City Council - Regular Meeting

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Good morning. Good morning. City Council will start shortly. Can I please have everyone take the seats? Good morning. Good morning. City Council will start shortly. Can I please have everyone take the seats? Thank you.

Good morning. The council will come to order. Madam Clerk, please take a quorum roll call.

The quorum is now open. The quorum is now open. Please use the e-device. The quorum is now open. I will now call on those who have not used the e-device. Alderman Laspada, not present in Chambers. Alderman Dow. Dow is present. Alderman Robinson, not present in Chambers. Alderman Hall, not present in Chambers. Alderman Harris. Harris is present. Alderman Beal, not present in Chambers. Alderman Ramirez. Ramirez is present. Where are you at? We'll fix it. But let the record show that Alderman Mitchell is present in chambers. Alderwoman Gutierrez. Alderman Gutierrez is not present in Chambers. Alderman Coleman. Coleman is not present in Chambers. Alderman Curtis. Curtis is present. Alderman O'Shea. Alderman O'Shea is present in Chambers. Alderman Taylor. Taylor is present in Chambers. Alderman Rodriguez. Rodriguez is present in Chambers. Alderman Burnett. Burnett is present in Chambers. Alderman Irvin, not present in Chambers. Alderman Conway. Conway is present. Alderwoman Nugent. Nugent is present. Alderman Riley. Riley is present. Alderman Knudson. Knudson is present. Alderman Lawson. Lawson is present. Alderman Gardner. Gardner is present. Alderwoman Clay. Clay. Oh, Clay. Oh, Clay is present. Lawson is present. Anyone I missed? Okay. Your Mayor, we have a quorum.

Very well. There are 42 present, eight that are absent. We do have a quorum. One Alder has requested to participate in today's meeting remotely for reasons stated in rule 59. Can we confirm Alder Laspada's presence online?

He is present.

Very well. Can I get a motion for the approval of the participation remotely? All right. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Any opposed say nay. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. Thank you for the confirmation. Today, out of respect for our honored guests and their limited time, we will first attend to our suspend resolutions and acknowledgements. We have seven acknowledgements today. We also have two resolutions honoring Reverend Jesse Jackson and honoring the contributions of women in our community. city, state, and our country and around the globe. Can I get a motion for the suspension of the rules? It's been moved. All those in favor of suspending the rules signify by saying aye. Any opposed say nay. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. And just for clarification, we will return back to our normal regular order of business, which includes public comments But again, we want to make sure that these families can move on the rest of their day. And again, I know that there has been multiple conversations with you all regarding your speeches this morning, if we can just keep those speeches tight so that the Jacksons, as well as their guests, along with the families that are here for Women's History Month, that they can move on. But before we get to those resolutions, we have our first acknowledgement, which is by Alderman David Moore. He would like to honor the originators of the Globetrotters this incredible Fab Five, the Savoy Fab Five. Chair recognizes Alderman Moore.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. This is very, I think, important, and I wanted the family of Byron Long and Al Pullens to stand up and be recognized for the family of Byron Long. Dana London, his granddaughter, and Angelica London, his great-granddaughter and family of Al Pullens, Andrea Smith. And so as everybody heard of the Harlem Grove Charters, but before the Harlem Grove Charters, it was the Savoy Five. The sports basketball was invented in December 21st, 1981, as we know, and just 35 years later in 1926, five young African men, Walter Toots Wright, Byron Fett Long, William Kidd, Oliver, and Runt Pullens, and Iman Big Jack Jackson, all of whom had attended, you all know, the Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago, historic Bronzeville neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, formed a basketball team that were going to become known as the Savoy Big Five. And then from there, they came to Harlem Grove Charters. They became known as the Savoy Big Five in homage to one of their first place games that they played. They were asked to showcase their skills in the Savoy Ballroom. Oh, my mom and them used to dance there before dances were held there with the thought of attracting more attendees. A year later in 1927, the Savoy Big Five were going to change their name to the now world famous, y'all make some noise, Harlem Grove Charters. Their finding occurred in the pre-segregation area, giving the team the idea to add Abe Saperstein as their promoter. Since at that time, it was often difficult for African-American men to open doors. Unfortunately, many historical accounts have erased the Savoy Big Five start and ironically list Abe Saperstein as the organizer of the group, which he was not. The families of all the original players made invaluable contributions not only to the Tafoya Big Five, but to the original Harlem Gold Trialist team, just to name a few. Though the card given to them by Al Pullen's family allowed them to travel to games, and the first uniforms purchased by Byron Long's family allowed them to show up in style. A representative from both of these families will be in attendance, as I mentioned. pointed out to you today's acknowledgement is not only a celebration but a step in the right direction of setting the record straight 100 years ago african-american man from chicago south side set the ball in motion create a pioneering basketball team that has now played over 26 000 games and continues to delight fans and dignitaries across the globe the savoy big Five, not only black history, but Chicago history. Alderman Pat Dow, this Phillips High School sits in her ward. And Mayor, if she has any, if you give her permission.

Sure, we will. Thank you, Alderman Moore. Alderman Dow, would you like to speak to this acknowledgment?

Yes, Mr. President, but in acknowledgement of the time pressure, I just want to acknowledge the family and thank them for their participation as we gave an honorary street sign to the Harlem Globetrotters this summer, this past summer. And I do remember you and thank you so much for your participation. And thank you, Alderman Moore, for bringing this forward.

Thank you. As always, everything dope about America comes from Chicago. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you again, Alderman Moore. Alderman Mosley would like to welcome Prospective Charter School for its annual visit to City Hall.

Alderman Mosley. Thank you, Mr. President, City Council. Today is always a great day to celebrate our future. And from the 21st Ward, I bring to you the 7th and 8th grade girls basketball champions from Prospective Charter School. Under the leadership of Principal Morales, Mr. President, I just want to note a couple things. One, you may see that this is not a roster that is great in size, but they are great in heart, they are great in dedication, and they are great in grit. And that has produced a winning recipe for them to go on and win this championship. I also want to talk about the coach, because these are student athletes, students first. And it's important to acknowledge that Coach Reggie Lee is not only the head coach of this team that propelled them to victory on the court, but also in the classroom. Coach Lee has been named this year's Charter School Teacher of the Year. So excellence inside and outside, truly embodying the spirit of the 21st Ward. Congratulations, Coach. Thank you, Mr. President.

You're welcome. Well, hold on. What subject does he teach, though? That's important.

Okay. All right.

Congratulations again. Thank you very much, Alderman Mosley. Now, Chair Rodriguez-Sanchez would like to honor the awardees of the North River Commission's 2026 Community Choice Awards and Alita Taddeo's 90th birthday. Chair recognizes Chairwoman Rodriguez-Sanchez.

Thank you, Mr. President. I want to rise today to honor North River Commission, an incredible nonprofit organization in my community that holds the Chamber of Commerce. They have been leading with incredible programing for our businesses and one of the latest things that they have done is the Community Choice Awards where people in my community have the opportunity to choose their favorite businesses. And it is a truly beautiful testament to the environment and ecosystem that you can create when you have businesses that show up for community. I want to say that I am incredibly proud to represent the 33rd ward and the way in which businesses have shown up to resist ICE in our communities. It has been incredible how businesses have become sanctuaries for our communities. But I do want to recognize how amazing it is to have an organization like North River Commission and the Community Choice Awards. We also have here Justin, who owns the first bookstore that we have had in Albany Park on Venetian American. We are so proud to have you all and we're very, very grateful for your work. Thank you. I'm not done. Ms. Alita Toledo, she is turning 90 years old and she served as a clerk here in our city for 25 years with administrative hearings. She walked into this building for over a quarter century with a level of dedication that most of us can only hope to imitate. On behalf of the city of Chicago, we thank Ms. Alita Tadeo for over 25 years of tireless work. And more importantly, we celebrate the woman and friend to the city on her 90th birthday. She's an inspiration to every one of us in this chamber. Happy birthday, Alita. Thank you, Mr. President.

Happy birthday. Thank you, Chair Rodriguez-Sanchez. Now, Chair Haddon. I believe, yes, would like to welcome the 49th Ward Youth Advisory Council. The chair recognizes chair head.

Thank you, Mr. President. Good morning, everybody. I am also proud to be accompanied today due to students having a day off of school at CPS. My 49th Ward Youth Advisory Council. These students answered the call to volunteer, volunteer community service for the 49th Ward. They are students at Roger Sullivan High School, the Fighting Tigers. And they have been meeting with us on a monthly basis with my team to discuss issues that are important for all the constituents of the 49th Ward with a lens of young people. We have had big discussions from everything of what's happening at the federal level to what we're doing in our infrastructure locally. And in May, I believe, I'm even cooking for them. But they keep me on my toes, they keep me sharp, and they're making sure that decisions that I make in the 49th Ward are reflective not just of people who are voting now, but for all of our constituents and our leaders for the future. I thank them for their leadership. Thank you.

Thank you so much. We're grateful to have so many young people that are with us today. Next, we have Alder and Lopez would like to welcome an incredible delegation, a delegation from Cassia, Italy, but also members of St. Rita's Parish. Chair recognizes Alder Lopez.

Good morning, Mr. President and members of the City Council. I'd like to take a moment to welcome our Italian delegation, if you can all rise, here from Cascia, Italy. Mayor Mario De Carolis, many members of the city council, as well as an expansive delegation from the Basilica of St. Rita of Cascia, run by Father Justino Casciano. They are here. They are here in Chicago and have been here at St. Rita of Casha in Chicago Lawn on the southwest side in my alder neighbor's ward, celebrating a twinning ceremony between our church and their basilica. The ceremony, which was a lighting of a torch, which your office was represented at, along with members of the city council, including myself, Alderman Tavares, and Alderman Coleman, lit a torch which aims to bring about forgiveness and peace. Perhaps we need that torch in here. But I know that all of us, all of us, can benefit from the life lived by St. Rita. St. Rita, who was canonized by Pope Leo XIII and is of the same order as Pope Leo XIV, whom we'll also be recognizing momentous occasion later this year in Cascia, Italy. We are very thankful to have them here joining us today to strengthen the Catholic bond of unity between the city of Chicago and our sister city of Cascia, Italy, our religiously sister city. And we welcome them and the opportunity to share in this moment as we remember somebody who had the opportunity through a life that saw her father, her husband, excuse me, violently taken from her, her children die, but she chose a life of forgiveness and peace as opposed to vengeance. That is something we all can emulate. And I'm thankful to my brothers and sisters for sharing that light with us today and sharing that with the city of Chicago and encourage all members to join us in recognizing their attendance here today.

Thank you, Alderman Lopez. And then finally, Chair Rodriguez would like to celebrate ARISE and this incredible organization on their 35th anniversary. Thank you, Mayor.

I would like to take a moment here to ask ARISE to, they've already arisen. Look at that. Look at that. Thank you very much again, colleagues, for offering me a brief moment to recognize Arise on their 35th anniversary. Three and a half decades advancing worker rights, dignity, and economic justice since its founding back in 1991. And their current office is over in 27, I believe, the great 27th ward. Arise has partnered with thousands of workers to recover more than $10 million in stolen wages and compensation. They've supported workers in raising wages by more than $6 million. Over three and a half decades, Arise has emerged as a pioneering organization. They're a leader in the faith labor movements, partnering with religious institutions, labor unions, community organizations, and academic institutions to advocate for systemic policy reforms. They are, we are the city of broad shoulders. We know that the backbone of that city is the labor movement and Arise represents that. They fought with us over the years to make this the city with the best paid leave policy in the country. They fought with us to raise the minimum wage. And yes, they fought with us on the tip minimum wage as well. Thank you so very much. And a special thank you to their executive director, my prima, Laura Garza, for being with us here today. Please join me in thanking them for their service to our great city.

Thank you. And finally, finally, Alderwoman Clay has a brief acknowledgement. The chair recognizes Alderwoman Clay.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. I am rising today to give kudos to an amazing organization in my neck of the woods called the People's Music School. The People's Music School is an amazing institution in multiple spaces around the city. It is the oldest and largest 100 tuition free community music school and they just celebrated their 50th anniversary you all so i want to say thank you so much for all that they have done for our young people Their vision was started with $625 in a storefront. And they have grown to make sure that our babies have experienced music all around the globe. So thank you so much for all that you've done. And we really appreciate you.

Thank you all. Thank you. And in the words of Apostle Paul, finally, my brethren, the chair would like to recognize one final, final acknowledgement by Alder Dow. Chair recognizes Alderwoman Dow.

Thank you, Mr. President. I will be brief, but I didn't want this to go by. Thank you, Alderman Clay, for bringing this forward. The People's Music School has moved into Washington Park and Bronzeville. And I just also want to acknowledge Miriam and Natalie and for their commitment to the community. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Alderwoman Clay. Thank you, Alderwoman Dow, for those last sets of acknowledgment. Now, before the rules are still suspended, we're going to go into our resolutions for the late great Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., along with the celebration of Women's History Month. But before we do that, I would like to take just a brief moment to pause and call for a moment of silence for our firefighter and EMT, Michael Altman. We are praying for his wife, Nora. also for his parents, for praying for the entire police and fire department, our first responders, and praying for our city because we have not only lost a public servant, but we have lost one of our heroes. So if you would, with me, city council and the chambers, just stand for a brief moment of silence in honor and recognition of firefighter and EMT Michael McAulton. Thank you very much, you may be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, Mrs. Jacqueline Jackson and the Jackson Five. Come on y'all, Mrs. Jackson and the Jackson family. You may be seated. We have Mother Jackson, Ms. Draper, Reverend Jeanette Wilson, Ms. Ponder, Jan Camps, of course, son Yusef Jackson, daughter Santita Jackson, sons Jesse Jackson, Jr., Jonathan Jackson, Carolyn Curry, Dara Holmes, Belvin Walker, another Ms. Draper, Yeah, I think we got them all there. Jackson, we got Idris, we got a whole box full of folks. Now, I do want to thank you all for being here today. And I know there are a number of you that wish to speak to this resolution. But before we speak, I would ask that the clerk read the resolution into the record.

Where it has long been the honor, tradition, and solemn responsibility of the City Council of the City of Chicago, this August legislative body to recognize and memorialize those extraordinary individuals whose lives, leadership, and moral courage have profoundly shaped the civic, political, and moral fabric of the City of Chicago. And whereas the members of this chamber join with the residents of Chicago, the nation, and the global community in honoring the life and legacy of the Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson, Sr., one of the most consequential civil rights leaders in modern American history, whose voice, vision, and organizing power helped reshape the democratic and social landscape of the United States. and whereas the Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson Sr. was born Jesse Lewis Burns on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, later taking the surname of his stepfather, Charles Henry Jackson, and through faith, discipline, and extraordinary resolve, rose from humble beginnings to become a defining moral and political force of his generation. And whereas emerging from the tradition of prophetic black leadership and guided by an unwavering commitment to justice and human dignity, the Reverend Jackson translated the ethos of the civil rights movement into an enduring and evolving struggle for economic equity, political representation, educational opportunity, and global human rights. And whereas the Reverend Jackson's leadership and moral vision were profoundly shaped by the legacy and teachings of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., under whose guidance he emerged as a national figure, caring for the enduring principles of nonviolence, justice, and human dignity that define the civil rights movement. And whereas the Reverend Jackson rose to national prominence through his work alongside Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., yet it was the city of Chicago, particularly the South Side, that became the enduring stage, proving ground, and living canvas for his life's work and leadership. And whereas in Chicago, a city long defined by both its challenges and its possibilities, the Reverend Jackson built institutions, mobilized communities, and forged a model of leadership rooted in moral conviction, strategic coalition building, and an unyielding belief in the transformative power of civic engagement. And whereas within the city of Chicago's historic South Side, and notably within the Fourth Ward, the Reverend Jackson established Operation PUSH, People United to Save Humanity, an institution whose presence would become synonymous with empowerment, opportunity, and advocacy for generations of Chicagoans. And whereas the Operation Push and Rainbow Push Coalition, founded and led from Chicago, emerged as the nationally influential institutions that redefined the scope of civil rights advocacy, expanding its reach into economic justice, voting rights, labor equity, educational access, and corporate accountability. And whereas the Reverend Jackson's leadership helped reframe Chicago as a vital epicenter of modern civil rights and political mobilization, where communities historically excluded from power found voice, representation, and renewed belief in the promise of democratic participation. And whereas through his visionary leadership, the Reverend Jackson pioneered a politics of inclusion long before such language entered the mainstream, forging coalitions across racial, ethnic, generational, and economic lines, and expanding the boundaries of civic belonging and political possibility. And whereas the Reverend Jackson's historic presidential campaigns inspired millions, shattered longstanding barriers, and fundamentally altered the imagination of American democracy, demonstrating that leadership, representation, and national aspiration must be accessible to all people. And whereas the Reverend Jackson's Chicago legacy remains inseparable from its national and global impact, as his influence extended from neighborhoods to corporate boardrooms, from voter registration drives to international diplomacy, reflecting a leadership style that was at once pastoral and political, visionary and pragmatic. And whereas the Reverend Jackson's enduring presence on Chicago's South Side, particularly within the Fourth Ward, strengthened the civic and moral life of the city, leaving a permanent imprint upon its institutions, its communities, and its ongoing pursuit of justice and equity. And whereas the Reverend Jackson's life represents not merely a record of historic achievements, but a living architecture of legacy while cultivating leaders, opening doors, challenging systems, and inspiring generations to believe in the transformative power of hope, courage, and collective action. And whereas the Reverend Jackson story stands as a Chicago story of transformation, of a leader who recognized the city as a microcosm of the nation's contradictions and possibilities, and who dedicated his life to organizing within them with faith, resilience, and moral clarity. And whereas the city of Chicago mourns the passing of Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson Sr. while honoring a legacy that endures wherever voices rise against injustice, wherever communities unite in common purpose, and wherever hope refuses to yield to cynicism. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Mayor and the members of City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled on the 18th day of March, 2026, do hereby honor, celebrate, and memorialize the extraordinary life, leadership, and enduring contributions of the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. And be it further resolved that we extend our deepest condolences to the Reverend Jackson's family, loved ones, colleagues, and all those whose lives were touched by his vision and service. And be it further resolved that the city of Chicago recognize the Reverend Jackson's legacy as a permanent and separable part of the city's civic identity, historical narrative, and continuing pursuit of justice, equity, and human dignity. And be it further resolved that a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the family of the Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson Sr. as a lasting testament of the city's respect, gratitude, and remembrance.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Thank you.

Now, in the words of a great philosopher, I heard one say that if you cannot express your deep emotions and feelings, somewhere between the Gettysburg's Address And I have a dream speech. You are either doing too much or just trying to show out. So again, out of respect of the family, we want your remarks, of course, to be as profound as you need them to be. But let's just keep time in mind. And with that, our first speaker, the chair recognizes Alderman Bill.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I rise to wholeheartedly support this resolution. Sitting through the service, I don't think anybody abided by the two-minute rule but hopefully everybody abides by the two-minute rule today. I just want to personally thank the family, because when we look around this room, the imprint that the Jackson family and Reverend Jackson has put on not only this body, but this country is second to none. And I just want to personally thank the family, because I know I would not be here if it had not been for the Jackson family. And so when Reverend was here the last time, we were able to look him in his face and give him his flowers while he was here. And we were able to articulate how we felt about him and the imprint that he had on this country. And so I just want to personally thank the family again for everything that he has done. for everything that he will continue to do through his legacy. And ladies and gentlemen, it's just, it's really breathtaking to see the amount of love that is being poured into this family. And it's beholden of us to continue the legacy, to continue to do the vision that he imprinted on all of us And the one thing that I will always take away from Reverend Jackson and what he said to me personally, he said, young leadership, keep it going. And so we have to make sure that we continue to cultivate young leadership because that's the one thing I took away from Reverend. And that's the one thing I'm going to continue to do is cultivate young leadership. Thank you so much, Mr. President. And thank you all so much. Appreciate it.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Alderman Harris.

Thank you, Mr. President. I too rise to be associated with this. To my essential element sister, Sister Jackson over there, Santina, and to Jesse Jr., and where's Yousef? I thought I saw him around there too. So I just want to acknowledge you all and say thank you that it is not easy to give up your husband and your father to people like us. And he definitely and 1973, from the first time that big giant stood up with the big afro and said, I am somebody in the amphitheater on the 43rd and Halsted, I was struck. The next time I saw him at CBS High School, where he came to do voter registration. And then at the end, I had a lovely resident who turned 100 years old, was like, his wish was, I want Reverend Jackson there with me. And so Carolyn Curry made it happen. And so I say thank you to you all for being soldiers, for being strong. It is not just enough to say thank you that you have uplifted him and been the wind beneath his feet, but you have been his everything. And he knew that after he came home from a long day of work and acting crazy, that he had a family that loved him and embraced him. And so I say thank you to you all again for being behind the scenes and being great support systems for a man who is a legacy to me, the city of Chicago, and to the nation. Thank you.

Thank you, Alderman Harris. Alderman Rodriguez.

Thank you, Mayor. I absolutely mourn the death of our great leader. but also celebrate a life very well lived. A person who lived in abundance, not scarcity. A person who understood that extending your arm is not extending a fist. That working with others who may be like you or not, brings us all together and lifts all boats. An individual who said time and again that immigrants were not aliens, but essential workers. A person who walked 26th Street with Chuy Garcia and me many a time. A person who knew how to build bridges, not walls. That was Jexy Jackson. That was a man I am not, Black. I am not Black American, but I am Jesse Jackson. I am the son of Jesse Jackson. I am the son of his spirits because he has not just impacted one community, one neighborhood. He's impacted our world. And I am just so grateful that I have the distinct honor to be in this audience amongst this family to say, thank you for a life well lived. Thank you for a life well shared. He has impacted us greatly and I'm honored to say thank you to you for giving us him. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Alderman.

The chair recognizes Alderman Coleman.

