CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — After pushback from a South Side alderwoman, city leaders have walked back previously announced plans to move new arrivals from downtown to a new South Side shelter — located near Guaranteed Rate Field — ahead of the Democratic National Convention.
It was supposed to be a temporary solution during the DNC. The city pitched the idea of moving migrants to the South Side shelter on Canal Street and Pershing Road, located in the city’s 11th Ward..
That won’t be happening anymore, though, following pushback from local Ald. Nicole Lee (11th) and revelations that the property owners were unaware of the plans.
In a statement released Monday, the Department of Family and Support Services clarified that while they hadn’t directly contacted the owners, discussions had gone on with their broker.
Lee criticized the administration’s handling of the situation and cited physical improvements that the building would need in order to accommodate more people — and she also criticized the overall management of the migrant crisis.
The fate of asylum seekers remains a challenge for Mayor Brandon Johnson, who’s tried to balance shelter needs with aldermanic opposition and the city’s image, especially with the upcoming DNC.
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