City Council will vote on expanded outdoor dining program
This vote would make the plan permanent.
Watch CBS News
This vote would make the plan permanent.
The City Council License Committee is expected to vote Tuesday on a plan to make permanent an outdoor dining program that helped Chicago restaurants and bars survive the pandemic.
Inside the City Council chambers, it was momentous for Johnson who opened his first meeting as mayor, but outside, it was a different story.
While Mayor Brandon Johnson presided over his first Chicago City Council meeting on Wednesday and even got his "unity plan" to reorganize the body approved, it was not all smooth sailing. The City Council was expected to vote on Wednesday on $51 million of new funding to house the migrants, but the vote was delayed. CBS 2's Andrew Ramos was at City Hall where frustrations boiled over from those opposing the plan.
"I'm confident and optimistic about this City Council makeup, and the journey we'll embark on together," Johnson said.
A big first for Chicago's new mayor, as Brandon Johnson presided over his first City Council meeting. The tone was positive, but there were a few speed bumps, too. CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov was there for it all.
A big day and some big changes in City Council chambers on Wednesday as new Mayor Brandon Johnson presided over his first full council meeting.
The 41-9 vote delivered an early political victory for Johnson as he presided over his first City Council meeting.
The first council meeting is scheduled for May 24.
The new City Council was also sworn into office on Monday. There will be a lot of new faces in the council chambers with 13 wards that'll be represented by a new alderperson after an exodus of veteran council members last year.
It's the most diverse class in the Chicago City Council's history, coming with a renewed focus on their wards' priorities.
It wasn't just Mayor Brandon Johnson being sworn in on Monday. New members of the Chicago City Council raised their right hands and took the oath of office, including 13 new aldermen. One of the newly-elected aldermen sworn in on Monday is the 4th Ward's Lamont Robinson.
Brandon Johnson will be sworn in as Chicago's 57th mayor on Monday. We brought in two political experts, outgoing Ald. Leslie Hairston, and former Illinois Republican Party Chair Pat Brady, to talk about what the new mayor's political priorities should be, and what message he might deliver in his inaugural address.
The mayor said she was proud of the way the administration infused billions of dollars in neighborhoods that historically didn't get much investment, listing off several things she feels they accomplished including closing a budget deficit, navigating the pandemic, civil unrest and rising crime numbers.
In addition to Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, a host of new City Council members will also be sworn in on Monday.
CBS 2 Streaming Anchor Brad Edwards sat down with three men who will be in the Council – two rookies, incoming Ald. William Hall (6th) and incoming Ald. Ronnie Mosley (21st); and one veteran, Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th), who was elected to a third term this year.
The circumstances vary from case to case, of course, but in short, the pattern involves Chicagoans getting socked with bills for water they didn't use.
When the new City Council is sworn in next week, more than a third of those elected will be women. That got us to thinking: What should we call them?
The campaign is over, and Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth is the learning the nuts and bolts of the job she worked hard to get.
The campaign is over, and Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth is the learning the nuts and bolts of the job she worked hard to get. You could call it City Council 101, and Manaa-Hoppenworth has the textbook to prove it -- an enormous binder containing the details every member needs to know.
Each of Chicago's 22 police districts has three district council members.
Two Chicago City Council committees had a virtual meeting Friday to discuss the crisis, as the shelter system busts and funds are desperately needed. CBS 2's Lauren Victory reports.
The meeting lasted hours and aldermen had a lot of questions – and it's no wonder they did. CBS 2's Lauren Victory reports.
Last week, Johnson also named state Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas as his first deputy chief of staff.
It's three weeks until Brandon Johnson is sworn in as Chicago's next mayor and he's beginning to fill his cabinet. Last week, he named OEMC Director Rich Guidice as his chief of staff, a surprising move to some. CBS 2 asked Nick Kachiroubas, a professor at DePaul University's School of Public Service, about some familiar names he thinks could join the mayor-elect.
