meetings 2023 to 2027 pursuant to the Chicago city council
Rules of Order and procedure rule 49. The sergeant-at-arms
sets forth the following rules of conduct to be followed
during the public comment period and the duration
City of Chicago city council rules of conduct for public
meetings to
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-arms 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 harassing behavior and
speech directed towards others is not permitted disruptive
behavior, including disruptive or disrespectful conducting
others presentations is
committed clear bags not tinted in color that do not exceed
12 by 12 by 6 in 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 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.
Morning morning.
You know, I just want to make sure.
So the joint committee on police fire and Workforce
Development will now come to order today. We have 1 item on
the agenda subject matter hearing on the Chicago Fire
Department's hiring Plan before we begin. I'm going to
conduct a roll call of our members Alderman Robinson.
We'll get them all. Um alderman, yansyi.
Alder is present Alderman Chico.
Armand Chico's present alderwoman Lee is present all the
woman Ramirez. All the woman Ramirez is present Alderman
Quinn Alder person Gutierrez Alderman Coleman Curtis all
the woman tailor.
Alderman Taylor is present Alderman Mosley Cher Rodriguez
is present alderman tobars.
Alderman Ervin is present Alderman T Farrell chairman
chairman is present Alderman Cardona.
Almond Cardona is present Alderman Ramirez Rosa alderman
pasado.
Alderman pasado is present Alderman Nugent Alder person
Vasquez.
Alder Mercedes in Vasquez is presente alderman.
Alderman kuden is present Alderman Gardiner alderwoman
clay.
All the women Clay is present Alderman Silverstein Alderman
Robinson. President Alderman Robinson is present seeing
that we have 14 members present. We do have a quorum, uh by
rule 59 committee members Alderman nents Alderman Mosley
Alderman Gardiner
Alderman Coleman alderwoman Gutierrez and Alderman Ramirez
Rosa have requested attendance by remote means on the rule
of 59 due to unrelated emergencies.
Uh, can I get a motion to allow their participation
remotely?
So moved all those in favor signify by saying I any opposed
any opinion of the chair the eyes have it. I'd like to also
uh, recognize Alderman Bernett and I believe alderwoman, uh
uh, Alderman dowel also our present either in person or
remotely and we will recognize that for quorum.
Um at this time, we will begin public comment the public
comment period is 30 minutes out of respect for everyone's
Time Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes. Our first
speaker is
I believe it's Jim.
jablonowski
in Alderman Johnny is president.
for purposes of a quorum
Thank you chair. Um, we'll start with Jim jablonowski and
then following. Uh, we'll be uh, Gloria Hannah if you could
be uh, just ready when we're um ready for you.
You have 3 minutes.
Good morning, everybody. My name is Jim jablin elowsky. I'm
a retired Chicago Fire Department battalion chief 36 years
on the job. Um, I also have a Facebook page for the last 10
years for Chicago Fire Department hiring. I have about
4,000 followers. I get contacted uh every day by dozens of
people, uh,
And I've done probably 300 foyers to try to peel back the
curtain on this hiring process. The hiring process is
terrible everything's secretive and it shouldn't be
secretive as I walk through the county building today. I
realize I could look up any of your your taxes. I could
look up your mortgages. I could look up all these things
and yet these people that give up their time to take this
test for the world's greatest job cannot see where they are
at on this list.
Since doing this since 2014 on the last list, I uncovered
over 500 mistakes made by the city of Chicago. I met with
cfd, uh, Deputy Commissioners and I met with the inspector
General's office to get that list changed and that list was
changed and over 350 mistakes were found.
I don't know how many mistakes are made on this list. Just
terrible. I'd like to say 1 thing about Alderman's Spa
because of his push for City residency for this test. We're
going to have 90% of the people that get hired on our job
on the world's greatest job. They're going to be City
residents, which I think is great.
uh
What can the city do very simple host the numbers and the
referrals on on the city website? So these people that take
the test instead of them get reaching out to me to see
where they're at on the list because I got a foyer request
and I got the information, you know from back in the
closet. They can go on and take a look themselves and then
they can see what mistakes are made if they got their
proper preference or not.
What they need to do also is the medical the medical
standards need to be posted. So these people that end up
having bad Medicals can find out why they have bad Medicals
or they can in fact find out that maybe the city made
another mistake.
so and going forward with this new test, let's not fail 50%
of the Chicago Police Department that took the test 50% of
the Chicago Fire Department paramedics that took the test
50% of the veterans. How about all your Alderman in here?
If you had to take a test the sixth grade reading test
which is what they take for fire department to be an
Alderman and then they come back and say you know what 50%
of you failed.
And you go. Well, how did I fail? Well, we're not telling
you. Well, what's the standard? We're not telling you.
We're not telling you anything.
Would you be devastated?
Because the fire department is not the same job as being a
garbage truck driver.
It's a career.
And if you talk to anybody on the fire department, there's
not 1 person that doesn't love this job.
And 1 more quick thing.
The next hearing we need to have is the the the terrible
line of duty death rate on the Chicago Fire Department. We
have the worst line of duty death rate of all large city
fire departments.
Thank you. Sir. Next up is Gloria hanana followed by Burke
Smith, Gloria your 3 minutes start now.
Good morning. My name is Gloria Hannah. I am actually a
retired first responder. I retired as a deputy chief from
the Chicago Police Department in December of 2020. I'm
actually here on behalf of my oldest son who applied to be
a Chicago Fire Department, uh Chicago firefighter. He could
not be here because he's actually at home working. So I'm
just going to give you a timeline of his experience and
this is probably an experience that a lot of people also
this happened to them, but they did not have the
wherewithal to push to be able to sit for the exam. So on
November 17th, my son received a notice saying he was
ineligible to take the exam because he had a low lottery
number 93.99 will we wonder he lives in the city of
Chicago? He graduated from Gwendolyn Brooks a city of
Chicago high school was his preferences applied and
And I will tell you this he submitted everything on time and
we went back into to and we checked that on November 23rd.
He sent an email to to the city asking if his preferences
were applied were applied. He received the response on the
27th.
Asking for his candidate number he responded on the 28th.
He he provided that on the 30th of November. He was told it
was being researched on December 7th. He he actually did
receive an admission ticket to take the exam 10 days prior
to the exam. But my question is how many other Keenan
Smiths were there that this happened to in their
preferences were not given to them when they should have
been thank you. I hope that you all really will address
this issue.
Thank you, ma'am. Next up is Burke Smith followed by Rodney
Shelton.
Burke Smith if you wish to speak
Okay, Burke you uh, uh relinquish your wish here. Okay.
We'll go to Rodney Shelton, then you have 3 minutes, sir.
How you doing? Uh, I'm Rodney Shelton. I'm a member of the
Chicago Fire Department. Uh, I'm also a member of the Lewis
class the uh, the class that we got on, uh, due to the
1995, uh entry exam.
uh, my concern is
the enforcement or the lack of enforcement of appendix G in
its entirety and that is in basically every section of
that.
Uh Independence G. It has not been enforced appendix G is
our affirmative action policy. And the way that that has
there's been a lack of uh enforcement is through the
scoring of the exams. They use this, uh methodology, which
is considered linear transformation, which after getting
it, uh,
getting it reviewed by Northwestern University in that
sense. The city uses a negative curve, uh to give you an
example the battalion chief exam.
Out of 104 they uh out of 104 candidates 30 were black when
the results came out. They said 12 was eligible for
promotion when we went back and did the actual math, which
is considered Pro rat of math simple, arithmetic 27 out of
30 blocks were eligible. So you went from saying 40% was
eligible. And then when we correct when we went back and
saw the corrected version, it was 90% eligible even with
the uh, the captives exam from 2016. These exams are from
2016, even with that out of the 53, uh candidates. They
said 18 was eligible for promotion for decades.
The City attorney has gone on record to say that they've
been using this methodology and they don't see what the
problem is. Well, it's a violation in the section of the
the contract of of appendix G that's specifically says
anything as far as examinations that harms blacks and
Hispanic. You should stop doing it.
And I've asked that it be I've asked from our elected
officials.
To the the official of that Mary or me, not Lori Lightfoot
mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed. Um
the affirmative action, uh officer
I've I've written no responses written no responses with
the help of the uh, Westside NAACP. We've been able to get
some traction get with the IG and and and and move forward
with this but the fact of the matter is there's key things
in that affirmative action policy. That's that that that's
holding us back. There's no affirmative action officer,
which supposed to be appointed by the mayor and only
supposed to report to the mayor and there's no Community
Advisory board. So when we look at these things,
This is how you can get the answers because that that's the
checks and balances. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Shelton. Uh,
your time is expired. Next up will be Orlando Martinez
followed by Jeffrey. I believe the last name is zoron
Orlando Martinez.
You have 3 minutes, sir.
All right. Good morning. My name is Orlando Martinez. I'm a
Chicago resident. I graduated from CPS high school with
honors.
I was in the cpfta and I currently am working as a EMT. I
took the most recent exam and December 2022 and it is
discouraging that such a well-known fire department such as
the Chicago fire department is failing people like myself
based on a self-pity test. That isn't explained.
That's all I had to say.
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Martinez up next Jeffrey. I believe
it's zoron and following. Uh, Jeffrey will be warshaw king.
You have 3 minutes sir. Good morning, everyone. Good
morning. My name is Captain Jeffrey Porter.
I was denied a promotion to the battalion chief in December
of 2019.
based on fraudulent claims by the city
The city called me to BC class in December of 2019 because
I had all the requirements needed per the job announcement.
Then at the end of the class when our batteries were being
passed out mine was withheld without reason.
Later, they claimed. I did not have the requirements to be
promoted to Chief.
Their claims did not have any validation. It wasn't true.
Otherwise, they would not have called me to the class for
the promotion in the first place.
Now calculating they owe me 4 years of back pay as a
battalion chief and also adjusting all my status as Captain
Captain to the Titan Chief meeting my pay my pension and
everything else in in regards. That's all I have. Thank
you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Porter forgive my uh mistreating
your name. Next up is warshaw King followed by George,
Blakemore.
Good morning. My name is warshaw King. I'm a retired
battalion chief with 36 years of the on the job.
Uh, just want to bring up to the attention that the years
that I've been on the job the number of the black.
firefighters have decreased
now on the pick G we have that you supposed to have 45%
Of blacks, they say minorities black and Hispanics where
the Hispanics are getting these numbers, but the blacks are
not getting this numbers.
You throwing out the the uh, bad narrative that hey,
there's no black that want the job but the blacks that are
on the list.
For the job you're not calling them.
Their numbers are being passed over.
and they nobody
bringing that to know 1 attention
so the number of black need to increase
it said 45% and it should be 45% each.
new recruitment class
I mean if you look around you got a lot of
kids right here that's on the list having been called.
Got the qualification.
Got the qualification got everything in the ears.
They not waiting. They getting the EMT license they
prepared and they waiting to get the call. But yet you all
going to pass them up.
Now we got immigrants that's coming in the city and now
y'all ready to get them city jobs.
City jobs, you got people that have been in the city all
day in life.
Trying to get a city job.
So I'm just going to bring that to your attention. Thank
you.
Thank you. Sir. Next up is George Blakemore followed by
Michael Young Mr. George Moore to you, sir. You have 3
minutes.
All of you out here.
You got these Black Faces in high places.
Several years ago. They had a consent decree for about the
black Farm.
They didn't get nothing. Then 20 years later. You're still
not getting nothing. Don't talk about Brown.
We talking about black you got black.
Your black official black someone who smokes be hate on the
plantation the white man made a in.
And you're acting hating each other. You don't see no other
group crying up here about that but black.
low, lighted black leadership
No black leadership.
instead
It's a sad day and then you have I been waiting back here
trying to keep me from this meeting black story.
Don't worry. Don't worry. Maybe the Republicans don't want
to either maybe the United States. Thank you.
Maybe you hated by the government when they promised over
here.
This is Chad. This is not a new struggle with these
problems. The white problem would beat up the black F in
the fire station this little white lady over there. She
used to say Mr. Blakemore.
Pray for me.
That's what that lady said that that black lady. She said
pray for me dear Lord help my people help them help them
help them. It's the help of
don't wait on the Lord. You got to help you get really need
somebody black leadership. They don't even do they tell
you.
They they keep going this way, but this Democratic machine
that not the same damn thing over and over and over again,
but at the same time
stop
It stop it. Oh, this is not a new struggle with the Bible
as the old Bible about that lawsuit.
Black Faces in high places
selling out black people
Thank you, sir. Michael Young be followed by Shalom Wilson.
Thank you, sir. Go go ahead sir.
these people down here complaining
brave men and women
that's willing to serve this country.
Rich willing to serve the people that's willing to serve
the community.
and
they not getting no justice.
They not getting no justice and it ain't just on the fire
department. It's on the police too. It's on the police
force.
Just look at just go and y'all everybody go there and that
thing just go look and see every time a may get in there.
