@CHIdocumenters Of note, the special meeting that will follow at 11:30 intends to call for a vote on a ruling that says that police disciplinary cases can be heard by a third party arbitrator, instead of the police board

The vote has been repeatedly deferred and invokes Rule 41, which is used when items are held in a committee without action for at least 60 days- the sponsor is Alderman Yancy of the 5th Ward nbcchicago.com/news/local/jud…

Here's a link with more information on the arbitration option and it's history chicago.suntimes.com/2023/12/6/2399…

The live stream can be viewed here: https://x.com/ChicagosMayor/status/1758174384265584820?s=20

11:11, there is an announcement that meeting will be starting shortly

call to order at 11:18, quorum roll call is now open

quorum has been met, a number of alders are participating remotely, pledge of allegiance commences

Public comment period begins. The first speaker is 'Matthew Conte', who talks about the homeless encampment, and about being assaulted by a panhandler. He asks to explore alternative solutions to encampments to address homelessness

He talks about the Bring Chicago Home referendum and says that there are enough resources coming for alternative housing options, before his time expires

The next commenter wants voters to consider that police officers should be held to the highest standards, and be transparently accountable for their actions, as opposed to arbitrators reviewing cases behind closed doors. "there is substantial evidence of partiality"

she implores voters to reject the vote Christa Noel is next; she is a survivor of an attack/beating by a police officer in 2009. she has fought for many women who have been brutalized and killed by the police board, speaking to the board almost every month

she says the police board IS transparent, allowing everyone to speak; "there is NO REASON for you to vote for arbitration...we should be able to disagree with the police in public, there's no reason why this [process] should be contained, and not allowing both sides to speak out"

Olan Mijona- demands Council votes NO to arbitration, "a slap in the face to [the community, and] those of us who have tried to stop police crimes for decades"

mentions a number of cases and that in 2023 police have killed people in record numbers. "a vote to end arbitration is the least the City Council can do"

The next speaker mentions the recently approved contract which raises police salaries for the next two years, and talks about the lack of efficacy in policing today. He is a teacher who has seen multiple students killed and affected by gun violence, demands true accountability

Dave Gelfan- property owner of a multi-residential unit. a place [encampments] where homeless individuals sought shelter has become a place with "rampant drug use and criminal activity" and talks about safety concerns near his neighborhood

He implores the mayor to take action; he supports the allocation of resources to help the homeless, but he states that drug dealers have a vested interest in keeping the encampments alive, threatening both the homeless and the 'law abiding citizens' nearby

The next speaker was wrongfully convicted at 15, and tortured by the police; the case is still unsolved today. "they've been getting away with this for years" implores alderpersons to "do their job." Wants a better police board and asks for a NO vote.

"they protect themselves instead of serving us" the speaker is visibly distressed and emotional as he speaks

The next speaker encourages voting "no" to arbitration to prevent Chicago frm taking steps backward from their previous votes for transparency, elected district councils etc. "nobody charged with a crime is allowed to negotiate in private, so why should the police?"

The next speaker says "this system is rigged, it don't matter anyways" but says that ShotSpotter shouldn't be ended. She alleges the money will be used to help "illegals anyways", and condemns the city for "messing with my generational wealth"

Public comment ends. Vote for setting the date/time for the next meeting takes place at 11:55. Motion passes. Motion to reconsider fails. First meeting is adjourned

The 'new' 11:30 City Council meeting is now called to order and determination of quorum has commenced

quorum has been established. Alders Robinson, Harris, Mosely, Scott, Rodriguez Sanchez, and Hadden have been approved to participate remotely. Pledge and invocation commences

Public comments commence at 12:09 with Ellan Megano, who remembers Shasta Jones, who passed recently and was on the frontlines fighting for police accountability. He calls for a vote to oppose arbitration on her and their organization's behalf

John Canthezera points out the empty chairs and accuses them of walking off because he is walking. He wants to 'educate alderpeople on what arbitration is, a process granted to police because they lack the ability to strike'

"Ed Ben was the last man standing, if the city didn't want arbitration they should have struck him down too." He claims decision is grounded in 41 years of legal expertise law, and that this decision about discipline, not emotion

"if you don't like the law, you have to go change it in Springfield"

John Catanzara is the current president of the American police union Lodge 7. He has previously defended the storming of the Capitol, made racist remarks towards Muslims, and faced numerous misconduct complaints during his 20 year stint as a CPD officer

He has a storied disciplinary record himself, and is an open supporter of Donald Trump

multiple subsequent commenters repeatedly implore the City Council to vote no for arbitration

David Melton is next- he is the president of the reform board. He urges rejection of the arbitrator's opinion

States that the arbitrator's decision is wrong, and does not ensure that bad officers are removed when they abuse their post, and abuse the financial interests of the community, quoting this WTTW reporting news.wttw.com/2024/01/22/rep…

organizer David Orlikoff calls out Ed Benn about putting Illinois State law above constitutional law; he predicts that a no vote, elevating the issue to the Cook County Court, would succeed in the public's favor.