President, I undoubtedly stand in support of this amazing family, Dr. Jacqueline Jackson, and to Santita, of course, Congressman Jackson and Congressman Jackson and your baby girl in her absent, as a very proud daughter of Englewood, it was Reverend Jackson, who about four or five years ago, we met on a Sunday. That's how much he cared for not only this great city and nation, but just a small neighborhood in Chicago and Englewood, where we met Soror on a Sunday to save our Black president who had taken our school to the number one community college in And we fought hard with the prior administration, but I will never forget the sacrifice on a Sunday evening that he gave us to you, Mrs. Jackson. You used to hang out with my godmother, Dr. Albertina Walker. Yes, ma'am. I heard the stories. And just a fun fact, it was Reverend Jackson who named Albertina the queen of gospel music. who actually crowned her after the passing of Mahalia Jackson. I am so grateful that you sacrificed your father as someone who is a child of both pastors and elected officials. I know the sacrifice that we have made when mom and dad could not be at every event and every accomplishment, but the sacrifice that they made for others. And to Chris, can we give it up for Chris Hodges? Chris, Chris, caring for your mother and caring for Reverend. I know that we have to choose between having a career, having youthfulness and sacrificing our own social life. And you are to be commended for the great care. Pastor Juan Anderson, I don't see him, but he is certainly one of the blessed disciples that took care of Reverend was his armor bearer protection, um, He certainly came to city council every month to represent Reverend and push. And Reverend Cameron Barnes, the baby Q, I know he kept Reverend throwing his hooks up as a proud member of Omega Psi Phi. But God bless you. Thank you so much. And you all, this is great that we're here honoring the family. But how we can definitely honor Reverend Jackson is by coming to push every Saturday at 10 a.m. by getting a membership and supporting the next generation of leadership by way of Yusef Jackson and Push Excel. God bless you all and thank you.

Thank you, Alderman. The chair recognizes Alderman David Moore.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mama J., Santita, and Attorney Reverend Jeanette Wilson. I must tell Jesus all of my trials. I cannot bear these burdens alone. In my distress, he kindly will help me. He ever loves and cares for his own." I've heard that over and over and over again since I was a child, how Reverend Jackson came to fellowship. At least I can remember, he had to be six years old, seven years old, me and Reverend Hardy riding down the street, turning on the radio, listening to those words. And this story was told over and over and over again. And I can appreciate that. And because Reverend Jackson and the family come to fellowship, married something great with him and Reverend Clay Evans. And what they've done was create something that's so impactful to this world. As we say, and I think Alderman Beal said it best, we were so happy when he came down here because we gave him his flowers while he lived in this council. But I'm honored to say that every time I saw him, I gave him his flowers. Congressman, we love you very much. Y'all make some noise for this congressman who has done an excellent job. And so as we keep the family in prayer and keep you smothered, covered, and surrounded, as Reverend Jenkins would say, we're going to continue to do that. But I also want to say this, Mother J., and when you spoke at the Dr. King breakfast, who was the guest speaker that day? I forget who it was. Because you became the guest speaker when you got up there. Because Reverend used to say, you could say a whole lot and say nothing. and say very little and say a whole lot. And what you said was let nobody have power over you but God. And I thank you for that. And so as our chairman has, or the Black Caucus have talked about supporting PUSH, become a member, I echo that. But also, if you have Netflix, go on there, see Save the Children. See, watch Save the Children. And you will see and continue to see the impact that Reverend Jackson had. Thank you, family. I love you all so much. And we're going to keep you all in our prayer. God bless.

God bless you. Thank you, Alderman. Alderman Haddon.

Thank you, Mr. President. I too rise in support of this resolution. Hello to the family. Thank you for making the time. In addition to grieving the loss of Reverend Jesse, you all have had to share that grief with the entire world, the country. I very much enjoyed the celebration of life and the ability to be there in community with so many people. who loved Reverend Jackson, and also, as my colleagues have mentioned, who felt the impact. So I just briefly will share the impact he had on my life and the life of my family. I don't get to claim Chicago as home, and it will be one of the deepest regrets that I take to the grave with me. I moved here in 2003, but growing up in Columbus, Ohio, I knew Jesse Jackson. I knew who Jesse Jackson was. My parents talked about Jesse Jackson. My father went to North Carolina A&T. He was North Carolina A&T. He was there. He was in Greensboro during riots, struggling in the civil rights. Jesse Jackson was a role model for my parents. Jesse Jackson ran for president. I was a kid in Ohio. I still have this button from 1988. Jesse Jackson ran for president. Jesse Jackson made waves. Growing up far from Chicago's political world, somebody once told me... Actually, it was Jason Lee, Mr. President, who told me this. Chicago is the Hollywood of politics. growing up far from that space, and then having the opportunity to actually move here. And politics wasn't where I started my journey. It was in public service. It was in community organizing. It was in civic discourse. It was in public participation. And I got to meet neighbors in my community in Rogers Park and people from neighborhoods all around Chicago. And I remember the first time I got to go to Rainbow Push. And it's like... It's mind blowing to be from someplace that's so far and to know about to know about this history, to know about these legends. Right. You guys are legends. The impact that you've had on not just black Americans, but all Americans, the impact that. Reverend Jackson had, I just can't even state. And then eventually to find my way into politics and run for office and win. And I remember I've got this great photo of Reverend Jackson with several of my colleagues, all of us who were in our first term in 2019 out there actually supporting, supporting One Fair Wage, supporting Fight for 15, supporting workers. And he was just right there. I'm like, how is this living legend? He's like, how is this living legend, this larger than life person who's had such an impact, just hanging out with us? How's he just hanging out with us? And I know that Chicagoans have so many stories like that. He was of the people. He was for the people. He was by the people. He was an inspiration. I think that's the legacy that I hold dearest. And when he passed, the end of Black History Month, I sat there with the news in my home and I thought about how it's just an end of an era. in so many ways, the end of an era, the end of an era of statesmen, of people who could be for their community, right there, grounded in their neighborhood in the Fourth Ward in Chicago, and also be negotiating the release of hostages in another country. Like, who does that anymore? Who does that? We don't have that anymore. And though I was saddened at his passing, Part of me also felt like, you know what? He deserves that forever peace. He deserves that space, right? He's earned it. And we're going to continue the struggle here. He's fought his fight. He fought for us. He showed us a path. He demonstrated in so many ways how we need to be better, how we need to be leaders, how we need to lift each other up. And that's not what I see when I turn on the TV. It's not what I see out of DC. It's not what I see sometimes out of this space. There seem to be not enough people doing that. But you're here today. And his constant reminder is that it's possible. We can be better. We can lift each other up. We can serve humanity right from the 49th Ward, from the 13th Ward, from the 12th Ward, right from the 4th Ward, from our communities, with our communities, in community. That's the way it's possible. So thank you for being his legacy, a part of his legacy, for sharing him with us. And thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Thank you. Alderman Lee.

Thank you, Mr. President. I, too, rise in support of this resolution. Thank you, Jackson family, for being here with us today. And I echo the thanks that I've heard so much already today for the fact that you shared him with the world. As an Asian American and as someone shaped by Chicago Public Schools, I'm deeply aware of the doors that were open to me and countless others because Reverend Jackson pushed them through. He marched through them and he refused for them to be closed again. And his life's work didn't just change policies, it changed possibilities. You're gonna hear a lot of that here, but I hope you understand how much that rings true for all of us that are here. I happened to be a graduate of Whitney Young High School, which a couple of the Jackson family attended, Santita and Jonathan, my colleague, a couple of colleagues here as well. It was a place that reflects so much of what Reverend Jackson fought for. It's students from every corner of our city coming together, bringing together different backgrounds. And I realized when I went to college how unique that actually was to live in that little utopia that was Whitney Young High School in the greatest city in the world, in the city of Chicago. And it shows you what's possible and worth fighting for. And I know that influence and being here in Chicago, Reverend Jackson had such a hand in that. That experience stays with you and it shapes you, and it raises your expectations for what society can be. And in many ways, and in so many ways, as you see all around us and as you've been celebrating his life, you can see that Chicago is a place, through his influence, where leaders are raised, they're tested, and then ultimately proven. And hopefully we have many more that come from it as a result of the work that he's done and each of the legacies that you are all building. as well, carrying that forward. You know, for the Asian American community, Reverend Jackson didn't just stand at a distance. He stood with us. I was very young when Vincent Chin was murdered in Detroit. I remember distinctly watching the television and watching my family stand at attention at the tragedy that befallen Vincent Chin. and the heartbreak that his mother felt. And that Reverend Jackson went to her side to stand with her, I've never forgotten. And I know my community hasn't as well. And he did the same thing during the rise of anti-Asian. He is a towering figure that we will not forget anytime soon or ever for that example of bringing people together So I want to express my gratitude to Mrs. Jackson and the entire Jackson family for the lifetime of partnership and strength and example that you've shown to us. And may we honor him, not just in words today, but through actions as we move forward. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Alder Lawson.

Thank you, Mr. President. I am honored to be associated with this resolution. When I was a senior in high school in April in 1996, Reverend Jackson came and spoke to my class in Rockford, Illinois, Rockford, Auburn. Go Knights. And I had a very diverse high school, not unlike the room I'm in right now. And he talked about the opportunity we had in front of us as young people. He cautioned us against too much TV. which has maybe lost my generation or the current generation, but not wasting the opportunities that we had before us. When it all came to an end, he invited every senior who would be 18 by the November election down to the floor of the gym, and we all registered to vote. And yes. And I was a kid who was going to register, I was going to vote in every election, but a lot of the people on that gym floor would not have. And to have that opportunity, to have the story that I have, and to have never missed an election ever since, I hope I've made the Reverend proud. I'm passing a letter today in support of HB 4339, which of course has the support of Rainbow Push. Kimberly Dubuclay in Springfield has filed this bill, and I'll just read a real quick excerpt. Reverend Jackson spent decades urging young people, people, especially young people, to believe in their own vote and use it. Through the civil rights movement rainbow push here in Chicago and countless campaigns for justice and inclusion, he fought to ensure that participation in our democracy was not just reserved for the powerful or well-connected, but open to all. HB 4339 reflects that same spirit. It is a practical and meaningful measure to remove barriers to civic participation by meeting young people where they already are, in school, preparing to enter public life. By ensuring graduating seniors are given the opportunity to register, Illinois can help build lifelong civet habits and strengthen participation across our state. I have most of the signatures on the letter already. I'm coming to get yours, Mr. Mayor, as well. And I look forward to transmitting that to our colleagues in Springfield. So on behalf of all the residents of the 44th Ward, I want to express my deepest condolences to you and express gratitude for an extraordinary life of an extraordinary Chicagoan and all the many gifts he's given all of us. Thank you all. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you.

Alderman Knutson. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I just want to say to the Jackson family, I'm so proud to be in your presence. I was so proud to go to the homegoing ceremony and really celebrate Reverend Jackson, who, as we've heard today and you've heard through the countless ceremonies you've been through, he's just a Titan that means so many different things to so many different people. I remember my growing up with a grandfather who was really proud of almost having the same birthday as Reverend Jackson in 1941. And he's a South Side Chicago guy, my grandpa. He's an Italian guy. But talking to him about the legacy and the presidential campaign. And there's one thing that really hangs on to me from the presidential campaign that I'd like to uplift, as many other things are getting uplifted, but... Reverend Jackson was the first major presidential candidate to mention LGBTQ rights in his platform. In his convention speech, he mentioned gays and lesbians. That is an incredible, incredible additional legacy to add on to all the other civil rights fights that he led on. He was a visionary He was brave. He was ahead of his time. And I'm so grateful to you. And like many here, you know, you can count on us to really keep his legacy alive within this chamber. So thank you.

Thank you, Alderman. The chair recognizes Alderman Yancey.

Thank you, Mr. President. I too rise in support of this resolution. As Alderman of the Fifth Ward, I join with millions worldwide in mourning the death and honoring the legacy of Fifth Ward resident Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson, Sr., From his days marching with Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. to becoming a global leader in his own right, Reverend Jackson distinguished himself by carving his own path in the fight for human dignity, a fair society, and equal opportunity for all through his unifying rainbow coalition, which spanned international and interracial lives. His campaigns for president in 1984 and 1988 are clear examples of his mission to create an America that represents all of us. I had the pleasure of meeting Rev earlier in my career as a labor organizer and tried to walk the path that he paved for nearly two decades. And in 2023, I was honored to introduce him to my son when I was elected to represent him and his family and city council as his alderman. I give my condolences to the family, Mother Jackson, Santita, Jesse, Jonathan, Yousef, Jacqueline, Ashley, all the grandkids, and the Operation Push family. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to mourn my father or my mentor or the love of my life in public. Thank you for sharing him with the world because we needed him. Khalil Gibran said, when you are sorrowful, look again into your heart. And you shall see that in truth, you are weeping for that which has been your delight. So on behalf of the Fifth Ward Service Office, it is with a grateful heart that I wish you blessings. God bless you.

Thank you. Thank you, Alderman.

Alderman Hall. Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to support this resolution. First, first to say to Santita, Jesse Jr., Yusef, Jonathan, to the entire family, Dr. Jacqueline, number two. And then also one of the reasons why I know Reverend Jackson is because of Dr. Wilson grabbing my hand and introducing me to him. But there's a host of things I want to say, but one story jumps to mind. We were coming from Alabama to go back to South Carolina to see Reverend's mother. And everybody was sleeping in the car except for you, Ms. Jackson. And you leaned over to me and you asked me all these questions about my church. And I was nervous because I thought you was going to snap. But one of the things you told me was the best way to organize my church was to develop birthday clubs. You told me that the birthday clubs would bring morale and let the birthday club leaders lead and celebrate each other. And it'd make my life a lot easier. And so I just wanted to rise today to say to you, Ms. Jackson, yesterday was your birthday.

And on behalf of all the March birthdays, we want to say thank you and happy birthday.

God bless you, Ms. Jackson.

Thank you, Alderman. Alderman Byron Ciccio-Lopez.

Thank you, Mr. President, and I also rise in and with proud support of this resolution. I think there's nothing that can exemplify the legacy of a person, but just to look at their family. Ms. Jackson to Santita, Youssef, Congressman Jonathan Jackson, Jacqueline, Youssef, two congressmen, the legacy of the Rainbow Push Coalition communications, but more than anything else, the legacy of a fighting history here in our city. I cannot be more proud to stand on behalf of our community because you truly reflect the aspirations, dreams of so many people that continue to dream that one day we will be seen not by the skin of our color, but the character of our spirit. And that is the legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson. I am extremely proud because in so many occasions, when others look the other way, Reverend Jackson, the Rainbow Push, and your family received us and welcomed us like we are somebody, like we matter. And you show us not only the welcoming spirit of our city, but the respect and the dignity that all human beings deserve as brothers, sisters, and siblings. There are so many stories, but I would like to just share the kind of man that he is and the legacy that he carries. When in the council we had tough issues and we had a resolution in the city council, Reverend Jesse Jackson was not feeling well that day. He was on the way to the hospital When I received the call that Reverend Jackson was in the elevator, he outlifted the whole room because he kept hope alive. That is the hope that many in our city and across the world continue to have for a world where all human beings are somebody. Documented or not, if you're in the streets, unsheltered, If you are someone who is going hungry, and we have way too many, we believe that hope is alive in our city because of the legacy of Reverend Jackson. Reverend Jackson also gave us the Rainbow Coalition that elected the first black progressive mayor in the history of our country. And that city and that spirit is alive and well. for the family of Reverend Jackson. On behalf of my community, when I've seen not only young leaders coming to Rainbow Push, not only from Chicago, in Cicero, in places where nobody even look at us, Reverend Jackson told us, you are somebody, and you matter, and you have a voice, and we shall overcome. So thank you to the Jackson family for that beautiful spirit. You always have a friend in our community because we see you because you see us. So thank you so much. I let's keep hope alive. Thank you very much.

Chair recognizes all the woman myths.

Thank you, Mr. President. I too would like to rise and support this resolution. Thank all my colleagues for all the words that's been spoken. But I have to represent the West Side. And when I tell you Reverend Jackson made his way over and there are leaders that are representing him now because of Reverend Jackson. Reverend Irie Ackrey, Reverend Marsha Hatch got their leadership role from Operation Push under the leadership of Reverend Jackson. They have a voice that's speaking. The voice that you hear now echoing in young folks who are out here now on the battlefield trying to continue to work. I heard my grandson say as he voted at age 18, he's 19, his first vote, he never knew a Reverend Jackson. But as the service went on, he knew this was a great man, somebody that he needed to know. I said, well, that's what your phone is for. Go look him up instead of all that other stuff you look at. Then he came back and he says, oh, mom, wow, I didn't know this. I want to be like this man. I want to change life. Well, Reverend Jackson changed some life. I first came in office, he saved a lady home, right there in Westside. Like, well, and how he did it all of a sudden, it was done, dealing with the banks. Ms. Minister, God bless her, she's a pastor now, but he saved the home. He helped to not only do the bread basket from the south side to the west side. Yeah, they would call me over and say, come on over here, get this. Reverend Wilson, you all had the bread basket at the Operation Push? We would go and get food to make sure kids was able to eat. during the summer months, the programs that they have, and every Martin Luther King celebration, those events, and bringing back memories, I looked at the world and said, wow, it's a shame that sometimes you don't recognize how leadership carries you on until a person is gone. So now, with Reverend Jackson being our last civil rights leader, we better take notice. Take notice to what his legacy was all about. And somebody has to make sure that we carry that torch, passing it down to our children, not keeping it to ourselves, because the world do turn around. And it's just in a different form. So if you want them to be successful, open up your eyes, start talking, and let's get the word out so that they too can have some hope in their life and in the life of all Americans. Thank you. God bless you. We're praying with all of you on behalf of 37th Ward. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you all of you. All right, the chair recognizes Alderman Ervin.

Thank you, Mr. President. I first met Reverend Jackson at a Bulls game. I was a little kid. I was at a Detroit Pistons game with Isaiah Thomas's mother, Mary Thomas. And as if they were old friends, she introduced me to the Reverend. One thing, and I actually did a little research, and one thing I think there's a misnomer about Reverend Jackson and the fact that people talk about Operation Breadbasket from a perspective of food a lot of times. But the reality was that it was about economics. And without economics, economic parity for our community, then all of the things that we talked about, all of the things that people fought for were not, because again, at the end of the day, it comes down to the dollar bill. And I think that was one thing that Reverend Jackson understood, and he understood the power of economics and the power of firstly and secondly, the vote. Now, when he was here, when we did his 80th birthday, One thing that I said that with the Voting Rights Act, a lot of us in this room owe seats to that work because even here in the city of Chicago, we had some battles on getting representation for our community. But again, it was that groundwork that was laid back in the 60s that moved us to the 70s and 80s that got us to a point that we have these seats that we have today. But one thing I want to close with this, let's not forget the fight for economic justice in what Reverend Jackson spoke of, what he talked about, and what he teached on. Sometimes people may have misunderstood what he was trying to do economically, but without the economics, everything else is useless. Thank you. Thank you very much, Alderman Ervin.

And I do appreciate the brevity here. We are on our 15th speaker now. Just a few more that we have, at least on my sheet. The chair recognizes Alder Fuentes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the family for your sacrifice. Mama Jackson, thank you for sharing Reverend Jackson with us and to the children who sacrificed the fathers so that he could be shared with the entire world. He taught everyone in this room and across this globe that we are all somebody. and that we can organize and put our best foot forward to be able to build the coalition that this, not just this country needs, but this world needs in this moment. I hope that we take Reverend Jackson's spirit with us as we are fighting great odds that are trying to deteriorate, not just our coalition, but us as human beings. As a Latina born and raised in Humboldt Park, Jesse Jackson visited a small church on North Avenue called San Lucas Church. And I remember Puerto Ricans being extremely proud to have Reverend Jackson in that church. not just talking about what was needed in the moment, but what was needed in the future for our coalition to be strong. Our Puerto Rican community is extremely proud of the legacy that Reverend Jackson left behind, and we intend to carry that legacy moving forward. So thank you for taking time and being in the box with us today, for embodying everything that Reverend Jackson was, and I hope that this body can do the same. Thank you for your time today. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Alderwoman Dowell.

Thank you, Mr. President. I wanted to be associated with this resolution as well. I'm not originally from Chicago. I'm originally from New York. And one of the things that attracted me to the city was only having Jet Magazine and Ebony Magazine in my house of which the Reverend Jesse Jackson Senior was always featured along with other people. That was what attracted me here to Chicago. I just wanted to say to the Jackson family that I appreciate your giving us him in this country and in the world. I had an opportunity to work in the Harold Washington administration, and I always wondered, well, why can't we do that in New York, being that I was from there? So I would like to acknowledge that but for Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr., there never would have been a David Dinkins in 1990. And so thank you so much for making that happen in my old beloved city. On behalf of the residents of the Third Ward, I just wanted to express our condolences to the entire family. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Jesse Jackson Jr., Because really, I wouldn't be in this seat but for you coming to support me and I really appreciate that. And so I know that the spirit of the father lives in the children and wanted to thank you all very much and express my condolences and love for the family. Thank you.

Thank you. Alder Vegas.

Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you for bringing this resolution forward. I want to start off by offering my condolences to the Jackson family. My interaction with the great Reverend happened with Reverend Barry regarding during Hurricane Maria when the island of Puerto Rico was devastated and we were trying to get supplies from Chicago to Puerto Rico in the midst of all the damage. and an administration that was not helping the island of Puerto Rico. And I remember meeting with Reverend Barry and Reverend Jackson, and I remember telling Reverend Barry, like, what is Reverend Jackson going to do here? And he was able to use his connections and his relationships to get an airplane, to get that airplane to load 50 pallets of supplies that was much needed and get it there to the island. And so forever, we'll be grateful for the reverence stepping in there. And then I remembered, why would Reverend Jackson be concerned with this? And I remember that push, people united for saving humanity. This is a gentleman that just looked at saving humanity. And when you think about all the great civil rights leaders that I've heard of, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Cesar Chavez, it's not often that you get a chance to meet a living legend. And so I had that opportunity to meet Reverend Jackson and work with him collaboratively in order to help the people in Puerto Rico. So forever, we'll be grateful for that assistance. Again, God bless your family. And from the 36th Ward, we miss him.

