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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-24- MinutesMINUTES OF A TOWN HALL MEETING HELD BY THE PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF MORTON GROVE COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, AT THE AMERICAN LEGION MEMORIAL CIVIC CENTER APRIL 24, 2017 CALL TO ORDER I – Village President Dan DiMaria called the Town Hall meeting to order at 7:30 pm. in the II. American Legion Memorial Civic Center, and led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance. Village Clerk Connie Travis called the roll. Present were: Trustees Bill Grear, Rita Minx, John Pietron, Ed Ramos, John Thill, and Janine Witko. III. WELCOME Mayor DiMaria welcomed the assemblage. He said that a group of residents have asked the Village to consider an ordinance to prohibit discrimination based on a person's immigration status. The ordinance seeks to regulate how the Morton Grove Police Department handles requests from the federal government to investigate and detain persons who may have immigration violations. Most of the suggested ordinance reflects the current practices of the MGPD, and the department rarely receives requests for assistance from the federal government. Because this topic has been controversial at a national level, the Village Board decided to have a town hall meeting to learn more about this topic and hear from the residents about it. Mayor DiMaria noted that this a complex issue and asked that everyone respect the speakers, even if a particular speaker's opinion differs from their own. IV. GENERAL GROUND RULES/RULES OF PROCEDURE a. Village Administrator Ralph Czerwinski explained the rules of procedure. He said that all cell phones and pagers should be turned off, and said that anyone wishing to speak should complete a sign -in form, available in the back of the room. The author of the proposed ordinance, Jon Lahn, will speak first for five minutes to provide an explanation of what the ordinance does and doesn't do. Police Chief Simo will speak next, summarizing the Department's—and the Village's—current policy and practices with respect to immigration matters. b. Mr. Czerwinski said the Mayor would then begin to call speakers to the podium. Morton Grove residents will be called upon first. He said that comments should be limited to the proposed ordinance, and that speakers should address the Village Board, not other individuals or the audience. Morton Grove residents will be allowed two minutes to comment, and non-residents will be given one minute. Minutes of April 24, 2017 Town Hall Meeting IV. GENERAL GROUND RULES/RULES OF PROCEDURE (continued) c. Mr. Czerwinski reminded the assemblage that this is not a question -and -answer forum, nor is it a sporting event. Speakers should be courteous and there should be no applause, cheering, or jeering from the assemblage. He asked that there be no redundant comments, but said that a speaker could advise the Board that he/she agreed with a previous speaker's statements. JON LAHN a. Mr. Lahn is the Director of Americans in Solidarity—Chicago. He moved to Morton Grove in 1981, then moved out for a while, and now has moved back. He said that he always wanted to be an activist and wanted Morton Grove to be the best it could be. Mr. Lahn noted that over 150 prominent members of the Village, including members of local churches, the MEC, and local businesses, have signed a letter in favor of the Village adopting this ordinance. b. Mr. Lahn said the ordinance being proposed does not make Morton Grove a sanctuary city. It does not authorize anyone to violate federal law, hide someone from law enforcement, or inter- fere with federal immigration work. It does not legalize anything, but prohibits arrests only if they are solely based on a person's immigration status. Mr. Lahn emphasized that no criminal would benefit one bit from this ordinance. The ordinance would basically formalize existing practices by the Morton Grove Police Department. Mr. Lahn said the proposed ordinance does allow the MGPD to communicate with the federal authorities. This is already the Police Department's policy and the ordinance would not change it. He said the proposed ordinance complies with all federal rules and laws, thus allowing the Village and MGPD to remain eligible to apply for and receive federal funding. The proposed ordinance does prohibit the collecting and maintaining a registry containing data about a person's immigration status, race, or religious affiliation. Mr. Lahn also pointed out that the proposed ordinance contains language that prohibits lawsuits or monetary damages against the Village or any of its agents/agencies. Mr. Lahn said the ordinance gives the force of law to the Village's sensible set of policies. He urged the Board to live up to the Village's tagline of "Incredibly Close. Amazingly Open.", and felt that by passing the proposed ordinance, they would be taking a positive action to do just that. c. d. e. POLICE CHIEF MICHAEL SIMO a. Chief Simo said, regarding immigration enforcement, the MGPD very rarely deals with it. He could only recall a few instances where there was an existing warrant for arrest from ICE. b. Chief Simo said the Department was committed to fair and impartial law enforcement, and as an extensive policy manual that includes policies on dealing with immigrants. The Department does not enforce or arrest for federal immigration violations, such as entering the country for a finite period and then overstaying that time limit. Chief Simo said the Morton Grove Police Department does not do "sweeps" for immigrants nor does it stop anyone based on their immigrant status. If they observe a person doing something illegal, they don't inquire as to that person's immigration status, and they don't "hold" anyone because of a person's immigration status. 2 Minutes of April 24, 2017 Town Hall Meeting c. Chief Simo said that he and the other members of the Police Department are well aware that very often, people new to this country are reluctant to deal with members of the Department. To that end, he said, he and the Department are very big on "community" policing, where police officers can be seen participating in community events and mingling with residents. d. Chief Simo said his officers would only arrest someone for a violation of criminal laws and/or if there was a federal arrest warrant for a person. He said the MGPD doesn't look for forged papers or people being smuggled into this country. The Department plays a peace -keeper role, quite unlike ICE. VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR RALPH CZERWINSKI a. Regarding federal funding, Mr. Czerwinski said that, currently, the Village receives less than $135,000 for bond interest from Build Illinois bonds, and commented that that would probably not be affected. Also, through annual programs based on federal grant monies, the Village receives in the range of $100,000—$150,000 annually via public safety and services grants. He pointed out that the Village's Quint fire engine was mostly paid via a federal grant. The cost of the fire engine was $750,000, and the grant was for $500,000. b. Mr. Czerwinski said that this year, the Village would be applying for a $2 million dollar federal grant for Austin Avenue street improvements between Lincoln Avenue and Oakton Street. The Village is also looking at funding for the construction of infrastructure for the alternative water supply. RESIDENT SPEAKERS 1 • KAREN LANER, 6143 LINCOLN Ms. Laner is a Morton Grove resident who is also a Montessori teacher. She said she tries to teach children about the "big picture" and to think about others and care about strangers. She said that "this is our legacy" and asked the Board to keep it in mind when considering whether or not to pass this ordinance. 2. KEVIN NEIDY, 9342 NEENAH Mr. Neidy said he is a long-time resident and expressed concern over the possible passage of this ordinance. He noted that it doesn't seem like Morton Grove would have a lot to lose, but to lose $100 million dollar all because someone wants to be an activist made no sense to him. Mr. Neidy said that he is a firearms instructor and affiliated with the Illinois State Police. He felt that Morton Grove is a "fair" town, as Chief Simo said. He asked the Board to please consider what losses and ramifications there would be if the Board passed this ordinance, and concluded by stating, "If it's not broke, why fix it?" 3. NAUSHINA RAHMAN, 7014 CHURCH Ms. Rahman said she is an immigrant and lives in this country legally. She said her conservative friends often complain about "politically correct" speech, so she intended her remarks to be clear and blunt. She felt that opposing this ordinance was bigotry. She felt that there is not so much a problem with documentation as there is a problem with skin color. She asked the Board to pass the ordinance and take a stand for decency. 3 Minutes of April 24, 2017 Town Hall Meeting 4. LARRY STRYBEL, 6029 CAPULINA a. Mr. Strybel said that he had taken the time to read the proposed ordinance and found some things in it worthy of consideration and some not. He wondered if the ordinance was necessary, since it clearly hadn't been brought about by the mistreatment of anyone in particular. b. Mr. Strybel wanted to know what the Village's recourse would be if any funds did happen to be withheld as a result of this ordinance. He opined that Americans In Solidarity–Chicago should be required to reimburse the Village for any Toss of funds or for funds the Village may be deprived of, if the Board passes this ordinance. 