Originally posted February 8, 2017<\/p>\n
Recently we learned that a proposed Order forcing the City of Chicago\u2019s Law Department to cease its appeal of a judge\u2019s decision in our Open Meetings Act lawsuit against the City Council, was introduced into the Council by four Aldermen. <\/strong> — Andy Thayer & Rick Garcia, co-plaintiffs, Thayer & Garcia v. Chicago City Council, <\/em>No. 2016-CH-09212<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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\nThe proposed order<\/a> confirms that the Council \u201chas never allowed public comment\u201d at its meetings and \u201cthe recent lawsuit of Thayer & Garcia vs. Chicago City Council argues that the monthly
\nCity Council meetings violate the Illinois Open Meetings Act by not allowing for public comment.\u201d
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\nIt notes that \u201cA new court ruling of the Cook County Circuit Court states that\u2026the City of Chicago is in violation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, and that public comment must be allowed at every monthly City Council meeting,\u201d and that the City\u2019s Law Department \u201cis currently pursuing an appeal of the ruling and exercising all other legal options to continue to disallow public comment at the City
\nCouncil meetings.\u201d
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\nIf enacted, the resolution will order that \u201cThe Law Department of the City of Chicago, no longer pursue an appeal of the ruling made by the Cook County Circuit Court in Thayer & Garcia vs. Chicago City Council.\u201d
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\nWhile we did not seek, nor even communicate with the sponsoring aldermen before their introduction of this proposed resolution, we nonetheless commend Aldermen Susan Sadlowski Garza (10th Ward), Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward), John Arena (45th Ward) and Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward) for their action.
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\nMany campaign promises, including pledges of transparency and public influence on legislation, were made to get each of the Aldermen and the Mayor into their current seats. Instead, the mayor has chosen to use the Law Department and our tax dollars to pursue political goals rather than serve the people of Chicago, most infamously with its suppression of the dashcam video showing the police killing of Laquan McDonald.<\/strong>
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\nThe passage and enactment of this resolution would begin the process of opening up Chicago government to those who live under its writ, pay its taxes, and do the work that makes our city function. The Council has a clear choice. It can either pass this resolution or, with elections looming in a few years, continue to give evidence that it really doesn\u2019t listen to the people of Chicago.<\/strong><\/p>\n