It was a busy week in City Council! 

I was proud to join Alds. Martin and Cardenas in introducing a resolution declaring a climate emergency and calling for an emergency climate mobilization in order to reach zero greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of the economy. You can read more about the ordinance here.

I also co-sponsored the Plastic-Free Water Ordinance that would ban single-use plastics and styrofoam in Chicago, joining more than 300 other cities. I was especially proud that this ordinance took into account the perspectives of the disability community. Read more here. 

Activists have been fighting for years to make Chicago a real sanctuary city, and the Council also took an important step towards strengthening protections for our undocumented neighbors. We still have further to go, especially given troubling new information about an agreement between Chicago police and federal immigration officials. 

I also joined Alds. Michelle Harris and Debra Silverstein to introduce a resolution calling on the U.S. president to create a special task force dedicated to combating an increase in anti-Semitic hate crime. And I voted yes to an ordinance introduced by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to conduct a one-year study to determine whether gay- and transgender-owned firms face discrimination when it comes to bidding for city contracts.

Finally, I worked with Alderman Matt Martin to introduce a resolution opposing armed conflict with Iran. I believe that in such a dire time for the planet and humanity, the last thing we need is to be spending money on war and destruction overseas. It’s important for our city to take a stance, and I believe that the people of Chicago don’t want more war.