City Council

This is a PDF of the agenda: https://chicago.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=925556&GUID=B111CC6F-D4E9-4BB7-8B07-1A48ECB7F5F2

The meeting has been called to order at 10:10 am! Attendance is being recorded.

Now for public comment: Eve Angel Yhwnewbn speaks out about the CPD consent decree with the Justice Department being extended by 3 years. Read mmore about that here: https://news.wttw.com/2022/03/25/chicago-police-extending-consent-decree-timeline-3-additional-years

Another commenter speaks out against red light cameras in the city and surrounding suburbs, & says @chicagosmayor is ignoring studies that show the cameras have the harshest effects in poor and Black neighborhoods. The threshold for tickets was recently raised from 6mph to 10 mph

There have been multiple comments regarding ECPS and the people who will make up the commission. The commenters are concerned that the city will choose people who will continue offering the same poor response (if any) to police violence.

Multiple comments have come in regarding Mayor Lightfoot’s water ordinance: https://www.wbez.org/stories/mayor-lightfoot-introduces-new-chicago-water-ordinance/94fbbca3-6ccc-4ecb-98b1-c22e1f2714c7

Commenters from @A4GL & @ilenviro and say the ordinance “misses the opportunity to address existing water debt and toxic pipes” and that those most affected are in majority Black zip codes.

A colleague of Anjanette Young speaks about police violence and demands the city make sure that “what happened to Anjanette Young never happens to anyone else.” She calls on City Council to pass the Anjanette Young Ordinance immediately.

City Council moves onto the Committee on Finance to vote on recommended ordinances. They are having technical difficulties with their electronic voting machines.

Alderman Waguespack presents proposed ordinances about entering into intergovernmental agreements with the Parks District and the Board of Education to use TIF funds for repairs/renovations/upgrades at 19 parks and schools.

Alderman Dowell presents the report from the Committee on Budget and Government Operations. One item is appropriating funds for a transportation assistance program, and Alderman Lopez argues against it. He says this doesn’t address the “real issues we’re facing.”

Alderman Moore says he has spoken with the residents in the 17th Ward who are hurting, and need some help, so he supports this.

Alderman Ervin also speaks in support of the transportation assistance program - he says this is something meaningful that residents can utilize to get to work. The “main goal is to bring resources back to the community.”

Alderwoman Hairston says that transportation is not the biggest need - “we are spending $12 million on gas cards and only $3 million on the food depository.” She will not support the transportation assistance program.

Aldermen Vasquez and Beale also speak against the transportation assistance program.

Alderman Vasquez says this money would be better used for the cash assistance program that already exists. Alderman Beale says Chicago should buy the police department a new helicopter? Or otherwise use these funds for CPD.

Alderman Reilly says to give away gas cards is subsidizing fossil fuel, which he is against. He says to invest this money into safety on CTA.

Alderwoman Mitts asks who in the room would have a problem going to buy gas. She says there are people who need this help and that there are people who have to choose between getting their child to daycare and eating or getting to work, and they need help.

Alderman Sposato is against this, and he acknowledges that everyone knows he’s against it. “We need to strengthen CTA and public safety.”

Alderwoman Hadden speaks in opposition to the transportation assistance as well: she reiterates that the city just divested from fossil fuels and that everything else is more expensive, too, “so why just gas?” She (and her residents) would be happier if it went into CTA.

Alderman Villegas is in support because working families in his ward need it.

Alderman Maldonado says his constituents have flooded his office attempting to apply for these gas cards so he knows they need it. He even tells his colleagues to send their constituents to his office if they’re too busy to help them, because he’d be happy to help.

City Council is going to try electronic voting on the transit assistance program: in a very close 26-22 vote, the yeas have it on the transit assistance program.

Alderman Villegas reports from the Committee on Economic, Capital & Technology Development.

… closely followed by the Committee on Ethics & Government Oversight nomination of Deborah Witzburg as the Inspector General.

Witzburg’s nomination is supported by Alders Moore, O’Shea, Osterman, Rodriguez, Hadden, Sposato, Rodriguez-Sanchez, Hairston, Vasquez, Nugent, Ervin, Sigcho-Lopez, Reboyras, Cardenas, and Smith.

City Council quickly hears brief reports from the many committees and proposed ordinances from alders which are referred to the various committees.

The council is voting on a motion to table a motion to discharge the Committee. This is regarding the regulation of speed cameras (which I earlier referred to as red light cameras).

The motion passes. Alderman Beale’s motion is tabled.

City Council wishes Spencer Leak, Sr. (of Leak & Sons Funeral Homes) a happy 85th birthday and thanks him for his service to the community and his dedication to civil rights.

City Council tells stories and thanks the entire Leak family for how they’ve touched their lives personally. Mr. Leak was Dr. King’s chauffer when he came to town in 1965!

City Council next honors Tom Balanoff for his retirement from his position as President of SEIU Local 1.

The final resolution is a resolution to recognize April as Arab American Heritage Month.

Alderman Vasquez support this resolution, emphasizing that it is beautiful to be in a time where Arab Americans are being celebrated as opposed to being othered.

Meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m. This concludes the Chicago City Council meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for May 23, 2022 at 10 a.m. For more meeting coverage, check out http://documenters.org.