Let's get going here.
All right. Good morning. Everybody. We're ready to get
started folks.
All right before before we get started, I would ask to show
some of the Quorum everybody. All right, so
No, no talking on the cell phone inside the the chambers
here and please show some respect no profanity. Okay?
All right. Good morning. Everyone. Today's Wednesday, May
8th 2024 this meeting a committee of special events
cultural Affairs Recreation is called order, uh will now
have roll call. Uh chairman Pat. I'm here of course Scott
is out of town. Uh,
Alderman Hopkins here. I see you Hopkins is here Curtis.
Anybody see Curtis. No, OSHA is here. OSHA is here Crews.
Here. We I guess back here Conway's here Nugent's here. The
pilot tonnos here Lawson's here and Silverstein is also out
of town. That gives us 9 Gardiners via Zoom.
We know we didn't get to that yet. We know.
The roll call is tailored. We have 9 members present. Uh,
we do have a quorum. Uh,
we have some committee members who are requested, uh to
participate remotely through 59 rule 59 and that is
Alderman Robinson. You hear all them in Robinson.
Alderman Hall
alderwoman Coleman
Alderman Mosley
Alderman Rodriguez
present chair Rodriguez is here and we know Gardner is
here. So.
Okay, if uh if Robinson Hall Coleman and Mosley are
listening, uh, let us know you're here.
Okay, um, is there a motion to add these members to the
roll call to to approve for remote participation motion by
all the women Crews, uh to prove the remote participation
by these members. Uh, do I have any objections? None
hearing? No objection so moved, uh public comment. All
right.
I I put them on.
All right. We have 7 people. I'm not sure if some people
are here in a group or not. Uh, if you are in a group, uh,
everybody has a need to speak just let us know. I'll just
call you out. Uh, Diane Hodges.
I know some of our in their group and I don't know what
I know that.
Morning morning, Diane.
May I begin? Yes, you may.
I'm Diane Hodges and I am team leader of the South Morrow
Community Garden located in Southshore. I am also a energy
facilitator and a public safety strategist we Diane. Can
you speak up a little I'm having a hard time hearing you.
You can't hear me. Can you hear me now? Can you hear me
better now? Okay, you want me to start over? Is that okay?
Okay. Thank you.
I'm team leader of the South Morrow Community Garden
located in Southshore. I'm also a public safety strategist
and an energy facilitator and we took this Garden back from
from drugs guns and garbage 9 years ago. The block was
called Murder marrow now, our block Club is called Paradise
or mural and because of neighbor space we have been able to
create a magical healing space in the midst of chaos
neighbor space was instrumental in getting uh, a new water
facility for us neighbors space helped us create a moving
space where we have meditation classes dance classes. We
have children youth programs in the summer and understand
that in some of these neighborhoods you have people that
will not leave out of their neighborhoods. It's like
prisons Within
Presence so what we do is we create these lovely spaces
that.
we have these lovely spaces that bring birds flowers
healing nurturing and we require neighbor space for you to
do as much as you can for them so that they can continue to
create these beautiful satellite safe spaces within our
community. Thank you.
Thank you, Diane. Appreciate you. Uh, Mecca Bay. I think I
got your name, right Mecca Bay. Am I saying it, right?
Good morning, everyone. My name is Mecca Bay. I am a
farmer. I co-owner Farm in the Englewood community on 58th
and 8A cost. This is in a village.
and I'm also the lead store for the Englewood Village
farming Collective, uh through grow greater Englewood. And
um, so neighbor space has been intricate in helping us get
land in the community of Englewood and be able to provide
resources, you know, as far as water electricity and be
able to maintain the land and ensure the land. I am a
small-scale farmer production Farm in the community of
Inglewood, uh, growing over a thousand pounds of food last
year looking for this year to grow that and more
Thanks to neighbor space being able to provide us with the
land and the resources, uh to grow food. Um, yeah.
That was it.
Thank you. Thank you Miss bait.
Rosalyn Owens
morning, uh committee members. Thank you for having us
here, um to be able to talk about the wonderful
organization of neighbor space But first, my name is
Rosalyn Owens. I am the director of the Bronzeville
neighborhood Farm 4148 South Carolina all of your
invitation to please come out and visit with us. We have a
lovely space thanks to neighbors space. Um, this Farm is
very special to me because uh neighbor space.
