City Council

Politics

Wednesday, May 26, 2021
10:00 a.m. CDT

This is a remote assignment to cover the monthly meeting of City Council. To access, go to https://livestream.com/accounts/28669066/events/8800236.

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Live reporting by Bridget Fogarty

McKinley Park affordable housing a block from MAT asphalt plant, Du Sable Drive vote delayed

bridget fogarty @BridgeFogs

Hi Chicago, I'll be live-tweeting today's Chicago City Council meeting starting at 10 a.m. CST for @CHIdocumenters.

You can find the link to view the meeting here: livestream.com/accounts/28669…

09:58 AM May 26, 2021 CDT

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We're just getting started. Meeting details as well as an agenda can be found here:

chicago.legistar.com/DepartmentDeta…

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Today's meeting will include a final vote on the renaming of the Lake Shore Outer Drive after Jean Baptiste Pointe Du Sable-- over Mayor Lori Lighfoot's objections. @jus10chi at @BlockClubCHI has more of the story here:

blockclubchicago.org/2021/04/29/lak…

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Mayor Lori Lightfoot has called the meeting to order. Now roll call.

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49 members present; we have a quorum. The council is now reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

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Pastor T.D. Hughes of the Third Baptist Church of Chicago is now leading the meeting in an Invocation.

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We now move onto public comment. As at other meetings, speakers are limited to three minutes.

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The first speaker equates the City of Chicago to a full body, imploring Council members to see that addressing issues on South and West sides of the city will heal the whole city.

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The second public comment is from Ephraim Martin, a leader for Black Hero's Matter: blackheroesmatter.org/about-us
He thanks the committee's vote and support on the rename, and asks the full Council to “support this historic decree and vote yes this morning."

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Olivier Kamanzi of the African Global Chamber of Commerce says he speaks today to represent the African business community and the African Diaspora.

"The time is overdue to recognize (Du Sable as) the founding father of this great City of Chicago," he says.

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More speakers share their support for renaming Lake Shore Outer Drive after Jean Baptiste Pointe Du Sable, saying it's an opportunity to be on the right side of history.

"Imagine him in this chamber, listening to your arguments that its too big a project," one speaker says.

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A Lincoln Park resident shares her frustration over the approval of opening two Lincoln Park Preschools despite traffic & child safety concerns.

She said many of her neighbors only learned of the zoning approval after this reporting from @BlockClubCHI.
blockclubchicago.org/2021/05/24/lin…

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“In a very year we, at this very meeting will be discussing its relocation due to accidents," she said, and calls on the Council to delay decisions on the preschools.

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There are no more public comments, and we have moved on to resolutions. There's only one, a congratulatory resolution to the former Water Commissioner Randy Conner.

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Council members are giving their support of the resolution, and sharing their thanks and appreciation for Randy Conner and all he did in the Department of Water Management for the City. He announced his resignation back in December:
news.wttw.com/2020/12/29/chi…

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Each council member shares their deep appreciation for Randy Conner, saying he changed the culture of the water department in his three and a half year run.

“You took the time to sit with me, and to teach me," said Ald. Hairston of the 5th Ward. "You truly are a public servant.”

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“It’s very hard to root out racism,“ one alderman says, talking of the department Conner entered and the issues he faced upon taking the role. “So beyond sink holes, and beyond hydrants, I am truly grateful. You have taken the city on your shoulders.”

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Council members have concluded their approval of the congratulatory resolution and their thanks to Randy Conner; the resolution is approved.

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Now we've moved on to communications.

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Committee reports are up next. We start with the Finance Committee.

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Now talking settlements, specifically an item on the Finance Agenda regarding proposed orders that would authorize the Corporation Counsel to execute Settlement Orders in three cases. If you’re following along from home, we’re on page nine of the meeting agenda: https://t.co/Wi1dsoeeiZ

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The clerk calls the roll for council members to vote on the item.

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39 vote yes, 11 vote no. Council members object a motion to approve the proposed orders, and the motion fails.

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That concludes the report from the Finance Committee. Up next is the Committee on Budget and Government Operations.

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Aldermen from the Committee on Economic, Capital & Technology Development and the Committee on Committees & Rules shared their reports.

