RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this Chamber are proud to congratulate our friend and colleague, Alderman Deb Mell, on her six years of dedicated and outstanding service to the people of the 33rd Ward and the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, A Chicago native, Alderman Mell received her Bachelor's Degree from Cornell College with a dual major in Political Science and History, before earning a Culinary Arts Degree from the California Culinary Academy. Deb Mell was then a Project Manager at Christy Webber Landscapes for five years; and
WHEREAS, Alderman Mell was elected to represent the 40th district in the Illinois State House of Representatives in 2008, earning 75% of the vote. Recognized as a proven legislator with a strong voting record, Alderman Mell was a leader on LGBTQ issues in the Illinois State House of Representatives, particularly in the fight for marriage equality. Additionally, Alderman Mell advocated for her constituents on other important issues including gun control, housing, and environmental protection; and
WHEREAS, Appointed as Alderman in 2013 and elected thereafter for a four-year term, Alderman Mell served the 33rd Ward and the City of Chicago with energy and commitment for six years; and
WHEREAS, Spearheading LGBTQ visibility in government, Alderman Mell was the first openly lesbian member of the Illinois General Assembly, as well as the first openly lesbian City Council member in Chicago's history; and
WHEREAS, Passionate about protecting the rights and safety of individuals within Chicago's communities, Alderman Mell was dedicated to providing relief to working families faced with difficult economic conditions, providing affordable access to healthcare to all Illinois families, strengthening Illinois' funding of education, protecting and expanding rights for women, members of the.LGBTQ community, and minorities, and supporting initiatives that expand public safety across the state. She was also a member of the Human Relations Advisory Council to Mayor Rahm Emanuel; and
WHEREAS, Consistently attentive to ward needs, Alderman Mell devoted her efforts to community-driven projects, including partnering with the Chicago Park District, Horner Park Advisory Council, and Chicago Public Art Group to implement improvements to Horner Park. Notably, Alderman Mell advocated for the installation s the first effigy mound by an Indigenous Artist in North America at the southern end of Horner Park; and
WHEREAS, The worthy recipient of several honors, Alderman Mell was presented with the Civic Leadership Award from Erie Family Health Center/ Centra de salud Erie, "Activist of the Year" Award from NOW (National Organization for Women) in 2004, the Howard Brown Cornerstone Award for community excellence in 2004, and the Albany Park Community Center Appreciation Award in 2010; and
WHEREAS, Alderman Mell served with distinction on many Chicago City Council committees, including as Vice Chairman on the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety, and as a member ofthe Committee on Committees, Rules and Ethics; Committee on Health and Environmental Protection; Committee on Housing and Real Estate; Committee on Transportation and Public Way; and Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twentieth day of May, 2019, do hereby extend to Alderman Deb Mell 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 Deb Mell as a token of our appreciation and esteem.