5. LAURA FRISCH, 5830 CRAIN Ms. Frisch, a 14 -year resident, said it's appropriate to be discussing this today, as it is the "Day of Remembrance" of the Holocaust. She said that people often get turned away when other people are scared. She asked the Board to give this ordinance serious consideration because when people come to this country or this Village, they need to feel they are safe. Residents need to feel that it is okay to call the police even if they are in the country illegally. That's what this ordinance gives us. 6. NEAL LONDON, 8440 CALLIE Mr. London said that he is curious about who is funding the organization that brought this to the Village Board (Americans In Solidarity–Chicago). He said he didn't see a problem with how things are currently running so why should the Village potentially jeopardize receiving federal funds. He said he would really be irate if that happened and the Village ended up having to raise taxes to offset that loss. 7. ROBERT RACCUGLIA, 7439 ARCADIA Mr. Raccuglia said he strongly supported the proposed ordinance based on his faith. He felt the ordinance speaks to what's best in all of us as American citizens—we welcome strangers; we show compassion and decency. It's about who we are. Further, the ordinance complies with federal law and does not jeopardize funding. He felt the Board shouldn't act fearful by NOT passing this ordinance. 8. PETER RUTHECKI, 8919 HARMS a. Mr. Ruthecki said he is an immigrant; his family ran away from the Communist regime. He said he has never felt "threatened" in this country and felt that this whole discussion was a waste of time. He agreed that if the Village suffered any loss of funding (if the ordinance is passed), that the organization (Americans In Solidarity–Chicago) should be called upon to replace those funds. b. Mr. Ruthecki said that if people don't like it here in Morton Grove, they should move to Chicago. He said more lives have been lost in Chicago than in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined. He added that he lives close to the highway and felt that Morton Grove is a "gateway" for drug traffickers. He said he's often seen Mexican people smoking pot in Morton Grove. 4 Minutes of April 24, 2017 Town Hall Meeting 9. CATHERINE TERDICH, 5507 WARREN a. Ms. Terdich said that she is a 40 -year resident of Morton Grove, a retired teacher, and a member of St. Martha's parish. She said that her life has been shaped by immigrants. Her husband immigrated here after WWII; her cousin fled to this country after the Croatian war. She said that, in her 35 years as a teacher, she heard similar stories from her students. Classmates told of having family members killed in Bosnia. b. Ms. Terdich said that many people fleeing to this country are desperate, and desperation doesn't always allow for time-consuming legal red tape. She said that she saw the U.S. at its best in her classroom, and asked the Board to pass this ordinance. 10. PAM LUNDSBERG a. Ms. Lundsberg, a 42 -year resident, agreed that Morton Grove doesn't seem to have immigration issues, and wondered why then, does the Village need this ordinance. She said the Board needs to consider its fiscal responsibilities. She said the ordinance wouldn't let the Village work with ICE, and she didn't feel that was right. b. Ms. Lundsberg pointed out that "sneaking into a country" doesn't give that person rights. She said she favors legal immigration, and felt that, if people are worried because they're not in this country legally, that was their problem. She said that Morton Grove is diverse and welcoming, and asked, "Why fix something if it isn't an issue?" 11. RUTH GOMBERG MUNOZ, 8418 MARMORA Ms. Gomberg Munoz said that she is an anthropologist and an author, but she was not in attendance this evening in her professional capacity, but rather as a mother and a neighbor. She noted that the majority of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. are living with family members who are here legally. Two-thirds have lived here 10 years or more. They stay, but re- main undocumented. Families can get torn apart. There is heightened anxiety and depression in their children's lives. She urged the Board to agree to protect these children from having their parents taken away from them by passing this ordinance. 12. TED PIOTROWSKI, 8529 MASON Mr. Piotrowski, an immigrant, has been a Morton Grove resident for 30 years. He said he strongly opposes this ordinance and felt that the Morton Grove Police Department is "too soft" on immigrants. He said that he has had bad incidents with illegal immigrants; one example was a traffic accident where his wife's car was hit by an illegal immigrant with no money and no car insurance. His wife was hurt and it cost them a lot of money, plus they ended up with high premiums. 13. JON COLE, 6023 SOUTH PARK Mr. Cole said that he is a psychologist who has lived in Morton Grove for 24 years. He said he supports passage of this ordinance. He said he likes that the Village is diverse and he likes the protections the ordinance offers. Mr. Cole said that, since the November elections, anxiety and stress levels are high in this country. School and academia problems, behavioral problems, PTSD, etc. have increased. Mr. Cole said that the people who live here shop here, work here, attend religious services here. Some, or many, probably don't feel safe enough to speak. Mr. Cole said that kind words are not enough, and felt it was important to pass this ordinance. 