Chicago Politics

Executive Order Signing 8.11.26

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Legislation

Description

Mayor Brandon Johnson Signs Executive Order.

Transcript

0:22 Good morning. Thank you, Mayor, for bringing us together here in the Fourth Ward at Northerly Island. Mr. Mayor, as a history teacher, I want to take a moment and share Northerly Island's history. From a man-made lakefront site for the World's Fair to an airport and now a beautiful natural reserve that shows innovation and how community can come together.

0:58 I want to take a moment and thank all of my colleagues here this morning, Citro Lopez, Rodriguez Sanchez, Mosley, Yancey Ramirez, Hall, Burnett, Anne Talaferro, and Alderwoman Hayden. As Alderman, my job is to think about how policies impact not just residents in my ward, in my community, but across all of Chicago.

1:34 And we know that data centers have far-reaching impacts on the daily lives of our residents. That means we need to contemplate solutions that best respond to residents' day-to-day questions and concerns around data centers, such as how much water do they use and how much electricity do they consume? How can the city better regulate the noise and pollution coming from our data centers?

2:10 And perhaps most importantly, what does this mean for the quality of life for the people who live right next door to these facilities? Chicago is a city that welcomes innovation and investment. Just this year, Chicago was named number one metro area for corporate expansion for the 13th consecutive year.

2:40 We want new industries to create jobs and economic opportunities, but growth cannot come at the expense of our residents. Today's executive order is so important, and I want to thank all of the community organizations that are here today that worked to put this executive order in place. It recognizes that data centers of today are very different from facilities contemplated when many of our existing regulations were written.

3:25 This executive order shows that our mayor is committed to taking bold executive action and moving on immediate steps towards addressing the pressing day-to-day concerns data centers present. while laying the groundwork for our partners in the city council and across city departments to continue to address these issues comprehensively and make sure regulatory framework keeps pace with the technology and the scale of these facilities.

3:58 Ultimately, if Chicago is going to establish a comprehensive, long-term regulatory framework for data centers, The city council has an important role to play. We will have to listen to our communities. We will have to listen to the experts. And we will have to make sure that the costs and impacts are not simply pushed onto residents and rate payers.

4:29 This is not about being anti-technology. Let me repeat. This is not about being anti-technology. It is about being for community. It is about being pro-Chicago. This executive order is an important first step toward building a modern regulatory framework that reflects the realities of data centers development.

4:59 here today. We can welcome innovation while demanding responsibility. We can support economic development while protecting our great neighborhoods. And we can make sure that companies that want to invest here in Chicago understand that being a good corporate partner means being a good neighbor. I want to thank the mayor again and chief sustainability officer

5:34 Angela Tovar and all the city departments, community stakeholders who have worked on this effort. With that, I would like to welcome Commissioner Tovar to the mic. All right. Good morning, everyone. Good morning. Thank you, Alderman Robertson, for hosting us in your ward on this not sunny but beautiful overcast day and for your continued advocacy on this topic.

6:07 There's something fitting about gathering on Northerly Island for this moment. This is a place the city reclaimed and reimagined, a place where we chose to prioritize green space, nature, and the health of Lake Michigan over what was built here prior. It's a reminder that Chicago has always had the ability to make deliberate choices about how we grow and who that growth serves. That's exactly the spirit we're bringing to the work we're here to talk about today, the rapid growth of data centers.

6:38 I want to take a moment to acknowledge who's in the crowd. We're surrounded this morning by so many wonderful leaders. Our mayor, our alders, environmental justice leaders, community leaders, and environmental advocates, many of whom have spent years, sometimes decades, fighting for basic rights in their own neighborhoods. We have heard loud and clear your concerns, and that's the reason this administration is moving with urgency on this issue.

7:09 Thank you for showing up, and more importantly, thank you for caring so deeply about this city. When Mayor Johnson stood up the new Department of Environment, it was a statement of priorities. For far too long, environmental protection in this city was scattered across departments without a dedicated home. Through DOE, we changed that. It gave Chicago a department whose job it is to work in partnership across city and communities and to ask hard questions. Who benefits? Who bears the cost?

