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Archives for December 2020

Lipinski Leaves with Final Insult to Voters

In a final insult to the residents of the 3rd Congressional District, outgoing Congressman Dan Lipinski, in the last week of his Congressional career and after he had given his farewell speech, was one of only two Democrats who voted against providing $2,000 stimulus checks to Americans. The money would offer the twin benefits of helping people pay bills during the time of COVID-19 and stimulating the economy. Even 44 Republicans voted with the Democrats on the checks that President Donald Trump himself called for. But not good old Dan, the “Democrat” who felt he had to out-Republican both the 44 and the president himself by voting no.

How mean and cynical for Lipinski to cast such a cruel vote when he no longer will even be in office. It would have been both proper and easy for him to vote for it, to do the right thing and the kind thing. Instead, he supposedly voted against the stimulus because it would be “ineffective” (we, however, think that $2,000 would have a lot of effect on everyone in this community) and it would add to the U.S. public debt—which Lipinski added to plenty since he entered Congress in 2005. 

Voting to deny all of us money we desperately need is a final affront, and shows the people of the 3rd District that they couldn’t have been more correct in defeating him in the Democratic primary and electing progressive Marie Newman in the general election. Lipinski will not be missed, and may he never run for any office again. If he does, we’ll be ready to remind the voters of his sorry record of opposing their best interests, including voting against healthcare coverage during the Obamacare debate and desperately needed monetary support now. 

A nurse’s plea for people to be vaccinated

By Nurse Rachel Valentino

This week we have hope. This vaccine is our final hope to save lives. 

A lot of people say, “Bless you health care workers for saving patients’ lives.” This pandemic hasn’t felt “life-saving.” The majority of our work in the intensive care unit (ICU) is surrounded by death, not life. Our patients are artificially alive: on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), ventilators, nitric oxide, vasopressors, and sedation medication and their numbers are yet still incompatible with life. 

Our patients reach “new normals.” An oxygen level of 50 on an Arterial Blood Gas and we are rejoicing. A carbon dioxide level of 60 or below. Normal numbers should be 100 and 35, respectively. We fight for our patients everyday, to the point where we are faced with the question: are we doing more harm than good? That guilt eats at us—us being the perpetrators of their pain. The look in their eyes will break your heart. Their eyes tell us “Help me. Make it stop. Just let me rest. I don’t want to fight anymore.” 

Rush University Medical Center neurosciences intensive care unit nurses are following the State’s masking directive.

We know they are suffering through an unimaginable “life” in the ICU. A walk through the unit shows that 90% of the beds are filled with Black and Brown folks fighting for their lives. I wish you could see. A brief tour of a COVID ICU is enough to break your heart in half. We pray our families will never have to experience this “life.” The amount of “I’m so sorrys” we tell our patients can’t make things better. Our hand holding can’t fix them. We run for 12 hours, bathe them, wash their hair, redress their wounds with fresh white gauze, apply lotion; anything to make them look better, feel better, be more human.

Today I get vaccinated for them. Because they don’t deserve an ICU admission. An ICU death. Their families don’t deserve to look at them through glass, hold their hands for the last time with full PPE. Parents don’t deserve to see their children struggle to breathe, or not breathe at all. Yes their lungs literally become so fibrotic they don’t move at all.

I respect your decision to choose for yourself. But please, do the research before you completely debunk the vaccine. Believe science, not the internet. Think of others. Protect Black and Brown folks. Protect yourself. Get vaccinated. 

#covid19 #getvaccinated #pfizer #nursing

Longtime Near West Sider Joan Angelini passes away

Joan (Hochstetter) Angelini, 96, passed away peacefully at home on Dec. 9, 2020. 

Born in Mendota, IL on April 7, 1924, to Anna (Schmitz) and Henry Hochstetter, Joan Hochstetter married Mario Angelini in 1956 and raised her family in the Little Italy/Taylor Street community on the Near West Side.

Joan Angelini.

