It was a busy month in City Council, with two full City Council meetings, and several major pieces of legislation being passed and introduced. Read on for more details!
Legislation Passed
Green Social Housing
City Council met earlier this month to vote on the Green Social Housing Ordinance (SO2025-0015560), an effort to create long-term affordable housing that is both financially and environmentally sustainable. We are proud to report that it passed! We’re grateful that we were able to get additional measures for deep affordability, increased acquisitions, and greater transparency and accountability in its governance included in the final version of the bill.
Snap Curfew Ordinance
The Snap Curfew Ordinance, SO2025-0016732, which allows the Chicago Police Department broad discretion to impose “snap” curfews starting at 8pm for those under 18 years old, was passed out of the Committee on Public Safety this past week. These snap curfews would be localized declarations based on information gathered by CPD or on the spot decisions made in the moment of a street takeover. Ald. Vasquez voted no on the ordinance, due to profound concerns over its constitutionality. The ordinance would almost certainly lead to violations of due process, which would also likely lead to the City being on the hook for settlements in the future filed by people whose rights are violated.
For those same reasons, in this week’s City Council meeting, Ald. Vasquez and Ald. Irvin deferred and published the ordinance. A Defer and Publish, or D&P, is a motion under City Council’s Rules of Order that allows a piece of legislation to be held until the next meeting of City Council. Over the next month, Ald. Vasquez will work with members of City Council to pursue alternate solutions to the public safety issues the ordinance proposes to address.
For more on Ald. Vasquez’s position, see his statement below:
“The curfew ordinance arose out of real concerns related to the impromptu events and street takeovers that have been occurring in some communities in the city. Although everyone has a right to use our public spaces, when those gatherings turn violent, it is our responsibility to address it.
I share the concerns of folks who want to address the potential for violence of these takeovers. Where we still have yet to find agreement is on the right way to do that. While many folks see this version of the ordinance as a compromise—the first version of the ordinance proposed last year would have established 8pm curfew for all unaccompanied minors in the Central Business District— I don’t believe it would address the direct concern, and it may expose the city to future litigation depending on how it would be used (or potentially abused) in practice. It is also a broad way to address what appears to be a specific challenge in crowd dispersal when the incidents occur, which could be addressed differently.
The reality is any imposed curfew should give us pause. All of us have the right to gather peacefully under the Constitution. In the current climate, where we are witnessing a Presidential Administration actively undermining civil liberties and constitutional freedom, we should think about how future administrations at the city level could weaponize whatever is written in the municipal code.
We should also consider our city’s history of racial profiling, police misconduct, and segregation as we think about the potential negative impacts of a curfew ordinance. We know and are reminded of that history every time we have to vote on the settlements we approve in order to avoid paying out even larger amounts when the city loses misconduct cases. The city pays an average of $100 MILLION every single year, and is only budgeted for $82 Million this year, which it has already exceeded. That cost is part of the deficit we see every year that ultimately every tax payer in Chicago has to cover.
As someone who was profiled and kicked out of Navy Pier and Grant Park repeatedly as a youth, just for gathering with other kids citywide, I am especially aware of how kids of color, especially Black kids would be the first targeted, for doing nothing more than congregating in a public space. I’m also aware of which kids wouldn’t be escorted out for doing the same thing, at the same locations.
If someone abuses the right to gather peacefully in the public way by breaking the law or committing acts violence, the police are already within their rights to arrest them: they don’t need a curfew to do that. Curfews, especially ones as broad as this one, risk criminalizing normal teenage behavior, instead of responding to crimes and violence when they occur.”
Transit Reform
City Council also passed the resolution we introduced last month, R2025-0016638, calling on the Illinois Legislative General Assembly to pass transit management reform and a revenue omnibus package!
The Northeastern Illinois transit system is facing a $770 million budget shortfall from decreasing ridership, cost inflation, and the exhaustion of federal COVID funding. Without funding, the RTA estimates that the public transit system will see a 40% service reduction in early 2026––risking the full or partial shutdown of four out of eight CTA rail lines, and the elimination of 60% of bus routes.
“It’s impossible to overstate how devastating the impact of these cuts would be to both our neighbors and our economy,” Ald. Vasquez said in a press release on the resolution. “Public transit is the lifeblood of our city. 1 million people use it every day to get to their jobs, access healthcare, and support our local economy. Nearly a third of Chicagoans don’t own vehicles and rely on public transit to meet their basic needs. We can’t afford not to address this issue.”
We look forward to state legislators taking up this issue in their Spring legislative session, and we hope to see them pass comprehensive legislation to fund transit reforms without delay.
Legislative Introductions
Call for a Hearing on Free Speech and Due Process Rights
Ald. Vasquez introduced a resolution, R2025-0017562, with Ald. Rodriguez-Sanchez calling for a hearing to examine the recent alleged violations of first amendment rights and the right to due process, as well as reaffirming our commitment as a City Council to upholding these rights.
In light of the administration’s recent attacks on the right to due process and free speech, it is the responsibility of City Council to examine how the recent alleged violations of these rights have impacted Chicagoans, and discuss ways that the City can further safeguard Chicagoans’ civil rights. The matter will now be referred to the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and we look forward to hosting a broader discussion on how we as a City Council can protect the civil rights of all of our neighbors.
Just Cause for Eviction
This month, the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance (O2025-0017516) was introduced to City Council. In Chicago, there are an average of over 23,000 eviction filings each year, and the Law Center for Better Housing (LCBH) reports that around 25% of those are no-fault evictions.
When a tenant is evicted due to no fault of their own, they are faced with unexpected costs related to finding new housing in an already expensive housing market, which can lead to financial instability and housing insecurity. The ordinance would address that by continuing to allow landlords and property owners to evict tenants, but only for specific reasons: such as nonpayment of rent, criminal activity, or other documented violations of a tenant’s lease agreement. It would also require that landlords provide relocation assistance to their tenants in the event that they wish to occupy the unit, repair or rehab the unit, convert it into a condo, or demolish or remove the unit from the market.
In addition to these provisions, the ordinance would extend the notice for no-fault lease termination to 120 days (the current termination period is 90 days), and increase the notice period for rent increases. It would also ban non-disparagement clauses, meaning that leases would no longer be allowed to include clauses that prevent tenants from publicly criticizing their landlord or the property, and expand protections against retaliation against tenant organizing.
The ordinance was referred to the Committee on Rules, but we hope to work with advocates to bring it back in front of the City Council in a future meeting.
Resolutions
AAPI Heritage Month: May is also Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! City Council passed a resolution (R2025-0017488) designating May as AAPI Heritage Month in Chicago, and recognizing the many contributions Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians have made to our city. Over 7% of Chicago residents identify as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander, and the 40th Ward is lucky enough to be home to a vibrant AAPI community. We’ve also been honored to partner with so many amazing AAPI organizations—including the Indo-American Center, Trellus, and the Chinese Mutual Aid Association—who do incredible work in the 40th Ward direct outreach and service provision. We are so grateful for all of you!
Jewish American Heritage Month: May is Jewish American Heritage Month! City Council passed a resolution (R2025-0017485) designating May as Jewish American Heritage Month in Chicago. We’re so proud of and grateful for all the Jewish Americans who make our ward, city, and country great! We were particularly honored to get to host the Avodah Justice Fellows this month, a program that builds up Jewish leaders working to sustainably and effectively build community and increase social justice in Chicago. We’re also deeply grateful for the work of Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, who does incredible work on the Northside and throughout Chicago. Thank you for everything you do for our community!