Chicago City Council
Is Chicago an open and transparent city when it comes to conducting the public’s business? No, say two Chicago area activists who sued the city alleging that the city violated the Open Meetings Act.
Andy Thayer and Rick García, two Chicago area activists, said that during the May and June meetings of the City Council the public was prevented from attending the public meetings “while numerous apparent guests and employees of the Council and/or Mayor were allowed to ‘jump the line’ and occupy the chamber, effectively barring the general public.”
Even though he was one of the first persons in line, Thayer said, he was forced to wait in line for two hours.
This display of “packing the City Council,” to prevent opposition or discussion of the issues, said Thayer is a violation of the Open Meetings Act.
The Act states in part “Citizens shall be given advance notice of and the right to attend all meetings at which any business of a public body is discussed or acted upon in any way… The provisions for exceptions to the open meeting requirements shall be strictly construed against closed meetings.”
Both García and Thayer criticized the Emanuel administration of going back on its promise of having an open and transparent government.
According to the two activists who filed the lawsuit today, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has pledged “the most open, accountable, and transparent government that the City of Chicago has ever seen.”
But according to some activists, who have decades of experience in attending City Council meetings note that under Mayor Emanuel, the council meetings are even less accessible than under Richard M. Daley.
If the two local activists win the lawsuit, the court would invalidate the decisions that took place at the May and June meetings of the City Council. The courts could also file and injunction against preventing a lock out of the public at such future meetings.
“One of the things politicians fear most is getting caught double dealing with the public’s interest and getting caught and then exposed,” said a Latino activist who asked that his name not be used.
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Antonio Zavala is a freelance writer who lives in Chicago and writes about the people and neighborhoods of Chicago.