With an assist from Gov. J. B. Pritzker, Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday survived a crucial test of her City Council muscle that uncomfortably pitted her against members of the Black Caucus.
The issue was whether or not to delay recreational marijuana sales in Chicago for six months to give African-American and Hispanic entrepreneurs a chance to get a piece of the action after being shut out of the first group of owners.
The vote to block the six-month delay was 29 to 19. That means the sale of recreational weed can proceed as scheduled on Jan. 1. The vote followed a dizzying array of mayoral rulings, aldermanic appeals and procedural votes. The closest of those votes was 26 to 22.
The tension was reminiscent of Council Wars, when 29 mostly white aldermen led by Edward R. Vrdolyak (10th) and Edward Burke (14th) blocked then-Mayor Harold Washington’s every move.
It all started when Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) and Brendan Reilly (42nd) moved to put off a vote on the six-month delay. With that, Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) moved to adjourn the meeting.
Aldermen voted 32-16 not to adjourn. When it became clear that Lightfoot had the votes to kill the six-month delay, Villegas withdrew his earlier motion and pushed for a final vote.
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Just 24 hours earlier, the six-month delay had squeaked through a City Council committee by a vote of 10 to 9. Villegas predicted then that the Black Caucus had the votes in the full Council, potentially costing cash-strapped Chicago $5 million and the state a whole lot more.
What changed overnight?
A lot of arm-twisting by the mayor’s office and a Pritzker promise to earmark two of five new medical marijuana dispensary licenses — to be located in Hyde Park and Chinatown, aldermen said — to so-called social equity applicants.
The new medical-only licenses were approved earlier this year as a part of a state law making the medical-marijuana program permanent. Details on when those will be awarded are still be worked out by state officials.
“That is a win,” said Ald. Michael Scott Jr. (24th), especially after getting assurances that once the shops are up and running owners will be able to get a recreational license and be able to open a second location — something the state has allowed for the medical dispensaries already in business.
“You’d have essentially four licenses that are African-American,” said Scott.
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The two social equity licenses were also enough to convince Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) to vote with Lightfoot and against the six-month delay.
“We’ve got to understand when we have some wins, man. ... Are we responsible if we just fight and lose? Or are we more responsible if we fight, we negotiate, we compromise and we win for our community?” Burnett said.
When a heckler in the gallery denounced Burnett as a “sell-out,” the aldermen blew his cool.
“All of these punks in the crowd on Facebook and all that stuff who talk all that smack … Who cares what they say? Bump them. Bump them,” Burnett said in remarks mistaken by some members of the media as profanity.
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Burnett and Scott were joined by five other members of the 20-member Black Caucus: Pat Dowell (3rd); Michelle Harris (8th); Chris Taliaferro (29th); Emma Mitts (37th) and Matt Martin (47th).
But other members stood their ground.
Ald. David Moore was so incensed by the defections, he said he was leaving a Black Caucus that didn’t stand up for African-Americans.
“If we don’t stand up for our community as African American aldermen, then what the hell do they need us for?” said Ald. Howard Brookins (21st). “We’re not rubber stamps for this mayor or anybody else.”
Normally, City Council votes are well-orchestrated. Mayoral allies know exactly how many votes they can count on.
That was not the case Wednesday. There was genuine suspense. African American aldermen left the Council floor to huddle in a backroom. Mayoral allies conferred with Lightfoot on the rostrum.
When it was over, Lightfoot denied that there would be any residual impact on her relationship with the Black Caucus.
“I don’t think this was about me and them. … We all support the notion that we must have equity. It’s what I ran on. ... But, as my mother always says, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it. … Delay without any kind of strategy behind it is a useless exercise,” she said.
Noting that Pritzker made “specific concessions,” Lightfoot said, “In the words of one alderman, sometimes you just have to take a win. That’s what today was about.”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot presides over the monthly Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday morning, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Alds. Stephanie Coleman (16th), Roderick Sawyer (6th) and David Moore (17th) stand and watch their colleagues vote on an attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, during a contentious Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) yells during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Carrie Austin (34th) yells during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) speaks during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Mayor Lori Lightfoot spars with Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) during a contentious Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) spars with Mayor Lori Lightfoot during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) spars with Mayor Lori Lightfoot during a contentious Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) speaks during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Michael Scott Jr. (24th) holds his head during a contentious Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) attends the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) speaks during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) speaks during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) spars with Mayor Lori Lightfoot during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Mayor Lori Lightfoot spars with Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. David Moore (17th) speaks during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Mayor Lori Lightfoot presides over the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) chats with Mayor Lori Lightfoot during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) chats with Mayor Lori Lightfoot during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th) speaks during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26th) chats with Mayor Lori Lightfoot during a contentious Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) speaks during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks with Corporation Counsel Mark Flessner (left) and Deputy Corporation Counsel Jeff Levine (right) during a contentious Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Howard Brookins Jr. (21st) speaks to reporters during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Alds. Jason Ervin (28th), Roderick Sawyer (6th) and David Moore (17th) chat during a contentious Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) yells to Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) during a contentious Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Michele Smith (43rd) chats with Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th) before the start of the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) chats with another alderman during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. David Moore (17th) speaks to reporters after a contentious Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Ald. Howard Brookins Jr. (21st) speaks to reporters during the monthly Chicago City Council meeting, where aldermen were scheduled to vote on attempt by the Black Caucus to delay sales of recreational marijuana in Chicago for six months to give African American and Hispanic people a chance to get a piece of the action, at City Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Effort to delay recreational pot sales fails after gov promises to give 2 new licenses to owners of color - Chicago Sun-Times
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