Committee on Budget and Government Operations + Subcommittee on the Chicago Recovery Plan [remote or in person]

Chicago City Council

Housing

Finance

Politics

Arts

Wednesday, March 8, 2023
10:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. CST

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121 N LaSalle St Chicago, IL 60602 (Directions)

City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chambers

You have the option of documenting this meeting in person or remotely.

If you choose to attend in person, an additional hour will be added to your total assignment hours. You may be asked to provide government-issued photo ID and to go through a metal detector.

If you choose to document remotely, the meeting will be live-streamed at https://www.chicityclerk.com/.

At this link, scroll down to “Meeting Notices.” Look for a navy blue banner directly below that says “Watch now” and click on the link with the correct meeting title to go to a livestream page.

The “Watch now” link may not appear until at or after the meeting’s scheduled start time. If you don’t see it right away, wait a few seconds and refresh the webpage, repeating until the link appears. A video recording of this meeting should be available soon after the meeting ends at https://vimeo.com/user100351763/videos/sort:date.

This assignment is to document a meeting of the City Council’s Budget Committee and a hearing/update on the Chicago Recovery Plan, which is how the city is allocating federal COVID-relief funds it received via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). You can find Documenters coverage from past hearings at this link.

This hearing will specifically focus on spending related to affordable housing and arts and culture.

The end time listed on this assignment is an estimation based on the duration of past meetings of this type.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Andrew Rogers

Funds for immigration via DFSS, Chicago Recovery Plan, arts & culture

View notes

Live reporting by Pachina Fletcher

Funds for immigration via DFSS, Chicago Recovery Plan, arts & culture

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina

Hi my name is Pachina Fletcher and I will be live tweeting the Committee on Budget and Government Operations and Sub Committee on Chicago Recovery Plan.
#ChiDocumenters
@CHIdocumenters

08:03 AM Mar 9, 2023 CST

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 2/14

If you believe anything in this thread is inaccurate please email us at documenters @citybureau.org with "Corrections" request in the subject area.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 3/14

The meeting started at 10:23am not at 10am because they needed at least 16 Alderman for a quorum. https://t.co/5cR4i7eDsR

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 4/14

Public comment was said by Mr. Blakemore. He said, "Why did we have to wait so long for a quorum." "Too many empty seats. The alderman needed to invite their community members." He also shared more money should go to Black artists.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 5/14

Deputy Budget Director La Toya Vaughn presented a 20 million dollar budget needed for the newly arrived migrants from Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and etc. DCFS provides temporary housing, medical screenings, food, and employment resources for migrants who come to Chicago.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 6/14

Alderman Leslie Hairston said she would not vote for the allocation for the 20 million dollars. She said that migrants were placed in shelters without notifying the alderman. The Lake Shore hotel in her ward was used as a shelter without her being called.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 7/14

"There is no communication between DCFS and the alderman." Alderman Rodriguez also said there is a lack of communication He also votes no for the money.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 8/14

Alderman Kaplanman explained he has 6 homeless shelters and 2 mental centers in his ward. Alderman DCFS, and the community need to work together. Immigrants and constituents need the resources and services. A https://t.co/nvHqE0pzrZ

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 9/14

Alderman Quinn said he would vote no. His concern was security staffing for each of the shelters. Favorite staffing is a security emergency preparedness organization that will be hired for each of the shelters.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 10/14

DCFS said they would give the Alderman a breakdown of how the 20 million dollars will be used.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 11/14

Alderman Lopez said money from the federal government should be requested. DCFS representative said that the 20 million will only last for 3 months. Alderman Lopez said they should partner with other agencies to help the community and be fiscally responsible.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 12/14

Alderman Susan Sadowski-Garza asked if the shelters would have social workers and case managers for the families. And DCFS said each shelter would have these resources available. https://t.co/u9DGfIYCNY

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 13/14

The meeting adjourned at 11:30am.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 14/14

The next Committee on Budget and Government Operations will be held on Wednesday March 15, 2023 at 10am in the City Council Chambers.

