Michelle A. Harris

Michelle A. Harris is the alderperson for Chicago's 8th Ward.

Contact

Email: Ward08@cityofchicago.org
Ward office: 8539 South Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago 60619, (773) 874-3300
City Hall: 121 Noth LaSalle Street, Room 200, (312) 744-3075/6825
Website: http://www.Aldermanmichelleharris.net
Updates: RSS feed of votes and legislation

Voting record this term

Attendance: 100% of 1164 key roll calls (0 absent)
Nay votes: 8
Voted with the majority on 97.8% of 91 divided votes
Legislation filed as lead sponsor: 38 (28 passed)
Most-filed topics: Municipal Code Amendments (9), City Council (7), Alley (6), Signs/Signboards (5), Streets (5)

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 Michelle A. Harris has consistently voted in favor of tax-increment financing agreements for development projects, such as the Foundry Park and Roosevelt/Clark Partners deals V1 V3 V5 and has supported numerous municipal-code amendments on housing, licensing and other issues V2 V26. She has also cast a small number of dissenting votes, notably opposing a sweepstakes-machine ban and a police-department ordinance restricting officers V6 V10.

Priorities

Package goods licensing: Filed an amendment to allow additional package-goods licenses on portions of S Stony Island Avenue L4
Honorary street designations: Submitted a proposal to name an honorary street "Honorary Graham Waller, Jr. Way" L7
Street vacations and dedications: Filed a vacancy and dedication ordinance for streets and alleys bounded by S Dobson Ave, E 76th St, S Greenwood Ave and E 77th St L9
Committee fund transfers: Amended the Annual Appropriation Ordinance to move funds within the Committee on Committees and Rules L10
Sergeant-at-Arms appointments: Filed an amendment to the Sergeant-at-Arms and Assistant Sergeants-at-Arms roster for the 2023-2027 term L6
Sign permits: Filed permits for signage at 901 E 95th St for multiple elevations L1 L2 L3

Positions

Tax increment financing: Supports the use of TIF to fund development projects, as reflected in multiple affirmative votes on TIF agreements V1 V3 V5
Housing debt waivers: Supports municipal-code amendments that allow the Commissioner of Housing to waive debts for certain buildings V2
Sweepstakes machine ban: Opposed legislation defining and prohibiting sweepstakes machines, voting no V6
Police officer restrictions: Opposed a municipal-code amendment restricting Chicago Police Department members from certain activities, voting no V10
Package-goods licensing: Supported expanding package-goods licenses in specific zoning districts V26
Gas-station permit requirements: Supported removing permit requirements for gas stations in B3, C1 and C2 districts V26
Remote participation: Filed a motion to reconsider a prior remote-participation vote, indicating skepticism of remote voting procedures S4
Millionaire-tax referendum: Called for a pause on the millionaire-tax referendum to allow further deliberation S6

Approach: In council meetings she frequently moves motions, including requests to suspend rules and to reconsider prior votes S3 S4, and she has filed motions supporting or opposing specific measures such as the monuments resolution and the millionaire-tax referendum S5 S6. She regularly participates in remote-attendance discussions, confirming her presence for remote-attendance motions and noting other aldermen's requests S16 S17, and she often thanks chairs for ordinance work and raises community concerns during public comment periods S12 S13 S14 S15.

What to watch: Given her pattern of supporting TIF projects and filing numerous municipal-code amendments, she is likely to remain active on development financing and code-change initiatives V1 L4

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
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
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
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 4-60-023 (8.41(a)) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Stony Island Ave (O2026-0027472), Passed Sep 23, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (8.25) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion of E 87th St (O2025-0019666), Passed Oct 16, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 3-56-050 by amending Subsection E regarding waiver of fees imposed by chapter (O2025-0017548), Passed Jun 18, 2025
Standing Committee member name changes (SR2025-0016380), Adopted Apr 7, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-244-140 to prohibit peddling on portions of E 79th St and E 87th St (O2024-0010865), Passed Sep 18, 2024
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (8.7) to disallow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of E 79th St (O2024-0008963), Passed May 22, 2024
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (8.43) to allow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Stony Island Ave (O2024-0008959), Passed May 22, 2024
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (8.41(a)) to disallow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of S Stony Island Ave (O2024-0008962), Passed May 22, 2024
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-023 (8.65) to disallow additional package goods licenses on portion(s) of E 87th St (O2023-0004822), Passed Nov 15, 2023

In their own words

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

Sep 29, 2026, City Council: Honored Dr. Peggy A. Montes, founder of the Bronzeville Children's Museum, on her 90th birthday. (watch at 1:03:45)
Sep 23, 2026, City Council: Praised Corporation Counsel Lowry as a scholar and leader who gave the truth by law. (watch at 2:41:09)
Jul 15, 2026, City Council: Presented the Committee on Committees and Rules report, including proposed referendum questions and a tribute to Sam Sianis. (watch at 3:09:00)
Jul 14, 2026, Committee on Transportation and Public Way: Moved to approve remote participation for Alderman Jason C. Ervin. (watch at 41:48)
Jul 14, 2026, Committee on Transportation and Public Way: Moved to approve the Rule 5.45 report. (watch at 41:18)
Jul 13, 2026, Committee on Finance: Moved to allow remote participation for Alderman Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez. (watch at 20:42)
Jul 8, 2026, Committee on Budget and Government Operations: Moved to amend the Rule 59 motion to add Aldermen Farrow and Quezada. (watch at 17:38)
Jun 29, 2026, Committee on Housing and Real Estate: Joined the meeting remotely after a Rule 59 motion. (watch at 1:17:05)
Jun 17, 2026, City Council: Thanked Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Cole Stallard and staff for storm cleanup on the South Side. (watch at 3:56:27)
Jun 17, 2026, City Council: Supported Kenneth Gunn's appointment, citing 35 years of working with him. (watch at 3:09:22)
Jun 17, 2026, City Council: Honored educator Dr. Noble L. Pierce for Juneteenth. (watch at 2:02:06)
Jun 10, 2026, Committee on Housing and Real Estate: Raised concerns about lighting and pedestrian safety near the terminal. (watch at 2:00:00)