The City Council is poised to approve Mayor Brandon Johnson’s appointment of Chief Larry Snelling to lead the Chicago Police Department. And a committee OKed a measure to ban new late night liquor licenses in the 2nd Ward.

SNELLING APPOINTMENT — The City Council will convene at City Hall for a special meeting Wednesday for the sole purpose of voting on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s appointment (A2023-0003864) of Larry Snelling, who currently serves as chief of the Chicago Police Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism, as the next police superintendent. The meeting is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. but is expected to be delayed until 11 a.m., according to a notice on the City Clerk’s website. Members of the City Council Committee on Police and Fire on Friday gave an initial OK to the appointment during a meeting that did not include many fireworks or digs at Snelling. During last week’s meeting, Snelling faced questions about recruitment, diversity, the federal consent decree and how the department will use technology to prevent and solve crime. This year marked the first time the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, whose members began work in 2022, was involved in the superintendent selection process. Commissioners in July sent Johnson a list of three finalists for superintendent. The other two finalists were Angel Novalez, who serves as the police department's chief of constitutional policing and reform, and Shon Barnes, who serves as police chief in Madison, Wisc. 

 LICENSE COMMITTEE — Members of the City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection approved a pair of ordinances the local alderperson said are needed to help curb fights and disorderly conduct occurring in the 2nd Ward. One of the two proposals from Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) would ban new liquor licenses allowing bars to stay open and serve alcohol until 4 a.m. most days of the week (O2023-0003484). The Chicago Police Department and community members agree that “we simply cannot handle any more [late night liquor licenses] in this area,” Hopkins said on Tuesday, adding that 911 calls increase “exponentially” during those late-night bar hours. The other proposal (O2023-0003482) from Hopkins would ban additional alcoholic liquor licenses on a portion of Wells Street between Schiller Street and North Avenue. Members of the license committee also approved an ordinance (O2023-0003483) from Ald. Maria Hadden (49) and Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) that would ban the booting of cars on private property within the 33rd and 49th wards. The committee also approved an ordinance (O2023-0004067) that would ban pedicabs from operating on public ways in an area of the 3rd Ward bound by Roosevelt Road, Indiana Avenue, 16th Street and Columbus Drive. A representative from Ald. Pat Dowell’s (3) office said the ban is meant to ensure pedicabs don’t use the 18th Street pedestrian bridge to Soldier Field. If approved, the measure would ensure pedestrians can "safely use the bridge around the surrounding area without being run into by pedicabs,” he said.