The City Council voted 34-13 for $51 million in emergency services and housing to be disbursed for asylum seekers in Chicago. But it was not without great consternation and tension from gallery members at the city council.
Since the first bus arrived in August, more than 8,000 women, men and children have come to Chicago. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has overseen the shipping of these asylum seekers from Southern border towns to Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C.
$51M from the city’s 2021 budget surplus
Here in the city, the influx of these persons has triggered a humanitarian crisis. Furious debates among city residents have flared up over housing asylum seekers in their communities.
In early May, a group of South Shore residents vehemently opposed a plan to open up the first floor of a former high school in their community to them. But, last week, the city opened Wilbur Wright College on the Northwest side to house 300 asylum seekers.
A popular sentiment among people who oppose providing emergency housing to these new arrivals is what the city does for existing homeless people and struggling residents.
That sentiment and more were expressed during a spirited Wednesday city council meeting with people opposed to the ordinance chanting, “No justice, no peace.”
Before the vote, city alderpersons voiced their opinions on the ordinance.
“The soul of Chicago is somewhat on trial,” said Ald. David Moore, who opposed the ordinance. “Make sure you put your mask on first before you help someone else. And so we have to put our mask on first, and we have to help the residents of this city.”
The Chicago Defender will continue to update this story throughout the day.
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