Facilitated Health assisted my husband Johnny Owens to get
the farm to get the space Johnny was killed, uh due to gun
violence in August 2021.
At his funeral I decided to take over running the farm
because I knew how much it meant to him. How much?
It meant to the community. Of course. I had no experience
growing.
a tomato
and thanks to uh being helped pan. Robin Klein neighbors
space. They took me under their wing they supported me
tremendously. They were able to get uh significant funding
for me the first year after his death.
That really helped me and helped us, uh, the members that
worked with my husband have been working with him for
years. So with that funding we were able to get counseling
because um, the shooter came into our house and my husband
was defending our family and was killed and I want to
continue his legacy. So we were able to get counseling uh
through the grant they secured for us.
Um continued funds so that we can employ youth in the
community and we've been able to do that. Um since the last
2 years that I've been
had of um, the Bronzeville neighborhood Farm
they secure resources for us. They people call here to City
Hall to in Chicago here.
And they'll ask about they like to get involved with a farm
or do farming in the city and Bronzeville neighbors spaces
kind enough to refer them to me. So these people the young
people who have contacted me and I was I felt so happy.
That they consider me someplace that they would refer people
to. So what they're doing is so important to the community.
Our space is a very lovely space we hold events. We teach
people how to grow vegetables how to eat healthy and
healthy ways.
We have advanced private events. We've had a wedding there
And the reason I want you guys to come out and see it. Uh,
once you come on to the space, you'll see it is it's it's
so helpful. It's helpful for mental health. Um,
and just get people getting together, so
I'd like for you to um understand how important a neighbor
space is to communicate Community farms and gardeners in
the city of Chicago. Thank you, Miss.
Uh Mario, it looks like villain. I I'm not sure if I'm
pronouncing that right looks like v i l l an but it doesn't
matter. Uh, hi. I'm Mario volan and I'm a representing 2
Community Gardens 1 is the SRB community garden on Central
Higgins in Edmonds in the second 1 is Dunning Community
Gardens, which is uh right behind.
The uh, right College, uh, I want to mention that without
these 2.
Locations, uh without the help of neighbor space these
location 2 locations wouldn't have would have been vacant
Lots.
As they were when we before they were developed into
Community Gardens. Uh, I'm 1 of the members of the steering
committee on the neighbors spa, uh, excuse me on uh, Donnie
Donnie community garden and the uh, co-manager of the SRB
community garden. I'll start with the SRB real quickly. Uh,
that space was a vacant parking lot and it's not
transformed into more of a a a big. Well, I should say a
substantial community garden there. Uh,
the what we grow there is substantially given to a local
food bank on a weekly basis during the growing season and
it's a highlight of of that particular Corner, which is a a
street busy up very Street.
Uh traffic congested area the Dunning Community is another
uh community garden which is kind of isolated by itself
right as I stated.
a a and uh
It's again. It's a mix of your people from Europe Eastern
European backgrounds who uh use that space to kind of
relive their lives when they were back in in the in their
country. Uh, it's about 65 plots.
Large what I mean by plots and a 4 by 8 community garden.
Uh, as far as neighbor space involving in there in both the
locations, they provide us with adequate more than adequate
support, but they fund provide us with funding for Water
Resources soil.
uh compost, uh, any any
Uh types of services that we could use in terms of like
tool rental if we need that type of of kind of assistance.
Uh, I wish you continued I wish that you continue to
support neighbor space and actually increase funding for
them. Uh, they're a great resource not only to our 2
Community Gardens, but they're also a a great asset to the
overall Chicago. Uh,
Services that they provide provide as Gardens in the city.
Thank you. Thank you, sir.
Uh next speaker Maria. I can't read your last name begins
with a h are from Little Village Maria.
the Maria here from Little Village
Good morning Committee Member. My name is Maria Rya.
I work in.
Little Village
um, my garden is
support my community with different areas mental health
with using the garden only with therapy because you come in
any any Community Garden or so.
you just decrease your stress you depression when using
that the harbor for your schooling area, but
in this or only small that that difference difference
product or plants in in my community garden.
