Committee on Committees and Rules
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A HEARING ON ALDERMAN GARDINER'S CONDUCT AND CONSIDERATION OF A CENSURE
WHEREAS, On September 2, 2021, it was reported that 45th Ward Alderman James Gardiner used misogynistic, homophobic, and obscene language about our colleague, Alderman Tom Tunney, and about a staffer who works for Alderman Scott Waguespack; and
WHEREAS, A report from July 24, 2021 alleges that Alderman Gardiner has also used misogynistic language about and verbally harassed his constituents; and
WHEREAS, Multiple news outlets have reported on evidence that suggest that he may have retaliated against constituents for political purposes, which according to the Chicago Tribune is now under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
WHEREAS, We are deeply concerned about Alderman Gardiner's apparent recurrent use of derogatory language about one of his colleagues, multiple women who work in and around City Council, and his own constituents; and
WHEREAS, In addition to being a legislative body, the City Council is a workplace for hundreds of people, and all of us have an obligation to ensure our work environment is safe and inclusive, especially for women - we must all speak up and speak out against any effort by a member of this body to demean, disparage, or inflict inappropriate retaliation on individuals who work in this space; and
WHEREAS, Alderman Gardiner's behavior does not have a home in our government, and his words and actions do not represent the values and vision of our City; and
WHEREAS, The City Council must make it abundantly clear that we do not condone this kind of behavior from one of our members; and
WHEREAS, Rule 50 of the Rules of Order and Procedure of the City Council provides that: "Any member acting or appearing in a lewd or disgraceful manner, or who uses opprobrious, obscene or insulting language to or about any member of the Council, or who does not obey the order of the Chair shall be, on motion, censured by a majority vote ofthe members present, or expelled by two-thirds (2/3) vote of all members elected. In case of censure the Sergeant-at-Arms, his assistants, or any person acting under direction of the Chair shall cause the member censured to vacate his seat and come before the bar ofthe Council and receive censure from the Chair"; and
WHEREAS, Censure is a formal, public statement ofthe City Council's disapproval of a member's actions, and we should only consider such an action after having an opportunity to consider the relevant facts; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this fourteenth day of September, 2021, do hereby call upon the Committee on
Committee on Committees and Rules
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A HEARING ON ALDERMAN GARDINER'S CONDUCT AND CONSIDERATION OF A CENSURE
WHEREAS, On September 2, 2021, it was reported that 45th Ward Alderman James Gardiner used misogynistic, homophobic, and obscene language about our colleague, Alderman Tom Tunney, and about a staffer who works for Alderman Scott Waguespack; and
WHEREAS, A report from July 24, 2021 alleges that Alderman Gardiner has also used misogynistic language about and verbally harassed his constituents; and
WHEREAS, Multiple news outlets have reported on evidence that suggest that he may have retaliated against constituents for political purposes, which according to the Chicago Tribune is now under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
WHEREAS, We are deeply concerned about Alderman Gardiner's apparent recurrent use of derogatory language about one of his colleagues, multiple women who work in and around City Council, and his own constituents; and
WHEREAS, In addition to being a legislative body, the City Council is a workplace for hundreds of people, and all of us have an obligation to ensure our work environment is safe and inclusive, especially for women - we must all speak up and speak out against any effort by a member of this body to demean, disparage, or inflict inappropriate retaliation on individuals who work in this space; and
WHEREAS, Alderman Gardiner's behavior does not have a home in our government, and his words and actions do not represent the values and vision of our City; and
WHEREAS, The City Council must make it abundantly clear that we do not condone this kind of behavior from one of our members; and
WHEREAS, Rule 50 of the Rules of Order and Procedure of the City Council provides that: "Any member acting or appearing in a lewd or disgraceful manner, or who uses opprobrious, obscene or insulting language to or about any member of the Council, or who does not obey the order of the Chair shall be, on motion, censured by a majority vote of the members present, or expelled by two-thirds (2/3) vote of all members elected. In case of censure the Sergeant-at-Arms, his assistants, or any person acting under direction ofthe Chair shall cause the member censured to vacate his seat and come before the bar ofthe Council and receive censure from the Chair"; and
WHEREAS, Censure is a formal, public statement of the City Council's disapproval of a member's actions, and we should only consider such an action after having an opportunity to consider the relevant facts; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this fourteenth day of September, 2021, do hereby call upon the Committee on
Committees and Rules to convene a hearing concerning these events, and call upon Alderman Gardiner to testify at such hearing and respond to these allegations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we call upon the Committee on Committees and Rules to consider, upon the completion of such hearing, whether it is appropriate to censure Alderman Gardiner under Rule 50 for his conduct.
Committees and Rules to convene a hearing concerning these events, and call upon Alderman Gardiner to testify at such hearing and respond to these allegations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we call upon the Committee on Committees and Rules to consider, upon the completion of such hearing, whether it is appropriate to censure Alderman Gardiner under Rule 50 for his conduct.
Aid. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez 33rd ward