Alderman Threatens to Kill Housing Ordinance Because Activists Were at His Home

CHICAGO, IL - A video shows a longtime Chicago alderman threatening to block an ordinance championed by homeless advocate groups because activists were on his property.

The Chicago Reader released video shot on July 12 showing 49th Ward Ald. Joe Moore confronting the activists at his home during the Rogers Park Garden Group’s annual fundraiser.

The activists stood outside the home with a banner that read, "1,000s of Homeless Families are Trying to Blossom: Don't Weed Them Out” in protest of a notion that Moore is attempting to block the housing ordinance’s passage as chairman of a committee that would need to approve it first.

"You can stand here as long as you want. That's your First Amendment right," said Moore, who represents the Rogers Park neighborhood on the Far North Side. "However, since you've chosen my home to do your demonstration, I have chosen that—to decide that—that ordinance is never going to come out of my committee as long as I'm chair. You got that?"

More via the Chicago Reader