I am nurse.
And studied and a university that Mexican University my
English no is my first language, but I am 100% Latino.
I'm I support I am support for um
neighbor space on different things for example, um grants
soil
for all Community Gardens, I work more on the decrease the
determinant Health determinants with
access ACCESS food food access and environment
it is very important for my community because we have
contamination for
100% So the Community Gardens support my community my so
decrease your difference areas and health.
Obtain different fruits and vegetables more know 100%
organic per decrease any things more. Um you
this nessus and your community because I remember
the Latino Community have 1 Premium and this nesties and
Asthma and with different. Um, I don't know what saying
plumo and all communities and different. Um,
hair problems
not saying the the the are very big know or problem. And so
the community garden support for Good Neighbor space.
scalp and anything's uh
or participant a decrease your problem and difference this
nessus.
I I've said that the Community Gardens are the look in
Little Village because
proportional h a good a good
Mall more for thank you so much. Thank you George,
Blakemore.
I guess you are aware that over in 2818 what they have
another meeting. I think this is unfair for you all to set
these meetings up at the same time.
11:30 oven at 11
That's that's bad.
house
We got people over here that would love to have been over
here and to participate in this meeting. However
Neighbor space and I I'm reading this fundamental and I'm
reading this and the funding with with the forest preserve.
Park District
in the city of Chicago with n
I am against these in the government agreement.
The park district. That's why they are set up different
approach preserve County.
and then
it comes the park district have their own taxing back.
This is why it's very important for men like Mr. Blakemore,
uh to come to these meetings are in a government agreement.
mixing money with the county and and the partition
under the sky of of a Democratic party all Democrats.
There's a reason why they separate the forest preserve.
From the city the park district has its own taxing body in
a government agreement. I am anti.
in a government agreement
and the way you have set this up today is almost Criminal.
You would have to clone a person. Another meeting is going
on right now a city meeting.
And what is going on over here to give the the city a
citizen a choice to go to?
This meeting and the other meeting, but the timing what
would you do this?
Why would you do this?
What that's my good public policy.
And it's Criminal.
So let this not happen again never again.
You had 30 days to both are not only beaten up on your on
you but but the other 1 also you all get together.
and stop punishing the people
So neighbors face, excuse me. It's it's another racket too.
So obvious fact they little garden for so many years being
the owner of that nonprofit or whatever. They can sell that
property, too.
So so everything is is is is is success.
In government because it's a 1 part part of the ship.
Thank thank you sir.
Jessica Jackson
so
Trying to get into these meetings this morning.
They had us trapped outside in the hallway with nowhere to
sit down.
and then they have this meeting going on while another
meeting is going on over there because they're trying to
discourage us from speaking because what we say on in
public speaking ends up all in social media.
And so now you all are trying to make it difficult for us
to speak when in fact, it seems like the easiest thing to
do would be to resolve our issues. Then we wouldn't have to
keep coming back.
But you all would rather.
Let our issues go unresolved and then find ways to
manipulate.
Us from being able to get into the meetings.
Now that just speaks to the corruptness of the democratic
party now. We're sitting here today talking about these
Gardens and stuff, which is cool.
but then at the same time Joe Biden been taking Farmers
black Farmers, uh Farms
But then we in here today trying to act like y'all about
farming in the in the little communities.
I mean, it's just ridiculous.
The lamps that you all will go to.
To engage in corruptness anything of yourself for doing
what's right?
Now I'm glad something happened in that angle would but the
Englewood that I see.
is a bunch of vacant lots a bunch of abandoned buildings
just like over there on 71st Street and off for 1 don't
have nothing against gardening and stuff, you know, but I
don't want all those empty lots over there turned into a
bunch of little uh, planting stuff. They need to be some
businesses on those lives.
If you want people to really come out of Mental Health.
Let them get jobs let them be able to work and support
themselves stop stuff stuff and junk like affordable
housing low-income housing subsidized housing down.
Everybody's throat. Now. What is this this new thing of the
mayor trying to get what government ran grocery stores and
all this. So now we going to go back to government cheese
and that junk.
