Chicago City Wire

Cook County Board of Commissioners Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee met Nov. 16.

Here is the agenda provided by the committee:

Virtual Meeting

NOTICE AND AGENDA

There will be a meeting of the Committee or Subcommittee of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County at the date, time and location listed above to consider the following:

PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Authorization as a virtual public speaker shall only be granted to those individuals who have submitted in writing, their name, email address, phone number, subject matter, and organization (if any) to the Secretary 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Duly authorized virtual public speakers shall be sent a link to virtually attend the meeting and will be called upon to deliver testimony at a time specified in the meeting agenda. Authorized public speakers who are not present during the specified time for public testimony will forfeit their allotted time to speak at the meeting. Public testimony must not exceed three minutes; the Secretary will keep track of the time and advise when the time for public testimony has expired. After each speaker has completed their statement, they will be removed from the meeting. Once removed, you will still be able to follow the proceedings for that day at: https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/watch-live-board-proceedings or in a viewing area at 69 W.Washington Street, 22nd Floor Conference Room F, Chicago, IL. Persons authorized to provide public testimony shall not use vulgar, abusive, or otherwise inappropriate language when addressing the Board; failure to act appropriately; failure to speak to an item that is germane to the meeting, or failure to adhere to the time requirements may result in expulsion from the meeting and/or disqualify the person from providing future testimony. Written comments will not be read aloud at the meeting, but will be posted on the meeting page and made a part of the meeting record.

21-5752

Sponsored by: BRIDGET DEGNEN, Cook County Board of Commissioners

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

A RESOLUTION REQUESTING A HEARING ASSESSING THE NEEDS OF THE AFGHAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND AFGHAN REFUGEES RESETTLED IN COOK COUNTY

WHEREAS, on August 30, 2021 the United States military ended a nearly 20-year occupation of Afghanistan. The war ultimately ended in a collapse of the Afghan government and an overtaking of the government by the Taliban; and

WHEREAS, according to reports, the United States is preparing to bring 50,000 Afghan refugees into the United States in the next year, with at least 500 expected to be resettled in Cook County; and

WHEREAS, on September 22, 2021, 75 unaccompanied minors from Afghanistan arrived in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, due to catastrophic violence and bloodshed, recent Afghan Refugees and Asylum Seekers have fled their country, home and families and will require their basic human needs be met through community and government support as they resettle in Cook County; and

WHEREAS, the greater Cook County community has identified a desire and willingness to support Afghan Refugees and Asylum Seekers, but a list of specific needs and services, along with streamlined collection point is required to organize a response; and

WHEREAS, the IL Muslim Civic Coalition has built partnerships with over 150 local, regional, and national organizations to collectively impact underserved and often invisible communities, including Afghan Refugees and Asylum Seekers;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Human Rights Commission is called to a hearing before the Legislation and Intergovernmental Committee with the IL Muslim Civic Coalition and its partners, RefugeeOne and the Muslim Women Resource Center, along with any other relevant organizations selected by the Human Rights Commission to discuss and identify the needs of recent Afghan Refugees and Afghan Asylum Seekers and make recommendations to the Cook County Board and the greater Cook County community on how it may marshal resources to support this refugee community; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, within 60 days after the hearing, the Cook County Human Rights Commission will provide a report to the Cook County Board detailing the outcome of the hearing and documenting methods to best support the short and long term needs of recent Afghan Refugees and Asylum Seekers.

Legislative History: 10/7/2021 Board of Commissioners refer to the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Legislative History: 10/7/2021 - Board of Commissioners - reconsider

Legislative History: 10/7/2021 Board of Commissioners refer to the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations

https://cook-county.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx