HR0157 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0157 LRB103 31412 ECR 59066 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to commend Alderperson Tom Tunney on his service to the 44th Ward as a member of the Chicago City Council; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Tunney was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago; he obtained his undergraduate degree in Restaurant Management from the University of Illinois and his master's degree in Hotel Management from Cornell University; he returned to Chicago in 1980, settling in the Lakeview neighborhood, where he has been a resident for over 30 years; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Tunney took over the Ann Sather Restaurant in 1981; during his ownership, he has successfully expanded the business into a chain through the addition of two restaurants and Ann Sather Corporate and Special Event Catering; he continues to serve the community through his business, allowing local groups the use of his restaurants for meetings and forums; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Tunney was first elected to represent the 44th Ward on the Chicago City Council in 2003, becoming Chicago's first openly gay alderperson; he was thereafter reelected in 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019, and he was elected vice mayor of Chicago in 2019; and

WHEREAS, Since taking office, Ald. Tunney has been committed to maintaining, upgrading, and ensuring proper restoration of all public infrastructure throughout the 44th Ward; he has invested over seven million dollars in upgrading street lighting, accounting for nearly half of the 44th Ward's annual infrastructure funding; he has also invested in upgrading outdated traffic and pedestrian signals, installing new traffic signals and pedestrian signage, and improving bike and pedestrian infrastructure; further, he has worked with the Department of Transportation to establish full street asphalt restoration of streets after large-scale water, sewer, gas, and communications upgrades; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Tunney has additionally been invested in public safety, development, schools, and the quality of life in the 44th Ward; he has fought to maintain and increase the number of officers upon the merger of the Chicago Police Department's 19th and 23rd Districts; he has worked to bring in new food outlets, including Mariano's, Whole Foods, and Target, in addition to securing Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs) to reduce vehicular congestion; he has expanded the number of affordable housing units to more than 800 units and secured a $7 million grant for the renovation of the Merlo Chicago Public Library branch; he has regularly attended local school events and was instrumental in securing funding for Harriet Tubman Elementary School, Blaine Elementary School, and Lake View High School; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Tunney has served as an advocate for Chicago's LGBTQ+ community, including obtaining funding for the LGBTQ+ senior center at Halsted and Addison, the Town Hall LGBTQ+ senior housing projects, and for AIDS and LGBTQ+ support services; he has helped build the Boystown area, supported Chicago's massive Pride Parade and related events, and pushed for the creation of the AIDS Garden, which opened in June 2022; and

WHEREAS, During his last term, Ald. Tunney has enhanced the safety of the community by working with the Chicago Police Department to create the Lakeview Entertainment Detail, responded to community requests for more parks by building three new playgrounds, and secured additional affordable housing for his constituents; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Tunney has served as chair of the Chicago City Council's LGBTQ+ Caucus and as chairman of the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards, the Special Committee on the Chicago Casino, and several joint committees; he has also served as a member of the Committee on Budget and Government Operations, the Committee on Committees and Rules, the Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development, the Committee on Finance, the Committee on License and Consumer Protection, the Committee on Public Safety, the Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation, the Committee on Workforce Development, and several joint committees; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Tunney has been actively involved in his community in several organizations, including serving as chairman of the Illinois Restaurant Association, founder and former president of the Lakeview Center Business Association, and as a founding board member and former chairman of the White Crane Senior Center; he was one of the first volunteers of the Open Hand Chicago program, which provided home delivery of hot meals to AIDS patients, opening his restaurant to help with the preparation and distribution of meals; he established Restaurant Nights at the Illinois Masonic Hospital to serve meals to AIDS patients and their families; he was also the former fundraising chair for IMPACT, a gay and lesbian political action organization; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Tunney has expressed plans to continue serving as an advocate for the business community in his retirement; 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 Tom Tunney for his work on the Chicago City Council, and we thank him for his years of dedicated service to the people of the 44th Ward and the City of Chicago; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Ald. Tunney as a symbol of our esteem and respect.