The Chicago City Council Latino Caucus voted to expel Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa Wednesday, citing a "lack of attendance and lack of participation" in their decision.
The Latino Caucus gathered shortly after the full Chicago City Council adjourned from a lengthy meeting Wednesday.
But Ramirez-Rosa, of the 35th Ward on the city's Northwest Side, missed the meeting — and his fellow Latino aldermen sent a strong message in voting to expel Rosa from the caucus. Ald. Rick Munoz said Thursday, however, that he will be reconsidering his vote and will recommend Ramirez-Rosa be allowed to remain in the caucus.
"It's unfortunate how yesterday turned out," he told NBC 5 after news of the decision was reported.
Ramirez-Rosa's expulsion from the 11-member caucus came just after he and 17th Ward Ald. David Moore used a procedural move to delay a vote on plans for a controversial police academy on the city's West Side.
Rather than wait a month, as is often the case for a "defer and publish" vote, Ald. Ed Burke, with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's support, instead called for a rare Friday meeting to move the plans forward, scheduled for 2:15 p.m. ahead of the holiday weekend.
Ald. Gilbert Villegas, who represents the 36th Ward and serves as chairman of the Latino Caucus, confirmed Ramirez-Rosa's expulsion by phone Wednesday and denied that it had anything to do with his stance on the $95 million training center.
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But in a statement, Ramirez-Rosa tied the two together.
"It is unfortunate that a majority of my Latino Caucus colleagues would vote to expel me, their only gay millennial member, on the same day I take a bold stand on police violence that disproportionately impacts our Black and Latino neighborhoods," Ramirez-Rosa's statement reads, adding that he had "worked diligently to craft a progressive agenda for the Latino Caucus" and "repeatedly sought the support of the Caucus for measures that will expand protections for undocumented immigrants, and address displacement and gentrification in our communities."
"There was no due process, not all Caucus members were present, and no prior notice that this item would be taken up today was provided," he continued.
"I have raised my concerns on due process with Chairman Gil Villegas, and the decision made today will be revisited at the Caucus’ June meeting. It is my hope that a majority of my colleagues will agree that we can have differences on policy while continuing to find common ground and unity around issues important to the Latino community," Ramirez-Rosa said.
Villegas confirmed that the Latino Caucus will reconsider Ramirez-Rosa's removal at a meeting next month - but maintained that for now, he has been expelled.
