Felix Cardona Jr.

Felix Cardona Jr. is the alderperson for Chicago's 31st Ward.

Contact

Email: Ward31@cityofchicago.org
Ward office: 4606 West Diversey Avenue, Chicago 60639, (773) 824-2000
City Hall: 121 North LaSalle Street, Room 200, Office 19, (312) 744-6102/6123
Updates: RSS feed of votes and legislation

Voting record this term

Attendance: 100% of 1129 key roll calls (0 absent)
Nay votes: 19
Voted with the majority on 78.7% of 89 divided votes
Legislation filed as lead sponsor: 41 (12 passed)
Most-filed topics: Restricted Residential Zones (23), Municipal Code Amendments (9), Budget & Appropriations (4), Streets (3), City Council (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 Felix Cardona Jr.. of Ward 31 has voted in favor of multiple tax-increment-financing agreements for development projects, such as the Foundry Park and Roosevelt/Clark Partners projects V1 V3, while opposing ordinances including the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Fair Access to Democracy Ordinance and a measure restricting Chicago Police Department members from certain activities V9 V10. He has also filed a series of proposals to create Restricted Residential Zones that prohibit additional shared-housing units across many precincts in his ward L1 L3 L4 L5 L6 L7.

Priorities

Housing density: Filed multiple Restricted Residential Zone designations to limit additional shared-housing units in precincts throughout the 31st Ward L1 L3 L4 L5 L6 L7
Tax increment financing: Supported TIF agreements for development projects, including Foundry Park and Roosevelt/Clark Partners facilities V1 V3
Alcohol licensing: Filed amendments to municipal code to allow additional liquor and package-goods licenses on portions of W Cicero Ave, W Fullerton Ave and W Diversey Ave L24 L29 L30
Honorary street designation: Proposed the honorary naming of “Honorary Charles E. Larson Ave” L27
Budget reallocation: Amended the Annual Appropriation Ordinance to transfer funds from the 31st Ward Aldermanic Expense account to the Wage Allowance Account for 2026 L28
Housing debt relief: Voted to amend the Municipal Code authorizing the Commissioner of Housing to waive debts for certain buildings V2

Positions

Tax increment financing: Supported city use of TIF for development projects V1 V3
Fair Access to Democracy Ordinance: Opposed the ordinance establishing a new chapter named after Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. V9
Police participation restriction: Opposed the amendment prohibiting Chicago Police Department members from certain activities V10
Public enforcement pilot program: Opposed the creation of a pilot program allowing residents to submit recorded evidence for public enforcement V25
Remote participation in council meetings: Supported motions to allow remote participation for alderpersons S2 S6
Rule 59 adoption: Supported the Committee on License and Consumer Protection's motion to accept Rule 59 S3
Greyhound purchase ordinance: Voted ‘no’ citing financial risk S4
Settlement order amendment: Voted ‘no’ on the amendment to a settlement order S7

Approach: Cardona frequently moves and supports procedural motions, such as allowing remote participation and accepting Rule 59, and he often votes on zoning and development measures, including renewal of restricted residential zoning proposals S2 S3 S5. He is an active speaker in committee settings, thanking chairs and making procedural acknowledgments S1.

What to watch: Given his extensive filings for Restricted Residential Zones and recent amendments to alcohol-licensing codes, Cardona is likely to continue focusing on housing density limits and liquor-license reforms L1 L24

Nay votes on key legislation

May 20, 2026: Amendment of Municipal Code Title 2 by adding new Chapter 2-200 titled The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Fair Access to Democracy Ordinance and establishment of The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Advisory Council on Access to Democracy, Passed 42 yea, 8 nay
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
Apr 7, 2025: Standing Committee member name changes, Adopted 32 yea, 11 nay, 4 absent
Apr 7, 2025: Appointment of Alderperson Anthony Quezada (35th Ward), Approved 32 yea, 11 nay, 4 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
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
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 9, 2024: Refunding of General Obligation/Sales Tax Securitization Corporation Bond, Series 2024, Passed 35 yea, 12 nay, 2 absent
Oct 9, 2024: Issuance of City of Chicago Second Lien Wastewater Transmission Revenue Bonds, Project and Refunding Series 2024B, Passed 44 yea, 4 nay, 1 absent
Apr 19, 2024: 2024 Affordable Housing and Community Development Borrowing Ordinance, Passed 32 yea, 17 nay
Jan 31, 2024: Expression of support for United Nations Resolution 377 known as "Uniting for Peace", Adopted 23 yea, 23 nay
Nov 15, 2023: Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 2, 3, 9, 11 and 14 (2024 Municipal Code Revenue Ordinance), Passed 40 yea, 9 nay, 1 absent
Nov 15, 2023: Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 18 regarding management, structure, powers and functions of various departments and agencies (2024 Municipal Code Management Ordinance), Passed 40 yea, 9 nay, 1 absent
Nov 15, 2023: Intergovernmental agreement with Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Cook County for allocation of Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds, Passed 40 yea, 9 nay, 1 absent
Nov 7, 2023: Proposal of new tax rates for Chicago R.E. transfer tax to set aside for homeless housing, Passed 32 yea, 17 nay

Key legislation sponsored

Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 17-7 by adding new Section 17-7-0510 establishing Cicero Avenue Light Equipment Sales/Rental Overlay District to remove nonconforming use status for any new businesses seeking limited business license for auto sales and modifying Section 17-15-0303 limiting expansion of such nonconforming use (O2025-0018447), Passed May 20, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-022 (30.3) to allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portion(s) of W Fullerton Ave (O2025-0020502), Passed Dec 10, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (31.12) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of W Diversey Ave (O2025-0018861), Passed Oct 16, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-4-331 to prohibit cannabinoid hemp products in Belmont Cragin-Hermosa residential area (O2025-0016755), Passed May 21, 2025

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: Celebrated Belmont Cragin becoming the neighborhood with the largest Latino population and encouraged support for Latino-owned businesses. (watch at 1:33:57)
Jul 13, 2026, Committee on Finance: Moved to allow Alderman Felix Cardona Jr. to participate remotely. (watch at 1:59:22)
Jul 8, 2026, Committee on License and Consumer Protection: Moved to accept Rule 59. (watch at 5:45)
Jun 10, 2026, Committee on Housing and Real Estate: Voted ‘no’ on the Greyhound purchase ordinance, citing financial risk. (watch at 2:07:00)
Jun 9, 2026, Committee on License and Consumer Protection: Moved to pass the renewal of restricted residential zoning. (watch at 30:16)
Apr 13, 2026, Committee on License and Consumer Protection: Moved to accept the substitute for the lake-vendor liquor-license amendment. (watch at 1:37:40)
Apr 9, 2026, Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development: Moved to recommend passage of the asset-management software ordinance after the substitute had been accepted. (watch at 1:01:42)
Apr 9, 2026, Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development: Responded to the chair’s request and explained the changes in the substitute ordinance. (watch at 30:47)
Apr 9, 2026, Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development: Moved to accept the substitute ordinance for asset-management software. (watch at 28:08)
Mar 13, 2026, Committee on Finance: Alderman Felix Cardona Jr. moved to recommend approval of the Hermosa Park TIF amendment (item 6). (watch at 1:44:31)
Mar 13, 2026, Committee on Police and Fire: Moved a motion to approve the appointment of La Kenya White as COPA chief administrator. (watch at 45:29)
Mar 13, 2026, Committee on Police and Fire: Moved a motion to approve remote participation for Alderman Jason C. Ervin under Rule 59. (watch at 25:54)