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Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus

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Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus
ChairmanJason Ervin
Vice-ChairStephanie Coleman
TreasurerGregory Mitchell
SecretaryMichael Scott, Jr.
Founded2015; 9 years ago (2015)
Seats in Chicago City Council
20 / 50
Website
Facebook page

The Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus is a bloc of aldermen in the Chicago City Council, designed with the goal of "representing the needs and interests of Chicago's Black communities."[1] During the 2019–23 term, the caucus consists of 20 members, out of the council's 50 aldermen.[1][2]

Membership

Current members

As of January 2020, the Caucus has 20 members.[1]

Member Ward Joined
Pat Dowell 3
Sophia King 4
Leslie Hairston 5
Roderick Sawyer 6
Gregory Mitchell 7
Michelle A. Harris 8
Anthony Beale 9
Stephanie Coleman 16 2019[3]
David Moore 17
Derrick Curtis 18
Jeanette Taylor 20 2019[4]
Howard Brookins 21
Michael Scott Jr. 24
Walter Burnett Jr. 27
Jason Ervin 28
Chris Taliaferro 29
Carrie Austin 34
Emma Mitts 37
Matt Martin 47 2019[1]
Maria Hadden 49 2019[4]

Past members

Member Ward Joined Left
Toni Foulkes 16 [1] 2019; lost re-election
Willie Cochran 20 [1] 2019; did not run for re-election

Activity in City Council

2019–23 term

In October 2019, the Black Caucus delayed a vote on a proposed ordinance authorizing legal cannabis dispensaries, expressing concerns that the ordinance would allow medical dispensaries to sell marijuana recreationally without a zoning change and that it did not have sufficient ownership requirements to enable minority business ownership.[5] The ordinance passed despite the Caucus' opposition, although some Caucus members and Mayor Lightfoot did suggest that they would pursue amendments to the state cannabis law.[6] After the city's first recreational dispensary license lottery, where only existing owners of medical dispensaries—who were all white—were eligible, the Black Caucus again proposed stalling sales in order to achieve the state law's social equity goals.[7] In December 2019, Caucus chair Ervin and other members threatened to force a vote on an ordinance to stall sales until July 1 (six months after the originally scheduled date of January 1) in order to demand a minority ownership stake in the market.[8][9] Such a vote to delay sales was held but failed to pass on December 18 in a 19–29 vote, with six members of the Black Caucus splitting to vote against the measure.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus – CABC". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  2. ^ Donovan, Lisa (2019-05-29). "The Spin: Lightfoot vs. Burke on full display at first City Council meeting". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  3. ^ Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus - CABC (2019-05-30). "With Strong Membership, Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus Elects New Leadership". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  4. ^ a b Johnson, Erick (2019-04-11). "Black female aldermen make history | The Crusader Newspaper Group". Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  5. ^ Pratt, Gregory (2019-10-15). "Chicago City Council's Black Caucus delays vote on Mayor Lori Lightfoot's recreational marijuana zoning ordinance, may try to postpone legal sales until July". The Chicago Tribune.
  6. ^ Schuba, Tom (2019-10-17). "Changes won't be made to state pot law to meet equity concerns from black aldermen, the bill's sponsors say". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  7. ^ Golden, Jamie Nesbitt; Laurence, Justin (2019-11-18). "Dispensary Lottery So White: With No Black Owners In The Mix, Black Caucus Could Move To Stall Weed Sales". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
  8. ^ Spielman, Fran (2019-12-13). "Black Caucus chair again threatens vote on plan to delay recreational pot sales until July 1". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  9. ^ "Will Legal Weed Be Delayed? Black Aldermen Force A Vote Next Week Because All Dispensary Owners Are White". Block Club Chicago. 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  10. ^ McGhee, Josh (2012-12-19). "Chicago City Council's Black Caucus splits on historic marijuana vote". Chicago Reporter. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
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