You may see when they having a recruit. You may see 5 or 6.
brothers and sisters in that bunch of
people that's
went through the academy for the police department.
You know what I'm saying as well as for the fire
department, it's hard for our people just to get in the
door.
And then some of them don't Gather in the door and they
being treated.
Like they ain't nothing.
You know, but y'all not doing these Europeans like that.
Y'all not doing these Europeans like that because we call a
fire right it be a fire in this building right now 90% of
them that come gonna be European.
And I don't use the term black or white. So that's why I'm
using the term European because I call our people what we
are Asian addicts.
you know, so
this discrimination need to stop.
And the only way it going to stop as he referenced to a I
waiting on it to fall out the sky.
You gotta take action.
Because some of these people may even be down here. Just
lobbying where they pay you to come down get up here and
say whatever you gonna say Etc.
You know, but these people ain't got your interest in heart.
They ain't got the interest in heart of the public.
Because if they did our communities will look different.
Look around in your communities.
Y'all y'all know where y'all come from and where your
families come from? And where you at?
for that matter
this discrimination need to stop.
When is y'all going to stand up for the people or is you
just some cowards?
Cuz some of y'all get up here and speak all that Kumbaya
stuff and then vote against the interests of your own
people.
You will hide behind these churches. You will have Behind
these organizations. You'll hide behind all this nonsense
just to
denounce your own people to raise your own people destroy
your own people.
Our people need to wake up and be strong.
And come up from away from them.
Come away from them. And most of it is ran by a Democratic
party. That's why we say go red.
Thank you. Sir. Next up is Shalom Wilson followed by sa
Horus.
Shalom Wilson
Thank you.
Order sir.
Thank you, sir up next.
Hey guys, my name is Chalan Wilson. Um, I applied um, I
took the entry exam for the firefighters August 2022.
Um, I still have not heard anything back. I've got no
response. I've reached out several times in the email that
they have addressed in my email for taking the exam never
gotten a response. I've emailed them at least 20 times.
Um, my dream was to always be a firefighter. I didn't even
I've never seen a black firefighter when I was young. I
seen a black female firefighter but growing up. I've never
seen any firefighters. I didn't know any black firefighters
really existed until I came to the black fire brigade and I
was introduced to all of these people.
I just feel like I don't really have a fair chance maybe
being discriminated against because the process is taken so
long.
I went to CPAP practice with people who?
Got their acceptance letters in the summer, but took their
entry exam in 2014 10 years ago. I just don't want to have
to wait that long. Um, I just feel like I don't have a fair
chance. I'm still waiting. I didn't get a new lottery
number still haven't heard anything back. So at this point
I kind of don't know what to do. It's just still like a
waiting game. I know people whose numbers of different
ethnicities who were called before me people's numbers in a
5000 and I just don't think that's fair.
That's all I got today.
Thank you. Sioban Wilson. Next up is essay. Yes almond 1
second almond Patek come by me and give me her information.
I'll find out what her status is for her. Okay. Thank you
essay Horus.
followed by Marco Bannon
Go ahead now. Yes. Hi guys. My name is Sago Forest. Um, I
attended Kenwood Academy and I go to Alabama A&M. Um, I
believe when I was in fifth grade, they used to access. Uh,
what we want to be most of the kids raised their hand and
said, they wanted to be fired for us and police officers.
Um, I don't know whether they are now. However, I literally
asked the kid maybe a month ago. What they wanted to be.
They told me they wanted to be like meech off vmf. I don't
know if you guys know who meet y'all vmf is, but they are a
drug cartel family.
and I believe that they like the young lady said she didn't
know that African-Americans were in the police department
and I believe that they don't see a lot of black people in
First Response.
And I feel like it's so crazy that African-Americans have
the second leading population in Chicago and that they only
have a percent of African-Americans in the fire department.
And only 2% of that are black women.
but this young lady just to speak before me and she had
that challenge and she still went forward to take that
courage to still try to become um in the first response is
very wonderful. Um, I also would say that my mom was 1 of
the people to take the exam in 1995 and she was declined
because of the standards that was raised to 90 89 and she
made a 88 and the um requires and were changed right after
the exam was taken and she lost her chance to become a 5 to
fire.
Um for decades fire to fires were looked at as Heroes and I
do believe that it's time for African-Americans to be
looked at as Heroes as well and the and children's of
African-Americans to be able to see the African-Americans
to be look as Heroes and to see their opportunities other
ways to make changes in the world and to make other better
chances than to be what they are labeled as that's all I
got to say. Thank you.
Thank you. Next up is Mark obannon followed by
a dear Hughes
Oh Aiden. Got it. Uh first up will be marked though.
Good morning, everyone.
My name is Mark Oban, and I'm a retired battalion chief for
the Chicago Fire Department.
um
What we have is a history.
a pattern
a practice and a behavior of discrimination
what what we're here for is not new.
Brother Blackmore said it.
It's nothing new.
But it's consistent and it's systemic.
and my suggestion
there's a we have to force the only time fairness has come
to the city of Chicago's hiring practices is with consent
decrees Court actions suits Etc.
It's clear if you look.
But the transparency does not exist when we try to get
numbers accurate numbers. How many people are on the job
how many white people black people Hispanic people women?
It's like pulling teeth.
I'm sure Alderman Robinson can attest to the requests that
he made that he's still waiting for for these numbers.
The suggestion is the sort of simple thing.
The 95 exam millions of dollars were spent to fight it.
Let's not spend millions of dollars. Let's just hire some
black people like the contract suggested.
millions of dollars are spent to fight it and when it's
when the um
facts, excuse me, Mr. Blackmore. Thank you.
when it when when this
Victory comes millions of dollars are spent. So what we're
just trying to say is do the right thing. It's legal.
To do what you've been doing.
generationally
Systematically it's legal.
But it's wrong.
And we're just asking to do what's right.
And not cost the city anymore money.
Thank you. Thank you, sir.
Next stop is Aiden Hughes.
Hello, they hate us.
Thank you everybody.
Good morning, everybody.
Morning.
Hi, my name is Aiden Hughes. I am 23 years old.
And I am a lifelong Chicago resident a CPS graduate.
A cpfta graduate and I am currently a student at Richard J
Daly College.
It is my lifelong dream to join the Chicago fire department
and I took the entrance exam on December 17th 2022.
I am here to raise questions related to this exam.
I was disqualified from the hiring process to join the
Chicago Fire Department because administrators asserted
that I did not complete certain sections of the exam.
Though to the best of my knowledge. I did complete all
sections of the exam and they did not give me any proof.
Otherwise
I have always had to persevere to achieve my goals as I'm a
man with autism and I think diffic I think differently than
my typically functioning peers.
my request
for a reasonable 504 accommodation of being able to take
the test using a computer was denied.
And I assert that having this accommodation may have made a
positive difference to the outcome of my test.
Going forward I respectfully request that for future
entry-level opportunities.
That human resources consider allowing me and others who
have disabilities similar to mine to take the exam on a
computer.
My family has had 4 generations of Chicago firefighters, and
I just want to and I just want the same opportunity to be
hired on the cfd as my great. Great grandfather who joined
back in 1891?
That's all I have to say.
Thank you. Thank you. Last speaker is Taiwan Sims Taiwan
Sims.
Yes.
Is Michael David is Michael David Rodriguez? Right? Excuse
me? It's Michael David Rodriguez. You you have 3 minutes,
sir. Go ahead, right but last words.
Vasquez
So we hear this morning. Thank y'all for coming out. Thank
y'all. Thank y'all.
because this is
the picture
this is the 450 future that y'all working on right? These
are the people that y'all plan on pushing out of the city.
Do y'all representation Mr. Rodriguez Vasquez? See if we
I'm not gonna speak to my black Alderman. We Sorry black
Alder all the people. We sorry.
We will apologize and we will do better.
to uphold y'all representation
in this city so that we might restructure the power so it
might we
assert ourselves in this room. Thank you, Mr. Bill for
speaking so strongly well, um, oh she's not in the room
this morning.
the practice of discrimination
the practice of
the legacy of racism but now it's not even in white
Americans in this room. It's practicing our Latino brothers
and sisters.
That seem to want to try to etch us out even though we
invited.
Humble Park, all these communities with black black people
that we invited Southshore right now with the with the
immigrants we invited we're still with no regard with a
disregard with a blatant disregard. This is what y'all do
what y'all pens and y'all representations that y'all
sitting y'all positions.
a dishonor to a people
a dishonor to a city
this is what y'all is.
And It's upsetting it's so enraging. I came in this morning
praying the Our Father over and over so that I might not
stand up on this mic and cuss, but I'm I'm I've been
blessed.
The father to show me a picture.
These people look this not a weak people back here. So
imagine doing a physical the physical part of the um, 5 5
minutes, um test no problem the mental part. We not a
unintelligible.
So the mental part is no problem. However, just like the
young lady said numbers way above her have been chosen, but
they wouldn't her skin tone.
We see this practice. We not we not unaware of it, but we
see it.
How do we amend it? How do we resolve it?
Where's the reparation?
Where's the reparation this and y'all powered over the in
the committee of work force development work force
development. That's the development. Let's focus on that
deep. I know look at that clock, but you can watch me
because you're gonna see me a lot. I promise you I came
here with intent on speaking to you Mr. Rodriguez, but last
quiz our Latino brothers and sisters.
They is.
I came.
Because y'all I don't know somewhere along the way y'all
been so screwed up. So pushed around that y'all think y'all
gonna push us around now. Thank you sir. Um as or 30
minutes for public comment has expired. I want to thank
everyone for uh, their comments. Uh, I also want to
recognize all those yantee Hall Quinn and Curtis for the
Quorum. Uh, all they're in the palatin Irvin you're already
in we got the palatin and we got all them in Mitchell as
well for the quorum.
alderman
Alderman, um, you're on Chrome as well. Oh, no, I had a
question.
Um, let me move this over to Alderman. Uh, uh tariro to
take take over the chairmanship.
Alderman Ervin
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, I noticed that
we've got some witnesses in the Box. My question is is
anybody here from either HR or the fire department as well?
Thank you. Um Alderman Ervin, I I was going to announce
that uh, we did um reach out and invited director Anastasia
Walker with public safety administration, uh commissioner
and and at hold with the Chicago fire department and we
invited um commissioner Blake Moore Department of Human
Resources. Um, and unfortunately, they were unable to join
us today.
But um, go ahead I got no. I just I mean
I mean we can we can take in the the testimony uh today,
uh, however we at some point, you know, in order to
honestly address the issues and concerns that are being
brought. We've got to have the people that are empowered
with dealing with this come before us and have that
conversation that's painful as it may be. Uh, we can't, you
know, not do that. So, um while we can take in the people
that come down today take in the testimony. We do need to
have a part 2 to this that will allow um them
to address the issues that are being brought forth as
relates to not only appendix G but the hiring process
because it do it does seem to be just based anecdotally
some challenges that we're we're hearing. However, it's uh,
we got to have a dialogue. I mean we hear on 1 side of this
we need a dialogue on these issues to so that we can uh,
you know reach some reasonable conclusions and write the
wrongs that have been done in this particular case. So
yeah, and I I certainly appreciate that. Um Alderman now
both chairman Rodriguez and I employed upon the
administration to allow them to present their testimony and
and ask questions before this, um committee today, um, but
unfortunately because they have a uh, a pending lawsuit
that the city's engaged in as well as um, I believe, uh,
the stated reason was also current contract negotiations.
um, the administration opted not to allow them to appear
today. So, uh as as eloquent as that was said we did push
to have them here because I understand the dynamic of
having a conversation or dialogue with the the parties that
Probably most important to be in here to answer a lot of
your questions, um are not present before the joint
committee. So, um, I appreciate the uh,
The need for them to be here. Um, no, I I agree with that.
I I mean I understand and in some respects, but there's a
basic stuff that
they should be able to answer and I and I I do hope that at
some point in the future that we do set aside a time for
just without getting into the legalities of it, but there
are some very basic process questions. I think all of us
need to know and understand and they need to be able to
provide that information for us. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you Alderman bill.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman these Commissioners work for us
We appoint these Commissioners and we're going to let the
administration tell a commissioner not to come before this
body. What is this body for?
What are we what are we doing? Why are we elected
officials? Why are we all women?
Holding committee meetings if we can't get a commissioner
to come before us.
Yeah.
you know, I mean, I mean you we all know I've been around a
while, but I I really wish uh
a person would tell me that uh commissioner can't come
before a body in which
You all are chairman and you're allowing somebody to tell
you all that. Somebody is not going to come before you all.
We will never get anywhere in this city. If we allow this
kind of behavior to continue.
Now, I mean, we you know what we're talking about today.
I've been talking about for 25 years for 25 years. I've
been here talking about we need more representation from
our community on the police department to fire department
the whole I've been fighting the whole hiring process for
the police department that how they excluded blacks because
if you got bad credit or if you got a psychological you you
you didn't pass the psychological. I mean the whole process
is skewed and there's no different with the fireman's exam.
