City Council meeting, January 21, 2026

When: Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
Status: Scheduled & Published
Body: full City Council
Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1156547113
Transcript: full text (24,350 words, automatic captions)

Meeting notes

AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.

At the January 21, 2026 City Council meeting, ten public commenters spoke, many on Alderperson Marty Quinn hemp regulation ordinance. The council honored LGBTQ activist Rick Garcia and adopted a resolution recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day, after which Holocaust survivor Yvonne Aronson addressed the body. Committee reports were approved, including a TIF agreement for 30 North LaSalle (47-0), a HUD Section 108 loan application for the Congress Theater, several police-related settlements (one, opposed by Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez, passed 31-16), an ordinance adding antisemitism to the city's Declaration of General Rights, and a resolution condemning violence and harassment based on political or religious beliefs, which drew debate. Alderperson Brian Hopkins held a substitute ordinance on dispersing disruptive youth gatherings after Alderpersons O'Shea and Nugent raised concerns. The council passed Alderperson Marty Quinn substitute hemp ordinance 32-16 and set the next meeting for February 18, 2026.

Topics: hemp regulation, Holocaust Remembrance Day, youth gatherings and curfew, police settlements, political violence resolution, TIF and Congress Theater, public comment

Agenda items discussed

24:49 Public comment period: discussed
55:58 Resolution memorializing LGBTQ activist Rick Garcia
1:02:12 Resolution commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day: passed
1:24:31 Communications from the mayor, including municipal depositories and Congress Theater agreements
1:29:07 TIF redevelopment agreement with 30 North LaSalle MF Redevelopment LLC (34th Ward): passed
1:32:22 Amended TIF agreement with Sinai Health System to convey property to Lawndale Children's Discovery Center: passed
1:33:36 HUD Section 108 loan application for rehabilitation of the Congress Theater: passed
1:34:02 Ordinance amending effective dates in the 2026 Municipal Code Revenue Ordinance alternative: passed
1:34:20 Resolution calling a public hearing on the Chicago Tourism Improvement District: passed
1:35:47 Settlement in Tim Anderson et al. v. David Brown et al. ($875,000): passed
1:43:14 Settlement in estate of Angel Alvarez Montesinos case ($22 million): passed
1:44:52 Aviation: fines for violations at Midway and O'Hare airports (O2025-0021682): passed
1:45:46 Budget: library board appointments and 2026 appropriation amendments for CVI funding: passed
1:48:58 Appointment of Fernando Diaz to the City Colleges board (A2025-0021675): passed
1:49:48 Housing and Real Estate: land sales including property for the Till-Mobley House Museum garden: passed
1:56:21 Substitute ordinance on dispersal of disruptive youth gatherings: held
2:06:54 Ordinance adding antisemitism to the Chicago Declaration of General Rights: passed
2:07:22 Resolution condemning violence, intimidation or harassment based on political or religious beliefs: passed
2:25:46 Transportation and Public Way: miscellaneous ordinances: passed
2:40:14 Substitute hemp regulation ordinance: passed
3:04:15 Ordinance setting next meeting for February 18, 2026: passed

