$16.7 b budget passed by city council: 'most progressive ever' by Suzanne Hanney
The $16.7 billion budget passed by a 3515 Chicago City Council vote October 27 is the “most progressive ever in the City of Chicago,” says Mayor Lori Lightfoot. “Our future lies with all 77 neighborhoods. We will leave no one behind.” The loss of 6,000 Chicagoans to COVID-19 and the racial reckoning and social unrest after the death of George Floyd highlighted the conviction that “now, more than ever, we must do more for our marginalized, especially in our Black and Brown communities,” said Progressive Caucus Chair, Ald. Sophia King (4th ward). The budget that goes into effect Jan. 1, 2022 will include: • $202 million to reduce homelessness • 52 million for mental health initiatives, including a $15 million pilot for alternatives to police response in mental health emergencies • $150 million for youth programs
FROM THE STREETS
• $85 million for violence prevention
14
The $202 million line item for homelessness and the $150 million for youth programs were in Lightfoot’s original September 20 budget proposal. She moved up talks by a month in order to discuss using up to half the $1.9 billion the City received in federal COVID relief to pay down debt. Ultimately, she used roughly 2 out of 3 federal dollars to replace revenue lost in the pandemic, but managed to save $537.4 million for 2022 and 23, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The Progressive Caucus had sought $50 million for guaranteed basic income, and the final budget set aside $30 million for a one-year pilot, “which will give 5,000 of our neighbors $500 a month to make ends meet,” Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22nd ward) said. The $85 million for violence prevention is a historic increase, said Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th ward), but public safety cannot be achieved unless everyone has a place to stay. “The increased investments in permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, diversion housing and the additional commitment to capital for preserving Single Room Occupancy [hotels] couldn’t come soon enough,” said Ald. Maria Hadden (49th ward). Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th ward), however, protested that $5 million for SRO preservation was far short of the $70 million originally sought; he voted no on the budget.
“SROs keep a lot of people from being homeless; a lot of people can’t afford higher rent,” said Lamont Burnett, a resident of the Wilson Hotel in Uptown before and after its refurbishment. He pays $300 monthly rent for a furnished apartment. A ONE Northside board member, Burnett was part of an October 18 action at the ward office of Budget Committee member Ald. James Cappleman (46th ward). Advocates wanted Cappleman to support the $70 million for maintenance and long-term affordability of two SROs in his ward, another farther north in the 48th ward and others around the city, Burnett said. Mike Slachetka, a member of the ONE Northside mental health justice team, said during the same October 18 action that he wanted to see more money to reopen the mental health clinics, provide evening and weekend hours, or even 24-hour service. Slachetka’s parents died years ago. He doesn’t have stable employment, and he has relied on Medicare and Medicaid for almost 19 years. He uses the mental health clinics for therapy, money management and people to watch out for him. “Because I don’t have a family anymore, this support is crucial for me. More and more people are living with mental illness and feeling isolated and alone.” The budget will add $6.3 million to hire 29 new full-time staffers at Chicago’s remaining mental health clinics to increase hours and provide services to youth, said Ald. Susan Sadlowski-Garza (10th ward). The biggest investment in the public clinics in the last decade, the new positions are permanent, “the result of an intensified fight over the last two years by grassroots movements and labor to get the mental health services our communities deserve,” said Ald. Rossana RodriguezSanchez (33rd ward).
Members of ONE Northside demonstrate October 18 near the home of Ald. James Cappleman (46th ward) in favor of using all $1.9 billion of Chicago's federal COVID relief funds in the City budget to alleviate poverty (Suzanne Hanney photo).