Thank you. Thank you, Alderman. Thank you. The chair recognizes Alderman Conway.

Mr. President, I've had the opportunity to speak at Rainbow Push several times, and I'm always grateful to be invited and witness the greatness. Not to talk politics in this hallowed chamber, but on the day after an election, I think a lot of us are asking, you know, what makes us all Democrats as I sit here with my colleague to the left and colleague to the far left. I'm not talking about Scott, by the way. And I think about that. I remember watching Reverend Jackson's speech at the convention in 1988. And the quote that really jumped out to me as a 10-year-old was, the only justification we have for looking down on someone is we're going to stop and pick them up. And I think that is what binds us together as members of city council, really giving voice to the voiceless. And it was... the Reverend that taught us that. So I want to thank you all for sharing your husband, your father, your grandfather, and Reverend Jackson with us and allowing us to help in any way we can preserve that legacy and grow upon it. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you all very much.

Thank you, Alderman. Chair recognizes Alder Vasquez. And before you proceed, I just have one more person. And that will be Alderwoman Scott. So if you wish to speak, please give us acknowledgement now. Alder Vasquez.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Thank you all for being with us and for sharing the good reverend with all of us. Many of us will say keep hope alive is something that's been embedded in us because of the good reverend's words. I think when we think about the times we find ourselves in currently, it feels rough. We see the racism being every bit as blatant as it used to be. And I can imagine what it must have been like when the world lost the good Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King and what it must have felt like about the kind of loss the world had. And how does one continue that kind of legacy and that kind of work? But then we had the Reverend Jesse Jackson that continued that work. And so... In that time, I believe it was a lot more challenging and darker than it is now. To think of the audacity of that same hope that would lead someone to put on the cape and solve every problem every single time, because the time is always right to do what's right, and to then run for the highest office in this nation at a time where, heck, it's challenging now, so I can't even imagine what it was like back then. And so I know a number of our colleagues have mentioned the end of an era, but I think about really what it means to plant the seeds and the continuation of an era. Not only is it members of the family that have continued that good work, that public service, that dedication to humanity, but there are so many people that have articulated what that presence and those words have meant to all of us and the work that we continue to do. Hope is a sometimes ambiguous concept, but I think it's different when it comes from people of struggle. People who have had nothing that work to help other people and uplift whole communities, regardless of what they look like, where they come from, understanding that we all share that same humanity and what it takes to sacrifice time, commitment, emotion. We are much better for the good reverence contributions. Even in this time where we feel like we're taking steps backwards, All the seeds that have been planted, all the work that we all do and we continue to do will also continue to be inspired by the good reverence work. And so I, you know, as we all do around this time, we try to find quotes and reflections to kind of keep us strong. And I think about how hard it is to keep hope alive. We can say it all the time, but we have to deal with a lot of hardship, both internally, externally, in this whole world. And so the words that I wanted to share was about what it takes to be a leader And he said, leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving. And so when I think about the different decades of work, seeing the good reverend through the different stages in life, still coming, still attending, still being at rallies, even when it was a team behind him and having to be in a wheelchair with us, that shows a resilience that I don't think is often appreciated. And I think about it constantly. And so as much as we feel the loss, there's also a peace that the good Reverend is at rest after coming and showing up and showing out for all of us constantly. And so the best way we can continue that legacy is by showing up and doing that work, especially in this moment in this country. And so I think you all, for all the sacrifices you've made, I thank you all for continuing the legacy. Chicago would not be Chicago and this world would not be this world if it wasn't for the good reverence. So thank you so much for that. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Chair recognizes old woman Scott.

Thank you, Mr. President. This is what legacy looks like. My dad, Michael Scott Sr., worked alongside with your dad. I remember sitting in the same booth hearing amazing words about my dad and then to sit here and hear the amazing things about your husband, your father, your relative, it just resonates with me. My dad, Michael Scott Senior, worked alongside with your dad to fight for economic opportunity and a stronger community. He was the first person, your dad was the first person, Jesse Jackson was the first person to sit by my side when I lost my dad. He was the first person that rang that doorbell for me when I lost my dad. And as a young girl to now, Reverend Jackson's life reminds me that real change come from courage, faith, and a commitment to serve others. For that, we thank you, Jacksons. We thank you for sharing him with us, and we thank you for the honor and the legacy he leaves behind. To all the Jacksons, I thank you, I thank you, I thank you, And we, I love you.

Thank you. Thank you. Alderman Gardner.

Thank you, Mr. President. I, too, rise in support of this resolution. And I will do my best to take Alderman Beal's advice, and I will try to be brief. When your father was with us in 2023, he came to city council and said, In the past few years in my life, I've tried to do a better job of expressing my gratitude, and I was able to express my gratitude to your father. And I had mentioned how he impacted my life, and I probably wouldn't be, truth be told, in this seat, in this position, to serve as alderman of the 45th Ward. I am on the far northwest side of Chicago in Jefferson Park, and you may be asking, how in the world did your father impact my life? As a first-generation American and somebody who struggled in school, barely graduated high school, I was working construction as a 19-year-old, and I had a dream to become a Chicago fireman. And much like the firemen we saw yesterday, firefighter Altman Pass, who comes from a long lineage of firefighters, I did not. And usually back in the 90s, it was kind of like you kind of had to know somebody to get on the fire department, or at least that was the word on the street. And I didn't know anybody. And I took a test in 1995 and I didn't score high enough on this test. And your father was able to fight the city and say that there was other people who were on this test who passed the test and could be willing and able to perform the duties of being a firefighter. And fortunately, because of his advocacy, I was able to be hired on the fire department 10 years later. And like I said earlier, if it wasn't for working with the fire department and being a member of Local 2, I would not be in this position. But when I came out of the Fire Academy, which is like a six-month ordeal, kind of like a boot camp, you get assigned a position. And I was assigned to Truck 26, Engine 95, Ambulance 10, Battalion 13 on the west side of Chicago in West Garfield Park, one of the busiest firehouses in the city of Chicago. It's an honor. It's a privilege. It's almost like going to Harvard for scholars. Um, and the first question, when you come into that firehouse is who do you know? Who's your cloud. And, you know, in, in most times, somebody who looks like myself, it's either Ray Roscoe or Bobby Hoff or mayor daily or Pat LaVar, who was a former Alderman or 45th ward. And I knew none of them. And I would say Reverend Jackson, and I would get the craziest looks aside, look up by who. And I would say, yeah, Reverend Jackson. And it was very, it was sincere because I knew from the moment I got on that job, I wasn't expected to ever get a call. And I was trying to figure out my path in life. And it was because of your advocacy, your father's advocacy, that many people, my colleague, Alderman Napolitano as well, we were given an opportunity And as a first-generation American, whether you're Asian, whether you're Hispanic, from Africa, anywhere in the world, one thing we have in common is we are hungry people. We are hungry for opportunities. And me coming on the fire department, I was extremely hungry, but I was also extremely grateful. And I always remembered that in the 14 years that I spent on the Chicago Fire Department, where I was able to serve in a predominantly, ironically, African-American community in West Garfield Park. And we made, I can sincerely say to you, the men and women that I worked with, we made an immense impact on African-Americans in the city of Chicago. And it would not be possible without the work of your father. And I am extremely grateful to have been able to express that to him in 2023, because I could see the challenges that he was facing at that time. And we didn't know how much longer he was gonna be with us. And I feel compelled to share that with you as well, because I said that in 23, that he may or may not hear that a lot from somebody from my community, from my background. And I think it's very important, not only he hear it, but you hear it as well. And you should be so proud of the work that your father did. And I sincerely thank you. And I know Alderman Napolitano feels the same way. So thank you very much. May God bless you.

Thank you. Alderman Lopez.

Good morning, Mr. President and members of the city council and welcome the Jackson family. As I was sitting here, it's hard to add to the discussion that we've already had with everyone who's sharing so many of their great initial encounters with your husband, your father. Mine actually was over 20 plus years ago before I was even in this room when I still worked at Southwest Airlines at Midway Airport. It's where we got to meet many of you. And there's one word that I have not heard enough of, and I think that it was your father's humility. He was a very humble man for all of his largesse. He was never one, as one of my colleagues mentioned, not to talk to someone that was the least in the room. Not one to not talk to frontline airline workers, whoever was standing out there. He'd carry on a conversation. He would stop with whomever he was walking through the airport with, if someone recognized him and wanted a moment, he always gave it to him. That is a hallmark of a true leader. It is someone who understands where they come from, understands how to lift people up, but also understands that everyone matters. And while many of us had initial interactions in official capacities, mine was in a very different world. but nonetheless left a lasting impression on me. And I'm so thankful in knowing that that best character trait of humbleness and humility has also been passed on to all of you. Because as I've gotten to know many of you privately or publicly, you all carry it as well. So thank you for sharing him. Thank you for allowing us to once again, put you through this memorial. Um, but your grief is our grief and we are there with you together. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Are there any more Alders that wish to speak before our final speaker, which all right, if there are no other hands, the final Alder who will speak to this resolution, the chair recognizes Alderman Robinson.

Mr. Mayor, thank you very much. On behalf of the residents of the Fourth Ward, home to Operation Push, we want to say thank you to the Jackson family and Reverend Wilson for allowing us to have Reverend Jackson. To Miss Jackson, there's not a time that I see you that I don't bow. because I want to thank you for being Reverend's partner and pushing him to make the world a better place, being the wind beneath his wings. We thank God for you, and we love you. To Yusuf, Yusuf, keep hope alive, our young people, need to continue to hear and see Black excellence. As a son of Chicago, it is because I'm in this body, my father dragged me to Operation Push on Saturdays, where I heard from folks around the country, and again, to see Black excellence right here in the city of Chicago. So Yusuf, keep that fire burning. I stand today in this chamber as the first black openly gay member of the Chicago City Council and the first openly LGBTQ African American person to serve in the Illinois General Assembly. Congressman Jackson, that journey didn't happen in isolation. It happened Because Reverend Jackson helped expand the moral imagination and compass of this country. Because he fought for justice even when it was unpopular, Congressman. Because he believed that the struggle for freedom must include all of God's children. His life reminds us that movements are built, Mr. Mayor, not just by speeches, but by courage and compassion and unwavering commitment to dignity for everyone. So today we honor Reverend Jackson, but we also honor his legacy, his legacy of hope, a legacy of justice, a legacy of black economics, a legacy that reminds us that his dream is still alive. So again, to the Jackson family, Chicago is a better place because he lived. America is a better place Because he led. Thank you and may God continue to bless you.

All right. Just briefly, thank you, Alderman Beal, for being a great model, that brevity, it worked. I promised the family we would have them out of here by noon. And so we won't belabor this moment too much longer. But again, I want to give my deepest condolences to Bishop Jackson, to the entire family, you know, had the incredible honor and privilege of working alongside of the entire family for a number of years now. And Mrs. Jackson, we are so humbled by your presence. I appreciate what Alderman Moore said. Your words were so profound and so prophetic at the MLK breakfast. And we love you. We thank you for all of the advice. Check her out. Now, listen now, don't give me the cry up here. But you have been such an incredible inspiration to so many people, a great example. Just one quick story here, and then Alderman Mitchell, we're going to pass this to the omnibus, okay? I was in the vehicle with Reverend, and I shared this story with Mrs. Jackson. And I don't even know where we were headed. You know, Alderman Hall, you know this. Reverend would just come and pick you up, grab you, and before you know it, you're on an airplane somewhere. He would just have that ability to do that. And he was listening to some real, real, real down-home music. People may not know this, but though he was a sanctified man, he really loved the blues, right? And so this blues lyrics, of course, can be very provocative. And so it made me curious to understand, you know, how do you preserve a family, particularly a marriage? So I said, Reverend, what's the secret? How do you do this, man? I'm working hard. I believe my wife likes me most days. But the kids, you know, I don't want them walking around with a picture of me saying, this is my daddy. I want them to actually know me. So how do you do it? And he looked at me and he said, You got to growl, Brandon. You got to growl at her. I said, you growl at Mrs. Jackson? He said, yeah. If it gets real rough, you just got to turn around and just growl. At her, you know, listen, I'm a very impressionable young man. I wanted to protect my marriage and my family. And so Stacy and I were having a little bit of a moment, just a little bit of a back and forth. And Mrs. Jackson, I took your husband's advice. So I just looked at her and I just started growling. And then my wife, Stacy, looked at me and she said, I can give you something for that. And my marriage has never been stronger. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. So thank you for the strong example of love. And let's just be honest, you all. The Jacksons, this is not just black royalty. This is royalty at its highest. And so, Alderman Mitchell, can I get a motion for the passage of this resolution in the omnibus as a rising resolution?

Mr. President, I move passage in the omnibus. There ain't no objection, so order.

All right, our final resolution. Our final resolution for this morning, what's left of the morning, is a resolution. Our final resolution is honoring Women's History Month. And we're grateful for all of the powerful women that are in the box. There's Tina Feldstein, Navia Gilbert, Jean Clark, America Campos, Dominique Smith, Wanda Molina, Eva Orocho, Martha Castagena, I'm sorry, Cartagena, Sandra Ruiz, Jane Lau, Maria Estela, and Sandy Ruiz. Let's welcome them to the city council. Are there any Alders that wish to speak to this resolution? The chair recognizes Alder Jeanette Taylor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Um, America Composts uplifts back of the yard through youth programs, safe spaces, and food access. Dominique Smith has empowered over 2,500 young people through mental health support and community advocacy. And Nevaeh Gilbert, a social work student at the National Lewis University and member of the Student Advisory Council, also a student from Dyer High School, used to be, she's now in college. making impact through leadership and commitment to service. Together, their resilience, purpose, and dedication to build communities stronger and healthier. Ms. Jean, who could not make it today, is the Woodlawn mother. She the woman that don't say, I'm going to pick up the trash. She make you pick up the trash. She found you outside doing something you ain't supposed to do. She walked up to you. She didn't care who child you was, and she's not feeling well today. And so these incredible women all live in the 20th Ward, and I just want to say to them, thank you for your work. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your push. Thank you for making sure that this community knows that it has a support system. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wanted to honor a woman today who I have known for more than a decade in honor of Women's History Month, where we celebrate women who are cutting edge, resilient, that show leadership, and that are always thoughtful. And so today I wanted to acknowledge and honor Tina Feldstein. Tina, would you please stand? Tina is a 20-year community activist who lives in the South Loop. She has been the founder of the Prairie District Neighborhood Association. She has also led the effort to begin a soccer league in the South Loop that services schools all across the South and West Sides. She is now the creator of the South Loop Farmers Market, which started at Roosevelt Collection and has expanded now to Water Tower Place on the fourth floor on Sundays, where you can get the best produce and some organic meat and vegetables. Flowers that don't die after three days. And so Tina, I just wanted to acknowledge you and bring you here in city council because what you do goes unsung and unsupported. And so I wanted to just bring you here and to acknowledge you and to thank you for your contributions to the city of Chicago. Thank you.

Thank you. Alder Fuentes.

Thank you, Mr. President. Today I want to honor Sandy Ruiz. Sandy, can you wave for everybody? Sandy Ruiz is the proud mother and grandmother for many amazing, successful young people in the 26th Ward and a proud business person and activist and organizer in her own right. Her father, Carlos Caribe Ruiz, founded the Puerto Rican Congress of Mutual Aid and several youth orchestras. And she has worked so closely with him in making sure that we can celebrate cultura and make sure we're bringing our community forward. She has always supported new arrivals from Puerto Rico. And as we are watching global warming impact the island, as well as a fiscal crisis, people like Sandy stand firm as a welcoming arms here in the city of Chicago. As the community relations for McDonald's, Sandy has also proven what it means to have Puerto Ricans enter the business sector and represent our communities well. She's also the grandmother of an amazing young intern in my office, so we watched those leadership skills pass from generation to generation in the 26th Ward. She is true representation for what Women's History Month looks like and what it should be. She is the embodiment of what it means to be a leader, what it means to be an advocate, what it means to speak on behalf of all women and Boricua women across our city. I also want to thank her son, Justin Ruiz. I want to thank the president of the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Angie Acevedo, who's in the gallery with us today. Gilberto Perez Padilla and Hilda Frontani for nominating Sandy to be our unsung heroine on behalf of many Puerto Rican organizations in the 26th ward and across the city. Sandy. I am grateful for your leadership, your representation, and your dedication to our community. May today just be one recognition of many. You deserve to always have an applause, to have people learning from your lessons, and I am excited for what the third generation in your family will do in our community the way Tanaide has done in our office. Thank you so much for being here, and happy International Women's Day.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Alder Nicole Lee.

Thank you, Mr. President. I too rise today in support of the resolution and to all of the amazing women that have graced us with their presence in the box today. Thank you. As chair of the Women's Caucus, I'm here to honor these women who have helped to shape our city and our communities and this very institution. And this moment is significant. because not only do we have these amazing women in the box, but I also have the pleasure of serving with more women sitting on city council than ever in the history of the city council. We can give ourselves a round of applause. I could not be more proud than I am to serve alongside these incredible women as we every day help to shape Chicago as well as making history here and there. But representation matters, not just for the sake of numbers, but it changes how we govern, how we lead, and how we see the people we serve. And as women, as mothers, as sisters, as aunties and grandmothers, and grandmothers, I think that women come to the table a little differently than the men do. No offense to any of the gentlemen in the room here today. But I can tell you that when we sit down, it is with open hearts and open minds, even though oftentimes many of us disagree about things. But we don't need to be disagreeable to disagree with each other. And I think that's what's so special. You know, we've made plenty of progress, but we know there's lots of room to grow. And looking at the women that are in the box today and all of the various careers and paths and roads that they've worn for people to come up behind them, I'm ever grateful for their work. And in particular, I invited today Jane Lau, who recently retired. Please stand, Jane. Jane. Thank you. Please give her a round of applause. Jane. Jane is very mild. She's quiet and unassuming, but super powerful. She spent 22 years with the Chicago Board of Elections. And I can tell you without a doubt that I would not be standing here but for Jane and the work that she's done to register voters in my community as far as her work to make sure that people have have language accessible services at the polling places as the first Chinese American to serve on the city council. It is not lost on me how many people, especially in the 11th word benefited from her work and her handiwork. And she's done so quietly for many, many years. So I wish you all of the best on your retirement, Jane. Thank you so much for your contributions. And hopefully we've got some people that will come up right behind you to carry on this really important work to make sure that the Voting Rights Act is enforced, that people across the city, no matter what language they speak, have access as citizens of the United States to cast their votes. Thank you to all of the women today for everything that you've done to make Chicago the great city that it is. Please continue to do that, and thank you very much.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Alderwoman Ramirez.

Hello, everyone. Good afternoon. Buenas tardes. I'm especially happy today celebrating Women's International Month because I am a new mom and I have my baby here in council. It means so much to me to have Clerk Valencia, all the older women who supported me through this journey, now being the second older person to be pregnant, to have a baby while sitting in this chambers. It's important to know the ways in which women have juggled many of our responsibilities. And not just bringing my baby was a joy, but today I get to celebrate a very important person. So please give a round of applause to Maria Estela Parra. And her family? We all are very familiar with her work. If you're a Bulls fan, a Blackhawks fan, if you've ever been to the United Center, Maria Estela is the one who sews the banners that we see at the United Center that have now celebrated the greats like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Derrick Rose. Look! Maria Estela is a mother, a grandmother, and also a great grandmother. She came here from Guadalajara, Mexico, and her story rings true to a lot of the immigrants here in Chicago. They came to Mexico, she lives in South Chicago, and she never actually sold in her life. She ended up going to look for a job for survival to feed her family. And not only did she learn how to sew, but she became one of the best at WGN Studios. And now we see her banners up, you know, representing the best of Chicago. So Maria Estela, muchas gracias por todo tu trabajo. And thank you so much for all the history that you're a part of in Chicago. Gracias.

Thank you.

Alderman Moore. Thank you, Mr. President. First of all, I want to thank you, Mr. President, for acknowledging, and I'm going to say these great women. There are times that we have big names and all of that out here, but these women are on the ground and they are making a difference. I definitely want to recognize and stand up Dominique Smith for the work she's doing, especially, y'all give her a hand, especially She's a licensed clinician and she does so much work with her organization in helping young people. But not only that, I take pride and I honor people who don't have to be the big guy. They work with everybody and they give their time to other organizations, especially when it comes to our young people. And Dominique, I thank you so much for that. When we talk about our youth needing mentors or they need people to steer away from things, they're out there changing lives so that we're not dealing with the negative situations in our city. And so you may not have all the big money, may not have all the big names, but you're doing the big work out there. And for that, I say thank you. And everybody needs to know Ms. Dominique Smith. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Alderman Robinson.

Mr. Mayor, thank you very much. There is a young lady in the box. Ms. T, Ms. Tina, good to see you. As we celebrate Women's History Month, We think about a bringing together community. And I think about my time in Illinois General Assembly alongside of my colleague, Alderman Dow, where we bring families together in the South Loop, but really we bring families together across the city of Chicago for a Easter egg hunt. And why is that important? It's important because we have to be able to bring folks together. And Tina, I want to thank you for doing that year in and year out with not a lot of support financially, but you get it done. And then also in Printers Row and Squarely in the Fourth Ward, the fresh market that you put together for residents, again, not only for Prentice Row on the South Loop, but for the city of Chicago. And so again, when we think about Women's History Month, we think about the history of bringing folks together, and you exude that 365 days a year. So Tina, thank you for your work, and also a thank you for all that you do for the city of Chicago.