Alderpersons who spoke

Lamont J. Robinson (alderperson): Honored Rick Garcia as an LGBTQ trailblazer on behalf of the LGBTQ Caucus and asked for continued support for the community. (56:17)
Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Described Rick Garcia's role in passing the 1988 human rights ordinance and the state human rights bill, and invited members to co-sponsor the resolution. (58:47)
Debra L. Silverstein (alderperson): Introduced the Holocaust Remembrance Day resolution, citing a 58% rise in antisemitic hate crimes in Chicago and recent attacks. (1:02:29); Supported the hemp ordinance, saying Alderperson Marty Quinn made the changes he promised after it passed committee. (2:45:45)
Maria E. Hadden (alderperson): Thanked Alderperson Debra L. Silverstein and connected Holocaust remembrance to current federal immigration enforcement and other forms of hatred. (1:07:34); Opposed the hemp ordinance, saying it falls short on safety goals and would harm responsible small hemp and CBD businesses, while commending Quinn's process. (2:46:38)
Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Supported the Holocaust resolution and said the city must do more to call out antisemitism. (1:11:28); Opposed the $875,000 settlement, saying few of the 21 plaintiffs filed reports or identified officers or injuries, and requested a roll call. (1:37:11); Supported the political violence resolution as written, saying it condemns assassinations and upholds free speech and religious liberty. (2:16:24)
Pat Dowell (alderperson): Presented the Finance Committee report, including the 30 North LaSalle TIF agreement, Congress Theater loan and settlements. (1:28:52); Recused herself from the Anderson settlement under Rule 14 because the plaintiff is a constituent she has interacted with. (1:36:08)
Matthew J. O'Shea (alderperson): Presented the Aviation Committee ordinance on fines for violations at Midway and O'Hare. (1:44:44); Said he was uncomfortable with the youth gatherings substitute introduced on short notice and asked how it would prevent another shooting downtown. (2:01:23); Asked whether apprehending youths and holding them until parents arrive would expose the city to unlawful detention lawsuits. (2:04:58)
Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Presented Budget Committee items, including library board appointments and an amendment moving CVI funding to the proper account. (1:45:47)
Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Presented the Economic, Capital and Technology Development report on appointments, SSA service providers and Class 6B incentives. (1:47:31)
Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Reported the appointment of Fernando Diaz to the City Colleges board. (1:49:03); Said the land sale to Blacks in Green would help honor Emmett Till's legacy in Woodlawn. (1:51:49)
Byron Sigcho-López (alderperson): Presented Housing and Real Estate land sales and encouraged public comment on the city's five-year homelessness plan. (1:49:48)
Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Supported the land sale to Blocks Together for green space in the 27th Ward. (1:53:15)
Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Explained the substitute replaces a time-and-site curfew with dispersal of disruptive youth gatherings, citing flexibility and fewer constitutional questions. (1:57:14); Said the substitute would allow advance declarations and protective custody of minors just as the curfew proposal would have. (2:03:09); Agreed to hold the substitute until the next meeting. (2:06:35)
Samantha Nugent (alderperson): Thanked Hopkins but asked for more time to review the substitute because it differed from the committee version. (2:06:09)
James M. Gardiner (alderperson): Described his resolution condemning violence and harassment based on political or religious beliefs, including recent assassinations. (2:07:53); Criticized protesters who entered a Minnesota church during services and asked colleagues to co-sponsor the resolution. (2:10:19); Clarified that the resolution does not condemn protest but says protests should not disrupt houses of worship during services. (2:22:15)
Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Reported 340 routine traffic items from the Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee. (1:55:45); Responded to the sponsor's remarks by referencing a biblical temple protest and saying he felt dissonance with the framing. (2:13:36); Opposed the hemp ordinance, saying responsible businesses selling edible products would be shut down while beverages are allowed. (2:56:12)
Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Asked the sponsor to clarify whether the resolution was meant to condemn protests against immigration enforcement, saying his remarks changed her understanding. (2:14:43)
Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Supported the resolution and described receiving a threatening message in 2020, saying intimidation of worshippers is unacceptable. (2:19:47); Said he initially opposed the hemp ordinance but now supported it, calling Quinn's process a blueprint for collaboration. (2:55:12)
Emma Mitts (alderperson): Honored West Side senior advocate Lillian Drummond, who died at about 104. (2:27:07); Urged colleagues to press Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act to protect senior funding. (2:29:24)
Marty Quinn (alderperson): Presented a compromise hemp ordinance that bans unregulated hemp products while allowing beverages, additives, topicals and pet products, with a 21-and-over age limit and an April 1, 2026 effective date. (2:40:51)
Anthony Beale (alderperson): Supported the hemp compromise as protecting children and commended Quinn for listening to all sides. (2:42:56)
William Conway (alderperson): Said he voted no in committee but now supported the hemp ordinance after Quinn adopted his requested changes on beverages, age limits, enforcement and timing. (2:44:21)
Anthony V. Napolitano (alderperson): Supported the hemp ordinance, noting it can be amended over time while protecting children. (2:50:27)
Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (alderperson): Opposed the hemp ordinance, arguing bans push products to the black market and calling for evidence-based policy. (2:52:19)
Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Supported the hemp ordinance, saying it narrows the focus to products like laced snacks sold in corner stores while exempting beverages and topicals. (2:53:38)