The whole process is skewed to eliminate people of color,
especially black folks and so and you know until you know
until this body decides to finally stand up.
And be the body that we are elected to be.
Without being dictated to and it's nothing against the
administration, but it's Pro us. It ain't anti- anybody
it's Pro us and throw our community. We're fighting for our
community.
Not you know, I think you know, I think I said this last
month I said this last month.
That if you know this body did not you know realize that 1
day we need to wake up.
Because we're losing this city. We're losing our city
because this body is not standing up to do what's right for
the masses of the people who are paying taxes who live here
who play here and eventually they die here. We're not
fighting for them.
We're not fighting for those people.
And so I don't want to get on my soapbox any more than I
normally do but this is wrong and I wish a person would
tell me if I was a chairman. I wish a person would tell me
a commission ain't come before me and I'm a chairman. We
need to do some soul searching. Thank you so much, Mr.
Chair, and and and Al.
I'm not I'm not going to um, you know argue. I'm not I'm
not going to argue a point because you make a good point
the the issue is, you know.
You know following the ordinance, so give us subpoena
power.
You know and and if we had subpoena power they wouldn't be
able to dodge around it. They wouldn't be able to direct um
or or allow the administration to tell them not to come
here. So the argument isn't with this committee. The
argument isn't with this body. The argument is with the
administration because as much as we can command them or
demand them to be here.
Hold on. Hold on. Hold on I'm speaking.
as as as much as
we can command them and demand that they be here. The
administration also has the authority to direct them not to
be here and and they
And and they they are they are going to do what the
administration allows them to do because that's who
appoints them. Of course we confirm but ultimately, um,
I wanted to cancel the meeting because they weren't here.
Um because it makes no sense in my opinion to have this
meeting when we couldn't get testimony from them to talk
about the disparities in hiring to talk about the
disparities and promotion. You're right. This has been an
argument for years for decades and it's not going to be
settled if they're not at the table. Uh, and so I agree
with you to some to some point but we need subpoena power
if we had the authority to subpoena then they can't go
around the subpoena and not show up and not allow the uh,
the administration to tell them not to show up and to be
very honest with you. Um, uh, the commissioner of fire
department wanted to be here. Um, in fact, she really
wanted to be here to speak on behalf of the fire
department. But um because she was directed not to be here.
She's not here today.
Alderman Taylor alderwoman Taylor
Hold on Walter had I'm sorry Alderman B had a point of
information. Then we're going to Alderman pisado hit a
point of information and then Alderman alderwoman Taylor
point of information. Yeah. I just want to know did you
talk to the administration about them business? Yes, we
did.
Fantastic point of information not questions 1 of
information. Not a question. I just been helping people
back here. They've been coming up to me and I just want to
give some good news about Shalom Wilson. I just found out a
real number a real number is 814 which means she will be in
most likely in the next class. I told her she'll be getting
called soon. Probably. I don't know when maybe you know,
June July August so
But I just want to let the people know the good news. And
and also I just want to reaffirm what you said. It is not
the 3 commissioner fault. They were told not to come here.
They were asked to come and administration won't let them
come. So thank you. Thank you Alden. This is Al alderwoman
Taylor.
I'm gonna take all my glasses off. Absolutely. We are
professional time wasters that that's what we are. So y'all
got all these Black Friday Fighters back here who came to
actually tell their story and y'all in administration
decide because you should have told us before today and
don't act like on our watch they didn't get rid of the
dissent decree. So are we going to call bulshit? Let's call
it all together. Y'all are getting on my last good nerve. I
am so sick of y'all.
I've asked every I got here in 2019 and every year I've
asked the commissioner and Ned Hall. Why does the number of
black firefighters? Keep going down? I've got death threats
from White firefighters saying that I'm starting trouble
and kicking up s***. Really. This is what we do.
And now we need y'all to save us now. Y'all want to tell us
the numbers now. Y'all want to say it's a problem with
testing. Where would y'all at? When I was at these budget
hearings asking those same questions nowhere to be found.
Nowhere to be found y'all so full of s***, and I'm tired of
it y'all just y'all everything needs people say about us is
the truth. It is the truth so they decided not to come and
y'all keep giving Miss hold a pass like she doing her job.
She not her Anastasia Walker and now miss Blakemore because
she knew where our problematic they should have been here
the first day when we brought this out, but she did.
Y'all been talking about it for 20 years. I bet you doing
budget season y'all going to vote Yes.
Y'all going to hold that budget cuz I will.
I wish these black firefighters could go on strike and the
union is just as f****** guilty.
They are guilty as well. I don't care if they had a
contract to GOI or for what so they can keep telling us
appendix. You don't have no teeth how long they been
telling us. They been saying that to me for 5 years.
Y'all when they tell out the city. It's on us.
The thought that they were coming you should have y'all on
the y'all committee chance y'all should have called every
last Committee Member and said they are not allowing them
to come testify. I got constituent day today. I could be in
my War but I'm here because I want these black men and
women to know you got black electors that that support
y'all despite what's being said. I'm here. I'm always here.
I'm always taking the bullet.
And where are y'all at doing? Absolutely nothing. I don't
care what administration being here don't act like it was
just Lori and Brandon it was wrong ass, too. It was daily,
too.
It it's been happening. What you say how long uh, Anthony
Bill how long has been happening?
Absolutely, so we gonna keep playing these games with
people livelihoods and y'all wonder why young people out
there knocking people outside. They damn head taking their
cars why they stealing we forced their hand to
it is disrespectful for y'all to call us down the meeting
and Miss Blackmore Anastasia Walker and then that hold are
not here when they when the ministration told, you know,
you should have called us. It's called back up. That's why
you got a committee members you committee chairs.
It is this the saddest s*** ever and I'm because because
they've been cussing all day. I'm just gonna add on to it.
Y'all wonder why the public gets mad at us, but this is
stupid. You should be more respectful than that, though.
no, I'm not. I have a wait a minute. Hold on now. I'm a
disrespect you cuz on your watch cuz on your watches when
of this you're the person that was in charge of Public
Safety in what did you do? Then? You're not going to
disrespect. I'm not disrespecting you. How did I disrespect
you? That's your problem. That's your problem. You feel
like somebody disrespected you I'm I'm practicing freedom
of speech. That's what I'm doing when they do it. I don't
see you say nothing.
So you you feel like you had to interrupt what I was
saying. Everybody else say they want to say around here.
But when all the woman Taylor said, it's a problem all the
woman all the women tailor. What I'm saying is you need to
be respectful enough not to not to use profanity in these
Chambers what I said show me the rules that it say that cuz
I
why are you not the chair of Public Safety?
entered into the city decree for the police department? Why
are you not the chair? I digress know I was not.
And if you if you knew your history you would know that. I
was not I know that's a lot of me joining call now. Why you
trying to be smart saying I'm disrespecting you now see.
Come on, I'mma talk to him. I'mma talk to him.
Saying you want a chair. Yes. You are. You are the you are
the chairman and the last Administration when they got
ready to decide you want tell me I'm wrong.
Alderman Bernette
damn it.
So so I just asked uh got a message from the administration
that
they are currently in active negotiation with the Chicago
Fire Department Union Local 2 as such it would be
inappropriate for them to allow the Commissioners to
discuss anything why they are negotiation. That's why
they're not here. That's what the administration just sent
me point of clarification want a clarification. Well, well,
I'm I'm happy that uh, the the distinguished gentle
gentleman from the 27 Wards off 50 to try to carry some
more water. But let me just tell you this. Let me just tell
you this you don't have to ask certain questions as it
relates to the contract. We can ask pertinent questions as
it relates to hiring and the other stuff there's no
Conflict of asking pertinent questions on what's on the
agenda?
Asking questions as it relates to the contract. Yeah,
maybe.
But that's not a good excuse for them not to be here. All
they have to say is I can't answer that question, but I can
answer this question. So thank you Mr. Jim.
Alderman Vasquez
Thank you chairman. Uh
I just want to add my voice to what our members here
saying. I I get frustrated when administrations and it
isn't just this 1 Tennessee say that oh people say we're
not being transparent but we are being transparent. This is
proof about not being transparent not allowing. The
Commissioners here is a problem. Yeah, there are challenges
we have to face. We need people here to answer questions.
They're not going to be the best answers. But if we don't
know what scenario we're actually in, how are we going to
improve it?
I can't blame the Commissioners because they're the
employees and if the bosses are telling them not to show
up. They're not exactly going to fight back out of fear of
losing their jobs. However,
ain't nobody in the fifth floor the boss of any city
council member here. Our bosses are the people that elected
us to each of these wards.
So we can say you know, what if they're not showing up
here. We're going to reschedule till they can.
At Alderman Bealls point the fact that there's a Union
contract is not an excuse to not have somebody come up here
because they could easily say, you know what? I can't
answer that because there's a labor dispute happening and
they still have plenty of questions lined up from all the
members here.
This is a public safety matter. We got people aching for
jobs out here. They're applying they're not even being told
why they're not being accepted.
So it's not only getting more people in cfd, which is a
public safety matter. It's getting people who want to get
jobs off of the streets necessarily to actually do things
to help our city out. If there are impediments to that. We
need to have real conversations about it. I understand that
you all are trying to hold a hearing so this isn't towards
anyone. However, if no 1's here to show up you can
reschedule it.
Everybody here gets mad as hell and we're late because we
can't be here for Quorum. Now, we don't even have people no
disrespect to people currently in the box, but we don't
have the other Commissioners to talk about hiring. We have
enough hiring problems as it is and so I just don't
understand.
Why this couldn't be rescheduled why couldn't it be
communicated if it was something where our city council
members could have been spoken to so we could say you know,
what we need to have this hearing to hear it the fact that
we don't is a huge problem. So yeah, I think actually
members here should all work together to draft something
too subpoena people so we don't have excuses when people
can't show up. Thank you very much open the Vasquez and and
I say this to anybody else, um, they keep bringing that
point up. Um, it was my intent because they were not going
to be here.
Um, I didn't see the reason to go forward with this meeting.
Um, however, um in speaking with the chief sponsor of this,
um,
And agreeing with him to go ahead and allow the meeting at
his at his request. That's why we're here today. Um, I
believe it was going to be unfruitful, uh to have a meeting
when I was told that the parties were not going to be here.
Um, and it may made no sense to bring all these folks down
where we could not have, uh, the Commissioners and the
director here to speak on behalf of the city. Um, but in in
speaking with the chief sponsor of this message, um this
measure he did ask me to move forward with it, and I'm
going to respect his wishes and have the meeting
Hold on. We have Alderman Nala after Alderman Vasquez
Alderman the politano then Alderman spaz. Yeah, I just want
to say thank you for the clarification with respect to the
sponsor and makes perfect sense. If there's timing there, I
I don't want to submerge any of our members who are trying
to do the good work. I think for situations like this our
Council needs to be in more conversation with each other so
we can support each other to actually be in positions to
get more stuff done. Um, I believe we all want to do the
right thing here. So I think it's just about us figuring
out ways to be more organized so we can talk amongst
ourselves and make sure that if we're going to have a
meeting it's something we can get the most of so that way
our chief sponsors are able to move things forward. Uh,
thank you very much 1 of the information Alderman bill.
Opponent clarification, uh, Mr. Chairman. Um, I just wanted
to correct this body. We already have subpoena power. Uh,
we were just trying to codify through an ordinance. But
this body already today has subpoena power is a cifi.
Absolutely. Absolutely. Okay, you know the ordinance
number, uh, I don't but if you could get that and let me
know because we have done it through finance committee, uh
some years back. Uh, so we don't have to uh, wait we
already have that power today? We just have to execute it.
Okay, I'll check with law as well. Thanks.
Paula Tano followed by alderman
Uh, thank you chairman. Uh, I just like to point out a
couple quick.
Quick Concepts here on behalf of your panel and and trying
to do the right thing and I do believe you did ask them to
come. Uh, and we're told that they can't and you did want
to cancel the meeting. I do know that for sure but on that
fact too, uh when it comes to uh,
A commissioner testifying or speaking on behalf of or in
front of a panel. Um, it it doesn't go against uh
Collective baring agreement as long as we're not hitting on
every point that is in Collective of our in agreements. So
there's questions that can come up that we can ask and that
could be answered here today and give clarification that
don't fall under that Collective barring agreement
discussion. And if it does they can stop at that point and
say that is being negotiated now, we can't speak about it.
So a lot of questions could be answered in here and we
could have a commissioner in here and speak on behalf of of
what we want what information we need here. Um, so it it it
isn't
Against the law or it is an illegal for them to come in
front of us and answer what questions they can and to
refrain from the ones they can't because of the the
collective baring agreement.
And on another note to my colleagues here. I especially
Janette I agree with you 100% your anger your frustration.
Um, and I think as as a body of aldermen here and voting
rights and ones that we put people in the positions or we
vote when it comes voting time. This is a topic that's near
and dear to your heart.
