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 Center on Halsted in the 44th Ward. He was an advocate for increasing HIV/AIDS spending in the city; and,
WHEREAS, Bernie was especially proud of his leadership role on the City Council for environmental and recycling legislation, which gave Chicago one ofthe most aggressive and workable recycling programs in the country. In 1993 the City Council passed the Burke-Hansen Ordinance, which guaranteed recycling opportunities for every resident and business in the City of Chicago. He also sponsored legislation that increased funding for private-sector recyclers and led efforts to extend Chicago's moratorium on the creation of new landfills. Because of these efforts, was honored by numerous environmental organizations, such as Operation Lake Watch; and,
WHEREAS, from 1994 to 2006, Hansen served as one of four U.S. commissioners to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, a presidential appointment to a bilateral treaty organization with Canada responsible for fisheries management research and recommendations and for sea
lamprey control for the Great Lakes fisheries. He served as Vice Chair from 1998 to 2000 and Chair from 2000 to 2002. He also held the positions of U.S. section chair and chair of the Finance and Administration Committee; and,
WHEREAS, Bernie served as 44th Ward Democratic Committeeman from 1992 until 2005. He was proud of a strong organization and to have mentored many successful leaders that emerged from the 44th Ward including; U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz, State Representative Kelly Cassidy, former Senate President John Cullerton, Alderman Tom Tunney, Alderman Ariel Reboyras and others; and,
WHEREAS, Alderman Hansen is survived by his wife Annette, two sons, Paul and David, and two granddaughters, Carlie and Brianne; and,
WHEREAS, throughout his life and career, Bernie Hansen devoted himself to the wellbeing ofthe 44th Ward, the City of Chicago and its residents; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this 23rd day of July, 2021, do hereby honor the life and memory of Bernard J. Hansen and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Bernie Hansen as a sign of our respect and admiration for a lifetime of service to the City of Chicagix, )
Thomas M. Tunney Alderman, 44th Ward