Committee on Housing and Real Estate

The agenda for the meeting is pictured here: https://t.co/O8euU8sZ3r

I tuned into a public comment from Crystal Blanton, property owner from the South Side, who opposes the proposed six month extension of the Fair Notice ordinance for housing. The ordinance would require 90 days before eviction. More on this here: https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/lightfoot-has-mini-revolt-her-hands

The next two public speakers also oppose the ordinance. They both expect a negative effect on smaller, or “mom and pop,” housing providers. They both also cited the rushed aspect of both the writing of the legislation, and the voting today.

Public Commenter Kevin Jackson on the ordinance: https://t.co/bueBs9BnxQ

The next public commenter opposes the ordinance as well, and the speaker after that is a representative of residents who live along the 606. The latter expresses opposition to the proposed moratorium on demotion or rezoning along the 606 through Feb. 2021.

The final speaker is Debbie Lou of the Metropolitan Planning Committee. She says the MPC supports the Fair Notice ordinance, saying it will enhance protections for Chicago renters, giving them “an opportunity to redress bad rent before evictions.”

There is one more speaker, who says he learned that the Fair Notice ordinance being voted on today is vastly different from the one proposed in May. He implores the committee to share the details of the new ordinance with the public before voting.

The above speaker says the proposal could extend required notice of eviction to as many as 120 days. He cites “disruptive tenants” as a major concern of housing providers, that could become a larger problem with the passage of the new Fair Notice ordinance.

3 appointments to the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund Board are up for approval by the Committee’s 18 present members. Alderman Moore requested information about the racial makeup of that Board before calling a vote. It’s a 15 member Board with 7 POC and 4 women. https://t.co/YsV0gpJrSl

Alderman Lopez comments that he’s disappointed that diversity on this Board was an afterthought. As he called for more intentionality in representation going forward, he noted that the Chairman was rolling his eyes. https://t.co/dovS3Bz8Pa

Alderman Vasquez presses for more intentionality in including more women and nonbinary folks on the Board moving forward as well. The recommendation of all 3 appointments is approved. https://t.co/X7Wwo8zGSi

Next on the Agenda is the Amendment of Ordinance by extending temporary moratorium date for building or demolition permits and rezoning of residential properties within 606 Residential Area to February 1, 2021.

Alderman La Spata on the Amendment: https://t.co/OoKaJt5mhM

The Amendment of Ordinance for the 606 is approved by the Committee.

The Committee skips ahead to Item 6 on the Agenda, an ordinance approving an acquisition grant of $900k to acquire 30 vacant historic Pullman row houses. This will “remove nearly all the remaining vacant homes” in the North Pullman area. https://t.co/S7IQnyMrQI

The acquisition grant is approved by the Committee.

The Committee circles back to Item 5, an Amendment to Agreement regarding scope of development for previously sold properties in the Fuller Park area. The proposal includes construction of a new retail building and carwash. https://t.co/Fk1kKQRQ26

Alderman Dowell asks for the committee’s support on this development, saying the owner of the Mini Mart is a great businessman. Alderman Moore also expresses how clean and safe the property already is, and lends his support to the project. The project is approved by the Committee

The final item on the Agenda is the Fair Notice ordinance. The Committee votes (13/2) to accept a discussion on a substitute ordinance that was emailed to members this morning. This appears to be the one debated by the public for lack of transparency. https://t.co/OO1k2SLLcd

Chairman Osterman explains the substitute Fair Notice ordinance: https://t.co/tzmwLjfWKF

Marisa Novara of the Dept. of Housing says the ordinance will give renters a chance to pay back rent owed from the current pandemic, until a court-issued eviction notice. She speaks on seeking racial equity in housing, & minimizing unintended consequences that deter investment.

Alderman Lopez opposes the Fair Notice ordinance: “No one is discussing the security and stability of the owners of the properties on the South and West Sides.” He calls some tenants “professional scammers.”

Lopez says this ordinance doesn’t help Black or Latinx building owners, and is ratcheting up the instability in communities.

Alderman La Spata asks if there is data to quantify this concept of the “problem tenant” and why evictions are happening in Chicago.

Anthony Simpkins of the Housing Committee says this does happen, but the ordinance will strike a balance between tenants who are gaming the system and those that truly need more time to relocate.

Alderman Sigcho-Lopez echoes a commitment by several Committee members to distinguish between big developers and small homeowners, and to establish a working group to avoid unintended consequences. https://t.co/BQYeQU9jL8

Ald. Sigcho-Lopez on protecting small homeowners instead of big developers and speculators: https://t.co/VcvJP7xSky

Alderman Rodriguez clarifies with the Housing Committee that the ordinance does not impact just cause evictions, which apply to tenants breaking the law. This ordinance would only protect tenants being evicted through no fault of their own.

Alderman Cappleman on what he calls a housing crisis across the planet: “I got notice that there was a huge change last night around 8 o’clock. And I finally got the last revision at 8:04 this morning… I need more time to really study [the unintended consequences].”

Cappleman says the housing crisis has been here a long time, and he feels uneasy approving solutions with such short notice.

The Committee votes to recommend approval of the substitute Fair Notice ordinance (12/5).

The meeting is adjourned at 12:39pm