Debra L. Silverstein

Debra L. Silverstein is the alderperson for Chicago's 50th Ward.

Contact

Email: Ward50@cityofchicago.org
Ward office: 2949 West Devon Avenue, Chicago 60659, (773) 262-1050
City Hall: 121 North LaSalle Street, Room 300, Office 24, (312) 744-6855/5680/3180
Website: http://50thwardchicago.com
Updates: RSS feed of votes and legislation

Voting record this term

Attendance: 95.2% of 1164 key roll calls (56 absent)
Nay votes: 13
Voted with the majority on 84.5% of 84 divided votes
Legislation filed as lead sponsor: 44 (43 passed)
Most-filed topics: Signs/Signboards (19), Alley (10), Municipal Code Amendments (8), Budget & Appropriations (2), Parking (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 Debra L. Silverstein chairs the Committee on License and Consumer Protection and has filed 44 pieces of legislation, including numerous sign and licensing permits L1 L2 L3. She has voted in favor of multiple tax increment financing agreements for development projects V1 and has opposed select police-related and public-enforcement measures V10 V25.

Priorities

Licensing and signage: She regularly files permits for signs and approves amendments to liquor and package-goods licensing L1 L2 S11.
Public participation: She supports measures to allow remote participation and to adjust public-comment scheduling in council meetings S6 S7.
Parks and recreation: She backed the Montrose Metro Garden ordinance in the Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation Committee S1.
Vehicle Gas Tax policy: She expressed strong opposition to the repeal of the Vehicle Gas Tax and indicated she would vote no on such an ordinance S2 S5.
Tax increment financing: She voted yes on several TIF agreements to support development projects in the city V1 V3 V5.
Police and public safety restrictions: She voted no on an amendment that would prohibit Chicago Police Department members from certain activities V10.

Positions

Tax increment financing: Supports the use of TIF for development projects, as reflected by her affirmative votes on multiple agreements V1.
Licensing amendments (sweepstakes, liquor, package goods): Supports licensing changes, voting yes on related code amendments and introducing licensing amendments V6 V7 S11.
Police participation restrictions: Opposes restrictions on police officers' participation in certain activities, casting a no vote on the amendment V10.
Public enforcement pilot program: Opposes the establishment of a pilot program for public enforcement of recorded evidence, voting no V25.
Vehicle Gas Tax repeal: Opposes any repeal of the Vehicle Gas Tax and would vote no if such an ordinance came before the council S2 S5.
Remote participation in council meetings: Supports allowing remote participation for council members S6.
Public-comment scheduling: Supports moving the public-comment segment to give participants more speaking time S7.
Committee jurisdiction for workforce ordinance: Questions placing the VGT repeal ordinance before the Workforce Committee rather than the License Committee S3.

Approach: In council meetings she frequently asks procedural questions and moves motions, such as questioning committee jurisdiction and proposing remote participation options S3 S6.

What to watch: She is likely to remain active on licensing, signage permits, and tax increment financing projects, given her extensive filing record and voting support for such measures L1 V1.

Nay votes on key legislation

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
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 30, 2024: Jarixon Medina as member of Regional Trnsportation Authority Board of Directors, Failed to Pass 18 yea, 25 nay
Oct 9, 2024: Refunding of General Obligation/Sales Tax Securitization Corporation Bond, Series 2024, Passed 35 yea, 12 nay, 2 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

Key legislation sponsored

Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-022 (50.51) to allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portion(s) of W Devon Ave (O2026-0025384), Passed Jun 17, 2026
Correction to amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of Kedzie Ave, from Granville Ave to Devon Ave and W Devon Ave, from Kedzie Ave to McCormick Rd (O2025-0015972), Passed Apr 16, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (50.2) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of N Kedzie Ave (O2024-0013693), Passed Jan 15, 2025
Used Lithium battery prohibitions on resale (SO2024-0007754), Passed Sep 18, 2024
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (50.22) to disallow additional package goods licenses on portions of N Western Ave (O2024-0010313), Passed Sep 18, 2024
On Touhy Ave from California Avenue to Rockwell Street lifting restrictions (O2024-0007559), Passed Mar 20, 2024
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 2-120-518 establishing reporting and tracking procedures regarding hate incidents (SO2023-0003932), Passed Dec 13, 2023
Amendment of Municipal Code Title 9 by adding new Chapter 9-116 entitled "Traffic Crash Review and Analysis" (SO2023-0001253), Passed Sep 14, 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 License Committee items, including liquor moratoriums and shared housing restricted zones, and a casino hearing. (watch at 4:39:08)
Jul 15, 2026, City Council: Reported five liquor moratorium ordinances from the License Committee and one item held. (watch at 4:01:08)
Jul 7, 2026, Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation: Moved to approve the Montrose Metro Garden ordinance. (watch at 31:46)
Jun 24, 2026, Committee on Workforce Development: Stated she would vote no if the ordinance ever came to a vote. (watch at 1:37:46)
Jun 24, 2026, Committee on Workforce Development: Expressed disappointment that the committee was used to advance the ordinance. (watch at 1:36:50)
Jun 24, 2026, Committee on Workforce Development: Questioned why the ordinance was placed before the Workforce Committee instead of the License Committee. (watch at 1:33:08)
Jun 24, 2026, Committee on Workforce Development: Stated strong opposition to the VGT repeal ordinance. (watch at 1:32:23)
Jun 17, 2026, City Council: Said she would support Kenneth Gunn's appointment but would keep pressing the administration on rising antisemitism. (watch at 3:11:13)
May 20, 2026, City Council: Supported William Cheeks Jr.'s appointment. (watch at 4:37:10)
May 20, 2026, City Council: Condemned ICE but opposed the resolution calling for Salah Osur's release, citing FBI statements linking him to Hamas, and asked to be recorded as no. (watch at 4:06:04)
May 20, 2026, City Council: Opened remarks on Jewish American Heritage Month, describing Jewish contributions to Chicago and rising antisemitism. (watch at 1:42:56)
May 19, 2026, Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight: Asked if the old committee map could be restored. (watch at 58:20)