Here is more information on what another no vote would entail wbez.org/stories/arbitr…

The next speaker thanks the Council and the Mayor for the Ceasefire resolution

He condemns the 'Trump supporting' FOP president "we were standing downstairs with him in the speakers line, where he was loudly spewing the same racism he spews all the time, in front of Black leaders and a man who was wrongfully convicted"

Public comment ends, Valencia apprises City Council of communications. Alder Vasquez added to quorum

Reports of Standing Committees commences. Many proposals. Notably, Committee on Police and Fire asks for Mayor to reconsider ShotSpotter decision

Alderman Mitchell calls for Alderman Yancy's proposal to vote. Alderman David Moore talks about Rule 41 and urge colleagues to vote no, hoping for a 3/5ths majority, before informing the Council on the context

Alder states "Arbitration is a right that's guaranteed under labor laws and Illinois Public Relations Act, and it's illegal for us to break it today. Police boards are no more transparent than arbitration."

"Arbitration shall prevail...a vote against arbitration is a vote against workers rights"

Alder Napolitano says there's an anti police sentiment in City Council, that's evident in the cancellation of ShotSpotter. Also says that arbitration will win in the end

"all of us will pay, this is gonna cost the city a lot, and you're willing to take that risk...for agenda purposes...This isn't a movement for accountability, this is a movement against police"

Alderman Napolitano refuses to stop talking. There is screaming, Mayor calls Sargent at Arms to restore order and threatens to ask someone to leave

An audience member was shouting at Alder Napolitano to stop talking; he resumes after a moment but (in my opinion) seems visibly shaken/subdued

Alderman Yancy talks about being a union organizer as a high schooler; he repeated a portion of the song a police officer sang towards group of black youth many years ago, including himself- the Monkee's theme song

Alderman Vasquez also encourages a no vote, "I've never heard another police officer denounce the actions of a fellow police officer" Mentioned that policemen don't admit to being oath keepers unless behind closed doors, and they're not held accountable

"I don't hear that energy when we spend hundreds of millions of tax dollars on police misconduct cases- spare me this fiscal hawking conversation" [around costs in escalating the arbitration case]

Mayor asks for decorum and threatens clearing the public chamber

Alder Fuentes states that there is a public need for PUBLICALLY serving officers to be held accountable in a transparent manner. talks about witnessing the LaQuan McDonald verdict with young black students, who cried after the verdict was reached... because of a police board

"this process is for the most egregious and harmful behaviors of the CPD, 99% of the officer's wouldn't even be impacted by a process that's enacted by the Chicago Police Board. These decisions are expensive at best and fatal at worst, on the dime of Chicagoans"

Alderman Ervin "there's no way in hell Benn should have been the one to be making this decision"

Alderman Sposato supports arbitration, doubles down on the accusation that many people on the Council seem to hate the police. "we know what the vote's gonna be so let's get on with it" "we all want safety,so why are we getting rid of ShotSpotters and SROs in schools?"

Alderman Ray Lopez "there's still plenty of technology that's considered racist" and Friday's ruling won't change this. Holds up The Gang Book and implies that gang members are grateful that ShotSpotter is set to expire

Alderman Hopkins supports arbitration because "plumbers and electricians don't have to wear bulletproof vests to work" and they can refuse to enter a situation they consider dangerous;

"the facts of a situation aren't always clear, and decisions need to be made fairly- that's the definition of arbitration"

Alderman Rodriguez renews motion for ordinance and urges a no vote

Mayor Johnson and City Clerk initiates voting process at 1:39

"32 Nays 18 Yays, this motion fails" Motion to reconsider the vote fails

Meeting has adjourned at 1:43. This concludes my coverage on today’s City Council special meeting. For more meeting coverage check out documenters.org