journal of the proceedings of the city...

(Published by the Authority of the City Council of the City of Chicago)

COPY

JOURNAL of the PROCEEDINGS of the

CITY COUNCIL of the

CITY of CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Special Meeting-Tuesday, December 1,1987

at 10:00 A.M.

(Council Chamber-City Hall-Chicago, Illinois)

OFFICIAL RECORD.

DAVID D. ORR WALTER S. KOZUBOWSKI Interim Mayor City Clerk

12/1/87 SPECIAL MEETING 6501

Attendance At Meeting.

Present - Interim Mayor David D. Orr, and Aldermen Roti, Rush, Tillman, T. Evans, Bloom, Sawyer, Beavers, Caldwell, Shaw, Huels, Fary, Madrzyk, Burke, Carter, Langford, Streeter, Sheahan, Jones, J. Evans, Garcia, Henry, Soliz, Gutierrez, Butler, Smith, Davis, Hagopian, Figueroa, Gabinski, Mell, Kotlarz, Banks, Giles, Cullerton, Laurino, O'Connor, Pucinski, Natarus, Eisendrath, Hansen, Levar, Shiller, Schulter, Osterman, Stone.

Absent — Aldermen Vrdolyak, Kellam, Krystyniak, Austin.

Call To Order.

On Tuesday, December 1, 1987, at 11:03 A.M. (the hour appointed for the meeting was 10:00 A.M.) Alderman David D. Orr, Interim Mayor, called the City Council to order. The Honorable Walter S. Kozubowski, City Clerk, called the roll of members and it was found that there were present at that time: Aldermen Roti, Rush, Tillman, T. Evans, Bloom, Sawyer, Beavers, Caldwell, Shaw, Huels, Fary, Madrzyk, Burke, Carter, Langford, Streeter, Sheahan, Jones, J. Evans, Garcia, Henry, Soliz, Gutierrez, Butler, Smith, Davis, Hagopian, Figueroa, Gabinski, Mell, Kotlarz, Banks, Giles, Cullerton, Laurino, O'Connor, Pucinski, Natarus, Eisendrath, Hansen, Levar, Shiller, Schulter, Osterman, Orr, Stone ~ 46.

Quorum present.

POSTING OF COLORS.

The Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department Color Guards posted the colors.

Invocation.

Rabbi Seymour J. Cohen, past president, Chicago Board of Rabbis, opened the meeting with the following prayer:

O Heavenly Father, We pray this day for our great city sind its people. With Jeremiah of old, we seek its peace and inner tranquility. We ask that the words of a great american justice enter into our hearts as we consider the life and efforts of Mayor Harold Washington. Learned Hand said 'He is gone and while the west is still lighted with his radiance, it is well for us to pause and take count of our coarser selves.' In this fateful but we hope truthful hour, when crisis and opportunity join together, we remember that our lamented friend and leader had a lesson to teach us, if we care to stop and learn. A lesson quite at variance with most that we practice and much that -we profess. Moses spoke to the Lord, asking that the source of all life appoint someone who shall conduct their affairs for them, and who shall lead them

6502 JOURNAL-CITY COUNCIL-CHICAGO 12/1/87

. . . and they shall follow. So that the Lord's community may not be like sheep who have no shepherd. That this great city upon whom all the eyes of the world are riveted in this moment, may truly have a shepherd worthy to be the successor to a great human being. This community, O God, white and black. Christian and Jew, has lost our shepherd. We prayerfully look towards the 'morrow when his fallen staff will be transmitted to steady, and we hope, honorable hands.

At this point in the proceedings. Alderman David D. Orr, Interim Mayor, introduced the family ofthe late Honorable Harold Washington, who were warmly greeted by all present.

PRESENTATION OF MUSICAL SELECTIONS BY CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS.

Alderman David D. Orr, Interim Mayor, then presented members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus under the direction of Mr. Michael Morgan. After an orchestral rendition of "Air" from Suite No. 3 in D Major by Johann Sebastian Bach, the chorus performed "Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing" by James W. Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson. The musical selections were completed with Ms. Rochelle Ellis, Soprano, singing "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth" from the Messiah.

PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE.