5 Minutes of April 24, 2017 Town Hall Meeting 14. SUE PELLICANO, 9327 NATIONAL Ms. Pellicano thanked the Board for this meeting. She agreed with the second speaker (Kevin Neidy) and said he had already said much of what she had planned to say. She, too, is worried about losing any federal funding. She also worries about the Village getting sued. Ms. Pellicano said that taxes are too high as it is; programs cost our schools, city, and state money, and everyone is broke. She said that Morton Grove is already welcoming, so why does the Village need this ordinance. She suggested that people address this at the State level. 15. FATHER DENNIS O'NEILL, 8523 GEORGIANA Father O'Neill, a 16 -year resident of the Village, felt that people have the right to live without fear. Muslims and Christians live in fear all over. Mosul once had 40,000 Christians; it is now empty of Christians. Everyone's being persecuted. Assyrian and Caledonian Christians have come to St. Martha's. He said that, when he brings up this topic, they are terrified—and they are here legally! 16. SARAH NOLL, 5706 EMERSON Ms. Noll thanked the Board for this meeting. She is a graduate of Parkview School and Niles West High School. She felt that if the Morton Grove Police Department is already doing this, then there's no need for it. She felt the ordinance was unnecessary. 17. NABAA KHAN, 8544 GEORGIANA Ms. Khan, a student at Niles North, said that human beings have inherent worth and should be welcomed. She felt the ordinance was important because it says that, regardless of a person's legal status, they are valued. She felt that passage of this ordinance would bring people togeth- er. Ms. Khan said that we should always be willing to extend a helping hand to our neighbors. 18. SCOTT SANDER a. Mr. Sander, a 35 -year resident, said he didn't feel this ordinance was needed because the Village is already welcoming. He also felt that the decision to pass this ordinance shouldn't be made by just the Village Board; he felt it was a matter that should go to referendum. He said the Police Department does a great job and pointed out that he works with illegal immigrants. It's different now than in the past, he said, because in the past, immigrants worked hard to become American citizens. He said he's never seen anyone turned away in Morton Grove. b. Mr. Sander also felt that our taxes are high and continue to go up. When groups of people don't pay their taxes, the rest of us have to pick up the slack. 19. MARY ELSNER, 9342 OZANAM Ms. Elsner pointed out that, in Mr. Czerwinski's presentation, he had mentioned funding that the Village will be applying for. The funds aren't secured yet, and there is no evidence that Morton Grove would have to "justify" receiving them. She said she is a Morton Grove resident with an adopted child who comes from a country of genocide. He crossed the border just to survive. He has been here since he was seven months old. She feels he could be stopped or detained just for the way he looks. She understands children worrying that their parents will be taken into custody. She said that, even if this is not the Board's personal experience, passing this ordinance would be sending a clear and positive message. 6 Minutes of April 24, 2017 Town Hall Meeting 20. CHRIS KENRON Ms. Kenron said that "criminal illegal aliens" are the main targets of ICE and Homeland Security. They identify people who have prior convictions. She said, "If they don't have rap sheets, they have nothing to worry about." There is also a fingerprint sharing program. She claimed that sanctuary cities have seen an increase in violent crime and drug use. She noted that, before he left office, President Obama released 155,000 criminals into communities. 21. TRACI OTTENFELD, 7517 FOSTER Ms. Ottenfeld, a 30 -year resident, supports the passage of this ordinance. She said that studies have shown there is an economic and safety advantage to communities with this type of ordinance. Crime is lower. She didn't think the proposed ordinance would jeopardize Morton Grove's ability to receive federal funds, and felt that the Village needs to protect all residents equally. 22. AKHTER SADIQ, 5736 MAIN Mr. Sadiq, a 48 -year resident, supports the proposed ordinance. In response to the oft -repeated question, "Why do we need this ordinance?" or "Why do we need this now?" he pointed out that the reason is that the country's political climate has changed. Since the November election, the country is divided and there's much more hateful rhetoric. President Trump said, when he was campaigning, that there should be a registry of all Muslims living in the U.S. Since the president has already tried passing some of his other campaign promises, who's to say he won't actually mandate a Muslim registry? Mr. Sadiq commented that Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky has been quoted as saying that she would register as a Muslim, if such a registry came into being. Mr. Sadiq urged the Board to pass the ordinance. 