Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa stepping down from leadership posts over bullying allegations

CHICAGO (CBS)-- Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) announced Monday he is stepping down from his positions as Mayor Brandon Johnson's floor leader, and as City Council Zoning Committee chair, following a bullying incident with another alderman during a special City Council meeting last week.

One alderman has gone a step further and called for Ramirez-Rosa's expulsion.

The Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus has accused Ramirez-Rosa of "physical and verbal harassment" of Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) during a meeting on Thursday to discuss a bid to ask voters during the March primary if Chicago should remain a sanctuary city for migrants. In a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) has said Ramirez-Rosa tried to "physically block her" from going into the City Council chamber to vote.

Part of the incident between Ramirez-Rosa, Mitts, and Lopez was caught on video exclusively by CBS 2. The video shows Ramirez-Rosa appearing to grab onto Mitts, and then use his body to block her from entering the City Council chambers for a procedural vote on the proposal for an advisory referendum on Chicago's status as a sanctuary city.

Ramirez-Rosa's actions "unprofessional and unbecoming of his role"

A CBS 2 camera was rolling in the City Council antechamber as Ramirez-Rosa stood next to Mitts during Thursday's meeting. At one point, he motioned his hands toward her, and Lopez could be heard saying "Let go of Emma, do not hold her" before Ramirez-Rosa stepped between her and the door to the chamber. Seconds later, Ramirez-Rosa stepped out of the way and Mitts walked into the chamber.

The Black Caucus called Ramirez-Rosa's treatment of Mitts "unprofessional and unbecoming of his role," and said he should resign as the mayor's floor leader and as chairman of the City Council Zoning Committee for "bullying" Mitts. The caucus also demanded Ramirez-Rosa apologize publicly to Mitts, the longest-serving woman on City Council, for his "blatant mistreatment and disrespect."

"She was at a loss for words. She was like, 'I don't remember feeling like this since I was in the South as a child,'" said Ald. Monique Scott (24th).

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th), who once served as floor leader for former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, said in that position, "your job is to try to whip votes to push the agenda, understanding that some folks are not going to always agree with you."

Five Latino aldermen on Sunday also called on Mayor Johnson to demand Ramirez-Rosa resign as floor leader and zoning committee chair.  

In a statement Monday morning, Johnson announced after speaking to Ramirez-Rosa and Mitts over the weekend, he and Ramirez-Rosa agreed the alderman needed to step down from his two leadership positions. His resignation as Zoning Committee chair will be effective Dec. 1.

"Alderwoman Mitts is a venerable leader and woman of abiding faith, who is committed to public service and the principles of accountability and mercy. Alderman Ramirez-Rosa has acknowledged his transgressions, apologized to his colleagues and committed himself to rebuilding trust," Johnson said. "It is not lost on me that Thursday's events occurred during a time of heightened tension at City Hall. In recent months, the forces of division have preyed on our city, pitting us against each other in the most destructive ways. I am confident we will find a way to move forward and regain the trust and respect necessary to have a functioning legislative body. Let us all recommit ourselves to the principles of respect and civility upon which our work and our democracy depend. Together, we can and will build a better, stronger, safer Chicago for all."

The Aldermanic Black Caucus also issued a statement expressing satisfaction with the resolution of the situation.

"While the last several days have been both challenging and extremely emotional for our caucus, we are well pleased and grateful with the tone, temperament, and quick response from Mayor Brandon Johnson in bringing closure to this issue involving our beloved and well-respected colleague, Alderman Emma Mitts.

"In addition, while as a caucus we stand firm in our condemnation of Alderman Ramirez-Rosa's actions against Alderman Mitts, we are equally satisfied with his atonement, remorse, and decision to resign his posts as the mayor's floor leader and as Chairman of the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards."

Ramirez-Rosa: "I feel awful about everything that happened."

Ramirez-Rosa also issued a statement apologizing for his actions.

See his full statement below: 

"Much has been reported about last week's incidents at a special meeting of the Chicago City Council. Tensions were high at a chaotic meeting, and I let that get the best of me, leading me to act in a way unbecoming of a leader. I sincerely apologize to my colleague, Alderwoman Emma Mitts, for the disrespectful interaction outside of Council Chambers. I also apologize to other colleagues who I have heard also felt disrespected and harmed by my actions — Alderpeople Lee, Cardona, and Taliaferro. 

I feel awful about everything that happened. I have reached out to my colleagues to apologize directly and seek to make amends. I made mistakes, and I learned valuable lessons. I take full responsibility for what I've done.

Our Chicago City Council does important work and, even when we strongly disagree on policy or approach, it is critical that we show each other respect. The people of Chicago deserve nothing less and have every right to demand that of us. 

Because the position of Floor Leader especially requires the confidence of our colleagues, and because through my actions I lost that confidence, I have informed the mayor that I will be stepping down from that position. Furthermore, I am resigning as Chair of the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards effective December 1st, to allow time for an effective transition.

