CHICAGO — The vote to appoint a new chair for the zoning committee was postponed during Wednesday’s Chicago City Council meeting.
Some alderpeople argued that 34 votes were required, prompting Mayor Brandon Johnson to call off the vote. The mayor’s choice for the position is 25th Ward Alderman Byron Lopez.
“He has fought against gentrification,” Johnson said. “He is clear about the need for economic development as well as affordable housing. That’s what the people of Chicago want.”
Currently, 44th Ward Alderman Bennett Lawson serves as interim chair.
The position has remained vacant for eight months since the mayor’s initial nominee, Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward) resigned amid bullying allegations toward colleagues.
Aldermen did succeed in passing an ordinance imposing a $1,000 fine to deter the distribution of hateful material. The measure was brought forth following an incident that occurred this past spring in Lincoln Park, Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43rd Ward) explained.
“A 43rd Ward resident and her child came to our office first thing in the morning holding a ziplock bag. Inside the ziplock bag was a blatantly antisemitic flyer and pellets that had the appearance of rat poison,” Knudsen said. “Our local police jumped right on the case and found over 80 such flyers in the area, which has a high Jewish population.”
In other business, alderpeople approved four resolutions recognizing the retirement of
Business Affairs and Consumer Protection commissioner Ken Meyers, the acknowledgment of NASCAR’s contributions to the city, honoring three influential figures in Pilsen and commemorating the life of Cook County commissioner Dennis Deer.
“The fact that he prioritized both the South and West sides in such an important way and was a crucial champion for Black and brown unity in so many ways, I can’t say enough about an amazing human being,” said Ald. Mike Rodriguez (22nd Ward).
Added Ald. Jason Ervin (28th Ward): “I’ll always remember him for his tenacity and his fight for the West Side of Chicago.”
City Council is set again in September.