2-120-515 Investigations, research and publications.

   The Commission may also conduct research, public forums and educational programs on tensions between various groups within society, practices of discrimination based on race, color, sex, gender identity, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military status, source of income, credit history (within the meaning of Section 6-10-053), or criminal history (within the meaning of Section 6-10-054); conduct public hearings to ascertain the status and treatment of various racial, ethnic, religious, cultural and social groups within society; means of alleviation discrimination and bias, and of improving human relations within the city; and issue such publications as may assist in the performance of its function.

(Prior code § 21-53; Added Coun. J. 3-21-90, p. 13523; Amend Coun. J. 11-6-02, p. 96031, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 2-10-16, p. 18514, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 4-27-22, p. 46382, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-23, p. 5888, § 4)

2-120-518 Hate crimes and hate incidents.

   (a)   For purposes of this section, the definitions in Section 6-10-020 of this Code and the following definitions shall apply:

      (1)   “Graffiti” has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 7-28-065 of this Code.

      (2)   “Hate crime” means any action in violation of Section 8-4-020 or 8-4-085 of this Code or of Section 12-7.1 of the Illinois Criminal Code of 2012, 720 ILCS 5/12-7.1.

      (3)   “Hate incident” means any action that: (A) targets an individual or group based on their actual or perceived race, color, sex, gender identity, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, or sexual orientation; (B) consists of clear and intentional acts of bias, prejudice, or hostility, including but not limited to offensive language, symbols, or threats, that place the targeted individual or group in reasonable apprehension of a hate crime; and (C) is not classified as a criminal offense or as a violation of this Code.

   (b)   (1)   Whenever any Chicago police officer has identified a victim of a possible hate crime or hate incident committed within the City, the Department of Police shall, to the extent possible and when consented to by the alleged victim, supply the name and contact information of the alleged victim to the Chair of the Commission, together with other relevant information concerning the alleged hate crime or hate incident.

      (2)   The Department of Police shall, on at least a monthly basis, prepare a statistical summary concerning: (A) all criminal acts and ordinance violations committed within the City during the previous month that are alleged to be hate crimes; and (B) all other incidents reported to the Department of Police that are alleged to be hate incidents. The statistical summary shall include, but is not limited to, aggregate information regarding the total number of hate crimes and hate incidents by community area, bias motivation, type of incident, and disposition, to the extent known. The Department of Police shall make such information available to the public on an online dashboard that is updated on at least a monthly basis. The Department of Police shall also forward a copy of the statistical summary to the Commission. The statistical summary shall be in a form approved by the Department of Police and the Chair of the Commission.

   (c)   Whenever the Department of Police has provided information concerning a victim of a possible hate crime or hate incident to the Chair of the Commission, either the Chair or a person designated by the Chair shall make reasonable efforts to contact the victim for the purpose of offering to help the victim together with the Department of Police, prosecutors, and any other relevant entities.

   (d)   The Department of Police shall train both full-time and part-time new recruits and veteran personnel on an ongoing basis on the subject of hate crimes and hate incidents. The Department of Police shall ensure that officers receive in-service training on methods, strategies, and techniques for recognizing and responding to hate crimes and hate incidents, including procedures for processing reports and complaints made to the Department of Police, the Commission, and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.

   (e)   (1)   The Department of Police shall keep and compile statistics on hate crimes and hate incidents. The Commission shall evaluate the statistics provided by the Department of Police to determine if such hate crimes and hate incidents are part of a pattern or are due to hate or hate-based tensions in the area where the hate crime or hate incident was committed.

      (2)   Before July 1 of each year, the Commission shall make available to members of the public and present to the City Council Joint Committee on Public Safety and Health and Human Relations an annual report summarizing its work in addressing hate crimes and hate incidents. The annual report shall also include, but is not limited to:

         (A)   the total number of hate crimes and hate incidents organized by community area, bias motivation, type of incident, and disposition, to the extent known;

         (B)   an overview of hate crimes and hate incidents from local, regional, and national perspectives;

         (C)   an overview of the Commission’s activities regarding hate crimes and hate incidents in the previous year; and

         (D)   any findings and recommendations to reduce or eliminate hate crimes and hate incidents, which may include an evaluation of the effectiveness of City policies and procedures in ensuring: (i) hate crimes and hate incidents are comprehensively investigated, tracked, and reported; and (ii) survivors of hate crimes and hate incidents receive the assistance of City agencies, as appropriate.

