October 27
At its meeting, the 6th Police District Council: Auburn Gresham/Grand Crossing/Chatham discussed responding to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-related community fears. The council is undergoing communications training, distributing a toolkit for residents, and considering inviting a legal professional to a future meeting. Council members also provided updates on the nomination process for members of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA), encouraging eligible youth candidates to apply for three open positions. Council members Aisha Humphries and Ciera Whitaker expressed concern that Council Chair David Boykin’s absences have caused operational challenges. In Illinois, laws aimed at preventing public officials from abandoning their posts apply only to municipalities of less than 500,000 people, so they do not apply to Chicago. Boykin’s fellow district council members have asked him to resign voluntarily, saying his lack of participation isn’t fair to the community he’s supposed to serve.
October 29
At the 2026 Chicago Budget Hearing for Oversight, Administrative Services, and the Environment, City Council reviewed the efficiency of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and heard Sharla Roberts, Chief Procurement Officer of the Department of Procurement Services, present the department’s budget. The office is responsible for the city’s contracting, certification, and compliance operations. Also on the agenda was the status of hiring a new Inspector General to replace Deborah Witzburg. Witzburg is not seeking reappointment and said she had no information on the hiring process at this point. Alderman James M. Gardiner (45th Ward) asked Witzburg why she did not want to be reappointed. She explained that she believed positions such as Inspector General should have term limits and that the work should be performed so that it can be passed on. Gardiner also asked if Witzburg would offer apologies or comments in connection with what he indicated was a lack of transparency in issues affecting his constituents. She replied that she was proud of the work her office had done. Alderman Raymond Lopez (15th Ward) asked Witzburg what ethics recommendations she had proposed. She mentioned a few, including collecting data that could flag illegal campaign contributions. Alderman Matthew O’Shea (19th Ward) thanked Witzburg for her service.
October 30
At the Chicago Budget Hearing for Social Services, two city departments presented budgets: Public Health (CDPH) and Family and Support Services (DFSS). Committee members had a number of questions about domestic and gender-based violence. Alderman Nicole Lee (11th Ward) asked about a forty-three percent funding cut in the community safety fund and the effects of federal cuts to the agency’s funding. She also asked how DFSS collects race and ethnicity data beyond that provided by the Census Bureau, citing the importance of targeting desegregation and serving communities in a targeted way. Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward) raised concerns about homelessness at airports and asked whether DFSS used dollars from aviation or other enterprise funds. Managing Deputy Commissioner for the city, Raymond Barrett, said that DFSS uses about $1.2 million from the aviation fund. Other concerns included funding for the housing shortage and landlords participating in the DFSS rent program (Angela Clay, 46th Ward); spending on homelessness and shelter cleanliness (Jeanette Taylor, 20th Ward); and the capabilities of domestic violence shelters to accommodate mothers and infants, as well as the department’s staffing vacancies (Daniel La Spata, 1st Ward).
November 3
The Chicago City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards held this meeting to hear from the public and vote on new ordinances, one of which was the Hazel M. Johnson ordinance. According to the Metropolitan Planning Council website, “The ordinance is named after Hazel M. Johnson, an environmental activist from the far south side of Chicago. She was considered the ‘mother of environmental justice’ through her work in addressing intersectional environmental and housing issues within the Chicago area.” The ordinance is designed to protect the South and West Sides from industrial pollution by ensuring that its cumulative effects are taken into account before the city approves new projects. Public commenter Carlos Gutierrez spoke against the ordinance, saying it would discourage businesses from operating in the city. Iyana Simba, City Programs Director for the Illinois Environmental Council, argued for the ordinance, explaining that it wouldn’t take power away from the city or council members. She believes the ordinance would support public health and Chicago’s economy.
November 4
A Chicago Budget Hearing for Economic Development and Arts heard public comments,then focused on the proposed FY 2026 budget for the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP). The budget discussion included concerns about the regulation of cannabis and hemp products. Alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward) argued that banning hemp-derived THC products is the best way to protect the public. Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward) asked how many fines have been collected from synthetic cannabis. Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward) asked how BACP could assist small businesses in the face of ICE activity. Fourteen public commenters covered several issues: asking the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events to use a fairer system for choosing performers, expressing concern over budget cuts for the Chicago Public Library (including staff cuts), complaining about a lack of information about the mayor’s budget cuts, requesting financial audits, supporting green social housing, requesting that the city taxes the rich and not communities in need, praising BACP for a new platform for agencies that has helped small businesses, and commenting both in favor of and against the mayor’s proposed head tax, also known as the Community Safety Surcharge.