Committee on Public Safety

Politics

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020
10:00 a.m. CDT

This is a virtual subject matter hearing on civilian oversight of the Chicago Police Department. No votes will be taken at this meeting.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Jazmine Valadez

View notes

Live reporting by Navjot Heer

navi @navheer

Hey y’all, I’ll be live-tweeting today's Committee on Public Safety meeting for #ChiDocumenters @ChiDocumenters! This is a virtual subject matter hearing on civilian oversight of @Chicago_Police (aka #CPAC) and no votes will be taken at this meeting.

09:33 AM Oct 20, 2020 CDT

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The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10 AM. Join the livestream via the City of Chicago's Vimeo page, under the broadcast labeled, "COC Council Chambers" here:
vimeo.com/user100351763

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And agenda for the meeting can be found here: documenters.org/documents/agen…

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This #CPAC hearing comes after a summer of protests against police violence nationwide. CPAC, which calls for an elected council to oversee CPD and replace the mayor-appointed Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), has seen increased support the past months.

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For years, activists have been pushing for community control of @Chicago_Police, which is currently under a federal consent decree. #CPAC is also a demand of the @defundcpdchi campaign and organizations like @CAARPR have been canvassing for support of the ordinance this summer.

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Ald. Ramirez-Rosa (35) @CDRosa first introduced a version of #CPAC in 2016 and it was rejected by City Council in 2018. The new version of #CPAC, Ordinance 2019-8058, was introduced in Oct. 2019 and has 19 aldermanic co-sponsors. Link to Ordinance below:
chicago.councilmatic.org/legislation/o2…

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Check out this article by @a_achaidez of @BlockClubCHI for more background on #CPAC.
blockclubchicago.org/2020/06/18/wha…

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Alderpeople are starting to join the meeting and are giving a few more minutes for folk to log on. Meeting will begin at 10:05 AM. Vice Chair of the committee, Ald. Osterman (48), says the meeting today is for discussion purposes.

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Virtual meeting is called to order at 10: 05 AM. Roll call has begun. 15 committee members of 19 total members are present. Quorum is reached. Next up: public comments on #CPAC.

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First public comment is from Emily Hall, a Logan Square resident, speaking in support of #CPAC. "We have a huge problem in our city, and that problem is CPD." She lists names of Chicagoans who have lost their lives by CPD.

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She shares her experience at protests, where "protestors were brutalized by CPD." She asks where is the accountability? She says #CPAC is the only way to hold
CPD police accountable.

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Next public comment is from Nick Ward also speaking in support of #CPAC. He speaks about the amount paid out in settlements for CPD. He says "policing in Chicago harms so many of us." He says #CPAC will build a safer, more accountable world.

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Next up is Troi Valles. She starts by thanking the alderpeople who have signed on in support of #CPAC. She asks the other alderpoeple present, “do you even care about your community?” She speaks about how a large amount of the budget goes to policing.

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She shares that defunding the police and community control of police through #CPAC is part of the solution.

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Next up is Emma Petit. She says she is appalled Chicago has yet to take any meaningful action for policing in Chicago. She shares her support of #CPAC and urges aldermen to support #CPAC and community control of the police. She says, “Black and brown lives depend on this.”

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Next up is Grace Patino from the 48th ward. She shares her support of #CPAC and urges Ald. Osterman to sign on in support. She shares her time with other folk who are chanting #CPACNow.

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Her 3 minute comment time is cut short by aldermen unhappy with her choice to share her public comment time with folks chanting #CPACnow. The next public commenter scheduled is not present.

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The next speaker is also in support of #CPAC. He speaks about how CPAC is means to demilitarizing the police and working towards abolition. He says Chicago police has been operating against the interests of those it is pledged to serve.

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This commenter, Mr. Levine says, "It is time to give power back to the people." And says this morning he stands in support of #CPAC.

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The next speaker is in support of #CPAC and speaks of past #CPAC engagement sessions where Chicagoans and aldermen showed their support. He shares that #GAPA is a watered down version of its original proposal and is just more bureaucracy.

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He shares he is a lifelong Chicagoan and urges the aldermen to vote against #GAPA and any other "watered down proposals" and to vote in support of #CPAC.

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Next speaker, Clare Fuller, is also in support of #CPAC. She shares that she can speak about problems with CPD well past her three minute time, and begins listing problems, such as CPD missing consent decree deadlines and adopting only 5 of 155 use of force guidelines.

