Anthony J. Quezada

Anthony J. Quezada is the alderperson for Chicago's 35th Ward.

Contact

Email: ward35@cityofchicago.org
Ward office: 2934 North Milwaukee Avenue, Unit C, Chicago 60618, (773) 887-3772
City Hall: 121 North LaSalle Street, Room 300, (312) 744-6835/3109/6845
Updates: RSS feed of votes and legislation

Voting record this term

Attendance: 100% of 532 key roll calls (0 absent)
Nay votes: 7
Voted with the majority on 88.4% of 43 divided votes
Legislation filed as lead sponsor: 27 (20 passed)
Most-filed topics: Municipal Code Amendments (10), Signs/Signboards (7), Parking (3), Alley (2), Committee/Public Hearings (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.

Anthony J. Quezada represents Ward 35 and serves on ten standing committees, including Budget and Government Operations, Finance, Housing and Real Estate, and Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards. He has a perfect attendance record (100 %) and has voted yes on the vast majority of measures, with only seven nay votes out of 88. Quezada has filed 26 pieces of legislation during the 2026 session, ranging from licensing amendments to parking-meter changes and immigrant-rights resolutions. V1 V6 L1 L10

Priorities

Licensing: He has filed multiple amendments to the municipal code to expand package-goods and alcoholic-liquor licenses on major corridors such as Milwaukee, Armitage, and Elston Avenues. L2 L3 L14 L15
Parking infrastructure: Quezada filed several ordinances to install, modify, or remove parking meters on Kedzie, Diversey, and Nelson Avenues. L4 L5 L6
Affordable housing: He supported the Protecting Renters Ordinance, emphasizing housing as a human right, and designated a low-affordability community at 3231 N California Ave. S5 L7
Immigrant rights: Quezada introduced a resolution calling for the abolition of ICE and expanding legal pathways for immigrants, and publicly highlighted immigrant tax contributions and housing wealth. L10 S12 S13
Policing reform: He spoke in support of the community-power policing referendum and ranked-choice voting. S2
Public-safety technology oversight: Quezada questioned the methodology and false-positive rates of the ShotSpotter study during a public safety committee meeting. S8 S9

Positions

Sweepstakes machines: He voted against an amendment that would define and prohibit the installation or use of sweepstakes machines. V6
Employer gratuity allowance: He opposed an amendment to municipal code Section 6-105-030 that would entitle employers in gratuity-customary occupations to a gratuity allowance as part of hourly wages. V23
Public-enforcement pilot for recorded evidence: He voted no on establishing a pilot program that would allow residents to submit recorded evidence for public enforcement. V25
Cannabinoid hemp product regulations: He voted against adding new sections regulating cannabinoid hemp product definitions, health requirements, and labeling. V28
Municipal-code revenue ordinance (2026): He voted no on the comprehensive municipal-code revenue ordinance that would restructure department powers and funding. V29
Mass-gatherings curfew: He voted against the proposed mass-gatherings and curfew ordinance. V37
Policing referendum: He publicly supported the community-power policing referendum and ranked-choice voting. S2
Immigrant contributions: He highlighted immigrant tax contributions and housing wealth, supporting policies that recognize immigrant contributions to the city. S12 S13

Approach: Quezada frequently asks detailed questions in committee hearings, such as his inquiries about the ShotSpotter study’s methodology and false-positive rates, and he often moves or supports motions on licensing, remote participation, and agenda items. S8 S9 S6 S5

What to watch: Given his prior filings, Quezada is likely to continue pursuing changes to licensing regulations, parking-meter policies, and immigrant-rights initiatives, including further actions related to ICE abolition. L2 L3 L10

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

Key legislation sponsored

Amendment of Municipal Code Section 5-12-130 to require sufficient written notice from landlord prior to rental agreement termination or filing of eviction actions (SO2025-0019933), Passed Apr 15, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (35.82) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of N Milwaukee Ave (O2025-0021699), Passed Jan 21, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (35.73) to allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portion(s) of W Armitage Ave (SO2025-0019942), Passed Oct 16, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (33.207) to allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portion(s) of W Belmont Ave (SO2025-0019939), Passed Oct 16, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (35.102) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of N Elston Ave (SO2025-0019943), Passed Oct 16, 2025
Call for hearing(s) on city's plans for public health education and pursuit of federal public health grants (R2025-0017564), Adopted Sep 25, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 17-3-0500 to designate portion of W Armitage Ave as Pedestrian Street - App No. A-8942 (SO2025-0015531), Passed Apr 16, 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: Recognized the Northwest Side Rapid Response Network's patrols, legal support and food pantries. (watch at 1:56:04)
Jul 22, 2026, City Council: Questioned the timing of the referenda, citing his community power over policing referendum and ranked-choice voting as pending alternatives. (watch at 1:08:19)
Jul 14, 2026, Committee on Health and Human Relations: Moved to approve the June 2026 Rule 45 report. (watch at 31:29)
Jun 29, 2026, Committee on Housing and Real Estate: Stated support for the Protecting Renters Ordinance, emphasizing housing as a human right. (watch at 2:06:35)
Jun 29, 2026, Committee on Housing and Real Estate: Moved a Rule 59 motion to allow Alderperson Michelle A. Harris and Alderman David H. Moore to join remotely. (watch at 43:06)
Jun 17, 2026, City Council: Spoke on the history of Pride and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and honored 35th Ward organizer Connie Hernandez. (watch at 1:29:50)
Jun 16, 2026, Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards: Moved to approve the large-signage orders after the list of addresses was read. (watch at 2:02:57)
Jun 11, 2026, Committee on Health and Human Relations: Was the subject of the remote-participation motion (remote participation approved). (watch at 21:39)
Jun 9, 2026, Committee on Public Safety: Asked Professor Vargas about false-positive rates and the city’s response plan. (watch at 4:04:31)
Jun 9, 2026, Committee on Public Safety: Requested clarification from the professor about the methodology of the ShotSpotter study. (watch at 3:55:10)
May 20, 2026, City Council: Supported the Fair Access to Democracy Ordinance, noting more than 30 civic organizations backed it. (watch at 3:47:46)
May 20, 2026, City Council: Honored Amisha Patel as a mentor and architect of the progressive movement in Chicago. (watch at 1:34:27)