@CHIdocumenters 🧵1: The meeting is called to order and the session begins at 10:09 with public comment. Commenters advocate for more funding for the Dept of Public Health to combat COVID & address health inequities Another calls for reparations for descendants of enslaved Africans

@CHIdocumenters 🧵2: More commenters advocate for the Dept of Family and Support Services to adopt the Peace Book Ordinance erasethedatabase.com/peace-book/

🧵3: The meeting moves into hearing the budget proposal adjustments for the City Clerk's office. City Clerk Ana Valencia introduces her staff and provides updates on its key programs including the City Key and mobile City Hall programs.

🧵4: Ald. Harris advocates the Clerk's office to provide online City Key services due to increased demand due to new arrivals in the city. Clerk Valencia says there is demand for an online system, but her office couldn't find the funding this year chicityclerk.com/about-citykey

🧵5: Multiple alders comment on increasing staff in the clerk's office. "My team is drowning," Valencia said. Her office ended the year with 14 vacancies and she says her staff has put in a lot of overtime, but she was told there would be no staffing increases this year.

🧵6: Ald. Dowell asks how many new arrivals have been granted City Keys -- Valencia says her office doesn't keep specific data on how many City Keys have been issued to migrants -- there's no distinction between their applications and others.

🧵7: Dowell expresses concerns about the vetting process for new arrivals obtaining City Keys. Valencia says most applicants have their birth certificates or documents from the Dept of Homeland Security to verify their identities before obtaining their City Key.

🧵8: Ald. Beale: "I've never been a fan of the City Key program, that's no secret." He asks about the vetting process for migrants obtaining City Keys -- asking if there are citizenship questions during the application process. Valencia says there are not.

🧵9: The City Clerk's office portion of the hearing is finished. Next the Committee will review the Chicago Public Library's proposed budget at 12:15.

🧵10: Chicago Public Library commissioner Chris Brown offers opening remarks and thanks to his staff, reviewing some of the achievements of the library enumerated in the budget overview below:

🧵11: Chairman Ervin opens the question section asking what the Library plans to do with a $10 million grant from the state. Brown says the library wants to invest equitably across the city, but the money will go towards the Gage Park library as it needs improvements.

🧵12: Ald. Reilly questions distributing Narcan at the libraries: "Can you explain how the library system is handing a large amount of addicts in a building meant for children?" Brown responds that mental health professionals have been added to the library staff and ...

🧵13: staff works closely with the police if there are any disturbances. "What I would like to hear is a zero tolerance policy for drug use in public libraries because they're meant for children," Reilly said. Brown: There is a zero tolerance policy in place ...

🧵14: Another member of library leadership clarifies that many people who take Narcan typically don't administer it in the library, but carry with them home or on public transit just in case. Ald Reilly requests data on the number of calls to the police from each branch.

🧵15: Ald. Lee: What is being done to address safety and security in light of bomb threats against the libraries? Brown: CPL has developed a working group to assess security in coordination with the Chicago Police Department bomb squad and Mayor's office chicago.suntimes.com/2023/9/14/2387…

🧵16: Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth: What happens when someone is banned from the library? Brown: As a public place, all bans are temporary and there is an appeal process. Staff is trained and conscious of mental health struggles

🧵17: The committee concludes its questions for the Library and breaks for lunch. It will reconvene at 2:15 p.m. Follow along for the rest of the session with @thewendyway 's thread & follow @CHIdocumenters for more coverage 🌞