23. ISA DOMIN, 7014 CHURCH Ms. Domin thanked everyone who came out tonight. She said she did not want to get into emotions. She wanted to know why, as a taxpayer, her tax dollars should go to helping out Federal investigations. If there is no warrant, there's no dispute. The ordinance doesn't conflict with that at all. She felt strongly that our tax dollars should focus on Morton Grove, and suggested putting more tax money into pension funding. 24. ELAINE CERNY, 7439 ARCADIA Ms. Cerny is a 15 -year resident and a concerned citizen. She said she agreed with what supporters of this ordinance have been saying, and asked the Board to support the passage of the ordinance. 25. STEVE MUELLER, 8721 CALLIE Mr. Mueller-, a 30 -year resident, said the ordinance "sounds good" and he felt it didn't need to be put to a referendum; the Board was elected to make these types of decisions. He was con- cerned, however, because he felt it was an act of defiance to not follow state, federal, and local laws, whether the Village agrees with them or not. He felt this was a very divisive issue. 7 Minutes of April 24, 2017 Town Hall Meeting 26. SAMMY SCHEIN, 8816 BIRCH a. Mr. Schein, a Morton Grove resident who's an 18 -year old senior from Niles North High School, wanted to voice his support, and that of many of his peers in the Immigrants Rights Club, of the proposed ordinance. He said that, as he drives to school, he notices many "Skokie Welcomes Everyone" signs. b. At school, the principal has made countless efforts to assure the student body that Niles North is a welcoming place where everyone can feel safe, regardless of documentation. Many of the students are Morton Grove residents, and unfortunately, they say they have not felt the same level of support from Morton Grove as they do from the Village of Skokie. Mr. Schein said that Morton Grove takes pride in its diversity, and it would benefit everyone to feel the reassurance that would come from passing such an ordinance. 27. CHARLES SCHIFFLETT, 7218 PONTO Mr. Schifflett, a 30 -year resident, said that Morton Grove doesn't need this ordinance, adding that we have federal laws that we should obey. He said the MGPD is excellent; they know what they're doing. He said he served in the military, and no one ever said, "No, I'm not going to do that." 28. BOB BURKHART, 6034 GROVE Mr. Burkhart said he is in favor of this ordinance. He felt it was a moral statement about living in a diverse community. Passing the ordinance reflects Morton Grove's values publicly and will help people feel safe and feel that their civil liberties will be respected. He said that it's the right thing to do. Mr. Burkhart said he was involved in the racial justice movement of the 1960's. There was a lot of hate and bitterness. He simply felt that all people should be treated with dignity. 29. JOHN LISTON, 8845 MARMORA Mr. Liston said he was 100% opposed to this ordinance. He said his father emigrated from Ireland, became a citizen, and fought for the U.S. in Korea. He asked, "When did it become socially acceptable to be illegal?" He said Morton Grove didn't need to put up signs to make people feel welcome; he welcomes many diverse people to his home without having a sign. Mr. Liston said he was worried about the consequences of illegal aliens. He was worried about property values declining and businesses going under. 30. KAREN GARVIN, 7502 LAKE Ms. Garvin echoed Bob Burkhart's statements, and said, "If you're already doing it, put it in writing." 31. JO ANN RAPP, 8922 MANGO Ms. Rapp, a 34 -year resident and homeowner, said she has heard the Village's tag line and felt this ordinance would be a way to bring some real life into it. She was pleased that there is an option to download a "welcoming" poster on the Village's website. To the people who asked, "Why bother?", she said that it's time the Village makes a proactive statement of how we interact with our neighbors. It's the power of law; it's a commitment to what the Village stands for. Ms. Rapp said that "waffling on wording" will send the wrong message. She said this ordinance is the right way to go, and she too did not feel that any federal funds for the Village would be jeopardized. 8 Minutes of April 24, 2017 Town Hall Meeting 32. GIA SCHULTZ, 6411 ELM Ms. Schultz is a new resident and the newest member of the Village's Community Relations Commission. She said she moved her from San Francisco because of the diversity. She was happy that 22 languages are spoken at Parkview School; it made her feel that she came to the right place. She said she wholeheartedly supports the passage of this ordinance. 