Exchanges between members

57:49 Robinson thanked Lawson for drafting the Rick Garcia resolution.
1:07:34 Hadden thanked Silverstein for bringing the Holocaust Remembrance Day resolution.
1:12:29 Lopez cited Silverstein's figure on the increase in antisemitic hate crimes.
1:51:40 Sigcho-López deferred to Taylor to speak on the Till-Mobley garden land sale.
1:53:04 Sigcho-López deferred to Burnett to speak on the Blocks Together land sale.
2:01:23 O'Shea questioned how Hopkins's substitute would prevent another downtown shooting.
2:03:09 Hopkins responded directly to O'Shea's question about what the substitute would do.
2:04:58 O'Shea asked whether apprehensions under the substitute would create litigation risk.
2:06:09 Nugent thanked Hopkins and asked him to allow more time to review the substitute.
2:06:35 Hopkins agreed to hold the substitute until the next meeting.
2:13:36 La Spata responded to Gardiner's remarks, saying he felt dissonance with the framing.
2:14:46 Manaa-Hoppenworth said she shared La Spata's confusion about the resolution.
2:15:52 Manaa-Hoppenworth asked Gardiner to clarify the intent of the resolution.
2:18:25 Lopez answered Manaa-Hoppenworth's question by reading the resolution at face value.
2:22:06 Sposato told Gardiner he agreed with him completely.
2:22:15 Gardiner clarified the resolution's intent in response to the request for clarification.
2:42:58 Beale congratulated Quinn on reaching the hemp compromise.
2:43:44 O'Shea thanked Quinn for his leadership on the hemp ordinance.
2:44:51 Conway thanked Quinn for adopting his requested changes.
2:45:47 Silverstein congratulated Quinn on revising the ordinance.

Roll-call votes at this meeting

Amendment of Municipal Code Chapters 4-4, 4-60 and 8-16 by adding new sections regarding cannabinoid hemp product definitions, regulations, health requirements and hemp product offenses involving minors and deletion of Section 4-4-333 in entirety (Vetoed) (SO2025-0021018): Passed 32 yea, 16 nay
Condemnation of acts of violence, intimidation or harassment targeting individuals on basis of political or religious beliefs (R2025-0019997): Adopted 50 yea, 0 nay
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (35.82) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of N Milwaukee Ave (O2025-0021699): Passed 50 yea, 0 nay
Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 6-10 by modifying Sections 6-10-010 and 6-10-020 to include antisemitism as discrimination in Chicago City Council declaration of general human rights (O2025-0019984): Passed 50 yea, 0 nay
Redevelopment agreement with 30 N LaSalle MF Redevelopment LLC to provide tax increment financing (TIF) assistance for 30 N LaSalle St (SO2025-0021691): Passed 50 yea, 0 nay
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (48.10) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of N Sheridan Rd (O2025-0021885): Passed 50 yea, 0 nay
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-022 (27.375) to allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portion(s) of S Morgan St (O2025-0021326): Passed 50 yea, 0 nay
First amendment to redevelopment agreement with Sinai Health System to provide tax increment financing (TIF) assistance for property at 3100-3158 W Ogden Ave and 3142 W 16th St (SO2025-0021656): Passed 50 yea, 0 nay
Amendment of Municipal Code Sections 10-36-351 and 10-36-355 thru 10-36-358 adding provisions regarding fines for violations occurring at airports (O2025-0021682): Passed 50 yea, 0 nay
Second amendment to right-of-entry use agreement with Columbia Yacht Club for renewed access to City-owned parking lot located under northbound lanes of S DuSable Lake Shore Drive, north of E Randolph St (O2025-0020518): Passed 50 yea, 0 nay
Support of Class 6(b) tax incentive for property at 10459 S Muskegon Ave (O2025-0020979): Passed 50 yea, 0 nay
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (14.261) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Kedzie Ave and W 49th Pl (O2025-0021707): Passed 50 yea, 0 nay
Support of Class 6(b) tax incentive for property at 1532 W Fulton St (O2025-0020980): Passed 50 yea, 0 nay
Call for fixed time and place for public hearing on formation of Chicago Tourism Improvement District (CTID) (SR2025-0021936): Adopted 50 yea, 0 nay
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (20.310) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of on W Garfield Blvd (O2025-0021772): Passed 50 yea, 0 nay