DOWNTOWN – The City Council is poised to take aim Wednesday at the Chicago nonprofit organization holding children separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border as part of Chicago’s continuing effort to push back against President Donald Trump.
The measure from Aldermen Ed Burke (14th) and Ald. Danny Solis (25th) would require Heartland Alliance’s nine Chicago-area shelters to be licensed by the city as day-care facilities. The Finance Committee will meet at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday to consider approving the proposal — which is expected to be revised — before sending it to the full City Council for a vote.
The measure is designed to give city officials greater access to the Chicago shelters, where officials have denied aldermen’s requests for visits — as well as more information about how many children are being held after being separated from their families.
In addition, aldermen are expected rename (O2018-5017) a portion of Congress Parkway from Columbus Drive to the point where it merges with the Eisenhower Expressway as lda B. Wells Drive to honor the Civil Rights icon. The change requires state approval as well. [Plan to rename Congress Parkway for Ida B. Wells advances]
Also up for a vote are nearly $8.5 million in settlements, including $4.5 million to end three lawsuits that alleged police misconduct
Five appointments are also up for approval:
- A2018-62 — Jamiee Rhee as aviation commissioner [Aldermen lavish praise on mayor’s pick to lead Aviation Department]
- A2018-61 — Shannon Andrews as chief procurement officer [Do more to boost contracts, jobs for blacks, Latinos and women, Aldermen tell mayoral appointee]
- Joseph Lipari as deputy public safety inspector general [Chicago at ‘historic crossroads’ over issues of public safety, police trust, deputy inspector nominee tells aldermen; NYPD assistant inspector general named new watchdog overseeing police misconduct probes]
- A2018-63 — Ald. Jason Ervin (28) to the board of the Chicago Infrastructure Trust
- A2018-56 — Salvador A. Cicero as a member and chairman of the Chicago Human Resources Board.
The City Council is also set to approve two West Loop projects that will continue to reshape the area near the Kennedy Expressway.
The first proposal (O2017-8997) to build a new 12-story building at 310 N. Sangamon St. with 7,800 square feet of ground floor retail and office space on the upper floors.
The second proposal (O2017-7018) would build an Equinox hotel with 165 rooms as well as a 30,000-square-foot sports club, 370 apartments and restaurant space at 725 W. Randolph St.
Wednesday’s session is the last meeting of the City Council until after Labor Day and the council’s traditional August recess.
Other Items Slated for Approval:
- O2018-5387 — To transform historic St. Boniface Church into market-rate condominiums
- O2018-5858 — To sell three parcels at 4317 S. Calumet Ave. for $23,500; 4512 S. Indiana Ave. for $30,500 and 4412 S. Calumet Ave. for $37,500 as part of the Parade of Homes project in Ald. Pat Dowell’sward
- O2018-5476 — To construct an outdoor recycling center in the 24th Ward
- O2018-5018 — To prohibit parking on city-owned vacant lots even if no parking signs are not posted
- O2018-5090 — To establish the Opportunity Investment Fund, which would set aside $30 million to provide low-cost financing to help people buy multi-family housing in gentrifying areas.
- O2018-5091 — A $30 million pilot program that would provide financial assistance for the purchase or refinance of multi-family residential buildings
- O2018-4988 — To impose an additional 2 percent tax on short-term rental guests in Chicago to help fund housing for victims of domestic violence [Aldermen agree to tack on 2% surcharge to home-sharing services to fund domestic violence services]
- Or2018-304 — To close the Chicago underpass at Lake Shore Drive between midnight and 5 a.m. from July through October.
- O2018-5012 — To impose a 30-minute time limit for pickup deliveries by commercial vehicles within curb loading zones.
- R2018-677; R2018-680; R2018-682; O2018-5002; O2018-4997 — Five property tax breaks for firms across the city
- O2018-2516 — To approve a Garfield Ridge development set to feature 62 independent senior living units.
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