Mrs. Angelini volunteered for many years at Notre Dame de Chicago Parish and Saint Ignatius College Prep, which gave her its Golden Rose Award, the highest honor the school provides to volunteers. She also was a member of the Mothers’ Club at Notre Dame and volunteered at the Chicago Public Library

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters (Ruth (Lynn) Whitmore and Flora (Frank) Boyle) and her husband. She is survived by her sons John (Mary) and Mark (Kathryn), stepgranddaughter Kaitlyn, and granddaughters Kara and Erin. 

A Mass of Christian Burial for Mrs. Angelini is online at https://youtu.be/pGu32Tu4WY0. Interment is at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, IL. Memorial donations may be made to Chicago-based Mercy Housing Lakefront or Saint Ignatius College Prep.

December is National Impaired Driving Month

Alcohol-related fatality rates are nearly twice as high for 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds as for those over age 21 in December.

Young drivers are less likely than adults are to drive after drinking alcohol, but when they do, their crash risks are substantially higher, according to Rick Birt, president and CEO of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). 

Birt went on to explain that this risk is especially true at low and moderate blood alcohol concentrations and is thought to result from teens’ relative inexperience as new drivers.

Many substances can impair driving, including alcohol, some over-the-counter and prescription drugs, and illegal drugs.

  • Alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs impair the ability to drive because they slow coordination, judgment, and reaction times.
  • Cocaine and methamphetamine can make drivers more aggressive and reckless.
  • Using two or more drugs at the same time, including alcohol, can amplify the impairing effects of each drug a person has consumed.
  • Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines can cause extreme drowsiness, dizziness, and other side effects. Read and follow all warning labels before driving, and note that warnings against “operating heavy machinery” include driving a vehicle.

Impaired drivers can’t accurately assess their own impairment – which is why no one should drive after using any impairing substances.

  • Slow reaction time
  • Alteration of depth perception
  • Hyperactivity from a high
  • Reduction of peripheral vision
  • Confusion
  • Drowsiness
  • Lack of awareness of surroundings
  • Impaired driving puts teens at higher risks of injury or death

For more information, log on to www.sadd.org/.

Jimmy Collins, former UIC basketball coach, passes away

Jimmy Collins.

Jimmy Collins, the first head coach to lead the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) men’s basketball program to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament, passed away December 13. He was 74 years old.
 
Collins was named head men’s basketball coach for the Flames on March 27, 1996, and he would go on to spend 14 years at the helm through the 2009-10 campaign. During his tenure at UIC, Collins amassed more wins than any coach in program history, 218, and he led the program to four postseason appearances, including the NCAA Tournament three times. Collins’ teams won at least 20 games four times and they posted a winning record nine times.
 
In his first year, the Flames won 14 of their final 20 games to reach the Midwestern Collegiate Conference championship game. For his part, Collins was named the 1996-97 MCC Co-Coach of the Year. That helped set the stage for the 1997-98 season that saw the Flames win 22 games and secure an at-large berth to the first NCAA Tournament in program history.
 
UIC would later earn automatic bids to the tournament under Collins again in 2002 and 2004. The 2003-04 squad won a school-record 24 games, including 12 in a row entering March Madness. Collins and the team narrowly missed another NCAA bid in 2003 and played in that year’s NIT.
 
Collins aided five Flames in earning a collective eight All-Conference First Team recognitions. Seven different UIC standouts were named to the league’s All-Defensive Team a combined nine times during his time as coach.
 
A native of Syracuse, NY, Collins was inducted into the UIC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019. 


Prior to arriving in Chicago, Collins spent 13 seasons as an assistant at the University of Illinois.
 
Collins played collegiately at New Mexico State from 1967-70. He was a Second Team All-American in 1970 as he helped the Aggies reach the Final Four. Later, he was selected 11th overall by the Chicago Bulls during that year’s NBA Draft. After two seasons in Chicago, he spent one additional year playing professionally with the ABA’s Carolina Cougars.
 
Collins is survived by his wife, Hettie, and four children: Erica, Kenny, Semaj, and Brandi.

