CHICAGO URBAN DAILY
By Chicago Urban Daily Staff
CHICAGO (CHICAGO URBAN DAILY)— Wednesday was a showdown day at City Hall, and renters were at the center of it.
CHICAGO URBAN DAILY
By Chicago Urban Daily Staff
Mayor Brandon Johnson won an early round in the fight over Chicago’s 600,000 renters when the City Council’s Housing Committee voted 12-9 to advance his revised Protecting Renters Ordinance. The mayor dropped the controversial “just cause” provision — which would have forced landlords to pay relocation costs to no-fault evicted tenants — to get it through. Earlier drafts also axed a $10,000 payout for tenants pushed out by steep rent hikes, after critics called it a backdoor to rent control.
But nothing is settled. Ald. Gilbert Villegas is pushing a competing plan, the Fair and Accountable Rental Ordinance, backed by some of the same real estate interests that killed the “Bring Chicago Home” referendum. Villegas calls Johnson’s plan “a rent tariff” that will get passed straight to renters. Full-council action on both measures is now deferred to a later meeting this fall. If one passes, it would be the first major update to Chicago renter protections in more than four decades.
Meanwhile, a second brawl broke out over the city’s credit card. Retiring Ald. Marty Quinn is pushing to require 30 votes instead of 26 to approve future borrowing — because 40% of Chicago’s operating budget is already eaten by pension and debt payments. The Finance Committee backed the reform 21-9 on Monday, but the mayor’s closest ally, Budget Chair Jason Ervin, used a parliamentary move to stall the final vote at Wednesday’s council meeting.
Stay tuned to Chicago Urban Daily for updates on this developing story.
Reported by Chicago Urban Daily News. Visit chicagourbandailynews.com for updates.
