SR0128 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0128 LRB103 31254 LAW 58300 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to congratulate Alderman Howard B. Brookins Jr. of the 21st Ward on the occasion of his retirement from the Chicago City Council; and

WHEREAS, Alderman Brookins is the son of former Illinois Senator Howard B. Brookins Sr.; he graduated from Mendel Catholic High School and earned a degree in Mortuary Science from Southern Illinois University Carbondale; he earned his Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois University College of Law; and

WHEREAS, Prior to serving on the Chicago City Council, Alderman Brookins served as an Assistant Public Defender, Assistant State's Attorney, and Special Assistant Attorney General; he remains a practicing attorney at the Law Office of Howard B. Brookins Jr., PC; and

WHEREAS, Alderman Brookins was first elected to serve the 21st Ward as an alderman in 2003, representing parts of Auburn Gresham and Washington Heights; he is currently completing his fifth term as one of the longest sitting members of the Chicago City Council, having served for 20 years by the end of this term; and

WHEREAS, While in office, Alderman Brookins' accomplishments include the opening of the 21st Ward's first Starbucks, the launch of Chicago's electric scooter program, and the establishment of a reparations fund for victims of notorious former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge; he worked tirelessly to bring a Walmart Supercenter to West Chatham and was instrumental in the development of the Anaerobic Digester, which uses food waste to produce renewable energy and nutrient rich compost; he also served as chairman of the Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development, the Committee on Education and Child Development, and the Committee on Transportation and Public Way; and

WHEREAS, Alderman Brookins has also shown his dedication and commitment to the 21st Ward through hosting many community events, including job fairs, internship fairs, high school fairs, business advisory council meetings, the Annual Back to School Summer Picnic, the Annual 21st Ward Clean & Green, Bike the Hood, the Annual Senior Thanksgiving Dinners, the Annual Christmas Party, the Summer Music series, the Annual Shred-A-Thons, weekly Constituent Nights, and monthly Town Hall meetings; and

WHEREAS, Alderman Brookins has served as a member of several organizations, including Prince Hall Mason Eureka Lodge #64, the Community Media Workshop Board of Directors, the Northern Illinois Alumni Association Board of Directors, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Alderman Brookins has expressed plans to remain politically active and to serve as a guide and counsel to young people in the 21st Ward Young Democrats organization; and

WHEREAS, Alderman Brookins is the husband of Ebonie Taylor-Brookins and the father of Howard B. Brookins III and Harihson B. Brookins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Alderman Howard B. Brookins Jr. on his retirement from the Chicago City Council, thank him for his years of dedicated service to the people of the 21st Ward and the City of Chicago, and wish him continued success in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Alderman Brookins as an expression of our esteem and respect.