What Biden’s Appointments to Economic Team Mean for Business Leaders

Gazette Chicago Associate Editor William S. Bike was quoted in Forbes Magazine Nov. 30 in an article by Edward Segal, “What Biden’s Appointments to Economic Team Mean for Business Leaders.” Click here. https://www.forbes.com/sites/edwardsegal/2020/11/30/what-bidens-appointments-to-economic-team-mean-for-business-leaders/?sh=772a1ee91d3b&fbclid=IwAR1zU5vlLTG5uLkp_7r8nquqdficNY1rwSHAtxPpfamGupswhihblVgbM3Y

Important message from the publisher

Dear Gazette Chicago Readers:

Well, we made it to the holiday season, despite the incredible challenges brought forth by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Hopefully, help is on the way soon with the distribution of vaccines from a number of pharmaceutical companies. In the meantime, continue to practice sensible social distancing guidelines to protect yourselves, your loved ones, and our front-line heroes. 

In this issue, Gazette Chicago brings you a variety of ways to celebrate the season. And, even though it might seem difficult, we must do our best not to let Christmas 2020 pass us by. We hope you find creative ways to celebrate with our “Christmas in Chicago” guide and encourage you reach out to neighbors in need by seeing the many ways to lend a hand in our 38th annual “Spirit of Giving” section. 

Please also go to our website at www.gazettechicago.com and click on the “E-Edition” tab to read the listing of holiday church services in the community, our “Year in Review” section, and other activities in “Around the Neighborhood.” Our electronic edition offers eight additional pages of content. 

Beginning on page 17, we offer you our annual “Holiday Wish List.” Know that we continue to extend our thoughts and support in every way that we can (our website has a list of local sites for COVID-19 testing). 

Be safe, be secure, and find some time to embrace the hope of the season. And remember, we are all in this together.

Holiday wishes,

Sincerely, 
Mark J. Valentino
Editor and Publisher

Lightfoot announces $8 million investment in mental health, City mental health centers

By Mallory Cheng

Former Mayor and possible Biden Administration cabinet member Rahm Emanuel closed six of the City’s twelve free mental health centers in April 2012. Referencing these closures as “consolidations,” Emanuel publicly stated these closings would increase the time therapists could spend with patients in private clinics and that he was not closing the clinics to cut costs and save money. 

Activists and community members disagreed, as they saw the City under Emanuel continue divesting their neighborhoods of valuable, necessary assets and resources. News of the closed clinics in Auburn-Gresham, Back of the Yards, Logan Square, Morgan Park, Rogers Park, and Woodlawn spurred protests, including a ten hour sit-in outside the Mayor’s office at City Hall. Now, only five City-run community mental health centers remain open.

Photo courtesy Office of the Mayor
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced initiatives designed to improve the mental health of Chicagoans who need help.

Eliminating the already limited public mental health resources predominantly in communities of color only created additional access barriers to mental health care. People were forced to travel far outside their own neighborhoods to receive care at another City mental health center, turned away at private clinics due to lack of insurance, or hesitant to seek care due to their immigration status.

When former Mayor Richard M. Daley was in office, 19 public mental health clinics were open, but he reduced the number down to 12 open public clinics by the end of his mayoral term. 

James Swartz, a professor who teaches mental health policy at Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois Chicago, emphasized that, historically, community mental health centers served as a replacement for mostly closed psychiatric hospitals. The centers did not have the foundation, however, “to take up the slack for the closing of the psychiatric hospitals, which were themselves inadequate,” Swartz said. 

“The closures came against a decades-long backdrop of historical short-comings,” Swartz said. “My guess is that a large proportion who had been receiving care in those community centers now don’t get any mental health care at all. At a community level that has a substantial impact.” 

Mayor Lightfoot changes policy

Current Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced a plan to develop the Framework for Mental Health Equity to increase and expand access to mental health care. Earlier this year, Mayor Lightfoot announced the City was giving a combined $1.2 million for mental health programs to Friend Health, Healthcare Alternative Systems, and Thresholds and Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare. 

In October, Lightfoot and the CDPH announced an $8 million annual investment to an additional 32 private service providers to work with the five existing City clinics to expand trauma-informed mental health services under an equity lens. This initiative includes expanding mental health care services for children, adolescents, and young adults. The City also has invested to integrate holistic healthcare services for those experiencing homelessness. 