And if the administration is telling people not to come and
talk on it we have that's when we come together as a
council and decide when we're going to vote together as a
council and not be so divided all the time when you're told
to cast that vote all of us not just you, um Alderman, uh,
when we're told to make those votes we need to stop and
pull back and say how about this topic?
We're not going to vote as a body or a hole until this
topic is covered and solved so you're not going to get that
automatic. Yes out of all of us when we know it. Probably
shouldn't be a yes. It should be a no.
So that's where we need to come together as a body and get
through term get through issues like this together
collectively.
We don't work for the administration. We work for them and
we work for our Wards I'm with you.
And well, that's what I mean Mr. Blakemore. We work for the
people. Um, so I'm I'm with you. I'm not against you
chairman. I know what you guys are trying to do, but they
can come up here and answer the questions they can answer
and they can refrain from the ones they can't that fall
under the CBA. Um, so we shouldn't fall for that in in
general. You're an attorney, you know, there's ways that we
can get them in here and answer the question that they need
to answer and we can write down the ones that they can't.
Um, so I I I think that's that's something we need to push.
We need to push for another meeting. They should all be
here. Thank you chair.
Thank you. Chairman, Tim. Can you slide the chair for me so
I could have a better View?
No, so I could see here you go. Thank you. All right.
Thank.
Um, believe it or not. I actually agree with some people
over here, but I don't agree with a lot of people too and I
want to start with these are at will employees people.
Okay? Yes, we can't demand them come in their boss tells
them not to come. They'll lose their jobs. Okay, every time
I call these 3 ladies every time never a problem. Give me
to answer to the question. I just had about 6 people come
up to me and ask me for some information. I literally got a
quick answer for the young lady just made her day made her
week, maybe going to make her life probably a life-changing
job. So they're there call these people. They don't have a
problem. Sandra Blakemore is awesome. Katie Doyle was
awesome, but when it was when she
She was acting commissioner. Um, uh Anastasia walked or
anytime I call her for anything I get the information so we
should not our anger should not be towards them and I don't
want to be mad at the mayor either about this. I mean, I
you know, I kind of understand his thing and and and you
know, I kind of agree with my partner here and kind of not
agree with them. There are questions that could be asked
but I know what'll happen. We'll be beating the heck out of
these people and pushing and pushing and asking questions.
They can't answer and they're going to look like fools so
we shouldn't do that until they get the okay to come here.
So I'm just standing up for them because of how they've
been towards me giving me information. Um, but the test was
a joke everybody the test was an embarrassment and I'm not
an apologist for her but mayor Lightfoot was Furious about
this test. This was the worst test probably in the history
of the city of Chicago. We're having a test you had
honorable students in college fail on this test. I don't
know Thorson High School, uh failing this test and I happen
to know a kid that took the test is not a very smart kid a
good kid, but not a very smart kid, and he passed it. I
don't know how he
Passed it, but he passed it. I'll tell you how not so
smart. He is he got a really good number and then he failed
to drug test because he was smoking pack. So um, so but I
just want to give you some stats people. I I deal with
facts. I don't deal with rumors and lies or
Alderman letters, um, you know, we'll get to that but I want
to give you Vice chair an opportunity to speak and then
we'll get into um, we'll get more into the um, the Crux of
Crux of our meeting today. Okay? All right. I thought we
were talking now. So not yet. Not yet. Oh, I'm sorry. Okay.
I'll call them in Curtis.
Yeah, that was that was that was more than the point of
information.
Okay, give me we'll we'll get back to that though.
Alderman Curtis, thank you chairman regarding if it's
regarding because Alderman Robinson is going to open up if
it's regarding is it a point of information or point of
clarification? It's not a point of information. Go ahead.
Okay. All right.
Be before we start, you know, everybody knows when they get
in the envelope in the in the elevator. You don't have to
press 2 and 3. There's an option to press 5 and I recommend
pressing 5 if you got something to say, um to the mayor
about why these folks are not here and so, uh, you can
press 2 to get to this floor 3 to get to your other
offices, but you can also press 5. Um, let me think. Um
Albert McCormack with the retired lieutenant for being here
today come and lead a URLs a retired deputy chief. Uh,
Deputy District Chief. Um, Ezra mcken who's joining us
retired. Um, Captain is joining us by zoom and Quinn
Curtis, uh Lieutenant with the Chicago fire department and
1 of the directors of the black fabricate if not the
director.
Of it. Um
I do want to recognize, uh our chief sponsor as we said
earlier. There's 1 item on the agenda on the subject matter
here in only on the Chicago Fire Department's hiring plan
and hiring practices. Um, Let me give the floor to the
chief sponsor of this. Um this measure, um, Vice chair
Lamont Robinson.
Good morning. Let me first.
thank
chairman Rodriguez
as well as chairman talifero.
And their staff for allowing.
This opportunity this morning.
This is the first time in this chamber.
We are allowing.
the black firefighters
an opportunity
to share with us the city of Chicago.
their issues and concerns
also want to thank all of my colleagues that are here
today.
It's important that we give.
this particular group space
to be able to share their issues and concerns.
on the record
because they protect us 365 days a year.
And out of respect for this group, I believe as a member of
this body we have to do our jobs and protect them as they
protect.
the residents of the city of Chicago
this hearing was initiated by the black firefighters and
constituents that have come to me with issues and concerns.
For the record, I want to share with this body.
3 different articles
that have been written about issues and concerns and the
fire department.
the first article
Is the EEOC says City discriminated against blacks?
second article
judge, rule City fire exam biased
third article
exam bias ruling may cause City 80 million in firefighter
lawsuit.
So ladies and gentlemen. Yes, we know we have a problem.
But this is the first time we are allowing this group.
The black firefighters and opportunity on the public
record.
to share their issues and concerns
Yes, everybody already knows.
But today we will be talking about appendix G.
hiring practices recruitment
economics exam transparency
and lastly how we can finally
write these wrongs.
And so I want to thank the folks in the Box.
To the right of me for taking their time out to be able.
On the public record to be able to share these issues and
concerns.
We also have via Zoom.
Mr. McCann
Who?
I would like to bring.
on
to explain what appendix G is
Mr. McCann, are you there?
Uh, we have a person named Ezra. I just promoted them.
The chairman recognizes Mr. McCann
Mr. McCann are you on
Can you hear me now?
We can hear you now. Um, you're recognized as Mr. McCann,
uh who's a panelist?
and retired fire fire captain
First I like I'd like to make a correction. Uh, I did not
retire as a DDC.
um
I was not 1 that uh would fit okay the description of who
the city wanted to hold that type of position and those
that need further explanation can talk to uh, my good buddy
Nick who used to be 1 of my co-workers on the fire
department. He can explain that to you.
Um Ezra McCann, uh, I am a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran.
Came home from the military. I wanted a job to took the
test in 1973, but could not get hired until 1977 because of
a lawsuit that made mayor Daly or mandaly hire a minorities
on the fire department.
And basically fast be forward it seemed like that's the
only way we can get blacks still to this day hiring on the
30th Department.
I did 30 years. I retired in 06 I got 18 years in
retirement right now. Uh, I could be just far away from you
all but I will not stop.
Okay, uh doing whatever I can to make sure the black
community include included in these great jobs in the city
of Chicago we have to offer.
Uh, I think that's enough background all them and if you
have a question for me, I'm ready.
Thank you. Um, thank you Mr. McCann.
Vice chair cool and continue
I would like to bring that.
Okay, chairman recognizes, um, Mr. Quinn Curtis.
Lieutenant Quinn Curtis
Mr. Curtis
What was the reason behind starting?
the fire brigade
There was 2 uh great reasons behind starting a black fire
brigade. The first ones went is that when I came on the job
in 1988, there were close to a thousand black firefighters
as I began to exit this career this great job this
wonderful career. We are down to 422 according to the
Chicago Tribune foyer.
Which gives us only 8% 8.9% of blacks under the Chicago
Fire Department total?
Um, the second reason is which is more than my heart. I've
seen more kids shot and killed in my lifetime than anybody
can imagine then the average guy in Vietnam. I've worked on
babies with gunshots. I worked on these streets all my life
born and raised in Cabrini Green.
They became a point to say enough is enough. We do a lot of
talking but these kids are dying. They're dying for 1
reason access to Opportunities. We have to provide
opportunities for these kids in the community every time a
fire truck pulls up in the black community. They can't see
a black fireman. So if they can't see me, they can't
believe me. They can't become me.
My model became a life if we teach a kid to Save a Life
they're going to be less likely to take 1.
And since the concept of the black fire brigade we put over
755 kids through this program.
2056 single moms and 14 homeless kids We Are The Number 1
crime prevention program in the state of Illinois.
hiring and employing and educating First Responders
Thank you, Mr. Curtis. What is the main recruitment source
for black and latinx First Responders?
The main resource is our day-to-day operation the blackfyre
brigades day-to-day operation going inside these
communities and working and holding events Citywide and
countywide.
This is the main source that they get information on
becoming firefighter paramedic EMT and police officers.
Thank you.
As a current member of the department. What is your
What is your take of appendix G? Can you explain it as well
as another reference, please? Appendix G came in effect 44
years ago. It was set up in design to make sure that there
was equity in all communities and we have not done that
appendix G is the
Only thing in our Union contract that has never ever been
enforced.
There's a term they want to use is a goal.
You could say a goal all day long. The bottom line is this
we have violated every rule of appendix G.
That's 1 of the reasons. We're here today. I need everybody
in this room everybody on this panel to Upright appendix G
and put it in full effect affected immediately.
Thank you.
Can you please give us a breakdown of how many students the
blackfyre Brigade has recruited and how many has gone
through the program and how many our current firefighters?
Again, there's been over 755 kids through the program.
There's about 80 in class right now. So they have not
completed the program at this time, uh, which is going to
increase our uh single moms. That's in that program. Also.
Um, we probably on cfd right now, uh, this is a new exam so
So we came existence in 2018. We probably have now posted
30 kids on cfd.
As of today in this class that started yesterday May 1. We
have 10 of our students that are currently in the cfd
class.
Thank you.
Has there ever been an ask for the Chicago Fire Department
to have a recruitment and retention team in collaboration
with the fee the blackfyre Brigade?
We have never had a true collaboration with the fire
department with the Chicago Fire Department. We have always
been 2 separate entities and we have never collectively
worked together.
Independents G. Which you referenced
The department is required to actively advertised for
recruits in communities primarily populated by black and
latinx residents. Does that currently happen?
To the best of my knowledge. No now when they do have
recruitment is close to re is close to examination time,
but is a daily base of recruitment. I don't think the
Chicago fire department has a recruitment team if they do
we we don't know anything about it.
Thank you.
Referencing appendix G again appendix G also states that
the Chicago fire department will seek the aid of and
cooperate with church and Community organizations in the
black and latinx communities to fulfill those requirements.
Is that currently happening again, that's based on the
Chicago Fire Department. I do not answer for them. I can
only answer for the things that the black fire brigade do
and we currently do that.
Can you please share the cost of participation for students
in the blackfyre Brigade?
It costs each student that comes to our program. Absolutely
zero. They pay not 1 dime not even for their uniforms. We
pay 100% of their education.
You have had 7 755 students since June 2018 participating
in the blackfyre Brigade program.
Has cfd reached out to you to work to increase those
numbers.
as of this date cfd has not reached out to us with these
numbers 1 of our major problems is is trying to build that
bridge between BFB and cfd.
A cfd express interest in how your organization supports
your students during processing?
Again cfd and BFB do not partner up. We have been trying to
build that relationship for 6 years.
Mr. Curtis has the fire department ever published a list of
applicants who've passed exam like other large US cities.
as a point of clarification, um
in the past Chicago fire department has always put up a
eligibility list.
And to now to this day they don't put up the eligibility
list.
Nobody knows where they stand on the Chicago Fire
Department list.
DC if you take their exam your name is up there. You know,
where you at La if you take their exam your name is up
there, you know where you're at New York. If you take an
exam your name is posted, you know exactly where you at.
This is a sad day that shelonda has to come to an all
demand to find out where she stands on a list that list
should be posted. She should have been able to come up here
like I did in 1988 and seeing my name on a list and know
exactly where I stood what is what is why are we protecting
these names?
Every other major city post these names Chicago has always
posted these names until now what happened today that we
don't post these names. I'm confused, but maybe you guys
can help me that we can get some transparency.
because
speaking of transparency
what issues have you seen around transparency? You
mentioned 1 of them are there other issues that you've seen
around transparency?
Yes, the lottery system. Everybody's been placed into a
lottery system.
What is the standard operation? How does it work? Who does
Lottery system who witnesses this Lottery system. We're
we're trusting in them that they're going to do the right
thing. I'll give you 1 example.
Everybody got uh a lottery number to take when they signed
up for the exam. So there was 15,000 applicants that got a
lottery number out of that 15,000. There was a dwindle down
to 5,000.
