Jessica L. Fuentes

Jessica L. Fuentes is the alderperson for Chicago's 26th Ward.

Contact

Email: Ward26@cityofchicago.org
Ward office: 2511 West Division Street, Chicago 60602, (773) 395-0143
City Hall: 121 N. La Salle St. Room 200, (312) 744-6853/4198
Updates: RSS feed of votes and legislation

Voting record this term

Attendance: 100% of 1163 key roll calls (0 absent)
Nay votes: 11
Voted with the majority on 88.9% of 90 divided votes
Legislation filed as lead sponsor: 48 (39 passed)
Most-filed topics: Alley (16), Municipal Code Amendments (8), Committee/Public Hearings (6), Budget & Appropriations (5), Streets (4)

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 Jessica L. Fuentes chairs the Committee on Workforce Development’s Subcommittee on Youth Employment and participates in numerous other council committees, as shown by her activity in the subcommittee meeting S6. She has a perfect attendance record and votes on a wide range of ordinances, including many tax-increment-financing agreements and public-safety measures V1 V10. Fuentes has filed 48 pieces of legislation, most of which seek exemptions for commercial driveway alley access or honor honorary street names L1 L9.

Priorities

Alley access: She repeatedly files exemptions from physical-barrier requirements for commercial driveway alley access, filing at least eight such measures in 2026 L1 L2 L4 L5 L6 L7 L8
Honorary street designations: Fuentes has filed multiple honorary street naming proposals, including “Rafael Cruz Way” and “Julio Osorio Way” in 2026 L9 L10
Workforce development and youth employment: As chair of the Youth Employment subcommittee, she oversees public comment periods and summarizes submissions for youth-job programs S6
Immigrant and refugee rights: She voiced support for resolutions recognizing immigrant contributions and condemned hate rhetoric in committee hearings S10 S11 S12
Tax-increment financing (TIF): Fuentes consistently votes for TIF agreements that fund redevelopment projects and park improvements across the city V1 V3 V5 V16 V19 V20 V21
Public safety and police accountability: She voted to prohibit Chicago Police Department members from certain political activities and supported a call for the U.S. Attorney’s resignation over federal investigations V10 V4

Positions

Tax-increment financing: Supports the use of TIF to fund redevelopment and park projects, as reflected by multiple affirmative votes V1 V3 V5 V16
Sweepstakes machines: Opposed to allowing sweepstakes machines, voting NO on the amendment that would define and prohibit them V6
Gratuities allowance amendment: Voted NO on an amendment that would entitle employers to a gratuities allowance for hourly workers V23
Public-evidence enforcement pilot: Opposed the creation of a pilot program for residents to submit recorded evidence, voting NO V25
Cannabis/hemp product regulations: Voted NO on amendments adding new sections regulating cannabinoid hemp products V28
Police political activity restriction: Supported prohibiting Chicago Police Department members from certain political activities, voting YES V10
Mass-gatherings curfew: Voted NO on imposing a curfew for mass gatherings V38
Broad municipal-code restructuring: Opposed a sweeping amendment to multiple municipal-code titles, voting NO V29

Approach: Fuentes frequently moves motions, asks procedural questions, and leads subcommittee discussions, as seen when she announced the end of a public-comment period and summarized submissions S6 and when she requested remote participation under Rule 59 S3. She also supports remote participation for other alderpersons, indicating a collaborative meeting style S8.

What to watch: Given her extensive filing of alley-access exemptions and honorary street designations, she is likely to continue pursuing similar local-infrastructure and symbolic-naming measures in future council sessions L1 L9.

