Stephanie D. Coleman

Stephanie D. Coleman is the alderperson for Chicago's 16th Ward.

Contact

Email: Ward16@cityofchicago.org
Ward office: 1137 West 63rd Street, Unit C, Chicago 60621, (773) 306-1981
City Hall: 121 North LaSalle Street, Room 300, (312) 744-6850 / 6854
Website: https://www.16thward.org
Updates: RSS feed of votes and legislation

Voting record this term

Attendance: 100% of 1137 key roll calls (0 absent)
Nay votes: 7
Voted with the majority on 97.7% of 86 divided votes
Legislation filed as lead sponsor: 40 (29 passed)
Most-filed topics: Municipal Code Amendments (15), Streets (8), Alley (8), Committee/Public Hearings (7), Budget & Appropriations (2)

Committees

AI profile

AI-written synthesis from this member's votes, legislation, and words in 78 meetings. Each claim cites its source; estimates, not statements of intent.

Stephanie D. Coleman of Ward 16 has a perfect attendance record and has cast 97.7% majority votes in the 2026 session, including seven nay votes V6 V10 V25 V6 V10 V25 V6. She has supported a wide range of tax-increment financing (TIF) agreements for development projects and historic memorials V1 V3 V5 V12 V38. Coleman has filed 40 pieces of legislation, ranging from honorary street designations to amendments allowing additional package-goods licenses L1 L8 L13. Her committee assignments span aviation, education, contracting oversight, licensing, special events, and workforce development, positioning her on diverse policy areas.

Priorities

Tax Increment Financing: Coleman consistently backs TIF agreements for development and park improvements, voting yes on multiple redevelopment and intergovernmental agreements throughout 2026 V1 V3 V5 V16 V17 V19 V20 V21 V22.
Historic Landmark and Memorial Projects: She supported funding for the Chicago Torture Justice Memorial and voted for historic landmark designations, reflecting a focus on preserving cultural sites V12 V38 S11.
Package-Goods Licensing: Coleman filed amendments to expand package-goods licenses on several streets, indicating a priority on facilitating small-business operations L8 L15.
Honorary Street Designations: She has introduced multiple honorary street designations, such as “Barron Murph Sr Ave” and “Mother Mable Yancy-Irving Way,” highlighting community recognition efforts L1 L13.
Remote Participation and Council Procedure: Coleman has advocated for and utilized remote participation rules, supporting motions to allow remote attendance and procedural adjustments S8 S9 S10.
Workforce Development and Youth Employment: Her membership on the Workforce Development Committee and its Youth Employment subcommittee underscores a focus on job training and youth job opportunities S8.

Positions

Sweepstakes Machine Regulation: Voted no on an amendment that would define and prohibit sweepstakes machines, indicating opposition to that regulation V6.
Police Participation Restrictions: Opposed a municipal code amendment that would prohibit Chicago Police Department members from certain activities, voting no V10.
Public Enforcement Pilot for Recorded Evidence: Voted no on establishing a pilot program for resident-submitted recorded evidence, showing resistance to that initiative V25.
Tax Increment Financing for Development: Consistently voted yes on TIF agreements for redevelopment, park, and housing projects, demonstrating strong support for TIF as a development tool V1 V3 V5 V16 V17 V19 V20 V21 V22.
Package-Goods License Expansions: Supported amendments allowing additional package-goods licenses on multiple corridors, indicating a pro-business stance on licensing L8 L15.
Historic Landmark Designations: Voted yes on historic landmark designations and related memorial funding, reflecting endorsement of preservation efforts V12 V38 S11.
Curfew Ordinance: Expressed gratitude for the mayor’s veto of the curfew ordinance, signaling opposition to the curfew measure S16.
Remote Participation in Council Meetings: Supported motions to allow remote participation and procedural changes enabling remote attendance, showing advocacy for flexible meeting formats S8 S9 S10.

Approach: Coleman frequently votes on a broad array of ordinances, often moving or supporting motions on reports, appointments, and procedural matters, and she participates remotely when needed, as noted in committee and council meetings S4 S5 S13.

What to watch: Future filings are likely to focus on additional alley-access exemptions for commercial driveways and further TIF projects, given her recent filings on alley exemptions and numerous TIF votes L3 L4.