Thank you. Thank you all. All right, so I have one more speaker, unless there's others that wish to speak to this. This will be the time to be acknowledged. Otherwise, the chair recognizes Alder Quesada.

Thank you, Mr. President. I want to rise and thank and honor Sandy Reese and Alderperson Jesse Fuentes for honoring Sandy and her leadership as an entrepreneur. She is one of the owners of a McDonald's in my ward on Milwaukee and Sawyer, and the great work that they have done in partnering up with our local schools, our local organizations, to do fundraisers, to donate food to block parties and events. Really want to thank you so much for investing in our community, for creating opportunities for other entrepreneurs in our neighborhood, and again, for supporting the great civic and social culture of the 35th Ward. We thank you and we honor you this Women's History Month. Thank you, Mr. President.

Are there any other alders that wish to speak to this resolution? Very well seen, oh hands. This month we honor the women of Chicago's past and present who make our city and our world such a much better place. Women have been on the front lines of some of our biggest fights for civil rights, gender equality, labor rights, the LGBTQ plus rights, and countless other causes. Today, I'm reflecting on some of Chicago's bold and courageous activists, including but not limited to Maria Serra, the first Latina to serve the Chicago Board of Education, Virginia Martinez, a local attorney, author, and advocate of women and children, Hazel Johnson, of course, the mother of environmental justice, so many others that we can lift up, Mother Cabrini, and so many great patrons. You know, I'm grateful for all of the women who serve in this administration. some of which, but not limited to, are represented in all of our different departments and agencies. Angela Tovar, Sierra Boatwright, Lissette Constaneda, Susan Capello, Sharla Roberts, Kenya Merritt, of course, our chief of staff, Cristina Pasion-Zayas, Annette Guzman, Chung Yun, Sarah Mathers, Beatrice Ponce de Leon, Lori Lipson. These are just a few women. who have made incredible contributions. The first black woman to serve as corporate counsel, Mary Richardson Laurie. People who have promoted public health and safety, advocated for justice, and working to ensure that Chicago is a beautiful, vibrant, and welcoming city for everyone. As a city, Chicago, as we celebrate the achievements and enduring impact of women during Women's History Month, we must also continue to commit ourselves to protecting their rights, investing in their inclusion, and creating opportunities for women and girls in every single community throughout Chicago. Because when women thrive, our families and our communities thrive. Chicago will always be a place where women can find freedom and comfort and access to health care, to have access to opportunities and, of course, to succeed. And so thank you all again for this incredible moment, this celebration. And again, as we celebrate throughout the month, let's keep in mind the work and the policies that we put forward have to also honor our love and respect for women. And so with that, I would ask that Alderman Robinson, can I get a motion to pass this resolution in the omnibus? Hearing no objections, so ordered. Congratulations. Thank you all. Chair recognizes Alder Gutierrez.

Thank you, Mr. President. Because of the resolutions, I just want to make sure that I'm recorded present in this meeting.

Very well, Madam Clerk. Thank you. Please make sure we add Alder Gutierrez to the roll call. Chair recognizes Alderman Irvin.

President, I too would like to be added to the quorum roll call.

Madam Clerk, please add Alderman Irvin to the quorum roll call. The Chair recognizes Alderman Bill.

Add me to the quorum call.

Thank you. Madam Clerk, please add Alderman Bill to the quorum roll call. Very well. Alderman Mitchell, a motion to return to the regular order of business.

President, I move that we return to the regular order of business.

Hearing no objections, so ordered. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing for our invocation, which will be delivered today by Pastor Joanne Montes from First Christian Church of Chicago.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Even in the midst of a full day, let us take just a brief moment to center ourselves. God of all people, we come before you aware that we are living in weighty times. days filled with decisions, uncertainty and deep need both near and far. And yet In the midst of it all, you remain steady, present, and attentive to every person. We thank you for the city of Chicago, for its resilience, its diversity, and the people who call it home. For every neighbor navigating change, every family carrying unseen burdens, and every individual hoping for stability, provision, and peace. Today, I ask that you give these leaders more than knowledge. Give them your heart, a heart that sees people fully, a heart that moves towards restoration, a heart that values dignity not as an idea, but as lived reality for every resident in Chicago. In moments where decisions feel complex or costly, grant them wisdom. When pressures arise, give them steadiness. And when the path forward is unclear, remind them that true leadership is rooted in care for people, especially those who are most vulnerable. Help this room reflect what is good, that justice will be pursued with integrity, that equity would not just be discussed but embodied, and that compassion will shape not only our intentions but outcomes. guard their words, guide their interactions, and protect this space from division that diminishes our shared humanity. Teach us all to listen well, to lead with humility, and to remember that behind every decision, our lives deeply impacted. And may the work done here contribute to a city where no one is overlooked, where needs are met with urgency and care, where every community has the opportunity to flourish and thrive. With gratitude, dear God, we entrust this time and this work to you. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Amen. You may be seated.

Public comments.

The council will now begin the public comment period, which is limited to a maximum of 30 minutes. Each speaker is limited to three minutes. Speakers cannot yield or transfer their time to another speaker. Any written comments that have been submitted will be posted and made available for automatic review. The first speaker is Katia Balba. Ms. Katia Balba, please press star six to unmute. All right. Can you hear me? Yes.

Good afternoon, Mayor and member of the City Council. My name is Kassia Balbo. I live on the west side and I work on the southeast side. And I cannot escape the pollution no matter where I go in my daily life. Because these two areas have been treated as sacrifice zones. I'm here today on behalf of Alliance of the Southeast, The demand that Chicago lead, not lag, in protecting public health. The Hazel M. Johnson cumulative impact ordinance is not just a policy, it's a refusal to allow the cycle of environmental racism to continue. For decades, our zoning has prioritized industrial profits over the lungs of our children. The neighborhood I live in and work aren't just overburdened. They are being hit by a cumulative wave of toxins that the city's current laws ignore. Let's consider the asthma disparities. In Chicago, black residents are eight times more likely to die from asthma than white residents. Life expectancy. There is a 15-year life expectancy gap between the downtown loop and the communities burdened by heavy industries. Pollution density. In environmental justice communities like Little Village and the southeast side, the concentration of particulate matter is significantly higher than the city average, contributing to heart disease and cancer. We are tired of false choice between jobs and health. A job that makes you sick to work is not an opportunity. A win for the community is a win for the workers. This ordinance honors the legacy of Haverland Johnson by ensuring that the total impact of multiple polluters is considered before a new permit is granted. If we fail to act right now, the message of the city hall is clear. Profits come before people and our people are collateral damage. We're calling on you to pass this ordinance immediately. No more delays, no more excuses. This is about our survival. Thank you so much for your time.

Thank you, Ms. Barbara. The next speaker is Ms. Sarah Arendt. Please press star six to unmute.

Good afternoon. Can you hear me?

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon. Yes. Thank you. My name is Sarah Arndt. I am an attorney with Worm and Solace PC and a resident of Chicago's Third Ward. I'm speaking today on behalf of the National Employment Lawyers Association, Illinois affiliate known as NILA Illinois. We are a bar association comprised of lawyers who primarily represent plaintiffs in employment related matters. And we are proud advocates of the rights of workers. NELA Illinois stands in solidarity with the National One Fair Wage Coalition, labor organizations, civil rights groups, and Chicago workers in opposing attacks on Chicago's one fair wage ordinance. Under state and federal law, employees who customarily and regularly receive tips can be paid less than the standard minimum wage. This is known as the sub-minimum tipped wage. The one fair wage ordinance increases the subminimum wage paid to Chicago service workers by 8% each year until it reaches parity with the standard hourly minimum wage in 2028. The subminimum tipped wage is a shameful relic of slavery. Following the Civil War, many formerly enslaved Black American workers were relegated to service jobs. where their employers encouraged customers to pay small tips in exchange for their services instead of paying them wages. Indeed, industries that were the predominant employers of Black Americans, including hotels and restaurants, were originally excluded from the protections of the federal minimum wage law, the Fair Labor Standards Act, when it was first passed in 1938 as a means of securing the legislative support of Southern Democrats in Congress. Today, the sub-minimum tipped wage in Chicago is just $12.62 per hour, while the standard minimum wage is $16.60. The majority of tipped workers in Chicago are Black and Latina women. Their tips and their livelihoods are subject to wide fluctuations based on factors that are often outside of their control. All workers deserve a stable and a predictable wage, one that is not subject to the generosity of customers. The one fair wage ordinance is designed to increase wages and provide wage predictability and economic stability to the service and hospitality workers who keep Chicago running, and it does just that. NELA Illinois proudly supports these workers and the one fair wage ordinance, and we firmly oppose any attempt to rob service workers of a fair and predictable wage. Thank you very much.

Thank you for your comments. Ms. Aren't the next speaker is Mr. Eric Williams. Please press star six to unmute.

Hello. Can you hear me? This is Eric Williams.

Yes. Yes.

Good morning, mayor Johnson members of city council. My name is Eric Williams. I don't own a silver room, but in this context, I'm co-owner of Brownsville winery. Uh, thank you for having me here today. Many of you have dined at Brownsville winery and have personal relationships with many of you. So I appreciate, you know, giving me a chance to be heard. Uh, I want to start by saying, I understand the intention behind the one fair wage. Uh, I wanted to actually get some respect and thank you to ultimate, uh, Fuentes, the mayor. and many others who are advocating for workers. On the surface, it sounds right. Raising wages, especially for black and brown women, it makes sense in theory, but in practice, it bears out a different way. We opened up four years ago, partially funded by a grant from the city, to help revitalize the corridor of Cottage Grove. This experience, to me, was not about me. I'm not even a big drinker, honestly. This was for our community. In the last four years, we've hosted over 150,000 guests, Many of you in this room today, and I hear constantly from neighbors about how proud they are to have a place in Bronzeville. We host date nights, birthdays, anniversaries. Without having to leave the neighborhood is why people enjoy this space. They don't have to go downtown. They can celebrate in their own community. I understand the idea behind this One Fair Ways. And before I started in this business, I didn't understand. I wouldn't have understood how this actually bears out. But the reality of it is this ordinance is hurting, having the opposite effect on workers. And the most important thing is to say that we're having the opposite effect and what's intended. So let me give you an example, right? So if you have 10 workers making $9 an hour and you raise it to $16 an hour, that's $70 an hour in labor costs extra for a 10-hour day to $700 more for a single day. So how do you make this up? So first you have to raise prices. And we've all been to restaurants in the last couple of years and seen the increase in prices. Much of this is due to the one fair wage. Second thing we have to do is cut staff. So now they're working less. And so what's happening is they're working less and they're making less tips because the tips are much more than the hourly that they could make. I understand that people have disagreements with the tipping culture and its history, but the reality of it is these services can never make as much money, uh, with their wages, they're doing tips and day-to-day fluctuations happen. And they understand over time that they'll make more than they would with, uh, than they would at a regular hourly minimum wage job. Right now, our servers make about $40 an hour. Most of them walk home with three, four, $500 a day in a single shift. 90% of our servers are black women and they're not working for the hourly wage. Again, they're working for their tips. So what's happened is we had to raise prices. We've had to cut servers. We used to have five. Now we have three days. We have three. We have one. So they're losing money by this new ordinance. Another consequence I've seen happen is that the front of the house, the disparity is much more. The front of the house makes more than the back of the house.

Thank you, Mr. Williams, but your time has expired.

All right, thank you very much. Please call the next speaker, please. Thank you.

The next speaker is Mr. George Blakemore.

Just a second. No outbursts, please. It's not necessary. It's not. We get the point. We do. Please, the next speaker.

The next speaker is Mr. George Blakemore. Seriously.

This is... like a communist system here all every one of these altars are democrats a one-party system is like communist russia or fascist germany a one-party system no check and balance and we can't blame this on the mayor alone This is a monopoly. What is the definition of a monopoly? One controls everything. This is why it breeds waste, fraud, and abuse. When you have a one-party system, every one of them, and they should have a referendum and say that we need a multi-party system. Just imagine a house with all men and no women. Imagine a house with all fathers and no mothers. No check and balance. That calls corruption, fraud, and abuse. It's a democratic machine. And the egregious act is that it has a negative effect on black communities, bringing in these illegal immigrants Legal is one definition. What is the definition of illegal? That means they do not go through their immigration and naturalization. Now, I have this red hat on and I wanted Trump to come and clean up this swamp. But the Democrats are racist and the Republicans are too. But I'm doing this for revenge to get even with this communist system here. a one-party system. And it's very important for you citizens to rise up and to vote them out. That we had an election. That was no election. They slay who they want, and you vote for who they slay. We never had an election where the people decide. That one party picks out who they want. And they vote for that person. So we need a revolution here. A revolution like the French Revolution. They say, kick them all out. All of them out. It breeds waste, fraud, and abuse. A one-party system. And they say, feed Maria Antoinette, feed him cake. You know what happened? They killed her.

Thank you, Mr. Blakemore, but your time has expired. The next speaker is Liddell.

Peace and love, everyone. My name is Liddell. I'm director of operations for the Nicholas Lee Foundation. And I am here, well, we are here, standing in solidarity with One Fair Wage and Fight Now Chicago. I noticed that a lot of the aldermen left out after they were heard from their constituents, but they don't want to hear from their constituents. Shame. I'm standing here today and I have one question for everyone who's all for this walk back on the wage of the tip workers. How many of you in here can live off $12.64 an hour? Show of hands really quick. Nobody. $12.64 an hour is all that one fair wage Chicago right now is asking for. In 2018, we hope it gets to $15 an hour. Who can live off $15 an hour in here? So why are we fighting to stop people who are just trying to live. We gotta stop having people survive, Alderman, because it's not gonna work in your communities. You're just allowing people to survive. You have to allow your people to live. You have to fight and stand up and say, yes, they deserve $12.64 an hour. Yes, they deserve 15 cents an hour. Everything is going up except for pay. How are we supposed to live? How are you all living? Because it seems very comfortably by the way that everybody walked out of here without hearing what we have to say. So how fair is that? So today, I'm not asking because of the simple fact that we voted you all in. And as your constituents, we can vote you out if you don't fight for us. We are here fighting. I'm from the 18th Ward. Alderman Curtis was here, but he's gone. I'm from the 18th Ward. I see it. In Hyde Park, we see all the restaurants opening up, but their workers can't even afford to eat there. We can barely afford to eat there. So now the workers can't afford to eat there, but they have to serve everyone who can. So where's the fairness in that? How are people living? so to the alderman before i before i leave here i would like to ask you to reconsider walking back that wage that minimum wage i would like for you to reconsider freezing that wage and i would like for you to sit down with these business owners and come up with a solution so that your constituents can afford to continue to live in your communities, working the jobs that they work up to and including the ones that are coming from prisons who have nothing but tip wages to be able to work. How is this that we want people to improve, but we don't want to help them improve.

We can do better. Thank you, Liddell. Your time has expired. The next speaker is Mr. Michael Thomas. The next speaker is Mr. Michael Thomas. The next speaker is Ms. Amanda Varela.

Hello, my name is Amanda Varela. I am with Raise the Floor Alliance. We represent and fight with low wage workers in Illinois across various industries. Now, it's a shame that my colleagues, friends and I have to be here today for something that was hard won and promised to workers three years ago. Three years ago. The ordinance being proposed today walks back the city's commitment to end the subminimum wage and bring tipped workers a fair pay. Freezing the phase out now would undermine a policy that the city deliberately adopted and leaves families in a lurch with less than four months till the next wage increase when they had three years to prepare for this increase. And that ain't right. We are all feeling the pain of rising costs of living. Skyrocketing rent, utilities, groceries, goods, it affects us all. Brutal immigration enforcement affects us all, keeps people from eating at restaurants, going to work. War affects us all. The restaurant industry isn't asking the data centers and energy lobbyists to driving up our utility costs to eat the cost of business. They are not lobbying against Trump's tariffs or immigration enforcement. Instead, they pick on those who they think are the weakest, who they think won't fight back. But we fight back. They want workers and consumers to subsidize the cost of doing business when we are all feeling the burden of our current economic crisis. The average income of a tipped worker is $35,000. Again, like my sister said before me, how many of you can survive on that? How many of you can comfortably make ends meet with that income? Despite the Illinois Restaurant Association's claims, Chicago restaurant industry is growing, not shrinking. The city of Chicago issued more than 680 new licenses in 2024, more than 664 in 2025. That's after tipped wage phases started to be implemented. Shame on every alder here who is walking back their promise to workers. Three years ago, you claimed to stand with workers. Who do you stand with today? Shame on the alders leading this effort, showing us who has you in their pocket. Workers will remember the day you chose to cut their wages. Earlier today, you put workers' rights on a pedestal by rightfully honoring our comrades at Arise and then turn around to cut wages. I urge you, stand with workers today. Keep us on track to eliminate the sub-minimum wage.

Thank you, Ms. Favella. Your time is up. The next speaker is Mr. Robert Fluitt Plump.

We don't die, we multiply.

Like as beautiful as you are a superstar. My name is Minister Robert Floyd Plump. I am the beloved son of the honorable late Mayor Harold Lee Washington. And Harold said we must plump the whole community. Yes. What does that mean? It means gives full support. As you can see, I got on my uniform. I got on and I will respect humbly the Reverend Dr. Jesse Lewis Jackson because I am somebody. You are somebody. And we are somebody. Keep hope alive. Let me hear you say it. Keep hope alive. I am somebody. And I ain't here to play with you either. Now, my father, on April 15th, I humbly request, April 15th of 2026, we request that the city of Chicago, all the Ottomans vote yes. including the mayor, Brandon Johnson, because we are the children, we are the people, and we are the world. We are the most that is chosen, anointed, and appointed. So we would like to make his Earth Day birthday a legal holiday, no doubt. Many of you people, be quiet, brother. I mean, I'm serious. I love you. All of y'all. And I'm not here to disrespect. I'm not here going to take any respect now. So God bless you. You see, I got my uniform, one fair wage. So I want you to increase the wage to $23 plus, you know, for us. You know, no more little stuff because I'm with the big time. Yeah, I understand. I'm with God. I'm with my family. And I'm with my people. And I'm with you, Chicago. So make sure that you vote April 15 or 2026, Mayor Hal Lee Washington Earth Day birthday, a legal citywide holiday. So everybody, if you haven't heard, vote one fair wage is the word. And vote Mayor Washington Earth Earth Day birthday, a legal citywide holiday, which is a peace caravan parade. And we love you, Chicago. As Les Brown said, you have a pleasingly plump day. And we're going to keep on plumping up Chicago, America, and the world in peace, love, unity, marketing people, ministering people, and most of all, serving God in what we do. So we love you. As Reverend Dr. Justin Jackson would say, keep hope alive. Keep hope alive. Yes, keep hope alive.

Thank you, Mr. Plump.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Mr. Malik Thomas. The next speaker is Miss Kimberly Smith.

Hello, I'm Kimberly Smith. I have been in animal rescue for 30 years, working with many different shelters. I've been a volunteer with PAWS Chicago for more than a decade, and I'm currently a board member. I see firsthand the impact of the amazing programs like 360 that we have in partnership with CACC. I've lived in Chicago all my life for more than half a century, currently in the 44th ward. But I've lived and worked and volunteered across this whole city. And my whole point in saying this is that I know the shelter system and I know this city. It's always been an uphill battle. And in this battle, we need strong, experienced leaders. And I'm asking you to confirm Sue Capello as executive director of CACC. CACC may not be perfect, but she was dedicated and focused and knows that the job, what needs to be done and she can't do it alone. She needs your continued support. You can see the power of pause Chicago behind her for a reason. Together we have hit record high adoptions and record high live outcomes driven by awesome partnerships forged across so many shelters resulting in transfers being at a 10 year high. The lives of 18,000 pets depend on Sue and on you. I cannot fathom the concept of why anyone who would consider a nationwide search to fill this position in such a diverse and unique city that requires a true battle tested Chicagoan to navigate the trials, challenges and wins that are required for this role. I understand that some shelters have dissented, but I do want to be clear on those ones that have that it represents less than 5% of the transfers from CACC, and the majority of those shelters, even speaking up, don't even work with CACC. So I don't find that valid. Chicago needs to do better for homeless pets overall. We have come so far. Let's not stop that momentum. I need you guys. Paws Chicago has proactively and so successfully been working with Sue and the CACC to deliver amazing results that are just getting started. Look, I get it. We all get it. We need to be more focused on things like volunteers and dog walks. Sue has to prioritize limited resources that she gets from the city and from the Chicago public, and it's a thankless job. I challenge you to do better by her and by the furry members of the city. Please also be part of the solution. We have to be relentless. Let's not stop this momentum. Thank you for your time and attention, and I look forward to your vote to confirm Sue Capello as executive director of CACC. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Smith. The next speaker is Sharmilee Mumata.

Thank you. Thank you. My name is Sharmilee Majmadar, and I represent Women Employed, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that has been advancing women's economic justice through employment, education, and entrepreneurship since 1973. We are so proud of the progress Chicago has made in valuing and protecting workers, especially the black and brown women who keep the city strong. But today, these most vulnerable workers are under attack. Women are being squeezed by rising costs of everything from gas to diapers and are having federal safety nets ripped away from them. The gender wage gap is growing, not shrinking. The latest government data show women are only making on average 76 cents to every dollar a man makes when looking at part and full-time work. For Black women, it is only 63 cents, and for Latinas, it is astonishingly only 54 cents. Women disproportionately hold frontline roles in the lowest paid industries. More than half of tipped workers in Chicago are women. The majority are black or Latina. They make less than $35,000 a year. They bear the weight of the affordability crisis, caregiving, and making impossible daily decisions about rent, food, the light bill, and more. In addition to the economic unfairness of being paid less than minimum, the subminimum wage is connected to higher rates of sexual harassment. And recognizing the injustice and unfairness of the subminimum wage, this body voted years ago to face it out and to make it something that businesses could plan, thoughtfully compromised with a five-year phase-in. We are in the middle of that plan right now. But now these workers are facing a cut to their wages and reversal of the progress the city has been making, all at the worst possible time. So today, on the heels of Black History Month, during Women's History Month, and right before Sexual Violence Awareness Month, women employed, along with over 30 organizations representing workers, urges you not to pull the rug out from under these hard working people at the heart of our city and vote to preserve the progress that the city has been making. Please keep your promise.