   (f)   Upon recommendation of the Chair, the Commission may call a hearing to address only perceived patterns of hate crimes, hate incidents, or hate-based tensions. The Commission may employ a hearing examiner and other employees necessary for such purpose. For the purpose of such hearing, the Commission may:

      (1)   Receive evidence and hear testimony related to patterns of hate crimes, hate incidents, and hate-based tensions; provided, however, that the Commission will not invite or suggest the attendance of a victim of or a witness to any matter in which there is an ongoing criminal investigation or prosecution, including any appeal or retrial;

      (2)   Issue and enforce subpoenas pursuant to Section 2-120-510 of this Code to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence relevant to the matter in question; provided, however, that no subpoena shall be issued to compel the attendance of a victim of or witness to any matter in which there is an ongoing criminal investigation or prosecution, including any appeal or retrial; and

      (3)   Issue findings and recommendations concerning ways in which hate crimes, hate incidents, and hate-based tensions can be reduced in the affected area.

   The Commission shall conduct such a hearing, and issue and enforce any subpoena, in a manner that will avoid interference with any ongoing criminal investigation or prosecution.

   (g)   The Commission is hereby authorized to develop, initiate, and partner with organizations to provide and connect residents with educational and other programs, and services, designed to reduce hate-based tensions and the incidence of hate crimes and hate incidents, either in particular areas or on a citywide basis.

   (h)   (1)   The Office of Emergency Management and Communications shall establish a standardized intake system for members of the public to report hate crimes and hate incidents through 311 City Services to facilitate the City’s accounting, management, and reporting of hate incidents. The system shall collect information regarding alleged hate crimes and hate incidents and provide users with the option to request service from an appropriate entity, including law enforcement.

      (2)   The Office of Emergency Management and Communications shall make available to members of the public a graffiti removal request submission process through 311 City Services that allows users to identify whether they believe the graffiti constitutes a hate crime or hate incident with appropriate documentation.

   (i)   Nothing required to be made publicly available under this section shall be made publicly available in a manner that: (1) reveals personally identifiable information of a person involved in a hate crime or hate incident; (2) inhibits or interferes with the ability of the Department of Police to pursue criminal investigations; or (3) inhibits or interferes with an ongoing criminal prosecution.

   (j)   Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit, restrict, or authorize the imposition of a penalty against any act or expression that is protected under the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of the State of Illinois.

(Added Coun. J. 12-19-90, p. 27888; Amend Coun. J. 12-13-23, p. 7340, § 1)

ARTICLE XV. CHICAGO PULLMAN COMMITTEE* (2-120-525 et seq.)

* Editor's note – Coun. J. 3-31-04, p. 20916, § 1.1, repealed former Art. XV, § 2-120-520, which pertained to the home rule commission. Coun. J. 3-16-16, p. 20788, § 1, amended the title of Article XV to read as herein set out. Prior to inclusion, Article XV was entitled, "Pullman National Monument Advisory Commission".

2-120-525 Establishment and composition.

   There is hereby established a committee to be known as the "Chicago Pullman Committee". The committee shall consist of a chairperson and at least six additional members, who shall be selected and appointed by the mayor, with input from Pullman community leaders, business owners, and residents. The chairperson shall serve a two-year term. Two of the initial appointees shall be appointed for terms expiring on July 1st of the year following their appointment, two shall be appointed for terms expiring July 1st of the second year following their appointment, and the remaining initial appointees shall be appointed for terms ending on July 1st of the third year following their appointment. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for three-year terms, which may be renewed at the discretion of the mayor. A vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of any unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. The committee shall meet at least twice per year. At least forty-eight (48) hours' notice of the time and place of each committee meeting shall be given by the chairman. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business.

(Added Coun. J. 7-29-15, p. 4107, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 3-16-16, p. 20788, § 2)

2-120-530 Powers and duties.

