Emma Mitts

Emma Mitts is the alderperson for Chicago's 37th Ward.

Contact

Email: Ward37@cityofchicago.org
Ward office: 4924 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago 60651, (773) 379-0960
City Hall: 121 North LaSalle Street, Room 300, Office 45, (312) 744-8019/5686/1454
Website: https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/about/wards/37.html
Updates: RSS feed of votes and legislation

Voting record this term

Attendance: 92.8% of 1117 key roll calls (80 absent)
Nay votes: 6
Voted with the majority on 100% of 78 divided votes
Legislation filed as lead sponsor: 17 (12 passed)
Most-filed topics: Municipal Code Amendments (6), Streets (6), Budget & Appropriations (2), Reports (1), United States Govt. (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.

Emma Mitts chairs the Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity and serves on eight other council committees, recording a 92.8% attendance rate. Her voting record shows strong support for tax-increment-financing (TIF) agreements and municipal code amendments, with only six nay votes. She has filed 17 pieces of legislation during the term, ranging from senior tax relief to honorary street designations. V1 V4 L1

Priorities

Senior tax relief: Filed an amendment to exempt persons aged 65 or older from the checkout bag tax. L1
Honorary street designations: Filed multiple honorary street designations honoring local individuals. L2 L3 L6 L7
Fiscal transfers: Filed amendments to transfer funds from the 37th Ward Wage Allowance to the aldermanic expense account. L4 L5
Licensing regulation: Filed amendments affecting package-goods licenses and requiring surveillance cameras at licensed premises. L8 L9
Minority and disadvantaged business support: Filed an expression of support for protecting U.S. DOT programs for minority, women, and disadvantaged businesses. L12
Public safety infrastructure: Filed a vacation of a portion of N. Kostner Ave to create a Joint Public Safety Training Academy. L16

Positions

Tax increment financing: Voted YES on multiple TIF agreements for redevelopment and park improvement projects. V1 V2 V3 V13 V14 V16 V17 V18
Sweepstakes machine prohibition: Voted NO on an amendment defining and prohibiting the installation or use of sweepstakes machines. V4
Public enforcement pilot program: Voted NO on establishing a pilot program for residents to submit recorded evidence. V22
Social media amusement tax: Voted YES on an amendment concerning the social media amusement tax. V5
Gratuity allowance for hourly workers: Voted YES on an amendment modifying employer allowance minimums for occupations receiving gratuities. V6
Taxicab equipment standards: Voted YES on amendments adding specifications for taximeters and modifying taxicab equipment requirements. V8
Open space impact fee usage: Voted YES to allocate open-space impact-fee funds for the Chicago Torture Justice Memorial. V9
Landlord notice requirements: Voted YES on an amendment requiring sufficient written notice from landlords before terminating rental agreements or filing evictions. V11

Approach: In council meetings she frequently takes procedural actions, such as moving to approve journal corrections and calling the meeting to order for unfinished business. S1 S2

What to watch: Given her consistent support for TIF agreements and redevelopment projects, she is likely to continue engaging on tax-increment-financing initiatives. V1 V2 V3

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
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
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
Oct 30, 2024: Jarixon Medina as member of Regional Trnsportation Authority Board of Directors, Failed to Pass 18 yea, 25 nay
Feb 15, 2024: Adoption of arbitration option in certain police disciplinary cases, Failed to Pass 18 yea, 32 nay

Key legislation sponsored

Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (29.1) to disallow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of W North Ave (O2025-0017833), Passed Jul 16, 2025
Expression of support for and call on U.S. Congress to protect U.S. Department of Transportation Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise programs (M/W/DBE) (R2024-0008330), Adopted Apr 17, 2024
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (37.18) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of W North Ave (O2024-0007654), Passed Mar 20, 2024
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (37.17) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion of W North Ave (O2024-0006857), Passed Feb 21, 2024
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-022 (37.24) to allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portion(s) of W Division St (O2023-0002240), Passed Jul 19, 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: Reported the Contracting Oversight and Equity Committee's veteran business and immigration enforcement disclosure items. (watch at 4:18:15)
Sep 23, 2026, City Council: Recalled working with Lowry on the Walmart issue in 2003 and thanked her. (watch at 3:23:58)
May 20, 2026, City Council: Congratulated William Cheeks Jr. and asked him to prioritize the 37th Ward. (watch at 4:41:21)
Apr 8, 2026, Committee on Housing and Real Estate: Moved to approve the Rule 45 report from March 12, 2026. (watch at 26:18)
Mar 18, 2026, City Council: Described Rev. Jackson's impact on West Side leaders and residents. (watch at 1:25:41)
Mar 11, 2026, Committee on Budget and Government Operations: Moved to approve the monthly Rule 45 report for February 2026. (watch at 14:04)
Feb 18, 2026, City Council: Honored Buddy Guy and described his significance to her family and the South. (watch at 1:29:37)
Jan 21, 2026, City Council: Urged colleagues to press Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act to protect senior funding. (watch at 2:29:24)
Jan 21, 2026, City Council: Honored West Side senior advocate Lillian Drummond, who died at about 104. (watch at 2:27:07)
Oct 16, 2025, City Council: Supported the appointment, citing the department's role with youth, seniors, homelessness and mental health in her community. (watch at 3:40:13)
Jul 16, 2025, City Council: Spoke about Burnett's loyalty and faith. (watch at 5:28:58)
Jun 18, 2025, City Council: Reported the contracting committee's substitute ordinance permanently establishing the veteran-owned business participation program. (watch at 3:23:57)