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The next speaker is in support of #CPAC and gives a trigger warning about violence against youth before beginning to speak. He shares his partner's experience of seeing a white male police officer treating an innocent youth walking home with brutal force for no reason.

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The speaker shares his partner's frustrating experience with #COPA. He says that #GAPA is not the solution and community control of the police through #CPAC is necessary.

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The last speaker during public comment also shares her support of #CPAC. She says that she's tried of being scared for herself, her family, and Chicagoans. She wants CPAC to hold CPD accountable and also #CPAC as a means to divest from policing and invest in community resources.

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This concludes the public comment section. The Rule 45 report is approved as Ald. Scott moves to appove it.

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Chairman Ald. Taliaferro (29) says both #CPAC and #GAPA ordinances will be discussed today. Representatives from both CPAC and GAPA will speak for 40 minutes, then there will be a 20 minute presentation, followed up with questions and comments by alderpeople.

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After clarification requested by alderpeople about the current and future subject matter hearings related to #CPAC, #GAPA and civilian oversight of police, the #CPAC presentation begins.

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Tamer Abouzeid begins the #CPAC presentation with a virtual @CAARPRNow background. He says, "Community control of the police is how the people want to use their power." He talks about the missing of consent decree deadlines and the large portion of Chicago's budget for CPD.

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He starts to get into the details. He says a huge thing is that #CPAC will be directly elected by the people.

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He says each police district will be paired with another to have one elected #CPAC councilor, with very specific requirements to serve. Each councilor in CPAC will have voting power that's in proportion to the population of folk living in their police district

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Abouzeid is sharing a thorough review the powers of #CPAC. So much detail, trying to keep up y'all! CPAC will have the to appoint the police board, the superintendent, and chief administrator of #COPA.

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He speaks about the power of #CPAC to remove and goes into detail about the checks and balances written into the ordinance. He speaks about the importance of evaluating and recommending policy as part of the ordinance.

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#CPAC will also have budgetary power. It will allow suspension of police powers under certain circumstances. It will also have power over contract negotiations with the FOP. Another emphasis on being proactive with policy evaluation and recommendation.

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He concludes by saying, "You have seen on today’s phone calls and you have seen it on the streets, the people want #CPAC." He urges alderpeople to work with @CAARPRNow and the hundreds of other orgs in support of CPAC and help pass this ordinance.

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Okay, now the #GAPA presentation. Desmond Yancy of the GAPA Coalition is speaking about GAPA roots and the community engagement process.

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Yancy says, if we want to increase safety and build trust, we need to focus on accountability. He says, "We need to do more on the front end before things go wrong." https://t.co/EWYE6gJcCH

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Yancy speaks about the two-tiered structure of #GAPA to increase trust and collaboration between community and police. Here is a pic of what that structure looks like ... https://t.co/FnbcdrqduG

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The district councils slide shows the make-up of the elected members and the key powers, including woking with residents to develop safety initiatives and working to improve police-community relations. https://t.co/GMLnkDjN8F

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What is the #GAPA Commission? It would be made up of seven civilians, with two spots for young people. Yancy says it would play a key role in public safety initiatives. https://t.co/e4parpMnjS

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Yancy says #GAPA is the "right and missing piece." It would fit into the existing system of policing and increase front and back end accountability, with a focus on prevention. https://t.co/jraC5OHarL

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Barry Friedman speaks next in support of #GAPA. He is a professor who shares he works with communities and police all over the nation to make sure policing is equitable, and most intensely in Chicago. He goes on to speak about the importance of front and back end accountability.

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Friedman says #GAPA is designed to make sure there is front end accountability in policing. He says they are trying to change policing in Chicago with community input. He says #GAPA will provide a means to gather the community to be in dialogue with police.

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Now moving onto questions/comments. Ald. Taliaferro (29) starts by saying that changing policing will change communities themselves, so we have to be very careful about implementing any policies that may be a detriment to the communities.

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Ald. Taliaferro asks for a definition of "immediate family" who are prohibited from being elected onto #CPAC and #GAPA. He asks about the legality of restricting immediate family from running for public office for both #CPAC or #GAPA.

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Yancy of #GAPA clarifies that GAPA ordinance does not have the immediate family of police prohibition. A law enforcement officer, however, would not be able to serve for three years.

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Under #CPAC, immediate family is prohibited from serving, and this prohibition while running for public office is in fact legal. Past occupation or familial occupation does not have the same protection class as others (i.e. religion).

