Progressive Aldermen Not Giving Up As They Hit Roadblock On Chicago Budget

By Meha Ahmad

Nov 17, 2020, 5:03pm CT

View of Chicago City Hall and the County Building. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ

Progressive Aldermen Not Giving Up As They Hit Roadblock On Chicago Budget

By Meha Ahmad

Nov 17, 2020, 5:03pm CT

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is fighting to get the 26 City Council votes needed to pass her 2021 budget.

To close a 1.2 billion-dollar deficit next year, the mayor’s plan relies on tax hikes and plenty of borrowing. Meanwhile, different coalitions within City Council are pushing to get their own ideas into the spending plan.

One group doing just that are progressive aldermen. They’re proposing a handful of changes to the mayor’s budget, including a so-called “Amazon Tax” and a transfer of funds from the police department to a mental health mobile response program.

The ordinances are tied up in the City Council’s Rules Committee and face a steep uphill battle to make it before the Council floor.

Reset checks in with two aldermen about what they’re prepared to do to get support for their measures.

GUESTS: Kennedy Bartley, the legislative director for United Working Families

Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, alderman of Chicago’s 33rd Ward

Byron Sigcho-Lopez, alderman of Chicago’s 25th Ward