since 2016.
Because they're trying to steal the property and I won't
allow.
allow it.
I won't allow it because my mother worked for that property.
and she paid every debt that she had prior to
And she paid every debt that she had prior to her death.
including she paid
Including she paid off that building now, whatever real
estate.
estate grab that the probate Division and public.
administration think that they got going on on the
side of Chicago.
and particularly Southshore
It's not going to work. I'm going to fight them to my
death.
my mother worked for that property
tell kwami Rao.
to get his people now he's supposed to have
a division
in the Civil Rights division that's specifically dedicated
to that yet. He's defending these crooked judges.
I'm going to fight them to the death.
I'm going to fight them to the death of me. That's my
mother's building. They don't.
mother's building. They don't have no right to it except
for a Cook County.
for a Cook County steals black people's property.
That's it. And that's all tell your people.
I know the mayor sees it.
I know the mayor sees it and while you all are.
I know the mayor sees it and while you all are throwing so
hard for immigration.
hard for immigration and immigrants to have something to
live where to live. Why you pushing black people on our own
property that we own?
That we own.
Thank you. Miss Jackson. Our next speaker is Miss Mari
rodrig.
Rodriguez.
Good morning. My name is Mart.
Good morning. My name is Marty Rodriguez. I was here last
month.
Um afro Latina on Puerto Rican says, well, I'll talk about
race up.
race up in here. Anyways, um, I'm um, I came the last time
because um, I was addressing our residential parking, um on
the 1500.
the 1500 Block for colon and still people there's the
opposing parties that are posing they have handicap
parking.
parking city stickers Zone number 2426 have been sold
still. There's no poll posted.
still. There's no poll posted on our residential parking
and um,
and um our Alderman's office.
and um, our Alderman's office stated that the original
petition was, uh, not enough people to get the permit
parking. So again, we circulated a a second petition that
shows 75% um, 75% 75 signatures showing that
75% 75 signatures showing that we do want. Our permit
parking actually is 10 more signatures than our original,
um petition. So we're waiting to know what's going on with
our Zone number to um, 24/26.
for residential parking for 1500 Block of colon major
For residential parking for 1500 Block of colon majority all
majority of the people 80% of the people.
majority of the people 80% of the people want the permit
parking.
and
And it's being taken away unfairly because personal
Vendetta.
So that's all I have to say. I want to know what's the
outcome they need to put the poles up because people are
paying for their stickers already.
Thank you. Miss Rodriguez noting.
Thank you, Miss Rodriguez. Noting all the person.
Mark Martin for the purposes of corn. Thank you, sir.
our next speaker is Roman Schuster.
Apologies, uh, our next speaker is Emil.
Apologies, uh, our next speaker is Emily chaklas.
I I will.
I I will in the future.
find an
Find an opportunity to share my apologies with.
Find an opportunity to share my apologies with both of
these individuals Austin Bush.
Hello, uh since I know most
Hello, uh, since I know most of today's committee members
are already familiar with the dangers of higher speed
limits and have heard the arguments in favor of speed limit
reduction. I wanted to address my public comments towards 2
stolen or organizations.
stolen or organizations and I believe this is still
relevant even though the subject
relevant, even though the subject matter hearing has been
postponed, uh as
postponed, uh, as we have been arguing for this for years
and a little post.
and a little postponement is part of the course at this
point.
to C Dot and commissioner Tom Carney in 2012
To C Dot and commissioner Tom Carney in 2012. A strategic
plan was published titled Chicago forward. The first point
of C dot 6 pointed star was safety.
of C dot 6 pointed star was safety first the first policy
with to set a goal of zero annual traffic fatalities within
10 years the first action.
10 years. The first action noted lowering speed limits to
20.
20 miles per hour in residential areas C dot has failed to
achieve this it is now been 10 years.
And then some later and traffic fatal.
And then some later and traffic fatalities have increased
our speed limit has not budged.
our speed limit has not budged and this business as usual
Approach at C dot has a clear.