View thread

Live reporting by Pachina Fletcher

Funds for immigration via DFSS, Chicago Recovery Plan, arts & culture

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina

Hi my name is Pachina Fletcher and I will be live tweeting the Sub Committee on the Chicago Recovery Plan. The meeting started at 11:32am.
#ChiDocumenters
@CHIdocumenters

09:28 AM Mar 9, 2023 CST

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 2/21

If you believe anything in this thread is inaccurate please email us at documenters @city bureau.org with "Corrections" request in the subject area

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 3/21

Matt Martin discussed how important homeownership is. And how racially divided the city is when it pertains to buying and affordable homes. Only 30% of Blacks own their own home. While 50% of Whites are home owners. It is cheaper to buy a home than to rent an apartment.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 4/21

With Chicago Recovery Program money can be allocated to home programs like NHS to assist residents in helping them purchase their own home. Homeownership provides equity and generalization wealth for black and brown families. And also strengthens neighborhoods.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 5/21

Residents have lack of funding and these funds can help them with purchase costs and down payments.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 6/21

Community Investment Corporation (CIC) is Chicago’s leading source of financing for the acquisition, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable rental housing in Chicago neighborhoods and suburban communities.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 7/21

CIC CEO Stacie Young presented before the committee their plan and mission of helping the affordable housing crisis in Chicago. They purchase building and then the owner receives incentives to rent some of those apartments for low income housing.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 8/21

Guacolda Reyes Chief Real Estate Development Officer of the Resurrection Project. At the Chicago Metropolitan Housing Development Corporation spoke at the meeting.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 9/21

CMHDC’s mission, and that of its subsidiaries, is to preserve and create naturally occurring affordable housing in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 10/21

This funds are necessary for residents to live in affordable homes and to stay in their neighborhoods without moving. Also, mixed income housing is an option as well according to Reyes.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 11/21

Also, the allocation of money to the arts and culture was presented by a few artists in the community.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 12/21

Omar Torres is a member of an organization that is been around since 1971. They need more funds for operational costs, technology support because of COVID many of their programs have been virtual.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 13/21

Torres also mentioned a neighborhood called Hermosa. That many people are unaware of. They are in need of grant money for artists of color and youth arts employment.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 14/21

Lynn Basa is a full time artist who spoke on behalf of the arts and culture community in Chicago. She mentioned several art organizations that are in need to funding. And many of them are in Black and brown communities in Chicago. Puerto Rican Art Alliance, Uprising Theater.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 15/21

Alliance, Bridge, and many others. They need space for painting, sculpturing, rehearsals, performances. Also funds for materials and marketing for their events. Especially since COVID it has been a challenge.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 16/21

Jackie Taylor CEO of the Black Ensemble Theater said the arts are essential for life. 'The arts are an expression of what we are feeling and dealing with.""The arts have been taken out of our classroom and schools." "Children have pride in themselves through the arts."

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 17/21

The funds should go every where it is needed.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 18/21

Erin Harley Acting Commissioner of Culture Affairs and Special Events presented a new program the city is implementing called Together We Heal. It is a neighborhood creative healing program, to combat systemic racism, violence, mental illness.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 19/21

And the effects COVID has had on our youth. These programs will strengthen the communities through community history events and community engagements. 5.5 million dollars will be allocated through 48 grants for this program.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 20/21

These grants are also available to assist with youth employment physical improvements to building and spaces. In addition to, hiring teachers, training and benefits. And to assist those who have enormous losses due to Covid.

Pachina Fletcher @FletcherPachina 21/21

The meeting adjourned at 12:10pm

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Attachments

Meeting details

By India Daniels 2/28/2023

Budget Committee details

By India Daniels 3/8/2023

Audio from part 2 of meeting

By Andrew Rogers 3/8/2023

Agency Information

Chicago City Council

chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov

(312) 744-3166

@ChiCouncil

See Documenters reporting

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.