7:43 How do we hold ourselves accountable? And just as important, how do we accelerate jobs in the green economy? How do we inspire innovation? And how do we build true community wealth? That's the lens that we brought to the data center conversation. Over the past year, the city's Sustainable Data Centers Working Group did something Chicago hasn't done before. We took a genuinely hard look at what this industry's rapid growth means for our electric grid, our water systems, our air quality, and our neighborhoods.

8:17 The findings were clear, and frankly, they were overdue. Data centers can spur economic opportunity in this city, but that opportunity cannot come at the expense of the communities living next door to them. So today is not an end of that work. It's the start of the next phase. With the signing of today's executive order, we aren't slowing down innovation. We are giving it guardrails. And that in itself is an innovation. And even more importantly, it propels us forward.

8:47 The mayor is using every tool at his disposal. City departments are activating powers under their authority. City Council will be carrying the torch for future legislative pushes and community and sector leaders will roll up their sleeves to ensure this protects our city's most precious resources, our people, our water, our air and our communities. Chicago has always been a leader, and today we're leading once again. So with that, thank you, Mayor Johnson, for your

9:18 leadership. Thank you to our council, with whom we'll continue to work, and thank you to everyone here citywide and across the state who will work with us to ensure that the full suite of modern data center regulations are realized. And now I'm proud to hand things over to one of our partners whose work has helped make today a reality. Iyana Simba, City Government Affairs Director at the Illinois Environmental Council. Thank you.

9:49 Going paper free. Hi, good morning everyone. My name is Iyana Simba and I'm the Director of City Government Affairs at the Illinois Environmental Council. I'm so pleased to be here today to see the work of the Chicago Department of Environment come to life. Today is momentous for many reasons, but I want to take time to call attention to the work the environmental community did to get us to here today. First, Chicago went without the Department of Environment for over a decade. That was until IEC, our partners, environmental activists, and advocates across the city,

10:21 Commissioner Angela Tovar, and the environmental staff in the mayor's office worked together to reestablish the department in 2023. The new department has renewed power to research environmental and climate issues, enforce environmental inspections, and ensure environmental justice is integrated in all city policy. And thanks to Mayor Johnson and his team, DOE now has the resources to carry out that vision. Today, we are here to talk about data centers, though. These massive energy and water-intensive facilities are breaking headlines every day,

10:51 but the environmental community has been working towards their impacts for several years. Back in 2024, there was an ordinance introduced that would incentivize data storage within the city limits. This ordinance did not take into account the environmental impacts of data centers. So what did we do? The environmental community, we got to work. we worked with the sponsor, we worked with the Department of Environment, and we ensured that the final ordinance included an environmental working group, which ultimately led to the Sustainable Data Centers report that came out in July. And Mayor Johnson stood with us in that effort. We are hearing horror stories across the state, across the city, across the country

11:26 about AI data centers driving up bills, threatening the reliability of our grid, polluting our air, straining our water supply, and frankly jeopardizing the health of communities. And unfortunately, even if you don't have a data center in your backyard, you can still be impacted. That's why action on all levels is needed. We need local leaders who are willing to step up and be proactive in protecting our communities, protecting our pocketbooks, and protecting our climate. We need state leaders to enact statewide guardrails that will protect every community across the state,

11:58 so that those that don't have the resources, those that don't have the leadership willing to take action, are still protected from the impacts of data centers. and that's why we are pushing for the power act which we are hoping to pass in in the fall in springfield and of course we need federal federal level leaders to regulate data centers but i am a little doubtful we will get that so i'm grateful to have leaders here in illinois that are willing to stand up we are in a city where black and brown residents historically have borne the brunt of pollution we need leaders who will step up and demand better for our communities in a state that

12:34 has some of the strongest climate and environmental justice goals in the nation, we need leaders who will step up and demand that we stay on track to those goals. In short, IUC, we are happy to see the city taking action on data centers. But as Commissioner Tovar said, this is just the first step. Now let's work together to turn these findings into action. And with that, I am pleased to introduce Mayor Brandon Johnson, whose leadership has been critical in this effort. Mayor, please welcome to the podium. Thank you so much, Ayanna, and good morning to everyone.

