Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Politics / Clout City / News Aldermen examine new protest rules before doing what they're told
Posted by Mick Dumke on Tue, Jan 17, 2012 at 7:46 PM
Aldermen didn’t get much time to study Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s newest proposals for tightening protest regulations before they came before two City Council committees Tuesday. In the latest episode of an ongoing story, most of the new rules were handed out to aldermen a few minutes after the start of the meeting called to approve them.
Nor could our council representatives have possibly gotten the message that their constituents are in favor of the plans to deputize police from outside Chicago, restrict access to public parks and beaches, raise fees for parades and marches, and require preapproval from the city for the use of large signs, banners, or sound equipment. Scores of opponents ripped the proposals in a demonstration before the committee hearings and in testimony to aldermen.
Plus, a number of the aldermen expressed their own concerns about the intent and impact of the proposals, pushed by Emanuel in advance of the NATO and G8 summits Chicago will host in May. “I think we all agree on the need to prepare,” said 44th Ward alderman Tom Tunney. “But my question is with the First Amendment part of this.”
On the other hand, the mayor wanted the proposals passed.
In short, they were passed. The full City Council is expected to approve them tomorrow.
Administration allies did their part to stress that the mayor had given ground. Originally the proposals would have also raised the fines for resisting arrest to as high as $2,000. They also would have required prior consent for not just large signs and sound systems but medium and small ones too. The administration backed down on those plans after being criticized by everyone from career protesters to the not-quite-so-left-wing editorial board at Crain’s Chicago Business.
And so the first question of the first hearing Tuesday was literally read off the page by James Balcer, Vietnam veteran, alderman of the 11th Ward, and reliable friend of Chicago mayors. “Do you share the public’s concern about the increased fine for resisting police officers and First Amendment issues?”
Somehow, police superintendent Garry McCarthy was ready for that one. “I didn’t really have that concern,” he said. “But after hearing the voices, and in collaboration with the administration, the police department, and the public, we decided to pull that off the table.”
Thirty-first Ward alderman Ray Suarez, hardly a frequent dissenter himself, wanted clarity about another point—who’s going to be on the hook for the estimated $40 million to $65 million expense of hosting the summits this spring?
“That has not been determined,” McCarthy said.
Suarez looked confused. “In our briefings we were led to believe that the federal government will cover the cost of this thing. Now you’re telling me something different.”
A number of administration officials and fellow aldermen jumped in to tell Suarez he shouldn’t worry, since the city had appealed to federal officials and was planning to apply for grants to cover the expenses. “I’ve been assured it will not cost the city,” said Carrie Austin, the council’s budget committee chair.
Making another familiar argument, Austin also convinced her colleagues that there was no need to delay passage of the ordinances, since they could always be tweaked later. “We have three more City Council meetings before May,” she said.
The other aldermen did the math, and it turned out Austin was right.
Comments (6)
Showing 1-6 of 6
Were is reformer bull shit artist Alderman Waguespack on this issue? Its everything a independent stands on...freedom to protest...freedom to diagree ...freedom to rally and bring attention to issues!!!
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Hugh, who does bear60640 from Uptown Update work for?
http://www.uptownupdate.com/2011/12/if-it-…
Just asking, you show an astonishing lack of understanding of how ANY office works, let alone the office of an elected official. You honestly believe that the "minions" who reply for Cappleman don't KNOW what his positions are? Do you think that they just decide on how to reply to inquiries entirely on their own, in a vacuum? Do you think that they just sit in a dark room in a basement without ever seeing or communicating with Cappleman? Or do you think that Cappleman gets beamed into and out of his office without ever having contact with his staff? I don't work for him, but frankly, your insinuations are an insult to me and to all other people who work for the public in support positions--we don't get the luxury of deciding policy, let alone deciding what our bosses' positions are on any number of issues without getting marching orders first.
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And while we are at it, is Tonia Lorenz "Caring Neighbor" from Uptown Update? Your pal Cappleman, of course, has been taking a bold stance on the free speech issue.
http://twitter.com/#!/JamesCappleman/statu…
James Cappleman
We talk about right to protest. Would like to see MLK's approach to protesting being used more. 13 Jan via web
http://twitter.com/#!/JamesCappleman/statu…
Philip DeVon
I just asked my Alderman face2face if he will oppose Rahms free speech stifling ordinance push. He said given current info: he is against it 12 Jan
James Cappleman
@PhilipDeVon1 I said I was opposed to it, but after a briefing today, I want more info to make an informed decision. 12 Jan via web
Hugh....what does that have to do with Freedom of Speech.....Biotch!
Here's an example.
http://toolserver.org/~snottywong/cgi-bin/…
Found 420 edits by User:HughD on Helen Shiller (72.66% of the total edits made to the page)
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Hugh, are you the guy who contributed this gem?
"[Brendan Shiller] currently works as a lawyer defending criminals and suing police officers."
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