Find out the latest legislative updates from this month’s City Council!
Legislative Updates
Tipped Minimum Wage Pause
City Council voted to pass SO2026-0024043, which imposes a two-year pause on the One Fair Wage Ordinance. This ordinance was advanced by Ald. Burnett, after the previous freeze on the Tipped Minimum Wage was vetoed by Mayor Johnson.
Ald. Vasquez originally voted against the Tipped Minimum Wage Freeze, feeling that City Council had not yet done their due diligence in conducting a full assessment of how the ordinance was impacting restaurants. Without a full assessment, he was unwilling to jeopardize the tipped minimum wage, since workers are struggling under the same financial pressures.
However, we have heard from many small restaurants that have been struggling under economic pressures this year, from tariffs to inflation to insurance premium increases, and this compromise, while not perfect, strikes a balance between supporting small businesses and supporting workers. Instead of freezing the tipped minimum wage in its entirety, this ordinance allows for a two-year pause to give restaurants more time to prepare for the full implementation of the tipped minimum wage, and to allow City Council to conduct a fuller assessment of the issue.
Ultimately, Ald. Vasquez voted in support of this ordinance. Our hope is that this pause will lead to a more robust conversation with all of those who are affected, so that we can land on the right balance that protects workers’ rights to earn a fair wage, while also making sure that small businesses can keep their doors open.
Fair Access to Democracy Ordinance
City Council voted to pass S02026-0024036, the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Fair Access to Democracy Ordinance. In light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to gut the Voting Rights Act, it’s more important than ever for us to do everything possible to preserve free and easy access to voting in our city.
This ordinance supports that effort by strengthening requirements for landlords to provide and maintain secure mailboxes, levies penalties against anyone who doxxes government workers, and creating a new working group to support the Board of Elections in expanding access to voting and voter engagement.
Ald. Vasquez voted in support of this ordinance, which passed the full City Council.
Appointments
City Council voted to approve the nomination of Anjanette Young and our own Angelique Guzman to serve as Commissioners on the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. We are so proud of Angelique, and we can’t imagine two better people to serve on Chicago’s police oversight board!
Legislative Introductions
We introduced two resolutions this month:
- R2026-0025433: an expression of support for preservation and expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program protections. In light of the administration’s attacks on DACA, it’s more important than ever that we stand up for this program, which protects children who came to the United States as children from detention and deportation.
- R2026-0025431: a resolution calling for a Subject Matter Hearing on COFAs Operations and Data Access. In light of the Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) recent audit on the Council of Financial Analysis (COFA), we are calling for a hearing on COFA’s operations and access to city data, so we can ensure that City Council is fully empowered to make the best financial decisions for our city.