# Byron Sigcho-López, Pilsen's alderman, votes no on the parking meter sale and loses the CHA fight from the Housing chair

*A profile of Ald. Byron Sigcho-López (25th Ward): one of three no votes on the $2.53 billion parking meter sale, and a Housing chair whose CHA nominees failed 16–30.*

By Chicago Politics · Updated Oct 16, 2026

On Sept. 29 the Chicago City Council voted 46 to 3 to let Stonepeak Partners buy the remaining 57 years of the City's parking meter lease for $2.53 billion, [SO2026-0025407](/matter/SO2026-0025407-authorization-approve-ownership-transfer-chicago-parking). Ald. Byron Sigcho-López (25th Ward) was one of the three. He did not argue about the Sept. 30 deadline or the lawyers. He argued about who gets rich.

> "So when we talk about the deal of the century, for whom and at what expense?"
> — Ald. Byron Sigcho-López (25th Ward), City Council, Sept. 29, 2026

He put Chicago Parking Meters' gain at $3.5 billion and Stonepeak's at $4.6 billion against the City's $75 million up front, and said the companies "are taking advantage of the dysfunctionality of this council." Two weeks later the dysfunction reached his own committee. As chair of Housing and Real Estate he carried Mayor Brandon Johnson's two Chicago Housing Authority nominees back to the floor on Oct. 14, after Ald. Anthony Beale (9th Ward) had deferred them on Sept. 23. Ramona Westbrook's appointment failed 16 to 30, John Bartlett's on the same roll call, and a third nominee, Mary Gardner, [SA2026-0029001](/matter/SA2026-0029001-appointment-mary-gardner-commissioner-chicago-housing), was deferred before anyone could speak to it. The two moments are the same alderman: a numbers-first attack on a deal nearly everyone else took, and a chair who keeps bringing back nominations the majority keeps refusing. His page is at [/ward/25](/ward/25).

Video: [Ald. Byron Sigcho-López opposes the parking meter sale](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/E9154AB7-96B7-F111-AAAC-001DD803894A?t=1:20:12-1:21:52)

How each ward voted: [SO2026-0025407](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/SO2026-0025407-authorization-approve-ownership-transfer-chicago-parking)

Chart: How the Council voted on the parking meter sale, Sept. 29 (rollCalls; groupBy=vote&measure=count&filter=matter:is:SO2026-0025407)

## He argues from the other side's balance sheet

Sigcho-López's floor style is to name a dollar figure, then an accusation. On the meters he said the companies would write off interest and depreciation so the City's 5 percent profit share would shrink, that colleagues who voted for the 2008 lease would not sign it again, and that the companies "who donate to the same council members" would gain billions.

> "It is incredible that we did not allow an independent financial analysis."
> — Ald. Byron Sigcho-López (25th Ward), City Council, Sept. 29, 2026

He does the same arithmetic on the police. At the Committee on Finance on Sept. 14, on another settlement tied to former detective Reynaldo Guevara, he asked how many cases were left and whether a 2015 report on them could be released; the Law Department said it was privileged.

> "this alone has been almost $160 million on one disgraced detective."
> — Ald. Byron Sigcho-López (25th Ward), Committee on Finance, Sept. 14, 2026

He asked for a running total "so the people of Chicago can understand what police misconduct does to our city." The register changes when the subject is his community. On Sept. 23, speaking for the Latine Heritage Month resolution, he said Silverio Villegas González "was assassinated and killed with cold blood by ICE mercenaries," then turned to the students in the gallery.

