It's always tempting to think of an alderman operating solely within his/her ward boundaries and influencing only what goes on there, so we always forget they make laws and set policies for the city as a whole. Luckily, the City Council isn't as myopic as we are, so Wednesday they formed committees.
This is how Uptown's aldermen will serve:
- Cappleman: Committee on the Budget and Government Operations; Committee on Committees, Rules and Ethics; Committee on Health and Environmental Protection; Committee on Housing and Real Estate; Committee on License and Consumer Protection; Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety; Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards.
- Osterman: Committee on Committees, Rules and Ethics; Committee on Education and Child Development; Committee on Finance; Committee on Public Safety.
- Pawar: Committee on Committees, Rules and Ethics; Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development; Committee on Public Safety; Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation; Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards.
In another development that might impact Uptown, Mayor Emanuel today formed a panel to look into TIFs. According to
Clout Street,
"Emanuel said he was surprised to learn standards are not already in place to determine whether specific taxing districts -- in which the city diverts property tax money to improve infrastructure, provide tax incentives for businesses or construct schools, libraries and other public buildings -- are successful." Sounds like a very good thing, indeed.
http://data.cityofchicago.org/Government/TIF-Projection-Reports-Wilson-Yard/ficu-jtbu
ReplyDeleteSad how they can't seem to get Cappleman's name right (it started with his city hall door and now continues through official gov't records).
ReplyDeleteCommittee on Committees. Gotta love that. I hope they have a committee overseeing that.
ReplyDelete/I know the Rules and Ethics after the comma goes with it. It reduces the funny though.
"Committee on Committees. Gotta love that. I hope they have a committee overseeing that."
ReplyDeletelol, bureaucracy ftl
I'd love to see them cut the number of alderman in half, but don't want to see them take away our new alderman. I hope a committee will look into that.
ReplyDeleteCommittee on Committees, aw you guys beat me to it. But I will say it anyway, I am starting the Committee on Committees on Committees.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the problem?
"Well, its stuck in Committee."
"What should we do?"
"Take it up with the Committee on Committees."
And on and on....
Seems to me Cappleman's committees are in real estates/zoning which are all he's interested in. None in public safety/police????????
ReplyDeleteWe had shots fired again tonight in Uptown.
I'll be watching what this man does.
Local working stiff
ReplyDeleteHe has a position on the traffic and pedestrian safety committee. The committee which deals with crime I assume is an appointment that only senior council members get appointed to.
It is one of the most important issues to all citizens and thus becomes a coveted position.
I think we are much better now when it comes to crime solutions in the 46th ward than we have been for over 30 years.
@localworkingstiff
ReplyDeleteI think those (real estate/zoning) are the exact type of committees we need him to be on to make the biggest difference in the public safety department.
Local Working Stiff -- the big muckety-mucks (Emanuel, Burke and floor leader Pat O'Connor) assign aldermen to committees.
ReplyDeleteIt's not like high school, where the aldermen join whatever committees they think would be fun and/or look good on their college applications.
Osterman got the best committee deal (Finance & Police). Pretty decent deal to get both oversight duties on taxes and public safety for a freshman alderman.
ReplyDeleteCappleman got second best (not great) deal with Budget, License, and Buildings/Zoning. At least on Budget he gets to weigh in on city spending every fall during budget season.
Pewar got a distant third with a seat on Buildings/Zoning and nowhere else he can make too much ruckus.
99% of the time, the Zoning Committee does whatever the alderman of the ward a project is located in wants. Zoning sounds prestigious but start messing with other aldermen's zoning wishes and see how much you get done the next four years.
Pewar scored an impressive upset, looks like the old dinosaurs at City Hall are making sure he can't upset too much else right out of the gate in his new gig.