33. ESTANISLAO RAFALIK, 7713 ARCADIA Mr. Rafalik said that, whether a person is here legally or illegally, the law is the law. He said that 55,000 children come to the U.S. to be taken care of while their parents live in other countries. As far as the ordinance, Mr. Rafalik felt the "whole Village" should decide. He said he gets along well with his neighbors, but commented that "people do things here they aren't allowed to do." 34. JANICE CHA Ms. Cha said she moved here from Evanston fifteen years ago. She has served on the Village's Community Relations Commission for the past six years. Ms. Cha said there are people on her block from all different countries. She said that she supports the proposed ordinance, and noted that two towns that Morton Grove is working closely with on the alternative water supply project, Skokie and Evanston, have already passed similar ordinances. The proposed ordinance complies with federal rules and laws and doesn't impact the Village's eligibility for federal funding. She said that she believes in the Village's tag line and would like to see the ordinance passed. 35. ZAMMY MAKOWER, 9103 ORIOLE Mr. Makower, himself an immigrant, said he is opposed to the passage of this ordinance. He said we have enough laws on the books. 36. KATHLEEN WILSON Ms. Wilson said that she was one of the people Mr. Lahn had referred to who had signed a public letter stating that she favored the ordinance. She said that, in looking for a placed to move to and in which to raise a family, she chose Morton Grove for a variety of reasons. She said her father was an immigrant. Ms. Wilson said that she has instilled values in her children, and hoped the Village would show her children that "Incredibly Close. Amazingly Open." was not just a tag line or a lawn sign, it's who we are. She said she supported the Board making the decision on the ordinance because the Board was elected to represent the people. 37. TRACY MINX Ms. Minx said that if someone does something wrong, it needs to be addressed. The law is the law. If you break the law, you should go back to your own country. She said that many people have worked their butts off to become U.S. citizens, and felt that if a person did not want to become a citizen, that person should go back to their country of origin. She said the United States helps the whole world, adding that she is solidly opposed to this ordinance. 9 Minutes of April 24, 2017 Town Hall Meeting 38. KAY ZHONG, 8630 FERNALD Ms. Zhong said that she is a Morton Grove resident and a legal immigrant. She said that illegal immigrants are people who come here for safe haven; they are running away from horrors and trying to escape a horrible life. That is why they are here, even though illegally. As to the need for such an ordinance "right now," she agreed with other speakers that the climate of the country has changed. The fear exists and it's real. She felt the Village should show its support by pass- ing this ordinance. 39. BILL PAGE Mr. Page, a 15 -year resident, said it's so easy to get sidetracked on this matter. It's not about federal immigration policy; it's about kindness for our neighbors. In American history, there are many instances where people today realize our actions in the past were shameful. The people who stood up for others are the ones we now admire. He said the Board should be proud to pass this ordinance. He urged the Board not to "sit passively on the sidelines," but to make Morton Grove a truly amazing, truly open community. He asked the Board to "stand up to fear" by passing this ordinance. 40. HABEEB QUADRI, 9319 OAK PARK Mr. Quadri, a 15 -year resident, thanked everyone for coming tonight. He said the greatness of this country is dialogue. He said he has seen the Morton Grove Village Board and Police Department work on building a strong relationship with the Muslim community. Mr. Quadri said that, years ago, many people were uncomfortable about a mosque being built in the Village. But thanks to dialogue, the project moved forward. He said we need to have conversations about this matter, but wanted to point out three things: 1) that the ordinance being considered is a "welcoming" ordinance, not a sanctuary city ordinance; 2) that it is in no way intended to be a mechanism for harboring criminals; and 3) that there is no federal law right now saying that if you are a welcoming (or sanctuary) community, you will lose federal funds. 41. ELLIE DAVIS, 6400 LINCOLN Ms. Davis, a resident since 1991, said she was in a committed relationship with Pat Donahoe, and that's different today because now there are laws giving them equal protection in housing and other rights. She hoped that the Village would pass this as a formal welcoming ordinance, not a resolution, because an ordinance would provide equal protection to all races and creeds. It would be a wonderful legacy for our children. 42. CHUCK FALZONE, 6632 CHURCH Mr. Falzone, a 9 -year resident, said he was confident in the Board's abilities and did not feel a referendum on this matter was necessary. He said that immigrants today have enemies with loud voices. He said he chose to live in Morton Grove because of its proximity to his work and its diversity. He chose to raise a family here. Mr. Falzone said that passing a welcoming ordinance would reaffirm the Village's commitment to the diverse community its Board serves. He said, contrary to an earlier speaker, that many undocumented immigrants have homes and pay taxes; they don't put a strain on local resources. He urged the Board to not be silent about things that matter and asked that the pass the proposed ordinance. 