Interim Mayor Orr next introduced Monsignor John Egan, Assistant to the President for Community Affairs of DePaul University, who ofTered the following prayer for guidance:

Lord God Almighty, in your goodness you gave us Harold Washington, a respected leader who walked across this city with great strides. We now know, in the aftermath of sorrow, that we may not have deserved him, but we sorely needed him.

We pray for the eternal repose of his mighty soul. We know that he was blessed by you, for it was given to him as it is given to very few to walk with power and never lose the common touch. He was a good and decent person who ruled as he lived—with commitment, compassion and courage.

While we know that our city, our people, our nation are made poorer in his death, we know that we were blessed in his life of noble public service. We will ever be grateful for that gift so generously bestowed upon us.

You have told us that there is a time for everything under the sun-a time for healing, a time for building, a time for peace.

Now, Dear Lord, our elected representatives face the terrible burden and cherished privilege of electing a new leader and guiding this magnificent city.


Inspire them so that the common good will be served and the welfare of all our citizens be protected and enhanced.

With humble hearts, therefore, we come to you to beg for uncommon wisdom and guidance. We acknowledge that unless the Lord builds the house, we shall labor in vain.

Be with us in the hours and days to come so that, true to the memory of Harold Washington, and conscious of our vowed duty, we shall always love mercy, seek the truth, act without rancor, strive for justice, walk with humility, and continue to build a city worthy of all our brothers and sisters.

Placed On File-CALL FOR SPECIAL MEETING.

The Honorable Walter S. Kozubowski, City Clerk, informed the City Council that the following call for a special meeting was filed in the OfHce of the City Clerk on November 30, 1987, at 8:49 A.M.:

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR CITY OF CHICAGO

November 30,1987.

Honorable Walter S. Kozubowski City Clerk, City ofChicago:

I, David D. Orr, Interim Mayor of the City of Chicago, hereby call a special meeting of the City Coimcil ofthe City ofChicago for Tuesday, December 1,1987, at 10:00 A.M. for the sole and only purpose of considering a resolution honoring the memory of Mayor Harold Washington and for no other purpose whatsoever.

This call for a special meeting ofthe City Council is made at the direction ofthe Interim Mayor as authorized by law for the above mentioned purpose.

(Signed) DAVID D. ORR, Interim Mayor.

RESOLUTION HONORING MEMORY OF MAYOR HAROLD WASHINGTON.

Alderman David D. Orr, Interim Mayor, on behalf of himself and the members ofthe City Council presented the following resolution:

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington, beloved leader of the people of the City of Chicago, died in the service of his city; and


WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington distinguished himself in public service, in the office of Chicago's corporation counsel, and as a State Representative, and as a State Senator, and as a United States Representative, and as Mayor of the City of Chicago from April 29,1983, to his death in office on November 25,1987; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington has set an example for progressive reform, across the country and around the world; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington's election and the victories of his five years in office were the victories both of a man and of a movement and coalition; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington was dedicated to the proposition that Chicago should be a city of free citizens working together with an open government; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington led Chicago's progressive movement to victory not by mcdcing easy choices, but by making hard choices; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice for affirmative action, and acted to guarantee equal economic opportunity for blacks and hispanics, for women-owned businesses and small businesses; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice for financial responsibility; and despite many hardhsips, he managed to wipe out Chicago's $168 million deficit, and give his city four years of balanced budgets, resulting in Chicago's best report card in a generation—an "A" from Moody's and an "A" from Standard and Poors; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice to take an honest look at taxes, at the comparative favorable tax rates in Chicago as compared to rates in the suburbs or in other cities; and was not afraid to make the hard decisions on taxes when he believed our city's fiscal health and our human services were at stake; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice to Hght for the fair distribution of C.D.B.G. funds, putting dollars where the neighborhoods were most in need; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice to fight for the rebuilding of our neighborhoods, bringing the case directly to the people of Chicago, and passed the largest neighborhood construction program in Chicago's history; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice to bring reform to the Park District, fighting in the courts and all the way to Springfield, to begin to rebuild toward a new Chicago heritage for our priceless parks and public places; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice to take on all the forces that conspired to keep Chicago's minorities out of power, fighting in the courts and in the legislature, in the neighborhoods and at the Board of Elections, to a victory that gave Chicago a new ward map and a new City Council finally fair to its minorities, and dedicated to his reforms; and


WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice to fight for new ethical standards in city government, first by issuing an Executive Order and then by fighting for an ordinance to give his personal high standards the force of law; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice to uproot patronage at City Hall, to enforce the Shakman process, and to bring collective bargaining to city hiring; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice to fight for the creation of new jobs, through programs like "First Source" and "Hire the Future", persevering despite misunderstanding and political opposition, so that social empowerment and political empowerment could be given living meaning through economic empowerment; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice to defend the Chicago Housing Authority and its residents against policies that would take responsibility away from the people and vest it in a distant bureaucracy, and prevailed in beginning the reform ofthe C.H.A. management; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice to fight for new programs in affordable housing despite federal cutbacks, and sustained a Chicago Housing Partnership that restored thousands of housing units to Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice to fight for Chicago's best interests at O'Hare Airport, developing legislation in Washington, in Springfield, and in our own City Council chambers; building and extending the world's largest airport, on schedule and under budget; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice to build a central public library in Chicago's South Loop, despite the frustration of an organized opposition; and insisted on the collateral development of branch libraries in our neighborhoods as well; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice to push through programs for a revitalized North Loop, beginning with the Chicago Theatre - as part of a central business district revitalization that has brought us over $10 billion of development this decade; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice to reform city management, to institute new cost savings, to install safeguards and competitive bid procedures and end forever the old way of doing business in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington made the hard choice to launch the first real citywide grassroots effort for Education Reform, creating the Education Summit and then fighting to bring true reform to the schools through school- based management and parent empowerment; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington dedicated himself to a health policy that would guarantee health care for everyone living in Chicago, based on a network of public hospitals and community-based health centers; not accepting that our country should be.


along with the Union of South Africa, one of only two industrialized nations without a national health care system; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington committed himself to meeting the challenge of A.I.D.S., helping to find funds for research, for protection and prevention, for education, and to help those already afflicted; tuid

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington worked to meet the challenge of infant mortality, raging against the long deadly sword o£ federal cuts in health care that are reaching even to our unborn, with infant mortality rates twice as high among black infants as others; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington strove to meet the challenge in environmental protection, resolving to devote resources to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink, and to safely dispose of solid waste and toxic materials in the face of quickly mounting new costs of waste treatment and waste disposal; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington brought to Chicago a new image, a new "Spirit ofChicago", a vision of'The City that Works Together", and through his own international travels and through the force of his personality, truly changed the perception of our city to the essence of fairness and caring; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Harold Washington, a true son ofChicago, gave new meaning to the spirit of so many of Chicago's heroes; from pioneers like DuSable and our city's other founders, to the indomitable spirit that renewed Chicago after the great fire; from the irrepressible Jane Addams to those who fought and won the great progressive struggle of 1983; showing us that as a "Second City", Chicago is truly second to none, reminding us that we are a city not just of fighters but of winners; now, therefore.

Be It Resolved by the City Council ofthe City ofChicago:

That the City Coimcil, on behalf of the citizens ofthe city he loved and served so well;

In reference ofthe memory of his humanity and good humor;

In homage to his indomitable spirit;

In respect for his spirit, indomitable courage, and unwillingness to compromise with any temptation that would endanger the soul of his city;

In esteem for his high principles and personal high standards;

In tribute to his acumen and skill in managing a city that would be not only socially and spiritually whole, but also financially sound;

In veneration of his vision, a vision that saw past the divisions of today, to a city united, black and white, Hispanic and Asian and Indian, old and young, fit and disabled, in equality and above all fairness for every person;


In appreciation of his love and support for those who need it most, the poor, the sick, the lost and the forgotten;

In cherished memory of his belief in children, and the special tender care we must visit upon the young if we wish them to renew and nourish society;

Do hereby declare that our day of mourning is past, and our day of thanksgiving for the life and works of Mayor Harold Washington has begun;

And do call upon all citizens ofChicago to remember, today and each Thanksgiving Day, from year to year down the corridors of time, so long as there is a City of Chicago in the United States of America, that the blessings of liberty and equality, so precious to every American, were given special meaning for urban America in this, our 200th year of the Constitution, in the life and works of Mayor Harold Washington;

And that the eternal flame commemorating this man must be the flame that burns in each of us, in a passion for fairness, and a compassion for one another; and

Be It Further Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution be prepared and presented to members of the family, Ms. Mary Ella Smith and Dolores Woods as a permanent remembrance ofthe deep love and affection ofthe citizens ofChicago for its beloved Mayor Harold Washington.

MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE FROM FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER.

Alderman David D. Orr, Interim Mayor, acknowledged the receipt of numerous telegrams and messages of condolence that were received in his office from throughout the world and requested that The Honorable Walter S. Kozubowski, City Clerk, deliver the following message from the former President ofthe United States, Jimmy Carter:

Seventeen days ago, I was in Chicago with Mayor Harold Washington, one of many visits that gave me an opportunity to observe his remarkable popularity and to see the force of his powerful personality. When he walked into this gathering of 1,500 Chicagoans, there was an instantaneous awareness of his presence, and the group rose as one to give him a rousing welcome. This was not a political audience but an assembly of leaders in the field of health care. They recognized his leadership and were grateful for it.

As a candidate and as President of the United States, I have attended too many municipal banquets, conventions, and other events to remember-in fact, I am glad I don't have to remember them all~but I know it is not a common thing for the mayor of any city to enjoy this kind of reception. As he came forward to greet me, we all remembered how tenacious he had to be and what political courage it took for him to establish his leadership when lesser men and women tried various schemes to subvert the will of the people who had chosen him. Harold Washington had proven that he could hold his own-and prevail. In one of the toughest political battlegrounds of all, the City of Chicago, that crowd rose, along with me, to express our admiration and thanks because he had finally been able to


consolidate the city's factions and to evolve bold and exciting plans for the future.

Rosalynn and I have long had a personal interest in Chicago. It was no accident that last year we brought 70 volunteers, mostly from Georgia, to build some houses in West Garfield Park. We worked alongside a number of Chicagoans who contributed both money and labor, including the families who would live in the new homes. These families had no money to give, but were eager to contribute the work to build their own houses and those of their neighbors.

Harold Washington helped to orchestrate the project, making it possible for us to obtain the Habitat building lots at no cost and personally cutting through the red tape and obtaining the necessary permits. This in itself was no small feat. He was there with us in person as well, to let us know that we Georgians were welcome and to let the people of the neighborhood where we were working know that he cared.

He did care. His last words to me a few weeks ago were about his plans to improve education in Chicago. He wanted to have a blue ribbon commission of distinguished citizens but was determined at the same time that the parents and children of the public schools would play a major role as new directions were established to achieve his goals. He had no doubt that he would succeed. "The people are with me", he said.

He was right—not only concerning the people of his own city, but even including some citizens of Plains, Georgia. We were with him. Rosalynn and I want to express our condolences to the family of Mayor Harold Washington and to all of our families who will not have him with us during the year ahead.

He has left Chicago, and America, a great legacy: of excitement, exuberance, laughter, dedication, courage and inspiration. Mr. Mayor, we will miss you.

At this point in the proceedings, expressions of sorrow and words of remembrance about the late Honorable Harold Washington, Mayor, were shared by the following members ofthe City Council, past and present:

Alderman Bloom (5th Ward)

Alderman Caldwell (8th Ward)

Alderman Natarus (42nd Ward)

Alderman Eisendrath (43rd Ward)

Alderman Davis (29th Ward)

Alderman Osterman (48th Ward)

Alderman Sawyer (6th Ward)

Alderman Figueroa (31st Ward)

12/1/87

Alderman Shiller (46th Ward)

Alderman Tillman (3rd Ward)

Alderman Smith (28th Ward)

Alderman Garcia (22nd Ward)

Alderman Jones (20th Ward)

Alderman Kotlarz (35th Ward)

Alderman Streeter (17th Ward)

Alderman T. Evans (4th Ward)

Alderman J. Evans . (21st Ward)

Alderman Hansen (44th Ward)

Alderman Langford (16th Ward)

Alderman Schulter (47th Ward)

Alderman Stone (50th Ward)

Alderman Henry , (24th Ward)

Alderman Soliz (25th Ward)

On motion of Alderman unanimously, by a rising vote.

