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Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration budgeted $82 million for
settlements this year.
On Wednesday, the city council approved more than $62 million in
payouts for police-related incidents and $15.5 million to settle
a dispute with a parking-meter company.
Alderman Nicholas Sposato said the city can’t keep paying for
unfair settlements.
“It has to stop. It’s a two-way street. It can’t be a one-way
street. Only we can lose, but you can win. That ain’t right,”
Sposato said.
Alderman Raymond Lopez objected to a $5 million deal for a woman
who had her legs amputated due to frostbite after she was locked
out of her apartment in 2021. The woman claimed that police
ignored her request for help, but officers said the woman
refused assistance.
“We have to learn that some situations, while tragic, are not
our fault. They are not the responsibility of taxpayers,” Lopez
said.
Chicago Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry responded to
the criticism from aldermen at a news conference with Mayor
Brandon Johnson Wednesday afternoon.
“The vast majority of our matters do get tried, but there are
categories of cases that are in the interests of the city to
settle,” Richardson-Lowry said.
Richardson-Lowry warned that more payouts are coming.
“I want all the alder corps and the general public to get ready,
because we’re going to have more settlements. It’s the
responsible thing to do. We will have more trials, when it’s
appropriate, that will be the responsible thing to do,”
Richardson-Lowry said.
The city is now more than $77 million over budget for settlement
payouts approved this year. Richardson-Lowry told reporters last
month that it is difficult to make budget projections for
settlements, but she suggested that budgetary adjustments could
be made throughout the year.
According to the city’s website, Richardson-Lowry is paid
$215,040 a year by Chicago taxpayers.
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