Human Relations Committee Meeting - May 13, 2026

The Human Relations Committee of Cook County convened on May 13, 2026 at 9:15 AM to discuss routine items and hear public comments. The meeting began with a remote participation motion for Commissioner McCasco, which passed 6-0-1, and included two public speakers: George Blakemore and Zoe Lee.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of meeting minutes from January 14, 2026 (Item 26-1429) was moved by Commissioner Anaya, seconded by Commissioner Stamps, and passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• George Blakemore spoke near the start of the meeting, criticizing the Human Relations Commission's handling of race complaints and alleging that illegal immigrants are filing complaints despite not being citizens. He also claimed that black people are being abused by Hispanics and that other ethnic groups work together while black people do not. He referenced a Hispanic woman formerly with the Chicago Human Relations Commission and alleged that Ken Dunn and others were unhappy with her.
• Zoe Lee spoke next, criticizing Governor JB Pritzker for calling Secretary of State Jesse White a "qualified vetted African American" on an FBI wiretap in 2008, and argued that such leadership prevents meaningful change. She also alleged property theft on the South Side related to Lake Michigan and accused public officials of being sellouts. She called for repentance and better public service.

Discussion Items

• First Quarter 2026 Report (Item 26-1113): Jennifer King, Director of the Cook County Department of Human Rights and Ethics, presented the quarterly report covering December 2025 through February 2026. Key statistics included: 260 total inquiries, 112 new complaints filed, and 240 total cases pending (including 112 new and 128 from prior fiscal years). A stark increase in complaints was noted from FY24 (148 new complaints) to FY25 (321 new complaints). Of closed cases, 68 were completed within 180 days, and 18 were duplicates. The majority of inquiries were about paid leave (72), followed by wrong number (38), and residential landlord-tenant ordinance (28). Paid leave, employment, and housing were the most common complaint types. For housing complaints, the most frequent basis was housing status, followed by national origin, race, retaliation, and source of income. The leading reason for dismissal was lack of jurisdiction (35 cases).
• Commissioner Naya asked for clarification on data presentation, suggesting that future reports include comparable quarterly data for FY24 and FY25 to better track trends. Director King acknowledged the feedback and noted that the department is working to include such comparisons in future reports.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to Receive and File Item 26-1113: Moved by Commissioner Trevor, seconded by Commissioner Naya. The motion passed on a roll call vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays. (Commissioner Miller initially absent but later voted aye via remote participation.)
• Adjournment: Moved by Commissioner Miller, seconded by Commissioner Stamps. The meeting was adjourned with unanimous consent.