Chicago City Wire

Chicago 33rd Ward Alderman Rossana Rodriguez and 40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez both voted to sell Chicago’s drinking water to Joilet but now are using the issue to say mayoral candidate Paul Vallas should not be elected. 

The office of the City Clerk recorded Rodriguez and Vasquez both voting to sell Chicago water to Joliet. 

“(P)art of the negotiations between the Parties relating to entering into the Water Supply Agreement, the Parties have reached an understanding regarding certain key terms that would provide a basis for an ongoing, long-term agreement between Chicago and Joliet,” the city’s ordinance approving the water sharing agreement reads. 

That agreement is for 100 years and is worth a reported $1 billion to the City of Chicago. Many aldermen said the rate at Chicago sold water to Joliet is lower than what residents pay. 

“If you want your residents to pay higher [rates] than what we’re selling it for, that’s on you. But I want residents of the West Side of Chicago to get the best deal possible for the water that they’re purchasing. If somebody’s getting a better rate, we want that same rate for our folks as well,” 28th Ward Alderman Jason Ervin said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Despite voting for the ordinance sending water downstate at a discount, the pair have now taken to lambasting Vallas for discussing the city’s freshwater resources. At issue was a tweet by Activate Chicago Parents. 

“When asked what he loved about Chicago, Paul Vallas oddly said 'We're like the Saudi Arabia of fresh water!' laughed like a supervillain, and said if only we would use our water 'right.' Talking about climate change and privatizing fresh water in the same breath,” Activate Chicago Parents said on Twitter.

Even though Vasquez voted to sell Chicago’s water himself, he singled out Vallas’s comments and said he was not ready for the 5th-floor office. Vasquez tweeted “Disaster/Vulture capitalism is NOT Chicago needs from its leadership.” 

Rodriguez – who also voted to sell Chicago’s water to Joliet at a reduced rate – piled on, and has said “We can’t afford to have this man as Mayor. Please come out and help us get @Brandon4Chicago elected,” on Twitter.