HR0153 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0153 LRB103 31411 LAW 59065 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to commend Alderperson Howard B. Brookins Jr. on his service to the 21st Ward as a member of the Chicago City Council; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Brookins is the son of former Illinois Senator Howard B. Brookins Sr.; he graduated from Mendel Catholic High School and earned a degree in Mortuary Science from Southern Illinois University Carbondale; he earned his Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois University College of Law; he is a longtime resident of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Prior to serving on the Chicago City Council, Ald. Brookins served as an Assistant Public Defender, an Assistant State's Attorney, and a Special Assistant Attorney General; he remains a practicing attorney at the Law Office of Howard B. Brookins Jr., PC; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Brookins was first elected to serve the 21st Ward as an alderperson in 2003, representing parts of Auburn Gresham and Washington Heights; he is currently completing his fifth term as one of the longest sitting members of the Chicago City Council, having served for 20 years by the end of this term; and

WHEREAS, While in office, Ald. Brookins has been a staple in the community and responsible for major economic growth and development within the 21st Ward; his accomplishments include the expansion of affordable housing, the opening of a new charter school, the launch of Chicago's electric scooter program, the opening of the 21st Ward's first Starbucks, the renaming of Lake Shore Drive after Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, one of Chicago's first non-Indigenous settlers, and the establishment of a reparations fund for victims of notorious former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge; he worked tirelessly to bring a Walmart Supercenter to West Chatham; he also served as chairman of the Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development, the Committee on Education and Child Development, and the Committee on Transportation and Public Way; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Brookins has also shown his dedication and commitment to the 21st Ward through hosting many community events, including job fairs, internship fairs, high school fairs, business advisory council meetings, the Annual Back to School Summer Picnic, the Annual 21st Ward Clean & Green, Bike the Hood, the Annual Senior Thanksgiving Dinners, the Annual Christmas Party, the Summer Music series, the Annual Shred-A-Thons, weekly Constituent Nights, and monthly Town Hall meetings; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Brookins has served as a member of several organizations, including Trinity United Church of Christ, Prince Hall Mason Eureka Lodge #64, the Community Media Workshop Board of Directors, the Northern Illinois Alumni Association Board of Directors, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and the 9100 South Union Block Club; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Brookins has expressed plans to remain politically active and to serve as a guide and counsel to young people in the 21st Ward Young Democrats organization; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Brookins is the husband of Ebonie Taylor-Brookins and the father of Howard B. Brookins III and Harihson B. Brookins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend Alderperson Howard B. Brookins Jr. for his work on the Chicago City Council, and we thank him for his years of dedicated service to the people of the 21st Ward and the City of Chicago; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Ald. Brookins as an expression of our esteem and respect.