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Ald. Taliaferro (29) asks if #CPAC will most likely be sued if it were to pass and Abouzeid says yes. Adam Gross, speaking in favor of #GAPA, says it is most likely that whatever is passed will be litigated and brought to court.

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Ald. Taliaferro (29) asks about #CPAC power to remove Police Superintendent and Chief Administrator and how that would relate to mayoral power. Abouzeid shares that #CPAC and City Council would have this power. Larry Redmond of CPAC reinforces Abouzeid's points.

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Next question from Ald. Taliaferro (29) asks about who in #GAPA has power to draft policy. Gross answers that it's a collaborative process that requires folks on both sides to be on board and work towards consensus. This will be similar to how the process works in Los Angeles.

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He says when speaking of Los Angeles, "They have been able to make dramatic change because of that collaborative process." Freidman shares there are cities where this model is working extremely well and we can learn from them.

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Freidman says 90-some percent of the time, the parties are in agreement. He says, what matters are the incidences where there are disagreements. #GAPA says in these situations, the community has a voice in what the policy should be.

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Abouzeid speaks about how the policy collaboration piece in #CPAC. He shares again how just 5 of 155 use of force guidelines put forth by the working group for CPD! #CPAC would have key policy control and be veto-proof.

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Ald. Taliaferro (29) speaks about how he thinks a third party can play a pivotal role when the two parties cannot reach consensus.

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Redmond asks to share a point about the prior conversation about Los Angeles, the model #GAPA proponents referred to. He asks, "Has trust been built with Black and brown communities of Los Angeles?" If not, the policies #GAPA is referring to are not effective.

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Ald. Taliaferro (29) asks about #CPAC and the investigative process in relation to COPA. Abouzeid says that COPA is in charge of investigations and the Police Board would hear the cases and make the. The substitute ordinance CPAC has removed CPAC from the investigative process.

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Freidman of #GAPA support shares that he thinks City Council should be the resolving third party for consensus reaching, should that situation arise. Next up, chief sponsors will be sharing their questions/comments.

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Ald. Osterman (48), co-sponsor of #GAPA, is up. He speaks about the lack of trust that needs to be addressed. He speaks about steps taken in the past, such as creating #COPA. He says we need to create civilian oversight and GAPA is created to have strong community voice.

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Osterman (48) says the goal in the way GAPA was drafted was for accountability and collaboration. There are currently 30 aldermanic co-sponsors and they want to get it enacted to use community voice in policing.

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Ald. Sawyer (6) @RoderickTSawyer echoes Osterman's points and says they want to get #GAPA to a vote soon.

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Next up, Ald. Hairston (5), supporter of #CPAC. The revised CPAC ordinance was shared late last night, and the Ald. hasn't had time to fully look through the document, but fully supports the ordinance.

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Ald. Ramirez-Rosa (35) @CDRosa says, "The city of Chicago has been waiting a long time for true community control of police." He shares this fight has been going for a long time, since the murder of #LaquanMcDonald and the survivors of Jon Burge torture came together.

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Ald. Ramirez-Rosa says (35), "We cannot pass a watered down version of police oversight." There have been many changes because they are working to address community concerns of #CPAC. Over 60,000 Chicagoans and over 100 organizations have signed on to support CPAC.

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Ald. Ramirez-Rosa also says (35) there will be upcoming meetings to further explain #CPAC and address legal concerns and other questions alderpeople and community members may have.

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Ald. Smith (43) is up next, and asks what would the budget for #CPAC be, were it to pass this year? Abouzeid responds that the budget would be $20 million. And Ald. Smith confirms there would be 11 elected members of CPAC who would have the same salary as alderpeople.

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Ald. Smith (43) reads through the requirements to serve on #CPAC. She asks, "If I were a victim of sex crime, and I wanted to serve on CPAC, I wouldn't be able to?" Abouzeid says he is unable to answer without knowing her full background.

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Abouzeid appreciates her point and encourages amendments to #CPAC requirements to serve. Ald. Smith expresses concerns about the specific "two year experience..." and the list of groups, and Abouzeid reiterates the focus is on community control of police.

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We're getting into the real nitty gritty of the details of #CPAC! Here's another link to the Ordinance 2019-8058, that was introduced in Oct. 2019 so y'all can follow along :)
chicago.legistar.com/LegislationDet…

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Ald. Smith (43) asks, what happens if #CPAC can't reach an agreement with the police? And what is CPAC's problem with the arbitration case wins? Abouzeid says that there are certain wins we can celebrate while also acknowledging there are things we will continue to push for.

