City Council meeting, April 7, 2025

When: Mon, Apr 7, 2025, 10:30 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/1071895239
Transcript: full text (13,168 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 April 7, 2025 special City Council meeting was called to consider the appointment of a new 35th Ward alderperson to replace Carlos Ramírez-Rosa, who resigned, and a related resolution updating committee memberships. Six public commenters spoke, most of them on the appointment. Debate centered on Cook County Commissioner Anthony Quezada's qualifications and on a social media post containing a racial slur that he wrote as a high school student and later apologized for. Several alderpersons spoke in support, while Alderpersons Moore, Gardiner and Silverstein said they would vote no for reasons they explained. The appointment passed 32-11, Quezada was sworn in and addressed the council, and the resolution adding him to standing committees and adding Alderperson Anthony Beale to the Budget Committee was adopted.

Topics: 35th Ward appointment, Committee membership, Racial slur and apology, Public comment, Remote participation

Agenda items discussed

1:31:15 Approval of remote participation for Alderperson Walter R. Burnett: passed
1:13:34 Public comment period: discussed
1:32:28 Appointment of Anthony Quezada as Alderperson of the 35th Ward: passed
2:38:43 Substitute resolution amending standing committee membership to include the new 35th Ward alderperson and add Alderperson Anthony Beale to the Budget Committee: passed

Alderpersons who spoke

Michelle A. Harris (alderperson): Said the council was in pain after the debate and that the appointee had broad support from organizations across his ward through the selection process. (2:22:31); Presented the resolution adding the new alderperson to standing committees and adding Alderperson Anthony Beale to the Budget Committee. (2:38:43); Confirmed she was asking members to submit requests for reorganizing committee assignments. (2:39:52)
Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Supported the appointment, citing nearly 10 years of knowing the appointee and his empathy and integrity. (1:53:08); Spoke about the difference between intent and impact and said the appointee had grown since the post. (1:53:46)
Lamont J. Robinson (alderperson): Said vouching from colleagues and the Cook County Board President carried weight with him. (2:18:06); Called the situation a teachable moment for young people about what they post. (2:20:07); Asked the appointee to help the council move Black and brown communities forward together, and offered congratulations. (2:21:16)
Julia M. Ramirez (alderperson): Supported the appointment, describing the appointee's accomplishments and the fresh perspective she expected him to bring. (1:35:52)
David H. Moore (alderperson): Said a departing alderperson should have a voice in choosing a successor but that this situation was different. (1:38:26); Said his concern was less the original post than the wording of the apology, which he felt expressed regret rather than being sorry. (1:39:40); Encouraged the appointee to treat his opposition as a growth opportunity and said he could not support the appointment. (1:44:13)
Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Played an audio clip to illustrate the power of the slur and described being called it by a coworker. (1:49:37); Said she did not agree with what was written but that he was a teenager and it did not mean he would vote against her community's interests. (1:50:36); Said it is not acceptable for non-Black people to use the word and that his work would show whether he meant the apology. (1:51:49)
Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Supported the appointment, citing the appointee's ward office experience, work as county commissioner and ability to convene people across ideologies. (1:32:54)
Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Said he was forgiven for a mistake as a teenager and accepted the appointee's apology. (1:45:40); Said county commissioners and officials from across Cook County called in support of the appointee, and supported the appointment. (1:47:14)
Ruth Cruz (alderperson): Supported the appointment, describing the appointee as a responsive county commissioner who listens even when they disagree. (1:54:52)
Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Said serving with the appointee on a countywide committee showed his work ethic and commitment to working-class people, and supported the appointment. (1:58:30)
Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Supported the appointment, citing the appointee's growth and ward office experience in delivering services. (2:00:08); Encouraged the new member to engage colleagues who may not agree ahead of difficult budget votes. (2:01:08)
Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Said the choice belonged to the mayor and supported it regardless of what others said for or against the appointee. (2:02:13); Said he opposed the committee resolution in committee because of the heavy committee load on the appointee but would vote yes given a commitment to reorganize committees. (2:39:27)
Angela Clay (alderperson): Described the appointment as a meaningful moment for young people and for 35th Ward organizers. (2:02:56); Said the word carries deep trauma in the Black community and called the situation a teachable moment. (2:04:12); Asked the appointee to work to unite Black and brown communities around shared needs, and stated her support. (2:05:52)
James M. Gardiner (alderperson): Thanked the former alderperson, said he believed the appointee's regret was sincere, but stated he would vote against the appointment. (2:08:39); Questioned whether the council would show the same forgiveness to someone with his background and moderate views, and whether colleagues would seek to censure him for similar words. (2:09:22); Described protests and allegations directed at him and his family over the past five years. (2:10:48)
Emma Mitts (alderperson): Supported the appointee, noting he had called her and that they had worked together in the part of her ward in his county district. (2:12:27); Said putting such a word in writing was a serious matter and urged him to treat people the way he wants to be treated. (2:15:00)
Debra L. Silverstein (alderperson): Said the mainstream Jewish community feels alienated and that she would vote no, citing the appointee's attendance at events she described as anti-Israel and antisemitic. (2:16:35)
Anthony J. Quezada (alderperson): Thanked the 35th Ward selection committee, residents, other applicants and former Alderperson Carlos Ramírez-Rosa. (2:31:02); Described his experience as a community organizer, ward neighborhood services director, committeeperson and Cook County commissioner. (2:33:03); Said he would support community-driven zoning, affordable housing, property tax relief, public transit and data-driven public safety strategies. (2:35:22)

Exchanges between members

1:54:07 Alderperson Daniel La Spata referenced Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor remarks in saying the appointee had grown since the post.
2:05:42 Alderperson Angela Clay cited Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor point that it is not what you are called but what you answer to.
2:10:29 Alderperson James M. Gardiner agreed with Alderperson Angela Clay that it was a teachable moment, applying it to how the council treats everyone.
2:20:07 Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson said he agreed with Alderperson Angela Clay that this was a teachable moment.
2:20:26 Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson referenced Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor point about growing up without social media.
2:39:27 Alderperson Nicholas Sposato asked Chairwoman Michelle A. Harris to confirm a commitment to reorganize committee assignments.
2:39:52 Chairwoman Michelle A. Harris confirmed she was asking members to submit committee requests.
2:31:02 Alderperson Anthony J. Quezada thanked Chairwoman Michelle A. Harris for her work on the selection process.

Roll-call votes at this meeting

Standing Committee member name changes (SR2025-0016380): Adopted 32 yea, 11 nay, 4 absent
Appointment of Alderperson Anthony Quezada (35th Ward) (A2025-0016379): Approved 32 yea, 11 nay, 4 absent