[remote] City Council
Chicago City Council
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024
10:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. CST
Remote
While this meeting will be held in person, we recommend that you document it remotely, as City Hall is likely to be crowded and you may not be able to get into the chambers in order to document.
The meeting will be live-streamed at https://www.chicityclerk.com/.
At this link, scroll down to “Meeting Notices.” Look for “Watch now” and click on the link with the meeting title to go to a livestream page.
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The end time listed on this assignment is an estimation based on the duration of past meetings of this type.
Other notes and pre-research resources
- It’s expected that City Council will vote on a cease-fire resolution that would call on President Joe Biden to “call for and facilitate a lasting peace in the Middle East.” The item was deferred from the regular monthly City Council meeting after certain alders took issue with addressing the item at the same meeting they would be acknowledging Holocaust Remembrance Day.
- Meeting details page: https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Meeting/?meetingId=BF38718B-F5BA-EE11-A568-001DD806999B
- Be sure to check the “attachments” tab for the meeting agenda and other documents. You can access more information about items on the agenda at https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/. You can search keywords or click the “Show more filters” button and enter the legislation number (i.e. [O as in Ordinance][year introduced]-####, [R as in Resolution][year introduced]-####).
- Chicago Councilmatic: This civic data org’s website has a lot of the information that can be found on the city’s database in a more user-friendly format, as well as context on City Council and alders.
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team
Follow this thread or watch with me at
09:52 AM Jan 31, 2024 CST
The first commenter asks the council to call for the immediate release of all hostages, and not to divide the conflict into "oppressors" and the "oppressed," but recognize the humanity of all.
The next commenter calls in from the 40th ward to support a ceasefire resolution as well.
"Calling for a ceasefire is the bare minimum ... Allow Chicago to be on the right side of history," the third commenter said.
"Our alderpersons should stick to their jobs of dealing with crime and homelessness," she said.
This concludes the public comment portion of the meeting.
Ald Sposato says he just got the new version. Le Spata says it was emailed last night.
"Respectfully, just check your email," the Mayor said
Ald. Le Spata opens with remarks to thank all the organizers in the gallery and comment on the devastation he has seen in Gaza and suffering in Israel.
"Jewish lives matter too," she said. "We should not pass a resolution unless it's clear that Hamas should not and cannot attack again."
.
He clears the chambers of the public at 11:40 a.m.
Ald. Sposato proposes a motion to allow Ald. Silverstein to restart her testimony. She expresses want of a resolution that is "fair and balanced, and that won't undermine Washington." She says she has been ignored
Ald. Lee (11th) says she will vote Yes despite not agreeing with every word in the resolution. "We need to unite for peace," she said.
"We believe the U.S. is the best peace broker in the Middle East," she said, and wants to remain in line with national foreign policies on the conflict.
He thanks youth & CPS organizers as well
"The purpose of today is to let our Palestinian siblings know that they matter; let our Jewish siblings know we acknowledge their pain."
He is "gutted" by both Oct. 7 & Israel's response in Gaza and calls for national leaders to broker a two-state solution -- not City Council. He calls the resolution divisive.
He says Hamas is a terrorist organization oppressing Palestinian people and threatening America as well.
He calls for more attention to gun violence and missing Black women on the south and west sides. "I pray that after today's vote we are able to work together on other pressing issues," he said.
He stresses the need to focus on issues in the city and leave foreign policy to the national government.
"The irony, Mr. President, is that there's no call for a ceasefire in any of the other conflicts in the world," he said, referencing Russia and Ukraine.
"Each of us have about 55,000 residents in our ward," Gardner said. "Can you imagine going back to your ward and half of them are dead?"
He is a YES.
"What our resolution calls for is a humanitarian ceasefire, the allowance of aid into Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages," she said.
She sees similarities between Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and Gazans digging through rubble to find family members after Israeli bombings.
"If we are committed to peace and liberation, we need to be committed to peace and liberation for all people," she said.
The Mayor is the tie-breaker in such scenarios -- and votes Aye.
The resolution passes.
The meeting adjourns at 2:18 p.m.
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Attachments
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
If you attend a meeting in person, be prepared to go through a security checkpoint and show photo ID.
Meetings are also livestreamed at https://www.chicityclerk.com/.
At this link, scroll down to “Meeting Notices.” Look for “Watch now” and click on the link with the meeting title to go to a livestream page. If you don’t see a link for the meeting, you may be early or the meeting may be starting late. Wait a few moments and try refreshing your Internet tab.
Recordings of past City Council meetings may be found here: https://vimeo.com/user100351763/videos/sort:date.
See also: “What to Expect at a Meeting of Chicago’s City Council” via the Better Government Association.
Documents
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