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A little bit of back and forth between Ald. Smith (43) and #CPAC supporter, Redmond. Ald. Smith ends by saying #CPAC dilutes accountability, before we move on to the next aldermen.

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Next up, Ald. Ervin (28). His asks about the reasoning behind the relation of districts that #CPAC would draw its councilors from. CPAC would have the power to redraw police districts themselves and decide the contiguous pairing of districts to select representatives from.

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Redmond says that police districts are drawn based on the needs of policing. Ald. Ervin suggests using police districts with two districts paired together to select one #CPAC representative per pair might create problems of power imbalance and less voting power.

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Ald. Ervin says this #CPAC structure might lead to instances of supervotes and create resources to be pulled from smaller districts in an unequal way. He is concerned about a smaller group of people controlling the board and says voting power would not be one-to-one.

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Redmond responds by saying that #CPAC has the power to change the districts as needed to best represent communities and policing needs. Ald. Ervin asks, "Who's going to vote to give up power?" A lot of back and forth here too!

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Abouzeid says that #CPAC gives each member of the general public equal power by proportional voting power by district. He understands Ald. Ervin's point about drawing districts so they have equal amount of people, but police districts are not drawn this way.

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Ald. Ervin is concerned about fairness of this structure for South and West side communities, which are smaller in population but have real policing needs. Abouzeid expresses that he would love to work with Ald. Ervin on these #CPAC concerns.

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Ald. Tunney (44) asks about the makeup of the 11 members of #CPAC. Redmond explains that originally proposed 22 members felt like too many and that amount was brought down to 11 members. Ald. Tunney feels the #GAPA proposal is more community building than CPAC.

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Ald. Tunney asks about the qualifications of the #CPAC deputies. Abouzied says the qualifications are not currently spelled out in the ordinance, but they are open to adding that information.

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Ald. Martin (47) starts by calling folks' attention to a subject matter hearing with experts in January of this year. He shares a few key takeaways from that meeting. First, an ideal civilian oversight model would have policy making power rest within that entity.

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Ald. Martin (47) continues key takeaways from the January experts meeting. They said it's also critical to have a budget for the commission. There should also be an opportunity for the commission and city council to remove certain individuals, such as the superintendent.

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Ald. Martin now asks Gross of #GAPA support to speak more about collaboration and struggles with the Los Angeles model previously discussed. Gross says the process is not perfect and in addressing conflict, the focus is on collaboration.

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Ald. Martin asks Abouzeid about budgeting for #CPAC. Abouzeid says that they recognize dedicated budgeting for CPAC is necessary. He also shares that #CPAC addresses the points/suggestions shared by Ald. Martin from the January meeting key takeaways he just shared.

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Abouzeid asks if #GAPA would have final say on policy, since he was unclear on that point. Gross says yes, nothing would go into official policy without an affirmative GAPA vote.

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Next up is Ald. Vasquez (40) is up next. He first asks that supporters of ordinances send over documents prior to 8 PM the night before the meeting. He shares that alderpeople need more time to read over the documents and adequately prepare for these types of meetings.

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Ald. Vasquez asks for #CPAC elaboration on checks and balances provided. Abouzeid says the systems are similar to checks and balances in City Council. Ald. Vasquez is concerned because of how money influences elections and legislation and if that is addressed in CPAC.

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Abouzeid says that one of the mechanisms put in based on is that people running for #CPAC cannot accept money from folk outside of their districts. He says, of course they cannot control outside expenditures. Ald. Vasquez stresses the need for a safeguard there.

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Ald. Vasquez would like to hear more from #CPAC about severability, and if there is precedent for that. Abouzeid says the focus will be on parts that can be removed while leaving the rest intact. CPAC will push for the strongest possible community control.

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Ald. Vasquez likes the district structure of the #GAPA commission but feels the process for elected members is a bit clunky. He feels three per district may be excessive. Yancy stresses the on the ground presence and collaboration with community members.

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Ald. Vasquez asks if the mayor serving as tiebreaker in #GAPA a conflict of interest? And why is the three year waiting period requirement for serving not longer than that? Speaking to the three year piece, Gross says this comes from case studies where three years is the max.

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Ald. Vasquez suggests #CPAC and #GAPA communicate and work together, especially if there may be a third ordinance proposal coming from the mayor's office soon.

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Ald. Taliaferro asks if both #CPAC and #GAPA will remove District Advisory Committee (DAC)? Yancy says GAPA will not include the removal of DAC. Abouzeid says that CPAC also will not remove DAC, with the caveat that CPAC controls policy.