Rather than letting the grocery store be stacked with stuff
on the shelves so that people who got money can go by what
they want to eat.
You all this socialist thing y'all trying to do ain't
working in the capitalist Society. Now, what's up?
Corruption, that's what's up, and I'm a need to be able to
come in and sit down in the seats that my tax dollars are
paying for in this chamber instead of making me stand
outside when I get here on time for Meats.
Stop being remote and come to work for your money.
You all are disgraceful man. You really are.
Thank you Taiwan Sims.
Alderman, what's your name? The 1 in the wheelchair? What's
your name?
What's his name?
This is public comment sir bad yesterday you you you kept.
Saying that all because of the use of free speech. Someone
is coming in back bashing 1 of your colleagues said it 2
times. I knew what you was referring to.
However, so I am from Rogers Park. I've been out of Rogers
Park though.
And I'm in a space in Roseland.
Ran by a young woman named Jeremiah Goran he has burst into
books.
She has 2 lovely festivals 1 is a juneth this for y'all the
kid.
This 1 is the June 10th and 1 is called the wild lit Fest.
Nice nice. They bring a bunch of vendors. They bring young
adults. They bring kids they bring families. It's a family
affair.
That she puts together every year annually, but right now
she wrestling for funding. Once again, she has a location
at 11001, South, Michigan.
And July of 2023 they came and stole all the copper out of
the building.
Now this is a independent organization ran by a woman.
struggling
And still there's automatic power their city power that's
funding that's all these different things that I know
finances from sitting in y'all meetings now.
that you are able to
kind of ease
but Mr. Um Alderman, I'm from Rogers Park where I see all
these different y'all just did a cultural event up there,
which should not have happened.
It shouldn't.
Have what y'all still funded that so how about we just send
a little bit.
to the far south side to burst in the books, Jeremiah Goro
neighbor space
we would definitely love to partner with you all.
Definitely because it's needed to improve. Okay, if y'all
don't want me in the north, then I'd rather be peaceful in
the South. I'd rather be productive in my people in the
South like I am in the North
I'm not wrestling with anybody. I'm not running from
anybody. I'm trying to avoid me.
So pour into it like she said hey if y'all don't want us
coming then work with us.
Accommodate us a little bit.
Help us out. Basically I'm saying help her out.
Somebody was trying to improve in these areas early
literacy is what she worked with but also she stemming
trying to go over into mental health a host of different
things that improve the community.
I'm just saying.
That's all I got guys.
Thank you, sir. Uh, this concludes public comment. Uh, we
will give another try for our remote. Colleagues Robinson
Hall Coleman and Mosley are any of you there here?
The call is present all is present all of them and Status
present.
I love it. All other woman Scott is present. Okay, you have
her down.
Okay. All right. We have 2 items on the agenda today
chairman. My apologies Robinson is present.
All right Robinson is present.
okay, throw motion approve the members to roll and approve
the remote participation once again motion by alderwoman
cruise to approve the remote participation by these
members, uh
any objections hearing no objection so ordered, uh,
we have um, oh we did that already. Okay, we have 2 items
on the agenda today. The first item on the agenda is the
approval of the 2024 monthly rule 45 report or all members
of the committee should have received a copy of this report
electronically, uh, are there any questions or comments
regarding this report? Uh,
recognizing no questions or comments, uh motion by uh, uh
Alderman enpal, uh, recommended patches of this item, uh,
all in favor say I I I
Any opinion of the charity eyes have it?
All right. No nays I'm sorry. I didn't ask for Nays uh
second item on the agenda is an ordinance, uh 02024 D 00000
00000 8968 First Amendment to intergovernmental agreement
with the Chicago Park District and Forest Reserve of Cook
County for continued funding and support of neighbors space
open space projects here today to present and answer any
questions about our ordinances.
Are a good friend Meg Gustin, uh is is um been here know
Ben's not here.
Ben's here, okay.
All right. I didn't see him.
There he is. He's hiding behind a chair. Okay. All right,
uh, thanks Meg. Thanks for being here. Thanks, Ben.
Keith also here Keith. Are you gonna stay in the back?
