Politics

Chicago, IL 60602 (Directions)

This is a remote assignment. To access, go to https://livestream.com/accounts/28669066.

At this link you’ll see several video “events” with various statuses and titles. Click on the event that is “Live” or “On Air”––it will likely be titled “COC-Council Chambers” or COC-Council/Committee Meeting (2)”.

If none of the streams appear to be live you may be early or the meeting may be starting late. Wait a few moments and try refreshing your Internet tab.

Past committee meeting videos may be found at https://vimeo.com/showcase/chicago; past City Council meeting videos are at https://vimeo.com/showcase/citycouncil.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Susan Carlotta Ellis

Anjanette Young settlement, COPA Chief Administrator Andrea Kersten appointment, Glenstar O'Hare, Austin collapses

Live reporting by Ahmad Sayles

Anjanette Young settlement, COPA Chief Administrator Andrea Kersten appointment, Glenstar O'Hare, Austin collapses

Ahmad Sayles

Good Morning! I’ll be live-tweeting today’s Chicago City Council’s regular meeting for @CHIdocumenters #CHIdocumenters. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. Due to COVID-19, the meeting will be held remotely.

09:40 AM Dec 15, 2021 CST

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 3/39

View the meeting along with me here: https://livestream.com/accounts/28669066

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 4/39

Chicago City Council will review and vote on legislation advanced by committees in the past month, including the #AnjanetteYoung settlement and sportsbook ordinance https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/12/13/settling-the-anjanette-young-botched-raid-lawsuit-will-cost-city-2-9-million-top-city-attorney-calls-it-right-and-just/

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 6/39

Mayor Lightfoot calls the meeting to order. Roll call underway.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 7/39

37 city council members present. Quorum reached.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 8/39

Pledge of Allegiance recited. Invocation delivered. The public comment period begins. The first speaker is George Blakemore. Mr. Blakemore wants black Chicagoans to advocate for themselves in city council meetings. The next speaker is Anna Burke.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 9/39

Anna Burke is disappointed in the city & federal government’s response to COVID-19.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 10/39

Tom Ricketts - Chairman of the Chicago Cubs speaks in favor of the sportsbook ordinance. Mr. Ricketts says sports gaming will increase the revenue of Chicago’s sports teams and help them put out more competitive teams. Promises a diverse workforce for the Cub’s sportsbook.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 11/39

The public comment period ends. Resolution honoring Timuel Black is before the council now. City Council members are now sharing their admiration for the Chicago historian.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 12/39

Dr. Timuel Black is being heralded for his political activism and wealth of knowledge. We lost the great Chicagoan this past October.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 13/39

Mayor Lightfoot moves on to a resolution that honors CPS student-athletes for their accomplishments.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 14/39

Both resolutions passed. Mayor Lightfoot Resumes regular order of the meeting.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 15/39

Committee on Finance Chairman Ald. Waguespack (32) moves for passage of proposed settlement orders. https://t.co/7aU4S00fhw

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 16/39

Ald. Lopez (15) says he’s a no vote on the settlement order to Pedro Rios’ family. Pedro Rios Jr. was killed by a CPD officer in 2014. https://news.wttw.com/2021/12/13/aldermen-set-pay-22m-settle-3-police-misconduct-cases

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 17/39

Mayor Lightfoot points out that Pedro Rios was 14 years old at the time of his death. He was running away from the police when he was shot and killed. She also points out the treatment of the deceased by the CPD officer.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 18/39

The settlement orders Scott v. City of Chicago & Rios v. City of Chicago passed.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 19/39

The settlement order #AnjanetteYoung v. City of Chicago passes, the settlement amount is 2.9 million dollars.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 20/39

Chairpersons of the city council committees are now introducing reports. Check out the agenda here: https://chicago.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=906438&GUID=40556A8C-D9C3-41EA-98EC-C7A29C2892EB

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 21/39

The appointment of Andrea Kersten as Chief Administrator of COPA passed. The appointment of Ryan Z. Cortazar as member of the Board of Ethics passed.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 22/39

The appointment of Kenneth Meyer as Commissioner of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection passed.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 23/39

Sportsbook ordinance passed.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 24/39

Ald. Beale (9) and Mayor Lightfoot get into a spat over procedure.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 25/39

The City Council meeting has been paused due to a medical emergency involving Ald. Austin (34).

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 26/39

Mayor Lightfoot resumes the meeting. Prayer is being held for the health of Ald. Austin (34).

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 27/39

The regular order of business resumes. Appointments of Steven Block and Mareile Bayard Cusack as members of the police board passed.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 28/39

The appointment of Erin Harkey as Commissioner of Cultural Affairs and Special Events passed.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 29/39

Extension of expanded outdoor dining program passed.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 30/39

Reappointment of Mayor Lightfoot, a member of the Public Building Commission passed.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 31/39

Ald. Napolitano (41) opposes the affordable housing proposal in his ward. Says the residents of his ward oppose the proposal also.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 33/39

Mayor Lightfoot says that affordable housing and the history of segregation in Chicago are related.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 34/39

The zoning proposal for affordable housing near O’Hare/NW Chicago is passed with a 33-13 vote.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 35/39

Agreed Calendar passed.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 36/39

The next City Council regular meeting will be held Wednesday, January 26th, 2022.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 37/39

Omnibus passed. No further business or miscellaneous business before the council.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 38/39

Mayor Lightfoot adjourns the meeting.

Ahmad Sayles @ahmad_sayles 39/39

Chicago City Council’s regular meeting ends at 2:00 p.m. This ends my coverage for @CHIdocumenters find more information through @chisuci7 Susan Carlotta Ellis’ notes at http://documenters.org

Attachments

2 attachments

Agency Information

Chicago City Council

The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago and consists of the Mayor and Aldermen elected from each of the City’s fifty wards. Source

If you attend a meeting in person, be prepared to go through a security checkpoint and show photo ID.

Meetings are also livestreamed at https://www.chicityclerk.com/.

At this link, scroll down to “Meeting Notices.” Look for “Watch now” and click on the link with the meeting title to go to a livestream page. If you don’t see a link for the meeting, you may be early or the meeting may be starting late. Wait a few moments and try refreshing your Internet tab.

Recordings of past City Council meetings may be found here: https://vimeo.com/user100351763/videos/sort:date.

See also: “What to Expect at a Meeting of Chicago’s City Council” via the Better Government Association.

More from this agency

Committee on Finance

Chicago City Council

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

10:00 a.m. CDT

Committee on Public Safety

Chicago City Council

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

10:00 a.m. CDT

Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy

Chicago City Council

Monday, May 5, 2025

10:00 a.m. CDT

Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight

Chicago City Council

Monday, May 5, 2025

12:00 p.m. CDT

Committee on Health and Human Relations

Chicago City Council

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

10:00 a.m. CDT