Chicago City Wire

The Chicago City Council has approved allocating an additional $51 million from City funds to address the current migrant crisis.

But many citizens have criticized the move, saying that the money should be used to support the local homeless population.

During the May 31 City Council meeting, the members voted on a proposed allocation of $51 million to address the migrant crisis facing the city. As a Sanctuary City, Chicago has seen more than 8,200 migrants arrive within the last 10 months and is now running out of space and resources to house them.

The proposal for additional funding passed with a vote of 34-13 in favor, a Block Club Chicago report said. The aid will likely only last through June.

"I understand that there is a great deal of energy and positions here, and my hope is that this opportunity for individuals who wish to speak this morning, that we will respect their ability and their position," Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said to open the meeting to public comment. "It’s also important as we move forward, that as individuals wish to signify or an amen corner, I would ask that you do it with some level of decorum. I believe that we can have public discourse without demonstrating the worst part of our debates."

Several citizens criticized the decision, saying the money is needed to support the city's poorest residents.

Carolyn Ruff, founder of Black Lives Matter Women of Faith, encouraged the aldermen to vote against the proposal. She stated that the City should use the funds to provide support for the city's homeless population. She also criticized the City's plan to convert vacant schools into temporary housing for migrants when so many homeless Chicagoans currently need shelter.

"We have not opened up the schools for our homeless," Ruff said in the meeting. "We see them in the streets every day. I make sure that the homeless are fed, with clothing. We need to take care of our community. We need to take care of our Black community. We need to open up these schools for mental health. We have a lot of mental health people walking around needing help."

Ruff berated the council and City for forgetting about the members of their own community who have not received such large amounts of aid or attention despite their long-standing issues.

“We have not gotten anything for our community, and we are sick and tired of being sick and tired,” Ruff said. “Enough is enough! And I voted for you Brandon, Mayor Brandon. I voted for you, I worked hard to get you in there. ... Please, do the right thing for the Black community, for the brown community, for the community, for the homeless community, and the people that need help mentally.”