Okay, Keith's gonna stay in the back. So thanks for being
here today Meg. You're gonna do the presentation.
slide 1 but
oh, there we go. Thank you.
Great.
I can just read it out loud.
But we'll do full screen here. Okay. Um, good morning. Uh,
my name is Meg Gustin for the record, uh Department of
Planning and Development. Um, I'm here today to talk about
neighbor space and um,
Our um action to approve an amendment to the existing. Um,
IGA between the park district of forest preserve and the
City of Chicago. Um, neighbor space is a nonprofit Urban
Land Trust, um that um preserves and sustains Open Spaces
on behalf of dedicated Community groups in Chicago. They
were established in 1996 and they currently provide
protection for 144 Community managed. Oh
Open Spaces in 41 wards
Um, which is about 41 Acres, um of open space.
They provide permanent protection. Uh, they cannot sell the
land once it is acquired. Um,
it is uh in perpetuity as open space. Um neighbor space
insurers Community Management and control they cover basic
liability for the gardeners and the volunteers, they
provide stewardship support and resources, um, and they
have um, multiple types of open space including Gardens
Urban agriculture Gathering space nature play and habitat.
Um, I have been healthman here that um,
Is the head of neighbor space? Um, would you like to chime
in on anything before I think right now? You're just going.
Oh Ben help for the record been health and executive
director of neighbor space, uh, good morning chairman and
members of the committee. Um, do we want to just I know we
have examples of a few Gardens sure. So we'll just go
through. Um, this 1 is in North Lawndale. It's called the
African Heritage Garden.
uh Hardin esparanza in Little Village
Dunning community garden in the Dunning we heard from
earlier today. Yeah.
Uh sisters in the village and Inglewood who's Mecca is
sitting right over there in the picture.
on a Ray Street, uh urban farm in West Englewood
Spirit Garden
uh Riverbank Neighbors
This is a unique Garden that we it's 1 of a handful that we
actually lease Land from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation
District in order to activate it for the community. This is
a stretch of the of the river that the community has has,
uh, uh turned into native habitat and trails but really
wonderful spot.
Um, here's a little more background on neighbor space Oh,
yeah. Yeah. Yeah next slide. I just wanted to to mention
that neighbor spaces is unique in terms of we we take uh,
uh the community very seriously and the fact that all of
our sites are community-led and governed, uh, neighborspace
is there to do play a very important role preserving the
land providing insurance and other resources as you've
heard, but we're not there to tell the gardeners what to
do. It's their show. They're the they're the people on the
ground in the community. And so we don't go out find a
piece of land and tell the community. You should Garden
here. You should Farm here. You should create a nature
Place space here community members come to us with their
visions.
And we do everything in our power, uh to try to make those
Visions a reality.
Uh, this slide just shows some of the other
non-governmental support and um collaboration.
the uh, in addition to all of these this this private
fundraising that we do to supplement the uh, uh, the
contributions from our government Partners, uh, 1 of the
things you don't see is that neighbor space serves as the
Fiscal Agent for upwards of a hundred of our Gardens, uh,
and that allows the gardens to do fundraising on their own.
Sometimes. It's raising 500 dollars and plot fees, uh,
sometimes it's raising $50,000, uh from foundations like
you heard from Ras earlier in Bronzeville. Uh, so it's uh,
it's a it's a quite a big contribution that we're in able
to facilitate through that service.
Uh, so after 28 years of contributing a hundred thousand
dollars annually, um from our corporate budget. The
department of planning is recommending an increase of
85,000 to keep Pace with inflation and the Consumer Price
Index. Um, so our our contribution going forward if this is
approved to be 185,000, uh, the Chicago Park District in
Forest Reserve have already gotten board approval for their
increase.
um, so today to um
restate our uh action here is to approve the amendment to
neighbor space, um to increase it to 18500 per year from
the city of Chicago's corporate budget.
Um this also authorizes the extension of the original
agreement through 2020 2033. So for 10 more years, thank
you very much. That's the end of my presentation.
Thank you Meg. Thank you Ben for the presentation. Um, I
don't have any questions as anybody on the committee have a
question hollering Lawson.
