December 29
At its meeting, the Chicago City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations received clarification on Chicago Public Library funding and comments from Council Member Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward) about proposed state legislation that could jeopardize the city’s earnings from online gambling. Villegas also asked how advanced pension payments would be made. Annette Guzman, the city’s budget director, explained that payments are allocated proportionately across corporate funds, enterprise funds, and special revenue funds. She said an amendment seeks to “remove just over $22 million that was overallocated to the [city’s] corporate fund for additional pension advance.” Federal funding cuts were not discussed. At the general Council meeting that followed, several public commenters advocated to allocate funding to a ministry led by Pastor Sandie Norman, which aims to reduce gun violence.
January 22
At their meeting, commissioners on the board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board commemorated the life of Rick Garcia, an LGBTQ activist and civic-minded resident. “We are eternally grateful of his life’s work, and we commit to carrying his legacy forward,” said Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis, commenting on Garcia’s support of trans rights and advocacy for marriage equality. Brady-Davis is the “first Black openly trans woman appointed and elected to public office in Cook County history,” according to the district’s website. The Board learned that Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP) mechanical equipment improvements at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant are projected to cost between $24.23 and $29.33 million. Commissioner Sharon Waller thanked staff, the public, and her fellow commissioners for consideration of the collective value of public health. She said the federal administration has revised the cost/benefit analysis for setting pollution limits to consider “only the cost to industry,” not public health. She reaffirmed MWRD’s mission and requested that MWRD push for continued funding for a wastewater public health surveillance program.
February 4
At their meeting, members of the Gender-Based Violence Task Force expected to hear Chicago Police Department (CPD) officials discuss how they handle officers accused of gender-based violence. CPD cancelled the presentation less than twenty-four hours before the meeting. Gender-based violence programs received increased city funding in the 2026 budget, with $15.5 million coming from the city’s corporate fund. According to the Office of Budget and Management, the corporate fund is the city’s “general operating fund.” It supports “basic city operations and services, such as public safety, public health, transportation, and small business assistance.” A total of $23.2 million is allocated to gender-based violence programs for 2026, an increase from $21.28 million in 2025. Domestic violence arrests have decreased among people who completed State of Illinois Partner Abuse Intervention Programs, according to a Michael Reese Health Trust report. Most participants were required to participate by the courts, signaling a need to increase voluntary participation and to prevent intimate partner violence earlier.
February 9
At its meeting, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority: Missing and Murdered Chicago Women Taskforce (MMCWT) heard Mandy Sark, a co-founder of Chicago Missing Persons Guild, give a presentation about the guild and its history of supporting people looking for missing loved ones. Responding to a question, Sark reported on related trends, Sark said that people with disabilities, senior citizens, and people of color are often reported missing. Formed in 2023 by the Illinois General Assembly, the MMCWT’s responsibility is to investigate the causes of violence against women, girls, and missing persons. The group is made up of state legislators, subject area experts, law enforcement officers, and missing persons advocates. Not enough members attended to reach a quorum, and the task force could not conduct official business.
At their meeting, members of Police District Council 011—Harrison discussed the news that overall homicide numbers in Chicago have continued to fall, reaching a sixty-year low in 2025 and down 29 percent from 2024. Despite such encouraging numbers, community members are not feeling safer, in part blaming ICE activity in the district. Mayor Brandon Johson described 2025 as a “transformational year in our mission to build the safest and most affordable big city in America.” The CPD reported “double-digit decreases in every major category of crime and violence” through December 30. Percentage drops included overall violent crimes (21.3 percent), robberies (36.1 percent), shootings 34.5 (percent), vehicular hijackings 50.0 (percent), and human trafficking 31.3 (percent). Participating in the meeting were two of the three district council members: Chair Bryan Ramson, Jr. and Jocelyn Woodards, a member of the nominating committee. Community Engagement Coordinator Alees Edwards did not attend.
February 10
At its meeting, the Community Development Commission (CDC) set dates for public hearings on redevelopment projects in the 27th, 28th, and 34th Wards. It also authorized the city to negotiate a land sale and to select developers for a new affordable housing building in the 28th Ward. One public commenter expressed skepticism about development projects and questioned if migrants have impacted the availability of housing. A second commenter raised concern that homeless veterans receive less support than migrants. A third commenter claimed that the CDC and the government at large are racist and discriminatory. The Commission agreed to review the Eligibility Report and Redevelopment Plan for the proposed Central West Redevelopment Project Area Amendment No. 6; to set a date for a public meeting of the Joint Review Board, which reviews the performance of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts; and to set a date for a public hearing. The Commission also agreed to review the Eligibility Report and Redevelopment Plan for the proposed Canal/Congress Redevelopment Plan Amendment No. 3.
This information was collected and curated by the Weekly in large part using reporting from City Bureau’s Documenters at documenters.org.