13:06 I'm grateful to be with you all today. This is a great place for an announcement. Okay, that's going to go over your heads there. All right, it's taking a little bit for that to kick in. All right. Behind me sits Lake Michigan, nearly 5% of the world's fresh water, and the reason this city was able to become the great global city that it is today. I'm grateful to have incredible partners with us today, our alders, community leaders, and organizers, of course, commissioners.

13:41 Thank you to our general superintendent, Carlos Ramirez Rosa, for his presence. Look, Chicago is a tech hub that embraces innovation, but never at the expense of our health, safety, or our natural environment. Chicagoans have been absolutely clear. They do not want data centers expanding across our city without strong protection for their communities, their utility bills, their air, water, and their quality of life. Today, with the signing of this executive order, we are answering their demands

14:15 and centering our communities' concerns and solutions in our decision-making. And before AI accelerates any faster, The city is taking steps now to protect Chicagoans from the impacts of data center development while we undertake the comprehensive work that's necessary to establish stronger, permanent protections for our communities. Chicago will not be passively shaped by this new industry. We will lead and actively set the terms for how this technological development occurs.

14:49 This executive order strengthens the city's regulatory framework and directs the development of enhanced standards that departments will be empowered to enforce across key areas. Stronger air pollution control. This order directs the Department of Environment to strengthen and modernize the conditions required to obtain an air pollution control permit and to issue new rules and do it within 90 days. Less disruptive neighborhood noise

15:20 The Department of Environment will examine that noise And establish clear, data-centered, specific rules For how it is measured, controlled, and enforced Enhanced review of planned developments Any planned development that includes a data center Will now go through enhanced, cross-departmental review led by the Department of Planning and Development, which must weigh environmental impacts and neighborhood effects.

15:53 Today's order also establishes the Interdepartmental Data Center Environment and Community Protection Task Force, co-chaired by our Chief Sustainability Officer and my Chief of Policy. This task force will develop concrete updates to the municipal code and new rules governing permitting, zoning, impact controls, licensing, and reporting for data centers citywide. As the task force begins their work, we will work tirelessly alongside our partners in City Council

16:26 to enact a temporary moratorium on data center development. A temporary moratorium is critical because it will ensure that new data centers do not move forward while the city council contemplates the deliberate, comprehensive process of developing the protections Chicagoans have called for and deserve. And Chicago cannot do this alone. So I'm calling on Springfield to pass the POWER Act because working families should never be forced to pay higher utility bills to subsidize the massive energy demands of data centers.

17:06 While we strengthen protections here in Chicago, the state must ensure that data centers protect our water, invest in energy affordability and support public benefit agreements, and account for their cumulative impact on environmental justice communities. This moment demands action at every level of government, and Springfield must act. In the meantime, we are making sure that every data center proposal that comes before the city receives the most rigorous review permitted under existing law.

17:42 Our task force will build on the work already done by community members, organizers and advocates and develop the permanent protections that we need to ensure that Chicagoans, not the demands of a rapidly expanding industry, come first. Chicagoans have to come first when we're developing this city. And I look forward to seeing the recommendations that our task force will bring forth so that we may continue to work on building a safer, more resilient Chicago that serves our people for generations to come.

18:14 Thank you all very much.

19:17 Thank you, Alderman. OK, finally, I got an alderman that has my back. Oh, it's a bunch of y'all. It's a bunch of y'all out there. Where you at, Will? All right. Let me stop here. Let me stop. All right. OK. Thank you all again for coming out today. You know, I am so grateful for the life and the legacy of of Hazel Johnson and and of course, yes, of course, her daughter and family and all of the community that she carried on her shoulders.

