City Council meeting, November 9, 2023

When: Thu, Nov 9, 2023, 4:00 PM (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/showcase/6277394/video/882179175
Transcript: full text (16,398 words, official 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.

The City Council took up the Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave ordinance (SO2023-0002980) after a public comment period in which most speakers supported the ordinance and others raised concerns about migrant shelters and seating in City Hall. Ald. Brendan Reilly moved to substitute a version adding a 30-day cure period before private lawsuits; on Ald. Jason C. Ervin motion that the cure issue be handled in the Workforce Development Committee, the substitute motion was tabled by a vote read as 35 to 12. After extended debate in which supporters cited workers' need for time off and opponents cited costs to small businesses, the ordinance passed by a vote read as 36 to 12. New ordinances on cure periods for the paid leave law and on limiting city property used as migrant shelters were introduced and referred to committee, and the Council observed a moment of silence for a sergeant-at-arms staff member.

Topics: Paid leave ordinance, Right to cure, Small business impacts, Workers' rights, Migrant shelters, Public comment

Agenda items discussed

14:36 Motion to allow remote participation for eleven members: passed
19:26 Public comment period: discussed
50:34 New business introductions, including paid leave notice/cure amendments and a migrant shelter property policy
52:58 Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave ordinance (SO2023-0002980): passed
54:08 Motion to accept substitute adding a 30-day cure period (tabled) (SO2023-0002980): failed
2:08:32 Motion to allow additional members to participate remotely: passed
2:14:36 Ordinance setting date and time of next meeting: passed
2:15:25 Moment of silence for sergeant-at-arms staff member Sharon Munson

Alderpersons who spoke

Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Said he and the 42nd Ward alderman introduced ordinances on the private right of action that will go to the Workforce Committee, and thanked Ald. Michael D. Rodriguez. (51:50); Said the cure-period question raised by the 42nd Ward alderman belongs in committee and moved to table the substitute motion. (56:26); Thanked the 22nd Ward alderman and the Black Caucus, said the ordinance can help address poverty, and noted most of the lowest-income residents look like him. (1:39:37)
Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Described a childhood memory made possible by his mother's paid time off and said paid leave improves productivity and retention. (1:03:16); Listed compromises made with businesses, including reducing days from 15 to 5, exempting small employers from payout and delaying the private right of action. (1:05:16); Thanked Ald. Jason C. Ervin for working with him on the cure provision. (1:06:42)
Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Moved a substitute giving employers 30 days to cure alleged violations before private lawsuits, citing requests from businesses. (54:13); Agreed with Ald. Anthony Beale that businesses can only absorb so much, citing restaurant groups' plans to expand elsewhere. (1:19:50); Said he must vote no because a floor amendment on the cure period was not possible. (1:24:09)
Anthony Beale (alderperson): Opposed the ordinance while saying he supports workers, arguing the department had not studied its business impact. (1:08:36); Warned that rising property taxes from downtown vacancies plus new regulations would harm businesses. (1:11:10)
Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Supported the ordinance, describing his father's lack of paid time off and his wish for his daughter's future. (1:13:43); Said he supports Ald. Jason C. Ervin work on a right to cure and looks forward to voting on amended language. (1:16:07)
Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Opposed the ordinance, saying it would hurt businesses, especially in border wards, and that the cure period is too short. (1:16:59)
Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Supported the ordinance, saying workers lack time to contact officials and that paid time off also relates to public safety and parenting. (1:25:01); Said workers typically raise issues with employers before going to lawyers and that he had asked the Restaurant Association for data on lawsuits. (1:27:38)
Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Supported the ordinance, highlighting the exemption for businesses with 1 to 50 employees and a commitment to transparent rulemaking. (1:29:52); Said he looks forward to debating the cure period in committee between the 28th and 42nd Ward versions. (1:32:53)
Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (alderperson): Supported the ordinance, citing wage theft claims in Illinois and thanking labor and community groups for the compromise. (1:33:50)
Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Said she would vote yes, citing the small-business exemption and the year available to address the cure period, while acknowledging impacts on Chinatown businesses. (1:36:50)
Pat Dowell (alderperson): Weighed congregants' enthusiasm against small businesses' concerns about costs and said she would vote yes expecting modifications. (1:42:20)
Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (alderperson): As Workforce Committee vice chair, supported the ordinance, describing working while sick in a restaurant job as an immigrant. (1:45:15)
Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Opposed the ordinance, saying small businesses in his ward are still recovering from the pandemic and the state paid leave law. (1:49:39); Cited permitting delays and shoplifting costs as burdens and said he would have supported it with more time to work through issues. (1:56:08); Asked for a moment of silence for Sharon Munson of the sergeant-at-arms office. (2:15:25)
Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): As a small business owner, supported the ordinance and thanked the chair, Ald. Jason C. Ervin and Ald. Brendan Reilly for their work. (1:58:08)
David H. Moore (alderperson): Said small businesses in Englewood and Auburn Gresham did not have a clear seat at the table and that he could not support the ordinance without changes now. (2:02:19)

Exchanges between members

52:18 Ald. Jason C. Ervin thanked Ald. Michael D. Rodriguez for helping work through challenges on the ordinance.
56:26 Ald. Jason C. Ervin said Ald. Brendan Reilly point merited discussion but moved to table his substitute so it could go to committee.
1:06:42 Ald. Michael D. Rodriguez thanked Ald. Jason C. Ervin for working with him on a compromise on the cure provision.
1:14:18 Ald. Daniel La Spata contrasted his father's experience with Ald. Michael D. Rodriguez childhood memory.
1:16:10 Ald. Daniel La Spata said he was glad for Ald. Jason C. Ervin work on a right to cure.
1:19:50 Ald. Brendan Reilly said he agreed with Ald. Anthony Beale about burdens on businesses.
1:25:05 Ald. Andre Vasquez Jr. thanked Ald. Jason C. Ervin and Ald. Brendan Reilly for working in good faith.
1:29:02 Ald. Andre Vasquez Jr. thanked Ald. Michael D. Rodriguez for his work on the ordinance.
1:31:06 Ald. Gilbert Villegas said he spoke with Ald. Michael D. Rodriguez about including a business impact study.
1:34:09 Ald. Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez thanked Ald. Michael D. Rodriguez for his work.
1:39:37 Ald. Jason C. Ervin thanked the 22nd Ward alderman for working through differences.
1:40:22 Ald. Jason C. Ervin said Ald. Andre Vasquez Jr. was right about parents being at work.
1:44:12 Ald. Pat Dowell thanked Ald. Michael D. Rodriguez for his willingness to consider an amendment.
1:44:20 Ald. Pat Dowell thanked Ald. Brendan Reilly and Ald. Jason C. Ervin for proposing changes.
2:00:10 Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth thanked Ald. Jason C. Ervin and Ald. Brendan Reilly.
2:03:08 Ald. David H. Moore said he concurred with points made by Ald. Pat Dowell.

Roll-call votes at this meeting

Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 2, 4 and 6 by modifying various sections and adding new Chapter 6-130 entitled "Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance" (Final) (SO2023-0002980): Passed 36 yea, 12 nay, 1 absent