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Ald. Sigcho-Lopez (25) asks about the process related to police sexual misconduct investigations under both #GAPA and #DACA. Yancy shares that the investigations would continue to be done in the same way by COPA.

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Gross explains that GAPA works in the existing system but adds checks in place that don't exist today. Gross explains that GAPA would place checks on COPA if it's not carrying out its investigation properly, such as call a hearing, issue reports, make recommendations, etc.

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Abouzeid says that #CPAC is similar with some differences. COPA currently does not have strong content related to sexual misconduct, but CPAC includes language that explicitly spells out sexual misconduct for COPA and how to move forward in those investigations.

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Ald. Sigcho-Lopez suggests mechanisms that have more teeth in these checks and balances. He asks what is the rationale for hiring and firing process for Police Superintendent? #GAPA would basically play the role that is currently played by police board.

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#GAPA wants more accountability, not less, and this is why the mayor will remain a part of the hiring/firing process of Police Superintendent.

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#CPAC approached hiring/firing by seeing what is the closest we can get to the people directly appointing? CPAC wants to get more direct involvement in hiring/firing. Abouzeid does not believe it is less accountability for Superintendent firing to involve CPAC and City Council.

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Ald. Sigcho-Lopez asks, what are some points of tension with #GAPA and Mayor right now? Three key points: (1) who has the final say in policy disputes between CPD and the Commission, (2) sufficient budget, and (3) vote of no confidence, which mayor's office does not agree with.

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Ald. Sigcho-Lopez also shares how CPD only accepted 5 of 155 use of force recommendations from working group, missed 70% of consent decree deadlines, and the cases of #RekiaBoyd and #LaquanMcDonald. There clearly needs to be action immediately.

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Ald. Sigcho-Lopez asks about making policy in #GAPA and #CPAC. CPAC can make policy without CPD, and CPAC has the final say, which is a distinct difference from the GAPA proposal.

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Next up, Ald. King (4) asks if the ordinance isn't called #CPAC or #GAPA what would it be named? Both Abouzeid and Yancy emphasize they are more concerned about robust legislation, not the name of the ordinance.

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Ald. King asks what election cycles do your ordinances take into account, and why? #GAPA says the first election would be in Nov. 2022, because there is high turnout at that time, then every four years aligned with municipal elections.

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Abouzeid says the #CPAC election cycle would correspond with aldermanic elections, since this addresses local issues in a similar way to aldermanic elections.

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Ald. King asks what safeguards are taken into account in terms of special interests? #CPAC candidates can't receive money from folks outside their district. Because there is a grassroots movement behind CPAC, there is support in making sure the right folk are elected.

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#GAPA was concerned about money influencing the elections. Elected district council members come together to nominate individuals for citywide commission and must have majority support from City Council members before being appointed.

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Ald. King asks for elaboration on pay for commissioners and day to day responsibilities. #GAPA commission pay is same as police board pay, about $15000/year. It's a similar time commitment and will be a part-time job so broader range of folk can participate.

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#CPAC is a full-time job and full-time committment, and that's why they are compensated the same as Alderpeople. There is a lot of thorough work to be done that will definitely occupy councilors' time.

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Ald. Taliaferro asks will elections be under Chicago Board of Elections? And is there a plan for an interim Council? #CPAC and #GAPA will be both under Chicago Board of Elections. #CPAC does not have plans for an interim Council because of power/incumbency concerns.

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#GAPA will have an interim Council but has the same concerns as Abouzied expressed. The next municipal election is far away and GAPA wants this work to get started as soon as possible.

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Ald. Taliaferro asks what the #GAPA process for electing an interim council would be? Gross shares there are a number of pathways possible that they are willing to share with Alderpeople.

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Next up Ald. Cappleman (46) and shares he is worried about lawsuits that could be avoided by #GAPA and #CPAC and would like the proposals to be reviewed by legal. He asks, who is in charge of making sure some one actually qualifies to run for the commission?

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#CPAC answers that the Chicago Board of Elections would be responsible for reviewing those qualifications.

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Ald. Cappelman shares concerns about the immediate family members of police officers being prohibited, and is concerned about legal precedent and doesn't think folk should be discounted by family members' employments, especially if there's a values disconnect in family.

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Abouzeid says #CPAC did its best to address conflict of interest in the election process, and recognizes this process isn't perfect. Ald. Cappleman believes this structure is too strong.

