A large portion of Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood on the city’s Southwest Side is represented by Ald. Raymond Lopez, who has represented the 15th Ward in Chicago’s City Council since 2015.
Lopez says COVID-19 has strained already scarce resources in his ward, which is home to many essential workers and undocumented immigrants.
“They’re doing the best that they can to survive,” Lopez said. “Many communities were already having issues as it relates to resources, and this has just compounded the matter.”
Over the past year, Lopez has emerged as an outspoken critic of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, opposing several of her initiatives and pieces of legislation.
Earlier this week, he joined several alderman to delay a measure that would give Lightfoot emergency spending powers to battle the coronavirus. A vote is expected on the measure Friday afternoon.
Community Reporting Series
“Chicago Tonight” is expanding its community reporting. We’re hitting the streets to speak with your neighbors, local businesses, agencies and leaders about COVID-19, the economy, racial justice, education and more. See where we’ve been and what we’ve learned by using the map below. Or select a community using the drop-down menu. Points in red represent our series COVID-19 Across Chicago; blue marks our series “Chicago Tonight” in Your Neighborhood.