Erica Duncan, CDPH information coordinator, stated the City chose agencies based on their request for proposal responses, selecting those that “demonstrated commitments to the goals of the grant, had existing infrastructure to expand capacity, and a strong proposal,” she added.

Duncan added the Lightfoot administration focuses on “improving access to trauma-informed, publicly funded outpatient mental health services that are available to all residents regardless of ability to pay, health insurance status, or immigration status in communities of highest need.”

Mayor receives some criticism

Some aldermen have criticized Lightfoot for not fulfilling her campaign promise of re-opening the shuttered mental health centers. Duncan countered, “The City has invested millions of dollars in the five CDPH mental health clinics to hire new staff, upgrade facilities, and invest in telehealth.” 

Some aldermen counter that Chicago must do more and are pushing for additional city-wide mental health services. Alderman Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez of the 33rd Ward on Nov. 16 proposed an ordinance to transfer funds from the Chicago Police Department to create a 24-hour crisis hotline that would divert mental health calls from the police to a network of public sector mental health professionals.  

Swartz stated closing the mental health centers has repercussions, because “with no place to get treatment the police and fire fighters become the first lines of defense.” In some of these incidents, the police have dealt with the mentally ill through force. “We need to start weaving in restoring community mental health services that include how to better respond to acute crises so it doesn’t involve nearly as often the police,” Swartz added. “There should be other options.”

Private institutions such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Chicago have partnered with the City to create a roadmap toward expanding equity and healthcare access to all Chicago residents and are providing resources to faith-based communities. The NAMI Chicago Helpline connects directly with the City’s 311 system to connect callers to mental health professionals.

NAMI Chicago and the NAMI Metro Suburban chapter aim to break down barriers to accessing mental health, especially in Black and Brown communities with high coronavirus (COVID-19) mortality rates. NAMI recently received a $500,000 grant to help faith-based communities expand mental health support in areas most affected by COVID-19. 

NAMI involvement

Ericka Bailey, a certified recovery support specialist at NAMI Metro Suburban, said, “We’re trying to partner with churches and provide the mental health language to identify and support someone who is going through a mental health crisis.” 

The grant allows participating faith-based communities to receive free virtual education sessions to provide the tools to faith leadership or throughout the entire congregation. Some of the partnerships operate in Auburn-Gresham, Logan Square, Rogers Park, and Woodlawn (neighborhoods where the City shuttered its mental health centers) and expand into predominantly underserved neighborhoods on the South and West Sides and in surrounding suburbs. 

Communities of color in under-resourced neighborhoods experience COVID-19 effects disproportionately; often, mental health goes on the back burner to tend to immediate health concerns. These health disparities, prevalent before the pandemic, have been “exacerbated by COVID-19,” Swartz said. 

Bailey has noticed “a sharp uptick in the need for mental health services” because of stress related to COVID-19, with the Chicago helpline seeing “twice the volume of calls since before the pandemic.” 

Swartz notes mental health often suffers neglect because of the attached stigma, even with increased public attention and awareness. “COVID-19 has increased loneliness, increased isolation,” he said. “We’re going to see repercussions of this for years to come in terms of higher rates of depression, higher rates of anxiety. Mental illness needs more attention in terms of public awareness, in terms of funding, and to support people with mental illnesses.”

Since March, NAMI Chicago’s free helpline has received more than twice the volume of calls it received before the pandemic.

Partnering with faith organizations, NAMI will use the grant funding to build skills and increase knowledge on how to support the mental wellness of members of faith congregations. Virtual education sessions are being considered

Faith communities interested in participating in NAMI mental health efforts can submit a request online at namichicago.org/faith or call (833) 626-4244. For other NAMI services, call (312) 563-0445.

For the CDPH, log on to www.chicago.gov or call (312) 747-9884. To contact Rodriguez-Sanchez, call (773) 840-7880. Contact Swartz at jaswartz@uic.edu.

Election saw large turnout and some new office holders

By William S. Bike

Turnout was high in the recent election, as more than five million of Illinois’s approximately eight million registered voters cast ballots.