Approach at C dot has a clear result resulting in a death
as usual.
as usual approach.
likewise to
Likewise to the lsna and its director of Equitable
Community engagement.
Community engagement who only yesterday stated in a public
forum that speed.
forum that speed limit changes are inequitable because they
would increase enforcement. I would argue that Minority
communities disproportion.
communities disproportionately bear the burden of traffic
fatalities and concerns over.
fatalities and concerns of our theoretical enforcement of
an underdetermined policy change.
an underdetermined policy change obscures the hard truth
that our road system is inequitable be killing Chicago
residents maintaining the status quo and policy will
maintain the status quo in inequ.
maintain the status quo in inequity.
using mapping functions on the city data portal we
Using mapping functions on the city data portal we can see
that not only are traffic fatalities more likely to occur.
in the South and West sides, but also the home locations of
the victims are even more so skewed towards the south and
west
West I draw your attention as well to the 2016 vision.
West I draw your attention as well to the 2016 Vision zero
action plan, which highlighted too little surprise.
disproportionate share of black residents and those of high
economic burden are victims of traffic fatalities the
system we have designed is designed in a way to harm.
minority residents and the speed limit is a part of that
system.
So what would a lower speed limit?
So what would a lower speed limit entail it would
fundamentally change the design of every street under sea
Dot's control current traffic studies oper.
Dot's control current traffic studies operate under the
assumption of a 30 m our travel speed being
assumption of a 30 m. Our travel speed being preferred with
Lane widths and turning rate I to
Lane widths and turning rate eye to match lowering. The
speed limit is a wide reaching policy.
speed limit is a wide reaching policy change that will
reset the basic assumptions made in Street designs.
throughout the city resulting in Equitable safety INF.
infrastructure that reduces the number of dead Chicagoans
on our roadways. Thank you very much and I look forward to
also uh coming back next month as I am able to May first.
also uh coming back next month as I am able to May first 10
a.m. See you
Thank you, sir. Um.
Uh is Mr. Tam Tim Tim Shambrook. So with us?
Is Zoe lei?
Is Zoe Lei still with us?
Hello, this is the committee on traffic.
Hello, this is the committee on traffic and Public Safety.
signs
um
But I I'm gonna keep coming.
But I I'm gonna keep coming here. I mean, he keeps leaving.
Uh, but my thing is I'm not an activist. I'm not I'm just a
person.
person who's concerned about their mother.
person who's concerned about their mother and uh, but while
I've been doing this fight I've helped other
I've been doing this fight, I've helped other people.
so I feel like
as you guys being city council members.
I think somebody should sit and talk with him because he is
my Alderman. I can't go to anybody else. I can't go.
my Alderman. I can't go to anybody else. I can't go to you
can't go to anybody else to fix this situation only.
can't go to anybody else to fix this situation only he he
can do this and he doesn't have to talk to.
can do this and he doesn't have to talk to me, but he needs
to talk to my mother he
to talk to my mother. He refused he he won't even
acknowledge and I'm going to I if I got to start getting
emails out like y'all heard the voicemail, it's longer than
that. I mean as a public servant as a person who he says he
cares about his seniors and all this stuff and he it takes
care of the whole 17 War. There is no reason why this man
has not talked to my sister. I've talked to my mother or
talked to my godfather he goes
talked to my godfather. He goes around and makes up these
Uh building violations Knowing damn. Well, it wasn't
building violations you
building violations. You know what it was about that Tif
money that you continue that was talking about before
before the the next case or whatever. I just know that as
an older.
an older person and you are the older person for the 17th
Ward. You don't do your job and you're not gonna you're
gonna continue to you're gonna continue to do this.
Yeah, you already know that you're pathetic.
You're slow.
Like all of that, but that that's that's the ultimate.
though. That's the person this is that that's the ultimate.
That's the person that y'all voted in that man right there.
So I'm just saying then I'm going to continue to come down
here.
here, but that's just how sad it's 202.
here. But that's just how sad it's 2024 and that is just
how sad that man is. Y'all voted this a public servant?
just walked out.
