CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Aldermen have granted preliminary approval to Mayor Lightfoot's appointees to the Chicago Board of Health, after close questioning on mental health and vaccine equity, among other things.
The City Council's Health and Human Relations Committee approved all nine of the people selected for the Chicago Board of Health, including nominated Board President Carolyn Lopez. But, 33rd Ward Alderwoman Rosanna Rodriguez-Sanchez reminded them that some aldermen ran on a promise to reopen mental health clinics closed under then Mayor Emanuel.
"The public mental health clinics were being used by a lot of people, and a lot of people were harmed when those clinics were closed," Ald. Rodriguez-Sanchez said. "The public mental health clinics are a really important resource for our communities, so I would like to know where you stand in terms of the mental health clinics, in terms of reopening, in terms of expanding services."
She wanted to know if they'd support reopening the clinics.
Most like Lurie Hospital's Doctor Horace Smith answered with some form of "Yes, but…"
"I heard it loud and clear and I will qualify my yes, because that alone will not solve our problem," he said.
Others said it could be part of a comprehensive citywide plan.
UIC Medical Center ER doctor Janet Lin resisted giving a yes or no answer.
"There's no one solution, so with mental health clinics, specifically the public mental health clinics, that is potentially and probably part of the solution," she said.
The full Council is expected to approve the appointments.
