@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves Waiting for the meeting to begin. Access the livestream on the City Clerk site and agenda here: …storagev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachm…

@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves The meeting is starting momentarily. Read more about the budget vote and its postponement courtesy of Documenter and today’s bingo caller, Mo Dunne, below⬇️🤑 https://twitter.com/chidocumenters/status/1868730915415113971

@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves Quorum is met and after a brief delay to resolve a tech issue, roll call follows. The public comment period begins. Speaker #1 is a city resident and adressess Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, saying they disagree with the city's response regarding migrants.

@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves Another speaker talked about city taxes. "Chicago has a tax for everything... the only thing that you all don't have a tax for yet is oxygen," they said.

@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves According to the next speaker, "Brandon Johnson is terrible with the budget," and asked "How is this $40 million credit line going to work exactly?" The public comment period comes to an end.

@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves The meeting continues and voting is open for the first agenda item listed under the Department of Housing (DOH). This substitute ordinance involves issuing funds for an affordable housing development project. chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matter…

@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves City Council is currently standing in recess as the Sergeant of Arms restores order, Johnson said. Meeting attendees are now being instructed to exit.

@CHIdocumenters @rollingwaves The meeting livestream currently:

You can also check in on the #ChiBudgetBingo at this blog post citybureau.org/notebook/2025-…

The meeting is called back to order. Chair Dowell restates her motion from before and moves to pass the item. A vote is underway for SO2024-0013660. The motion will be reconsidered.

The Comittee on Economic, Capital, and Technology Development is next on the meeting agenda followed by The Committee on Housing and Real Estate. Several items under the Reports of Standing Committees portion of the meeting pass unanimously.

Meeting attendees discuss the budget. According to Alder Beale, "I too rise to voice my opposition to this budget for numerous reasons." Beale said that residents want to see less spending, yet the budget has increased.

Beale also opposed increasing property taxes. news.wttw.com/2024/12/15/may…

Alder Lee echoes other comments opposing the propery tax increase. Alder Hadden follows, noting Johnson's original $300 million property tax hike pitch. It's now down to $68.5 million, which some alders say is too high. cbsnews.com/chicago/news/m…

Alder Lopez also talks about the property tax. "We could have had and still can, by the way, have an in depth, robust and to use the word collaborative discussion on this, because we are still 15 days away from the deadline," he said.

Alder Fuentes says that many constituents in the 26th ward have been priced out of their homes and mentions the significance of youth employment for those helping to support their families.

Alder Reilly speaks next. "We can't pat ourselves back for this budget, and I've heard colleagues talk about the impact of property taxes [on] gentrification," Reilly said. "They're 100% correct."

"Withhold your vote," Reilly adds. "Force this budget team to do its work, go back and make further adjustments, real cuts, real efficiencies." According to Reilly, he plans on voting no.

The budget deadline is Dec. 31, and things could shut down if it isn't met. audacy.com/wbbm780/news/l…

Alder Ramirez-Rosa says he will vote yes on the budget today. "What I do love is that this budget continues to make critical investments in things like addressing homelessness in our communities," Ramirez-Rosa said.

Alder Gardiner said he's against the budget. "I'm trying to work with you, but you don't want to work with me," Gardiner said to Johnson. "You don't want to work with my community."

Johnson says there are three final speakers starting with Alder Sposato. Sposato says he will vote yes on the budget and notes that he struggled for some time before making that decision. Alder Dowell speaks next and says the budget isn't perfect, but will also vote yes.

The meeting stands in recess while individuals are being removed, according to Johnson.

The meeting comes back to order, Johson said. The livestream resumes.

There's a motion on the floor for a roll call vote on item two. Alder Lopez calls "for the reading of the original text along [with] the amended text." That request is in accordance with rule 30, Lopez said.

Johnson responed to Lopez's request saying, "there's a motion to... waive rule 30 of having to read 70 pages of items added or stricken." Discussion over rule 30 and its potential suspension continues. Voting is now open.

The motion to suspend rule 30 passes. A roll call vote for item two is called. Voting is underway.

Item number two is amendments to 2025 budget recommendations... the amendments that are proposed would reduce the mayor's office position by $1 million [and] reduce middle management positions by $2.8 million, according to Johnson.

The motion passes. A motion to reconsider the vote fails. There's a motion on the floor for a roll call vote for item four. Voting is underway.

Item four consists of the substitute management ordinance linked here: The item passes. …icityclerk.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public-1/…

The following items include (O2024-0013677) over motor fuel tax funds: …icityclerk.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public-1/… And (R2024-0013678) over a salary resolution: …icityclerk.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public-1/…

Both items pass. "That concludes items of unfinished business related to the Committee on the Budget and Government Operations," Johnson said.

Additional unfinished business also concludes. "I'm very proud that we came together as a body to pass this budget," Johnsaid said.

"We have passed a budget that does not cut services, that does not cut jobs that does not raise property taxes and sustains key programs and investments in youth employment, community safety, mental health and affordable housing," Johnson added.

The next regular meeting of the City Council will held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 beginning at 10 a.m. The meeting adjourns at approximately 5:25 p.m.

That concludes this thread over today's City Council meeting for @CHIdocumenters #CHIdocumenters Respond with comments or questions. Find details about the 5th annual #ChiBudgetBingo from @CHIdocumenters @rolllingwaves 🤑🤑🤑 Thanks for following along!