Results tagged “billyocasio”

For a while, former 26th Ward alderman Billy Ocasio wanted Mayor Daley to appoint Rev. Wilfredo De Jesus. Then, he supported his wife for the position. Now? Mayor Daley has appointed neither and instead gone with Cook County Commissioner Roberto Maldonado. After the jump, Maldonado's acceptance speech, via press release. [Trib] more ›

Former 26th Ward alderman Billy Ocasio, who left the City Council earlier this year to work for Gov. Quinn, has changed course and now wants his wife to succeed him. After Ocasio resigned, Hector Villagrana was appointed as a temporary replacement and Ocasio himself suggested Rev. Wilfredo De Jesús of the New Life Covenant Church as his permanent replacement. However, in the wake of the endorsement, members of the gay community expressed concern over De Jesús. According to the Trib, Ocasio said that at issue was De Jesús's residence: "The reverend owns property and has a house he built in the ward but he doesn't actually live there, so he can't be appointed." Ocasio's wife, Veronica, currently works for U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez. The Trib's Clout Street has more on the story. more ›

Yesterday, Billy Ocasio officially relinquished his seat as alderman of the city's 26th ward; taking his place temporarily is his former chief of staff, Hector Villagrana. But Mayor Daley has up to 60 days to name a replacement and the one Ocasio has suggested - Rev. Wilfredo De Jesús of the New Life Covenant Church - has the gay community worried. WBEZ dug a bit deeper into some of their concerns. more ›

As of today, the 26th Ward of Chicago has a new alderman for now: Hector Villagrana. Ocasio officially began working for Gov. Quinn today, an announcement he made last month. Villagranna talked to WBEZ and assured the residents of the 26th Ward everything is going to be just fine. more ›

Ald. Billy Ocasio (26th), one of the resident raconteurs of the City Council, is finally freeing himself of that particular yolk. Yesterday, Ocasio announced he was leaving his post to, according to the Sun-Times, "become a $125,000-a-year senior adviser to Gov. Quinn working on social justice issues across the state." And as he jumps ship, Ocasio is asking Mayor Daley to appoint Rev. Wilfredo De Jesus in his stead. Said Ocasio yesterday on the prospect of working for an elected official who could be out of a job after 2010: more ›

In the wake of Ald. Tom Allen (38th) calling out Mayor Daley on the city's failure to properly plow and salt/sand side streets following last week's and this week's storms (both past and future), other aldermen are now getting antsy for answers from MayDay on exactly what's going on.

Ald. Billy Ocasio is the most outspoken critic of the most recent city snow removal effort, claiming that when he personally called for help for his ward last night, he was passed from department to department --- making him wonder aloud "who's in charge?"

Ocasio (26th), who is joining Allen's call for $3 million to be added to plowing and salting efforts, said, "I don't think the resources are out there. I think if you come into the Loop, you see the resources, but you don't see them out in the neighborhoods. Yesterday I had to call personally and just go off on everyone because there are mothers and grandparents trying to get their kids to and from school, and they can't make it. They can't make it down the street." more ›

Earlier this week, we discussed the insane new parking meter rates that would go into effect if the City Council passed legislation allowing Mayor Daley to lease the meters to a private company. Well, they passed it by a vote of 40-5. Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th) opposed the measure, claiming she didn't have enough time to review it, prompting this amazing (and classic) response from Ald. Richard Mell (33rd):

How many of us read the stuff we do get, OK? I try to. I try to. I try to. But being realistic, being realistic, it's like getting your insurance policy -- it's small print, OK?

Yes, Dick, it's just like an insurance policy. Why would you need to read the entire thing? We will give him this, though: at least he's being honest. The bill also had opposition from Ald. Billy Ocasio (26th) who seems to still have something of a connect with reality, saying, "I'm sorry, but there are too many people in our city living paycheck to paycheck." Another tidbit about the new bill? Free Sundays and holidays are now a thing of the past and some meters will even require 24-hour payment. So explain to us again how the City can afford 2,000 new SUVs? more ›

As promised, the city council's Human Rights Committee held a hearing Tuesday to investigate who has been "tipping off" the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, leading to the arrest of nearly 60 people with Spanish surnames. "We will not tolerate this in Chicago...We want to know where it's coming from and who is filing these reports," said 26th Ward Alderman Billy Ocasio, chairman of the City Council's Human Relations Committee. more ›