[remote or in person] Committee on Housing and Real Estate

Chicago City Council
Housing
Politics

Tuesday, April 15, 2025
10:30 a.m. — 2:30 p.m. CDT

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121 N LaSalle St Chicago 60602 (Directions)

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Zoe Alden Greenfield

While community members try and have their voices heard regarding housing insecurities and the rent control ban, the city also struggles with the mayoral appointments to the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund (CLIHTF) Board.

Live reporting by Anson Tong

While community members try and have their voices heard regarding housing insecurities and the rent control ban, the city also struggles with the mayoral appointments to the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund (CLIHTF) Board.

Anson Tong @ansonjtong 2/62
@CHIdocumenters The agenda can be found here: s3.documentcloud.org/documents/2589…
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/2589…
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 3/62
@CHIdocumenters The livestream link via hasn't yet become available. chicityclerk.com
chicityclerk.com
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 4/62
@CHIdocumenters Jumping in, now it is the public comment period. The public commenter is expressing concern about American citizens facing homelessness.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 5/62
@CHIdocumenters The next public commenter is a resident of Edgewater here to talk about affordable housing. She wants to point out the effects of affordable housing on the schools and school funding including Title I funding.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 6/62
@CHIdocumenters She is concerned about the impacts of gentrification and lessening affordable housing. She notes that Pierce Elementary has lost its Title I funding.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 7/62
@CHIdocumenters That concludes oral public comment. The committee received 3 written comments.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 8/62
@CHIdocumenters There is a motion to approve the Rule 45 Report. The ayes have it and the Rule 45 Report is approved.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 9/62
@CHIdocumenters Item #1 before the committee is (R2023-0004242) Call on llinois General Assembly to rescind state-wide preempting of rent control laws.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 10/62
@CHIdocumenters Items #2-15 are appointments to the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund Board (CLIHTF). Chief Homelessness Officer Sendy Soto begins by sharing a few remarks and acknowledging previous concerns expressed.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 11/62
@CHIdocumenters There is a brief recess called due to technical difficulties.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 12/62
@CHIdocumenters CLIHTF's website can be found here: clihtf.org
clihtf.org
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 13/62
@CHIdocumenters *Peirce Elementary School
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 14/62
@CHIdocumenters The list of appointments that will be discussed is as follows:
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 15/62
@CHIdocumenters The meeting resumes. CHO Soto notes a number of challenges including funding constraints, lack of current director, and other issues.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 16/62
@CHIdocumenters First up is appointee Vicky Arroyo. She is being considered for reappointment and has served on the board for 3 years. She is the Chief Lending Officer at Stearns Bank. linkedin.com/in/vicky-arroy…
linkedin.com/in/vicky-arroy…
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 17/62
@CHIdocumenters The next appointee speaking is Katanya Raby. She has served as a Policy Advisor in the Mayor's Office and now works at Our Urban Dreams. linkedin.com/in/katanyaraby/
linkedin.com/in/katanyaraby/
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 18/62
@CHIdocumenters David Kern, representing the Chicago Department of Public Health, speaks next. He serves as the Deputy Commissioner, Syndemic Infectious Disease Bureau. He manages programs that provide housing for HIV-positive individuals. linkedin.com/in/david-kern-…
linkedin.com/in/david-kern-…
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 19/62
@CHIdocumenters Next up is Fatmah Farraj, currently a Vice President at Mercy Housing. linkedin.com/in/fatmah-farr…
linkedin.com/in/fatmah-farr…
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 20/62
@CHIdocumenters Sherri Allen-Reeves is the executive director of Phoenix Foundation, which operates an 85-bed shelter. linkedin.com/in/sherri-alle…
linkedin.com/in/sherri-alle…
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 21/62
@CHIdocumenters The next appointee is Joseph Lopez, executive director of Spanish Coalition for Housing, an organization that provides housing counseling, financial education, and advocacy. sc4housing.org/aboutus
sc4housing.org/aboutus
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 22/62
@CHIdocumenters Isabel Kennon, Program Specialist at Illinois Justice Project, is the next appointee. She has helped to analyze reentry program data. linkedin.com/in/isabel-kenn…
linkedin.com/in/isabel-kenn…
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 23/62
@CHIdocumenters Meredith Muir, the next appointee speaking, works at the Chicago Department of Housing. linkedin.com/in/meredith-l-…
linkedin.com/in/meredith-l-…
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 24/62
@CHIdocumenters Next, Adonya Little is Director of Ministerial Services at Lawndale Community Church. She notes how affordable housing can change families' lives. linkedin.com/in/adonya-n-li…
linkedin.com/in/adonya-n-li…
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 25/62
@CHIdocumenters Samuel Paler-Ponce works at Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness. He began his career as a direct service provider. linkedin.com/in/sampalerpon…
linkedin.com/in/sampalerpon…
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 26/62
@CHIdocumenters Cameron Kinch is a Project Manager at Department of Family and Social Services leading projects that are a part of the city's homelessness strategy. linkedin.com/in/cameron-kin…
linkedin.com/in/cameron-kin…
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 27/62
@CHIdocumenters The next appointee is David Stieber, a CPS teacher at Kenwood Academy High School. He was on the mayor's educational transition team. linkedin.com/in/david-stieb…
linkedin.com/in/david-stieb…
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 28/62
@CHIdocumenters The final CLIHTF appointee to speak is Dr. Milka Ramírez. linkedin.com/in/milka-ram%C…
linkedin.com/in/milka-ram%C…
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 29/62
@CHIdocumenters Now it is Q&A from committee members.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 30/62
@CHIdocumenters Ald. Moore thanks CHO Soto for reaching out to the committee. He acknowledges the importance of lived experience and the voices of young people.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 31/62
@CHIdocumenters Ald. Dowell thanks CHO Soto and appreciates the addition of someone from the West Side to the slate of appointees. She notes that there is another vacancy and hopes that the person being vetted is an African American male.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 32/62
@CHIdocumenters Ald. Mitts acknowledges the amount of experience the appointees bring and the younger appointees who can contribute their perspective to the board.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 33/62
@CHIdocumenters Ald. Mitts also brings up higher taxes and flooding in the West Side compared to other areas.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 34/62
@CHIdocumenters Ald. Fuentes notes the existing challenges in the current landscape but says that this group of appointees gives her hope. Ald. Dowell inquires about Bishop Howard Smith. CHO Soto says he was appointed to another board and so couldn't serve.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 35/62
@CHIdocumenters Ald. Hadden thanks all the appointees.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 36/62
@CHIdocumenters Ald. Scott asks how long the appointments are for. They are typically for two years. The board has had at least 5 vacancies for a long time.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 37/62
@CHIdocumenters Ald. Taylor agrees with Ald. Dowell's comment that there should be a Black man in this space. Ald. Taylor recalls being on the housing list for 30 years and not needing it when her number was called.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 38/62
@CHIdocumenters Chair Sigcho-Lopez thanks everyone for their participation in this process and calls the vote for all of the appointees at once.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 39/62
@CHIdocumenters There is a motion to recommend the approval of these appointments. The recommendation passes.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 40/62
@CHIdocumenters Next on the agenda: (02025-0015655) Designation of 4920 N Sheridan Rd as Low-Affordability Community.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 41/62
@CHIdocumenters Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth is present to testify. This developer and this business owner is dedicated to the ward. This parcel of land has been vacant for many years. It's right across the street from a popular park.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 42/62
@CHIdocumenters There is a motion to pass this. This ordinance passes.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 43/62
@CHIdocumenters Item #17 on the agenda: (2025:0015983) Sale of City-owned property at 3901 S Halsted St to lnois Department of Transportation for Pershing Road highway improvement project.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 44/62
@CHIdocumenters Item #17 is held in committee upon request of the Department of Transportation.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 45/62
@CHIdocumenters Item #18: (O2025-0015984) Authorization to enter into negotiation to acquire parcels at 7850 and 7872 Exchange Ave, 2910 and 2914 79 St and 7843 S Escanaba Ave for mixed-use redevelopment proposal.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 46/62
@CHIdocumenters Taylor Thompson from the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is here to present.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 47/62
@CHIdocumenters The funding request is for $1.3M which includes acquisition costs and demolition costs.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 48/62
@CHIdocumenters Ald. Hadden asks about the timeframe for this site. "In an ideal world, how are these going to be laid out and over what periods of time?"
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 49/62
@CHIdocumenters London Walther from DPD notes that this is acquisition authority so there are a number of contingencies and approvals remaining in this process.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 50/62
@CHIdocumenters Ald. Mitchell explains this development as intended to be catalytic for the area.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 51/62
@CHIdocumenters This ordinance passes.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 52/62
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 53/62
@CHIdocumenters Meg Gustafson from DPD presents. Ald. Taliaferro has provided a letter of support.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 54/62
@CHIdocumenters Ald. Mitts expresses her support for Root2Fruit and commends Ald. Taliaferro's work revitalizing vacant spaces in the neighborhood.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 55/62
@CHIdocumenters The next item is
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 56/62
@CHIdocumenters Meg Gustafson from DPD presents this one as well.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 57/62
@CHIdocumenters Ald. Mitts states that Territory NFP has been instrumental in getting young people engaged and doing a lot of work on the West Side.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 58/62
@CHIdocumenters This ordinance is approved by voice vote.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 59/62
@CHIdocumenters Jaya Eyzaguirre from DPD presents.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 60/62
@CHIdocumenters Ald. Taylor expresses her excitement for Sunshine to move in and explains that developers are more excited to build housing if there are places in the community for families and young people to gather.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 61/62
@CHIdocumenters This ordinance passes.
Anson Tong @ansonjtong 62/62
@CHIdocumenters There is a motion to adjourn this committee meeting. The meeting adjourns at 12:21pm.

Agency Information

Chicago City Council

The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago and consists of the Mayor and Aldermen elected from each of the City’s fifty wards. Source

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