Out of the 5,000 it went to down to 2,000. So your your
lottery number changed 3 times to this day. Nobody knows
what that lottery number is. They only know the original
number that they received but the 2023 approximately that
passed the exam to this date still don't know their lottery
number.
Mr. Curtis, are there any barriers to entry in the
blackfyre Brigade?
Whether it be related to race.
uh or sexual orientation, uh, whether it be related to any
other barriers if anybody's interested in being a part of
the black fire brigade.
There's absolutely no barriers. Um, we've had Hispanics in
our that come through our organization that came through
imts we'd had whites that come through our our organization
and being we're 1 of the top EMT programs in the state of
Illinois. We have 1 of the most state-of-the-art, uh
facilities at 54th in Walbash. There's been no barriers for
anybody that came through this organization. If you even
look on our website, you're going to see all nationalities
not just blacks the name just happened to be the blackfyre
big game.
Thank you.
In the December class, there were 85 people.
78 were males 6 were females and 1 non-binary.
Out of the 78 males there were 17 blacks.
31 Caucasian males and 27 latinx males
Why is there no equity in these numbers Mr. Curtis? And
what are your suggestions on how to fix it?
1 of the problems I believe is with PSA and personnel.
not city of Chicago Personnel Chicago Fire Department
Personnel, uh the public safety administration
They are not working together.
To bridge this Gap. That's why no students know where
they're at. That's why there was 15 students 15 black
students scheduled to start.
May 1st
on 426
5 of the black fire brigade students got letters saying
they have to take a pulmonary test.
Well, everybody know you can't take a plumber onary test
from the 26th to the 1st because you got to see your
doctor. You got to schedule appointment and so they were
all picked out of that class.
Then they would have had it and our numbers were to
increase.
But let me say this.
We don't have a problem with blacks on the list. They have
a ton of them on the list. They've called close to a
hundred of them and ranked order.
according to them
but we have yet to see all of this take place.
There are so many variables in so many barriers that they
can't get information. And so we need full transparency and
somebody to assist these young people so that we don't keep
going to funerals.
Mr. Curtis our black man just not applying
Oh.
That is that is the furthest from the truth. If you look at
the last exam, it was almost equal down the line.
If you look at all the people that took it if you look at
the blacks that took it if you look at the Hispanics and
you look at the whites, it was almost equal down the line.
Are there any barriers that you believe are preventing
folks from applying?
Again, the very that's all happening through.
PSA
and the fire department personnel are not getting
information out to students and when students give them
information students have had to go back 5 times and get
them the same paper twice because they don't timestamp
anything and if you got to drop a piece of paper off at
35th Street, you are not allowed to come upstairs.
Thank you. I would like to recognize this girls.
Cheer recognize me. Um, Karma leader Earl
Deputy District chief
Miss urls
how many times have the city of Chicago been sued and won
by black firefighters and why?
Ottoman there has been multiple, um lawsuits.
Class section of the most notable was the Lewis, um, and
they won.
resulted in a
multi-million dollar payoff from the city as well as 111
jobs technically speaking. There's also been a lawsuit up
just women the Godfrey women and uh, a lot of them, um are
on the job. I believe it was 27 jobs were garnered from
that and multiple current lawsuits going on as well as
personal lawsuits.
from the Chicago Fire Department's um discriminatory
practices
Mr. Else did you share a number?
What's the do we do we have a number that you can share on
how many times I have not been given an accurate number
because they do not uh comment on lawsuits, but I can tell
you it's in the double digits double digit number. Thank
you. How many times have you personally sued? And why?
I saw the Chicago Fire Department 1 time and um considering
a second. The reason I did so is because I contacted my
elected officials. I'm born and raised Westside a 31 year
Revenue veteran with the Chicago Fire Department who was
forcibly retired in 20121 after going to my public
officials and getting no resolve after going to uh, the
internal affairs Division and getting no resolve going to
my supervisors and getting no resolve going to the office
of Inspector General. You can pull all this up it's
documented and getting no resolve. So the only thing to do
people follow their money when you make them pay then
certain things change as uh, brother Bob Bannon stated the
center and uh and mandates come from court cases. We just
cannot do the humanitarian thing and do the right thing and
that's unfortunate. So that being stated that's why I sued
and um, that's why a lot of people are suing because we
just cannot rely upon
people carrying out their fiduciary duty
And we need to change that.
Thank you, uh chairman. I would like to recognize Mr.
McCormack.
Yes Alderman, I'm sorry. What was that again? I would like
to recognize Mr. Recognized Mr. Uh retired lieutenant
Albert McCormack.
Thank you. Um Alderman Robinson Mr. McCormick
What has been the economic impact on the black community by
not adhering to appendix G?
Well appendix G.
Um was a way to guarantee that the black community would
get the jobs that it does not get from the Chicago fire
department and it has not gotten since 1833.
uh, the Chicago fire department is approximately 5,000
employees and right now
They have about 20 women.
This is the year 2024.
women had
single females head half of the households in the black
community.
This is a problem.
All right.
um
422 firemen
there are 20 black wards. That means that there are about
21 fire per Ward.
So let's look at where the Chicago Fire Department's
funding comes from.
It comes from the General Revenue poll. Okay, which is
comprised of taxes.
Revenue raising Etc. And it is created for the benefit of
all citizens not just a certain segment of citizens and
from that then the Chicago Fire Department's budget
approximately 600 million dollars 6700 million is
appropriated every year.
so
the problem is that the fire department is calcified in its
position. They just will not hire women and they will not
hire blacks. So let's look at that again. Let's go back to
21 firemen per Ward.
That means that the Chicago fire department is subsidizing.
And what we're talking about at the point of higher. Yes,
once you get your good job, you might move out of that
neighborhood to another neighborhood. But at your point of
higher in the 21st, okay, that's about
2 million dollars a year
out of 600 million that is waking its way back to the
origin Ward where you hire were hired from so that's about
160 dollars a month, right? Okay warts.
And neighborhoods are businesses. They are economies within
themselves. Okay.
And so you have business strips, then you have housing.
Anybody in here have vacant houses on their block?
Raise your hand.
Do you have vacant housing on your block? Okay at the last
2020 census?
Chicago was uh determined to have a surplus of housing
about 10% vacancy.
Guess where that vacancy is. The majority of that vacancy
is it's in the black worlds Wards. It's in the 20 black
wards.
So
if appendix G were enforced for the last 44 years, that
means each Ward would have been subsidized by 4 times.
As much capital from the 600 million, uh fire department
budget.
Or to the tune of 8 million dollars a year or 640,000 a
month.
All right, but that's not the case. They didn't do that.
so
now if you extract that money, all right, that means
there's 30 Wards left. All right.
and 30 Wards remaining received about
14 million dollars a year
out of the 600 million dollars and that's why they don't
have any vacancies.
Do you see the difference there?
The other 30 Wards are getting 10 times the amount of
capital subsidy from the fire department budget. This is
why you have problems in the bad Community you have
unemployment and the fire department is directly
contributing to that by not.
Enforcing appendix G appendix G is a part of the contract
that is.
Agreed to by 2 s entities the city of Chicago on 1 side and
the Union on the other and then they presented to the
public that they were going to hire 30% black. They have
not done it at all.
period
um
so this is why we have
vacancy. This is why our business strips are not plentiful
and full of the stores that once were you have to properly
nourish.
You have to properly nourish the economy in each
neighborhood.
Thank you Mr. McCormack in your experience.
Is there a disparity in the attrition rate of the Chicago
Fire Department?
in order to stand black employment in the Chicago Fire
Department
The higher rate must exceed the attrition rate. It cannot
Trail it. Okay, so when I was in the firehouse, okay in
1998 when I exited
There were about 600 firemen.
Black and today there are 422.
There are 422.
Only because of the fight we took up in 95 to get 111 of
those 422 higher, but guess what?
Those 111 are at the point of a short career and getting
ready to exit. So what happens to your 422?
Your 422 will be 255mm overnight.
Okay, and this is long-term systemic racism.
You will not hire Chicago Fire Department will not hire
calcified doesn't matter whether the justice department is
a on them doesn't matter whether they're holding Court.
They are not hiring black people the attrition rate. The
higher rate must exceed the attrition rate.
In order to stand black employment this class in December.
It shows 20%
if we take every class preceding and I have stood across
the street from the academy just to stand there and count
in hopes that this class is going to show me 30%
There is normally about 13 out of 100.
I I I have writings where I documented. Uh, I think it was
the glass class of July 2021 77 candidates 8 black males 2
Black 2 2 females
Okay.
It it we're it's 75 to 80% what male?
Which is 16% of the city.
Thank you.
This question is uh for all of our our
panelists today
How has working as a black firefighter in Chicago impacted
you and your family directly?
Currently the URLs. I'll start.
Born and Raised on the west side not necessarily seen in
African-American firefighter come off that beautiful red
truck.
In 1985. Thank God for the late mayor home Washington who
wanted to integrate the fire department. I took the exam.
I took the exam in 1985. I was um hired in 1990 started at
275.
Ended making um, that being said a very good salary a very
good salary you can look it up for yourself. But however,
um, it impacted my family because number 1 the females in
my
family realized that they can only do what they put their
mind to the only limitation they had is in their minds and
as a woman a woman have been taught that the only thing she
needs to use is what's between her ears to succeed.
So the fire department taught me some things that um has
actually I didn't know about myself.
I've garnered some sisters and brothers from other mothers.
of various nationalities and the interesting part about it
is this job has
pushed me to a limit that my sex is irrelevant.
The only thing that I needed was the opportunity.
And that's what the city gave in 1990 an opportunity to
cross the threshold into the unknown not multi-generational
like the Hues, uh good for you Jerry. Um, my father was not
my grandfather was not my great-grandfather was not but
common leader URLs because she was there was a lot of
things in the Chicago Fire Department that will never be
the same given an opportunity to be your first
African-American woman to run your fire academy your first
Chief to run your O'Hare and Midway airports your first
fire marshal in the state of Illinois. That's what
opportunity gives and that's what opportunity will give
these young people if you just open the door because they
too
They too will not just make history or history.
They will make you proud. This is Chicago.
Chicago were better than this
I'll say this in close.
I've been taught by some great leaders.
start leaders
the German man by the name of Walter. Steinley ended up
being my fire father.
Taught me 1 way to do things.
And that's to be a servant leader.
so to lead her ship
is what we need here leadership.
By anyone that has a position.
leadership
Do the right thing?
Because I guarantee you if you give the opportunity we
won't have to go past the 77 neighborhoods of Chicago and
recruit outside the city.
We have everything we need right here. Thank you for
listening.
Mr. McCormack, yes. Um
I achieved the career rank of lieutenant in the fire
department.
And for me, um examinations were really not a challenge and
that's all been. I've been fortunate in that regard all my
life. But what I want to tell you is that without stable
employment. I could not be here today. I could not come
here and speak to you and look all of you squarely in the
eye.
And whatever your background is, wherever you come from.
What I want you to know is that the fire department is
learned behavior. And at this particular point I'm speaking
to all of the alderman the city council and I'm addressing
the mayor.
There is no magic potion here. Okay. Um, this is learned
behavior.
we have
a fire commissioner that came in as a woman black.
At the time she came into the firehouse.
Did anybody want to teach her nothing period okay, but she
went through the ranks learned all the way up to every rank
all the way up to fire commissioner. That is the same for
my colleague sitting right here. Each of you can do this.
All right, instead of us having examinations to find the
greatest rocket scientists. What we need to do is identify
the minimum skill necessary.
To be a fireman.
And that's all that is necessary. That's all I had.
Is the minimum skill and then everything else somebody in
the firehouse taught me?
They took me in they gave me opportunity.
That's what we need. That's what Quentin has done with the
fire brigade. Whereas they said. No, you got to be this you
got to come from this neighborhood. You got to notice all
them and you got to notice person. You got to know that's
not true Quinton has taken some people that were homeless.
All right giving them the skill set. All right, and they're
in the firehouse being productive we need
Our 1500 jobs our Wards do not to be subsidized at 1 tenth.
the fire department budget
but equitably with all other Awards we need each of the 20
black Wards to Garner.
80 Fire Department jobs
Then we will get rid of our vacant strips. Then we will
have more children in school stabilizing the classroom
environment because they have medical dental vision.
They're single mother has a strong job. We need in 2024 to
find a way out of 5,000 jobs.
To hire more women. This is ridiculous. It is a shame.
And God is watching.
Absolutely. God is watching. So let's pull together.
Let's pull together what the other 10 Hispanic Wards which
represents a majority and create a home rule that there is
no employment without Equitable employment. Not only in the
fire department in the police department in the water
department in every city capacity. Once that happens. You
get rid of vacant business trips. You get rid of all this
excess money and overtime that you're spending on violence
and lawsuits and everything in essence. You're going to
repurpose your budget.
