Editor’s note: Paul Breslin wrote this letter to the mayor and City Council ahead of their March 11 meeting. All emphasis is his own.
Mayor Biss and Members of Council:
In making contracts behind our backs that commit millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money, you have forgotten another contract – the social contract, which is measured not in dollars but in trust. That contract says that to be legitimate, a government requires consent of the governed. Three recent maneuvers by our city’s government persuade me that it is time to withhold that consent.
FIRST came the attempt, in June 2023, to keep HRG’s oversized Chicago Ave. building proposal afloat, despite negative votes in the Land Use Commission and the Planning and Development Committee. A council member moved approval and received no second. When the same council member’s motion to table approval for a later vote was defeated, the mayor urged him to withdraw it to avoid sinking the proposal. The former city attorney claimed that Robert’s Rules of Order (RRO) justifies this intervention. It does not. RRO explicitly states that withdrawal must happen BEFORE voting on the motion begins (RRO, 12th ed., 33:11-33:16, pp. 278-279).
SECOND, the complaint filed by the Most Livable City group in the Circuit Court of Cook County credibly alleges that negotiations for the NU stadium agreement involved numerous closed meetings of the mayor and pro-stadium council members with representatives of Northwestern. Neither the public nor skeptical members of Council were informed that these meetings took place, or what agreements were reached in them.
THIRD came the illegal, closed-session authorization of an exclusive contract with JLL to broker any future sale of the current city hall, for a commission of 5-6% – estimated at $500,000 to $600,000 or more. AND a 15-year, $37 million lease negotiated by this same broker. But this time you were caught. The Attorney General’s review concluded that you violated the Open Meetings Act.
To begin restoring our trust, please stay the mandated re-vote on the JLL contract until a later open meeting, so that, for once, we all have time to look before Council leaps.
Paul Breslin
First Ward
Thank you for this Mr. Breslin!
Our “Special Order of Business” Mayor has repeatedly disenfranchised the people he and most members of our City Council are obligated to act on behalf of as our fiduciaries. Sadly, this is not happening. I wonder if Mayor Biss thinks this is going to help him in what appears to be his political ambitions of running for Jan Schakowsky’s seat when she no longer wishes to occupy it. I doubt it!
Furthermore, the sheer hubris of ignoring the nearly universal sentiments of the Citizenry to STAY and FIX (Renovate) the current Morton Civic Center in a past Referendum is just another insult to the people who elected him (and the other Alders).
On Monday (3/18) I stood out in front of the Civic Center to informally poll early voters… After only 2 hours (1 in the morning and 1 in the late afternoon). More than 90% of the dozens polled still want our City Government located 2100 Ridge Ave. Mr. Mayor, PLEASE LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE… as if your political fortunes depend on it!
Brian G. Becharas 9th Ward
In the greater scheme of things, this may sound petty. The “bag tax” was also approved without citizen input by, perhaps, a referendum or a public vote. However, it certainly reflects the power and arrogance of the council, I believe. Shopping in Skokie has been my answer, sadly!