> "do never, ever be ashamed of where you come from. Our ancestors have been here for thousands of years. We're not foreigners in this land."
> — Ald. Byron Sigcho-López (25th Ward), City Council, Sept. 23, 2026

## The Mayor's Housing chair, with a record that mostly follows the Mayor

In our record of this term he has voted on 92 divided roll calls: 78 yes, 13 no and one not voting. On the 49 divided items the Mayor sponsored he voted yes 46 times. The three exceptions were the [police contract](/matter/O2023-0006332-amended-collective-bargaining-agreement-chicago-john) in December 2023 (42–7) and two Roosevelt/Clark TIF ordinances in July 2026. His other no votes went against the Council's majority, not the Mayor: both ShotSpotter measures in 2024, the [curfew ordinance](/matter/SO2025-0016732-regarding-declaration-curfew-mass-gatherings-custody) (27–22), the hemp ban, the 30-vote debt rule, and the Council's own [2026 revenue ordinance](/matter/SO2025-0021719-titles-1-3-4-7-8), which passed 29 to 19 and which [ABC7 reported](https://abc7chicago.com/post/city-chicago-budget-vote-rare-saturday-council-meeting-held-mayor-brandon-johnson-pushes-head-tax/18302580/) he called "the billionaire budget."

The committee is where the Mayor's agenda has stalled. On Sept. 16 it approved the Mayor's Protecting Renters Ordinance 12 to 9 after the relocation-payment requirement was dropped, [the Sun-Times reported](https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/09/16/brandon-johnson-renters-protection-ordinance-aldermen-dueling-proposals-chicago-city-council-housing-committe), and Sigcho-López said Zoning chair Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward) was "overstepping" by moving a rival ordinance through his own committee. A week later he deferred his own bill.

> "I have talked with Alderman Villegas, and we have both agreed that both pro and fair, they need more time so that we can reach an agreement."
> — Ald. Byron Sigcho-López (25th Ward), City Council, Sept. 23, 2026

Ald. Jason Ervin (28th Ward) asked for a joint committee instead; the parliamentarian said only one item could be re-referred at a time, and both were deferred. Villegas told [the Tribune](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/dueling-tenants-rights-proposals-stall-212700475.html) that "The ball's in the mayor's court."

The CHA fight has the same shape. In July the committee's tie vote blocked three nominees the Mayor had introduced directly; Sigcho-López called it "obstruction" and said "What is unusual and shameful is to continuously block appointments," [according to the Sun-Times](https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/07/14/city-council-blocks-mayor-brandon-johnson-proposed-cha-board-takeover). On Sept. 23, Beale said the nominees would not promise to keep CEO Keith Pettigrew, and [the Tribune reported](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/dueling-tenants-rights-proposals-stall-212700475.html) that Sigcho-López accused him of "playing games" and Beale answered, "I know you don't want to go there with me."


Chart: What Ald. Sigcho-López has filed this term, by category (sponsorships; groupBy=category&measure=count&filter=sponsor:is:Sigcho-Lopez, Byron)
## A flag, a governor and an explosion

The biggest fight of his second term was over a flag he says he never saw. On March 22, 2024, he spoke at a ceasefire rally outside City Hall where a protester had burned an American flag; his office said "at no point was his attention drawn to the flag, nor did he endorse or support such actions," and Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward) called him "anti-American and divisive as can be," [Block Club reported](https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/03/26/pilsen-alderman-draws-backlash-after-speaking-at-rally-where-protester-burned-american-flag/). Illinois Veterans For Change asked anyone burning the flag "to appreciate how hurtful, discriminatory, and divisive this action is to veterans," in the same article. On April 1 a motion to strip his chairmanship failed 16 to 29; he told colleagues "My colleagues need a lesson in First Amendment rights," [WTTW reported](https://news.wttw.com/2024/04/01/city-council-votes-16-29-reject-effort-punish-sigcho-lopez-speaking-protest-where), and said that if his actions had offended veterans, "I take full accountability," [per Block Club](https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/04/01/pilsen-alderman-keeps-committee-chair-position-after-vote-to-oust-him-fails/). Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th Ward), who led the effort, voted against it after the two spoke.