20:12 And when I think about the legacy of our ancestors that dreamed of a day in which justice would continue to bend closer to the needs and the experiences of our people, that their living nor their dying would be in vain. And so for all of those who have come before us and for generations yet to be born, it is my honor and privilege to protect what is most natural, which is our environment.

21:03 OK, here we go. Here we are. Fix that. He fixed the paper. What about my tie, though? How's my tie? All right. You ready? Congratulations, Chicago. for the q and a everybody else i'm going to ask you to depart on both sides okay um

21:38 hey what's going on what's up what's up

23:00 folks we're going to do our uh on-topic questions first and then we'll transition to off-topic if there are any we will be able to get all right we're going to start with on-topic questions okay All right. Terrific. Hey, man. Hey. Hey. So the city council, there's legislation that was introduced that would accomplish some of these goals. I'm curious why you decided to just move ahead of that process. But why the urgency? Do you not trust Alderman to actually pass something? Well, look, we obviously have, you know, strong partnerships. City council, what was important was to ensure that some of the vagueness around how, you know, environmental matters are addressed,

23:39 that we clear that up, right? So now there is absolute direction for our departments to be able to do their part, and that's the executive authority that I do have in this situation. And so it was important that with the support of community leaders as well as city council members to move with haste to ensure that our departments are clear about the deliverables that the people of Chicago are calling for. Jeremy. Thank you. This is clearly not an anti-data center measure that you're doing here, but it does provide some restrictions, certainly more bureaucracy.

24:16 Are you concerned that companies could take a look at Chicago? and say, hey, they're doing this easier with less red tape in places like Ohio and Pennsylvania, and they can go elsewhere? Well, first of all, we're the top destination for corporate relocation anywhere in America. Here's what I've always said, that the city of Chicago is open for business, but we're not for sale. Ensuring that we are advancing technology and doing it in a thoughtful way so that we're not harming working people, that is good for business, right?

24:46 What good does it do to develop business at the expense of working people? That's a poor business plan. Any business leader would tell you that. I can tell you that as someone who is running a multibillion-dollar corporation here. Protecting working people, that always has to be our top priority. Chicago is the tech hub. It's a place for innovation where electricity came to life, where skyscrapers were birthed, the Model T. I mean, I can go on and on about our innovation, so we're certainly not short on that. We have 20 percent of the world's fresh water is comprised of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River.

25:20 We have 5 percent of that 20 percent. So this is the best place to do business, and the proof is in how we have produced. But, again, development cannot happen at the expense of working people. Before the last city council meeting, a bunch of groups, including folks from Southside Together, urged you to rescind some of the permits for Quantum. They have some of the same concerns as people have over data centers. Are you considering any future support for those groups who are concerned about quantum?

25:51 Well, this is a step in that direction, right? You know, as of a date, there is no data center that is a part of the development of PsyQuantum. This executive order obviously would have impact on a decision if a decision were made to develop a data center. Look, the important part here is as technology begins to accelerate, it was imperative that I use my executive authority to act now.

26:24 And there is no full precedent that's fully established, right, with the largest city to enact such an order. I'm going to continue to partner with city council to ensure that those concerns that community members have are addressed. And that's why the city council's authority to place a moratorium on data center development and advancement at this time just makes sense as we work to create regulations around this new form of technology,

26:56 particularly at a time in which it's impacting not just urban but rural communities as well. This is national. Quite frankly, it's international, right? And I'm glad, once again, that Chicago is leading the way. So how long is this moratorium lasting? Is it like an amount of time, or is it until that modern regulatory framework is established? and what does a modern regulatory framework for data centers look like? Like, what are the changes compared to both of them now? That's a great question. Well, first of all, there's no moratorium. That authority rests with city council.

27:29 The reason why this interdepartmental task force has been put together is to actually help establish that. Like, look, this is a newer phenomenon, and we want to get as out front of this matter as fast as we possibly can. And that's why you see the full force of government alongside of me, our chief of policy, our chief sustainability officer, Commissioner Tovar, along with technology, planning and development buildings, all of them will play a part in coming up with regulatory practices that we believe could be a model for the rest of the country.