That's my older man, though. I can't go to you. I can't go
to him. I can't go.
to him. I can't go to you. I can't go to anybody else. But
him he is the 1 that can fix.
him he is the 1 that can fix the situation who's higher the
mayor right? So I need you guys.
To talk to him.
and get someone to sit down with my mother and him and the
chief of staff or the mayor because this is embarrassing.
It's embarrassing for him. Not me. That's what that's that's
the public servant. That's the person.
the public servant. That's the person who's supposed to
serve the 17th War.
serve the 17th Ward where my building got knocked down and
he is the reason.
and he is the reason and why?
the voicemail
I'm just saying.
I'm just saying that's sad.
unfortunate but that's
Unfortunate but that's black on black crime. That's a black
man.
That's a black.
That's a black man.
Thank you Zoe.
Thank you, Zoe. Our next speaker is George, Blakemore?
Good afternoon. It's a sad day that we had to wait.
Good afternoon. It's a sad day that we had to wait over our
2.
for this meeting that was supposed to
For this meeting that was supposed to start at 12 anyway.
it was quite interesting in uh
It was quite interesting in uh, the news what I heard
through the Great.
through the Great Vine, somebody say Mr. Blakemore did you
know?
know it's up in procurement that black people.
know it's up in procurement that black people only received
12.
12% 12 2% of the contract that that Hispanics received 22
and the rest goes to the White
That was devastating news to me.
procurement besides the cleaning the toilet paper
Procurement besides the cleaning the toilet paper, but but
but the trains everything.
but the trains everything is contracted out.
And black people only.
and black people only get 2% when I brought this to the
attention of of
oh pat down.
Imam
Imid Irving and this man right here. Well, they sit on that
committee.
Everything is about the money if they want to get.
Everything is about the money if they want to get new
chairs or whatever and black.
chairs or whatever and black people are only getting 2% of
these contract.
I can't.
I can't believe it.
I cannot believe that.
Something is wrong here. Something is corrupt here.
I am looking at.
No black leadership.
No, black leadership over the finance committee. Everything
have to be financed with it.
You have to buy this paper. Somebody have to.
You have to buy this paper. Somebody have to sell this
paper to the city.
paper to the city, but whatever and black people.
paper to the city, but whatever and black people are only
receiving 2% that are turned on a niggga into a black man.
And tell me don't use that term when.
And tell me don't use that term when somebody else can burn
the flag.
And that's lawful.
It turns. Oh my gosh. I'm devastated.
Only 2%
we don't need you.
We don't need you here.
None of these black people we don't need.
None of these black was we don't need you.
Even though they're talking about transport.
even though they're talking about Transportation the elves
but whatever the bus they have to be contracted out.
and black people only get
And black people only get 2%
That's almost zero.
How can you do this?
What do you do then help?
What do you do then help me?
What do you do then? Help me and only Mr. Blake don't.
2% say nothing.
nothing
I'm outraged. I hate you.
all of y'all
This is something thank you Mr. Blake.
This is something thank you Mr. Blakemore. Our next speaker
is Kyle Lucas.
Excuse me, I think Mr.
Excuse me. I think Mr. Blakemore needs assistance.
uh, there we
Uh, there we go. Hello. My name is Kyle Lucas. I am 1.
co-founders of better Street Chicago, uh origin.
here today to talk about speed limits, and I know that
we're not going to be having that conversation in the
committee today, but I'm going to go ahead and share a
little bit about what I wanted to talk.
little bit about what I wanted to talk about because um, I
think this is a really important conversation for us to
have we know that speed does kill. Um, we have the data
that proves that we've had some conversations.
that proves that we've had some conversations around that
in regards to enforcement in the past.
in regards to enforcement in the past, um with automated
enforcement. Um, and you know, we just recently appointed a
new commissioner. Um, many of you had a lot of really
insightful questions to him where he gave a lot of commit
commitments. Um, and I just wanted to share about maybe Mr
Lucas could somebody check on the disturbance in the hall
or closed?
or close the side door. Thank you.