The Illinois Federation of Teachers was one of many groups that worked hard to get out the vote. “This election was one of the most important in our lifetime because of the long term consequences it will have on our members’ livelihoods, the political discourse, and the overall health of our country and state,” said IFT president Dan Montgomery. “We are proud of the work our members did finding new and safe ways to engage voters during the pandemic.”

The bar graph above compares the percentage of Biden/Harris voters to Trump/Pence voters in each ward comprising this area.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris easily won Illinois. Nationwide, the ticket received more votes than any presidential ticket in history with more than 79 million votes, surpassing the Barack Obama/Joe Biden ticket’s total of 69.4 million in 2008—the previous high record total.

Joe Biden.

Statewide, Biden/Harris received 3,416,660 votes for 57.4% to President Donald Trump/Vice President Mike Pence’s 2,424,395 for 40.7%. Four other candidates received votes as well. Gazette Chicago had endorsed the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris ticket.

“Joe Biden won more than 80% of the vote in Chicago, and we had a record turnout in Illinois and at UIC,” said Dick Simpson, professor of political science at the University of Illinois Chicago. “The early indications are that UIC had the most students voting in our history as a university.”

The 3rd, 4th, 11th, 12th, 25th, 27th, 28th, and 42nd Wards comprise this community. In the 3rd, Biden/Harris garnered 89.5% of the vote, Trump/Pence 9.2%. The 4th Ward went for Biden/Harris 92.2% to 6.4% for Trump/Pence. In the 11th Ward, the vote was 67.0% Biden/Harris, 30.9% Trump/Pence. The 12th Ward saw Biden/Harris win with 81.6% to 16.1% for Trump/Pence. In the 25th, Biden/Harris scored 84.8%, Trump/Pence 13.0%. The 27th went 86.2% Biden/Harris, 12.0% Trump/Pence. The 28th saw Biden/Harris tally 90.8%, Trump/Pence 7.8%. The 42nd also was Biden/Harris territory, with 76.4% of the vote to Trump/Pence’s 21.9%.

Trump/Pence’s percentages rose slightly in all these wards in 2020 compared to 2016, when their tally was 7.1% in the 3rd, 4.5% in the 4th, 25.8% in the 11th, 10.4% in the 12th, 9.9% in the 25th, 7.8 in the 27th, 4.2% in the 28th, and 20.1% in the 42nd.

The Fair Tax, which would have allowed the State to tax bigger incomes at a higher rate while giving 97% of taxpayers a cut, nonetheless lost with 3,023,083 no votes, or 53.4%, vs. 2,635,264 yes votes, for 46.6%. Gazette Chicago had endorsed a yes vote on the Fair Tax.

Simpson argued that the Fair Tax “lost because of the strong negative advertising against it, the economic recession which left voters with less income, and the negative view of Springfield because of the corruption scandals.”

“The Fair Tax would have gone a long way to fix our broken tax system by asking the wealthy to pay their fair share,” Montgomery said. “Since the start of the campaign, anti-union and billionaire opponents like Ken Griffin and the Illinois Policy Institute launched a misinformation campaign to scare voters, maintain our broken tax system, and protect millionaires and billionaires. We will continue to work with our allies in the General Assembly to look for avenues to generate much needed revenue for the State and future budgets that don’t cut funding for public education.”

Kim Foxx.

Another race that generated great interest was that for Cook County State’s attorney, which pundits expected to be a close one between Democratic incumbent Kim Foxx and Republican challenger Patrick O’Brien. The margin proved larger than expected, with Foxx retaining her office with 913,823 votes for 53.9% to O’Brien’s 669,749 for 39.5%. Libertarian Brian Dennehy tallied 111,438 for 6.6%. Gazette Chicago had endorsed Foxx.

Another strongly competitive race, in the 3rd Congressional District, had newcomer Marie Newman, who had beaten longtime incumbent Dan Lipinski in the Democratic primary, battling Republican Mike Fricilone.

Newman won with 168,524 votes for 56.1%, with Fricilone tallying 131,655 for 43.9%. Gazette Chicago had endorsed Newman.

Marie Newman.

