It’s been a busy month at City Council! See below for all the legislative highlights:
Call for a Hearing on the City’s Extreme Weather Response
This past month, in response to the outcry from the community about the need for a better city response to extreme weather after Chicago’s recent heat wave, we introduced a resolution (R2024-0010357) calling for a hearing to examine the City of Chicago’s extreme weather response, with the aim of improving coordination, transparency, and timely public communication in the activation of heating and cooling centers and other emergency services during extreme weather events. Read the full text of the resolution here.
The resolution passed City Council, and we look forward to reporting back on the results of the hearing as continue to try to improve Chicago’s emergency services!
Call for a Hearing on CPD’s Domestic Violence and Cyberstalking Response
This past Wednesday, Ald. Vasquez joined Alderwoman Nicole Lee in introducing a resolution (R2024-0010998) calling for a hearing on the Chicago Police Department’s (CPD) adherence to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, with respect to the handling of orders of protection and cyberstalking.
In a press conference, Ald. Vasquez said of the resolution, “We are here in solidarity with the countless victims of violent intimidation and cyberstalking whose cries for help are being ignored by the Chicago Police Department. In the 40th Ward, we have seen the horrible and tragic results of our city’s failure to protect victims of cyberstalking. We have seen what happens when police ignore the violent threats of a man intent on harm and the pleas for help from the woman he was threatening. As a result, a child was killed, and his mother is now left to pick up the pieces.
Preventable tragedies like this cannot be allowed to continue. The lack of support for victims of violent harassment and violent threats when they seek to file reports and document communications is actively threatening the safety of our neighbors, and we cannot and should not tolerate it.”
The intent of the hearing is to find out what CPD’s protocol currently is with respect to tracking incidents, and what changes need to be made to ensure that we can better support and protect victims of cyberstalking and domestic violence. Read the full text of the resolution here.
We are deeply grateful for Alderwoman Nicole Lee (11th Ward) for her leadership on this effort, to Ascend Justice for their tireless advocacy, and to Dominique Ward, for her courage in sharing her story. There will be a Joint Committee hearing between the Committee on Police and Fire and the Committee on Public Safety to discuss the issue, and we look forward to reporting back on the results.
Introduction of “Vision Zero” Ordinances
We co-sponsored three new policies introduced by Alderman Daniel La Spata (1st Ward) to improve traffic safety:
- Reform Traffic Fines & Fees (R2024-0010992): This resolution, which was passed by full City Council, will establish a working group to evaluate the City’s enforcement of traffic violations to create a more equitable system for fines and fees. Read the full text here.
- Establish Resident-Based Reporting (O2024-0010993): This ordinance, which was passed by the full City Council, will allow residents to report bike and bus lane obstructions by vehicles. Our hope is that this will lead to better enforcement and prevention of the kinds of accidents that can seriously harm cyclists. Read the full text here.
- Lower Speed Limit (O2024-0010990): This ordinance would reduce the default citywide speed limit from 30mph to 25mph. Reductions in speed limits quite literally save lives, so we hope to see this one pass! It has been referred to the Committee on Rules, but we hope to work with Ald. La Spata to bring it back. Read the full text here.
Western Avenue Rezone
The proactive rezoning of the 40th Ward stretch of Western Avenue passed City Council this past Wednesday! We are grateful for the partnership of Alders Matt Martin (47th Ward) and Maria Hadden (49th Ward) whose rezones of Western Avenue will follow shortly after, the leadership and hard work of the Department of Planning and Development (DPD), and all of the community members who helped to reimagine Western Avenue as part of the Western Avenue Corridor Study.
To find out more about the rezone and view updated zoning maps, visit 40thward.org/WesternRezone. We look forward to seeing the community’s vision for Western Avenue continue to take shape!