Thank you chairman. Um and thank you Ben and Meg for your
work. I think there's no doubt. That neighbor space is an
amazing organization. I have 2, uh Gardens that are very
different in my ward, uh based on the very different needs
of where they are. And I think that versatility is
something that's really really important and the creativity
and the resources you bring to projects. Um, so that you
have my full support, of course, I'm surprised it's it's
not a little more. Um, I know the city is doing a 100 Grand
now, what are the other government agencies? What's their
current? Uh, yes, uh, the city will be doing 185,000 now,
um, the park district is increasing.
from 100 to 180
Write a Forest Reserve is increasing from 50 to 100. So
everyone's putting in more skin in the game, right? And
then I guess my other question is specific to these funds
are they only used in the city? Yes. Okay, exclusively,
right? Yeah. So you're going up to 465. Okay, um from those
government sources. I know that's not the only uh money in
your budget what what is sort of your total annual budget?
I know I'm sure it varies and and what percentage of that
is, you know administrative versus um acquisition operation
things like that the
our kind of core annual budget is about uh, 750,000 in
recent years that's been substantially more because we've
been doing some rather large infrastructure projects. So if
you look at our budget in recent years, it's 2 million 3
and a half million, but that's because we're doing a
remediation process or working with mag on the wild mile
for example, but the core is about 750,000. Right? Right,
right. Um again, Vice will support you guys are doing great
work great to hear the stories from all over the city as
well. Thanks chairman. Thank you Alderman the palatino.
Thank you chairman. I'll make mine very quick and if you
could just answer them with quick. Yes and those because
then we can connect later and and it's just based on my
ignorance with how safe space Works. Um, if Community has
an area that um, they want interested in can they come
through you first for you to look at the land and say okay.
This is owned by X Y and Z and this is what we have to do
to to to.
Turn it into a card Facebook. Yes. Perfect. Uh is safe is um
is the spaces only vegetable or can they do flower just the
flower gardens flower is fine any open space? Okay, and
last 1 do they have to have water on these properties? Um,
It depends on the site. We install water on many sites. But
sometimes we work to access a city hydrant or water from a
neighbor, and then sometimes the design doesn't really need
a lot of water. So we don't pay for the expense. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Thank you chairman. Thank you.
chairman, I just wanted to uh
Agree with my colleagues that this is wonderful appreciate
the work you do. Um, it's nice to see that more
governmental agencies do have more skin in the game.
And uh, I wholeheartedly support this. Thanks. Thank you.
Thank you, man. Okay, um.
You know other questions May.
Yes.
Hold on Rodriguez here a moment.
If you want to say something Alderman Rodriguez, yeah. Yes,
sir. Okay.
Thank you chairman. Just very quickly. I um want to concur
with Alderman OSHA and and Lawson, um and state that uh,
neighbor space has been an amazing partner in our Ward. I
want to thank the public commenters particularly Maria era
from sanano bah, um who's a great um, neighborhood leader
and residents. Um, very hardworking person who is Emma
Matic of those who take over our neighbor space spaces. Um,
it's a Gemini neighborhood the the the gardens and and the
spaces that neighbor space has taken over but it's really
the neighborhood residents that are empowered through this
process to take that ownership and uh invest in our own
block invest in our own communities create better spaces
that create better neighborhoods. So I'm 100% in support of
this effort in any effort that neighbor spaces involved
with um, and thank you for the time Mr. Chair.
I move the pass.
Thank thank you all I mean, it's nice to see everybody, uh
pitching in uh, all the different agencies the county the
city. Um, so okay. So, uh, um motion by Alderman Rodriguez
the recommend the passes of this item all all in favor
signify by I I all oppose say nay
Any opinion of the charity eyes have it? Uh, the do pass
recommendation of this ordinance will be reported out the
next city council meeting on May 22nd, 2024, uh there being
no further business before the committee, uh, hear a motion
by Alderman Lawson to to adjourn, uh, all in favor signify
by I I oppose.
No Nays hearing no objection. So ordered this meeting a
committee and special events cultural Affairs and
Recreation. Uh also known as a happy committee is now
adjourned. Thank you everybody.