Act Now to Increase City Council Transparency

Contact your alder to let them know you support Item #R2022-687. This amendment would ensure that “direct introduction” legislative items proposed by the mayor and city departments be posted for the public and sent to all City Council members at least 48 hours before a City Council Committee meets.

Take Action

Call or email your alder before 2 pm on Tuesday, October 25, when the Rules Committee meets to discuss Item #R2022-687. Please urge your alder to:

• Pass the item in the Rules Committee on October 25

• Pass the item at the City Council Meeting on October 26

You can find your alder’s contact information here. Not sure who your alder is? You can look up your ward by your home address.

If your alder is Ald. Reilly (42nd), or the co-sponsors—Alders Tunney (44th), Osterman (48th), Waguespack (32nd), Vasquez, Jr. (40th), Taliaferro (29th), La Spata (1st), Hadden (49th), and Martin (47th), please thank them for sponsoring this proposed change.

What You Should Know

In June, Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd), crediting LWV Chicago, filed a proposal to change Rule 41 of the City Council Rules of Order and Procedure. His proposed change has been sent to the Rules Committee, which is composed of all members of the City Council.

The current Rule 41 allows the mayor and city departments to bypass the normal process of introducing items at a City Council meeting, where items then are referred to the appropriate City Council Committee. In contrast to the normal process, the text of such “direct introduction items” is not usually available for the public to read before a City Council Committee takes action.

During the LWV Chicago’s Zooming with the Aldermen interviews, the League learned that the alders themselves often do not see the actual text of “direct introduction” items until shortly before the committee meeting at which they are asked to approve those items.

Obviously, the existing rule leads to the opposite of good government and to a lack of transparency!

Alderman Reilly’s proposal (R2022-687) would require the text of such “direct introduction” items to be publicly posted and sent to all City Council members at least 48 hours before a City Council Committee meets. Some other changes would also limit the use of “direct introduction” to situations when there truly is a need to bypass the normal process.

Thank you for taking action!