The city vote put her over, as in suburban Cook County, Fricilone totaled 51.7% of the vote and Newman totaled 48.3%. In Chicago, however, Newman scored 66.7% of the vote to Fricilone’s 33.3%.

“I am beyond honored to be elected as the next representative for Illinois’s 3rd Congressional District,” Newman said. “We couldn’t have done this without our amazing district-wide coalition. Thank you to Gazette Chicago, and all of the wonderful people and organizations who have supported me and made this win possible. In Congress, I will continue to build bridges and fight for a just country and economy for working families. Together, we will work to pass universal healthcare, a green stimulus, and make the economy work for everyone.”

“Marie Newman easily won this election because she defeated Lipinski in the primary and was running in a very Democratic district,” Simpson said.

In the race for U.S. Senate, Democratic incumbent Richard Durbin easily held off challengers Republican Mark Curran, independent Willie Wilson, and others. Durbin tallied 3,220,926 votes for 54.5%, Curran 2,293,741 for 38.8%, and Wilson 234,378 for 4.0%. Two others were in the race as well. Gazette Chicago had endorsed Durbin.

“We are very excited that U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, a friend of labor and education, won overwhelmingly and will continue to hold a leadership position in the U.S. Senate,” Montgomery said.

In U.S. House District 1, Democratic incumbent Bobby Rush, with 236,362 votes for 73.8%, easily held off Republican challenger Philanise White, with 83,891 votes for 26.2%. Gazette Chicago had endorsed Rush.

Danny K. Davis.

The 4th District race saw Democratic incumbent Jesus “Chuy” Garcia sail to victory with 184,058 votes for 84% over Republican challenger Jesus Solorio, with 35,001 for 16%. Gazette Chicago endorsed Garcia.

Another big winner was Democratic incumbent Danny K. Davis, who retained his 7th District seat with 244,162 votes for 80.3% over Republican Craig Cameron, 40,779 for 13.4%, and independent Tracy Jennings with 18,944 for 6.2%. Gazette Chicago had endorsed Davis.

Theresa Mah.

Also winning were unopposed candidates Antonio Munoz in State Senate District 1, Robert Peters in State Senate District 13, Theresa Mah in State House District 2, Delia Ramirez in State House District 4, Lamont Robinson in State House District 5, Sonya Harper in State House District 6, Lakesia Collins in State House District 9, Jawaharial Williams in State House District 10, and Kam Buckner in State House District 26. All are Democrats and incumbents.

Delia C. Ramirez.

In the race for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk, Democrat Iris Martinez, endorsed by Gazette Chicago, won with 1,171,957 for 71.7% to 462,103 and 28.3% for Republican Barbara Beller.

All three Democratic candidates for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, endorsed by Gazette Chicago, won over their Green Party opponents. The winners are Eira Corral Sepulveda and incumbents Kimberly Neely Dubuclet and Cameron Davis.

Kambium Buckner.

The ballot also held numerous Cook County Circuit Court judges up for retention; Gazette Chicago recommended a no vote for two of those, and they both lost. Judges needed to get 60% yes votes to win retention. Jackie Portman-Brown lost her seat as she fell short with 59.4% yes votes. Mauricio Araujo lost his seat with 51.5% no votes. The regular Democratic organization tried to push out Cook County Circuit Court Judge Michael Toomin for investigating State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s handling of the Jussie Smollett case, but Toomin kept his seat by scoring 60.8% yes votes. Gazette Chicago had backed Toomin.

Iris Martinez.

Gazette Chicago had endorsed three referenda on the ballot, and all of them passed with at least 77% of the vote. The referenda were on Chicago creating a citywide plan for growth, expanding broadband internet, and regulating assault weapons.  

‘Granny flat’ ordinance vote postponed due to opposition from aldermen

By Peter Winslow 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and five aldermen in late May introduced a highly anticipated ordinance to City Council, which if passed would amend provisions of the Municipal Code to permit coach houses and other accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in residential areas.

The proposed measure would expand affordable housing access to thousands of Chicagoans by allowing property owners to build moderate-cost units without requesting a zoning change from the City or receiving aldermanic approval, often a time-consuming and expensive endeavor. 