Thank you. So, um just from The Experience from as an
advocate.
advocate who interfaces with the Chicago Dept of trans.
Transportation asking for them to implement better
infrastructure for our city. There is a real dichotomy
between the stated values of the department and what
actually comes out to play in ter when we're actually being
presented projects and interacting.
presented projects and interacting with the department and
I think that
are you know what we've seen in terms of for instance the
Chicago and Hallstead intersection? Um we
Chicago and Hallstead intersection? Um, we have a a lot of
concerns about the uh, the signs that they've presented.
Um, they have told us that they can't make
improvements to that intersection because of traffic model.
models, so they need to be able to move like 10 more
vehicles.
vehicles through an intersection during a light cycle. And
so that's why they need additional Lanes which creates
Crossing distances.
distances that are dangerous for pedestrians and creates.
Uh,
uh instances that are dangerous for cyclist passing through
the inters.
the intersection, but what we really know is that those
traffic models are not really rooted in any sort of
science. They are a political Choice. They're a decision
that the department has made in order to set their
priorities and so
priorities. And so what we know is that their priority
there is to prioritize the movement of vehicles not the
safety of the people who are moving through that
intersection and we think that that is incredibly flawed
especially because if you go look at that intersection,
most people don't
Most people don't use that second lane other than to speed.
through the intersection and cut off to try and get ahead
of traffic because the it it just goes back.
of traffic because the it it just goes back down to 1 Lane
half a block after that intersection. So it's a flawed
premise we see this also.
premise. We see this also in the proposals for disabled
Lakeshore Drive.
Lakeshore Drive where they have talked about speed being
an issue on the drive and they want to add cameras, but
they're present.
they're presenting designs in which they're going to
enable.
even faster speeds. They want free flowing traffic.
even faster speeds. They want free flowing traffic on that
drive. Um, but I also want to point out that enforcement is
not the full solution.
not the full solution for this. Um, as we have seen all of
us,
us in this past week, um, traffic stops are incredibly
dangerous and unfortunately we have
dangerous and unfortunately, we have lost the life of
Dexter Reed very tragically.
Dexter Reed very tragically and very, um,
alarmingly, and so I I we need to make
Alarmingly, and so I I we need to make sure I appreciate
it. Thank you, Mr. Lucas.
Our our final speaker is Ty.
Our our final speaker is Taiwan Sims.
So yeah to the fact that traffic stops, um in 2020.
So yeah to the fact that traffic stops, um in 2020 of July.
I was stopped by.
I was stopped by 2 officers in Rogers Park attacked.
but just
trying to travel through my neighborhood. Um
Like this gentleman just bought up the de.
like this gentleman just bought up the Dexter read incident
on this gentleman left out.
on this gentleman left out his own travel. Maybe what?
150 yards up the street stopped and whatever took place
took place.
took place, but this is a consistent occurrence.
with black Americans, um recently like like
With black Americans, um recently like like he said all so
about the Larry Snelling.
about the Larry Snelling, um event that took place on 35th.
We got a chance to sit.
We got a chance to sit down with the superintendent
questioning them. Um,
them. Um also presents some things there's a
freedom
Freedom move, Chicago
Coalition that's happening.
Coalition that's happening right now. Um
I think it's
I think its purpose by Joy Wells. Um
I think its purpose by Joy Wells, um of impact with equity
and so what they doing is pose.
and so what they doing is posting policy right now to sort
of prevent this and I and I'm along with it. Um, I picked
up their
um
signature sheets because I see it make sense. It also helps
the community and the police.
What took place that with Dexter read we won't.
What took place that with Dexter read we won't know. I
don't trust the police not Chicago.
don't trust the police not Chicago Police.
What I see in I see in.
What I see in I see in superintendent Snelling something
that's real.
that's real because most of the people that deal with them
and and government
in in government or in
I guess um.
I guess um politicians that I don't like them.
stiff hand
Stiff hand shakes slight looks okay. That's the person I'm
going to deal with.
going to deal with that's the person I could trust.
So when he come down.