Now onto reports from Committee on Health & Human Relations.

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Council members are sharing their support for the appointment of Mamadou Diakhate as Executive Director of Animal Care and Control.

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We've got aldermen telling stories about coyotes, cats, squirrels, possums— each alderman has a story about how Diakhate has helped in their ward and he is the best for this job.

"Just call Mamadou," Ald. Curtis said.

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who knew City Council members have had so many run ins with coyotes and squirrels

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No other business to report from Health & Relations. Onto reports from the Committee on Housing & Real Estate

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Here's the summary of the Housing & Real Estate Committee. on page 26 if you want to follow along in the agenda. https://t.co/chzjzfwoxD

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We've moved onto report from the Committee on License & Consumer Protection, which includes an ordinance to allow a one-time exception for the Cubs to hold a game at Wrigley Field on June 18, 2021.

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We're hearing from Ald. Villegas about the substitute ordinance SO2020-4817. This would establish regulations and license fees for tow truck companies and operators.

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No more business from License and Consumer protection.

We've continued on with reports from the Committee on Pedestrian & Traffic Safety and Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs & Recreation.

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Aldermen shared their support for the Committee on Workforce Development's appointment of Christopher Owen as Commissioner of Human Resources.

Onto reports from the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks & Building Standards.

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We're discussing an item regarding a building project near in the 12th Ward. Though it would bring affordable housing, the project has raised many concerns, including from the Department of Housing, which denied funding to the project because of environmental concerns. https://t.co/zGM2hHHpNP

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Here's a screenshot from Google Maps of the site: located on Pershing, it's next to MAT Asphalt, ana sphalt mixing plant. https://t.co/DL1qD8Ak53

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This site is in Ald. Cardenas' ward. He implores council members to vote yes. "To vote against it would mean we negate affordable housing... for McKinley Park."

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“Yes we want affordable housing, but not at the expense of Black and brown people,” said Ald. Hairston, citing how environmental issues already disproportionately impact the health of city's Black and brown residents.

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Continuing to hear from aldermen on the development at the Pershing site. Those who oppose continue to clarify their opposition is not for affordable housing— its the opposition of placing hundreds of lower-income, working-class families next to an asphalt plant.

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The clerk called the roll to vote on the the project to build affordable housing on W. Pershing Rd. next to the MAT Asphalt plant.

Yays are 36 nays are 13, and many oppose the approval for reconsideration.

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The council is moving onto the committee's next items. There's some confusion over whether or not there will be opportunity to debate before a roll call.

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Now hearing from council members on an ordinance to extend cannabis licensing to Curative Health LLC. https://t.co/QEZ3M706uL

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While cannabis licensing offered an "opportunity to get some semblance of equity regarding cannabis,” said Ald. King “It still enslaved us in terms of economic equity.”

A vote yes "smacks in the face of all the folks who are locked up," she said.

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Other aldermen continue to share their disapproval of the extension of licensing, specifically acknowledging the lack of justice for people who are incarcerated.

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The council calls for a roll call, and "no" is the majority. The order is not approved.

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We've moved on in the agenda, to reports from the special committees.

Theres some confusion as roll began to be called; Ald. King said her hand was up to ask a question, and was not called on in time. She did not get to ask her question.

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Now onto Item 12 in our agenda, presenting resolutions and ordinances that have been introduced by aldermen. https://t.co/xlOETA5itK

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We now move on in the agenda to Miscellaneous Business. Ald. Mitchell says there is no miscellaneous business, nor is there unfinished business.

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Now they set the date for the next meeting, which will be on Wednesday, June 23 at 10 a.m.

The mayor mentions her hopes that the full council will return to in-person meetings (at today's meeting, it's been a mix of virtual and in-person attendance).

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With no further business, a motion is made to adjourn. The meeting concludes at 2:01 pm.

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that's all for today's Chicago City Council meeting. thanks for following along (and for your patience as i'm newer to ~live-tweeting~)!

for more city meeting coverage, follow @CHIdocumenters and check out documenters.org.

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Agency Information

Chicago City Council

chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov

(312) 744-3166

@ChiCouncil

See Documenters reporting

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