Chicago City Council approves almost $40M in settlements; speed limit vote deferred

Welcoming City Ordinance change fails

Thursday, January 16, 2025
Proposed change to Welcoming City Ordinance fails
A proposed change to the Chicago Welcoming City Ordinance failed in Council Wednesday.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago City Council met for the first time this year, and the agenda was packed.

During Wednesday's meeting, the Council formally approved almost $40 million in settlements.

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Settlements

The three biggest cases are tied to former Chicago Police Detective Reynaldo Guevara, ex-CPD Sergeant Ronald Watts and former commander Jon Burge.

The largest involves former Detective Guevara. It's a $17.6 million settlement in the case of Thomas Sierra; the Council approved it.

He served more than 20 years in prison for a 1995 murder. Prosecutors dropped the charges in 2018 after a judge ruled Guevara lied on the witness stand.

The Council approved all settlements on the agenda, including:

Mark Marxson was granted $8.75 million, Ben Baker and Clarissa Glen will be awarded $7.5 million, the family of Lakisel Thomas will receive $4.5 million in one of three settlements, the family of Jose Luis Carranza Chacon will receive $975,000 and Jos Weems will receive $130,000.

Welcoming City Ordinance

A proposed change to the Welcome City Ordinance failed.

The ordinance bans Chicago police from cooperating with federal U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to deport someone living in the U.S. illegally.

Alderman Ray Lopez wanted to tweak the law to make an exception for criminals arrested for drug- or gang-related crimes, prostitution and sex crimes involving minors.

Lopez said it would allow CPD to work with federal agents and arrest undocumented immigrants who have committed specific crimes.

He hoped this would better protect law-abiding non-citizens in Chicago from deportation under the upcoming Trump administration.

Mayor Brandon Johnson has already stated Chicago will remain in compliance with the Illinois Trust Act.

CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling was not in favor of the proposal.

The change failed after some emotional testimony on both sides.

There were loud and disruptive cheers in the gallery during public comment when people spoke against and later for changing the ordinance.

The mayor warned visitors to behave, to no avail.

When the ordinance came up for a vote, it was quickly tabled, with 39 alders supporting the procedural move.

"Today was a great day: 39 alder people voted to maintain Chicago's status as a sanctuary city, where no one has to be afraid to call 911 because of their immigration status or a family member's immigration status," 35th Ward Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa said.

Supporters accused their counterparts of putting other immigrants living in the U.S. without legal permission in danger.

"We know that the federal government will continue to come into our communities, looking for high-priority targets, and there will be collateral captures taken by ICE because we are basically saying, 'Go find them yourself,'" 15th Ward Ald. Ray Lopez said.

Mayor Johnson praised the vote, saying the proposed changes were only stoking fears.

"The fear that has found its way in the city of Chicago because of the threats that are coming from the incoming administration, the people of Chicago can rest assured that the full force of government will do everything in its power to protect the residents of this city," Johnson said.

The Chicago Teachers Union said in a statement, "Leaders show us who they are in trying times for vulnerable communities. It's not a coincidence that the same people promoting mass deportation in Chicago are also promoting cuts to our schools and social services and organizing as a bloc of resistance to anything our progressive mayor and city council proposes," said Maria Mareno, CTU financial secretary. "Now more than ever, Chicagoans need elected leaders willing to do everything they can to protect our city's most vulnerable from the coming attacks."

Rogelio Aguilar, bilingual teacher at Marquette ES and member of the union's Latine Caucus added, "Our union has fought for and won sanctuary protections to make sure Chicago families and students can be confident to drop their kids off at school and access a public education with the full protections of their school communities. We're grateful the Council voted against Trump's collaboration today. Now our district leadership needs to demonstrate they have our students' backs and will stand up against family separation and for fully funded schools."

Alderman Daniel LaSpata deferred a vote on lowering the speed limit in Chicago to 25 miles per hour Wednesday.

Council did vote to approve establishing a working group to study the issue.

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