People's Budget Chicago 2021: Brighton Park (in-person)

Finance

Friday, July 9, 2021
10:00 a.m. CDT

TBD

This is an in-person assignment to document a People’s Budget Chicago event, hosted by Chicago United for Equity (CUE) and Brighton Park Neighborhood Council.

This is our second year partnering with CUE on the People’s Budget! Documenters content will be used to inform upcoming information and resources from Chicago United for Equity on the 2021 budget process.

If you have not received the COVID-19 vaccine, we suggest you apply to a remote assignment instead of this one.

If assigned, we will loop you in with the planning team via email.

Background Every year the City of Chicago undergoes the process of defining a budget for the city—this budget impacts every department of city government and many of the issues that affect Chicagoans every day.

In advance of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s budget recommendations to City Council, and the final budget approval by the end of this year, our friends at Chicago United for Equity (CUE) are coordinating The People’s Budget, an inclusive, community-led process to define investment priorities, creating an accountability framework and, ultimately, designing a budget that centers the voices of our most impacted communities.

CUE is hosting interactive discussions on the city budget in partnership with community groups located in areas with the greatest historical disinvestment, including Austin, Bronzeville, Brighton Park, Little Village and North Lawndale.

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Jennifer Guerrero

Community budget conversation

View notes

Live reporting by Daniela Jaime

Community budget conversation

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22

Hi folks! My names Daniela and I’m going to be documenting @cueChicago’s People’s Budget workshop in Brighton Park on behalf of @CHIdocumenters.

Stay tuned for coverage on community based budgeting, but for now here’s some background on Chicago’s budget process!
#CHIdocumenters https://t.co/RYvnxOvs9f

10:48 AM Jul 9, 2021 CDT

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 2/27

The People’s Budget workshop in Brighton Park has been hosted by @BPNCchicago and @cueChicago for some time now, and aims to center the voices of communities who are experience the most inequity based on the Child Opportunity Index https://t.co/IAyhQz363R

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 3/27

According to the People’s Budget 2020 findings, communities facing the most inequity are:
- Austin
- Auburn-Gresham
- Bronzeville
- Chicago Lawn
- Grand Crossing
- Greater Englewood

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 4/27

- Humboldt Park
- Back of the Yards
- North Lawndale
- South Deering
- Little Village
- South Shore
- Roseland
- Riverdale

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 5/27

Every summer budgeting season begins for the City of Chicago and it isn’t finalized until New Years Eve, Dec. 31st.

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 6/27

In June/July: City departments submit preliminary revenue estimates to the federal Office of Budget and Management (OMB)

By the end of July the annual financial analysis is presented to the rest of city council and the public for comment

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 7/27

August/September is when things start to get hot!

The budget forecast is published, meaning OMB receives detailed department requests and meets with each department to negotiate federal funding.

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 8/27

On/before the 15th of October, the Mayor of Chicago must submit a budget breakdown proposal to City council.

26/50 City Council votes are needed to approve the City budget proposal.

The rest of October/November is when every day folks come in.

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 9/27

October/November: Town Halls are hosted to get the public’s input on the budget.

As of Today, with a budget of $12.76 Billion, Chicago divides its budget up with 56.1% going to the Carceral system, while infrastructure and community services share a collective 18.6% https://t.co/vRcsU838id

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 10/27

Here’s the proposed 2021 budget broken down further by People’s Budget.

Infrastructure: Orange
Housing: light Purple
Education: Green
Community Resources: Purple
Carceral State: Grey https://t.co/0JxK69hym1

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 11/27

That’s a quick background, but for now let’s enjoy watching the people flow in! (There’s an expected 100 people to come!!) https://t.co/gsFbmZuM7u

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 12/27

It’s time! A group of Brighton Park community members are huddled around your every day table, first organizing to vote on group guidelines for how to debate their proposed budget.

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 13/27

Once these guidelines are voted on, each participant will be handed the following question to answer: https://t.co/iS8H46tJkU

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 14/27

Many cited needs of more community activities, specifically for community youth.

“Why do we need outsiders here, surveiling our people. We can take care of our own people,” says Nava, a 19 year old community resident. https://t.co/iv2GRppk9M

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 15/27

One participant wrote: “better salaries for single mothers so that they can have more time for activities with their children.” https://t.co/W28SfXlWaS

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 16/27

Next up: allocating funds

Each participant will place a token on this chart to vote on the category they think is the most important/necessary for their community, with each participant voting one at a time to rank their needs.

It starting out very evenly… https://t.co/9f08TZllbB

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 17/27

Here everyone votes, even the kiddos https://t.co/SD1J75yiAa

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 18/27

The community voted to initially divide the budget up as follows:
20% in Health
17% in Education
15% in Housing
12% in Infrastructure
18% in Community Resources
and 15% in the Carceral System

Now it’s time to debate and vote to rearrange https://t.co/E9JE6Ma5jV

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 19/27

Currently the group is deciding how to cut 2% from their carceral system budget, but where to allocate the funds is a hot topic.

“When you already have [community resources, infrastructure, housing] you don’t need as much [funding for police anymore],” suggests Nava.

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 20/27

When more reallocations are made, Claudia, a ___ year long resident of Brighton Park, points out that all their budget cut suggestions are coming from the police, but she not anyone seems to worry.

“[all the cuts] are gonna be from the police,” laughs Nava.

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 21/27

The new and final budget voted on is as follows:
20% in Health
17% in Education
16% in Housing
16% in Infrastructure
19% in Community Resources
and 12% in the Carceral System https://t.co/tmsnDqeZPF

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 22/27

To wrap up, each participant is writing their needs to their Alderperson. Here’s some of the responses. https://t.co/1AYSikTXVo

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 23/27

The Spanish cards read as followed:

Upper middle: “Better salaries, more jobs for young adults, less deportations.”

Upper right: “better pay for single parents and more resources for family activities since there’s so many work hours.” https://t.co/3IpDOKoIh0

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 24/27

Lower left: “more workshops for different types of activities. English [classes] for those who don’t speak the language.”

Lower Right: “activities for youth, health clinics, more youth jobs.” https://t.co/WVzRRcfl1Z

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 25/27

That wraps up @cueChicago’s People’s Budget workshop in Brighton Park! Community members have expressed future interest in getting involved, with many community leaders coming back to ask for more information! https://t.co/Q5RHomk1uo

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 26/27

This concludes my documenting for @CHIdocumenters though, make sure to stay connect for threads like this on Chicago community events and causes!
#CHIDocumenters

Daniela Jaime @Danijaime22 27/27

Before I go though, here’s my list of sources:

peoplesbudgetchicago.com

diversitydatakids.org/research-libra…

peoplesbudgetchicago.com/img/PeoplesBud… (budget breakdown on pg. 3)

chicago.gov/city/en/depts/…

chicago.gov/content/dam/ci… (budget breakdown pg. 41)

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