Photo courtesy AIA Chicago
Chicago architecture often lends itself to the addition of Accessory Dwelling Units, which have been outlawed since 1957.

Officials postponed the July 21 City Council vote on the new measure after several aldermen expressed staunch opposition following a July 10 hearing; they have not announced the rescheduled vote date yet.

Aldermen Walter Burnett (27th), Maria E. Hadden (49th), Matthew J. Martin (47th), Harry Osterman (48th), and Thomas Tunney (44th) sponsored the ordinance, with backing from Mayor Lightfoot. The Committee of Housing and Real Estate and the Committee of Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards have jurisdiction over the ordinance.

“The City needs to be creative and realistic about how and where we can increase affordable housing opportunities for renters while also helping property owners deal with the financial demands of their building,” Mayor Lightfoot said in a statement. “With this sustainable and cost-effective approach, we are providing residents with more equitable access to affordable housing options citywide.”

Besides allowing eligible property owners to build rentable units, the ordinance would legalize myriad ADUs throughout the city that currently vary in states of regulatory compliance. Residents commonly build ADUs for elderly parents, adult children, and college students.

The proposed zoning code would define constructed living spaces within attics and basements as “conversion units” and spaces in accessory structures as “coach house units,” according to the City.

If the City Council adopts the new measure, it would end a 63-year-old ban on constructing coach houses and so-called “granny flats.” The City effectively prohibited building such units in 1957 by introducing minimums for lot area and parking requirements as well as barring secondary residential structures on single lots, according to the City.

Where owners can build ADUs

The proposed ordinance would make single-family homes located in most “R” zones—residential zones—and built 20 or more years ago eligible to have one conversion unit, while owners of residential buildings constructed 20 or more years ago could add another 33% of the number of existing units, rounding up or down. 

For two-, three-, and four-flats in “R” zones, property owners would have the right to build one ADU, while owners with five units could construct two ADUs, and so forth.

When owners add two or more units to a residential property, half of those units must be rentable at an affordable price, defined as 30% of the income of a household that earns 60% of the area median income.

Owners of vacant properties, single-family homes, and residential buildings could add one coach house to their lot, but only if the property has no existing ADU.

The measure would allow at least one ADU per building in all residential zones with the exception of select single-family districts—RS1 and RS2—which would require a permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Support and criticism

Alderman Patrick D. Thompson (11th) expressed concerns about the proposed measure, stating it unintentionally may create less affordable properties. “This ordinance could lead to faster transition and higher rents for existing tenants,” said Thompson, in a statement following the July 10 hearing.

“If you buy an existing building and have ‘as a right’ the ability to build out the basement or the attic, you can pay more for that building, thus driving up the sales prices in our communities,” he added. 

Other aldermen warned about the possibility of absentee ownership, suggesting the City limit ADUs to properties occupied by their owners. Others believe the proposed ordinance fails to ensure new ADUs actually would be affordable for lower income renters.

Alderman Burnett believes the ordinance’s potential opportunities are both beneficial and necessary during this time of economic uncertainty.

“Additional dwelling units could supplement mortgage costs and assist folks with the new cost of living,” Burnett said. “In the past we have talked to community members on multiple occasions to rezone their property. We found ourselves over the years helping them come into compliance. It’s nothing unusual, and it will give people a right to do it, help them get away from the zoning challenges.”

Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) also supports the ordinance. “We have to be careful with every policy, ensure that we make it easier for the average homeowner,” he said. “We need to make sure we help homeowners that have been paying taxes for decades and are a part of our community.

“Organically ADUs are affordable, but the cautionary tale is for developers to add another units, which would be detrimental to the goal of helping out the homeowner. We do not want more developers to take advantage of a broken system. We want to make sure we tailor this ordinance to help the average homeowner.”

Despite repeated attempts to contact other aldermen located in this area, Gazette Chicago did not receive comments from their offices regarding the ADU ordinance’s potential adoption.

To stay updated on information regarding the ADU ordinance, visit www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/doh.html. For Burnett, call (312) 432-1995. For Thompson, call (773) 254-6677.

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