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Chicago's city council is meeting again today, which means the Citizen will be hosting an open thread to watch the live videocast. Last week's thread hit 187 comments, some funny, some informative, almost all interesting. Join the humming throng.
Chicago City Council Meeting Live Commentary Thread - June 3, 2009
chicityclerk.com - 24 weeks ago - 6209 views
52 Comments Have your say. Vote up the best responses. ↓
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I just know I would have NO chance of getting in to Council chambers carrying a baseball bat.
Let's see if our aldermen debate the parking meter deal or its adoption process in front of Daley. If there is going to be actual debate or a divided vote this is our best chance today.
Burke acting as parliamentarian.
Is there enough finger pointing for everyone?
Burke just moved to add the honorary resolutions to the omnibus, which will be voted on at the end of the meeting, in violation of our state Open Meetings Act.
Warner! Warner! Warner!
Compare and contrast the time & oratory expended on Warner Saunder cf. the major bond sales and public subsidies to follow, hopefully shortly.
Waguespack: Warner Suanders was one of the first people to call him after he became alderman to talk about safety concerns on his block.
Wauguspack just outed Warner Saunders as supporting him against Matlak.
The East Bank Club is the official health club of this crowd.
ooooo - this is good stuff, an actual debate
Stone v. Hairston
THANK YOU, Aldermen Flores - post proposals in time for the PUBLIC to read them
wow
An ordinance empowering police to break up drum corps on our streets is considered so hot-button a separate roll-call is demanded.
another mystery solved - they're gonna get outta there in time for a late luncheon - a 3 hour work month in June ($110K/yr)
The good people of the 26th ward were denied representation due to Daley's failure to promptly appoint a replacement for Ocasio.
Next month: At least one new alderman.
The W. J. P. Banks roast?
Hugh, you're a trooper. I had some technical difficulties on my end that forced me to duck out this time. Will rally for a better showing next time around.
Have you been down there? It can get really loud down there. Still, it's dicey though because it touches on First Amendment issues which I would think could be challenged by a part of the Chicago Settlement.
Teens banging on plastic buckets are affecting our City Council's legislative priorities more than anyone. There's a lesson in there somewhere.
It's odd that there is obviously disagreement on the absurdly low 15 day notice on lease deals, but Burke successfully added it to the omnibus, which means it will pass with the 48-0. No one asked for a separate roll call.
Stone for all his spirited blather passed up on his chance to go on record against this.
Burke: I move to adopt items 12 through 23 in the omnibus.
Secret code. Of course this is totally incomprehensible to you viewing from the gallery or from home unless have an agenda in front of you which of course you don't unless maybe you are an alderman.
Burke reads books.
Mell admits he doesn't watch the 10 o'clock news.
I wonder if they will next honor television reporter Andy Shaw who is moving over to Executive Director of the Better Government Association?
There's a Chicago journalism hall of fame? Doesn't appear to have a web site but I found this: http://www.ipcc.us/html/hall_of_fame.html
oh god, not the Irish poetry
Good point. Having a copy of the agenda downloadable from the City Clerk's Office could certainly help, plus a handy dandy code translator.
Point!
BTW I'm still getting dumped out after I post.
Link: http://www.eastbankclub.com/
Gah. Ok.
Is this different from when this was happening months ago? I know you sent me that screenshot. That's different from what was happening in February, right?
Under the Illinois Open Meetings Act we are entitled to an agenda posted on the internet 2 days in advance (due 10 AM Monday).
http://www.ag.state.il.us/government/openmeet.pdf
Yes. Back in February I had to do the entire login (not FB), it would refuse me and I'd have to ask for my password and get back in that way.
Now it just dumps me out. I sent you the screen shot of that a few days ago. Fortunately with FB it's easier to get back on.
And it's intermittent. Just now the comment above worked fine, but during the City Council meeting I kept getting dumped. When Frank and I were going back and forth on a different post, half the time I wasn't getting dumped out. Criminy, does that mean I can only comment with Frank and you!?
Okay, the comment above dumped me out again.
It begins with a roll call....
It's on. It's so on. Quorem is present.
And now the prayers...
I think Hugh hit the nail on the head. There's going to be a lot of praise heaped on CPD today. The first act of the city council today is to commend some police officers who made a big drug bust.
The bust they're talking about is called Operation Washington. CPD is making its own news release videos apparently. Here's one about this particular operation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pyeiKyjq1o&feature=channel_page
Anyone have any news links about this?
It's interesting that they can honor Police Officers but our First Responders, including Firefighters, still don't have a contract. Seems a little hypocritic to ask people to put their lives on the line and not respect that legally.
And now they're talking about how awesome the firemen are.
How can they seriously and honestly (snort) say these things, thanking Police Officers and Firemen for putting their lives on the line, giving their lives in the line of duty, knowing there's no contract. They can do that because they know the First Responders won't strike.
Why won't they?
It is my understanding that it's a union agreement to not strike, probably because of the potential for mayhem.
They're still rapping on how tough it is out there for cops looking to bust drug dealers.
What's the incentive for all these folks to repeat what's already been said? Do they keep transcripts and send them out to their constituents to show they've been active?
As cynical as I get, I think honoring our police and firefighters is one of the more important things the Council does. I resent the aldermen who skip it or wander in late. If you had the opportunity to speak, I think you would want to say "thank you" too. I also think the aldermen could make more time for it and for other business by meeting more than once a month.
Agreed. Remember that the actual firefighters and police officers are there at the meeting with their families, hearing how awesome they are. It's wonderful to recognize them for doing such a tough job.
I also agree. Usually the ones that often grab the limelight are not the firefighters and police officers doing the work on the street but the bureaucrats at the top of both departments, often the same ones that contibute to poor morale (at least in the CPD).
They're suspending the rules again to take turns riffing on a commendation, this time for fire fighters.
They mentioned a firefighter/EMT named Gregory Swanson. Here's some stories about the fire they're talking about:
Girl, 10, rescued from burning building
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/05/girl-10-rescued-from-burning-...
Girl rescued from burning Chicago building
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6793822
"CPD is making its own news release videos ... "
Historically the City of Chicago has a been pioneer in local govt-produced propaganda, famously commissioning a documentary in the wake of the 1968 Democratic convention.
Good point. I'd forgotten about the 1968 doc.
Here's the CPD Youtube channel, for those interested in hearing their perspective: http://www.youtube.com/chicagopolicedept
Burke:I move the temporary suspension of rules for immediate consideration.
The rule they are suspending is a rule that says they stick to the so-called "agenda" (really an order of proceedings).
Under state law they can CONSIDER an item not on the agenda, but they may not vote on it.
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