To a more value added position of opening up an equitable
and fair.
hiring policy that is compliant with Federal
state
County and Municipal law equal employment opportunity
and that's why I'm here today. That's why I stopped my life
to do this and stop my life to do this because we talk
about this every day in the firehouse Lieutenant Captain
Khan is here. We had this discussion 20 years ago.
We're having the same Firehouse discussion today. Why?
I implore you
I asked.
Tarnish situation around let us not be the tail for the
rest of the world in the nation. Let us be the head. Let's
show the way.
Let's create the way.
We need 26 alderman.
To get the legislation on the floor.
pass it
and every Community then is parallel and equal. We need an
equal employment hiring policy. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Curtis.
the briefly
the Chicago Fire Department job as elevated me to a whole
another level and just tell a quick story. I remember being
12 years old and seeing my first black fireman get off a
truck and at that point in my life. I knew what I wanted to
become in life.
I knew at that point because I seen somebody that looked
like me.
And now I knew that I could really be this because I saw I
was affected as a child.
The job allowed me to send my kids to school to become.
Firefighter paramedic and police officers to this day. I
have 2 Sons that serve on the Chicago Police Department.
That's the kind of
that's the kind of world that's job gives you it allows
your kids to have opportunities exposure. Yes, because
they're exposed to it.
And that's what this means giving your family giving your
kids an opportunity so that they can do some and be
positive and have a positive impact and a positive role.
Thank you.
Mr. McCann, can you please share?
How being a firefighter has impacted you directly and your
family directly.
Uh, yes, I I would love to do that. Um
Because of this great job. Okay. Um, I was able to send 2
kids through college. Well, let us back up. First of all,
I've always had a great place to live without worrying how
to pay a mortgage.
Uh, I've driven great cars.
I took on a family.
I got 2 young, uh adults right now. My daughter's a medical
doctor. My son is in the media for uh, NBC Sports.
um
I mean, it just made a life of a difference.
And there's something that I've always wanted to pass on
okay to the rest of the black community. I am convinced
that they had the opportunities that I have had. Okay, we
will see a much much better day in the black community and
what we see have been delivered now never had to steal a
car because I was able to buy a car. Okay, never had to
steal anything of that enough money never missed a meal,
but I had enough money to buy meal for me and my family.
Uh before you dismissed me.
I would just like to give uh, the ottoman that in the
chambers a little history on the appendix G.
And um appendix G is a contract agreement that the city of
Chicago and the Chicago firefighters Union Local too sign
on to
All the way back in 1981 44 years ago.
This agreement which is still in the contract states that
30% of all hiring and promotions would be black.
44 years after this great agreement. The black community is
still waiting for our fair share of these great jobs.
The city has to offer.
That provides great salaries great benefits.
and a great pension
after 30 years of service.
Within These 44 years and we the black community have sued
the city of Chicago to make them comply.
Uh, we work in firefighters that file grievances with Local
Number 2 for them to make the city to comply.
Uh and honor appendix G neither the city of Chicago nor the
firefighters Union.
Have made appendix g a priority to hire black citizens
until the Chicago Fire Department.
Or properly promote blacks once they are employed by the
Chicago Fire Department.
the last 4 mayors
Daily Emmanuel Lightfoot and now mayor Brandon Johnson have
made no serious commitment to give the black community.
their fast share of these great City of Chicago jobs
In closing there are no poor. I repeat. There are no poor
white communities in the state of Chicago when we look at
these communities. We see where 75% of city jobs not just
fire. We talking about police streets and Sands and
everything else where these jobs are are are are delivered.
500 44 years
We have been through 7 mayor.
3 Black
uh 4 black fire commissioners
We the black community have always sent 19 black all of
them in the city hall and all of above admit that the black
community have been underserved especially when it comes to
employment.
But we are here today still demanding jobs for the black
community.
So the question from us the black community as of this
hearing will appendix G finally be taken serious and
honored by the city of Chicago and supported by the Union
Local Number 2.
reminder
They both the city of Chicago and the union agreed to
appendage G 44 years ago.
Um
We the black community.
Uh, what do we want?
job
I repeat.
What do we want?
We just want a job do we get jobs and we can compete and do
anything to this city has to offer we can be just as
successful as any other neighborhood in this city. If the
city is Chicago who is the largest employer in the city of
Chicago would just make an example.
And put the black community to work.
Indeed. We need to start somewhere and right now I don't
see them starting trying to correct.
The poor situation that we have dumped our black community
into by neglecting them and jobs Education Health Care and
everything else.
So, uh, I'd like to end this by saying, uh,
By saying that uh, I have to definitely agree with all of
them and bills.
And this is for not well, I won't say it's for naught but
it would have been real good. We could have had the powers
to be to be in this room today and I'm sort of disappointed
that I took my time okay to help explain this but can't
nobody really address these issues better than the folks
that who are not in the rooms. And uh, that was a shame.
Uh, Alderman Irving. Okay, definitely for sure, uh not
often do we agree?
But I have to agree with you also that um, you know, if
you're going to waste our time any longer, okay, uh, it's
going to fall on who you would all them in for. Sure.
And definitely right now is definitely got to fall on the
on the uh, the mayor the mayor's put 2 classes in the fire
academy and nowhere near the 30% Have we received?
I thank you for your time. And hopefully hopefully we can
move forward and again, yes, it should be another meeting.
We need all the people in the room to address them.
Thank you, Mr. McCann. Thank you very much chairman.
Chairman for my last 2 remaining questions. I would like to
recognize Mr. Curtis.
Um
chair recognizes Mr. Curtis
Mr. Curtis we
in the city of Chicago have a fire department Community
Advisory Board currently in place. There are 11 seats with
3 active appointees to your acknowledge. What is their role
and how often are they meeting?
To my knowledge. I think they only met 1 time since they've
been in the fact and I reached out to every last person on
there and they have not had a meeting yet. That is 1 of the
things that we need to Upright effective immediately
because if we have done that we wouldn't probably be
sitting here today.
What is their role? Can you share with this body their role
is the oversight of cfd? So when you when there was a
testing issues coming up the testing issues get addressed
by that.
They were supposed to be the board that ensured that
appendix G was followed through.
Last question for me, Mr. Curtis would be what would make
the fire department more equitable?
The first thing the fire department need is it meant it
oversight from the Chicago fire department and PSA?
Both departments need immediate oversight. We need a
committee that looks at uh, uh candidates has been
disqualified. You know, who's making those decision on this
qualifications. We need to have an opportunity to look at
that. We need pure transparency a student should be able to
find out uh, where they sit a candidate should know exactly
where they sit in the Chicago fire department and PSA or
Chicago Fire Department should be able to give them that
information instantly.
Mr. Curtis, thank you very much. Let me also thank you, uh
for the work that you are doing with the flat the the black
fire brigade you certainly should be commended.
for
your time
and dedication to the city of Chicago and allowing folks to
have the opportunity, uh to be in the Chicago Fire
Department. So thank you very very much, sir.
I I also want to thank you, uh for standing up and being uh
1 of the all of them. Is that stood for and I'd like to
thank uh Janette Taylor. I'd like to thank uh,
All the men Curtis and I like to thank all the ultimates
here who helped us, uh create a form today that we can all
be here and at least start addressing these issues. And the
last thing I would like to say is what is our next steps
and how do we follow up from this? So I'm really interested
in the next steps and something that's going to happen
immediately because everything that we talked about is
already contractual we don't even have to go to court with
this. This is this is written in our contract today.
next slide to the panelists and um
The chair recognizes for purposes of presence today
Alderman. Um, Byron Lopez, um chair recognizes chairperson
Rodriguez
Uh, thank you. Thank you Mr. Chair. Uh, I'd like to uh
continue on the line of thanks. First of all, uh Alderman
Vice chair Robinson, uh, your legislative experience in
Springfield is showing here in city council my good friend.
This is an excellent effort. I'm happy to be with you and
stand with you on this most worthwhile of efforts. Um, the
tenant Curtis. I I want to say
Uh, thank you for the inclusivity of the blackfyre the
Brigade. I've spoken most recently to the number of
Hispanic, uh firefighters who count the Brigade as an ally
and um the inclusive way in which you approach your work I
think is the right way to do things. Uh, so I commend you
very much on those efforts and to the rest of the
panelists. Thank you so much, uh for being here. Um, I do
have a question regarding the outbreak decree, um, which I
thank you, um to uh, Mr. McCann for explaining the
origination of appendix G. Um, my understanding is in 2022
a federal judge abolished, uh that decree which included
appendix G and correct me if I'm wrong and please make me
understand because I do want to join you Mr. McCannon next
steps and figuring out how we resolve this issue. Is that
the case has that
Appendix G been been been abolished. Is it still part of the
contract? Please? Help us understand that as a council
appendix G is still a part of the contract. That's a
contract between Local 2 and the city of Chicago.
So that stands as it is right. Now today The Descent decree
was dismissed based on inaccurate numbers that was
presented to them.
Very good and then you where does where does appendix G
stand now? So you're saying it's still part of the
agreement between the city of Chicago and the labor union,
right Local 2 in the city of Chicago that stands right. Now
today as we sit here and speak appendix G is still in
effect in the contract and appendix G for clarity requires
405% or or mandates 45% hiring, uh to achieve forgive me in
hiring to achieve that 45% of minorities 30% black 15%
Hispanic is my understanding what that reads I believe
that's correct. Okay. Thank you. That's all sure. Thank
you. Oron chairman Alderman spaz followed by Alderman
Curtis
Okay, well buckle up because I'm gonna take a lot of time.
I'm gonna be a Ray Lopez here. So
Ray I love you. I don't take it personal. Okay, so you got
some good information, but you sure they get a lot of
misinformation. So so I'm just going to correct some stuff
and give you some facts. I'm not going to give you.
Misinformation but it's facts. So you guys could check it.
I don't know who would be checking it. But I guess it's up
to the 2 chair up there to be checking this. So I'm gonna
I'm just gonna start because I got a lot of stuff here. So
I'm just gonna start. Um, I'm gonna start with the 2
classes that are in right now. I'll give you the December
class. You have 85 candidates 58% of them are my
minorities. So let me I should start with appendix G. So
appendix G is just the goal. It's not a contractual thing.
It's a goal to achieve. I believe it was 45% So I'm not I
shouldn't I shouldn't use the number but I believe it's
achieved 45% minority hiring. So so this is just these 2
classes. This isn't the job. This is these 2 classes the
December class, which has only 85 candidates in there or
started with 85 was 58% uh, Black and Hispanic the make
class has 64% Black and Hispanic, which is 118 in that
class. So I'm not I'm not gonna
I'm not gonna I'm not gonna excuse me, excuse me, and guys.
Mr. Bay
Miss Mr. Bay. Yeah, do you mind do you mind and altemus
pisado? Please don't respond. Um Mr. Bay if we can just be
respectful and allow altemus pisado go ahead and finish.
Thank you my understanding as we're talking about Black and
Hispanic so and that's what the appendix is. All right, I'm
giving facts. Once again. I'm giving facts people, okay.
Here's another fact.
Here is a sergeant and arms here chairman Mr. B.
I'm asking you to please please don't disrupt disrupt. Um
any of the speakers on the floor?
Alderman pisado. Okay, let's try it again. Okay.
So I'm gonna give kudos to my 1 friend here. I have many of
friends. I don't know maybe not after this I won't but uh
because all of this about what's been going on. I've had 1
1 just 1 of my like well, I can't account you a little bit
Chris. So um, but we're we're good buddies so I don't
really count you but it's Derek Curtis Derek. Sorry you
singing you out. Um, I saw you learn at that press
conference or that meeting which I'm glad you learned but
you're the 1 guy that's out. The time has asked me
questions and what's going on and how to figure out what to
do and where stuff is so hats off to you on that 1
What what what is 1 of the questions? What should be the
main source of hiring? I feel it should be the alderman
most of us have pretty extensive email lists to get the
word out there to our people. Um, so I think that we should
be the ones and we should be putting the job out there many
of my colleagues. I follow a lot of my colleagues
Emails black white and Hispanic and there's a lot of people
on this job meaning all their men did not promote the
recent fire exam. So the sign up for the exam. Um, I
promoted it. I know some people did and this isn't the only
place to get to get a job as a fireman people. So let me
tell you so since January 1 since January 1, here's what I
put in my email blast January 4th. These are jobs that fire
department January 4th, Edison, January 4th killing Med
City, January 11th, Handover Park, January 11th Creek
Township, January 11th, Bartlett, January 11, uh, Chicago
Ridge,
January 18th lions
January well, January 21st, we always promote the cpfta
which anybody has any kids. It's a great program. It used
to be if you took their class and Q would agree with me on
that your guaranteed to get to jab. Now, all of a sudden
these kids are failing it and they're not, you know,
getting good numbers and they're not getting it. So, um,
Back, hopefully that changes again. She februari 1st North
Palos. Februari 1st, Hinsdale. Februari 1st, Warrenville.
