Chicago City Council Progressive Reform Caucus

The caucus was founded by nine aldermen in 2013, after having informally collaborated since 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/progressive-caucuses-chic_n_2877565|title=City Council Sprouts Dueling 'Progressive' Caucuses|date=2013-03-14|website=HuffPost|language=en|access-date=2019-05-27}} There had been a "loose amalgamation of self-described progressives" in the council prior to this, but it had not been a formalized organization. Members of the caucus had historically been less aligned with Mayor Rahm Emanuel than average aldermen. The day after the formation of the Progressive Reform Caucus, a group of other aldermen who self-identified as progressives formed the Paul Douglas Alliance, with the goal of working in a more aligned fashion with Mayor Emanuel.

After the 2019 Chicago aldermanic election, several new aldermen who had campaigned as progressives joined the caucus, growing its size from 12 to 18.{{Cite web |last1=Kapos |first1=Shia |last2=Hurst |first2=Adrienne |title=PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS redefined — VAN DYKE's new digs — TCHEN's SMOLLETT connection |url=https://politi.co/2Hk7LPC |access-date=2019-05-27 |website=POLITICO |date=14 March 2019 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Alex |title=How strong will the Progressive Caucus be now? Chicago's City Council is changing. |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-aldermanic-runoffs-progressives-caucus-city-council-20190402-story.html |access-date=2019-05-27 |website=chicagotribune.com |date=2 April 2019 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Mark |date=2019-04-30 |title=Dynasty slayer Rodriguez Sanchez ready to build bridges—not rehash past battles |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2019/4/30/18619064/dynasty-slayer-rodriguez-sanchez-ready-to-build-bridges-not-rehash-past-battles |access-date=2019-05-27 |website=Chicago Sun-Times}}{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Grace |title=Meet Your New Aldermen |url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/June-July-2019/Meet-Your-New-Aldermen/ |access-date=2019-05-28 |website=Chicago magazine |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Mike |date=2019-04-30 |title=First meeting with Progressive Reform Caucus members of the Chicago City Council. I'm looking forward to working with this group! @SSadlowskiGarza @45thWardChicago @aldsophiaking @MattMartinChi @Mariafor49 @CDRosa @RossanaFor33 @5thWardChicago @SigchoFor25 @DanielLaSpatapic.twitter.com/ZlqUew9aAH |url=https://twitter.com/rodriguezfor22/status/1123418600470122496 |access-date=2019-05-31 |website=@rodriguezfor22 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-06-13 |title=The Chair of Chicago's Progressive Caucus is excited by the "different vibe" at City Hall |url=https://wgnradio.com/2019/06/13/th-chair-of-chicagos-progressive-caucus-is-excited-by-the-different-vibe-at-city-hall/ |access-date=2019-06-14 |website=WGN Radio - 720 AM |language=en}}

The caucus has formed a political action committee (PAC) with the same name.{{Cite web|last=Reform|first=Illinois Campaign for Political|date=|title=Chicago Progressive Reform Caucus|url=http://illinoissunshine.org/committees/chicago-progressive-reform-caucus-23767/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527142136/http://illinoissunshine.org/committees/chicago-progressive-reform-caucus-23767/ |archive-date=2019-05-27 |access-date=2020-06-03|website=Illinois Sunshine|language=en}} As of June 2020, the largest donors to the PAC were labor unions: SEIU Illinois Council, AFSCME Illinois Council No. 31, and Chicago Teachers Union.

Previous chairs of the caucus have been Scott Waguespack (2015–19), Susan Sadlowski Garza (2019–21), Sophia King (2021–23).{{Cite web |title=Who We Are |url=http://chicagoprogressivecaucus.com/who-we-are/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312071527/http://chicagoprogressivecaucus.com/who-we-are/ |archive-date=2022-03-12 |access-date=2019-05-27 |website=chicagoprogressivecaucus.com}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-06-12|title=With new members, Chicago City Council members realign Progressive Reform Caucus|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-met-chicago-city-council-reform-caucus-20190612-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190613062122/https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-met-chicago-city-council-reform-caucus-20190612-story.html |archive-date=2019-06-13 |access-date=2020-06-12|website=chicagotribune.com}}{{Cite web|last1=Kapos|first1=Shia|last2=Carrasco|first2=Maria|date=2020-06-12|title=PASS THE POPCORN! — PROGRESSIVES PICK ALD. KING — ANALYZING PRITZKER'S HIRES|url=https://politi.co/3hnwdhy|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-12|website=POLITICO|language=en}} The current co-chairs are Maria Hadden and Andre Vasquez (2023–Present).{{Cite web |last=Cherone |first=Heather |date=December 16, 2024 |title=Chicago City Council Narrowly OKs Johnson's $17.1B Budget That Hikes Taxes by $165M |url=https://news.wttw.com/2024/12/16/chicago-city-council-narrowly-oks-johnson-s-171b-budget-hikes-taxes-165m |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=WTTW News |language=en}}

The following table lists aldermen who are affiliated with the Progressive Reform Caucus, as of the 2023–27 term, according to news media reporting.{{Cite web |last=Feurer |first=Todd |date=2024-03-18 |title=Progressive Caucus demands end to Chicago migrant evictions - CBS Chicago |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/progressive-caucus-mayor-brandon-johnson-migrant-eviction-policy/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}

In August 2019, ten members of the caucus urged Mayor Lori Lightfoot to address the city's budget deficit by enacting a financial transaction tax or corporate head tax, rather than increasing property taxes or making cuts to city services.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/progressives-lightfoot-tax-biz-fill-budget-hole|title=Progressives to Lightfoot: Tax biz to fill budget hole|last=Quig|first=A.D.|date=2019-08-28|website=Crain's Chicago Business|language=en|access-date=2019-08-30}} A month later, they outlined the specifics of their proposal, further suggesting a tax on office leases, a hotel tax increase, a tax on vacant commercial properties, and a local income tax on those making over $100,000 a year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/head-tax-lasalle-street-tax-vacancy-tax-progressives-checklist-lightfoot|title=Head tax, LaSalle Street tax, vacancy tax on progressives' checklist for Lightfoot|last=Quig|first=A.D.|date=2019-09-10|website=Crain's Chicago Business|language=en|access-date=2019-09-10}}{{Cite news|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2019/9/10/20859272/taxes-head-tax-income-revenue-budget-progressive-caucus-city-council-chicago|title=Community and labor organizations propose $4.5 billion in new revenues to 're-imagine Chicago'|last=Spielman|first=Fran|date=2019-09-10|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=2019-09-11}} Furthermore, they proposed a moratorium on the Chicago Police Department budget, a moratorium on privatization of city services, an end to Tax increment financing subsidies in wealthy neighborhoods, and increased spending on affordable housing, mental health, early childhood education, and a youth jobs program. The aldermen suggested that the Progressive Caucus could act as a bloc on these issues in the upcoming budget debate.

In November 2019, in response to Mayor Lightfoot's plan for raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2021, the Progressive Caucus pushed to eliminate the tipped minimum wage and allow restaurant workers and others in this category to earn the $15 minimum wage.{{Cite web|url=http://chicagoprogressivecaucus.com/2019/11/cprc-calls-for-elimination-of-sub-minimum-wage-for-tipped-workers/|title=Chicago Progressive Caucus calls for elimination of 'sub-minimum' wage for tipped workers|last=|first=|date=2019-11-13|website=chicagoprogressivecaucus.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922094729/http://chicagoprogressivecaucus.com/2019/11/cprc-calls-for-elimination-of-sub-minimum-wage-for-tipped-workers/ |archive-date=2020-09-22 |access-date=2019-11-14}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-lightfoot-tipped-wage-20191113-7jkonzimjffvbb2eh73hvcvbiy-story.html|title=Mayor Lori Lightfoot proposes minimum wage hike that would boost tipped workers' pay — but not to full $15 an hour|last1=Byrne|first1=John|last2=Elejalde-Ruiz|first2=Alexia|date=2019-11-13|website=chicagotribune.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113194646/https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-lightfoot-tipped-wage-20191113-7jkonzimjffvbb2eh73hvcvbiy-story.html |archive-date=2019-11-13 |access-date=2019-11-14}} Later that month, half of the caucus' members (La Spata, Taylor, Rodriguez, Sigcho-Lopez, Rodriguez Sanchez, Ramirez Rosa, Vasquez, Martin, and Hadden) voted against Mayor Lightfoot's proposed annual budget for 2020, which passed by a vote of 39–11.{{Cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2019/11/26/20983774/chicago-city-council-lightfoot-budget-vote|title=City Council approves Lightfoot's $11.6 billion budget — with 11 'no' votes|last=Spielman|first=Fran|date=2019-11-26|website=Chicago Sun-Times|language=en|access-date=2019-12-06}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the Progressive Caucus conducted telephone check-ins with senior citizens living in their wards.{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/3432x3b|title=PRITZKER FOR PRESIDENT? — GETTING IN BUDGET BINDS — MISSION: PPE|last=Kapos|first=Shia|date=2020-04-02|website=POLITICO|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-02}}

