RESO LUT10N
WHEREAS, Bernard J. Hansen, a former Alderman of the 44th Ward, passed away on Sunday, July 18, 2021; and,
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Tom Tunney of the 44th Ward; and,
WHEREAS, Bernie was bom November 26,1944; in Chicago he attended Hawthorne Elementary, Lane Technical High School and the University of Chicago and,
WHEREAS, a life-long resident of Chicago and Lakeview, Hansen served as a Cook County Sherriff s Deputy and the 44th Ward Streets and Sanitation Superintendent; and,
WHEREAS, Alderman Hansen was elected to the Chicago City Council in 1983 following the retirement of his mentor, John Merlo, and served until 2002 overseeing transformational changes to the 44th Ward and served as chair ofthe City Council Committee on Economic Development; and,
WHEREAS, Alderman Hansen presided over the installation of lights and the first night game at Wrigley Field in 1988. He oversaw the Neighborhood Protection Agreement that still controls night activities around the ballpark. A life-long Chicago Cubs fan, he proudly displayed the Cubs logo in his back yard in Arizona; and,
WHEREAS, Alderman Hansen was one of the City Council's most outspoken and effective supporters of Human Rights. He was the lead sponsor ofthe 1989 Human Rights Ordinance, which expanded protection against discrimination in housing and hiring to gays, lesbians and disabled persons, and sponsored an ordinance that provided more protection and assistance for victims of bias-related crimes in Chicago. In 1997, the City of Chicago passed an ordinance, which Hansen introduced, that extended health-care benefits to the domestic partners of gay and lesbian city employees; and,
WHEREAS, in 1998, Hansen oversaw the Northalsted streetscape which included rainbow pylons and street identifiers that cemented Halsted as an LGBT entertainment district and destination. Hansen strongly supported the location of Bonaventure House and the construction of ...
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