Committee on Public Safety
Chicago City Council
Politics
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Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team
Note-taking by
Rocio Villasenor
Empowering Communities for Public Safety Ordinance, Appointment of Annette Nance-Holt as Fire Commissioner
Live reporting by
Helena Duncan
Empowering Communities for Public Safety Ordinance, Appointment of Annette Nance-Holt as Fire Commissioner
Helena Duncan
@hd_documenter
It's the day we've all been waiting for. Follow along as I live-tweet the Chicago City Council Public Safety Committee meeting at 10:00 for @CHIdocumenters.
blockclubchicago.org/2021/06/18/riv…
blockclubchicago.org/2021/06/18/riv…
09:49 AM Jun 18, 2021 CDT
The committee will vote on the appointment of Annette Nance-Holt as the first Black woman to lead the Fire Department @CFDMedia.
Then they'll debate the two dueling police oversight proposals: Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS), and @chicagosmayor's own proposal. https://t.co/n1rsW6s2ZP
Then they'll debate the two dueling police oversight proposals: Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS), and @chicagosmayor's own proposal. https://t.co/n1rsW6s2ZP
Getting started with some banter from aldermen Sposato & Lopez. About 100 people tuned in to the livestream. Chair Chris Taliaferro calls the meeting to order now. You can watch here: livestream.com/accounts/28669…
16 of 19 members are present.
We start now with public comment. Everyone gets 3 minutes. First speaker is Oswaldo Gomez, a community organizer at @ONENorthside.
We start now with public comment. Everyone gets 3 minutes. First speaker is Oswaldo Gomez, a community organizer at @ONENorthside.
"There is a clear question that is being asked," Gomez says. "Will this committee & will its members bring about the change that this city deserves or will they stand in the way of real public safety?" Says the mayor does not have a real path or plan for police accountability.
Gomez favors the ECPS proposal. "Your choices here matter and the city is watching you...this moment will cement your place in history and you can be on the right side of it, or you can be standing against the people," he says.
Levine also speaks in support of the ECPS proposal. He says the proposals "share a lot of language but little else." Says ECPS is a model of "what happens when the people speak, work together....it's what democracy looks like." Says it creates a strong democratic oversight system
He says @chicagosmayor's proposal steals ECPS' language but represents the worst of what democracy becomes, that it keeps the system as it is, "power in the hands of the mayor. And we know from Mayor Lightfoot's first few years what that means."
The next speaker is Otis Woods, a 16th ward resident and member of the Workers Center For Racial Justice. He also speaks in favor of the ECPS ordinance. "For decades the people of the city of Chicago have been demanding the right to elect" a representative and just police board
He says the city should follow in the footsteps of the Elected School Board bill that just passed, that people should have their voices heard at the ballot. chicago.suntimes.com/2021/3/18/2233…
Jason Doran, the next speaker, is from United Northwest Side @unitednwside. "Alderperson Sposato, we're not commies, we're you're constituents," he opens.
Mentions that Alderman Gardiner is being investigated for violating folks' civil rights. "He feels empowered by our current system. Our community observes all of this in alarm." Says there is a crisis of confidence in the public safety system.
He says that Aldermen Gardiner and Sposato "benefit from a culture of abuse and impunity" and won't support ECPS, but appeals to other committee members to do so
The next speaker is Andrew Nikolau, a Kilbourn Park resident. He also speaks in favor of ECPS and criticizes the mayor's "desperate" proposal. "It's time...to send ECPS on to the Council as a whole, to reflect the will of the people"
Jennifer Jones is the next speaker, a lifelong Chicago resident living in the 45th Ward. She says in late May she saw a headline that disturbed her: "Chicago violence: 12 killed, 42 wounded in the deadliest weekend of the year so far." Who is being held accountable, she asks?
"City residents see and question what is happening. We are losing faith not only in our police department but in our City Council...you all have been appointed to serve on this public safety committee and tasked with this immense responsibility." Urges support for ECPS.
The next speaker is Coby Gilory (not sure of spelling), a 5th Ward resident. He demands support for the ECPS ordinance.
He mentions police torture, shootings and incarceration, a system that "rips families apart, it takes lives, it sucks taxpayer dollars out of resources" that could "actually keep communities safe and healthy"
A lot of speakers have referred to last year's protests and how police @CPD_Media brutalized protestors. chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/02/19/chi…
The next speaker is a 2nd Ward resident who speaks in support of ECPS. Says that it's an ordinance created from rigorous community engagement + support; the Mayor's bill, he says, is watered-down and was crafted without community input
He references the huge amount of CARES Act (Covid relief) money that was given to police: wbez.org/stories/activi…
Ted Pearson is the next speaker. He says he's lived in the 43rd Ward for more than 50 years, and Chicago all his life. Urges support for ECPS. "Black and brown communities, all communities have had to endure police crime for far too long."
"ECPS is truly a people's ordinance forged through years of struggle, debate and unity." He says @chicagosmayor campaigned on a pledge for police oversight and did not deliver, then came up with her last-minute ordinance.
"In Mayor Lightfoot's 809 days we have seen the killing of a dozen more people by police," Pearson says. He lists their names and says it is important to remember them. They include Anthony Alvarez and Adam Toledo.
The next speaker is Elena Gormley, a social worker and a member of @48thNeighbors and @SSWUChicago. She too urges the committee to pass ECPS out of committee to the full city council: "The Chicago Police Department has acted disgracefully for decades" and destroyed public trust
Says police pose a danger in her community and the communities where she works + worships. "This morning you have the chance...to show you are truly committed to racial justice, accountability and transparency" by supporting ECPS.
The next speaker is Gabriel Montero from the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR), a 3rd ward resident. Like each other speaker, he supports ECPS.
Montero references policing's origins in slave patrols. "Once oppressed communities realize that they are the solution...that is a self discovery that cannot be undone. It will only grow until it is made a material reality."
That concludes public comment. Chair Taliaferro thanks speakers for their comments, and mentions Aldermen Smith and Mitts have joined now too.
190 people are tuned in now to the livestream.
The committee approves the Rule 45 report (minutes/summary of previous meeting)
190 people are tuned in now to the livestream.
The committee approves the Rule 45 report (minutes/summary of previous meeting)
Now on to the appointment of Annette Nance Holt as Fire District commissioner. She thanks the firefighters and paramedics of "the greatest fire department in the country" and calls the appointment "the honor of my career." https://t.co/Uq2ebDu750
She gives an overview of her career and training. She says the Fire Department is strong, but needs some modernization.
She has a strategic plan which includes increasing diversity, rethinking emergency medical services, enhancing internal/external outreach, & addressing mental health challenges that plague first responders. Says increasing diversity is priority #1
"I never dreamed of becoming a firefighter because I never saw one that looked like me. And definitely not a woman." She took the firefighter test on a "dare" and it was "the best professional decision I ever made."
Under her leadership there will be a renewed emphasis on equality and no tolerance for harassment or discrimination of any kind, Nance-Holt pledges. That concludes her opening comment.
Taliaferro asks Nance-Holt what her plan is for diversity/inclusion. She says it will start with the entrance exam and encouraging young people to take it. "If we don't bring them in the door we can't bring them up through the ranks."
Aldermen Reboyras and Mitts congratulate Nance-Holt and express appreciation for her focus on diversity.
.@RLopez15thWard says "As Rahm Emanuel used to say, you cannot be what you cannot see" and talks about the importance of engaging fire department in the violence in communities. "We need to show first responders as the heroes that they are."Children should see this at a young age
"You took a leap to join, but also as a leader and a firefighter, if you didn't see anybody who was the same gender or ethnic demographic you would not have thought that being a leader was possible." Emphasizes having CFD members representative of the city of Chicago.
Nance-Holt says it'll be a challenge, but holding the firefighter entrance exams more often will help. "None of this happens overnight."
Alderman Lopez says the automatic-retirement law should be lifted. "Just because you reach a certain age you don't have to be shown the door." Encourages Nance-Holt to help push Springfield for that change.
Aldermen Irving, Curtis, Gardiner, and Napolitano congratulate Nance-Holt, too. "As a CFD member for over 15 years, it's good to see someone who paid their dues attain these heights," Gardiner says.
More congratulations and words of support from more aldermen.
Annette Nance-Holt is approved as Fire Commissioner. This will be reported out at the June 23 City Council meeting.
Annette Nance-Holt is approved as Fire Commissioner. This will be reported out at the June 23 City Council meeting.
Chair Chris Taliaferro opens the next items (police oversight) by saying "I do understand the long road we've taken by bringing the community commission to a vote. This road started probably about 5 years ago if not more."
He emphasizes the time, efforts of his colleagues & "a lot of hands" instrumental in bringing these ordinances to vote. "In my opinion true democracy is not defined with threats and intimidations," he says, talking about the capitol riots.
He says he's ok with people protesting at electeds' offices but has to "admonish conduct" that takes protests to electeds' homes. "It's not democracy at its best. Democracy is protesting peacefully, within the confines of the law, not to disturb our children."
He "challenges" people in the future to not do this. He says some colleagues "have suffered tremendously as a result of what some deem to be true democracy," referring to these protests.
Ordinance 2019-4132, the ECPS proposal, is our next item.
Vice Chair Harry Osterman @48Ward echoes Taliaferro's comments about not wanting protests outside of officials' personal residences.
Vice Chair Harry Osterman @48Ward echoes Taliaferro's comments about not wanting protests outside of officials' personal residences.
Osterman refers to this substitute to the ECPS ordinance, encourages the committee to vote on it: chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2021…
Taliaferro is opposed to the substitute, says he hasn't seen it, it was sent to the committee at 9:30 this morning. Wants them to vote on the ECPS ordinance as it stands. "This is the people's ordinance you've wanted me to bring to vote for a long time, I'm bringing it to vote"
Osterman says the substitute is a very "technical, clear-cut substitute" that does 2 things: removes the referendum part of the ordinance, and changes a date technically to allow the Council to create an interim board.
Pushing back on Taliaferro, Osterman renews his motion to accept the substitute. "We've been working on this for four or five years."
Taliaferro accepts Osterman's motion to accept the substitute. Sposato moves to lay Osterman's motion to accept the substitute, on the table. Alderman Lopez objects, saying that the chair didn't recognize Sposato. "So we are going to just blurt things out?" Lopez complains
Jeff Levine, corporation counsel, says that Taliaferro is properly proceeding. A motion to lay on the table takes precedence over a motion to substitute. "So it is not just a question of selecting arbitrarily; Alderman Sposato's motion does take precedence."
They will vote now on whether to lay Osterman's motion (to accept the substitute) on the table. But first, Alderman Hadden asks to clarify rules. "In order to be recognized, are we just speaking, raising our hands?"
After some bickering about improper/out of order recognition by the chair, they finally vote to lay Osterman's motion to accept the substitute, on the table.
Curtis, Reboyras, Sposato, Nugent, Napolitano, Silverstein, Reilly, Taliaferro all vote yes. (Smith says "pass." Someone says "no such option." She says "I mean come back to me." Coming back to her, Smith votes no.)
Alderman Gardiner says he was in the restroom and was missed. He votes yes.
With 10 yes votes, and 9 no votes, the motion to lay it on the table passes. Someone requests that the Chair count the "no" votes again. Someone else is talking with their mic unmuted.
With this, the motion presented by Alderman Osterman to accept the substitute into committee fails.
Osterman says he's disappointed with this outcome of not accepting the substitute, "given the amount of work and the fact that we've waited 4 years to vote on this matter." He lays blame with Taliaferro and Mayor Lightfoot for delaying this vote back in February.
Osterman asks to recess this committee until Monday. "It would be a wrong thing for us to rush forward" given that they have not accepted the ordinance in the form that he and the other supportive alderman would like to have it in before a final vote.
Taliaferro is frustrated. "I've screamed it to the rooftop over and over again about the substitute and pulling the referendum because I felt it would negatively impact our police department and our city," he says. "And no one listened."
Taliaferro accepts the motion to recess until Monday to give everyone an opportunity to read the substitute. Irving asks what time on Monday they would come back. Osterman suggests 1 or 2:00.
Taliaferro recesses the committee for 5 minutes while he reviews Tuesday's schedule to see if Tuesday would work. I am going to try to make some lunch in five minutes
The committee has come back to order. The motion before the committee now is to recess until Monday June 21 at 1pm. Sposato objects, wants to get this over with now.
Motion to adjourn til Monday:
Yes's: Osterman, Sawyer, Curtis, Irving, Smith, Martin, Mitts, Silverstein, Lopez
No's: Reboyras, Sposato, Nugent, Napolitano, Tunney, Gardiner, Reilly, Taliaferro, Thompson
Committee members again asking Chair to count again.
Yes's: Osterman, Sawyer, Curtis, Irving, Smith, Martin, Mitts, Silverstein, Lopez
No's: Reboyras, Sposato, Nugent, Napolitano, Tunney, Gardiner, Reilly, Taliaferro, Thompson
Committee members again asking Chair to count again.
Silverstein changes her vote to a no; people gasp. Taliaferro objects, saying once he is calculating, you can't change your vote. (Lopez had changed his from a no to a yes.) "That is not true, Mr. Chairman," someone objects.
Chair Taliaferro is frustrated at people speaking out of turn. He objects to Irving's motion. Again complains the substitute was so last-minute. ("It happens all the time!" someone objects.) Irving says he'll rescind his motion if we put both items on the floor for a vote today.
Osterman and Sawyer, sponsors of the ECPS want to hold it in committee. Irving renews his motion to adjourn as there is no further business.
Nevermind, request for a roll call is not pushed, so Taliaferro adjourns the committee. That was a whirlwind.
Check out documenters.org later on for full notes. Have a great weekend!
Check out documenters.org later on for full notes. Have a great weekend!
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Chicago City Council
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