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Ald. Cappleman asks, where else in the country is there something similar to #CPAC? Abouzeid says, there isn't. He says he strongly believes in evidence based research as well, but past solutions haven't worked, and #CPAC a bold, new solution that will set a new precedent.

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Ald. Taliaferro again expresses a concern about prohibition of immediate family members of police officers serving, and advises #CPAC seek legal council about the constitutionality of this. Redmond says he will provide case law supporting this to the Committee.

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Next up, Ald. Rodriguez (22) asks #GAPA, why does the mayor pick the commissioners instead of it being a direct election? Gross explains this is for legal reasons under Illinois state law. He says #CPAC would need a referendum under state constitution to pass.

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Redmond shares that #GAPA and #CPAC disagree here. #CPAC believes that City Council does have this power and this structure of direct election does not need to be passed as a referendum to the state constitution.

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Ald. Rodriguez asks #GAPA to explain the makeup of the district councils. GAPA explains that the mayor will not have representation in district councils.

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Ald. Ramirez-Rosa (35) asks #GAPA for more clarification on the district council process and the final seven members of the commission. Mathematically, each police district will not have a member in the final commission.

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Yancy of #GAPA explains district council members are hyperlocal and are focused on community engagement and activation. They are required to hold one meeting a month and are compensated $500/month.

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Ald. Ramirez-Rosa talks through representation and districts in #CPAC and says CPAC feels the most fair and democratic process for equal power/representation. He shares that he is not sold on the #GAPA district council model.

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Yancy clarifies that #GAPA district council members will have staff to support their work and engagement efforts. Ald. Ramirez-Rosa feels that staff is critically important to bringing community into the participatory process.

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Ald. Ramirez-Rosa gives Redmond time to speak about the constitutionality of #CPAC as previously questioned. Redmond says he will provide a memo to address this question fully.

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Next up, Ald. La Spata (1) who asks what are the spaces for undocumented Chicagoans to participate? #GAPA says unfortunately, undocumented folk can't vote in elections. The district council model allows for undocumented folk to participate at that level.

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#CPAC has a similar response since undocumented folk cannot vote in elections. Ald. La Spata asks why this is the case, since LSCs allow undocumented folk to participate. Aboudeiz says currently, there is not law that allows CPAC elections to happen at same time as LSCs.

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The next step in the #CPAC fight is to change the law to be inclusive of undocumented folks. CPAC does talk about local law enforcement not collaborating with ICE and other agencies that disproportionately affect undocumented folks.

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Ald. La Spata asks, can undocumented folk run for office even if they can't vote? #CPAC responds that there is no citizenship or immigration status requirement, but they will look into those other legal requirements, but hope the answer is yes.

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Ald. Sawyer jumps in to say he believes it is a Chicago Board of Elections and state law requirement that you must be a qualified elector to serve in #GAPA and #CPAC. Ald. La Spata expresses his concern about undocumented folk being left out of this process.

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Ald. La Spata asks #GAPA, why not have one member of the District Council automatically move up and what is the point of the nominating committee? Gross responds that there are legal limitations to creating this type of entity with these powers.

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Gross says that Ald. La Spata's suggestion would create a 22-member #GAPA commission, which would create problems with collaboration and consensus building. Ald. La Spata agrees that large bodies do create more problems with policy making.

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Ald. La Spata also says that the larger the distance between the community members and those at commissioner level, the less power community has. He would like to see more power seeded at the direct, community level.

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Another question from Ald. La Spata about the referendum question, with #CPAC and #GAPA disagree on. Abouzeid says the #CPAC reading of requirements is that referendum is only required if there is a fundamental change to the system of government.

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Abouzeid continues to say that as ruled by the court within the meaning of the state constitution, members of the police board are not considered officers. Using this same logic, members of #CPAC council would fall under that same provision and not need a referendum.

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Vice Chair Osterman, also co-sponsor of #GAPA, wraps up final comment and affirms the importance of the district councils. He looks forward to discussing GAPA further.

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Ald. Sawyer moves to conclude the meeting, and it is adjourned at 2:20 PM.

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And that wraps up my live-tweeting of today’s Committee of Public Safety meeting on civilian oversight of @Chicago_Police, where #CPAC and #GAPA were discussed. Follow @city_bureau and @ChiDocumenters to stay up to date on future meetings!! #ChiDocumenters

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Agency Information

Chicago City Council

chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov

(312) 744-3166

@ChiCouncil

See Documenters reporting

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

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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.