Nay votes on key legislation

Jun 17, 2026: Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 4-156 by defining and prohibiting the installation or use of sweepstakes machines, Failed to Pass 15 yea, 33 nay, 1 absent
May 20, 2026: Amendment of Municipal Code Title 2 by amending Section 2-78-120 (e-5) and adding new Section 2-84-530 prohibiting members of Chicago Police Department from participating in any extremist activity, Passed 28 yea, 21 nay
Feb 18, 2026: Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 9-108 by adding new Section 9-108-025 establishing public enforcement pilot program for residents to submit recorded evidence of covered parking offenses, Failed to Pass 16 yea, 31 nay, 1 absent
May 7, 2025: 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, Passed 30 yea, 18 nay, 2 absent
Mar 12, 2025: Amendment of Municipal Code Title 4 by adding new Chapter 4-401 entitled "Trade In Fur Products", Failed to Pass 19 yea, 26 nay
Feb 19, 2025: Amendment of Municipal Code Section 9-12-070 establishing maximum speed limit of 25 miles per hour on streets, 15 miles per hour in alleys, and absolute statutory nonurban limit of 55 miles per hour, Failed to Pass 21 yea, 28 nay
Feb 15, 2024: Adoption of arbitration option in certain police disciplinary cases, Failed to Pass 18 yea, 32 nay

Key legislation sponsored

Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (16.149) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Ashland Ave (O2026-0023144), Passed Mar 18, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (20.310) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of on W Garfield Blvd (O2025-0021772), Passed Jan 21, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (16.134) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Damen Ave, from 53rd St to 55th St (O2025-0016748), Passed May 21, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (16.101) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of W Garfield Blvd (O2025-0015038), Passed Mar 12, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (16.40) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of W 51st St (O2024-0014260), Passed Jan 15, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (17.314) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Western Ave (O2024-0014259), Passed Jan 15, 2025
Call for hearing(s) on missing women in City of Chicago (R2024-0008960), Adopted Oct 30, 2024
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (16.93) to disallow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of W 63rd St (O2024-0012609), Passed Oct 22, 2024
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023(16.140) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Racine Ave (O2024-0012612), Passed Oct 22, 2024
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (16.102) and (16.147) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Ashland Ave (O2024-0012611), Passed Oct 22, 2024
Amendment of Municipal Code Sections 4-60-022 (16.152) and 4-60-023 (16.155 and 16.156) to disallow additional alcoholic liquor and package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Halsted St (O2024-0011200), Passed Oct 9, 2024
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (16.15) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of W 63rd St (O2024-0007506), Passed Feb 21, 2024
Call for hearing(s) on City's plans to mitigate and respond to future extreme flooding (R2023-0002926), Adopted Oct 16, 2023
Call for hearing(s) on status of reopening Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) 63rd and Racine Green Line station (R2023-0002886), Adopted Sep 14, 2023

In their own words

Moments from meeting recordings, summarized by AI from the transcript. Each links to the video at that point.

Sep 23, 2026, City Council: Thanked Corporation Counsel Lowry for mentoring women in city leadership and for work on Englewood vacant lot litigation. (watch at 3:26:56)
Sep 23, 2026, City Council: Memorialized her father, Pastor David Coleman Sr., and thanked colleagues and city leaders who supported her family. (watch at 1:13:22)
Jul 15, 2026, City Council: On behalf of Alderperson Monique L. Scott, recognized 24th Ward and state legislative summer interns. (watch at 1:24:01)
Jun 17, 2026, City Council: Congratulated Kenneth Gunn on his appointment. (watch at 3:10:25)
Jun 17, 2026, City Council: Opened remarks on Juneteenth as Black Caucus chair and noted over $1 million in caucus scholarships. (watch at 2:00:28)
Jun 17, 2026, City Council: Honored the 80th anniversary of New Friendship Baptist Church in the 16th Ward. (watch at 1:08:40)
May 26, 2026, Committee on Education and Child Development: Confirmed her presence on the committee. (watch at 1:00:56)
May 20, 2026, City Council: Supported William Cheeks Jr.'s appointment and collaboration between CDOT and Water Management. (watch at 4:38:00)
May 20, 2026, City Council: Supported the Fair Access to Democracy Ordinance, crediting state legislators and saying concerns about the Board of Elections should be raised at budget hearings. (watch at 3:24:25)
May 20, 2026, City Council: Spoke as Black Caucus chair in support of Haitian Heritage Month. (watch at 2:37:27)
May 18, 2026, Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity: Was referenced in a complaint about lack of focus on Black women. (watch at 38:20)
May 11, 2026, Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development: Listed among alderpersons supporting SSA appointments. (watch at 52:01)