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
Mar 18, 2026: Amendment of Municipal Code Section 6-105-030 entitling employers of occupations where gratuities are customary to an allowance for gratuities as part of hourly wage rate not to exceed 24 percent of minimum wage rate, Passed 30 yea, 18 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
Jan 21, 2026: Amendment of Municipal Code Chapters 4-4, 4-60 and 8-16 by adding new sections regarding cannabinoid hemp product definitions, regulations, health requirements and hemp product offenses involving minors and deletion of Section 4-4-333 in entirety (Vetoed), Passed 32 yea, 16 nay
Dec 20, 2025: Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14A, 15, 17 regarding management, structure, powers and functions of various departments and agencies (2026 Municipal Code Management Ordinance), Passed 29 yea, 20 nay, 1 absent
Dec 19, 2025: Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14A, 14B, 14X and 15 (2026 Municipal Code Revenue Ordinance Alternative), Passed 29 yea, 19 nay
Jun 18, 2025: Mass Gatherings and Curfew, Passed 27 yea, 22 nay
Sep 18, 2024: Superintendent of Police directed to enter into and execute new contract or contract extension or renewal for acoustic gunshot detection technology services, Passed 33 yea, 14 nay, 2 absent
May 22, 2024: Call on Mayor Brandon Johnson to remedy by Ward choice whether to remove Sound Thinking/ShotSpotter surveillance technology with other assurances and advance notifications to affected Ward Council members choosing to retain such technology, Passed 34 yea, 14 nay, 2 absent
Feb 15, 2024: Adoption of arbitration option in certain police disciplinary cases, Failed to Pass 18 yea, 32 nay
Dec 13, 2023: Amended collective bargaining agreement with Chicago John Dineen Lodge No. 7 (f.k.a. Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge No. 7), Passed 42 yea, 7 nay

Key legislation sponsored

Submission of public question by referendum to Chicago voters on November 3, 2026 at regularly scheduled election as to whether shared housing units in 26th Ward should be limited (SR2025-0021045), Adopted Jul 15, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 2-78-120 to modify powers and duties of Civilian Office of Police Accountability to include conducting investigations into complaints made against members of Police Department (O2025-0020004), Passed Mar 18, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-022 (26.3) to allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portion of W Armitage Ave (O2025-0019662), Passed Oct 16, 2025
CACC Partnerships (R2025-0018677), Adopted Oct 16, 2025
Call on U.S. Congress to establish end date for Puerto Rico Financial Oversight and Management Board and ensure transition toward Puerto Rican fiscal autonomy (R2025-0017499), Adopted Sep 25, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-025 by restricting additional late-hour liquor licenses along portions of N Kostner Ave, N Cicero Ave, N Pulaski Rd, W Division St and W Armitage Ave in 26th Ward (SO2024-0014040), Passed Jan 15, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-022 (35.18) to allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portion(s) of W Armitage Ave (O2024-0013870), Passed Jan 15, 2025
Expression of support to right of self-determination for people of Puerto Rico, opposition to Puerto Rico Status Act, and endorsement of Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act (SR2024-0008389), Adopted May 23, 2024
Chicago City Council Urges Congress to Clarify U.S. Tax Code to Prevent Misuse in Puerto Rico (R2023-0005541), Adopted Jan 24, 2024
Chicago City Council Commits to the National Fight for Parole for the 11 Million. (SR2023-0005289), Adopted Dec 13, 2023
Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 6-105 by modifying Section 6-105-030 regarding minimum hourly wage in occupations receiving gratuities (SO2023-0002995), Passed Oct 6, 2023
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-022(35.19) to allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portion(s) of W Armitage Ave (O2023-0004217), Passed Oct 4, 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 her patience and diplomacy. (watch at 3:19:10)
Sep 23, 2026, City Council: Described rapid responders' work protecting residents during federal immigration enforcement and thanked the deputy mayor and mayor. (watch at 1:59:49)
Sep 23, 2026, City Council: Honored Melissa Dupre and Michelle Morales and said the Latino community is not a monolith but stronger together. (watch at 1:19:09)
Jul 14, 2026, Committee on Transportation and Public Way: Requested remote participation under Rule 59. (watch at 14:51)
Jul 9, 2026, Committee on Public Safety: Was asked by the chair to confirm her presence after being previously added. (watch at 34:54)
Jun 29, 2026, Committee on Housing and Real Estate: Requested Rule 59 remote participation alongside Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor. (watch at 25:35)
Jun 24, 2026, Committee on Workforce Development: Subcommittee on Youth Employment: Announced the end of the public comment period and summarized written submissions. (watch at 57:37)
Jun 17, 2026, City Council: Thanked Streets and Sanitation, ward superintendents and ComEd for storm response. (watch at 4:13:18)
Jun 17, 2026, City Council: Supported the Pride resolution, citing national attacks on trans people, and honored Maya Lozano. (watch at 1:37:17)
Jun 17, 2026, City Council: Honored Puerto Rican community leaders and credited 14th District police leadership for a safe Puerto Rican People's Day Parade. (watch at 1:19:22)
Jun 11, 2026, Committee on Health and Human Relations: Moved the motion to approve remote participation for Aldermen Quezada and Sigcho-López. (watch at 21:39)
Jun 10, 2026, Committee on Transportation and Public Way: Acknowledged the chair’s motion. (watch at 1:16:42)