Chicago City Wire

Mayor Brandon Johnson's City Council allies quashed an effort to put a non-binding referendum on the April ballot asking voters if spending limits should be set on how tax dollars are used to publicly fund Chicago's "sanctuary city" designation.

After months of chaotic meetings, including the conflict that resulted in the resignation of Mayor Johnson's City Council floor leader, the City Council used a parliamentary move to block holding a vote on Alderman Anthony Beale's controversial proposal to ask voters if Chicago should remain a sanctuary city.

"It is a shame that you all are scared,” Beale said. “What are you scared of to let people have a voice?

In a 33-16 vote on Thursday, the aldermen rejected Beale's request to suspend City Council rules that could have resurrected the referendum proposal. This proposal had been consigned to the Rules Committee, where resolutions typically languish. Post-vote, Beale criticized Johnson's supporters, stating, "I figured you all had something up your sleeve." 

"What are you scared of? The truth? Are we scared of the truth here? Are we afraid that the people going to tell us that we are spending money frivolously in this body? Are we afraid that the people are going to tell us that we are headed in the wrong direction? … Why are we afraid to let the people speak?" Beale said, Beale said, according to CBS News. 

He further expressed the importance of the referendum question. 

"That's all this [referendum] question is asking is to let the people have a say in what's going on in this body. But we are afraid of the truth. Crime is running rampant. Our schools are in trouble."

"We're spending hundreds of millions of dollars on people who don't even pay taxes in this city. I'm all for taking care of people. I get it, I am sympathetic, as well. However, I'm more sympathetic for the people in my community who have been paying taxes their entire life, can’t get a furnace, can’t get a roof, can’t get a hot water heater, can’t get a back porch."

"And my seniors are still starving for resources. That's the question we need to be asking our people when we vote on stuff that is not affecting people in your city that are suffering day in and day out." 

Beale also criticized City Hall for its unchecked expenditure of millions of dollars on migrant issues. He likened it to "taking money out back and burning it up." He argued against spending hundreds of millions of dollars and setting up a migrant camp on contaminated industrial land in Brighton Park only for it all to be destroyed. He emphasized the need for change, stating, "Our people are demanding change. They're demanding resources. And they're demanding that we do something different in this body. But I guess we don't want to do that. We don't want the people to speak."

He concluded his remarks by saying, "We don't want the people to be heard. … I hope you all sleep good at night knowing that you all continue to turn your back on people who continue to pay taxes in the city."

In response to Beale's comments, Mayor Johnson stated he allowed Beale to "speak to an item that no longer exists," out of respect for the council and then adjourned the meeting.