The ordinance, passed 36 to 13, is a compromise between two previously competing proposals from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and community activists who’ve been pushing for several different iterations of police oversight for years.
Chicago aldermen gave final approval to the Bronzeville Lakefront development Wednesday, which is on the site City Hall had hoped to use for its failed 2016 Olympic bid.
Amid complaints of disorder and disrespect, the council pushed off key votes on whether to rename Lake Shore Drive and a broad business package favored by the mayor.
The plan would also create a guaranteed basic income for Chicago’s poorest residents, forgive debt from unpaid water bills and provide housing assistance. Left out are Chicago police, fire and emergency management departments.
After political maneuvering kept Chicago aldermen from voting on the proposal to rename the iconic roadway after DuSable last month, the pitch is expected to be back Wednesday.
The West Side park’s project money is among more than $17 million in tax-increment financing a Chicago City Council committee approved for improvements to parks across the city.