He has twice gone after Gov. JB Pritzker. On Nov. 11, 2025, he confronted the governor at a Little Village Veterans Day event over the corporate head tax, and Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22nd Ward) shouted "Get out of my ward," [CBS Chicago reported](https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/alderman-byron-sigcho-lopez-governor-jb-pritzker-little-village-argument-taxes/). In August 2026, after he told a Board of Education meeting "We're gonna find you, governor," Pritzker's office called it "threatening language" and Sigcho-López called the response "insulting and racist," [according to Block Club](https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/05/pilsen-alderman-byron-sigcho-lopez-doubles-down-on-feud-with-gov-jb-pritzker/). In June an explosion shattered a window of his Pilsen home; he called it "an act of political violence," police investigated it as suspected fireworks, and Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th Ward) said "People blowing off fireworks is not an act of political violence," [ABC7 reported](https://abc7chicago.com/post/alderman-sigcho-lopez-believes-explosion-outside-pilsen-chicago-home-was-act-political-violence/19305368/).

## A run for Congress that ended on signatures

He lost to Ald. Danny Solis in 2015 and won the seat in a 2019 runoff, [according to Block Club](https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/19/byron-sigcho-lopez-launches-reelection-campaign-for-alderman/). Born in Ecuador and in the United States since 17, a former director of Pilsen Alliance, he announced on Jan. 28 that he would run for Congress as an independent, [Block Club reported](https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/28/pilsen-alderman-byron-sigcho-lopez-announces-run-for-congress/). "I do not build coalition with politicians," he said. On July 21 the State Board of Elections removed him from the ballot, 1,222 valid signatures short of the 10,816 independents need; he said "democracy died at the hands of Patty and Chuy García," and García's campaign said the board's role "is to ensure that we prevent any fraud," [the Sun-Times reported](https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/07/21/byron-sigcho-lopez-mayra-macias-chuy-garcia-congressional-seat-independent-candidates-ballot-removal). On Aug. 18 he launched a reelection campaign against five challengers, having beaten Aida Flores about 52 to 47 in 2023, [according to Block Club](https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/19/byron-sigcho-lopez-launches-reelection-campaign-for-alderman/).

## What to watch

- **Renters' ordinances.** Both bills are deferred; Villegas told the Tribune he would not call his for two meetings. The next regular Council meetings are Dec. 8 and 9.
- **Mary Gardner's CHA appointment** was deferred on Oct. 14 and comes back next meeting.
- **His own items:** [R2026-0028799](/matter/R2026-0028799-call-illinois-governor-j-b-pritzker), asking the governor to use eminent domain to keep the Joslin plant open, in Workforce Development since Sept. 23; [R2026-0024891](/matter/R2026-0024891-call-u-s-department-homeland-security) on Salah Sarsour, recommended by Health and Human Relations in May and not yet called.
- **Pilsen's TIF.** At Finance on Sept. 22 he said the 434 affordable units at 18th and Peoria "will remain a top priority for our community," and that the Rudy Lozano Library expansion sits outside the TIF and needs other money.
- **Feb. 23, 2027.** Five challengers have filed.


## Legislation in this story

- [Authorization to approve ownership transfer of Chicago Parking Meters LLC membership interests to Stonepeak Partners LP pursuant to Amended Chicago Metered Parking System Concession Agreement](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/SO2026-0025407-authorization-approve-ownership-transfer-chicago-parking) (SO2026-0025407)

