Thread by @SiMpLy_PreSton

Hi, I’ll be live-tweeting today's special meeting of City Council for #CHIdocumenters @CHIdocumenters

Session will be live streamed today March 30th at 9:30am to 11:30am.
In person address: 121 N LaSalle St Chicago, IL 60602 (Directions)
City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chambers

This special meeting of City Council has been called by Alders Scott Waguespack, Gilbert Villegas and Michelle Harris in order to name new committee chairs and council rules before the new mayor is sworn in. These changes could give City Council more independence from the mayor.

For more context, see this article about the reorganization link: chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2023… and this statement against from the Better Government Association and the League of Women Voters

Statement: bettergov.org/2023/03/21/chi…

Here's a copy of the meeting notice.

Here is a copy of the meeting agenda (subject to changes)

Voting has started on the changing of the rules. 37 aldermen present out of 50 aldermen. Meeting started at 9:38am.

First speaker, Jane Ruby (rep from the League of Women Voters)
3 minutes to speak.

Another speaker (Mr. Blakemore ) Hate your enemy, there is a lot of power in hate. You get the government you deserve.."

Another speaker (Mr. Zaru): Shortcutting your own rules and implementing new ones on the same day is a terrible precedent to set... Rather than expanding a large unaccountable staff, we should establish a centralized staff.." "We urge everyone here today to take a pause.."

"And collect the feedback of the public..."

Link to 2023 Chicago election results and information about Wards, candidates and election results. Link: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Chic…
Next election date is April 4th, 2023

Voting roll call has started. Yes votes to suspend resolution, No to accept the resolution. Yes - 35 votes, 9 nay..
34 NEEDED TO SUSPEND RULES. Rules suspended.

Motion for reconsideration denied after votes cast to deny.

Roll call voted. Alderman Bell "I am embarrassed to be a Chicagoan today. I have never seen so many committee be voted in one go. I tried to have independence in this body and all of yall have blocked these measures. Yall should be ashamed of yourselves. This is a clear attempt

To buy people. Someone who has been hear for years have been sidelined and someone who has been here for months has been appointed. Seriously!? I don't care about being a chairman, I love the city. I hope yall can sleep at night.." paraphrased.

Alderman Beale.

"If the people in this city has seen how this is done. They would be protesting down the hill. Open it to the public. This is more about self interest. You give a vote for everybody but you don't go behind closed doors and increase committees. ...But, it's been done.

And what hurts my stomach more than anything is people who call themselves progressives. - Alder. Moore.

The real true test is the next chapter. Where I hope we can all work collaboratively and most importantly respectfully to address the problems this city is facing. I want to thank especially all the alderman women.

Don't stain your honor. Don't stain your legacy. The question is why are we doing this today!? Why 5 days before an election? These rules will change the rules for which the new rules will impact the council for the next 4 years.

Do you know when the last time we had a special election, 5 days before? Never! It has never happened.
We all know what this is, and it's not the right thing to do. And madam president, I don't know what you're feeling today but you know it's not the right thing to do.

But if thats the legacy you want, that's the legacy you get. I recognize the words of Pink Floyd: Welcome to the Machine. - Alderman King.

"Progress by any means is not progress. Process is just as important. I am super ashamed at the members of the Progressive caucus who are progressive when it benefits them. Call out progressives when you want to. I'm not saying the body shouldn't be independent, we have always

Had that power. And we had that power when the Mayor tried to out me. But process matters. So power corrupts absolutely? Is that it?
Let's talk about what it should be so we can effectively govern. 28 committees is not it. Bad room deals so you can get the votes is not it.

I urge my colleagues to stand against this. - Alder. Quinn

https://twitter.com/SiMpLy_PreSton/status/1641460604727615489?s=19

You 4 are awesome. Beale, Hapkins, Moore, King. I did vote yes on this for discussion but this is not something I can support. I'm one of the 28 people and probably the only one who will speak out, 28 committees is way too many. We ate unsure if they will meet regularly.

I do support adding another staff member to each Alderman's staff... The main question I have... is why today? Why not next week? Next Thursday? We are giving 3 people committees who are in runoffs but we don't know if they will win. I hope you win. - Alder. Garcia

Noticeable air of discomfort with Alder. S "I understand you opposition and your right. But you have 2 more meetings. Please have a little dignity" - Mayor Lightfoot.
I've heard members say, the needs of the public. THE PUBLIC HASNT BEEN GIVEN THE TIME TO WEIGH IN.

Also where is the money coming from for this? The money would be used to support homelessness and other prioritizes. I think we should wait, I can't support this. - Alder. Taylor

Why can't we wait 5 days? We have been asking for independence since day 1 but there has been no support. Where were yall when we needed support for Cannabis laws, for the 60,000 homeless we have in the city. It's wrong. What we do in this council affects the people we serve.

It's not about us. There are some members of the council that I would not trust as far as I can see them... if we are going to truly be different 7 days is not going to hurt us. We need to stop thinking for ourselves. The benefits we receive employment, dental, etc. Is from the

People who we serve. - Alder. G

Alder. Hadden: I am voting for this because council independence was the goal by supporter had when they elected me. One of the reasons why I am supporting this b/c this is a unique opportunity to align the body to reflect the diverse population and demonstrate legislative

Democracy.

The costs of committees, subcommittees when there can be some collaboration between existing committees. Has this been an evaluation, line by line? -Alderman

This concludes the live tweeting for the Special Meeting of the City Council
for #CHIdocumenters @CHIdocumenters