Derrick G. Curtis

Derrick G. Curtis is the alderperson for Chicago's 18th Ward.

Contact

Email: Ward18@cityofchicago.org
Ward office: 8359 South Pulaski Road, Chicago 60652, (773) 284-5057
City Hall: 121 North LaSalle Street, Room 300, (312) 744-6856 / 3087
Updates: RSS feed of votes and legislation

Voting record this term

Attendance: 92.9% of 1115 key roll calls (79 absent)
Nay votes: 10
Voted with the majority on 90.7% of 86 divided votes
Legislation filed as lead sponsor: 12 (10 passed)
Most-filed topics: Streets (10), Property (1), Municipal Code Amendments (1)

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.

Alderperson Derrick G. Curtis represents Ward 18 and chairs the Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development while serving as vice-chair of the Aviation Committee and member of several others. He voted NO on ten ordinances, including measures on sweepstakes machines and police political activity, while supporting the majority of council actions such as tax-increment-financing agreements and code amendments V6 V10 V25 V39 V7 V2. Curtis has filed twelve pieces of legislation, most of which are honorary street designations and local land-use proposals L1 L7 L12.

Priorities

Honorary street designations: Filed multiple ordinances to name streets after local figures, including Reverend Darcell Morris, Mamie and E. L. Till, Matthew J. Thomas, and Devontae “Kool” Barton L1 L2 L3 L4
Property redevelopment: Filed a Ford City Resubdivision substitute to modify the subdivision layout in the Ford City area L7
Postal service regulation: Filed an amendment to the municipal code addressing cluster mailboxes and related definitions L12
Street closures: Filed an ordinance to close S Richmond St between W Columbus Ave and W 77th St to traffic L11

Positions

Sweepstakes machines: Voted NO on a proposal to prohibit the installation or use of sweepstakes machines V6
Police department political activity: Voted NO on an amendment that would prohibit Chicago Police Department members from engaging in political activity V10
Public enforcement pilot for recorded evidence: Voted NO on establishing a pilot program that would allow residents to submit recorded evidence for public enforcement V25
Not-for-profit residential investment corporation: Voted NO on creating a city-participating not-for-profit residential investment corporation V39
Social media amusement tax: Voted YES to amend the municipal code to impose a tax on social media amusement activities V7
Housing debt waiver amendment: Voted YES to authorize the Commissioner of Housing to waive debts for certain buildings V2
Remote participation in meetings: Supported motions to allow remote participation for alderpersons in committee meetings S4 S7
Arab American Heritage Month: Delivered remarks and expressed support for the Arab American Heritage Month resolution S14 S15

Approach: In his role as chair of the Economic, Capital and Technology Development Committee, Curtis regularly opens meetings, identifies himself as chairman, greets members, and calls other alderpersons to speak, indicating an active procedural presence S8 S9 S11.

What to watch: Curtis’s recent filings suggest he will likely continue pursuing honorary street designations and local land-use changes such as subdivision adjustments and postal code amendments L1 L2 L3 L4 L7 L12.

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 26, 2025: Issuance of general obligation bonds to finance improvements to public rights-of-way, infrastructure and transportation, loans and grants, acquisition of property, construction and maintenance of public buildings, economic programs, lead service line replacements, as amended, Passed 26 yea, 23 nay
Dec 16, 2024: Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 1, 2, 7, 10, 11 and 18 regarding management, structure, powers and functions of various departments and agencies (2025 Municipal Code Management Ordinance), as amended, Passed 34 yea, 16 nay
Dec 16, 2024: Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 3, 4, 9 and 10 (2025 Municipal Code Revenue Ordinance) and Property Tax Levy for Year 2025, as amended, Passed 27 yea, 23 nay
Oct 30, 2024: Jarixon Medina as member of Regional Trnsportation Authority Board of Directors, Failed to Pass 18 yea, 25 nay
Jan 31, 2024: Expression of support for United Nations Resolution 377 known as "Uniting for Peace", Adopted 23 yea, 23 nay

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: Reported the Economic, Capital and Technology Development Committee's SSA items. (watch at 4:16:30)
Sep 23, 2026, City Council: Thanked Corporation Counsel Lowry for her trustworthiness and advice. (watch at 2:54:15)
Jul 15, 2026, City Council: Reported the Economic, Capital and Technology Development Committee's SSA appointments and Class L incentive. (watch at 4:34:22)
Jul 15, 2026, City Council: Announced the July 25 dedication of 71st Street as Emmett Till and Mamie Till Way and thanked colleagues. (watch at 2:02:31)
Jul 9, 2026, Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development: Called Alderman Wackespad to speak. (watch at 1:07:14)
Jul 9, 2026, Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development: Called Alderman Gregory I. Mitchell to speak on the Class L ordinance. (watch at 1:05:52)
Jul 9, 2026, Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development: Opened the floor to Alderman Raymond A. Lopez for comments. (watch at 55:59)
Jun 30, 2026, Committee on Police and Fire: Thanked Walter Schroeder for his service on the Emergency Telephone System Board. (watch at 34:47)
Jun 30, 2026, Committee on Police and Fire: Moved the motion to allow remote participation for Aldermen Irving and Napolitano. (watch at 20:15)
Jun 24, 2026, Committee on Workforce Development: Was addressed by Tiwon Sims regarding representation of the Southland. (watch at 38:23)
Jun 17, 2026, City Council: Thanked Streets and Sanitation and other departments for storm response and described residents' frustration over outages. (watch at 4:09:43)
May 20, 2026, City Council: Said groups came together within 10 days to resolve concerns on the United Center project. (watch at 5:46:35)