Thank you, Miss Mahmoud. Your honor. There are no further speakers who have timely signed up for their well.

Thank you. This includes our public comment period. Next sub communications.

The communications from the Mayor to the Honorable City Council of the City of Chicago. Ladies and gentlemen, I transmit here with, together with the member of the City Council and City Clerk, Valencia, a resolution honoring the life and memory of the Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson, Sr. Your faithful consideration of this resolution will be appreciated. Barely two years, Brandon Johnson, Mayor. Ladies and gentlemen, I transmit here with, together with all... Don't take people.

Sorry.

Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Chief Financial Officer, I transmit herewith an ordinance authorizing the issuance of Second Lean Water Revenue Bonds Project and Refunding Series 2026. Your faithful consideration of these ordinances will be appreciated. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor. Referred to the Committee on Finance. Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Housing, I transmit herewith an ordinance authorizing the issuance of financial assistance to Hub 32, LLC for the development of Hub 32 project. Your favorable consideration of this ordinance, I appreciate it. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor. Referred to the Committee on Finance. At the request of the Commissioner of Planning and Development, I transmit herewith an ordinance authorizing the execution of an amended redevelopment agreement with the Institute of Cultural Affairs to provide TIF funds. Your favorable consideration of this ordinance, I appreciate it. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor. Referred to the Committee on Finance. Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of Commissioner of Housing, I transmit the ordinance authorizing the issue of financial assistance to Lathrop Preservation Phase ICLP. Your failure to consider this ordinance will be appreciated. Very true. Yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor, referred to Committee on Finance. Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Planning and Development, I transmit here with an ordinance authorizing the allocation of TIP funds for the Workforce Solution Programs. For your consideration, this ordinance would be appreciated for your two years. Brandon Johnson, Mayor, referred to Committee on Finance. Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Procurement Services, I transmit here with an ordinance amending Chapter 2-92 of the Municipal Code to an added non-construction small business initiative procurement program. Your favor consideration of this ordinance be appreciated. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor. Refer to the Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity. Ladies and gentlemen, I request the Commissioner of Procurement Services to transmit herewith an ordinance amending Section 2-92-490 of the Municipal Code regarding certification fees. Your favor consideration of this ordinance be appreciated. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor. Refer to the Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity. Ladies and gentlemen, with the request of the Commissioner of Planning and Development, I transmit herewith an ordinance authorizing the Class 7B tax incentive for the property located at 1931 and 1935 West Madison Street. Your faithful consideration of this ordinance will be appreciated. Very true to yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor, referred to the Committee on Economic Capital and Technology Development. Ladies and gentlemen, I transmit here at the ordinance amending the municipal code to add section 2-4-130 regarding annual report on homelessness and affordable housing. Your favorable consideration of this ordinance will be appreciated. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor, Committee on Housing and Real Estate. Ladies and gentlemen, I request the Commissioner of Planning and Development. I transmit here with ordinances authorizing the sale of city-owned properties. Your favorable consideration of this ordinance will be appreciated. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor, for the Committee on Housing and Real Estate. Ladies and gentlemen, I request the Commissioner of Fleet and Facility Management to transmit herewith an ordinance authorizing the execution of a renewed city as a tenant lease agreement with 8700 Building LLC. Your favor and consideration of this ordinance will be appreciated. Very true to yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor. Refer to the Committee on Housing and Real Estate. Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Planning and Development, I transmit here with an ordinance authorizing the expenditure of open space impact fee funds for the development of the Chicago Torture Justice Memorial. Your favorite consideration of this ordinance will be appreciated for each of the years Brandon Johnson, Mayor, chaired the Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs, and Recreation. Ladies and gentlemen, at the request of the Commissioner of Planning and Development, I transmit here with an ordinance authorizing the expenditure of open space impact funds For the development of territory, community, garden. Your payable consideration of the ordinance will be appreciated. Very true. Yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor. Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs, and Recreation. Ladies and gentlemen, I transmit here at the appointments the various special service areas. Your payable consideration of these appointments will be appreciated. Very true. Yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor. Committee on Housing, Economic, Capital, and Technology Development. Ladies and gentlemen, I transmit here with the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Fair Access Democracy Ordinance. Your favorable consideration of this ordinance will be appreciated. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor, referred to the Committee of Ethics and Government Oversight. Ladies and gentlemen, I have appointed Kenya Merritt as Commissioner of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Your favorable consideration of this appointment will be appreciated. Very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor, Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs, and Recreation. Ladies and gentlemen, I have appointed Lily Diego Johnson as a member of the Chicago Transit Board for a term effective immediately and expiring September 1st, 2026, to succeed Michelle A. Lee, who has resigned. Your favorable consideration of this appointment will be appreciated. Very true. Yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor, referred to the Committee on Transportation and Public Ways. Ladies and gentlemen, I've appointed Marcus A. Jordan, a member of the Illinois International Port District Board, for a term effective immediately in expiring June 1, 2029, to succeed Charles Bowen, whose term has expired. Your favorable consideration of this appointment will be appreciated very truly yours, Brandon Johnson, Mayor, for the Committee on Transportation and Public Way. I, City Clerk Anna Valencia, hereby inform the City Council that the following documents were filed in my office relating to the respective subjects designated as follows. Office of Inspector General's Audit of 311 Service Request Performance, Office of Inspector General's Advisory on Department of Law's Cooperation with Oversight of its Employment Actions and Policy Proposal for Housing Stability and Accountability Framework. I, City Clerk Valencia, inform the City Council that all those matters which were considered by the City Council in the regular meeting held on February 18, 2026, were required by the state statute to be published in book or pamphlet form or in one or more newspapers or published in pamphlet form on March 18, 2026, by being printed in full text and printed pamphlet copies of the Journal of the Proceedings of the City Council of the City of Chicago. I, City Clerk Valencia, also transmit herewith the following miscellaneous communications and reports requiring City Council action. Zoning reclassifications of particular areas referred to the Committee on Zoning Landmarks and Building Standards. Claims against the City of Chicago which referred to Committee on Finance. Recommendation by Commission on Chicago Landmarks for designation of St. Paul Christian Methodist Escapade. The Pescapal Church at 4644 St. Dearborn Street, Chicago Landmark. Refer to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards. Your Honor, that concludes the reports and communications from the Mayor and other city officers.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Committee reports. We'll start with the Finance Committee. The Chair recognizes Chairwoman Dowell.

Thank you, Mr. President. Reporting for your Committee on Finance, which held committee meetings on February 27th, 2026 and March 13th, 2013, the following items received a do pass recommendation from the committee. Item number one is the ordinance authorizing an increase in multifamily loan funds and the issuance of tax exempt multifamily housing revenue bonds to MHL2 Prairie District Apartments, Wabash LP for the rehabilitation of the Prairie District Apartments building at 1801 South Wabash Avenue in the Third Ward in an amount not to exceed $14,872,344. Mr. President, unless someone wishes to speak on this item, I move passage of this item by a roll call vote.

Hearing no hands at this point. Members, please use your e-vote application to record your vote at this time. Seeing no hands.

Please use your e-device. The voting is now open. The voting is now open.

It's a false alarm. I've just been informed it's a false alarm.

Y'all.

All right, I will now call on those who have not used the e-device. Alderman La Spada.

Yes.

La Spada is a yes. Alderman Hall. Hall is a yes. Alderwoman Ramirez. Not in Chambers. Alderman Curtis. Curtis is a yes. Alderman Sicho Lopez. Not in Chambers. Alderman Burnett. Burnett is a yes. Alderman Talaferro. Not in chambers. Alderwoman Haddon. Not in chambers. Anyone I missed? Okay, the voting is now closed.

There are 46 yeas, zero nays. This motion passes. Alderman Mitchell on a motion to reconsider.

Move to reconsider the vote.

All those in favor of the reconsideration of this vote signify by saying aye. All opposed say no. This motion fails. Chairwoman Dowell.

Item number two is an ordinance authorizing the issuance of multifamily funds to Park Manor Phase 1 MM LLC for the development of Park Manor Senior Residences of Chatham at 8320 South King Drive in the 6th Ward in an amount not to exceed $15,100,000. I move passage of this item by the first most favorable roll call vote on the Committee on Finance report and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.

Hearing no objections, so ordered.

Item number three is an ordinance authorizing a bond inducement for tax-exempt housing revenue bonds for MPC Phase 1 4% LLC for the affordable housing development at $11,000. excuse me, 11420 South Halsted Street in the 21st Ward in the amount not to exceed 12.5 million. I move passage of this item by the same motion as was applied to item number two, with the exception of Alderman Beal, who wishes to be recorded as voting no on this item.

Hearing no other objections, so ordered.

Item number four is an ordinance concerning the authority to enter into and execute the first amendment of the intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Park District for the allocation of TIF funds for improvements at Avondale Park at 3516 West School Street and the 35th ward in an amount not to exceed $5 million. I move passage of this item with the same motion as was applied to item number two, with the exception of Alderman Lopez, who wishes to be recorded as voting no on this item.

Hearing no other objections, the chair recognizes Alder Haddon.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to be added as an eye on the first favorable roll call for the Committee on Finance. Thank you.

And the subsequent failure of the motion to reconsider. Very well. Hearing no other objections on item number four, so ordered.

Item number five is an ordinance concerning the authority to enter into and execute the third amendment to the intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Park District for the allocation of TIF funds for improvements at Clarendon Park at 4532 through 34, and 4538 north clarendon avenue in the 46th ward in an amount not to exceed two million dollars i move passage of this item by the same motion as was applied to item number two with the exception of alderman lopez who wishes to be recorded as voting no on this item hearing no other objections so ordered Item number six is an ordinance concerning the authority to enter into and execute an intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Park District for the allocation of TIF funds for improvements at Hermosa Park at 2240 North Kilbourne Avenue in the 26th Ward in an amount not to exceed $4.25 million. I move passage of this item by the same motion as was applied to item number two, with the exception of Alderman Lopez, who wishes to be recorded as voting no on this item.

Hearing no other objections, so ordered.

Item number seven is an ordinance concerning the authority to enter into and execute an intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Board of Education for the provision of TIF funds for improvements at Carter G. Woodson South Elementary School at 4414 South Evans Avenue in the Third Ward in an amount not to exceed $900,000. I move passage of this item by the same motion as was applied to item number two, with the exception of Alderman Lopez, who wishes to be recorded as voting no.

Hearing no other objections, so ordered.

Item number eight is the substitute ordinance authorizing building and facility related permit fee waivers for the public building commission of Chicago beginning January 1, 2026 until December 31st, 2031. I move passage of this item by the same motion as was applied to item number two.

Let me Lopez. Did you still wish to speak?

No, no.

All right. Very good. All right. Well, I'm hearing no objections for item number eight, right?

Item number nine is an ordinance introduced by Alderman Jason Irvin and others establishing the Chicago Tourism Improvement District and the levy of transaction charges on certain hotels within the Chicago Tourism Improvement District. I move passage of this item with the same motion as was applied to item number two.

Chair recognizes Alderman Moore.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. First of all, I would like to thank President Christian Reynolds as well as the committee, the finance committee, for getting my questions and concerns back to me. There are times we ask things through the chair, they don't get it properly, and they sent some good information. But I would like to say that I would like them to continue to work on making sure they are keeping records on more records, not that they didn't keep any, but more records on making sure that businesses out on the south and west sides are, you know, included in this process and the ones that are. So the people that I've spoke to had some great and positive things to say about, I the usefulness of the authority here and that it has benefited some of the business, but we have to continue to make sure that more business are benefited. And I want to make sure I get an opportunity to sit down with Ross Stutley and also make sure that Choose Chicago is really listening to her on the things that she wants to accomplish. So again, I just want to thank the two Chicago and his partners for getting this information back to me. I want to thank the finance chairman for her staff for making sure that this was given. And I do support, I devoted no in finance committee, but I stand with the yes today in the full council.

Thank you. Thank you. Alderman Lopez.

Yes, Mr. President, I'd just like to be recognized for the motion for the first most favorable roll call on the Committee on Finance and subsequent motion to reconsider.

Very well. Please add Alderman Ciccio-Lopez to the roll call. Thank you. Alderman, the chair recognizes Alderman Taliafaro.

President, I'd like to be added as a yes vote in the first most favorable roll call vote in the Committee on Finance in a successful motion to reconsider.

Very well. Please add Alderman Taliafaro. The chair recognizes Alderman Ramirez.

Chairman, I also want to be added as a yes.

For the most favorable roll call in the Finance Committee and the subsequent failure of the motion to reconsider. Very well. Hearing no other objections. Seeing no other hands on the motion. Item number nine. So ordered. Chair recognizes. Chairwoman Dowell.

Thank you, Mr. President. Item number 10A is an order authorizing the Corporation Council to enter into and execute a settlement order in the case of Nikki Yanushatis versus City of Chicago in the amount of $350,000. I move passage of this item by the same motion as was applied to item number two.

Hear no objections to order.

Item number 10B is an order authorizing the Corporation Council to enter into and execute a settlement order in the case of Henry Harrell, the independent administrator of the estate of Stacey Vaughn Harrell versus City of Chicago, Megan Ryan and Sean Souness. Case number 2025L, 012727 and Kimberly Myers versus City of Chicago, Megan Ryan and Sean Soonest. Case number 2025 L012722 in the amount of $27 million. I move passage of this item by the same motion as was applied to item number two.

Hearing no objection, so ordered.

Item number 11 is a communication transmitting reports of cases in which verdicts, judgments, or settlements were entered into for the month of February 2026. These will be placed on file with the clerk. Item number 12 and 13 consist of orders of authorization for the payment of various small claims against the city of Chicago and the denial of payment of various small claims against the city of Chicago. And if there are no objections, I move that these be placed for passage in the omnibus.

Hearing none, so ordered.

Item number 14 is a proposed order authorizing charitable solicitation of the public way permit for the NAACP citywide from April 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2026. This will be placed on file with the clerk. And that concludes my report.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for the Committee on Budget and Government Operations. The chair recognizes Chairman Irvin.

Thank you, Mr. President. Reporting for your committee on the budget and government operations. We held a committee meeting on March 11th. The committee has a series of reports recommending passage of the following items. Item number one is a communication recommending the proposed ordinance concerning an annual appropriation ordinance year 2026 amendment within fund 925, which was a direct introduction. I move passage of this item by the first favorable roll call. of the Committee on Finance, an associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider. Alderman Lopez, you on this?

Very good. Here, no objections, so order.

All right, cool. Item number two, pursuant to Rule 33, a move to accept a substitute ordinance that essentially adds Alderman Ramirez to this item. She wanted to be added to this after we had committee, so pursuant to Rule 33, a move to accept a substitute that has been circulated by Alderman Ramirez on today.

Hearing no objections, so ordered.

All right. Now, I move passage of the proposed ordinance concerning an annual appropriation ordinance year 2026 amendment regarding wards wage allowance amounts.

Very well. Hearing no objections, so ordered.

Item three is a communication recommending a proposed ordinance concerning a redevelopment agreement with Food Love LLC to provide Neighborhood Opportunity Fund assistance for improvement of Evelyn's Food Love at 5522 South State Street in the 20th Ward. I make the same motion if there is no objection.

No objections.

Seeing none, so ordered. Items four through seven are a series of four fund transfers within wards one, 29, 41, and 45, all for year 2026. I make the same motion if there is no objection. Hearing none, so ordered. Mr. President, that concludes my report.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. For the Committee on Economic Capital and Technology Development, the chair recognizes Chair Villegas.

Good afternoon, Mr. President, members of the City Council. Reporting for the Committee on Economic, Capital, and Technology Development, which met on Thursday, March 12th, the Committee held a meeting and recommends passing the following items. Items 1 through 3, 5, 7 through 12 are reappointments of the following people to the following special service areas. John Ratzenberg, SSA number 21, Megan Schneider and Charles Stewart, SSA number 27, Caroline O'Shoenberger, SSA number 48, Saima Kosovic, Andrew S. Levine, Sarah T. Lopez to SSA number 60, and Marcia Jimenez to SSA number 62, Carlton F. Daniels Metz, and Kirby Kaiser to SSA number 18. I move for pass of these items by the first favorable roll call of the Committee on Finance and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider. Hearing no objections, so ordered. Items four and six are appointments of the following people to the following special service areas. Tatiana Williams, SSA number 32. David Rudd, SSA number 56. I move for pass of these items by the first available roll call of the Committee on Financing and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider. Hearing no objections, so ordered. Item 14 is an ordinance for a Class B tax incentive for property at 501 North Sacramento Boulevard. I move for pass of this item by the first fail roll call of the committee on finance and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.

Thank you, Mr. President. I wish to be recorded as a no on this item, but I don't, as we discussed in committee, I don't think that proper, this is a proper use of a tax incentive. And I don't think that we got the justification that we expected when it was held in September. And while I generally would, always support efforts to keep jobs in communities. This doesn't address the underlying circumstances which compelled the owners and the tenants to come to seek financial assistance for the next several years. And for that, I need to be recorded as a no.

Very well. Despite the division, hearing no other objections, so order.

Mr. President, that concludes my report.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. For the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy, Chair recognizes Chair Haddon.

Thank you, Mr. President. Reporting for your Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy, which held a committee meeting on March 3rd, 2026, the committee held one subject matter hearing on People's Gas Pipe Retirement Program updates and its rate increase filing before the Illinois Commerce Commission. No votes were taken on this item. Mr. President, this concludes my report.

Thank you, Madam Chair. For the Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight, Chair recognizes Chair Martin.

Thank you, Mr. President and members of the council. Reporting for your Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight, which held a committee meeting on Monday, March 16th, the committee recommends passage of the following two items. Item number one is appointment 2026-0023419, which is the appointment of Esther Nieves as a member of the Board of Ethics. The item passed unanimously amongst all members present. I move for passage of this item by the first most favorable roll call vote on the Committee of Finance and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider hearing no objection so order item number two is appointment 2026-0023420 which is the appointment of bob glaives as a member of the board of ethics this item also passed unanimously i move for passage by the first favorable roll call vote of the committee on finance and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider hearing no objection so order Thank you. The committee also held a subject matter hearing on two reports published by the Office of Inspector General. No votes were taken. Thank you. That concludes my report.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the Committee on Health and Human Relations. The chair recognizes Chair Rodriguez-Sanchez.

Thank you, Mr. President. Reporting for the Committee on Health and Human Relations, which met on March 10, 2026, at 10 a.m., the committee reports the following recommendations. First, the committee considered a resolution calling on the United States Congress to pass the Medicare for All Act of 2025. This item received a due pass recommendation, and Alderwoman Ruth Cruz would like to offer remarks.

Farewell. The chair recognizes Alder Cruz.

Thank you, Mr. President. Today, together, we are sending a strong message to Congress that the people of Chicago won and deserve a health system that puts them first. And as we all say, health care is a human right. And I want to thank the advocates for coming forward with this resolution. And I also want to take the opportunity to thank State Senator Graciela Guzman and Congresswoman Delia Ramirez for continuing to put the fight the beginning of everything they do and whether it is in at a federal level or a state level but I just want to say thank you and also to your administration for also keep uplifting this message and again together we're sending a strong message so thank you.

Thank you Alda Cruz.

Mr. President, I move passage of this item by the first most favorable roll call vote of the Committee on Finance and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.

Hearing no objections, so ordered.

Next, the committee consider the appointment of Susan Capello to the position of Director of Animal Care and Control. This item received a do-pass recommendation with the exception of Alderman Cruz, who recorded herself as a no vote. And I believe Alderman Villegas wants to say some words.

All right, I have Alder Sposato first, and then I'll make sure I get back to Alder Villegas. The chair recognizes Alderman Sposato.

Thank you, Mr. President. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go first or last, but I appreciate it. Look, people, this is a really tough job. We don't give them enough money. I know things are tough when people need money and animals, most people are going to pick humans over animals. So Sue's got a tough job. Sue could have resigned three years ago. Sue stayed the course. I've been beating her up for three years on this. Sorry, Jim, you're probably really pissed at your wife for working for free the last three years, but she could have stayed home and made as much money, but she stayed the course for this I like to call it a heartbreaking department. It's a tough place to go, people. You go there, you see all those animals. The animals are bad enough, but they literally get 50, 50, five zero surrenders a day of animals. I just couldn't imagine that seven days a week. I don't know if it's 365 days a year, but certainly seven days a week, you know, averaging 50 surrenders a day. So. We need to help this lady. I know some people were critical of some stuff. Some questions got answered. She needs our help big time as far as rescues are concerned, as far as supplies. I do a daily supply drive for animal care and control and So we'll tell you, me or my staff is there, you know, once a month. People on the northwest side, I'm sure throughout the whole city, come up big for animals. So you want to look good in front of your constituents, do an animal drive. Believe me, they will come. And with that, I just ask everybody to please support this. How often does the... How often do you ever see the... Madam Chair and myself agree on something, but this may be history today. So I'm asking you all to consider supporting Sewell on this very important appointment. Thank you, Mr. President.

Chair recognizes Alderman Villegas.

