Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus Explained
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.[2] As of June 2023, the chair of the caucus is Stephanie Coleman.[3] [4]
Membership
Current members
As of January 2020, the Caucus has 20 members.
Past members
| Member | Ward | Joined | Left |
|---|
| Toni Foulkes | 16 | | 2019; lost re-election |
| Willie Cochran | 20 | | 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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] [11] 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.[12]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus – CABC. www.facebook.com. en. 2019-07-05.
- Web site: The Spin: Lightfoot vs. Burke on full display at first City Council meeting. Donovan. Lisa. 2019-05-29. chicagotribune.com. 2019-07-05.
- Web site: Kapos . Shia . 2023-06-05 . In the works: Illinois fundraiser for Biden . 2023-06-06 . POLITICO . en.
- Web site: Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus - CABC . June 1, 2023 . Congrats to Ald Stephanie Coleman on her election as Chair of the Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus - CABC . 2023-06-06 . Facebook . en.
- Web site: With Strong Membership, Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus Elects New Leadership. Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus - CABC. 2019-05-30. www.facebook.com. en. 2019-07-05.
- Web site: Black female aldermen make history The Crusader Newspaper Group. Johnson. Erick. 2019-04-11. en-US. 2019-07-05.
- News: 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. Pratt. Gregory. 2019-10-15. The Chicago Tribune.
- Web site: Changes won't be made to state pot law to meet equity concerns from black aldermen, the bill’s sponsors say. Schuba. Tom. 2019-10-17. Chicago Sun-Times. en. 2019-10-18.
- Web site: Dispensary Lottery So White: With No Black Owners In The Mix, Black Caucus Could Move To Stall Weed Sales. Golden. Jamie Nesbitt. Laurence. Justin. 2019-11-18. Block Club Chicago. en-US. 2019-11-24.
- Web site: Black Caucus chair again threatens vote on plan to delay recreational pot sales until July 1. Spielman. Fran. 2019-12-13. Chicago Sun-Times. en. 2019-12-17.
- Web site: Will Legal Weed Be Delayed? Black Aldermen Force A Vote Next Week Because All Dispensary Owners Are White. 2019-12-13. Block Club Chicago. en-US. 2019-12-17.
- Web site: Chicago City Council’s Black Caucus splits on historic marijuana vote. McGhee. Josh. 2012-12-19. Chicago Reporter. en-US. 2020-01-26.
