Chicago's Democratic Socialist Caucus

Democratic Socialist Caucus Applauds Committee Passage of Bodily Autonomy Sanctuary City Ordinance

The ordinance will protect the right to abortion and gender-affirming care in Chicago

Chicago, IL (Thursday, September 8, 2022) – Today, the Chicago City Council’s Committee on Health and Human Relations unanimously approved the Bodily Autonomy Sanctuary City Ordinance (S02022-2486).

The ordinance will protect the right to seek or provide abortion, reproductive, or gender-affirming care by prohibiting the Chicago Police Department and city officials from enforcing anti-choice or anti-trans out-of-state laws.

The ordinance was first introduced and championed by Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (33rd Ward) and her co-sponsors Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward), Alderman Matt Martin (47th Ward), and Alderwoman Maria Hadden (49th Ward).

The following is a statement from the Democratic Socialist Caucus of the Chicago City Council:

"We applaud the committee passage of the Bodily Autonomy Sanctuary City Ordinance and the efforts of our caucus members – Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez and Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa – in bringing forward this ordinance. Our colleagues formed a coalition of healthcare providers, reproductive rights organizations, LGBTQ rights organizations, and civil liberties advocates to advance this ordinance. We look forward to working with our Council colleagues to ensure the passage of this important ordinance before the full City Council later this month. In the face of out-of-state anti-choice and anti-trans legislation, we must ensure Chicago is leading in protecting and enshrining the right of all people to seek or provide abortions, reproductive care, or gender-affirming care.”

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The Democratic Socialist Caucus of the Chicago City Council is a multiracial coalition of alderpeople representing portions of 21 neighborhoods on the south, north, northwest, and lower west sides of Chicago. We are 33rd Ward Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez (Chair), 1st Ward Alderman Daniel La Spata, 20th Ward Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor, 25th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, and 35th Ward Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. The caucus works to center working-class Chicagoans and movements for justice in their legislative work.

CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST CAUCUS STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF 2022 CITY BUDGET

When progressive alderpersons and community groups proposed cash assistance to help working poor Chicagoans, Mayor Lightfoot and her allies blocked the proposal.

When progressive alderpersons and community groups demanded a reversal of decades of disinvestment in our city's public mental health clinics, it was Mayor Lightfoot who fought us every step of the way.

When Chicago received $1.9 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funding, Mayor Lightfoot proposed giving Wall Street a majority of those funds. Chicago's progressive budget coalition demanded that those funds be invested in our neighborhoods instead.

The significant investments in social services included in Chicago's 2022 budget result from relentless organizing by Chicago's progressive budget coalition and a multi-racial working-class movement of Chicagoans fighting for change.

Thanks to the work of progressive and socialist alderpersons and grassroots community groups, Chicago's 2022 budget invests hundreds of millions of our city's American Rescue Plan dollars in our city's neighborhoods. And the 2022 budget includes:
▪︎direct cash assistance to disadvantaged Chicago families,
▪︎a 72% increase in the city's public mental health clinic staffing,
▪︎and significant investments in housing, homelessness services, violence prevention, and environmental justice.

While we're proud of what Chicago's multi-racial working-class movement has delivered, banks, corporations, and the FOP still hold too much sway at City Hall. Mayor Lightfoot chose to effectively give over half a billion of our city's pandemic relief funds to Wall Street. Chicago's 2022 budget invests more in policing than the social services and programs that are proven to prevent crime and keep us safe. That is why we voted no on the 2021 budget amendment - to reject Mayor Lightfoot's transfer of our relief dollars to Wall Street and the FOP. And that's why we'll continue to fight for the change and investments our city needs.

Today, we reflect on the words of legendary Chicago labor leader Karen Lewis, who said: "We fight to get to the next plateau to then fight again." We've reached a new plateau on funding for our city's public mental health clinics, direct cash assistance, and more. Now we fight again.

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WE STAND WITH STRIKING NABISCO WORKERS

The following is a statement from Alds. Daniel La Spata (1), Jeanette Taylor (20), Byron Sigcho (25), Rossana Rodriguez (33), and Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35):

Nabisco workers across the United States and in Chicago are on strike for fair pay, fair scheduling, benefits, and dignified working conditions. It's shameful that Mondelez International has forced Chicago members of the Bakery, Confectionary, To***co Workers and Grain Millers (BCTWM) International Union to go on strike - but as long as BCTGM Local 1 workers are on strike they can count on our support and the support of workers across Chicago.

We call on all Chicagoans to:

(1) Join us in supporting the worker-backed boycott of Nabisco products, including Oreos, Ritz Crackers, Triscuits, Chips Ahoy, Wheat Thins, Nutter Butter cookies and belVita breakfast biscuits. No contract, no snacks!

(2) Join us on the picket line this Saturday, September 4 at 12pm at 7300 S. Kedzie.

(3) Donate what they can to help striking BCTGM workers: https://gofund.me/b0139ede

When striking workers win, all workers win! Our caucus supports BCTGM workers in this fight.

All five members of our caucus joined with 12 alderpersons in sending a letter to President Biden letting him know that refugees are welcome in Chicago. Democratic socialists say !

We're proud to have a fearless fighter for justice and Black lives in our caucus. We stand with Jeanette!

Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 26 at 3pm join Alds. Jeanette Taylor, Byron Sigcho. Rossana Rodriguez, and Carlos Ramirez-Rosa to show that the clear answer to the so-called worker "shortage" is clear: pay them a full, fair wage.

www.biy.ly/wagestrikechi

Today, the Chicago City Council's Black Caucus announced their support of the CPAC-GAPA unity ordinance for civilian oversight and community control of policing.

The Democratic Socialist Caucus is proud to stand with the Black Caucus, Latino Caucus, and Progressive Caucus in supporting the Empowering Communities for Public Safety Ordinance.

Black Caucus backs civilian police oversight compromise over Lightfoot’s objection The Black Caucus is joining the Hispanic and Progressive caucuses on the City Council to back a compromise oversight plan. Supporters say that gives them enough votes to override a mayoral veto.

Did you miss yesterday's Ben Joravsky Show?

Listen to veteran Chicago journalist Ben Joravsky interview all 5 members of Chicago's Democratic Socialist Caucus here: www.bit.ly/joravskychisocialists

HAPPENING RIGHT NOW: Tune in to the Ben Joravsky Show for our first group interview as Chicago's Democratic Socialist Caucus!

Tune in: www.chicagoreader.com/joravsky

The Ben Joravsky Show Listen to the livestream every Tuesday through Friday from 1 PM to 3 PM (or a bit longer) and new podcast episodes daily —all at chicagoreader.com/joravsky

As democratic socialists we organize collective, not act individually.

Read our full caucus principles and sign up for updates at: www.chicagosocialistcaucus.org

We know the safest communities are ones with the most investment and resources, not police. As a caucus, we're working to divest from harmful and ineffective policing and invest in policies and programs that are effective at reducing violence.

Read our full platform and sign up for updates at: www.chicagosocialistcaucus.org

Today, we’re announcing the formal creation of the Democratic Socialist Caucus of the Chicago City Council. The following is our statement:

"On this day 135 years ago, 80,000 Chicagoans marched down Michigan Avenue demanding an eight-hour work day with no cut in pay. 350,000 workers marched nationwide. This worker-led movement delivered increased pay and a shorter work-day for American workers. Today - as Chicagoans march for worker's rights, immigrant rights, and an end to racist policing - we are reminded that working class people and their movements are the strongest force for positive change.

We are forming the Democratic Socialist Caucus to center working class Chicagoans and their movements for justice in our legislative efforts. We know that it is through bringing together working class communities from across Chicago that we can achieve the power needed to defeat rich and powerful special interests at City Hall. After all, bringing together working class Chicagoans to defeat special interests is how we all got elected.

There's so much work for us to do to address the shared challenges our communities face of wealth inequality, climate change, police violence, and structural racism. That is why we are forming the Democratic Socialist Caucus of the Chicago City Council, to organize collectively - not act individually- and shift the balance of power between the working class and capitalist class. Together we will fight for our communities, for our Chicago, and for a Chicago for all."

Tune in to the Ben Joravsky Show on Wednesday, May 5 at 1:15 to hear us take questions and discuss the formation of our caucus. Connect with us here on Facebook: Chicago's Democratic Socialist Caucus, or on Twitter: www.twitter.com/chisocialists

Happy May Day! Happy International Workers' Day! Workers of the world, unite!

In solidarity,

Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, Chair, 35th Ward
Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, 33rd Ward
Byron Sigcho Lopez, 25th Ward
Jeanette B. Taylor, 20th Ward
Daniel La Spata, 1st Ward