During the George Floyd protests in late May and early June 2020, the Progressive Caucus renewed calls for the city to negotiate a new contract with the Chicago Police Department that would include systematic reforms, and introduced a resolution to that effect.{{Cite web|title=Chicago Progressive Caucus Calls for Justice for George Floyd and Demand FOP Contract Reforms to protect Chicagoans|url=https://chicagocrusader.com/chicago-progressive-caucus-calls-for-justice-for-george-floyd-and-demand-fop-contract-reforms-to-protect-chicagoans/|last=|first=|date=May 31, 2020|website=The Chicago Crusader|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609152315/https://chicagocrusader.com/chicago-progressive-caucus-calls-for-justice-for-george-floyd-and-demand-fop-contract-reforms-to-protect-chicagoans/ |archive-date=2020-06-09 |access-date=2020-06-01}}{{Cite web|title=Chicago Progressive Caucus Calls for Justice for George Floyd and Demand FOP Contract Reforms to protect Chicagoans.|url=http://chicagoprogressivecaucus.com/2020/05/chicago-progressive-caucus-calls-for-justice-for-george-floyd-and-demand-fop-contract-reforms-to-protect-chicagoans/|access-date=2020-06-03|website=chicagoprogressivecaucus.com}} In July 2020, the Caucus called for an end to the $33 million contract for police officers to be present in Chicago Public Schools, and for a reinvestment of those funds in alternative strategies for school safety.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=July 2, 2020|title=Chicago Progressive Caucus Calls for Removal of Chicago Police Officers From Public Schools and Investment in Alternatives Strategies that Improve School Safety.|url=http://chicagoprogressivecaucus.com/2020/07/chicago-progressive-caucus-calls-for-removal-of-chicago-police-officers-from-public-schools-and-investment-in-alternatives-strategies-that-improve-school-safety/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703201715/http://chicagoprogressivecaucus.com/2020/07/chicago-progressive-caucus-calls-for-removal-of-chicago-police-officers-from-public-schools-and-investment-in-alternatives-strategies-that-improve-school-safety/ |archive-date=2020-07-03 |access-date=2020-07-03|website=chicagoprogressivecaucus.com}} Later that month, the Caucus criticized the Chicago Police Department for its actions during a July 17 protest in Grant Park and called on the Chicago Park District to remove the park's statue of Christopher Columbus.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=July 20, 2020|title=Progressive Caucus Condemns Police Response to Protests, the FOP President's Call for the Feds, and Calls for the Removal of Columbus Statue in Grant Park|url=http://chicagoprogressivecaucus.com/2020/07/progressive-caucus-condemns-police-response-to-protests-the-fop-presidents-call-for-the-feds-and-calls-for-the-removal-of-columbus-statue-in-grant-park/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807120414/http://chicagoprogressivecaucus.com/2020/07/progressive-caucus-condemns-police-response-to-protests-the-fop-presidents-call-for-the-feds-and-calls-for-the-removal-of-columbus-statue-in-grant-park/ |archive-date=2020-08-07 |access-date=2020-07-21|website=chicagoprogressivecaucus.com}}

• Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus
• Chicago City Council Democratic Socialist Caucus
• Chicago City Council Latino Caucus
• Chicago City Council LGBT Caucus

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Category:Progressive organizations in the United States

Category:Issue-based groups of legislators

Category:Caucuses of the Chicago City Council