This committee meeting will concern Mayor Brandon Johnson's appointments to the Community Development Commission, as well as Special Service Areas (SSAs) No. 33, 50, 56, 2, and 5. The meeting agenda can be found here:

The meeting began with public comments. The first commenter criticized the lack of information around SSAs for the average Chicagoan, calling it a "rotten scheme," and saying "This SSA is nothing but a game."

Commenter AJ Patton spoke on behalf of Ciere Boatright, who has been appointed to the position of Commissioner of Planning and Development.

Greg Mooney for Comer Science and Education Foundation spoke on behalf of Ciere Boatright.

Retired Captain of the Chicago Police Department Tom McMahon said he was a "strong supporter" of Ms. Boatright's appointment.

Christopher Hill spoke on behalf of Ms. Boatright, saying she is "well prepared to work together on behalf of this great city," and that "she knows the City of Chicago."

The final speaker similarly praised Ms. Boatright, saying she is a hard worker who will "take our neighborhoods to a whole new level."

Item 1 and 2 on the agenda concern the appointment of Ciere Boatright as Commissioner of Planning and Development and as member of Community Development Commission by Mayor Johnson.

Ms. Boatright says she is "honored" and "excited" to be at City Hall today, and points to her experience in urban development and her identity as a Chicago south-side native and resident.

Ms. Boatright wants to balance "economic needs and community goals" to make a more vibrant and inclusive Chicago.

Chairman Villegas asks her more about her background. Ms. Boatright says her childhood on the southside informed her perspective: "My neighborhood wasn't something to run from," it was her motivation to work for the southside and Chicago through urban planning

Ald. Villegas asks: "You say you're pro-development -- what does that mean?" Ms. Boatright says that means she wants to get things done, and "remove some of those barriers" to development to fast track development in an "equitable way."

"At the end of the day, being pro-development is being pro-business," Ms. Boatright says. She also emphasized the need for collaboration and community involvement.

Ms. Boatright says she is motivated by her passion and love for the city. She says her efforts are her "love letter to the city." She is in urban development because "it's what I love, it's what I care about, I want the babies to be proud of the city they live in."

Overall, the alderpeople seem to agree that Ms. Boatright's appointment is a wise choice on Mayor Johnson's behalf, and express excitement to work with her in the future.

Ms. Boatright envisions more collaboration between departments when it comes to public libraries, and their co-location with affordable housing.

Ms. Boatright was asked about working with the Chicago Transit Authority on the Red Line. She wishes to maximize transit-oriented development, but she is still early in the planning stages with CTA.

Ciere Boatright's appointment was approved. You can read more about her appointment here:

Items 3 - 12 concern Mayor Johnson's appointments to SSAs. You can find more information about Chicago's SSAs here: