Alderman David Moore
Alderman David Moore (17th) wasn’t too happy when he received the city’s proposed $16.6 billion 2024 budget on Monday, October 16, which was introduced last Wednesday, October 11, but he quickly saw that it doesn’t contain what he wants for his constituents, so he won’t vote for the budget.
“The aldermen didn’t get their budget until this morning,” said Moore. Reminded that there have been many stories in the media about Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget, Moore said, “You can read about it, but it’s what you go through and what you can understand that counts.
“There is $150 million in there for the migrants, and that is not OK, as long as the 17th Ward is not getting the things that they want.”
Asked what he wants for his constituents, Moore said, “My residents want to get Ogden Park a whole new fieldhouse, and a development plan with money allocated to create a TIF (Tax Increment District) between Ashland and Damen on 69th Street to redevelop that West Englewood area.
“Seventy percent of the vacant lots are city owned,” explained Moore. He continued: “There are a number of vacant lots in the 17th Ward that [I want] developed for businesses and affordable housing.
“I want Mayor Johnson to do what Mayor Lightfoot did [and] put funds toward it, get some developers and redevelop the area,” Moore told the Chicago Crusader.
“I told the mayor and his administration this,” Moore said. “We talked about it when he initially got into office. I also talked to the budget director. Nothing is concrete yet.”
When asked if he will be voting for the budget, Moore said, “Absolutely I will not vote on this budget.” Told that may be perceived as blackmail, Moore said, “No, that’s not blackmail. It’s about bringing resources home to your ward.
“You’re giving $150 million to the migrants. You got to have stuff to bring home to the residents who voted for you,” said Moore. He has a problem with finding money for the migrants when he said for decades the mostly Black homeless population has been ignored.
“That’s an issue. That is why I have been the most vocal one opposing the $52 million that was passed for the migrants, because you can’t put the residents who have been here on the back burner.
“It’s not an either or,” Moore said. “You have to put the residents who have been here first. I won’t allow my residents to become footnotes in this budget fight.”
Moore is pleased with the administration for adding $10 million more to the home repair program for seniors. “I was tired of the seniors having to go through a lottery because many of them are struggling getting their roofs and porches fixed. They have not figured out how they are going to do the program, but at least they put the money in there,” said Moore.
As an aid to Chicagoans in understanding the proposed 2024 budget, the Better Government Association (BGA) has begun publishing a daily snapshot of the mayor’s budget. The BGA reported on Monday, October 16, that the “overall Council budget increased by roughly $250,000 at that time, and the new budget increases it a further $1.4 million.”
The BGA wrote that the service appropriation, “is up over 20 percent from its original 2023 appropriation, a significant expansion of Council staffing at the discretion of committee chairs.
“The largest non-staff/ward office appropriation is the Human Infrastructure Fund appropriation, a $100,000-per-ward discretionary fund that can be used to pay for a wide range of contracted services. Added during the Lightfoot administration, Human Infrastructure Fund money has been disbursed to churches, public and private schools, business alliances and chambers of commerce, neighborhood associations, private security firms, and various private businesses and non-profit organizations.”
