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Live reporting by Megann Horstead
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Special City Council meeting, Bally's Casino proposal

Megann Horstead

Hi, I will be live-tweeting today’s Chicago City Council meeting for @CHIdocumenters. It is expected to start at 10 a.m. sharp. Stay tuned for all the highlights. There are now 162 people watching the live-stream. #CHIdocumenters

11:40 AM May 23, 2022 CDT

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Details on how to watch the Chicago City Council meeting virtually can be found on http://documenters.org. There you will also locate a copy of today’s meeting agenda. #CHIdocumenters

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The city council comes to order at 10:10 a.m. Roll is being taken to determine if a quorum has been achieved to allow the meeting to proceed in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.

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Voting is now closed. All city council members present have been recorded. A quorum has been achieved by members of the city council. https://t.co/H8wDYuwSsX

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The Pledge of Allegiance is recited by members of the city council. An invocation is given is shortly thereafter.

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Next up is public comment, which is limited to a maximum of 30 minutes.

Each speaker has three minutes to make remarks at the meeting.

The first speaker comments in support of the new casino development.

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The second speaker says the City of Chicago must act now on the casino to create opportunities for immigrant workers, like herself.

The third speaker says he is opposed to the casino and the lofty aspirational theory that opportunities will trickle down to Black folks.

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The fourth speaker supports the development of a new casino.

The fifth speaker says she hopes the city council votes in support of the casino’s development.

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The sixth speaker would like the mayor to put the “Bring Chicago Home” question on the November ballot.

“Bring Chicago Home” aims to raise the real estate transfer tax to fund housing and services for Chicagoans experiencing homelessness.
https://www.bringchicagohome.org/what-is-bring-chicago-home/

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The seventh speaker expresses support for the new casino development.

The eighth speaker says she hopes the city council votes in support of the casino development.

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The ninth speaker comments on the landmarking of Catholic church.

With that, the public comment section of the city council meeting is now closed.

There are no resolutions on today’s meeting agenda.

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A summary of reports and communications is given by City Clerk Anna Valencia.

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With that, the council moves forward to vote on finance committee items.

First up is a vote on multi-family low-income bonds for the purchase and development of 3737 W. Cortland St. by Encuentro Square II LP, Encuentro Square II GP, Latin United Community Housing Association. https://t.co/lkfhhua1sS

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A motion to reconsider the multi-family low-income bonds was proposed but it failed to garner the support of city council members. The motion stands as approved.

Subsequent finance committee items are motioned for passage. Hearing no objections, the mayor stated, “So ordered.”

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Next up, the city council will review the committee on aviation agenda items.

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Concession agreements at Chicago O’Hare International Airport for individual leasing and licensing with Host International, Inc.; MRG Chicago LLC; and Chicago Hospitality Partners LLC are moved for passage.

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A separate remote web platform license agreement with Grab Chicago JV LLC for concession delivery services is moved for passage.

With that, this concludes committee on aviation agenda items.

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Next up, the city council will review the committee of budget and government operations agenda items.

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First up, the mayor accepted the Monthly Rule 45 Report.

All committee items requiring passage received it.

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Next up, the city will review the committee on economic, capital and technology development agenda items.

All items requiring passage received it.

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Next up, the city will review the committee on environmental protection and energy agenda items.

All items requiring passage received it.

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Next up, the city will review the committee on health and human relations agenda items.

All items requiring passage received it.

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Next up, the city will review the committee on housing and real estate agenda items.

All items requiring passage received it.

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Next up, the city will review the committee on license and consumer protection agenda items.

All items requiring passage received it.

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Next up, the city will review the committee on pedestrian and traffic safety agenda items.

All items requiring passage received it.

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Next up, the city will review the committee on public safety agenda items.

All items requiring passage received it.

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Next up, the city will review the committee on special events, cultural affairs and recreation agenda items.

All items requiring passage received it.

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Next up, the city will review the committee on transportation and public way agenda items.

All items requiring passage received it.

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Mayor Lori Lightfoot advised the council to skip the items related to the special committee on the Chicago casino. That panel is expected to meet today at 1 p.m. sharp.

Lightfoot directed the city council to enter recess until today at 3 p.m. when the panel will reconvene.

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I am signing off, for now. The city council meeting entered recess at 11:41 a.m. I will not be returning at 3 p.m., when the panel is expected to reconvene.
But @CHIdocumenters has you covered with the Special Committee on the Chicago Casino. Stayed tuned! #CHIdocumenters.