Effort to Improve Government Transparency Continues
Direct Introduction Amendment Fails to Pass, But This Is not the End of the Effort to Improve Transparency in City Government
On Tuesday, October 25, the City Council’s Rules Committee voted down the proposed amendment to the Council’s rules regarding Direct Introduction Items by 24 to 17, with 1 abstention.
Last week, the League asked you to take action by contacting your alder and urging support for the proposed amendment R2022-687, which would have increased transparency by requiring that items directly sent to City Council Committees by Mayor Lightfoot and city departments heads be posted at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Currently, members of the public are often able to see only a vague description of the subject matter of such Direct Introduction Items—not the full text—prior to committee meetings. Alders have told the League that they themselves often don’t see the text until shortly before the meetings.
Most of the concerns raised by alders were directed at a part of the amendment requiring that Substitutes (that is, amendments) to items under consideration by committees be transmitted to committee members at least 48 hours prior to their committee meeting. Several of the alders, including some of the co-sponsors of the proposal, objected because it is not unusual for amendments to be made during the meeting in order to win passage. Others were concerned about how this proposal might impact some specific types of Direct Introductions and wanted to talk further.
Voting for R2022-687:
Alders LaSpata (1st), Hopkins (2nd), Beale (9th), Sadlowski Garza (10th), Quinn (13th), Burke (14th), Lopez (15th), Rodriguez (22), Tabares (23rd), Sigcho-Lopez (25th), Rodriguez Sanchez (33rd), Villegas (36th), Vasquez (40th), Reilly (42nd), Martin (47th), Osterman (48th), and Hadden (49th). If one of these is your Alder, please thank them.
Voting against:
Alders Dowell (3rd), Harris (8th), Lee (11th), Moore (12th), Curtis (17th), O’Shea (18th), Cardenas (19th), Scott (24th), Maldonado (26th), Burnett (27th), Ervin (28th), Taliafero (29th, Reboyras (30th), Cardona (31st), Waguespack (32nd), Austin (34th), Mitts (37th), Sposato (38th), Nugent (39th), Napolitano (41st), Knudson (43rd), Tunney (44th), Gardiner (45th), and Cappleman (46th). Abstaining: Alder Taylor (20th).
Thanks to all of you who were able to take action! Also supporting the amendment was the Better Government Association. The League expects to work with Ald. Reilly and reach out to the alders so that this step toward greater transparency can be taken in the future. Ald. Reilly (42nd), the sponsor, has told the League that this is not the end, and he intends to bring up the matter again.