[remote or in-person; 1:30-5pm] 2025 Chicago budget hearing: Department of Procurement Services & Department of Law

Chicago City Council
Finance

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024
1:30 p.m. — 5:00 p.m. CST

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121 N La Salle St Chicago, IL 60602 (Directions)

2nd floor, Council Chambers

This is an assignment to document a 3.5-hour portion of Chicago City Council’s 2025 budget process.

You have the option of documenting this meeting in person or remotely.

If you choose to attend in person, an additional hour will be added to your total assignment hours. Please note that there may be increased security and restrictions; use a clear bag if possible and leave large water bottles, thermoses and pepper spray at home. If you choose to document remotely, the meeting will be live-streamed 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.

Other notes and pre-research resources

  • For more info and resources, see our Chicago Documenters Guide to the City’s 2025 Budget Process (in 2024).
  • Chicago Councilmatic: This civic data org’s website has a lot of the information that can be found on the city’s database in a more user-friendly format, as well as context on City Council and alders.
  • Applicants who completed 2025 budget season training on Oct. 21 or 22 will receive an extra hour of pay on each assignment they submit.
  • New this year, we are capping departmental budget hearing assignments at 3.5 hours (plus 2 hours outside work). Please take note of the time slot indicated in the assignment title. You will be paid for the full 3.5 hours regardless of whether the meeting starts late or a break occurs, but you should conclude your coverage when the end of your shift arrives. In the event that a meeting runs past the end of the afternoon shift, we will assign someone to take notes on the remaining portion. More details here

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Angela Ybarra

The “do not hire” list was brought up a number of times along with peace circles, in light of the recent Ronnie Reese case. Multiple alders also asked that Leigh and Jackson be referred to resources regarding issues with their properties.

Live reporting by Matthew Warakomski

The “do not hire” list was brought up a number of times along with peace circles, in light of the recent Ronnie Reese case. Multiple alders also asked that Leigh and Jackson be referred to resources regarding issues with their properties.

Matthew Warakomski
Hi, I'll be documenting the City Council Budget hearing with the Department of Law. @CHIdocumenters Apologies for the late start of technical difficulties have led to this coming late. Time Start: 2:45 pm

10:21 PM Dec 4, 2024 CST

Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 2/17
Presentation: Improvements made to the Department of Law - Volunteer program established with CPS. - Received 150+ applicants for internships. - 72% of classes contain a diverse group of students. - 10+ more career fairs particularly in the 6th ward
Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 3/17
Revenue from C.O.A.L attorneys: - $2.1 billion collected in 2010 - $100 million collected in 2024 - (There was one more date I did not catch) C.O.A.L: Coalition of African American Leaders
Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 4/17
Special Collections Unit: - New unit established to prosecute owners of unattended vacant lots evading fines and legal repercussions. - Multiple Alders named as involved in the cases, seemingly as enablers. Further research required. (3:11 pm.)
Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 5/17
Affirmative Litigation: - $40 million in revenue collections from dodgy contractors completing unsafe construction projects. Named Contractor: Vision-Properties
Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 6/17
$2.7 billion in closed bond deals.
Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 7/17
Risk Management Initiative formed and used for DNC. No revenue mentioned.
Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 8/17
Use of Outside Counsel: - In-House Counsel= 95% - Outside Counsel= 5% Outside legal counsel used for dealing with heavy case loads or cases where additional expertise is needed. Ex- Medical Counsel
Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 9/17
Thread continued in reply.
Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 10/17
Aldermanic Questions. Presentation ends at 3:30 pm
Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 11/17
Department of Law members in the box
Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 12/17
Alder Mitts Questions -Cases Involving Her: Unable to disclose due to ongoing case. - Squatters: Department of Law has no jurisdiction. - Unequal home ownership: Company refusing to sell to locals is being prosecuted.
Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 13/17
Alder Dowell Questions Realistic Spending and Settlements FOIA Requests and how to respond to them effectively.
Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 14/17
Stepped out at 4:04 pm returned at 4:08 pm.
Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 15/17
Question regarding the worry about criminals getting money via police misconduct cases. Alder worries about incentivizing behavior leading toward such cases. Law Department disagrees with this concern.
Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 16/17
Alder Sigcho-Lopez Question: How to have more coordination between CPD and Inspector General Alder Lopez is concerned about the loss of money through police misconduct settlements and how to minimize. Alder Lopez says there is “a business made out of these tragedies.”
Matthew Warakomski @MatthewW_CB 17/17
Shift ended at 5pm. I left at 5:18pm per assignment guide lines. The meeting started late and this ran late I was unable to sit for the remainder. End of thread.

Agency Information

Chicago City Council

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

If you attend a meeting in person, be prepared to go through a security checkpoint and show photo ID.

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.

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