Thank you, Mr. President, and I want to thank the administration for quickly putting a meeting together yesterday, along with my colleague from the 38th Ward and my colleague from the 30th Ward, just to talk about some of the concerns that were brought up. Listen, the whole meeting was not about being adversarial. This is a department that we've learned is underfunded. There are a lot of people from the not-for-profit side that want to see this department succeed, and that's what we want as a city, is to see this department succeed. And so we're going to support the nomination of Sue and looking forward to working with her via the working group, so that way we can collectively find some ideas, both from a budgetary standpoint, but also from a not-for-profit standpoint, to figure out how we can make sure that your department succeeds. So I just wanted to say, Mr. President, thank you and your team for getting that meeting together. It was very important that we had an opportunity for all the voices to be heard at the table. So thank you. And with that, I would urge a yes vote on this nomination.

Thank you. Alderman Quinn is recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Sue, on behalf of all the residents of the 13th Ward, thank you for the work that you've done. More importantly, thank you for the work that you'll continue to do. Jim, welcome to the council chamber. Congratulations, Sue. Thank you.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Alderman O'Shea.

Thank you, Mr. President. I, too, stand in support of this decision. And good call on your part, sir. I can't believe I'm saying this. I completely agree with what my colleague, Alderman Sposato, said. Ladies and gentlemen... Having been down here 15 years, how many times when we're in a budget crisis have we as a body said, take a little bit more, take a little bit more, take a little bit more from animal care and control. When we cut the funding, this is what we get. Now, having been down to the facility, being a dog lover myself, and being frustrated at times when something goes on in my neighborhood. And Sue, you and I have talked many times. We've got to do a better job. Nick, you mentioned you host collections for animal care and control. Well, what if every one of us did something in our ward? What if everybody stepped up and did something to help ease part of the burden? I think this is a great selection, and I'm glad Title's finally with you. Thanks for all your hard work and all you've put up with.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Alder Haddon.

Thank you, Mr. President. I too rise to support this appointment. Hello, Sue. And hello, team. I'll be brief. I'm on a plus one. All my colleagues who have spoken so far, this does land squarely with us. I know that there's not a single department in the city that isn't important and not a single department in the city that doesn't have a direct impact on the lives of our constituents. In this department, we also directly have an impact on the lives of creatures who don't have any volition, can't take care of themselves, right? We're talking about animals, animal care, avoiding animal cruelty. And when we cut budgets, when we do not provide adequate resources, that equals lives lost. that's lives lost, that's treatment that's less than ideal. So I want to say, I'm glad we've gotten some funding to you. I know I'm committed to make sure that we make sure that funding continues and that we empower you and your team to, Let's be the best at what we do. I know we go back and forth about what we should do in different departments that we want to collapse. But if we've got this department and we're taking on this responsibility, we should look to national standards. We should look to best practices. We should be the best example because we're Chicago. So thank you. Look forward to supporting you and your team and bringing this department and its standards up so that we are serving our community.

Thank you. Alderman Curtis.

Thank you, Mr. President. I too rise to support this appointment. This has been a long time coming, actually. And for the last few years, I've had mega problems. Events, animal events in my ward and Sue has always been on the front line with us. Thank you so much. We always talk and I thank you for all your help. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Alderman Lopez is recognized.

Thank you again, Mr. President. Good afternoon, members of the city council. I rise to support your selection today and thank all of my colleagues who have shown a growing interest, growing concern for what happens at Chicago's Animal Care and Control Commission shelter. As an open admission shelter, CACC does not have the luxury of turning pets away. Many of you have said that it's been your first time or you're looking forward to your first time And I welcome all of you to come down, but get ready to have your heartstrings pulled upon. How we treat animals is a reflection of how we treat each other. I've said that numerous times here. And what we've been able to do together under Sue's leadership, even in a temporary way, is nothing compared to what we can do tomorrow when she is officially in this seat working with hundreds of delegate partners and breed-specific partners at the shelter to help keep pets and families united. Roughly 10 years ago, this chamber passed a resolution declaring the city of Chicago a no-kill city. And by no kill, which is what I shared during committee, isn't necessarily that you're not ever going to euthanize animals, but that you're going to take steps to ensure that we limit how many animals come in, that we do things in our communities. I'm happy to say that I feel as though we are hitting almost every single one of those metrics when you look at the global totality of animal welfare here in the city of Chicago. Not just with what we do with animal care, but what we do with our partners, like Don Levin of Chicago Wolves, who literally sponsors several hundred free rabies and vaccination clinics at every single police station in the city of Chicago. PAWS, which helps to spay and neutering for our animals, particularly in those zip codes where we have seen time and time again an explosion of breeding, particularly among the Chicago Pit Bull breed and all the other organizations that work to divert or help our own constituents when they don't have the food or can't afford the care or don't know what to do with their pet and are at their last straw. We have worked together to address many of the issues in our communities, whether it's return to owner, the feral cats, keeping animals where they belong, or even returning them so that they never have to see any of these wonderful faces. That is what we need to continue. That is what has been the hallmark of our efforts And I look forward to working, as I said, with many of you on the committee, and I'll say gladly to every single one of you here today, on addressing those things that we could do together to help reduce the population that crosses our paths. Yes, some of it is money. There's just no way of getting around that. To say animal care and control has been the miracle workers of our bureaucracy would be an understatement. considering how often they are in our communities addressing the situations in our neighborhoods with one of the smallest budgets in the $16.6 billion bureaucracy that we manage, also while being one of the most FOIA departments in the city of Chicago, almost beating police sometimes. But what I want to also address is something else. And that is, there are things that we can do here that do not cost money, but do require us to change mindsets. We can address the issue of backyard breeding here in the city of Chicago. Later today, in the Committee on Public Safety, We are going to address animal cruelty and tethering and other issues where we've seen animals left in yards that are not breed-specific. And I'm not even just referring to cats and dogs. I'm referring to when people have horses, pigs, and alligators in their backyards because they think it's fun. These are the individuals that have to address those concerns when we find them, when there's a Shetland pony on a 10-foot square cement pad in someone's backyard. The work begins now, ladies and gentlemen, to address these issues. And I look forward to the leadership and the stability that decades of perseverance has shown ensue. And together, we will make sure that, yes, Chicago will be the envy of the nation as a municipally run institution that remains open and accessible to all of its residents without sending anyone away. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Alderman Hopkins.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of this appointment and I commend you for making it. It turns out we don't need a national search. We have the talent and the leadership right here in Chicago. And anytime that's the case, no matter what the appointment is, I think it's incumbent upon us to mine the talent that we do have here in this city, and this is no exception. And I agree with my colleague, Alderman Lopez. We don't need a national search for the answers to the problems that were identified at Animal Care and Control that the volunteers and the advocates have told us about in the previous weeks. It's quite obvious. The answers are threefold. Number one, they need more resources. It's that simple. And it's incumbent upon us as a body to provide them with the resources they need to do the job effectively. Number two, as Alderman Lopez mentioned, it's incumbent upon us to come up with a much better comprehensive program to crack down on the problem of illegal backyard breeding, which has grown exponentially in recent years. It's out of control. It won't solve itself. We have to be proactive. We have to seek solutions for that. And third, we have to do a much better job promoting low cost spay and neuter programs and where necessary, providing free low cost spay and neuter programs to communities that don't have the resource to do it. Those are the three things that can solve the problems at Animal Care and Control. If we fail once again, To provide those three things, we'll be right back here. No matter who the leadership is of that organization, they can't do it without the support of this body. So we need to look in the mirror for these solutions because we, ladies and gentlemen, are a part of what needs to happen to make some changes over there. And congratulations on your appointment, Sue.

Thank you, Alderman Hopkins. Alderman Waggisback is recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. First, I want to commend Alderperson's crews in Villegas for getting to this compromise for this working group that will hopefully move forward, and also your appointment, you know, work together on that. But out of this, there needs to be an understanding that there has to be a change in culture at the ACC facilities. And this goes back many years since I started where we have continually heard from volunteers year after year after year who are upset with the way that ACC operates. Aldermen are upset over the years with the way ACC operates, whether it's response to dog bites, violent dogs or animals that don't seem to get reined in or their owners reined in because, again, it's the responsibility of owners. But it takes ACC to really enforce that. And I have a lot of respect for the volunteers who've come into my office and called and emailed over all of these years just trying to do better by the animals at ACC. When I hear the stories about dogs not being walked and left in cages for three days, it's very clear that that is happening at times because a lot of us have been there ourselves and we see and we walk around and recognize that there are problems there. So I'm hoping that you can work very closely with this working group that my colleagues have helped put together. And Mayor, I understand you were helpful in that. But we have to change it and bring in best practices. I am tired of hearing about how Chicago just doesn't rise to the level of these other cities that are out there in terms of the data, but also in terms of how we respect volunteers and how we treat the animals that come into ACC. So I wish you all the success that you will need there. And please, as you did before, reach out, and hopefully we can start to make the significant changes that we need to see for the betterment of the animals, but also for the entire population of the city. Thank you.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Alderman Tabarez.

I also rise in support of this appointment. Sue, thank you for your leadership. Thank you for all your hard work and what everything that you have done for this department, for Chicago Animal Care and Control. This is long overdue and very well deserved. You have decades of experience working in this department. And so I want to congratulate you, want to congratulate your husband, Jim, And I look forward to working with you in this new role. Thank you.

Thank you. Alderman Robinson is recognized.

Mr. Mayor, thank you. I rise to support this appointment. And it's one of the reasons that I'm happy to be in this body. Because the issues in this department did not start a year ago, two years ago, or three years ago. These are issues that have been plaguing this department for several years. And Mr. Mayor, I want to commend you for putting resources into this agency. And Sue, it says a lot about your leadership that all the differences in this body, you can come and diffuse those differences. And so Sue, we need you to come down more often because again, it is your leadership that shows the support of today and that this body stands with you to be a beacon for other cities to do right by not only the two-legged citizens, but the four-legged citizens. And so thank you for the work that you're doing. You got somebody in the box that I reach out to on a regular basis, and that's Armando. And I know that you have several Armandos in your organization, Sue, because you can't do this work alone. So thank you for answering the call. And again, I think it's well noted that you have our support. Thank you.

Thank you. And thank you to all the Alders who have spoken to this item. Alder or Chair Rodriguez-Sanchez, could you just restate your motion for the record?

Mr. President, I move passage of this item by the same motion as item number one.

Thank you very much for that motion. And hearing no objections, seeing no other hands, congratulations, Sue. So order. Madam Chair.

Next, the committee considered a series of 12 mayoral appointments to advisory councils, including three appointments to the advisory council on equity, six appointments to the advisory council on LGBTQ plus issues, and three appointments to the advisory council on veterans. The full list of appointees can be reviewed on the meeting summary posted to the city clerk's website. These appointments all receive a due pass recommendation from the committee. Mr. President, I move passage of these items by the first most favorable roll call vote of the Committee on Finance and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.

Hearing no objections, so ordered.

Thank you, Mr. President. That concludes my report.

Madam Chair, for the Committee on Housing and Real Estate, the Chair recognizes Chair Sergio Lopez.

Thank you, Mr. President and members of the City Council, reporting for your Committee on Housing and Real Estate, which held a meeting on March 12, 2026. The Committee has a series of reports recommending the approval of one appointment and the passage of 11 ordinances, which include an aldermanic introduction, one land acquisition, a lease renewal, and various land sales. Item number one is appointment 2026-0023421 for appointment of Alisa Sanchez Rodriguez as member of the Chicago Low Income Housing Trust Fund Board. I move passage of this item by the first most favorable roll call vote from the Committee on Finance and associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.

Hearing no objections, so ordered.

Item number two is an aldermanic introduction from Alderwoman Rosanna Rodriguez-Sanchez. Ordinance 2025, the 0019991, establishment of a proactive rental inspection working group to regulate inspection certifications and testing criteria and to establish registry to track data for rental housing in Chicago. I move passes of this item by the same motion.

Hearing no objections, so ordered.

Item number four on the summary report is an aldermanic introduction from Alderman Burnett. Ordinance 2026-0023-349, designation of 1415 North Dayton Street as low affordability community in the 27th Ward. I move passes of this item by the same motion.

Hearing no objections, so ordered.

The next two items are from the Department of Fleet and Facility Management. Item 5, Ordinance 2026-0023324, acquisition of property at 1725 North Harlan Avenue for use as a Chicago Public Library branch in the 29th Ward. I move passage of this item by the same motion.

Hearing no objections, so ordered.

Item number 6 is Ordinance 2026-0023-323, First Amendment to Lease Agreement with Archer Avenue LLC for Property at 5672 South Archer Avenue in the 23rd Ward, with accession of Alderman Taylor and Alderman Ciccio-Lopez, who wish to be recorded as no. I move passage of this item by the same motion.

Hearing no objections, so ordered.

THE REMAINING ITEMS ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. ITEMS SEVEN THROUGH TEN ARE THE MARKET RATE SALE OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY UNDER CHILE BLOCK BUILDER PLATFORM IN THE THIRD AND FOURTH WORDS. THE ORDINANT NUMBERS ARE 2026-0023308-0023309-002306 AND 0023310 AND MOVE PASSAGE OF THESE FOUR ITEMS BY THE SAME MOTION. THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS TO ORDER. Items 11, 12, and 14 are grouped together for convenience for the sale of city-owned property under open space and side yard programs on the Chi Block Builder Platform in 11th, 15th, and 30th wards. The ordinance numbers are Ordinance 2026, DAG 0023314, 0023315, and 23317. I move passage of these three items by the same motion. Hearing no objections, so ordered. Mr. President, this concludes my report.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee on License and Consumer Protection. The Chair recognizes Chair Ullman-Silverstein.

Thank you, Mr. President and members of the City Council. I'm reporting for the Committee on License and Consumer Protection. We held a meeting on March 12, 2026, and the following items were passed by the committee. 02026-0022510, an amendment of the Municipal Code Section 4-156-962, modifying license requirements regarding lawful sports wagering.

Chair recognizes Alderman Villegas.

Thank you, Mr. President. Alderman Beal and I move to defer and publish this item.

Alderman Beal, this item will be deferred and published. Chair recognizes Chairwoman Silverstein.

Three ordinances regarding liquor moratoriums in the 15th, 16th, and 32nd wards, 02026-0023381, 0023144, and 0023219, I move passage of these items by the same motion if there's no objection.

Hearing none, so ordered.

SO2025-0021968 and 02026-0023351 were recommended do not pass by the committee. Chair recognizes Alderman Ervin.

Yes, Alders, Fuentes, Burnett, Hatton, Quesada, and Rodriguez-Sanchez and I move to defer and publish those items.

Very well. Hatton, Rodriguez-Sanchez, Quesada, Burnett is not here. Those other names will be added as recognized for the deferring and publishing of those items. Very well. Thank you. The chair recognizes Chair Silverstein.

02025-0019931 and 02026-0023188 were held in committee. Mr. President, this concludes my report.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Next up is Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic. at pedestrian and traffic safety. The chair is online and the vice chair will report out on this committee. The chair recognizes vice chair Cruz.

Thank you, Mr. President. Reporting for the Committee of Pedestrian Traffic Safety, for which a meeting was held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Before the committee, there were 302 routine traffic items, all which passed. If there are no objections, a move passage of these items by the first most favorable roll call from the Committee on Finance and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider the vote.

Hearing none, so ordered.

That concludes my report. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Vice Chair, for the Committee on Police and Fire. We'll come back to that. For the Committee on Public Safety. Oh, are you prepared to do that? My apologies. So the chair is not here, but the vice chair is prepared to report on this committee. So for the Committee on Police and Fire, the chair recognizes Vice Chair Robinson.

Mr. President and members of the city council reporting for committee on police and fire for which a meeting was held on March 13th, 2026. There were two items before the committee for which the committee recommends passage. Item number one, A2026-0023341. The appointment of Lakina White as Chief Administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. And item number 2, A2026-0023417, the appointment of Chris Papa Nino.

Papiano.

Papiano, thank you, Mr. Mayor, as a member of the Chicago Emergency Telephone System Board. Mr. President, if there are no objections, I move the passage of these items by the first most favorable roll call vote and committee on finance and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider. That concludes my report.

Very well. Both of these items have been lumped for convenience. Are there any alders that wish to speak to either of these items? Very well. The motion has been made for the passage of both of these items. Henry Noah, chair recognizes Alderman Irvin.

Thank you, Mr. President. First, I just want to congratulate you on your appointment. Listening during the hearing just can help, but listen to your story about how you started as a young teenage mother and have Ascended to this level of leading as department of our city. I think your your story and your work is to be commended and We need more young women like you and as we make this appointment doing Women's History Month I think that you're the type of person that when we look in our community and seeing the life story and seeing the work that you put in and this is what it can lead to so Congratulations, and thank you for your service

Very well. Congratulations. Hearing no objections, so ordered. Congratulations, Ms. White. Mr. Vice Chair, that concludes your report. Thank you for the Committee on Public Safety. The Chair recognizes Chair Hopkins.

Thank you, Mr. President. Reporting for your Committee on Public Safety, which held a meeting on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026. In addition to approving the Rule 45 report for February, the Committee recommends passage of the following item as amended. Ordinance number 15393, amending Municipal Code Section 712290, regarding cruelty to animals and increasing fines thereto for $5,000 per each offense. If no one wishes to speak, I move passage of this item by the first favorable roll call of the Committee on Finance and associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.

Hearing no objections, so ordered.

Furthermore, the committee attached a do not pass recommendation to the following item, proposed ordinance 5298, amending the Municipal Code Chapter 816 to establish prohibitions and penalties for minors who violate curfew, engage in drag racing, flipping of cars, or use of paintball guns, and to hold parents accountable for their minor children's illegal actions. If no one wishes to speak, this recommendation will be submitted as part of the committee report.

Chair recognizes Alderman Lopez. Good afternoon, Mr. President, and again, members of that committee. Alderman Tavares, Quinn Napolitano, Gardner, and myself wish to DNP this item.

Alderwoman Tavares, Napolitano, Gardner. All right. All four of those aldermen have requested to DNP that item. That item will be DNP'd. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. President. That concludes my report.

Very well. For the Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs, and Recreation, Chair recognizes Alderman Chairman Sposato.

Thank you, Mr. President, members of the City Council. Reporting for your Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs, and Recreation, also known as the HAPI Committee, which held a committee meeting on March 13, 2026. The Committee recommends passes of the following items. O-2026-002-2518, expenditure of open space impact fee funds for development of turf field at Frank W. Riley Elementary School, 3650 West School Street. I move passage of this item by the first favorable roll call of the Committee on Finance and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.

Hearing no objections, so ordered.

Item number 02026-0022519, expenditure of open space impact fee funds for outdoor space improvements at Disney 2 Elementary School, 3815 North Kedvale. I move passes of this item by the first favorable roll call vote of the Committee on Finance and an associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.

Hearing no objections, so ordered.

Item number three, O2026-0023318, expenditure of open space impact fee funds for outdoor space improvements at Nettlehurst Elementary School at 3252 North Broadway. I move passage of this item by the first favorable roll call vote of the Committee on Finance and the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.

Hearing no objections, so ordered.

Thank you, Mr. President. That concludes my report.

Thank you for the... For the Committee on Transportation and Public Way, the chair recognizes Chairman Mitchell.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, members of the City Council, reporting for your Committee on Transportation and Public Way, which held a meeting on February 11, 2026. The following items passed by the majority of the members present. Pages 2 and 3 include 15 ordinances from miscellaneous items introduced by the local aldermen from Wards 21, 24, 26, 27, 29, 32, 36, 47, 48, and 50. Page 4 includes item Substitute Ordinance 2026-0023-068, which is a repeal of taxicab stand number 710 located in the second ward. Pages 5 includes items Substitute Ordinance 2026-0023-201, a subdivision located in the first ward, and Items Ordinance 2026-0022-543, a subdivision located in the 10th ward. If there is no objection, I move passage of these items by the first most favorable roll call vote of the Committee on Finance in the associated unsuccessful motion to reconsider.

Hearing none, so ordered.

Mr. President, that concludes my report.

Farewell for the agreed upon calendar. The chair recognizes Alderman Harris.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. I've received from the city clerk, Andrea M. Valencia, a total of 107 items. proposed for the Greek calendar consisting of congratulatory, commemorative, tributary resolutions from the following Alderpersons. Alderperson Dow, Alderperson Harris, Alderperson Chico, Alderperson Lee, Alderperson Quinn, Alderperson Lopez, Alderperson Coleman, Alderperson Moore, Alderperson Rodriguez, Alderperson Cecil Lopez, Alderperson Tyler Farrell, Alderperson Mitz, Alderperson Nugent, Alderperson Vasquez, Alderperson Gardner, Alderperson Clay, Alderperson Manna Hoppenworth, and Alderman Person Hatton. I move these in the omnibus.

Very well. Hearing no objections to order for new business, we will begin the clerk will with the first ward.

