OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RICHARD M. DALEY
MAYOR
May 4, 201
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a resolution regarding our departing friend and colleague, Alderman
Lyle.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Member of this Chamber are proud to congratulate our friend and colleague, Alderman Freddrenna Lyle, on her thirteen years of dedicated service to the people of the 6th Ward and the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of the 6th Ward, Alderman Lyle practiced law in the private sector for eighteen years before she was appointed to the Chicago City Council on February 8, 1998 to fill a vacant aldermanic seat; and
WHEREAS, Admired by her peers for her leadership abilities, passion and commitment to service, Alderman Lyle's many professional accomplishments as an attorney included serving as president of the Cook County Bar Association, as a board member of the National Bar Association, as a member of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness and as Co-Chair of the Lawyer's Committee for Harold Washington. Alderman Lyle also served on several state bodies concerned with ethics and election reform; and
WHEREAS, Elected to her first full-term as alderman in 1999, and re-elected in 2003 and 2007, Alderman Lyle worked tirelessly on behalf ofthe residents ofthe 6th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Always accessible to her constituents, Alderman Lyle held monthly meetings in the 6th Ward to seek input from local residents on issues affecting the Ward, and she produced a monthly newsletter and Cable TV show called "The 6th Ward Scene"; and
WHEREAS, Alderman Lyle worked hard to create a sustainable community in the 6th Ward. Under her guiding hand, Chicago State University was transformed into a leading environmental research institution, replete with its own Aquaponics Facility, and she actively promoted composting and building weatherization throughout the Ward; arid
WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to our City's youth, Alderman Lyle was instrumental in bringing to the 6th Ward the first new classrooms in more than 38 years, as well as several new campus parks; and
WHEREAS, In keeping with her belief that the best way to impact tomorrow is by making a difference today, Alderman Lyle founded "Lyle for Kids", a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to providing recreational, educational and cultural programming for children and adults. In 2009, "Lyle for Kids" successfully applied for federal funds to run after-school programming in five schools and a seven-week Leadership Academy for students; and
WHEREAS, Committed to stabilizing the 6th Ward and to fostering economic development and job creation there, Alderman Lyle spearheaded the 71st Street Redevelopment Area Designation to revitalize the commercial area stretching from State Street to Cottage Grove Avenue on 71st Street, and she successfully lobbied Target Corporation to open its first store on Chicago's South Side, creating 200 new jobs; and
WHEREAS, During her tenure in office, Alderman Lyle served with distinction on the Committee on the Budget and Government Operations; Committee on Finance; Committee on License and Consumer Protection; Committee on Aviation; Committee on Parks and Recreation; Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development; Committee on Traffic Control and Safety; and Committee on Committees, Rules and Ethics. At the state level, Alderman Lyle reconvened and later chaired the Black Elected Officials of Illinois. In 2008, Alderman Lyle was elected vice-chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party for the City of Chicago. Since 2004, Alderman Lyle has also served as Democratic Committeeman of the 6th Ward; and
WHEREAS, The quintessential public servant, Alderman Lyle is an active member of several civic, professional and fraternal organizations, including the National Bar Association, Cook County Bar Association, Park Manor Neighbors, Chatham Avalon Park Community Council, NAACP, National Association of Negro Women, ACLU and Rainbow PUSH; and
WHEREAS, Alderman Lyle's wise counsel, intelligence and independent spirit will be sorely missed by her colleagues in the Chicago City Council; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago, assembled this fourth day of May, 2011, do hereby extend to Alderman Freddrenna Lyle our deepest gratitude and thanks for her many years of exceptional service to the people of Chicago, and our best wishes for continued success in all of her future endeavors; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Alderman Freddrenna Lyle as a token of our appreciation and esteem.