Februari 8th, Oak Brook Terrace. Februari 15th, Chicago
Heights. Februari 15th, Aurora. Februari 22nd Lake in the
Hills. Februari 29th, Norwood Park februari 29th, Bowling
Brook.
March 28 Bensenville, March 4th, Sauk Village, March 4th W
Keegan, March 4th. Tri-State, March 18th, Elgen.
March 25th, Marinette Park, March 25th elep March 25th,
Lombard, februari 2nd West Chicago februari 2nd North Lake
and februari 2nd, Arlington Heights. So there's a whole
load of Jabs Fire Department jobs out there people. So I'd
say check things out. It doesn't just have to be Chicago.
There's many of opportunities, uh, once again, um, I don't
know recently I heard at at press conference that that
black kids don't want to be police officers for for years.
I've been hearing we don't have enough blacks as police
officers. Uh, and then I hear that they don't really want
to be it now. I just heard today they do it. They want to
be firefighters. So there's some good opportunities. We do
have we do have 2 recruiters though. Okay, we do have 2
Recruiters on the job and they're both black recruiters for
the fire department. So the commissioner has 2 recruiters,
uh, and they're both black. Uh, um,
I don't know why we're not talking about this because at
the press conference, I heard some some of the worst things
I ever heard and I and I know I have some black firefighter
friends here and that were very well respected and and good
firefighters. I don't know all of you that were on the job,
but I don't know why I know why we didn't address the
standing down. I don't know why we did not address the fact
that
At that meeting it was said or a meeting was said that white
fire firefighters go to black neighborhoods and stand there
to watch the neighborhood burned down. That is that is such
a lie people and any of my friends are here that are on the
job or even any of my enemies are on the job here notice.
That's not true. So and the way the way you get to a
firehouse people, so just to let you 2 know up there or you
3 that you get the firehouse by seniority. That's how it
works. Anybody could go anywhere basically and especially
nowadays. I hear oan is 5 6 years on the job for a fireman.
for a fireman. I don't know how long for a chief or a
lieutenant or a captain so anybody could go anywhere if
somebody's not happy somewhere. They they go there for a
year. They could leave they could go someplace else.
Based off of seniority okay to maybe not get the ideal
house they want but it's all based off of seniority.
And the lottery the lottery number is only changed once
they did not change twice for everybody. You got 1 number
and they changed it with the preferences. Uh
Uh, I have 3 friends that pale the pulmonary test. Also, I
think that's a problem. I agree with whoever said that this
is a big issue. I don't know how these kids are failing
this I know kids that are athletes, um, that needs to be
looked into I don't know what's going on with that. So, um,
Also just the to debunk something else was said we don't
have 400 blacks on the job. We have 683. Uh, we don't have
20 women on the job. We have 467. Uh,
Um, and and the guy I'm the guy that fought for 85% um City
preference. That's a big thing. We never had City
preference and it absolutely killed me that we're giving
our jobs to kids from and I'm just making this up, you
know, Indiana, Wisconsin Naperville, uh, you know, uh will
met or whatever. So the these jobs should be for Chicago
kids as far as I'm concerned. Um,
I had a friend of mine who's on the job just so happens to
be black. He called me. He said he was at that meeting or
press conference whatever it was and he said he had some
issues and that's why he supported it and he told me about
a friend of his 1 of the guys 1 of the so-called 500 that
took the drug test that failed it. Well I said give me his
number. I'm not going to mention his name. Give me give me
his number. I'll reach out to him. Well, it was a mix-up
the kid never failed the drug test, but I'll take it the
kid was
Never got a chance to take the test. His number was 111000
something therefore. He wasn't 1 of the people that got to
take the test. So uh, and once again, like I said before
there wasn't 500 people that got a letter saying they
failed the drug test. It was uh, 96 people, uh, 43 of them
were white, uh, 34 were Hispanic and 18 or 19 were black,
Uh, the majority of those kids, uh, ended up getting the
jobs. Some of them got it before this may class. Some of
them are in the May class and there's a few of them that
will be in the December class. So, uh, no no 500 people got
a letter saying they failed the drug test when I
Taken it.
I hate to mention her name because it sounds like my
colleagues are after her but Anastasia Walker owned up to
it. She had a meeting here. She said it was a Monumental
mistake.
Consequences for the people that did it they got it right
said it'll never happen again. So that was a huge mistake
that was talked about and was corrected. Uh, so I guess
that won't be talking as long as I thought I well because
now I just want to talk. I just want to talk about this
current past and sign up.
Once again, it was a terrible test mayor Lightfoot was
Furious about it. So I don't know how you can have a test
that 50% of the people fail and I'm sure everybody in here
knows a smart kid on a real soon in high school college or
just a plain old smart kid that failed this test. I know a
bunch of smart kids that failed I even know a kid, that's
really not smart at all. They passed it. So, I don't know
how they made up this test, but it was a terrible test.
15,000 2 200 signed up to take this test.
4,991 were white, which is 32.7 4,928 were Hispanic, which
is 32.3 3,952 were black which is 25.9 1,329 were others
which is 9% So not quite a third a third a third but if if
you take a take a a percent or 2 away from the white and
Hispanic and give it to the blacks. We we pretty much be a
third of the people signing up. So but once again I say
that's on us meaning the alderman.
The word out there to get people to take this test.
Unfortunately, the big screw-up was I don't say it was a
screw-up because people weren't going to get hired. So
there's no sense of giving them false. Hope only 5,433 were
invited to take the test.
2034 were Hispanic, which was 37%
1798 were white, which is 33%
1118 were black, which is 26%
the sad thing people is the really sad thing is
there was like 900 know shows. Okay 311 were Hispanic,
which was 15%
269 were white which is 15% and 297, which is 26 and a half
percent were black that never showed up to take the test
when they 1 hit the lottery to be able to take the test to
get this job.
So then the pass numbers I'll give you all the pass numbers
only 2,238 passed it 869 were Hispanic, which is 38% 765
which is 34% were white.
393 were black which is only 17% and 2111 or others. I
don't know what others means if they're Asians or mixed
race or whatever was 11% So that's where we stand on that.
I mean, um, I'll be sticking around if anybody has any
questions for me. Unfortunately, I agree with you about the
silliness about getting a number and people don't know what
the real number is. I believe everything should be on a uh,
And a computer you can look and see your name and see what
your new number is. I'm believing that some kids now are
getting called and maybe moved because they thought they
never had a chance because their real number to young lady
had talked to her. Her number was 6000 something and it's
really 8 or 80014. So somebody like her might have moved
and said well, I don't have a chance. Now. I'm going to
move then they move and get settled in somewhere only to
find out they get called for the fire department. It's too
late to uproot your family or whatever. So, uh, there does
need to be better communication. I am not remotely not
remotely blaming the HR Director. She's new. Uh, the person
that was these acting those 2, you couldn't ask her 2
people. My colleagues couldn't ask for better people to
give me more information more Communications. So that is on
you. You you you you meaning us that's on us find out if
there's something wrong to reach out to either.
Sandra Blakemore, Anastasia Walker and that really doesn't
have anything to do with hiring people. So you all
shouldn't be mad at her. She's just the commissioner. Okay,
and what what did she do she put a team out there to to
recruit so I think we all know where to recruit and they're
not recruiting in my neighborhood. I can guarantee you that
so uh with that. Um, like I say anybody here want to stick
around want me to find anything out for you. I'm more than
willing willing. I got about 5 6 people come up to me
already. I'm waiting on the
not I'm
Thank you, Alderman Curtis.
Thank you, uh chairman. Uh, actually I'm I'm I just decided
I'm not going
to speak on this issue. Uh right now, uh, what I am going
to do is thank everyone.
For coming out, uh this morning. I want to thank
uh our leaders, uh that put this together an Taylor and
Robinson.
uh
I uh, you know
as everyone basically in the back probably know that I've
been
with uh
uh, the black fabricates since his existence in 2018, and
and I I believed in the program because I saw it. I saw the
program I see that at work.
um
I I really think that
we should activate.
activate tomorrow
as soon as tomorrow our subpoena power and get those 3
Commissioners in this room to answer those questions.
Uh, I do want to say um that my colleague Nick spazo who I
always reach out to for this. He shouldn't have been the 1
to give these.
Uh statistics it should have been 1 of those 3.
And it was wrong that they're not here, but I also agree
with uh Altima Taylor.
When it comes budget time.
That's when we should act on this because they should not
tell us what to do. We should be telling them what to do.
I also would like uh, and it was so ironic. I do want to
take this opportunity, uh, and again of all of the
candidates, uh, that went through the black fire brigade at
zero cost at zero cost. I want you to know that I'm always
raising money help raising money.
And also, uh, when I go to the events I make sure I pay
because I want to pay my fair share.
Also, I made sure that any city worker in the city of
Chicago.
with our contribution, er, uh area you will now be able to
contribute to the black fabricade because again, uh, it
shows that they're doing an awesome job.
Just like 1 of the uh, people that came through the program.
She saved the life of a baby.
Back, uh with 2 summers ago.
Coming right out of uh, the black fabricade program. She
saved the baby right on Chicago's Lakefront.
Uh is awesome. And again, I bought into this program
because I believe in it and I also want to recognize this.
So ironic that my colleague to my right is here and I would
like her to stand so everyone back here to see because the
last time that we had the black fabricade in the Box, I
think it was um a couple months ago for Black History Month
when they gave their testimony
she turned around and I want you to turn around to them she
wrote.
She wrote a cheque 2 minutes later to the black fiber
Brigade to help pay for you guys.
She did not send any questions, and I want to thank you so
much. I wanted everybody to recognize the support that you
have. Thank you.
Thank you, Alderman Curtis.
Alderwoman T. I'm sorry Alderman. Jansy B the woman tailor.
Uh again, I want to join the chorus of thanks for you know,
all the retired and current firefighters, uh, black
firefighters who are making this issue. Uh,
The putting on the Forefront making sure we don't forget
about it. I had a labor question with respect to appendix G
has there been any board charges filed against Chicago Fire
Department with the Illinois, uh, labor board or any or
nlrb to sort of push this issue add more pressure to it.
I think uh Shelton's still here.
any other panelists answer the question because we oh, I'm
sorry, uh, you can't reach out into the um, okay and then
it the panelists answer the answer is yes, and and Chelten,
uh filed that grievance.
Thank you.
That's it.
Alderwoman Taylor followed by
Did Alderman see Joe Lopez leave?
alderwoman Taylor
so
all due respect to Alder Miss pisado, but it's funny how
you got the information and I've asked for for The Last 5
Years through public comments. I didn't send an email. I
didn't have a side conversation. I didn't have the
relationship, but I've asked every public budget meeting
for those same numbers and got an answer. So if at the
press conference that
We had my information is correct. It's because I wasn't
informed.
And the thought that anybody got a letter to say they
failed a drug test that we didn't take and all hell didn't
break loose says what y'all think about black people for
real?
Let's let's call this what it is. Let's not stop the
problem with y'all is y'all love to cover people because
you have the relationship and you could pick up the phone,
you act like we picked up the phone to call to check on our
people either. We haven't done the same thing.
So it's funny how you can get the information and I can't.
Cuz I'm not a firefighter was because I'm black you could
choose.
I won't choose for you.
At the end of the day the thought that we have any of these
issues when it comes to black people getting in a job that
they are overqualified for is a problem.
Is a real problem and so it's this whole thing of I I was
called a liar. So I guess I'm they lying, huh? Cuz now they
here to tell you.
talk about the secret clubhouse that they got where they
take the test at and people that look like you could
actually go and we can't
I'll wait.
We ain't going to have that talk are we we ain't going to
win. We ain't going to talk in honesty. Are we are we going
to talk about the firefighter? They got fired because he
went back in to save a firefighter a woman that y'all that
thought. She was told to leave. We don't want to have that
conversation. Do we we don't want her how the conversation
about them saying you don't tear up houses up north but on
the south and west side tear it down.
No, are those my stories they're not I've never been a
firefighter never wanted to be as a matter of fact when
they have when we go to the fire house with them suits on I
refuse I'm already fought not about to put that extra
weight on me not interested.
But we don't want to talk about all of the issues that are
there and so it's great that you throw out those numbers.
It wasn't 500. It should have been zero.
It shouldn't have been done the thought that they are less
women in the fire department that are black that get and we
ain't want to talk about when we're talking about people
taking the exam to move up.
Half our people never even get to make it to battalion
chief. They don't they don't get to be Lieutenant. They
don't get to be where is that conversation?
It it and it's the point of y'all trying to act like people
lie.
I was I was I was told our liar because none of this
happened.
I'm I'm the liar, though.
Y'all love and I'mma say this to you and you probably not
going to like what I say and it don't even matter. You got
the complexion for the protection. So, of course you can
get the information a lot better than I can and that's a
problem. That's that ain't even nothing to clap for its
problematic as hell.
I'm asking the state to walk. You are absolutely right. She
stood right here and took accountability and what happened?