Alderman Laspada has an order for issuance of permits signed signboards at 901 North Ashland Avenue. Alderman Hopkins has an ordinance amendment of municipal code section 4-60-022 to disallow additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portions of West North Avenue. referred to the committee on license, sorry, and Laspada's ordinance was referred to the committee on zoning. Alderwoman Dowell has a order for issuance of permits and signed sign boards at 4021 South State Street, referred to the committee on zoning. Alderwoman Dowell has an ordinance for amendment of annual appropriation ordinance to transfer funds with committee on finance year for year 2026, referred to the committee on budget. Alderman Robinson has an ordinance for the amendment of municipal code section 4-60-073 increasing the number of maximum lake vendor liquor licenses issued during any license period from from 20 2029 to 2031 referred to the Committee on License. Alderman Hall and others has a resolution calling on the Chicago Police Department and Department of Assets Information and Services to rename Third District Police Station as Police Officer Darrell C. Brandon Third District Station referred to the Committee on Police and Fire. Alderman Beal and others has an ordinance amending municipal code chapter 4-156 regarding prohibition of penalties for violations of sweepstakes machines. Refer to the committee on license. Alderman Quinn has an ordinance for honorary street designation as Enrique Martinez Boulevard, referred to the Committee on Transportation. Alderman Coleman has a resolution for the call of Board of Trustees of Community College District number 508 to rename Kennedy King College to Kennedy King Jackson College, referred to the Committee on Education. Alderman Moore has an ordinance for honorary street designations as Dr. Reverend Robert E. Booker, Sr. Wade referred to the Committee on Transportation. Alderman Rodriguez has an ordinance for Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 17-9 regarding waste-related uses, recycling facilities, container storage, freight terminal, outdoor storage of raw material, composting, and manganese-bearing material referred to the Committee on Zoning. Alderman Burnett has an ordinance amendment of the Municipal Code Chapter 6-105, modifying timelines for employer allowance minimums and hourly wage occupations receiving gratuities referred to the Committee on Workforce Development. Alderman Burnett has an order for various sign boards and permits in the 27th word referred to the committee on zoning. Alderman Burnett has an ordinance establishing of interactive digital wayfinder pilot program referred to the committee on economic and development, economic capital development. Thank you. Alderman Irving has an order, various orders for issues of permits and sign boards to various locations in the 28th Ward. Refer to the Committee on Zoning. Alderman Wagaspak has an ordinance designation of 1229 West Cortland, I'm sorry, 1940 North Kingsbury, and 20 2068. Southport Avenue for the block of 1400 West Dickens, the block of 2084 through 2166 North Dominic, the blocks of 1736 through 2000 North Troop and 1400 block OF WEST ARMITAGE, 1500 BLOCK OF WEST WEBSTER, 1800 BLOCK OF WEST ELSTON AS A LOW AFFORDABILITY COMMUNITY REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING. AUDEMAND WACKESPACK ALSO HAS AN ORDER FOR ISSUANCE OF PERMITS AND SIGN BOARDS AT 1755 WEST FOOLITON REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON ZONING. AUDEMAND WACKESPACK HAS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 4-155 BY ADDING NEW SECTION 4155035 regarding conditional approval of video game and terminal licenses referred to the Committee on License. Alderman Quesada and others has a resolute. Okay, two committees were called that's going to rules. Good. Alderman Quesada has a resolution, Alderman Quesada and others has a resolution called for U.S. Congress and President Trump to abolish immigration customs and enforcement and to expand legal pathways for interest in lawful permanent status referred to the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Alderman Bill withdraws his recommendation. The ordinance from Alderman Ragusback and Lawson will now go to license. Alderman Villegas has an ordinance amending municipal code section 4-60-023 by modifying subsection 26.83 and adding new subsections 27.97 and 36.37 to disallow additional packaged goods licenses on portions of West Grand Avenue. Refer to the Committee on License. Ottoman Villegas has a resolution to call on Trump administration to fully and immediately issue refunds for Trump tariffs, referred to the Committee on Economic and Capital Technology Development. Alderman Villegas and Alderman Laspada has an ordinance for the Commissioner of Fleet and Facility Management to identify sustainable, I am sorry, suitable location for new satellite police station within the 12th Police District referred to the Committee on Economic Technology and Capital Development. Alderman Nugent has an ordinance for honorary street designation as honorary Jacqueline Jackie because trust because trust your way refer to the committee on transportation. Ottoman Vasquez has a resolution to call on President Trump and administration to end aggressions toward Iran. Refer to the committee on image immigrant and refugee rights. Two committees have called. It will go to budget. That's the resolution from Ottoman Vasquez. I'm sorry. Two committees will call is going to rules. Ottoman Vasquez has an ordinance amending the annual appropriation ordinance to transfer funds from the 40th Ward automatic expense account to wage allowances account for year 2026 going to the Committee on Budget. Ottoman Vasquez and others has a resolution to call on U.S. President Trump and Congress to end direct and indirect use of taxpayer money on regime change in Iran, referred to the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Two committees were called. This is now going to rules. Alderman Riley has various orders for issuance of permits and sign boards to various locations in the 42nd Ward, referred to the Committee on Zoning. Alderman Knutson has an ordinance for honorary street designation as Mabel Hawkins Way, referred to the Committee on Transportation. Alderman Gardner has an ordinance, vacation of public alleys in areas bounded by Melvina, Higgins, Mobile, and Foster Avenue, referred to the Committee on Transportation. Alderman Gardner also has an ordinance for honorary street designation as Bernadette Colettiway referred to the Committee on Transportation. Alderman Clay has an ordinance to amend Municipal Code section 4-60-023 to allow additional packaged goods licenses on portions of North Sheridan Road referred to the Committee on License. Alderman Clay has an amendment to Municipal Code Section 14X-8-802.2.2 to modify dates for minimum temperature requirements in dwelling units and sleeping units. Refer to the Committee on Housing. Alderman Martin has an ordinance amending Municipal Code Chapter 2-84 by adding new Section 2-84-530 to prohibit use of artificial intelligence in creating written police reports or law enforcement records. Refer to the Committee on Police and Fire. Alderman Manon Hoppenworth has an amendment of municipal code section 4-60-023 to allow additional packaged goods licenses on West Devine Avenue referred to the committee on license. Alderman Manon Hoppenworth has a resolution calling for the hearing on Waymo technology and proposed plans for operation in Chicago referred to the committee on pedestrian and traffic safety. Alderman Two committees were called. That's not going to the Committee on Rules. Alderman Haddon and others has an ordinance amending Municipal Code Title 13 by adding new Chapter 13-150 establishing bird-friendly building design referred to the Committee on Zoning. Two committees were called. It's going to Rules. Your Honor, that's the end of new business.

Thank you very much, Alderman Mitchell, for the approval of the journal.

Mr. President, I am not aware of any corrections to the journal from the February 18, 2026 meeting and move that it be approved.

Hearing no objections, so order for unfinished business, Alderman Mitchell.

I'm aware of one piece of unfinished business, which was filed by Alderman Fuentes, and I defer to her.

Chair recognizes Alder Fuentes.

I have one piece of unfinished business, which is to allow the consideration of the ordinance carrying city clerk reference number 02025002004, which amends section 2-78-120 of the Municipal Code of Chicago, which authorizes the Civilian Office of Police Accountability to conduct investigations into complaints against members of the police department that allege a violation of the welcoming city ordinance. This matter was deferred and published at the February 18th City Council meeting. I now move for the passage of this ordinance by the first favorable roll call vote of the Committee of Finance and its associated motion to reconsider.

Chair recognizes Alderman Lopez.

Thank you, Mr. President. And again, good afternoon, members of the committee. I don't think any of us in this room oppose ensuring that our employees, our officers, or anyone for that matter, is following the law. We know what the municipal code states. We know what the law allows and what it doesn't allow. But what we have before us in this moment, which is exactly why it was deferred and published by myself and others last meeting, was that we have a contradiction and what we're asking to be done. On one hand, we say that the welcoming city bars our officers from being involved anywhere near immigration enforcement activity. But at the same time, we want them to be involved enough so that we can use their body cam footage and record what's going on, particularly when there are issues such as creating perimeters to Maine Public Safety. I believe that is at the crux of what some of the conversation and alleged evidence of these violations was during this hearing and what members of this body have said to the press. So the question for us today is, which is it? Are our police officers supposed to be there or are they not? Now, I know what the law says. The law says that we shall have no part in immigration enforcement, that we will not report information or gather information about citizenship or residency. That's the law. But when we are putting forward policies and changes to our law such as this that are gonna being direct contradiction, we have to take a step back and ask what exactly are we trying to accomplish here? We know that there's a mayoral executive order that requires officers to be present so that they can record. We are setting ourselves up not only for failure, We are setting our officers up for lawsuits. Lawsuits, ladies and gentlemen, that we cannot afford. This matter should be fully vetted, not only with the law department, but with our own police department. which did not even understand that the executive orders that they've been given may put them in contradiction to what this law is trying to do. I believe that our officers are following the law and I would gladly put any accountability on them to prove that because our officers are not reporting the undocumented. Just as I supported when our officers were told they had to wear body cam video and everyone was waiting for the proof to show how bad our police were only to find out our police were actually doing their job constitutionally and legally 99.99% of the time. We need to go back to the drawing board on this. We need to have better discussions And we need to get this right so that we are not putting our men and women in jeopardy by trying to both be somewhere and not be somewhere simultaneously. To watch but not involve themselves when something happens. Because those individuals who we are hoping to catch take an oath to preserve, protect, and defend this city. and they will at some point have to step in to protect people, even if it's those that are protesting, which we saw time and time again. So Mr. President, I would actually move to re-refer this item to the Committee on Police and Fire so that we can have our superintendent and our law department give their opinion, share their thoughts, and come up with a more perfect version of this, one that is more suitable for the entire city council. And I would ask for a roll call on that.

The chair recognizes Alder Fuentes.

Mr. President, I motion to lay that motion on the table.

All right, for the motion to be, for this item to be re-referred, thank you, for the motion on the floor to re-refer this item to a committee, that motion has been responded with a motion to lay that motion on the table. And there's a roll call vote that is being requested for the laying on the table of the motion to re-refer. Alder Fuentes. Yes.

Just before the roll call vote, I spoke to Superintendent Snelling minutes before calling this Rule 41, and I don't want us to conflate two separate issues. There are concerns around the executive orders, and members of this body have those concerns. Superintendent Snelling is very clear that this ordinance here today and concerns around the executive order are two separate things entirely. What this ordinance does today, it says who is investigating, not what we are investigating, just who. The OIG was here months ago in the Committee of Immigration and said, we do not have the infrastructure nor the means to be investigating this.

Yeah, thank you.

Yes.

Alder Fuentes, thank you for offering up the... First, Alderman Hopkins, you have not been recognized, first of all. I understand that, but just you don't have to show. Thank you for offering up the clarification. There's a motion on the floor to lay it on the table. If you vote yes to lay this item on the table, that means you wish to move forward with the original original motion for the passage of the item by the most favorable roll call vote in the committee on finance and the associated motion to reconsider that fail. There's a roll call vote.

The voting is now open on the motion to table. Please cast your vote. Hey, I will now call on those who have not yet cast their vote. Alderman Laspada. Yes. Alderman Laspada is a yes. Alderperson Robinson.

Alderperson Robinson is a yes.

Alderwoman Harris. Alderwoman Harris is a no. Alderman Curtis. Alderman Curtis is a no. Alderwoman Taylor. Alderwoman Taylor, not present in chambers. Alderwoman Rodriguez Sanchez. Alderman Rodriguez Sanchez, not present in chambers. Alderwoman, and that is it. Voting is now closed.

There are 28 yeas, 20 nays. The motion has passed. Chair recognizes Alderman Conway.

Chairman. I rise in support of Alderman Fuentes' motion here. I've been, you guys may have heard me say it, I've been a lawyer for almost 20 years in this town and it doesn't take a whole lot of legal knowledge for me to get up and look at this ordinance and it says all it does is simply add to the powers and duties of COPA that it allows them to conduct investigations into complaints, Against members of the police department alleging violation of Chapter 2-173 of this code. That being the welcoming city ordinance. Alderman Fuentes, I want to thank you for making it so simple. Literally one sentence addition to that. And I also just don't see how dealing with requiring a perimeter to ICE enforcement as well as forbidding assisting ICE is conflictory. Now, I know there are folks in this chamber who disagree with the Welcoming City Ordinance, and many have broader questions about immigration enforcement. But frankly, that debate has really already been had. The Welcoming City Ordinance, like it or not, is the law of the land. And we are here to discuss a common sense clarification of COPA's ability to investigate violations of that law in the books. Now, when I served as a prosecutor, I had the pleasure of working with hundreds of great Chicago police officers who put themselves on the line every day to protect the public safety of this city. However, I also had the responsibility when the fact and the law required it to charge, try and convict officers who violated the law and their duties and did so on three occasions. And in that, I worked closely with Internal Affairs and with IPRA, who was the predecessor to COPA, which you may recall. And COPA itself is a bit of a unique instrument in the sense that actually the results of it find their way to the superintendents. This actually does require, allow for a little bit more oversight from the superintendent. Now, as you all know, COPA was explicitly created and expanded upon IPRA to strengthen civilian oversight. And our municipal code is clear about its purpose. Section 2-78-110 states that COPA's mission is to quote, provide a just and efficient means to fairly and timely conduct investigations, including investigations of alleged police misconduct. It doesn't have the vagueness, perhaps, that involves Office of Inspector General's investigatory aims. It goes to COPA, which has a specific purpose. And misconduct, at its very core, is the deliberate violation of law or established standards, particularly of a government official. So the question before us is not whether everyone in this chamber agrees the Welcoming City Ordinance. Even if there is some vague notion of that, we should simply just change the ordinance itself. But the question is, do we believe in enforcing the laws that are on the books of this city? And in this case, we have settled law in the Welcoming City Ordinance, and a duly established agency in COPA that is tasked with investigating police misconduct. And so for that reason, I think it's pretty clear that COPA should have the ability to investigate alleged violations of the welcoming city ordinance, and therefore I ask you all to support it. Thank you very much.

Mayor, you're welcome. Thank you. The chair recognizes Alder Ciccio-Lopez.

Thank you, Mr. President. I've seen a lot of things in my life But the level of lawlessness and atrocities that we saw during the Chicago Midway Blitz, talking about violation of due process, which is very different than enforcement or immigration laws. We are normalizing kidnappings. We are normalizing false information. We just saw the testimonies of the federal government, how one of our neighbors in Brighton Park, and I was there, nobody told me, shot five times. Five times a neighbor of us was shot, while many of us were tear gassed, including the Chicago Police Department. So we are not going to normalize that kind of behavior and lawlessness against those constituents who actually also pay taxes. I am sick and tired of the normalization of terrorism in our city. Those same mercenaries were saying to the Chicago Police Department that they were shot at by Marimar Martinez. Shot five times. She's fortunate to be alive and telling the story. This level of lawlessness cannot be normalized. I will not be normalized. Terrorizing parents, children. We have seen children being left out in their cars. That is child endangerment. So I dare that we're talking about law enforcement with no judicial warrants, no identification. We're not normalizing importation. These people are falsely saying that they are conducting immigration law. They are not. And they're providing false information. So therefore, this definitely must be investigated. And there will be lawsuits, yes, from their victims to the perpetrators. We have people in batches who are rapists, convicted by that. Are we allowing our families to be victims of that? How dare you tell me that's law enforcement? That's a level of lawlessness that should never be allowed, never. I tell you today, the city council has a very simple decision. We are allowing chaos, or we are once and for all allowing true investigations. And we can laugh all we want. You can laugh all you want, your constituents will see where your actions are. It's not a laughable matter. We see an 11-year-old child almost kidnapped from our neighborhood before what we saw in Minneapolis. I'm not afraid of speaking up because we are defending our constituents on a constitutional right to due process. And these individuals have not given permission to terrorize with impunity. 260 elected officials already remanding from the state's attorney to investigate this. And this body must create a process to investigate misconduct. This is the time for action. No platitudes. I am thankful for all the President Jesse Fuentes for speaking up and be the voice who don't have a voice. But I'm not going to be in this chamber telling me that what we saw is law enforcement. That is terrorism what I saw. So I am raising in support of this and asking our colleagues, especially those who have immigrant communities, to stand up for their constituents and speak up now before it's too late. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Alder Vasquez.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. I just want to clarify things. Our colleague was definitely conflating separate matters. We had a hearing, a joint committee of the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights and Committee on Police and Fire related to an incident that occurred on June 4th of last year where an undocumented neighbor doing things, quote unquote, by the law, went to check in at a center, as one would, and was confronted by ICE at that moment. It was an unprecedented moment. It had not occurred before where CPD at that point showed up. There were concerns about a level of coordination, which is what this is about. It's not about being on site or not being on site. It is about coordinating with ICE or DHS or Border Patrol, which is explicitly not allowed in the Welcoming City Ordinance. Subsequent to that incident, we had a hearing. A couple of things came to light. One, although different bodies can do the investigation, there was not clarity on who should do the investigation. So it could be the Bureau of Internal Affairs at CPD, one would argue that's not the most accountable as it is the department itself holding itself accountable. It could also be Office of Inspector General and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. The different bodies could look at it, there was not clarity on who should. What we then did in that moment is push to get that information. I'm glad that my colleague mentioned body cameras. That is part of what we got based on June 4th. And what we found was actual coordination. In that time and incident, CPD showed up, they spoke to ICE, who was on site, and directed them on where they could park their vehicles so that the public would not interfere as they were trying to abduct somebody, put them in a vehicle, and take them away. The officers, CPD, commanding officer, told Border Patrol, ICE, that they should park on private land, park in the parking lot so no one could interfere. That in coordination, I don't know what it is. There's a level of help there. Not doing their job, not about just being on site. There's a step beyond that that came up because we pushed to get that information. That is not something we get in every incident. It's something we're pushing to get in every incident. We have legislation for working on that as well. I'm grateful for Alderperson and Jesse Fuentes who pushed forward to establish clarity on who should investigate. COPA. It makes perfect sense to do so. So if someone's for body cameras because officers are going to most likely do the right thing, they should equally be for the clarity on who should do investigations. Because if 99.9999, whatever the number was, they're doing everything right, then you might want to catch the times that they don't. Or in incidents where the legislation is too ambiguous because we've never had situations like this, one would want to find clarity as to who would investigate the situation. So this is not about anything that's in conflict. It is about the kind of clarity necessary to make sure that the laws are being upheld. That's order last time I checked. Again, two committees, which I think comprise, if I'm correct, more than a super majority of this council, actually talked through it. Then when it came for the council vote, there was a defer and publish. Typically defer and publish happens, so you've got a month to continue talking about it before the vote comes up. So to then make further attempts to try to continue to stall it is... Disingenuous at best and embarrassing at worst. So looking at the matter and just identifying who should investigate is not controversial at all. Lord knows if it was about trying to get things right and worrying about lawsuits, we might worry about police chases more so we're not paying 27 million bucks the way we ended up voting on today. So I would ask our colleagues to support the clarity on who should investigate when things go wrong or when somebody did the right thing to be able to clear that up as well.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. You're welcome. The chair recognizes Alder Quesada.

Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to really implore my colleagues to really consider what we're talking about here. I know that for a lot of the conversations that we have, the votes that we have can really easily be misinterpreted as your association of one political leaning or the other, but this is truly such a non-political issue. Like, this is not about... Voting for this will not make you be perceived as anti-police or anti-ICE. There's nothing wrong with that. I really implore you to really consider the substance of this piece of legislation. All it is doing is clarifying the investigatory process and making it more transparent in the event that there is a violation of the Welcoming City Ordinance. We're not saying that that's happening. We're not accusing anybody of anything. We're not saying that the police are corrupt or bad or anything. We are literally saying that in this event where we are seeing much more ICE presence in our communities and that there are these contradictions where local police and ICE are interacting with one another, we want to make sure that when our community says that something wrong happened, we have the tools to investigate. That's all this is. This is not a political issue. So, and I also want to commend the fact that we had this conversation collectively. We brought our community members. There are residents in each of our wards who are concerned and worried about what's happening. And they want to make sure that our government and our local police department are following the law that we have instituted. So please, I urge you to vote yes on this. Let's put this behind us. This is not a political issue. Thank you very much.

You're welcome. Alderman Sposato is recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. Anthony, I actually agree with you. So I supported this in committee. I thought it was a big nothing burger. I did talk to the superintendent about it. But then once again, here we go. Drama, drama, drama. Bill, I don't think you're the only guy here with a 20-year law degree. I didn't realize we had other people with 20-year law degrees. I'm very proud of my 50-year high school diploma, I'll tell you that. 50 years ago, I graduated this May, everybody. That's as high as my education is. But it's funny how some of the stuff we bring up, twisting everything around, accusatory tones, wreaking havoc, trying to create problems. I didn't hear anything from anybody. Of course, doesn't have anything to do with this, but I heard a lot of stuff. Doesn't have to do with this. We didn't hear anything about Lake. We never talk about Lake and Riley or Rachel Moore. And I don't understand why we never had any hearings about that. Most of you don't even know, don't even know who the individual is. that murdered that beautiful nurse, wannabe nurse, I believe, Lakin Riley. I mentioned her name to some of you before, and you guys were oblivious. Angrails, I'm sorry. Okay, so I was originally a yes, but well, the drama here, you put so much pressure on a guy like me. I agree with you, Anthony. Nothing burger, not a big deal. But I just don't understand this. I just don't understand why we just can't leave some things alone. Have a simple vote every once in a while. Stop bringing up pedophiles and murderers and lawbreakers and twisting things around. So with that, I'm a no. Thank you, Mr. President.

Alder Fuentes on your initial motion.

Thank you. I just quickly want to say this was cleared by the law department. The OIG office has also recommended that COPA be the body to investigate. We received letters of support from CCPSA board members. And again, the superintendent supported this a couple months ago, and he doubled down on that support in a phone call right before this vote. So I renew my motion to move for passage of this ordinance by the first most favorable roll call vote of the Committee on Finance and its associated motion to reconsider.

Very well. If there are no objections, so order. For real, this item pass. Audubon Mitchell, are you aware of any further pieces of unfinished business? Hmm.

I'm not aware of any more pieces of...

Very well. Now, what about for miscellaneous business, Alderman Mitchell?

Yeah, I am aware of one item of miscellaneous business filed by Alderman Nugent, and I defer to her.

Very well. The chair recognizes Alderman Nugent.

Thank you, Mr. President. Pursuant to Rule 41, I move to discharge... A matter from further consideration by the Rules Committee, and that would be 02025-0017549, amending Section 6-105-030 of the Municipal Code to allow employers of occupations where gratuities are customary to an allowance for gratuities as part of hourly wage rate not to exceed 32% of the minimum wage. It should be 24%, sir. Excuse me.

Very well, the motion to discharge the committee on committees on rules from further consideration for that item, 02025-001749. That's the item that is being motioned to discharge. All right, all those in favor of the discharging of this motion, signify by saying aye. Any opposed, say nay. Any opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. So this motion has been discharged. I'm sorry, the motion to discharge from this committee has passed. The matter that is now before us, Alderman Nugent, would you wish to offer up more details around your item?

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Pursuant to Rule 33, I move to accept the substitute attached to the Rule 41 notice circulated to my colleagues. And if I may just give a brief description.

Of course.

The ordinance puts a freeze on the current tipped wage at 24% of the minimum wage. Under this ordinance, no tipped workers can earn less than minimum wage. The law remains. If a worker tips and base pay do not reach the minimum wage, the employer is legally required to make up the difference. This legislation will help protect servers and back of the house jobs and keep small independent restaurants operating. I ask my colleagues for their favorable consideration. Thank you, Mr. President.

Very well. There's a roll call before we... Call the roll. Does anyone wish to speak to the item? The chair recognizes Alderman Irvin.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'm a little perplexed. This item has... major implications, not only for businesses, but for our employees. And for this, a matter of this magnitude, not to go through a process for committee where there's debate, where we hear from sides on the matter, construct something that through the process of us legislating to get to. I don't think that this moving in this matter is not only in the council's best interest, but I think that we going through our committee process, learn some things. We have not had that debate. We have not had those types of conversations. And I really would implore us to go through a committee process because again, nothing in this particular ordinance has any effectiveness that's going to hit us in the next 30 or 60 days. And if this matter gets referred to committee and nothing happens, then too, it would bear the opportunity for, for discharge. So again, I don't think this is in our best interest to move in this direction this way. Now, granted, we may end up at the same pace after having a debate, but again, I think that we need to avail ourselves of the committee process in this And I would move that this matter be referred to committee on workforce.

Well, there's a motion on the floor to refer this substitute to the committee on, did you say workforce? Yes, Mr. President. Yes. Okay, the chair recognizes Alderman Bill.

Mr. President, the duplicity that is coming out of this body is amazing. When this ordinance first passed, We sat in committee, and I asked the commissioner at the time, which was Ken Myers, that was there a feasibility study done on this ordinance before it was put before us? And he sat in that box and said, absolutely not, there was no. feasibility study done on how this ordinance was going to affect the businesses here in the city of Chicago. And I said at the time, well, why are we voting on something before we do a feasibility study to see how it affects the city, whether it be good or bad? And we were told, you know what, this is an agenda item that we fought for, we're gonna push it through and we'll figure it out later. Well, here we are later with less businesses, less employees, because people are closing their doors because of the harm that this ordinance is doing here in the city of Chicago. And so it's OK to admit we were wrong in this body. It's OK to admit that something happened and it's affecting the businesses. Well, we have a right to correct that. So that's what this ordinance does, is trying to correct the wrong vote that was taken in this body to help save the businesses here in the city of Chicago who are already on life support. And so I just encourage you all, and there's already a motion on the floor, and that motion to refer back to committee is out of order. So we need to vote on making sure that we preserve the businesses here in the city of Chicago. Thank you.

You're welcome. The chair recognizes Alderman Quesada.

Thank you, Mr. President. I remember attending the meeting of this vote on one fair wage a couple years back when I was a county commissioner. And I attended these chambers because I was a sub-minimum wage worker. My first jobs were working in the restaurant industry. Both my parents worked in the restaurant industry. My father was a chef. My mother was a waitress. I know how humiliating it is to make $2.75 an hour. I know how humiliating it is to work 60 hours a week and not be able to pay your bills. I know how enraging it is and how humiliating it is for working class mothers who are predominantly black, brown and immigrant to work so hard and not have enough to get by with the dignity they deserve. And the vote that this council took was a victory and a dignified victory for workers. I just heard one of our colleges say that we made a mistake in investing in people. At a time where we're living in a second Gilded Age, where billionaires and corporations are making record profits, we can't pay people a living wage, the bare minimum, which is already a starvation wage. This minimum wage should be $20 an hour. That's what this council should be talking about. Not rolling back wages for workers, but increasing wages for workers. So there is real rage and real honest rage that is coming from working class people. And they don't have the opportunity to be in these chambers because they're working. They're serving food. They're taking care of their kids. They can't be in these chambers. So that is why it's important that we have working class representatives in this council who are gonna uplift their needs and their struggles. So I think this is a huge mistake, you all. We have a president that is enacting tariffs, that is impacting our farmers, that is impacting trade, that is impacting raw materials, that is impacting food. What is this council doing to stand up to a president that is destroying our economy? That's what we should be talking about. The first people that should be sacrificed should not be workers. It should be the billionaires. It should be the corporations. There should be a massive redistribution of wealth from the top to the bottom. But you are talking, we are talking about putting workers, the most vulnerable workers in our communities who are struggling to pay rent, property taxes, bills, medication. That is a shame, y'all. That is not something that we should be hanging our head low in this moment in history. So I ask you to really consider deep in your conscience, and I understand the business community. I talk with my business community. I speak with my business corridors. I speak with my chambers of commerce. Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me. Order. You're out of order. I speak for my chamber.

Alder Quesada, direct your comments to me, please. There will be order in this chamber. Do not get out of order. It's unnecessary. Alderman.

Yes, sir.

You may continue.

Thank you, Mr. President. I speak with my chambers of commerce, who are the lifeblood of my community. I work with them intentionally to make sure that they have all the investments that they need and deserve to thrive and to ensure that our workers have great jobs in our communities and living wages. But this move is not the right move, y'all. This is not the right move. We have a lot more work. We have so much creativity in this council. Let's come together and figure out how we make our small businesses operate more affordably. But that should not come at the cost of the dignified wages and livelihoods of workers in our communities. I please urge a no vote on this item.

Thank you. The chair recognizes Alder Haddon.

Thank you, Mr. President. 244. So I think my first comments today were with respect to the departed Reverend Jackson and to reflect back on those and talking about how we have examples and opportunities to be better and do better. I want to echo Alderman Ervin's concerns about how this item has been brought before us. I appreciate the concerns we're hearing. And I voted to support this originally, and I know that we didn't have full consensus. And I know that time has passed, and I know that we're dealing with different economic circumstances. And I want to hear from my restaurants, my businesses, my organizations, my chambers, can I tell you, I didn't have an opportunity to do that. And even my colleagues who are supporting this, not a single one of them reached out to me to say, hey, we're looking to change this thing, we're looking to pause this thing, we're looking to freeze this thing, and here's why. I didn't hear from any of the industry groups either, but we've got time. This is city council. We have processes. We have processes and we have committees so that we can do the work of the people in a transparent and accountable way. And when our body is broken, then people try to get the work done because they need it, right? Hey, we've got concerns, we've got issues, we want to see things move forward. I know I get frustrated too in this body when I haven't been able to get an item in committee or when something's been sent to rules and we haven't had a rules committee meeting, right? I had an item sent to rules today and the only way I currently have to get that item heard before you all is going to be to do a Rule 41, which is what we're hearing today. So I appreciate the situation my colleague Alderman Nugent is in. And we end up having these marathon meetings where members of the public don't really have the benefit of considering anything, and neither do we. We need to do better. We need to have rules committee meetings. We need to maybe stop sending each other's items to rules because some outside group doesn't like it. And then we wouldn't have to deal with that in the first place. But we need to hear this in committee. And so I make a motion to lay Alderman Nugent's motion on the table. for this so that hopefully we can make a motion to send it back to committee. So I make a motion to lay the current motion on the table. No, actually Alderman Nugent had moved to pass and then Jessica called for a roll call. Alderman Ervin made a motion.

I got it, I think we have it. All right, so Alderman Bill raised that Alderman Irvin's motion to refer it into Committee for Workforce was out of order. It is out of order, but the motion to lay the initial motion for the passage of the substitute to lay that item on the table, that is in order and it is not debatable. Very well, and I would imagine we want a roll call on this one. All right, so there's a roll call vote to lay the item, the substitute item that Alderwoman Nugent has put forward to lay it on the table. So if you wish to lay her item on the table, you would vote yes, which means this item then will not be heard today. If you vote no, you wish to proceed with Alderwoman Nugent's original motion, which was for the passage of the substitute item 02025-0017549. This is the old one, sorry. No second one.

This is the . We just need a motion to table. No, you're fine. Just do a motion to table. Sorry, this is not the right. We're redoing it now. Thank you.

Don't worry.

It's OK. Take a minute. We'll take a breath. It's all good. OK. So now we're just going to do a regular motion to table.

All good.

We're good. We're good. Tom Kuhn Collective. Doing a good job. Motion to table.

All right, so again, if you are a yes on the motion to lay on the table, you wish not to proceed with the substitute. If you vote no on laying this item on the table, you wish to proceed with the motion to pass the substitute item.

Okay. Is it open? Okay, the motion to table is now open. Please use your devices. Right? Because that's what we have. I will now call on those who have not yet cast their vote. Alderman LaSpada. Yes. Alderman LaSpada is a yes. Alderperson Robinson. Alderperson Robinson is a yes. Alderman Curtis. Alderman Curtis is a no. Alderwoman Taylor. Alderwoman Taylor is not in chambers. Alderman Burnett. Alderman Burnett not in chambers. Alderman Riley. Alderman Riley is a no. Voting is now closed.

Thank you. There are 18 yeas, 30 nays. The motion to lay the item on the table has failed. Chair recognizes Alder Sposato.

Yes, we did talk about this before. Let's talk about working documents that we have. Well, we realize this working document was a mistake. I'm proud to say I wasn't one of the individuals that made a mistake. I believe I was one of the 10 people that thought this was a terrible idea. I'm hearing from my businesses by it. I'm hearing from my tipped workers about this. So I don't know.

Just a second. Alderman Sposato finishes. All right. for the laying on the table, for the item to lay on the table? We don't, I mean, we can. A motion to reconsider, signify by saying aye. Opposed, say nay. Motion to fail.

Please continue. All right, thank you. So back to what I was saying, I was one of the 10 nos, I believe, so I'm not bragging, but I'm bragging, okay? This is a terrible idea, people. They still get minimum wage. If you are a tipped worker and you make whatever you make and you have a terrible day, we give you the minimum wage, plain and simple. Businesses are getting killed. I don't understand why some of you are not hearing from your businesses or some of your tipped workers. Let's face it, everybody. We can't compare a person that works at Denny's to somebody that works at Gibson's. There's no comparison, okay? You can't compare the Cadillacs to the Volkswagens nowadays. And that's basically what we're doing. So it's a terrible idea. It's been terrible. It's been destroying businesses. It's been killing employees. My first job, I was a tip worker. Guess how much I made? A dollar an hour. I was 14 years old in 1973. I was a busboy. A dollar an hour. But you know what? The dollar an hour wasn't a big deal. It was the $2 or $3 an hour I made in tips, which would have made it a pretty good day. So I just think it's time to fix this. It went on too long. Here's our opportunity. Let's get this over with. Let's rip the Band-Aid off and let's move forward with this. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Alderman Ciccio-Lopez is recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I've spoken with several people Several workers in our community, in fact, one of them is a tip worker, had not to enter a fourth job. Fourth. So tip workers now have to work till cannot even hold time with their families. They have to work under conditions that are truly unacceptable. Yet workers show up. I appreciate the small businesses that have come to the city council. But the diagnosis of the problem, it is wrong. We cannot allow our small businesses struggling to say that the workers who make the least are to be blamed for that. That is simply not true. look at the job report every month that we get you know it's so bad the job report that the federal government puts out they don't even publish it anymore 40 000 jobs lost every single month is anybody representing amazon here if you can raise your hand right because if there was a mistake here in this city council was actually not to charge those corporations And billionaires, who actually have so much money that they can actually play around with the city council, they're pitching as small businesses are struggling against workers. Unbelievable. The audacity of these billionaires. Unbelievable that we've been discussing this. Have you seen what inflation looks like for a tip worker? We're getting people even poorer in these conditions. where people can get the 10th yacht, the 20th yacht. This is not the small businesses that are here. We are paying more because those billionaires and big, large corporations, Amazon just laid off another 30,000 workers. We got to do more for small businesses, but not at the expense of the most vulnerable workers, and worse, to pitch them against each other. That is shameful. It is shameful. One of the best things that this city council has done is actually support these cheap workers so they have a dignified wage that even then cannot keep up with inflation. Who is to blame for inflation? The same guy in the White House who told us that he was going to address inflation. Look at gas prices. Everything goes up. Look what's going on in our country. And then we're going to blame the tip workers. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. I understand the pressures, and I know who funds those pressures. And shame on those billionaires hiding in attics in Wilmette, wherever they are. Those are the people funding this. Those are the people funding this. And we call it out in the next budget. These same workers may get now debt collectors going after them. That's the city that we are in right now. I should become a comedian at this point. It's not so bad. It's laughable. So we're not going to blame tea workers for their very little gains. They make that it's still not enough. It's still not enough. Well, we have a billionaire class. Unhinge. Unhinge. I ask city council members. Look at your cheap workers. Talk to them. They live in the city. They're small businesses that live in the city because the rich don't pay. The corporations don't pay. They didn't even want to pay the $100 million. That is pennies for them. Don't want to pay. But they will use you to pitch them against our workers. I ask you, I beg you, let's stop. Let's stop with the theatrics of this. These workers, they deserve to be paid. They deserve to be paid even more. But we are not going to blame them for this. Let's blame those who promise so many things and deliver violence and wars that we all have to work the deal with. But do not blame these workers. That I ask you. Do not blame these workers. These workers deserve. That's the one thing that the city council has done that I can say was a united front. Don't take that back. Progressives, they were going to use the same thing to blame you. Those very same little gains. Today, please stand with your constituents and stop the billionaire class, the only minority destroying our cities. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Yes, Alderman Sposato.

So much about billionaires, Mr. President. There's less than 1,000 billionaires in America and 21 in Illinois, and we know who four of them are. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you for that information. The chair recognizes Alderman Irvin.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank my colleague on the Ninth Ward for correcting my parliamentary error. So therefore, at this point, I move to refer this matter to the Committee on Workforce.

The roll call.

The roll call. I mean, once debate completes, not what I do right now, but once debate completes.

So, Alderman Irvin, per the rules, the item on the floor of the substitute that's being debated, before you can make a motion to refer it to committee, we have to take up the first motion, which is the passage of the substitution. So, your motion can still take place, but it would have to take place after we move on the item that is currently being debated. Chair...

The first vote was to bring the item before us.

Right, the first vote was to discharge it. That is correct. And the second vote was for the passage of the item that was discharged. The substitute, thank you. In order to refer it, you would have to wait until the substitute item is taken up first.

But theoretically, the item that's before us is the ordinance itself.

So because the item has not been accepted yet, that is the rationale. Once the item has been accepted at that point, you could make a motion to refer it.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President, the chair record chair recognizes Ottoman Lopez.

Thank you, Mr. President. Um, just as a question for the point of order. Yes. So the substitute was presented and accepted.

Alderman Lopez, thank you. You're directing your question towards me.

It has been discharged, but the item- The original item was discharged.

Yes, and now we are debating the item that has the substitute that is now before us, but we have not voted on the substitute. That would be the second vote. All right, thank you. Just- Yes, the chair recognizes Alderman Rodriguez.

Mayor, are you suggesting that at this point, this item needs to now be accepted as a substitute before an eventual passage with a third vote?

Exactly. Okay, thank you. That is exactly right. That is very good. Yes, Alderman Lopez, for more clarification.

No.

This is just to speak to the item. To the item, Alderman Lopez is recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Then I would make a motion to pass the substitute.

I believe that motion has already been made by Alderman Nugent, and so that's why we're fading it. Yes. Then I'd call the question on the item. Okay, the item has been called. Very well. So the item has been called. I would... The original call for this substitute item was for a roll call. We would ask that our clerk prepare the e-vote application so that our council can... Yes, Alderman Irvin.

Thank you, Mr. President. The Alderman from the 15th Ward's motion was to call the question... That is correct. Are we... I mean, if we're... Just I don't want to confuse what we're voting on. We're voting to end debate, not voting on the substitute, just for clarity. No, no, he asked to call the question.

Yes, the question before us is the motion by Alderwoman Nugent for the passage of the Substitute. So he is calling the question on the motion, which was the motion was the passage of the Substitute. I'm sorry. There's a difference between passage and acceptance. To accept the Substitute. That is the motion. So he is calling the question on the acceptance of the motion of the Substitute.

Which is to close debate. You call the question is, okay, all right, that's fine. As long as we understand, we're done with the debate.

The debate is almost over, technically. All right. And the roll call vote, the e-vote application will be made available at this time. The acceptance of the substitute that is before us.

Hey, voting is now almost. Hold on. Preparing. Voting is now open. Please use your e-device. The motion to substitute. It's motion, yeah, the motion to substitute. But we should just say motion to substitute, not the whole thing.

Because it's just motion to substitute, but it should say exceed 24%.

Yes. So, sorry, that was an error on our part. It should say Amendment of Municipal Code Section 6-105-030, entitling employers of occupations where gratuities are customary to an allowance for gratuities as part of hourly wage rate not to exceed 24% of minimum wage rate. That is the substitute. I was just clarifying because we left 32%. The substitute stage 24. We will now call on those who have not yet cast their vote. Alderman LaSpada.

No.

Alderman LaSpada is a no. Alderperson Robinson. Alderperson Robinson is a no. Alderman Moore. Once I call on you, I can't pass you. I'm sorry. It's per the rules. Okay. Thank you, Alderman Moore. Alderman Curtis. Alderman Curtis is a yes. Alderwoman Taylor. Alderwoman Taylor is not in chambers. Alderman Burnett. Alderman Burnett is a yes. Alderman Ervin. Alderman Ervin is a yes. On acceptance to clarify, but that's what this vote is. So Alderman Ervin is a yes. Once we have that in. Okay, voting is now closed.

There are 33 yeas, 16 ayes. The substitute has been accepted. The chair recognizes Alderman Ervin.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that we refer this matter to the Workforce Committee.

Very well. There's a motion on the floor. I got you. There's a motion on the floor to refer the acceptance of this substitute to committee. The chair recognizes Alderman Bill.

I move to lay that motion on the table.

All right. There's a motion on the floor to lay the motion to refer this acceptance of this substitute on the table. And it's a roll call vote requested.

Great motion to table and we'll add to it afterwards.

Okay, so keeping us on our toes, I like it.

Without Peter here. Without Peter, you're keeping me on my toes. We're doing great, okay. Voting is now open. Please use your e-device to cast your vote. Motion to lay on the table.

Yes.

I will now call on those who have not yet cast their vote. Alderman LaSpada.

No.

Alderman LaSpada is a no. Alderwoman Gutierrez. Alderwoman Gutierrez is a no. Alderman Curtis. Alderman Curtis is a yes. Alderwoman Taylor. Alderwoman Taylor is not in chambers. Alderman Mosley. Alderman Mosley is a no. Alderman Villegas. Alderman Villegas is a yes. Okay, voting is now closed.

There are 28 yeas, 21 nays. The motion to lay the item on the table has passed. Just for continuity, is there a motion to reconsider? There's a motion to reconsider. All those in favor of the reconsideration of this vote, signify by saying aye. All those opposed say nay. Motion fails. Alderman Nugent, do you wish to make a motion?

Thank you, Mr. President. I renew my motion for passage of this substitute ordinance by a roll call vote.

All right. Now there's a motion on the floor for the passage of the acceptance of the substitute, and that motion has been made with a roll call provision. Members, please use your e-vote application to record your vote at this time.

Now that it's been substituted. Yeah. Please open it. Okay. Voting is now open. Please use your e-device to cast your vote. And again, this should say 24% of minimum wage rate, not 32%. Yeah, that's OK. We are. We are. We're going to fix that. We can't do it in the middle of the vote. That's why I'm saying it right now. We are working on making sure that it's changed in the future. Oh, it's fixed. Sorry. We have fixed it. 24%. If you hit refresh, it does say it up there. It'll say 24% of minimum wage rate. Thank you very much. Okay, I will now call on those who have not yet cast their vote. Alderman LaSpada.

No.

Alderman LaSpada is a no. Alderman Hopkins. Oh, thank you. Alderwoman Ramirez. Alderwoman Ramirez is a no. Alderman Moore. He cast it, okay. Alderman Curtis. Alderman Curtis is a yes. Alderman Taylor? Not present in chambers. Alderman Burnett? Cast his vote. Alderman Ervin? Not present in chambers. Alderman Martin? Not present in chambers. Alderman Martin? Alderman Martin is a no. Alderman Ervin?

Making sure I'm not missing.

Voting is now closed. 30 to 18.

There are 30 yeas, 18 nays. This motion passes. On the motion to reconsider, Alderman Mitchell.

Motion to reconsider the vote.

All those in favor of the reconsideration of this vote signify by saying aye. All those opposed say nay. This motion fails. Alderman Mitchell, anything else?

Let's see. Let's see, let's see. Except for the ordinance stating the date and time of the next meeting, I'm not aware of any further miscellaneous business.

Very much. For the date and time of the next meeting?

Be it ordained by the city council of the city of Chicago. The next regular meeting of the city council of the city of Chicago shall be held on April 15th, 2016, beginning at 10 a.m. in the council chamber on the second floor of City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Could you all just could you all not shout just for a second, Alders, just for a second? We are about to adjourn. We don't been here for five hours now. Let's just get through these next 30 seconds, please, Madam Clerk.

The ordinance shall take effect and be enforced from and after its passage. Signed by Alderman Gregory Mitchell of the Seventh Ward.

Very well. Thank you, Alderman Mitchell. Hearing no objections, so ordered. Now for the omnibus, Alderman Mitchell.

I move that matters in the omnibus be passed by the first most favorable roll call vote by the Committee on Finance and the Associated Unsecession Motion.

Hearing no objections, so ordered. Alderman Mitchell, the motion to adjourn.

There being no further business for this body, I move that we adjourn.

There are no objections to order. The meeting is adjourned. Thank you all.