Good Morning! I am live-tweeting from Chicago City Hall today —covering Committee on Transportation and Public Way for #ChiDocumenters @CHIdocumenters
This is the City Council committee that oversees the Chicago Transit Authority (@cta)—our favorite L trains—as well as street naming and things like approving a business if it wants to use a sidewalk. 
The agenda for today’s meeting from the City Clerk is here:
media.legistar.com/chic/meetings/…
media.legistar.com/chic/meetings/…
Meeting is called to order at 11:04 by vice-chair @rodriguezfor22
Motion to approve rule 45 report is approved. And now the alderman walks through the 12 agenda items
Motion to approve rule 45 report is approved. And now the alderman walks through the 12 agenda items
The agenda above has (count them) 54 PAGES of approvals for businesses using sidewalk space—many many of them “to maintain and use a portion of the public way for sidewalk cafe.” Other request types include awnings & signage.
The businesses seeking a sidewalk cafe permit today would already have sought approval from their Alderman. It’s a multi-step process, this cmt is the 2nd hurdle. The full council also has to vote. Businesses have to do this every year for standard permit range of Mar 1 to Dec 1.
At the February 2020 meeting, there were 8 requests for sidewalk cafes. Today’s agenda includes about 400 requests! SPRING IS COMING Y’ALL.
Public comment: George Blakemore. Well-known at Council chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archiv…
“You on this cmt—you must ask why—why you have only one public speaker? [me]. Do you reach out? Website? You in the audience are just paid staff. You don’t want them to come! The average citizen."
“You on this cmt—you must ask why—why you have only one public speaker? [me]. Do you reach out? Website? You in the audience are just paid staff. You don’t want them to come! The average citizen."
Vice-Chair Mike Rod (@rodriguezfor22) is walking through each section—awnings, sidewalk cafes, etc. He is listing the page numbers (see agenda above)—asking for a motion, a 2nd, and each section has passed by voice vote.
Now an introduction of a Pullman Park sub-division in 9th ward with the developers presenting. It is presented as the "last undeveloped parcel" in Pullman and part of the overall plan to "revitalize the Pullman neighborhood" which has included "350 million of investment.
Ald Scott Waguespack (@ward32chicago) speaks and confronts the presentation: Why isn't the alderman introducing this? (A: this is mayoral direct introduction.) If this is the mayor's office—why isn't anyone here to speak?" You avoided in the presentation saying this is Amazon.
There is a political point being made here that I don't entirely follow but in my view, it looks as if several alderman are uncomfortable.
.@Alderman_Beale speaks to the ordinance, says investment is working, crime is down 54%, thanks alderman for working with him on Pullman.
Motion is passed by voice vote, led by @AldHBrookinsJr, chairman, who has now arrived and taken over meeting.
Motion is passed by voice vote, led by @AldHBrookinsJr, chairman, who has now arrived and taken over meeting.
George Blakeman making public comment on each ordinance. He has made points about cafes being more white-owned than black, and challenged Alderman to consider whether businesses are employing diverse workforce. But he also has yelled, "golden showers" at one point 😬
Now an ordinance to close a section of street near Wentworth and 76th - 1.23 acres. It will be an equipment yard. Dan Rosenberg here representing. State’s legal rep states “we have no concerns”
Now an ordinance presented by Benjamin Andrews - Heartland Alliance - real estate division (linkedin.com/in/benjaminand…) Buying properties from “Edge alliance, inc,” a non-profit that Ald Michael Scott says shut down.
Chicago Counsel Arthur Dolinsky has been here adding legal details on several of these. linkedin.com/in/arthur-doli… He sits in the audience behind the witness table.
Chairman @AldHBrookinsJr has decided to ask George Blakemore a question, who has filed to comment on nearly every ordinance. He stands up and acts as if offended—it leads to a bit of a tension moment.
One last misc ordinance on a surface parking lot on at the 2700 N Elston block. Lawyer, owner, and architect David Bender here representing that. Here's the last 3 ordinances discussed and passed, all with a 1-2 min statement from a business representative and then a voice vote:
After another public comment from George Blakemore, the meeting is quickly adjourned 11:58a. Standby for a correction
CORRECTION Earlier I misidentified the Alderman objecting to the process surrounding the Pullman sub-division ordinance. The alderman was Ray Lopez (@RLopez15thWard) not Ald Scott Waguespack (@ward32chicago). Another Alderman told me it was a "personality clash" with the Mayor.
Thanks for following my live-tweet of the Transportation and Public Way Committee of the @ChiCouncil for #ChiDocumenters @CHIdocumenters. Get ready for sidewalk cafes. Follow other public meetings at documenters.org!
Original tweet here:
