City Council Approves New Ward Map

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 19, 2012 10:00PM

Here's your new ward map, Chicago. It was approved by City Council today by a 41-8 vote. The number of votes is notable as it means the map will not go to residents to a vote.

That doesn't mean the map is exempt from a challenge. Mayor Emanuel's City Council floor leader, 40th Ward Ald. Patrick O'Connor, said "People file lawsuits all the time. All we could do is strive to have the largest number of City Council members available so that we would not have a referendum — and that’s what we’ve achieved."

The eight alderman who voted against the new map were Bob Fioretti (2nd); Roderick Sawyer (6th); Michael Zalewski (23rd); Michael Chandler (24th); Scott Waguespack (32nd); Nick Sposato (36th); Rey Colon (35th) and John Arena (45th). Firoetti, Sposato and Zalewski are among aldermen whose seats could be endangered by the new map. Fioretti and Sposato tried to use a routine delay to prevent the vote, in part to give the public time to review the map. But a rarely used parliamentary maneuver that rules matters directly introduced to the City Council can’t be postponed was used to trump the block.

One of the main issues with the map is a population disparity between South and North Side wards. Some wards out South have more than 4,000 fewer residents than North Side wards. 33rd Ward Ald. Dick Mell, who headed up the contentious remapping effort, said the new map could withstand a legal challenge.