# Joint Committee: Health and Human Relations; Public Safety meeting, June 27, 2024

- When: Thu, Jun 27, 2024, 10:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928494/video/968132472
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/968132472.txt) (18,484 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.

A joint meeting of the Committees on Health and Human Relations and Public Safety held a subject-matter hearing, with no vote, on the Chicago Commission on Human Relations' first annual report on hate crimes and hate incidents required under the 2023 amendments to the hate crimes ordinance. Public commenters spoke about antisemitism and anti-Zionism, the war in Gaza, anti-Asian and anti-Black hate, violence, extreme heat response and HIV funding, with some criticizing and others defending the committee chair. The commissioner reported rising hate crimes in Chicago, 114 hate incident reports through 311 of which 17 were deemed bona fide, a pending federally funded community reporting pilot, and recommendations including passing a hate littering ordinance, reviewing police civil rights unit staffing, connecting some 311 reporters to mental health services and youth education. Members asked about how incidents are classified, graffiti reporting, promotion and funding, intersectional and incarcerated victims' data, staffing levels and the proposed hate littering ordinance, which will have its own hearing on July 12.

Topics: hate crimes, hate incidents, antisemitism, Commission on Human Relations, hate littering ordinance, graffiti removal, staffing and budget, data collection, mental health referrals, youth education

### Agenda items discussed

- [1:12:42](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=4362) Subject matter hearing on the Commission on Human Relations annual hate crimes and hate incidents report: discussed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/33) (chair): Opened the joint meeting to hear the commission's annual hate crimes and hate incident report. ([24:26](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=1466)); Said the moment requires deep and thoughtful discussion of hate. ([1:14:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=4440)); Said funding for government structures of care has declined and asked what the commission does to educate adults and prevent hate. ([2:19:11](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=8351))
- [Brian Hopkins](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/2) (chair): Praised the report as setting a high standard for future annual reports. ([1:26:25](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=5185)); Reminded members that budget town halls have been announced and now is the time to advocate for budget priorities. ([2:12:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=7950)); Stressed continued public education on the difference between hate crimes and hate incidents and asked about a 'non-criminal hate crimes' category in the report. ([2:25:19](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=8719))
- [Debra L. Silverstein](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/50) (alderperson): Described the ordinance she sponsored, which allows hate incidents to be reported through 311 and defines non-criminal hate incidents. ([1:27:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=5253)); Said West Ridge in her ward had the most reported hate crimes of any community area and described antisemitic incidents there. ([1:29:41](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=5381)); Called on city leadership to take a clear stand to protect Jewish residents and described a letter urging CPS to protect Jewish students and staff. ([1:31:11](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=5471))
- [Jessica L. Fuentes](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/26) (alderperson): Asked whether hate crime data is analyzed by intersecting identities such as Black trans women. ([1:43:19](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=6199)); Asked whether the data includes hate crimes reported by incarcerated people. ([1:47:34](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=6454)); Asked whether the commission works with other agencies on cases where sexual harassment and hate overlap. ([1:48:34](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=6514))
- [Timothy R. Knudsen](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/43) (alderperson): Described his stop hate littering ordinance, prompted by antisemitic flyers left with a pellet substance on about 80 vehicles in his ward, which would allow fines for such leafleting. ([1:51:01](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=6661)); Asked why the commission endorsed the hate littering ordinance in its report. ([1:53:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=6834)); Said the ordinance language is being narrowly tailored and content neutral and will be heard on July 12. ([1:56:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=6993))
- [Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/48) (alderperson): Thanked the commission and Streets and Sanitation for rapid response and graffiti removal in her ward. ([1:57:28](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=7048)); Asked the commission to expand on its recommendation to connect some 311 reporters to the mental health system. ([1:58:44](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=7124)); Described repeated vandalism against a business displaying inclusive and Palestinian flags and urged connecting people to services. ([2:01:58](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=7318))
- [Nicole T. Lee](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/11) (alderperson): Asked the commission to share its marketing materials, including in Chinese, so offices can help spread the word. ([2:04:38](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=7478)); Asked whether the commission and partner departments are sufficiently staffed for the expected workload. ([2:05:35](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=7535)); Said she would lead advocacy for additional staff, including more people working with the city's sole hate crime victim advocate. ([2:11:07](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=7867))
- [Carlos Ramírez-Rosa](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/former/ramirez-rosa) (alderperson): Welcomed the report's concrete legislative recommendation and asked whether the hate littering ordinance could address flyers on light poles with hidden blades. ([2:15:46](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=8146))

### Exchanges between members

- [1:43:06](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=6186) Hopkins thanked Silverstein for her questions and leadership on the issue.
- [1:43:19](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=6199) Fuentes thanked Hopkins before asking her questions.
- [1:57:11](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=7031) Knudsen thanked Rodríguez Sánchez and Hopkins as he previewed the July 12 hearing.
- [1:58:23](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=7103) Manaa-Hoppenworth echoed Knudsen on addressing hate at a broader level.
- [2:02:31](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=7351) Manaa-Hoppenworth built on Silverstein's point about promoting the ordinance.
- [2:03:35](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=7415) Hopkins recognized Lee, a non-member, and said her presence was appreciated.
- [2:03:51](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=7431) Lee thanked Hopkins and Rodríguez Sánchez for holding the hearing.
- [2:12:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=7950) Hopkins called Lee's remarks on budget advocacy timely.
- [2:15:46](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=8146) Ramírez-Rosa asked Knudsen whether the ordinance could cover hateful flyers hiding blades on light poles.
- [2:17:40](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=8260) Knudsen thanked Ramírez-Rosa and offered to look into adding a subsection.
- [2:19:04](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643?t=8344) Hopkins yielded to Rodríguez Sánchez for her closing question.

## Documents

- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/8f837ffb-17c2-465a-a146-7fc87f811953.pdf)
- [Other](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/96670cf6-51a7-47d9-815c-63687d96485f.pdf)
- [Other](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/e38cdf07-8996-4db7-82e3-93c4cfaa6aab.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/1c596107-7c57-49cf-abbd-4d7e0286eb7b.pdf)
- [Other](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/1197ffc9-cdd5-4137-ba52-7ad8396a59cd.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E3E095D3-8B2A-EF11-840A-001DD804F643 · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt