Tempers and emotions flared at Wednesday’s Chicago City Council meeting over the vote to use $51 million for migrants struggling to find shelter and food in the city. Things were tense at the start of the meeting, starting with heated comments from the audience.
“This is our building on the South Shore. We were promised it in 2014,” a CPS teacher told City Hall about allowing migrants to reside in a closed CPS school. Then he addressed the mayor about the $51 million, saying, “Brandon, don’t make us come after you. Mayor Johnson. Do the right thing.”
Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th Ward) voted against the funding ordinance because of his fiscal concerns about former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s spending on migrants. “Where did $112 million go?” Lopez asked. He then invoked the famous line from the 1996 film, “Jerry Maguire.” Lopez yelled, “Show me the money!”
In the end, a tearful and conflicted Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th Ward) voted for the expense. “I’m conflicted because in my heart, I know what’s right. It’s right to want to help others because as black people, that’s what we do. But when the hell are you going to help us?”
In the end, the vote was 34 to 13 with three abstentions.
In addition to Lopez, they voted against: Alds. Greg Mitchell (7th Ward), Michelle Harris (8th Ward), Anthony Beale (9th Ward), Marty Quinn (13th Ward), David Moore (17th Ward), Derrick Curtis (18th Ward), Monique Scott (24th Ward), Emma Mitts (Division 37), Nicholas Sposato (Division 38), Anthony Napolitano (Division 41), Brendan Reilly (Division 42) and Jim Gardiner (Division 45). The three who left the floor and did not vote were Alds. Brian Hopkins (second ward), Silvana Tabares (second 23rd) and Debra Silverstein (second 50th).
The WTTW News Spotlight politics team discusses the vote and the divisions.
