City Council meeting, May 31, 2023
- When: Wed, May 31, 2023, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Hall -- Council Chamber -- Chicago, Illinois
- Status: Scheduled
- Body: full City Council
- Transcript: full text (20,022 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 heard eleven public commenters, most speaking on a proposed $51 million appropriation for recently arrived migrants, with some supporting it and others calling for investment in Black communities and reparations; the meeting was briefly recessed to restore order. After extended debate, the council passed a substitute ordinance amending the 2023 appropriation to use settlement funds to support recently arrived migrants by a roll call of 34 to 13, and a motion to reconsider failed. An ordinance amending the 2023 appropriation regarding committee budgets was first deferred and published on a motion by Alderpersons Moore and Beale, who later withdrew that motion, and it then passed 43 to 3. The council also passed a License and Consumer Protection ordinance by voice vote, adopted the agreed calendar and journal, and set the next meeting for June 21, 2023.
Topics: Migrant funding, 2023 budget amendment, Black communities, Reparations, Federal and state responsibility, Public comment, Committee budgets, Council decorum
Agenda items discussed
- 28:01 Public comment
- 1:07:17 Substitute ordinance amending the 2023 annual appropriation ordinance regarding committee budgets (Committee on Budget and Government Operations); a deferral motion was later withdrawn: passed
- 1:08:39 Ordinance amending the Municipal Code to add a new article in chapter 10-28 (Committee on License and Consumer Protection): passed
- 1:10:29 Agreed calendar of 18 congratulatory and commemorative resolutions: passed
- 1:16:39 Approval of the journal of the May 15, 2023 meeting continued on May 24, 2023: passed
- 1:17:12 Substitute ordinance amending the 2023 annual appropriation ordinance to appropriate settlement funds to support recently arrived migrants ($51 million): passed
- 2:49:45 Ordinance setting the next regular meeting for June 21, 2023: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- David H. Moore (alderperson): Moved to defer and publish the committee budgets item, saying he had requested information that was not provided. (1:07:45); Said it hurt him to hear the issue framed as Black versus Brown and that residents of all backgrounds were asking what they receive. (1:19:18); Said he had not heard whether the new administration supports the ordinance, which originated under the previous administration. (1:20:05)
- Maria E. Hadden (alderperson): Spoke about her experience as a Black American and losing her home in the financial crisis, which led her to organizing. (1:25:21); Said she would support the funding because organizations have already borne the cost and migrants did not choose to be sent here. (1:31:33); Acknowledged public speakers' concerns and said anger in Black communities stems from decades of underinvestment. (1:32:25)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Thanked volunteers in his community who supplied migrants with food, blankets and medicine without reimbursement. (1:35:56); Said he looked forward to a budget that shows there is enough for everyone. (1:37:16)
- Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Said the city's strength comes from successive waves of immigrants and migrants. (1:38:11); Described community efforts in his ward providing meals, showers and housing to new arrivals. (1:39:41); Recalled a pregnant woman sleeping on a police station floor and urged the council to vote for the ordinance. (1:40:26)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Said the council must address generational disinvestment in Black communities, including justice, schools and parks. (1:41:37); Said the council must be pragmatic because police stations are overwhelmed, and urged pressing county, state and federal officials to contribute. (1:42:36); Said the council should return to a reparations ordinance that reflects what Black residents need. (1:43:38)
- Byron Sigcho-López (alderperson): Contrasted the $51 million with $2.3 billion approved for developers in 2019 and said divisions benefit financial interests. (1:45:30); Cited displacement of Black residents and called for working together to address historic injustices. (1:49:29); Said children should not starve wherever they are and urged acting with compassion and investing in every part of the city. (1:51:23)
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Said the previous administration did not fund a commission on reparations when the reparations subcommittee sought cannabis funds. (1:55:20); Said the federal government and Texas have not provided needed funds and called for ongoing revenue such as a higher local government distributive fund share and a real estate transaction tax. (1:56:38); Called for the council to speak with one voice to secure state and federal funding for refugees and Black communities. (1:57:39)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Said census counts of new arrivals bring federal dollars to the city, framing the spending as an investment. (1:59:12); Said the state and governor had not provided funding and asked the president to grant temporary protected status so arrivals can work. (1:59:59); Noted prior investment in the South and West sides and urged colleagues to pass the funding so the council can turn to public safety and jobs. (2:00:46)
- Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Thanked colleagues for deferring and publishing the item a week earlier, saying it allowed public discussion. (2:03:07); Described the immigration crisis as a long-standing failure of the federal government. (2:03:43); Said the city never laid out a public plan and asked where $112 million already spent had gone. (2:06:28)
- Anthony V. Napolitano (alderperson): Said the debate was conducted calmly and expressed concern that the funding only lasts until July. (2:17:30); Said responsibility should fall on the federal and state governments and that the city did not prepare as a sanctuary city. (2:18:21); Said new revenue streams would mean more taxes and that he would vote no on behalf of his constituents. (2:20:26)
- Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Said he would support the funding if it covered all homeless residents, not only one group. (2:22:29); Said his community learned of a respite center at Wright College without notice but residents stepped up to help. (2:23:05); Said the city did nothing to prepare as a sanctuary city and that he would vote no. (2:24:35)
- Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (alderperson): Introduced herself as the first woman and first Latina to represent the 14th Ward, speaking for the first time. (2:25:41); Urged colleagues to stop pointing fingers and work with county, state and federal officials. (2:28:14); Said she would vote yes and urged a plan developed with mutual respect. (2:29:28)
- Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Said crises in other communities draw urgent action while violence in Black communities does not. (2:31:33); Said she was conflicted but that helping others is what Black people do, and asked who will help Black communities. (2:33:11); Said the federal government is responsible for the situation. (2:33:53)
- Jason C. Ervin (alderperson)
Exchanges between members
- 1:25:15 Hadden thanked Moore for his comments and said she echoed his point about listening to everyone.
- 1:31:45 Hadden said Moore was right that community organizations had already borne the cost.
- 1:35:56 La Spata responded to Moore's remark that it takes a village by pointing to volunteers who have supported new arrivals.
- 1:39:05 Rodriguez agreed with La Spata about returning in five months to fund investments for everyone.
- 2:39:25 Ervin said Taylor had summed up the issue before moving passage.
Legislation on the agenda
Documents
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