28:07 All right. Thank you very much. Craig, go to your office. Hi, Eric. Hey. Nice to have a breasted suit. That's new. Thank you. On this issue, the ordinance that passed in 2024 regulating data centers passed unanimously in the city council. Do you have some concern that it might not be on board, thus needing an executive order? And I guess, is there anything that's imminent that requires this executive order? Well, here's what's imminent, is that right now, across our departments, there were not clear, established directives.

28:42 Here in this executive order, we're actually providing that. In terms of what we know now, you know, as, you know, this technology continues to advance, there are greater concerns, right, that have been brought to the forefront. My hope and my expectation is that the members of city council that were here and present today is an indication of a desire to bring all of city council together to make sure that, again, and a moratorium in the meantime as we develop best practices moving forward.

29:14 And I guess off topic, just to switch gears to what came out from Bally's over the weekend. They're raising concerns about VGTs perhaps eating into money that they grant. Are you going to make some kind of push to get the VGTs rescinded, and is it based on concerns about pension money income that Bally's is supposed to be providing? Well, the concerns that Bally's has were the concerns that I had. Right. And I express that to members of city council. So, you know, this is, you know, quite frankly, it was expected, you know, in terms of, you know, how we move forward.

29:55 You know, I've made this very clear that I'm prepared and willing to work with city council members along with Bally's to make sure that this development and the revenue from this development that is designed to help support and provide some relief from longstanding, you know, responsibilities in terms of our pension, that those resources are not threatened. And in terms of next steps, you know, I'm going to continue to have conversations with members of city council to help figure out a pathway forward.

30:26 This was always my concern. I said that from the very beginning. City council moved in spite of those concerns. And now it's going to be that much more imperative and critical that we all, you know, put our heads together and figure out what the best pathway forward is. Because, to your point, there are revenue streams that are potentially at risk for a matter that, quite frankly, has been unaddressed for at least 30 years. Is this executive order at all on setting the stage for you to make that announcement that you are running for re-election at all?

30:59 I mean, it's setting up for future regulations and wondering if you're planning yourself being part of creating these regulations. Well, look, I'm obviously going to play a role in, you know, establishing, you know, best practices. That's why, you know, when I campaigned, I said that we're going to reestablish the Department of the Environment. We've done it so that we would, you know, ensure that the community of impact study would guide and direct how we show up for the most vulnerable. As Ayanna indicated earlier in her presentation, the brunt of injustice is often held by black and brown and working and poor people.

31:40 I made a commitment three and a half years ago to build the safest, most affordable big city in America. We're doing that, right, building more affordable homes. You know, speaking of environmental justice, I made a commitment for green social housing and working with our chief of policy, Jung and Angela, we're able to do that. And we fully expect, is it next year, we'll start to see some manifestation of our green social housing, right? So we're talking about protecting rent and building long-term sustainable housing.

32:13 These are the things that the people of Chicago elected me to do. They also said, listen, we need to address community safety, and we've done it, right? Last year, the fewest amount of homicides in 60 years, hired more young people than any other administration, reopened mental health clinics. That work is working, right? And, look, have we learned a few things along the way? Absolutely. Have I made some mistakes and some groin pains in this process? Yes, you know, but here's what I do know. Things don't have to be perfect in order for them to work, and my wife is a true testament of that.

32:45 I'm certainly not perfect, but we're still working 28 years in. So now I'm not prognosticating that that's how long I'm going to serve as mayor of the city of Chicago. Now, that would be a record. But in the meantime, even with the imperfections and some of the missteps, we're still standing, and we're actually stronger than we've been when I started three and a half years ago. How are you doing there, Josh? Jeff, welcome back. It's been a while. I appreciate you, man. Thank you. I actually missed you. You're kind to say that. Likewise, sir. Okay. I hear the thunder in the distance, so I'll make this fast.

