This month’s City Council agenda was packed! Find out what passed, what didn’t, and what was introduced below.
But first: July is Disability Pride Month! City Council recognized the occasion with a resolution (R2025-0018721), and Alder Vasquez also introduced a resolution honoring Sister Rosemary Connelly (R2025-0018547), a beloved member of our community who passed away on June 19th. Sister Rosemary served Misericordia Heart of Mercy for 56 years, devoting over half a century of her life to improving the lives of thousands of people with disabilities. When she first started out at Misericordia in 1969, there were no services for children with disabilities. Now, due to her grit and tenacity, Misericordia serves as a national model of care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It would be hard to find a fiercer advocate for people with disabilities than Sister Rosemary: she believed deeply in every person’s right to, as she said, “a life and one worth living.” She was a shining example of how to serve our communities with love and joy, and we are deeply proud to honor her.
What Legislation Passed
Strengthening OIG Oversight
City Council voted to pass an Ordinance (O2025-0015583) to strengthen the Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) investigative powers by ending Department of Law practices that make it difficult for the OIG to conduct thorough investigations.
Ald. Vasquez voted yes on this ordinance! As city officials, we should never be afraid of transparency and accountability, and we are grateful that City Council voted to strengthen OIG’s ability to conduct crucial oversight.
Eliminating Parking Minimums for Transit-Served Locations
City Council also voted to pass an ordinance (SO2025-0015577) to allow developers to determine how many parking spots to include in developments in areas near CTA, Metra, and bus stations. Ald. Vasquez is in favor of the ordinance, which makes it easier to maximize affordable housing, and also empowers developers to determine parking needs according to neighborhood demand.
Police Misconduct Settlements
Two police misconduct settlements were also passed:
- Or2025-0018556: A $17 million settlement for Roberto Almodovar, who was framed for murder by disgraced police detective Reynaldo Guevara and held in prison for 23 years under false charges.
- Or2025-0018555: A $12.7 million settlement for defendant Jackie Wilson, who was falsely accused of the murder of 2 police officers and tortured into giving a false confession.
With these settlements, the City of Chicago has now spent $224.5 million on police misconduct settlements so far this year, outstripping its budgeted by more than by more than $142 million.
What Legislation Didn’t Pass
Failed to Pass
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) called a vote to override Mayor Johnson’s veto (F2025-0018226) of the SNAP Curfew Ordinance (SO2025-0016732), which was passed by City Council in June. The attempt failed: 24 City Council members (including Ald. Vasquez) voted against the override, and 27 Alders voted in favor—ultimately falling short of the 35 required for a 2/3rds majority. The veto remains in place, and the SNAP curfew will not be entered into law.
Deferred and Published
June 4th Order
Last month, Ald. Vasquez submitted an order (SOr2025-0017810) requiring the City to release all internal communications regarding the Chicago Police Department’s presence and actions on June 4th, 2025 at the immigration office at 2245 S. Michigan Ave to determine whether they violated the Welcoming City Ordinance by cooperating with ICE. Ald. Raymond Lopez and Ald. Anthony Napolitano moved to defer and publish the order in the City Council meeting, which means it will not be up for a vote until September.
Given what we learned in South Side Weekly’s coverage of the call records they obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request, we are deeply disappointed that Alds. Lopez and Napolitano chose to delay the transparent release of information that the public deserves. See Ald. Vasquez’s full statement.
ADU Ordinance
Ald. Marty Quinn (13th Ward) and Ald. Greg Mitchell (7th Ward) moved to defer and publish the ADU Ordinance (SO2024-0008918), which would allow Chicago residents to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs)—e.g. basement flats and coach houses—in residential districts.
Alder Vasquez has been a champion of the ADU Ordinance since he fought to include the 40th Ward and increase affordability requirements in the 2020 ordinance that established the ADU pilot program. We hope to see it pass when it comes back before City Council in September.
Held in Committee
The Window Coverings Ordinance (O2025-0016695) empowers the Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Bureau to fine businesses who obstruct public-facing windows by more than 25% up to $500 a day. After City Council members, including Alder Vasquez, raised concerns on behalf of small businesses, the ordinance was held in committee for further discussion.
What Legislation we Introduced
Ald. Vasquez and Ald. Mike Rodriguez (22nd Ward) introduced a resolution calling on the State of Illinois to prohibit federal agents from concealing their identity and requiring them to present identification and agency-identifying insignia.
We have received countless reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents carrying out warrantless arrests while wearing plain clothes and masks. These actions are incompatible with a free society, and we have to use every tool available to us to fight against them.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul along with 20 other attorneys general sent a letter asking for legislation prohibiting agents from wearing masks to conceal their identity. This resolution calls on the Illinois Assembly to pass legislation prohibiting federal agents from wearing masks and requiring them to wear appropriate uniforms and present identification when conducting arrests.
Honorary Resolutions
Ald. Vasquez and Ald. Mike Rodriguez (22nd Ward) introduced a resolution (R2025-0018798) calling on the State of Illinois to prohibit federal agents from concealing their identity and requiring them to present identification and agency-identifying insignia.
We have received countless reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents carrying out warrantless arrests while wearing plain clothes and masks. These actions are incompatible with a free society, and we have to use every tool available to us to fight against them. This resolution calls on the Illinois Assembly to pass legislation prohibiting federal agents from wearing masks and requiring them to wear appropriate uniforms and present identification when conducting arrests.