Johnson abruptly cancels Zoning chair vote for Sigcho-Lopez

Mayor Brandon Johnson on Wednesday canceled his attempt to install a controversial alderman, Byron Sigcho-Lopez of the 25th Ward, as head of the city’s powerful Zoning Committee, amid concerns from the business community.

While Johnson had put forward Sigcho-Lopez as a nominee in recent days in a bid to expand the power held by his progressive allies, the mayor faced an uphill battle to win the votes required for the alderman’s appointment, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Johnson’s initial plan would have made Sigcho-Lopez the Zoning Committee chair, while replacing the alderman’s current position as Housing Committee chair with Vice Mayor Walter Burnett, of the 27th Ward. However, the mayor was faced with the insistence from several aldermen that the vote required a 34-member supermajority for consideration, as opposed to a simple 26-member majority, and Johnson chose to pull the proposal to avoid potential defeat.

The move by an ally of the mayor to pull the vote marked a surprising reversal, given Johnson’s intense lobbying efforts over the weekend, described as “aggressive” by a member of his leadership team, who spoke with the newspaper under the condition of anonymity. The anonymous source, who is an alderman, expressed bewilderment over Johnson’s commitment to Sigcho-Lopez, questioning the mayor’s prioritization of this appointment over other significant issues like the controversial ShotSpotter program.

Johnson justified his position by asserting the mayoral prerogative to appoint committee chairs. “Every mayor has always had the ability to designate their team of committee chairs, and he can’t be treated any different,” the anonymous council member said. The mayor framed the decision as a test of loyalty, implying that support for Sigcho-Lopez was indicative of broader alignment with his administration, the source said.

Sigcho-Lopez’s previous tenure as Housing Committee chair was marred by controversy, including his participation in a March rally where an American flag was burned to protest U.S. support for Israel in the Israel-Hamas war. The incident drew sharp criticism from the Anti-Defamation League, which accused Sigcho-Lopez of inciting anti-Semitism and criticized any attempt to promote him to a more powerful committee role.

Concerns also arose from 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins, who questioned whether Sigcho-Lopez’s controversial stances could be disentangled from his duties on the Zoning Committee. Meanwhile, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce President Jack Lavin emphasized the business community’s need for stability, cautioning that Sigcho-Lopez’s appointment might deter investment in Chicago.

With the Zoning Committee chair position vacant for eight months following Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa’s resignation amid allegations of bullying, the business community remains anxious about the future leadership and its implications for city planning and investments. Sigcho-Lopez had pledged to serve with “integrity, honesty and fairness,” and told reporters after Wednesday’s meeting that “conversations are ongoing … (and) we’ll take a vote eventually, soon,” the Chicago Tribune reported.

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