Record #: R2023-217   
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Intro date: 2/1/2023 Current Controlling Legislative Body:
Final action: 2/1/2023
Title: Recognition of Jennifer Ritter for contributions to and community service on behalf of Chicago's North Side neighborhoods
Sponsors: Osterman, Harry, Hadden, Maria E. , Tunney, Thomas, Vasquez, Jr., Andre
Attachments: 1. R2023-217.pdf
Agreed Calendar February 1st 2023
PROCLAMATION: Jennifer Ritter

WHEREAS, The members of the City Council of Chicago wish to recognize the many accomplishments of Jennifer Ritter; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Ritter will be departing her position as the Executive Director of ONE Northside on March 15, 2023; and

WHEREAS, the City Council has been notified of her departure by The Honorable Harry Osterman, Alderman of the 48th Ward; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Ritter has been a community organizer in Chicago since 2000, starting her career working with community residents and organizations to reform the Chicago Tax Increment Financing Program; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer focused her community organizing on residents and organizations in Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Uptown, Ravenswood, Lincoln Square, Edgewater, and Rogers Park as the Senior Organizer at Organization of the Northeast, Executive Director of Lakeview Action Coalition, and, currently, Executive Director of ONE Northside and ONE People's Campaign; and

WHEREAS, The organizations and coalitions with which Jennifer was involved won major victories over the last two decades that brought about systemic change, including closing corporate tax loopholes, improving access to health care at the state level, passing citywide ordinances to establish the original, and then the improved, Affordable Requirement Ordinance, as well as an ordinance to preserve Single Room Occupancy hotels; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer played an instrumental role in building the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability coalition and grassroots power needed to secure the passage ofthe Empowering Communities for Public Safety ordinance, which created the strongest-in-the-nation system for civilian oversight of the police; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer understood that local fights were critical to meeting the needs of everyday people and ensuring their ability to live with joy and dignity, so she and her organization mobilized tenants and neighbors to preserve naturally ...

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