Alder Andre Vasquez, Political Account

A question I get often, given the moment we find ourselves in, is “what do we do?”

Here are my thoughts and what keeps me moving forward.

Dim Sum and then some at Argyle and Broadway, organized by Chinese Mutual Aid Association!

Today, an intern by the name of Angelique Guzman (remember the name) made my cry in our front office.

Angelique, our future is in good hands with leaders like you!

if you are the kind of person who gets excited about municipal budget data, i have great news

thank you Pooja for pointing out the new report

Look at them manzanas!

The Mid Year Budget Report for the City of Chicago that @andrefor40th.bsky.social got added to the municipal code during last budget season is now live! Text:
www.chicago.gov/content/dam/... with associated data dashboard:
public.tableau.com/app/profile/...

I’m with you in spirit! We just increased by 2x

This content is more Tik Tok appropriate, which you can follow on Tik Tok at @andreforchi

✅ HUGE WIN: Today, Chicago City Council voted unanimously via voice vote to eliminate parking minimums adjacent to CTA and Metra rail and bus lines!

This is a victory for more affordable transit oriented development and safer streets citywide!

Yep. Protected bike lane coming

The budget work i get to do is my favorite! It is also extremely frustrating that City Council doesn't anything by way of programmatic metrics, detailed department and cross-department project budgets, and / or fiscal impact statement type documents. We changed that last budget cycle via ordinance!

Officials in @mayorofchicago.bsky.social's administration rejected the ordinance but agreed to fund 3 more staffers for COFA, more than doubling its size. Now all eyes are on the tiny office to see how big a role it can play to help the city close its likely $1B+ budget gap...
(5/5)

COFA was supposed to be Chicago's version of the NYC Independent Budget Office, which has 50 full-time staffers and pumps out dozens of reports each year.
ibo.nyc.gov/content/
Instead, COFA has rarely had more than 2 staffers and its work has been uneven at best.
(3/5)

Alders including Ameya Pawar created the City Council Office of Financial Analysis (COFA) back in 2013 so they could have an independent check on financial projections coming out of the mayor's office (and prevent another Parking Meter Deal).
(2/5)

New from me: An obscure, perennially resource-starved oversight office is set to take center stage in the Chicago City Council's effort to wrest more control over the city budget-making process.
They face a mighty task.
(1/5)

Between seeing Superman with the family, meeting so many great folks at Local Progress, a successful Progressive Caucus event, reconnecting with some of my Latino Caucus colleagues and connecting with our NYC council colleagues this weekend, my cup runneth over. So much hope!

Members of 1st Ward United posing for a photo at an outdoor patio

Members of the Progressive Caucus of Chicago City Council, standing on wooden risers outdoors on a patio

Had a banger time today at the Progressive Caucus fundraiser with 1st Ward United folks. Was great to see @andrefor40th.bsky.social as always - and we gotta get more Alders posting here!

“The wrong response is the reflexive one: to say Democratic socialism … is a menace that will destroy us. Democratic socialism is a response to the failure of the system to equitably provide opportunity for people who are willing to work for it.”

Ald. Andre Vasquez and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander

It was a pleasure meeting @bradlander.bsky.social at the @workingfamilies.org event at @localprogress.bsky.social today! I look forward to talking about the NYC Independent Budget Office as we look to bring more budget transparency to Chicago!

my transit people, there will (unless it is canceled or rescheduled) a quarterly CTA hearing due to @andrefor40th.bsky.social in the Committee on Transportation and Public Way on July 30th at 10:30am at Chicago City Council Chambers chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Meeting/?mee...

The same systems and tools that we are watching in action now will be the same ones used to then go after other vulnerable populations. This is a moment where we all need to organize, support each other, and endure.

The pic. Looks. Pretty. Walkable.

Also, I’m a pedestrian at times too. I walk, even when it rains.

You can invite. I would be busy

Thanks for the feedback.

That is supposed to be addressed, as I named that as a big concern by the car wash

Doing what you suggest there isn’t going to incentivize more CTA rides. It makes sense in theory and where it would balance that, I don’t see this stretch accomplishing that.

I’d have to look at the plans regarding that stretch. If you fill out the form, we can have the team check out: 40thWard.org/contact

There’s a design that we are looking at. We had a community meeting about it some months ago