Independent legislative counsel, Procurement authority, Grace Manor, Encumbrance ordinance
The meeting will be live streamed at https://livestream.com/accounts/28669066/events/8800236 starting at 10am CST
The meeting was called to order at 10:02am. 38 of the 50 Alderpeople are present during the roll call.
The first public speaker, Powers, presents a poem about what they call the lack of decorum in City Council. The poem is titled called “Cops Out.”
They ended with the line, “We’re not MAGA, we’re Chicago. Let’s act like it.”
The second speaker, from an environmental organization, calls out City Council for the pollution on the Southwest side of Chicago. They ask why people of color must endure this pollution: “Do you realize that targeting our communities in this way is environmental racism?”
The next speaker, Blakemore, defends Lightfoot and says the all the bad things happening in Chicago have been happening. They tell everyone to “shut the what up, talking about Miss Lightfoot.”
The fourth speaker from the 11th Ward reminds Lightfoot of her commitment to clean air. They say Chicago has a much higher rate of asthma than the state average, and that emission rates are a failure.
The previous speaker urged City Council to deny a permit for Sims’ Midwest Metal Management. More info here: https://www.argusmedia.com/metals-platform/newsandanalysis/article/2294465-Sims-faces-resistance-on-Chicago-permit-renewal
The fifth speaker agrees that there is environmental racism in Chicago, and asks for a meeting with the Mayor’s administration to “go back to the community with some results.” They say money is owed to Black workers from previous agreements.
The next speaker, a Mexican-American resident of Pilsen and leader of Southwest Environmental Alliance, says they are “frightened by what’s happening in their neighborhood.” They call out Lightfoot’s diversion from her campaign promises to stand against pollution.
The speaker from Pilsen says a national reporter claimed Pilsen is the most polluted neighborhood in the nation.
The seventh speaker is from the Bridgeport Alliance. They say Sims is violating emissions regulations and jeopardizing public health. They urge City Council to deny the permit renewal, and hold a public meeting: “We need accountability.”
The next speaker, Lozano, says Chicago residents are paying the price of pollution with their health. They call for Sims’ permit to be denied, a public hearing on the issue and a discussion on reparations: “We can’t breath. We need to get paid back or we’re gonna shut them down.”
The ninth speaker is a homeowner in South Shore. They call for more support for renters and tenants during the current housing crisis; including things like an office of tenant advocates and a rental registry. “Do y’all care about people who are not homeowners?” they ask.
The next speaker echoes concerns about displacement in South Shore. They say it might be too late to achieve justice for folks who have already had to leave their homes.
There is a resolution to congratulate Commissioner Kelly on their retirement. Several Alders commend Kelly for their work in Chicago. “It was agitating in the best way,” says Alder LaSpata.
The next resolution is on Holocaust Remembrance Day. Israel Starck, a Chicago resident who survived four concentration camps during the Holocaust, remembers his past. He says “In today’s rising antisemitism…even the most ostensibly civil society can fall to the lowest point.”
Alderperson Smith, one of two Jewish Alders, speaks on the anti-vaccination narrative. She says appropriating the Holocaust into “something stupid, banal and not reflective of what really happened” is when evil is given another opportunity to occur.
After many Alders stand in support of the Holocaust Remembrance Day resolution, and with the victims, Lightfoot makes a statement: “If we stand silent in the face of such ignorance or hatred…we are, too, complicit.”
Several ordinances are put forth for consideration by the Council, including one to authorize TIF funding to improve various parks and one to transfer 17 lots to Habitat for Humanity.
There is an ongoing discussion on incorporating legal council and waiting 30 days before taking a vote.
Lightfoot weighs in on the conversation, saying City Council has been debating getting a lawyer for the body for three years. She says passing things and figuring them out later is not acceptable.
Lightfoot says, “This body needs its own council.”
She claims many in the City Council body think corporate council are their personal legal advisors.
Lightfoot proposes a vote on immediate passage of Alderman Beale’s ordinance without further consideration. According to Beale, “the intent of this ordinance is to empower us,” not to oppose the administration.
Beale says he has tried to do this the right way, but his voice is being silenced: “I want honest, legal representation…That’s what this is about.”
An initial vote comes out 29 to 19 in favor of obtaining legislative council.
There is a discussion around a past Executive Order by Lightfoot to ensure a chlorine supply for clean drinking water. The Order was issued after the motion came out of Committee, and will expire if an ordinance currently being debated by the body is passed.
Beale says “an Executive Order was issued to circumvent us.” He says the current ordinance is being used to “clean up” this action.
“Our priorities are in the wrong place,” says Beale.
Alderperson Dowell says the Order was to ensure clean water for constituents, not to circumvent the City Council.
There is a vote to either approve or reject the code amendment to procure the chemicals for clean water. Lightfoot exited the part of the room shown on camera during the discussion.
Alderperson Beale makes a point of clarification that the earlier vote on obtaining legal council only needed a simple majority and thus, should’ve passed. There is a pause for discussion, during which the audio stream is turned off.
After the break, the Chair announces that 34 votes were needed on Beale’s proposed suspension of the rules.