   The Chicago Pullman Committee shall have and may exercise the following duties, powers, and responsibilities:

   (a)   To plan, initiate, supervise, and coordinate programs and projects that (1) promote tourism and visitation to the Pullman National Monument, (2) facilitate the preservation and maintenance of the Pullman National Monument, and (3) raise community awareness as to the historical importance and significance of the Pullman National Monument.

   (b)   To solicit and accept public and private contributions of funds and services, and, following due appropriation of such funds and in consultation with and with permission from the National Park Service, to utilize the funds and services in ways that promote and support the Pullman National Monument.

   (c)   To act as a liaison between the city government and community organizations, promoting cooperation between the government and these organizations, and among these organizations, in order to seek input, recommendations, and contributions to enhance the Pullman National Monument.

   (d)   To act as a liaison between the city government and the National Park Service and other federal government agencies, promoting cooperation between the city and federal governments, in order to enhance the Pullman National Monument.

   (e)   To report from time to time to the Mayor and the City Council on important problems, conditions, or proposals pertinent to the development, maintenance, and protection of the Pullman National Monument.

   (f)   To solicit input from members of the public, community groups, and businesses to assist and advise the committee on matters relating to the committee's duties.

   (g)   To adopt, publish, and make available rules of procedure and other regulations for the conduct of committee meetings and other business.

   (h)   To exercise any other power or authority necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of these provisions.

(Added Coun. J. 7-29-15, p. 4107, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 3-16-16, p. 20788, § 3)

ARTICLE XVI. RESERVED* (2-120-530 et seq.)

* Editor's note – Coun. J. 3-31-04, p. 20916, § 1.1, repealed Art. XVI, §§ 2-120-530 – 2-120-570, which pertained to the mayor's advisory staff.

ARTICLE XVII. COMMISSION ON CHICAGO HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARKS (2-120-580 et seq.)

2-120-580 Purpose of provisions.

   It is hereby declared necessary for the general welfare of the citizens of the City of Chicago as an exercise of the home rule authority of the City of Chicago under Article VII, Section 6, of the Illinois Constitution, to protect and encourage the continued utilization of areas, districts, places, buildings, structures, works of art, and other similar objects within the City of Chicago eligible for designation by ordinance as "Chicago Landmarks". The purpose of these sections is the following:

   1.   To identify, preserve, protect, enhance, and encourage the continued utilization and the rehabilitation of such areas, districts, places, buildings, structures, works of art, and other objects having a special historical, community, architectural, or aesthetic interest or value to the City of Chicago and its citizens;

   2.   To safeguard the City of Chicago's historic and cultural heritage, as embodied and reflected in such areas, districts, places, buildings, structures, works of art, and other objects determined eligible for designation by ordinance as "Chicago Landmarks";

   3.   To preserve the character and vitality of the neighborhoods and central area, to promote economic development through rehabilitation, and to conserve and improve the property tax base of the City of Chicago;

   4.   To foster civic pride in the beauty and noble accomplishments of the past as presented in such "Chicago Landmarks";

   5.   To protect and enhance the attractiveness of the City of Chicago to homeowners, home buyers, tourists, visitors, businesses and shoppers, and thereby to support and promote business, commerce, industry, and tourism and to provide economic benefit to the City of Chicago;

   6.   To foster and encourage preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of areas, districts, places, buildings, structures, works of art, and other objects, including entire districts and neighborhoods, and thereby prevent future urban blight and in some cases reverse current urban deterioration;

   7.   To foster the education, pleasure, and welfare of the people of the City of Chicago through the designation of "Chicago Landmarks";

   8.   To encourage orderly and efficient development that recognizes the special value to the City of Chicago of the protection of areas, districts, places, buildings, structures, works of art, and other objects designated as "Chicago Landmarks";

   9.   To encourage the continuation of surveys and studies of Chicago's historical and architectural resources and the maintenance and updating of a register of areas, districts, places, buildings, structures, works of art, and other objects which may be worthy of landmark designation; and

   10.   To encourage public participation in identifying and preserving historical and architectural resources through public hearings on proposed designations, building permits, and economic hardship variations.

(Prior code § 21-62; Added Coun. J. 3-11-87, p. 40272)