SPECIAL MEETING 6509

Alderman Gutierrez (26th Ward)

Alderman O'Connor (40th Ward)

Alderman Pucinski (41st Ward)

Alderman Beavers (7th Ward)

Alderman Burke (14th Ward)

Alderman Roti (1st Ward)

Alderman Shaw (9th Ward)

Alderman Rush (2nd Ward)

Alderman Hagopian (30th Ward)

Alderman Giles (37th Ward)

Alderman Mell (33rd Ward)

Alderman Carter (15th Ward)

Alderman Butler (27th Ward)

Mrs. Marion Volini (former Alderman-48th Ward)

Interim Mayor David D. Orr (Alderman~49th Ward)

Bloom, the foregoing proposed resolution was Adopted


During the remarks of Alderman T. Evans, Interim Mayor Orr invited Ms. Mary Ella Smith and Mr. Roy L. Washington (the late Mayor's fiancee and half-brother, respectively) to the Mayor's rostrum where Alderman T. Evans presented them with a resolution received from Mayor Johnny Ford, Mayor of Tuskegee, Alabama and Chairman of the World Conference of Mayors, eulogizing the late Mayor Harold Washington.

BENEDICTION.

Alderman David D. Orr, Interim Mayor, introduced Reverend B. Herbert Martin, Pastor, Progressive Community Church, who offered the following benediction:

Let us receive this benediction and blessing.

Be still and know that I am God. Slow down, help us to listen. Lord. Dear Lord, father of all humankind, forgive our foolish ways. Reclothe us in our rightful mind, that we may have a pure £Uid true understanding of why we are in this place, at this time. Drop thy still views of quietness, till all of our strivings cease. Take from our souls the strain and the stress and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of thy peace. O Divine Redeemer, we need your guidance through this wilderness of change and disorder. Lord, we really don't know which hurt we feel most at this moment. The loss of our leader or the pain of disunity among our leaders. O Lord God, save our leaders from acquiescence and resignation. Move us, God, to keep justice, to love mercy. O Lord diodi who moves in mysterious ways, your wonders to perform . . . hold us steady . . . hold our trembling hands and knocking knees during this time of storm, of upheaval in our city's life. Heavenly Father, these leaders of government are caught in a web of political struggle. They need your presence more now than ever before, as they try their best to reorganize themselves to carry on the work of this great city. Give to them the wisdom and understanding that they need to make an orderly transition. And keep them from sending unclear signals to the people. Keep them from the demonic craze for power, without compassion. Keep them from the lust of oflice and position, without conscience... for all of these things that we covet and strive for on this earth will soon pass away. Fix our minds on more permanent values: the values of peace and justice, and righteousness. And Father, on this day, we, the people of God, lift up our government and leaders to you. By faith in your word and your promise, let them know we trust them, and believe in them, and look to them for leadership in this difficult time, and that if they. Lord, are equivocating and in doubt, then what would they expect of the people. Lord, in your word you said that those of us who are faithful, we can ask whatsoever we would need, believing and not doubting in our hearts, and we shall have it. Right now, in your Blessed Name, we pray for peace between brothers and sisters who work together, and now. Father, find themselves angry and hostile with one another. We pray for peace. And Lord, we pray for that kind of tough love that even we can respect our enemies, and we can respect each other. We pray and ask for unity of mind and spirit. We pray that the spirit of reform, the spirit of renewal and revival in our city may live on, in order that the masses of those people who still go to bed hungry tonight and homeless will no longer be shut out, but one day will be cut in. And now Lord, for our deliberations, be they in secret or in public, remind us in the


word how you said, be not deceived. God is not mocked. Whatsoever you sow, that also shall you reap. So while we have opportimity, let us sow love and peace and goodwill, that the harvest we reap will bless our succeeding generations. Now, go with us from this place, don't take your spirit from us. In the Blessed Name of Jesus, we pray. Let the people say, AMEN.

SOUNDING OF TAPS.

The Chicago Police Department Drum and Bugle Corps sounded taps in honor of the late Hsirold Washington, Mayor ofthe City ofChicago.

RETIREMENT OF COLORS.

The Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department Color Guards thereupon withdrew the colors from the chamber.

Adjourment.

Thereupon, Alderman T. Evans moved that the City Council do Adjourn. The motion Prevailed and the City Council Stood Adjourned.

%h^1<lU.̂

WALTER S. KOZUBOWSKI, City Clerk.

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