City Council meeting, May 7, 2025

When: Wed, May 7, 2025, 12:00 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/manage/videos/1081570064
Transcript: full text (7,063 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.

The May 7, 2025 City Council meeting began with approval of remote participation for five members and a public comment period in which six speakers addressed a proposed rideshare driver pay and safety ordinance and criticized the mayor and city policies. The council held a moment of silence for Lori Healy, former chief of staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley, and received communications including the mayor's appointments of a new Aviation Commissioner and a new executive director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications. The only committee report came from the joint Committee on Finance and Housing and Real Estate, which recommended a substitute ordinance establishing a nonprofit residential investment corporation to finance, acquire and operate permanently affordable, mixed-income housing. Alderperson Anthony Beale spoke against the ordinance, citing the projected deficit and existing housing agencies, and it passed 30-18. The council also approved the agreed calendar and an ordinance setting the next meeting for May 21, 2025.

Topics: Affordable housing, Residential investment corporation, Rideshare driver ordinance, City budget deficit, Public comment, Appointments

Agenda items discussed

38:24 Approval of remote participation under Rule 59: passed
41:52 Public comment period: discussed
1:01:11 Moment of silence in memory of Lori Healy
1:02:02 Communications, including appointments of the Aviation Commissioner and OEMC executive director
1:04:17 Joint Finance and Housing committee: second substitute ordinance establishing a nonprofit residential investment corporation for affordable housing (SO2025-0015560): passed
1:15:12 Agreed calendar: passed
1:16:07 New business introductions
1:21:26 Ordinance setting the next meeting for May 21, 2025: passed

Alderpersons who spoke

Byron Sigcho-López (alderperson): Reported the joint committee's recommendation of an ordinance creating a nonprofit residential investment corporation for permanently affordable, mixed-income and sustainable housing, and requested a roll call. (1:04:17); Thanked Chairwoman Pat Dowell, colleagues and the Department of Housing, saying the city faces a housing crisis that demands urgency. (1:14:36)
Anthony Beale (alderperson): Opposed the ordinance, saying the federal government did not create the city's problems and should not be used as a reason for urgency. (1:05:35); Said creating positions paying over $100,000 was not sensible with a projected deficit of at least $1.3 billion this fall. (1:06:14); Said the Department of Housing and CHA already exist for this purpose and suggested partnering with CHA to rehab vacant units. (1:07:18)
Pat Dowell (alderperson): Presented the agreed calendar of 147 commemorative and congratulatory resolutions. (1:15:18)

Exchanges between members

1:14:36 Alderperson Byron Sigcho-López thanked Chairwoman Pat Dowell for collaboration on the housing ordinance.

Roll-call votes at this meeting

Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 2-44 by adding new Section 2-44-170 establishing not-for-profit residential investment corporation with the City's participation in the financing structure, acquisition, ownership, and on-going operations of affordable, mixed-income, environmentally sustainable housing (SO2025-0015560): Passed 30 yea, 18 nay, 2 absent