Chicago migrant camp stalled
Delivery, staging of equipment for construction at later date
CHICAGO — Construction of Chicago’s first large tent encampment for migrants did not start Monday after all as environmental assessments continued, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration said after the site’s alderman over the weekend again objected to the work proceeding.
Following an announcement Saturday from Alderman Julia Ramirez, 12th Ward, that Gardaworld Federal Services — a private security firm the city is contracting to build and run the camps — would begin erecting tents Monday on the lot at 38th Street and California Avenue, in the Brighton Park neighborhood, mayoral spokesman Ronnie Reese said early Monday that was not the case.
“Delivery and staging of equipment has been scheduled for today so construction can begin at a later date,” Reese said in a Monday statement. “There is no construction slated to begin today.”
Ramirez said she was told by the mayor’s office they had planned for the tent setup to start on Monday.
“I do feel that it is a win that construction is not happening today,” Ramirez said. “It was really important for me to make sure that the administration first convey the finding from the lot, the remediation process and be clear about timeline moving forward.”
Ramirez said she learned the latest update on the construction timeline from news headlines and not the mayor’s office, and “regardless of construction being done today, I think it’s important that the administration be very clear about whether or not they’ve made that decision.”
Asked on Sunday about the timing of construction, Reese had said, “The city is confident that the property will be suited for the purpose for which it will be used,” but did not address Ramirez’s letter to constituents stating tent setup would begin Monday. He also said the weekslong endeavor to assess the site’s viability should conclude later this week.
“The city conducted site visits and investigated preexisting conditions to determine any potential environmental impacts at the site,” Reese said Sunday.
Ramirez has opposed the rollout of Johnson’s plans to turn it into a base camp for incoming migrants as they wait for a bed in the city’s shelter system.
“The administration’s decision to proceed without addressing our concerns not only undermines transparency and efforts of co-governance,” she wrote, “but also disregards the well-being of everyone in our community, including the asylum-seekers who have come to our great city seeking safety and refuge.”