10 Minutes of April 24, 2017 Town Hall Meeting 43. SALMAH TAYABEE, 9109 MENARD Ms. Tayabee said she is a proud American citizen who has lived in Morton Grove since 1990. She came to this country as a legal immigrant, and moved to Morton Grove because it seemed a welcoming place. She is a realtor and she pays her taxes. Ms. Tayabee said that this ordinance represents what it means to be an American—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness without fear. She felt this ordinance should be passed; and that doing so would be a good act of the Board. 44. MARGARET GRAU, 9123 MENARD Ms. Grau, a 25 -year resident, thanked Father Dennis for his comments and said she felt he had expressed her feelings best. She said she supports this ordinance. 45. CHRISTINE PETERS, 9123 MENARD Ms. Peters said that she supports the ordinance. She felt that it's important to coexist and to support everyone for their inherent worth and dignity. She mentioned that her child had attended Niles West and benefited from its diversity. 46. SHAFIQUE KHAN, 9020 NEENAH Mr. Khan, a 25 -year resident, said that it's simple—if the Cubs win, pass the ordinance; if they don't, don't pass it. All joking aside, he said he loves Morton Grove and loves how it has changed and become even more positive. He said the ordinance isn't talking about legal or illegal; it's talking about being welcoming. He is in favor of this ordinance. 47. TARIQ LALIWALA Mr. Laliwala said that he and his extended family live in Morton Grove. He said he was glad to hear opinions from both sides of this matter. He said he is a strong supporter of this ordinance, and said that the concerns about losing federal funding are unfounded. NON-RESIDENT SPEAKERS 1. PATTY BEEFTINK, 633 LEHIGH, GLENVIEW Ms. Beeftink, a Glenview resident, said that there's a reason for borders, citing Ebola, ISIS, etc. She said she is not a racist but she didn't feel the country can afford people who are here legally, let alone those who are not. She likened living in countries where masses have been killed to a weekend in Chicago. 2. FRED TSAO, 3849 N. KEDVALE, CHICAGO Mr. Tsao said he is happy to stand with those Morton Grove residents who support this ordi- nance. He felt that, under the 10th Amendment, the federal government did not have the right to cut off government funding. He said that, if Morton Grove passes this ordinance and it ends up being challenged, the legal community will stand with Morton Grove. 11 Minutes of April 24, 2017 Town Hall Meetin• 3- STEVEN YASELL, 8141 N. ODELL, NILES Mr. Yasell felt that the proposed ordinance limits the MGPD from doing their job. He said that he's the son of an immigrant and hoped the Board would consider the comments of those both for and against this ordinance. He said, "IF the ordinance doesn't change the law, why are we discussing it?" As far as a person being in this country legally or not, he felt the law was the law. Mr. Yasell concluded by saying "This whole thing is ridiculous." 4. SARAH FEROZ, 7905 KOSTNER Ms. Feroz, a student at Niles North and a member of its Immigrant Rights Club, said that people are scared. She supported this ordinance, adding that "In helping people, you don't lose anything." 5. REV. ELIZABETH JONES, 1314 CENTRAL, EVANSTON Rev. Jones, a minister at St. Luke's and an Evanston resident, said she supports this ordinance. People from immigrant countries have a different place and different experiences, and we should welcome that. 6. JANICE SACKETT, 8438 ST. Louis, SKOKIE Ms. Sackett, a 30 -year resident of Skokie, said that this ordinance codifies what the Village is already doing. This is important, because it keeps everyone safe. People should not be afraid to call the police if they need to. They shouldn't have to worry about deportation. Passing this ordinance would give people a sense of security. 7- SUSAN LAWS, 929 WASHINGTON, EVANSTON Ms. Laws said she believes in welcoming the stranger and supports this ordinance. 8. SUZANNE ATTANUS, 8417 BETTY TERRACE, NILES Ms. Attanus felt the Board should pass this ordinance. She also felt that President Trump is a problem and should be impeached. She felt that people have the right to come to this country. 9. TED SMUCKLER FROM OPEN COMMUNITIES, 8500 LAWNDALE, SKOKIE Mr. Smuckler said that Skokie passed this ordinance two months ago; Evanston has passed it as well. He felt that Morton Grove should pass it, too. As far as the threat to withhold federal funds, Mr. Smuckler felt that only Department of Justice grants could possibly be withheld. ADJOURNMENT Mayor DiMaria thanked everyone for coming and said the Board would review all comments prior to taking any action. He asked for a motion to adjourn the Town Hall meeting. Trustee Pietron so moved, seconded by Trustee Minx. Motion passed unanimously via voice vote. Respectfully submitted, Teresa Cousar 12