So when he come down there, we ask him these questions. He
given the answers I'm screening.
given the answers. I'm screening the answers because I want
to hear the politicians answers, but I'm not getting that
I'm getting a realness in the answers.
But this issue as far as Dexter read as far as what took
and I still to know look those police.
and I still to know look those police haven't been
reprimanded. No disciplines or anything.
reprimanded no disciplines or anything and it's hardly any
time that any officer going to be disciplined. They say
unless they whoop your head. I'm in a district.
this right now because I want a resolution to it. But what
happened with Dexter 3 we can't take back.
happened with Dexter 3 we can't take back, but they can be
a resolved in it by approaching the the freedom move
Chicago. What black Americans
Chicago what black Americans can freely move through
Chicago where?
you can get in your car as a black man and drive without
drive without getting pulled over without having a gun at
your window.
But what reason um, oh my my my my stick off. Hey the way
work force development going in.
work force development going in this city. I see why black
people can't pay their um tickets and um, what you call
Whatever It Is What is the
whatever it is, what is the registration um fee that they
have I see why
so all
So all these little systemic things that keep the foot on
the neck.
but this thing with that's the reason should have been like
okay, I open up because anything could have took place out
there said he could have erupted.
Anybody could use it as an excuse to take off?
but
it's traveling but let's not take away this also, I think
all the all.
all the all the men should take a ride on the on the CTA.
from
From here to 95th. Thank you Mr. Sims. I'm just saying.
Well heard.
that concludes
that does conclude our public.
that does conclude our public comment period
we will now begin.
we will now begin with the items before the committee.
We will now begin with the items before the committee. Uh
Oh appreciate it.
Oh our
Oh, our first order of business is the rule 45 report from
March which was sent out via email and distributed to
committee members. Can I have a motion to approve the rule
45 report?
older person Hopkins so moves all of those in favor of
passing the report say I
all those opposed say nay and the opinion of the chair the
eyes have it. We will now begin with the items before the
committee.
out of respect of everyone's
Out of respect of everyone's time. Skip skip skip
we will.
we will now begin with the routine or ordinances before the
committee.
committee on page 2. Can I have a motion to recommend
appro?
approval of all direct introduction ordinances on pages?
through 4 by the same roll call vote as was applied to
determine.
determine quorum.
or
Or Ormond Martin so moves hearing no objection.
or Ormond Martin so moves hearing no objection so ordered
let us turn to Pages 5 to 7 of of the recommend recommended
portion of the agenda can have a motion to recommend
approval.
approval of all recommended ordinances on pages 5 through
7.
approval of all recommended ordinances on pages 5 through 7
by the same roll call vote as was applied to determine
Quorum order person Chico. So moves hearing no OB
Quorum order person Chico. So moves hearing no objection so
ordered now we will move to pages.
ordered now, we will move to Pages 8 through 12 of the
agenda which are items that received.
agenda which are items that received no recommendation from
City departments these
City departments. These ordinances were submitted as
overrides are on the agenda.
overrides are on the agenda that the request of the order
person or did not require.
person or did not require departmental approval. Can I have
first have a motion to recommend approval of all ordinances
on pages 8 through 12 to be passed without a department.
on pages 8 through 12 to be passed without a department of
recommendation by the same roll call vote as was applied to
determine quarum.
or
Ormond Chico so moves hearing no objections, so
Ormond Chico so moves hearing no objections so ordered we
will report these items out at the next regularly scheduled
city council meeting.
With there being no further business before the committee.
Can I have a motion to adjourn ottoman Hopkins?
Can I have a motion to adjourn ottoman Hopkins so moves and
no. Thank you, Mr. Chairman for your flexibility.
no thank you, Mr. Chairman for your flexibility, uh and
accommodating the schedule changes. That's why around here.
We write our schedules in pencil.
We write our schedules in pencil, not and because things
happen, so I appreciate it. Thank you.
duly noted apprec
Duly noted appreciated all those in favor signify by saying.
I
we are adjourned.
May 1st 10
May 1st, 10 mm. Let's have some serious talk. Thank you
very much.