## Sources

1. City Clerk: [SO2026-0025407: Authorization to approve ownership transfer of Chicago Parking Meters LLC membership interests to Stonepeak Partners LP pursuant to Amended Chicago Metered Parking System Concession Agreement](https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=BEA1E2DD-5A54-F111-BEC6-001DD80B0E39)
2. City Clerk: [SO2026-0025407, Miscellaneous: O2026-0025407 Mayoral Letter.pdf](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/matterattachmentspublic/27bf05b6-f983-410f-9f87-45acd4bd4ebb.pdf)
3. City Clerk: [SO2026-0025407, Exhibits: SO2026-0025407 Ex B-2 Reaffirmation Certificate - Stonepeak.pdf](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/matterattachmentspublic/30a9db07-6d5f-43ea-a6e2-a9c1952574aa.pdf)
4. City Clerk: [SO2026-0025407, Committee Letter: SO2026-0025407 C.L..pdf](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/matterattachmentspublic/41e15342-691c-418e-bb61-38e7900e8655.pdf)
5. City Clerk: [SO2026-0025407, Exhibits: SO2026-0025407 Ex A 3rd Amendment to Concession Agreement.pdf](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/matterattachmentspublic/4ca0f616-37b1-49fc-85e3-605dd979d410.pdf)
6. City of Chicago: [City Council, Sep 29, 2026: meeting video](https://vimeo.com/1230273462)
7. City Clerk: [City Council, Sep 29, 2026: Agenda](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachmentspublic/ebd1cf9a-4a01-4c85-913d-81a37bda644c.pdf)
8. City Clerk: [City Council, Sep 29, 2026: Notice](https://occprodstoragev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachmentspublic/fafaea1d-99b7-f111-aaac-001dd80fda55.pdf)
9. ABC7: [ABC7 reported](https://abc7chicago.com/post/city-chicago-budget-vote-rare-saturday-council-meeting-held-mayor-brandon-johnson-pushes-head-tax/18302580/)
10. Chicago Sun-Times: [the Sun-Times reported](https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/09/16/brandon-johnson-renters-protection-ordinance-aldermen-dueling-proposals-chicago-city-council-housing-committe)
11. yahoo.com: [the Tribune](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/dueling-tenants-rights-proposals-stall-212700475.html)
12. Chicago Sun-Times: [according to the Sun-Times](https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/07/14/city-council-blocks-mayor-brandon-johnson-proposed-cha-board-takeover)
13. Block Club Chicago: [Block Club reported](https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/03/26/pilsen-alderman-draws-backlash-after-speaking-at-rally-where-protester-burned-american-flag/)
14. WTTW: [WTTW reported](https://news.wttw.com/2024/04/01/city-council-votes-16-29-reject-effort-punish-sigcho-lopez-speaking-protest-where)
15. Block Club Chicago: [per Block Club](https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/04/01/pilsen-alderman-keeps-committee-chair-position-after-vote-to-oust-him-fails/)
16. CBS News: [CBS Chicago reported](https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/alderman-byron-sigcho-lopez-governor-jb-pritzker-little-village-argument-taxes/)
17. Block Club Chicago: [according to Block Club](https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/05/pilsen-alderman-byron-sigcho-lopez-doubles-down-on-feud-with-gov-jb-pritzker/)
18. ABC7: [ABC7 reported](https://abc7chicago.com/post/alderman-sigcho-lopez-believes-explosion-outside-pilsen-chicago-home-was-act-political-violence/19305368/)
19. Block Club Chicago: [according to Block Club](https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/19/byron-sigcho-lopez-launches-reelection-campaign-for-alderman/)
20. Block Club Chicago: [Block Club reported](https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/28/pilsen-alderman-byron-sigcho-lopez-announces-run-for-congress/)
21. Chicago Sun-Times: [the Sun-Times reported](https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/07/21/byron-sigcho-lopez-mayra-macias-chuy-garcia-congressional-seat-independent-candidates-ballot-removal)
22. Chicago Politics: [SO2026-0025407: votes, timeline and summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/SO2026-0025407-authorization-approve-ownership-transfer-chicago-parking)
23. Chicago Politics: [City Council, Sep 29, 2026: transcript](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1230273462.txt)
24. City of Chicago: [Neighborhood and community area boundaries (Chicago Data Portal)](https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/y6yq-dbs2)

On the map: [Pilsen](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/on-my-block/neighborhoods/pilsen), [Little Village](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/on-my-block/neighborhoods/little-village), [Little Italy, UIC](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/on-my-block/neighborhoods/little-italy-uic), [25th Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/25)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/on-my-block/profile-byron-sigcho-lopez-25th-ward · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt