Current and past supporters of the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance beat the heat on Tuesday evening with cool jazz, cold beer, great food and memories of the struggle to get the Ordinance passed over twenty five years ago. Over 100 community members, public officials and advocates packed the second floor of Revolution Brewing in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood.
Cook County Clerk David Orr and Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia both aldermen at the time led a short program. David Orr the ordinance’s lead sponsor shared his memories of the fight in City Council and how with Mayor Harold Washington they won the battle. He was joined by Commissioner Garcia – as they presented Tenant Champion awards to attorney William Wilen, Loyal Law School professor Henry Rose, former alderman Helen Schiller and Taft West, Director Property Training at the Community Investment Corporation.
This year MTO established a new award in honor of Ralph Scott, original MTO Board member and a leading authority on childhood lead poisoning. Ralph passed away this year after a battle with cancer. Community activist Ms. Zakkiyah Muhammad won this year’s Ralph Scott award for her persistent and dedicated work to passing the Chicago’s new condo conversion ordinance.
MTO thanks the sponsors of the event: PLATINUM SPONSOR -Parkway Gardens Apartments and Related Management Company, L.P., GOLD SPONSOR – SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Indiana, SILVER SPONSOR – Senator Heather Steans, 7th State Senatorial District, BRONZE SPONSOR – Logan Square Neighborhood Association.
