Walter R. Burnett

Walter R. Burnett is the alderperson for Chicago's 27th Ward.

Contact

Email: Ward27@cityofchicago.org
Ward office: 4 North Western Avenue, Unit 1C, Chicago 60618, (312) 432-1995
City Hall: 121 North LaSalle Street, Room 300, Office 38, (312) 744-6124/6125
Website: http://aldermanburnett.com/
Updates: RSS feed of votes and legislation

Voting record this term

Attendance: 94.9% of 1139 key roll calls (58 absent)
Nay votes: 7
Voted with the majority on 95.3% of 86 divided votes
Legislation filed as lead sponsor: 239 (212 passed)
Most-filed topics: Signs/Signboards (141), Alley (44), Municipal Code Amendments (20), Streets (13), Parking (9)

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.

Walter R. Burnett represents Chicago's 27th Ward and sits on ten council committees, including Aviation, Budget and Government Operations, and Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards. He has a 94.9% attendance record and has voted YES on the majority of measures, with only seven NO votes out of 238 items he has filed as alderperson V1 V6 L1. His legislative activity is heavily weighted toward redevelopment agreements and tax-increment-financing (TIF) projects, as shown by multiple TIF votes and filings in 2026 V1 V3 V5 V16 L1.

Priorities

Tax Increment Financing: Consistently supports TIF agreements for development projects, voting YES on at least six TIF-related ordinances in 2026 V1 V3 V5 V16 V19 V20
Zoning and Land Use: Files and backs amendments to the municipal code for package-goods licenses, tow-away zones, and minimum lot area changes L1 L7 L6
Honorary Street Designations: Regularly files honorary street designation proposals, including multiple designations in September 2026 L3 L4 L30
Housing Tenant Protections: Supported amendments requiring landlords to provide written notice before terminating leases or filing evictions V14
Wage and Gratuity Regulations: Backed amendments to municipal code that adjust employer allowance timelines for gratuities and hourly wage occupations V8 V23
Public Safety Restrictions on Police: Voted to prohibit Chicago Police Department members from participating in political activities V10

Positions

Tax Increment Financing: Votes YES on TIF redevelopment agreements, indicating support for using TIF to fund development projects V1 V3 V5
Package-Goods Licenses: Supports expanding package-goods licenses on commercial corridors, filing related code amendments L1
Sweepstakes Machine Regulation: Voted NO on a proposal to prohibit sweepstakes machines, opposing the restriction V6
Social Media Amusement Tax: Voted YES on adding a tax for social-media amusement, supporting the revenue measure V7
Police Political Activity Ban: Supported a code amendment banning police officers from political participation, voting YES V10
Gas Station Permit Requirements: Voted YES to remove permit requirements for gas stations in certain zoning districts, easing development constraints V26
Pedestrian Street Designation: Supported designating a stretch of North Broadway as a pedestrian street, voting YES V33
Mass Gatherings Curfew: Voted NO on a curfew ordinance for mass gatherings, indicating opposition to the restriction V38

Approach: Burnett frequently moves to advance redevelopment agreements and code amendments, offering to answer questions and urging colleagues to support projects (e.g., the Axiom partners redevelopment) S9 S10 S11. He also makes procedural motions, such as accepting substitute ordinances and adjourning meetings, and regularly participates in committee discussions on zoning and workforce issues S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S18.

What to watch: Given his extensive record of filing and voting on TIF and zoning measures, Burnett is likely to remain active on future redevelopment financing, land-use amendments, and related code changes V1 V3 L1 L7

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
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
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

Dedication of public way in area bounded by W Grand Ave, N Halsted St, W Chicago Ave, and North Branch of Chicago River as substituted (SO2026-0026284), Passed Jul 15, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 17-6-0403-F to permit by right residential storage warehouses in Planned Manufacturing District 4B (SO2026-0026276), Passed Jul 15, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 17-6-0403 to establish size restrictions for participant sports and recreation use as permitted by right in planned manufacturing districts (O2026-0026278), Passed Jul 15, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (1.96) to allow additional package goods licenses on portions of W Chicago Ave (O2026-0025439), Passed Jun 17, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 6-105 modifying timelines for employer allowance minimums in hourly wage occupations receiving gratuities (SO2026-0024043), Passed May 20, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Sections 17-3-0308 and 17-4-0301 regarding new construction Minimum Automotive Parking Ratios near Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) or METRA rail stations (SO2025-0021721), Passed Feb 18, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-022 (27.375) to allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portion(s) of S Morgan St (O2025-0021326), Passed Jan 21, 2026

In their own words

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

Sep 29, 2026, City Council: Supported the deal, saying it began as a civil rights concern about Stonepeak's affiliate and secured upfront pension money and future revenue sharing. (watch at 1:46:20)
Sep 23, 2026, City Council: Thanked Corporation Counsel Lowry for guidance on the parking meter deal and settlements. (watch at 3:22:27)
Jul 22, 2026, City Council: Cautioned that withholding funds from sister agencies could delay TIF-funded infrastructure, citing expiring TIF funds in his ward. (watch at 1:38:06)
Jul 15, 2026, City Council: Recognized 27th Ward, 10th District and City Clerk interns. (watch at 1:25:41)
Jul 8, 2026, Committee on Housing and Real Estate: Responded to questions after the Hearts United presentation. (watch at 1:20:29)
Jul 8, 2026, Committee on License and Consumer Protection: Moved to pass Item 4 after his presentation. (watch at 9:48)
Jul 8, 2026, Committee on License and Consumer Protection: Presented Item 4, advocating for the expansion of a known businessman’s operations in the 15th Ward’s Back of the Yards area. (watch at 9:00)
Jun 16, 2026, Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards: Introduced two zoning applications for the 7th Ward. (watch at 2:08:39)
Jun 15, 2026, Committee on Budget and Government Operations: Moved to pass the redevelopment agreement. (watch at 34:48)
Jun 15, 2026, Committee on Budget and Government Operations: Asked colleagues to support the project and offered to answer questions. (watch at 31:27)
Jun 15, 2026, Committee on Budget and Government Operations: Stated that the Axiom partners have been good partners and highlighted the need for creative-economy space in East Garfield. (watch at 30:35)
Jun 9, 2026, Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety: Moved to accept substitute ordinances for items 10-12 and item 2. (watch at 1:32:51)