Absolutely nothing and then you you threw out the numbers
of black people who didn't show up because you send the
emails to the spam.
It take you so long to call people they change numbers
because of course they broke and can't afford it and got to
get a change number. Y'all y'all blame it on everybody but
who the problem is?
Everybody but who the problem is? We have a problem in the
city of Chicago when it comes to the higher and of black
people period
You right. We do got a black leadership and it said had a
black community look but don't act like that ain't been
happening before we got here. But now we have a
responsibility because we have the information to do what's
right what y'all going to do with it? Cuz I can't see y'all
vote though to CPD nor to cfd and every year that I've
asked y'all not to do it y'all continue to do it.
Not only that the thought that y'all always talking about
they out here rub and they out there stealing that man just
said in the state of Illinois. They the biggest back
violence prevention. Let's see how many numbers y'all throw
to his organization. I'll wait.
Thank you. Miss Lee for writing that check. Hey who else
going to write a check? And he shouldn't have to
Y'all are so problematic that you got a young lady who says
she took the test and she didn't know what the lottery is
but in 2 minutes you able to pick up the phone and find
out.
Cuz you are what's important to them not her you important
to me sister, wherever you are those black men and women
out there are important to me.
Y'all gonna still do the circus Y'all Gonna still do the
same thing that y'all been doing and the thought that
they're in contract negotiation means what?
The ask from this body was that we do that Equity officer.
And we do that for our commission. How many days it's been?
It's been 60 days.
This ain't a new fight.
at the end of the day
Will you hold your vote?
cuz I will
will y'all keep allowing the same thing that happened and
there are plenty of questions that I could ask chairman,
but they can't answer because I want numbers tell me how
many black women firefighter there are.
Tell us how many actually got to be promoted how many
people have that? What are that are African-American went
to take the test and were promoted why is every class? It's
less than less of us and Nick Badu took to answer 1 of your
questions. They never email us and tell us when it's
testing time. We find out about it after the fact Chicago
public schools has a program.
Where they're supposed supposed to promote being on the fire
department asked me how many black schools have they been
in?
And 1 of the people who sit on the commissioner scene
setting that seat over there in line and said you work with
the black fire brigade Mr. Quinton. Do you work with them?
No.
Have they ever approached you Mr. Quinn about working with
you know?
Thank you. Thank you chairman.
Thank all the women Taylor Allman Co Lopez all the Miss
pado then we'll end with that. Oh, I'm sorry Alderman
Gardner then alderman pisado.
Alderman Gardner. All right. Thank you chairman. Um, thank
you chairman Rodriguez and Alderman Robinson, uh for
shedding light on the Chicago Fire Department's hiring and
promotional practices.
I also want to thank Chief URLs Lieutenant Curtis and
Lieutenant McCann for your leadership and for your service
to our city.
Chief roles and Lieutenant Curtis were both instructors of
mine when I was in the academy As A Firefighter in 2005.
In 1995. I was 1 of the many lost souls in Chicago who
didn't know what I was going to do for work at the time. I
was working in construction.
And a friend of mine mentioned that there was a fireman's
test coming up.
So I signed up for the test. Um
Took the test. Um, but knowing is a first generation
American that I didn't have a lot of the connections that a
lot of other people had I didn't know the right people
quote unquote and I definitely didn't have relationships
with elected officials.
Correct. I am white. Yes, if anybody didn't notice I am
white.
um
There you go. So in 1995, I took I took the test. Um, but I
I I was not qualified.
Uh, my my score was in the 80 83 percentile and if you were
considered under 90, you were not you were deemed
unqualified.
Thanks to a lawsuit that was filed by Reverend Jesse
Jackson, which I mentioned when he was here just about a
month ago. Um.
that demanded people who scored over the score of 70 that
they had the opportunity, uh to work on the Chicago fire
department and lo and behold a white man, like myself as he
just mentioned was given the opportunity. Thanks to those
efforts.
um
so when I was hired in 2005 this
person who was considered unqualified actually went through
the academy.
studied to be an EMT with with the uh assistance with the
people that I just mentioned and actually won an award for
being uh, the most fit, uh candidate in that class. Um, and
with that with that, uh nomination or award, I was given
the opportunity to serve on a very busy company and for
those who know
or those who've been in the fire department or police
department. It is like a Badge of Courage to go to a busy
company.
And I was I had the opportunity to go to truck 26 coming
out of the Chicago Fire to Academy.
I could not be any more proud of the opportunity to serve
on that company and work with the men and women on that
company, which is in West Garfield Park.
Um
I served there for 13 years during that time.
I took any promotional exam that I could possibly take. I
took the Lieutenant's exam in 2009. And I took an
engineer's exam. That was I believe in 2016 and I was
actually promoted to engineer in 2018 before running.
before running for Alderman in 2019
I passed the lieutenant exam Lieutenant's exam.
and
I was I was my name was next on the list.
to be promoted and magically
that list was torn down.
It's a coincidence.
It's a coincidence that I was 1 of The aldermen Who most
readily voted against mayor lightfoot's agenda when she was
the mayor of the city of Chicago as well. It's a
coincidence total coincidence.
The problem is is that when when they attempted or somebody
attempted or however, it may be to stick it to me.
He they also stick to stuck it to 60 other firefighter who
who were waiting to get promoted. And anybody in this room
who's a fireman?
Knows how big and how long you got to wait?
To be to be lieutenant.
Right. Am I right or am I wrong?
That is the hardest promotion to get in the fire
department. Is that of going from a firefighter to a
lieutenant? That is a huge step there?
So
60 other individuals
paid the price
right for
you know the list magically getting torn down.
So they filed a lawsuit.
And lo and behold after they filed the lawsuit the list
that was torn down.
Was magically brought back up.
Isn't that amazing?
It was never done before in the history of the fire
department. Once they took down a promotional exam and they
brought it back up after a lawsuit was filed. It's amazing.
It's amazing and you know what they did.
They called me to say hey, if you want to take that
promotion now you can all you got to do is resign as an
alderman.
You you think this is this is not of a movie right like
this. Don't really happen.
No, but it happens. It happens.
So the reason why I'm here and the reason why I'm speaking
on this.
Is because games are being played.
And let me tell you and I'm gonna I'm gonna keep it real I
got I gotta keep it real. I know I'm probably gonna get in
trouble now, right?
So it's not just it's not just happening to black people.
It's not just happening to brown people. It's happening to
as Mr. Blakemore just said
to white people just like me too. There's games being
played.
So I I can go on and on this is just this is I'm just on
the tip of this.
I'm just getting started. So that's my story and that's
what I've experienced.
I will never be able to serve or gain the recognition of
earning or something that I earned. I earned to be a
lieutenant on the Chicago Fire Department.
I I I I I can't do that now for whatever for coincidence
reasons right total coincidence.
So when I heard that Alderman Robinson was bringing this and
and and wanted to talk about this. I hey, let's talk about
it. Let's let's bring some let's shed some light on what's
going on, but you actually have an Alderman.
Here sitting in the city council.
That was affected by the games that are being played.
So I just want to bring some truth and and and some real
stories about what's going on. And that's 1 of I don't know
hundreds maybe thousands of stories probably.
I mean it just so happens that I'm a white guy though. This
this this happened to me. I'm a white guy. I'm sure it's
happening to other people as well.
There's there's games being played but you know, so I'm all
for it. Let's shedding some light on what's going on. Let's
get some transparency as Lieutenant Curtis mentioned. Let's
let's shed some light on what's going on because as as I
said earlier, I was once deemed unqualified.
I was unqualified to serve on the fire department.
But you give me the opportunity you give me the opportunity
you open that door for for me to serve.
And what happens I go through there. I'm I'm gong busting
I'm I'm whatever you want me to do. You want me swing in
next? You want me to carry hose? Will you want me to run
some stairs that I all a sudden? I graduate on the very top
of the class. This this person who was once deemed
unqualified now. I'm on the very top of my class.
So again, this is not the story of me. I'm saying if it's
happening to me, it's happening to other people as well.
So thank you for your time. And and thank you all of you
for uh being a part of this conversation.
Thank you. So I too, um couple things I had never took a
test on the job. So I never deserved to get promoted. I
don't know I just felt.
I don't know. I just didn't want to study. Maybe I wasn't
for me. I'm not sure why I never did it, but I never did
so.
Like I can't say I ever got screwed but there was there was
a lack of communication when I signed up and took the test.
Um
my number and I'll never forget it. It's 20049. Of course
anybody had a number of 20049 you didn't think he had a
chance and uh, I had a cousin that was on the job and my
brother came on the job a few years before me and then as I
got to know what was going on with the numbers starting to
get they're up to 500. They're up to 1,000 up to 1500. Then
I thought I actually had a chance and lo and behold I got
called 8 years later to just life-changing job. Um, I had a
great job before it but uh, this was obviously the best job
I ever had in my life. There's nothing like a helping
people out. So I loved it. Uh, most people do. I don't know
many guys. I think I worked with 1 guy that hated this job
and he retired after 10 years. Um, but you know, it is what
it is. So,
once again people
it's not.
Nothing to be put on a net hole. Nothing should be put on
Sandra Blakemore that shouldn't be putting in that stage of
Walker. I could assure you they all wanted to come here.
That is her boss. Okay, you there? They're they're at will
exempt employees. Okay, you defy your boss you're gone.
Okay, so believe me. They all wanted to come you can't buy
your butt. So I regularly call.
I never asked them obvious. I'm a white guy too, but I
never asked them what they are to 3 ladies, but I'm just
assuming they're all 3 black women. So I don't know why
they would say. Oh, we're we're only going to help you
because you're white nick, you know and and and and you're
black and brown colleagues. We're not going to help them.
So, um so that third the help is there for anybody and um,
once again 96 failed that drug test, uh with that mistake
only 19 of them were black. I'm not sure how many of them
got the job. Um, and so um, but I'd like to share a little
experience. We had 1 time Chris if it's all right with you,
is that okay with you?
No, go ahead. All right. So Chris came to me and and a lot
of my colleagues come to me and I'm I'm guessing this is
because of firemen and I'm a self-proclaimed expert you
know, so that's self-proclaimed. I'm not so nobody said I'm
an expert other than myself about stuff like this. So Chris
called me. Uh, this was after a white instructor called me,
uh about a kid that was in the academy. He was a black kid.
He lived on the west side. He actually didn't live too far
away from where Mayor Johnson lives.
And Chris said hey, this kid got bounced out of the Academy.
I don't know what to do, you know, so I jumped in I helped
him out. So Chris did the right thing. He said hey Nick.
What can we do here? Can you help me? I don't know what to
do about this. I don't know who to talk to. Um, so I had
Chris just said Hey Hey kid. There's nothing I could do to
help you or anything like that. The kitten wouldn't be on
the job. So we were able to correct the the wrong that was
done to him and the kids on the job still today. Um, I
don't know I haven't talked to him in 4 years. I don't know
if Chris ever talks to him. But once again life's about
building communication those 3 women, um, obviously on that
doesn't have any any say on, you know, she doesn't know
what your number is or anything like that, but certainly,
uh, certainly HR and PSA could help you out. They told me
they may be mad because they're gonna maybe be floodgates
gonna open for my colleagues calling them. But if you're
worried about calling them ask me, I'll call them for you.
Uh, hopefully the 3 people that asked me today I got some
got some information for you today, and that's about it.
But once again, um, you know, it's a lot a lot of
Good people a lot of hard workers. But the thing that upset
me the most the thing that upset me the most about those
meetings is saying white guys go to Black communities only
to watch the neighborhood burn down. Nothing. Nothing could
be more false from the truth than that. There's not a black
fireman back here. That would say that they've ever seen
anybody stand out black white or Hispanic going to a fire
if anybody got in trouble on this job. The thing they get
in trouble for is racing too fast to the fire. Jim was the
driver of a truck and he'll tell you he's a fast driver.
it is people. He really probably dro.
fire.
I worked with many of you guys. I didn't we all would jump
up out of bed.
gear on Race to the fire. I worked on the west side for a
few years Jim worked there for his whole career. So that
doesn't happen people. So um, and that's about it. So, you
know, I say, maybe we come back with them. I don't know I
would hope that our colleagues wouldn't be beating them up,
but sounds like that's what we want to do waiting for a
budget, but I won't be 1 of them. So, but thank you. Thanks
for the opportunity to speak. Uh, and I appreciate it.
Thank you almond pisado there being no further hand raised.
Uh, let me thank our panelists for uh being here this this,
uh this afternoon, uh, Lieutenant McCormick Lieutenant
Curtis, uh Chief URLs as well as participating in Zoom
participating Zoom. Uh, Captain McCann. Also, let me think,
um, the chief sponsor of this measure, uh, Vice chairman
Robinson for your leadership as well. Uh,
can I get a motion to adjourn so moved by alderman?
spaz
all of those in favor, I
all of those opposed nay and opinion of the chair the eyes
have it the meeting The Joint Committee of Workforce
Development and police and fire is adjourned.