Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot issued an emergency declaration in response to the surge of new arrivals since last month, with large numbers of people, mostly families, arriving to Chicago and following the arrival today of 48 individuals and families inhumanely bussed to Chicago by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Since August 2022, the City has coordinated a multi-departmental, city-wide strategy in partnership with the State and Cook County for receiving and providing emergency care for over 8,000 new arrivals.
This humanitarian crisis has required collective and swift action, which is why the City has partnered with a variety of City departments, Aldermen, community-based organizations, and community leaders to identify sites to serve as temporary respite centers and temporary shelters to address this recent surge in new arrivals.
We should all understand that this crisis will likely deepen before we see it get better, so as we move forward, the City of Chicago will have to bring additional locations online to prepare for the arrival of more individuals and families and to relieve Chicago Police Department districts. The City of Chicago is in the midst of a national humanitarian crisis, and through a unified effort in accordance with its values as a welcoming city, Chicago is doing everything it can to respond to the urgency of this matter. The City has continued to call on federal and state governments to support the new arrival mission with much-needed additional funding and resources for emergency shelter and resettlement, as there are not enough resources currently to meet the need.
Key sections of the declaration include sections three and four, in which Mayor Lightfoot reserves the authority to request that Governor Pritzker mobilizes the National Guard to provide staffing and logistical support to address the emergency needs of the City. And, section four authorizing the Chief Procurement Office to exercise the emergency purchasing authority set forth in Section 2-92-644 of the Municipal Code, in addition to all other available procurement pathways, to the maximum extent feasible to address this declared emergency
All City Department Heads have been directed to undertake whatever efforts are feasible within their powers and duties, and to direct their employees accordingly, to manage this declared emergency. The order took effect today, May 9, 2023 after being signed by the City Clerk, Anna Valencia.