33:17 If you would talk a little bit about your choice for chief financial officer of the city, if the choice was designed to sort of help the city's case with the rating agencies and whether you might be close to naming a new budget director. Well, look, you know, we've had a great run at attracting talented people. And, you know, Ashley has a level of expertise over a decade in the industry. And, yes, her background and understanding how municipalities are rated and scored, that did play a part.

33:50 And, look, whether it's, you know, a new OIG inspector or whether it's Sierra Boatwright or Angela Tovar or Nick Lucius, I mean, we have junk. a real talented group of people that are not only capable, but they're compassionate as well. The city is being ran exceptionally well right now. I mean, despite some of the noise and the headache and consternation, we haven't caused harm. We haven't closed schools. We haven't shut down public facilities. We've invested more in education. And as we work to continue to get our financial house in order,

34:24 we have to have great, talented people to help us do that. Look, I know the mess that I inherited. I knew what I was getting into. Now, I didn't know I would get as much attention as I'm getting from the media. I'm adjusting to that still. But in terms of the next hire for our budget director, that process is ongoing, and we'll do it with some expediency. Hey, Mayor. That's the last one here? Yeah. Okay. Mayor, records show that ACLUV is the CEO, emailed you in November 2024 to protest the CVI RFP, and again in February 2025 to request advance payment in their contract.

34:57 How did you or your office respond to either of those concerns? Well, look, the concern was making sure that the work that CVI does, that that work was being fully supported. Where CVI exists, we've seen record levels of reduction in violence, right? These are individuals who've been justice involved and have come back to the very communities in which havoc was wreaked and have provided an incredible amount of support. And so we're going to continue to invest in CVI.

35:29 I think in that particular situation, there were some concerns about making sure that those resources got out in a timely manner, right, because the work is just that crucial. And so anything that my administration can do to ensure that resources are getting to the people who are doing the work with some expediency, of course we want to make sure that that is as streamlined and as effective as it possibly can be. Bear's going to be playing across the way Saturday. Any updates you can give us for that? Well, I mean, the only thing that I could say is what I've continued to say, that the Bears belong in the city of Chicago.

36:01 This campus is the top destination for visitors anywhere in the state of Illinois. The reality is still this. There is still no plan outside of the plan that we produced for a publicly owned stadium, right? That is still the best option. We're going to continue to have conversations with the General Assembly. I think it's imperative that we all work together. the governor, the legislature, the city of Chicago, the Bears, because clearly, you know, the economic prowess of our city is actually quite impactful.

36:33 More visitors coming in, every single revenue stream, to Jeff's question around our finances, every single revenue stream that we have put forward has outperformed what we even anticipated. So, you know, as the Bears gear it up for, you know, another season, and I'm still geared up to make sure that they stay and remain in Chicago. And so far, that's the case. They haven't left, and I'm going to continue to fight to make sure that they remain here. Good afternoon. Good morning. Good morning. My colleague, Jake, reported that your campaign paid a social media influencer to post positive posts.

37:11 Do you think that's deceptive to pay someone to say positive things on their social media feeds, Or is it the wave of the future, and will we see more of it in this campaign? Well, I mean, look, I think campaigns pay networks to play a commercial saying positive things, right? I mean, that's a pretty age-old practice. You pay vendors to put out a mailer to say something positive about a campaign. I don't believe that's deceptive, especially when it's the truth.

37:43 In terms of whether or not it's the wave of the future, I mean, people have been using social media influencers far prior to me, right? And so I do believe that as media changes and continues to advance, you've seen it within your own sort of corporate network where more news networks are using social media as a way to access viewers, right? That's just the future, not just campaigns, but even myself. I mean, I use social media to deliver my message.

38:15 Sometimes corporate media may not get the whole story, right? So now you have government has a responsibility to help fill in the gaps where stories are not as complete, right? Because you have 30 minutes or so, 20 minutes with commercial breaks, et cetera, et cetera, right? So there are all different reasons of why we have to use newer forms of media to be able to effectively get our message out. But, no, every time someone uses a medium to tell their story, that's why our democracy works, quite frankly.

38:47 All right, we good? All right, thank you all very much.

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