Desmon C. Yancy

Desmon C. Yancy is the alderperson for Chicago's 5th Ward.

Contact

Email: Ward05@cityofchicago.org
Ward office: 2230 East 71st Street, Chicago 60649, (312) 744-6832
City Hall: 121 N. LaSalle Street Room 200, (312) 744-6832/3195
Updates: RSS feed of votes and legislation

Voting record this term

Attendance: 100% of 1126 key roll calls (0 absent)
Nay votes: 12
Voted with the majority on 91.9% of 86 divided votes
Legislation filed as lead sponsor: 15 (8 passed)
Most-filed topics: Committee/Public Hearings (3), Alley (3), Historical Landmarks (2), Municipal Code Amendments (2), City Council (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.

Desmon C. Yancy represents Chicago's 5th Ward and serves as Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee while holding seats on ten other committees, reflecting a broad policy portfolio. She has a perfect attendance record and has voted yes on the majority of measures, including multiple tax-increment financing agreements for development projects, while casting twelve nay votes on a range of issues. Yancy has also filed fifteen pieces of legislation, notably initiatives on historic markers, small-business protections, and affordable-housing designations. V1 V5 L2 L6

Priorities

Historical preservation: Filed a proposal for city ownership of Black Panther Heritage Trail historical markers. L1
Small business rights: Introduced a Small Business Bill of Rights to strengthen protections for local enterprises. L2
Affordable housing: Designated a low-affordability community at 6756-6758 S Chappel Ave to prioritize affordable housing development. L5
Tenant protections: Filed amendments to the Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance to expand just-cause eviction requirements. L6
Police accountability: Requested hearings on the use of police traffic stops and their impact on public safety. L7
Police disciplinary reform: Supported adoption of an arbitration option for certain police disciplinary cases. L14

Positions

Tax Increment Financing: Supported the use of TIF for development projects such as the Foundry Park and Roosevelt/Clark parking facilities. V1 V3
Public entertainment regulation: Voted against an amendment to prohibit sweepstakes machines, indicating opposition to that restriction. V5
Public enforcement pilot: Opposed the creation of a pilot program for resident-submitted recorded evidence. V24
Collective bargaining: Voted no on the collective bargaining agreement with the Chicago Fire Fighters Union, showing resistance to that contract. V31
Mass gatherings curfew: Opposed a curfew ordinance for mass gatherings, reflecting a stance against that limitation. V37
Housing debt waivers: Supported an amendment allowing the Commissioner of Housing to waive debts for certain buildings. V2
Historic recognition: Backed a formal apology to Black citizens for slavery and supported a memorial for Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. V33 V11
Police disciplinary procedures: Supported the adoption of arbitration for specific police disciplinary cases. L14

Approach: Yancy frequently requests documentation and raises questions during committee meetings, such as asking for a procurement director’s statement, and she has voted against motions she opposes, including several committee referrals. She also supports reports like the Rule 45 police report. S7 S8 S9 S4

What to watch: Given her past filings and questions, Yancy is likely to continue pursuing police traffic-stop reforms and advancing small-business protections. L7 L2

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
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
Oct 16, 2025: Collective bargaining agreement with Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local 2, Passed 45 yea, 2 nay, 2 absent
Jun 18, 2025: Mass Gatherings and Curfew, Passed 27 yea, 22 nay
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 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
Sep 14, 2023: 925 Amendment of 2023 appropriations, Passed 45 yea, 4 nay, 1 absent

Key legislation sponsored

Designation of 6756-6758 S Chappel Ave as Low Affordability Community (O2025-0018733), Passed Sep 25, 2025
Establishment of Jackson Park Housing Pilot Program by amending various parts of Chapters 2-44-110, 5-10, and 5-12 of the Municipal Code (SO2023-0004085), Passed Sep 25, 2025
Adoption of arbitration option in certain police disciplinary cases (SO2024-0007332), Failed to Pass Feb 15, 2024

In their own words

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

Jul 14, 2026, Committee on Transportation and Public Way: Moved to recommend approval of Dee Atkins’s appointment to NITA. (watch at 1:40:41)
Jul 7, 2026, Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety: Moved to allow remote participation for Aldermen Robinson, Moore, and Irvin. (watch at 13:49)
Jun 30, 2026, Committee on Police and Fire: Moved to approve the Rule 45 report. (watch at 30:59)
Jun 17, 2026, City Council: Recognized Lost Boys and Girls founder Levante Stuart and the Brookins family for Juneteenth. (watch at 2:11:52)
Jun 10, 2026, Committee on Transportation and Public Way: Requested remote participation under Rule 59. (watch at 21:50)
May 20, 2026, City Council: Supported the extremism ordinance, describing witnessing a racist incident involving police officers and linking extremism to police settlements. (watch at 6:44:53)
May 20, 2026, City Council: Opened remarks recognizing May 2026 as Haitian American Heritage Month. (watch at 2:30:28)
May 19, 2026, Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards: Presented a zoning change from M1-2 to M2-2 for a tree-recycling business. (watch at 2:06:28)
May 12, 2026, Committee on Public Safety: Requested a written copy of the procurement director’s statement. (watch at 44:35)
Apr 13, 2026, Committee on Workforce Development: Voted "no" on the final vote for the substitute ordinance. (watch at 30:20)
Apr 13, 2026, Committee on Workforce Development: Voted "no" on the motion to refer the ordinance to the Police and Fire Committee. (watch at 30:01)
Apr 7, 2026, Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety: Requested remote participation for the meeting. (watch at 8:51)