I cannot take away the mistakes I made last week. But I hope to be able to rebuild the trust we have in each other as we move forward as a Council that addresses the important issues impacting Chicago."

The City Council Progressive Reform Caucus, of which Ramirez-Rosa is a member, released a statement Monday afternoon calling his conduct "unacceptable."

"We appreciate our colleagues for coming forward to share their experiences so that the accountability process could begin. Ald. Ramirez-Rosa announced today that he has resigned as Floor Leader effective immediately and will resign as Zoning Chairman effective December 1. This is the beginning of a restorative process, and we will continue to work towards centering those harmed."

The incident happened minutes before a heated vote related to Chicago's sanctuary city status on Thursday. Ramirez-Rosa opposes a proposal to put a referendum on the March ballot, asking voters if Chicago should keep its sanctuary city status, and was trying to prevent the measure's supporters from gaining a quorum of 26 votes needed to vote on the proposal.

Mitts has yet to speak publicly about the incident, and attended committee meetings on Monday remotely, but a spokesperson said she plans to address the confrontation with Ramirez-Rosa during Tuesday's regular City Council meeting.

Lopez: "He is morally corrupt and bankrupt, and should be removed from office"

Meanwhile, Lopez issued a letter Monday calling for Ramirez-Rosa to be expelled altogether.

Lopez cited CBS 2's Sabrina Franza's story and exclusive video Monday, writing that it "validat(ed) everything that I shared to date.

Lopez called for Ramirez-Rosa's expulsion under Rule 50 in the City Council, which states, "Any member acting or appearing in a lewd or disgraceful manner, or who uses opprobrious, obscene or insulting language to our about any member of the Council, or who does not obey the order of the Chair shall be, on motion, censured by a majority vote of the members present, or expelled by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all members elected."

Lopez wrote that he believes Ramirez-Rosa's actions with respect to Mitts rose to this level.

"I have witnessed the pain felt across the city by what has transpired at the hands of Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, especially from within the African American community. At a time when we are still working towards racial equality and striving for equity in service and investment within our underserved communities, allowing even the perception of leniency in this moment will not be acceptable to anyone because we know had the roles been reversed, no leniency would have been given to a Black man putting his hands on an elderly abuelita," Lopez wrote. "Simply put, colleagues: It is on us to remove this stain from the soul of Chicago."

Lopez has said he saw Ramirez-Rosa "manhandling" Mitts, and trying to physically block her from going into the chamber to vote.

"I saw him restraining her, and using his body as well to prevent her from getting into the room," Lopez said. "Holding her arm and using his body to manage her movements, movement for movement; and telling her that, 'I can't let you go in there Emma, you don't need to be in this meeting, I can't let you go in,' while holding her, while using his body to block her, all in an attempt to subvert democracy and to disenfranchise a Black alderwoman from voting in a special meeting."

Lopez earlier said he was surprised to learn Ramirez-Rosa is giving up his leadership posts, but said Ramirez-Rosa should not wait to give up his committee chairmanship until December.

"This is a good first step, but it's not the final step, and for the mayor to say that there are forces of division that are out there? Yes, there are, and many of them are rooted in his administration. We are getting rid of one by having Carlos Ramirez-Rosa step down as floor leader and his zoning chairman. But it's unfortunate that he's waiting until December, giving him a full month to continue good on his threats against members," Lopez said.

Before issuing his call for Ramirez-Rosa's expulsion, Lopez said Ramirez-Rosa should resign altogether from City Council.

"He is morally corrupt and bankrupt, and should be removed from office voluntarily or involuntarily," Lopez said. "I think a number of individuals, myself included, have called for his complete and utter resignation; not just as floor leader, not just as zoning chairman, but as aldermen. But the rules do allow two-thirds of the members, 34 aldermen, to expel any member based on their actions, particularly if they ... do harm to the body, and I think he definitely meets those requirements at this moment." 

Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) has drafted a letter seeking to formally censure Ramirez-Rosa for his actions. City Council rules allow aldermen to formally censure "any member acting or appearing in a lewd or disgraceful manner, or who uses opprobrious, obscene or insulting language to or about any member of the Council, or who does not obey the order of the Chair."

According to a draft version of the censure letter, Ramirez-Rosa "physically blocked Alderperson Emma Mitts by forcibly using his elbow and shoulder to prevent her from entering Council Chambers."

"His use of force intimidated Alderperson Mitts by instilling fear and apprehension while she was attempting to enter Council Chambers to cast her vote."

Other alders accuse Ramirez-Rosa of threatening to block zoning matters

Waguespack's draft censure letter also accuses Ramirez-Rosa of violating other council rules by "ignoring the roll call vote" by hiding from the city clerk to avoid being counted for quorum, and by pressuring Ald. Nicole Lee (11th) and Ald. Felix Cardona (31st) to either leave the City Council chamber, or not return after a break in the meeting, by threatening to block "any future zoning legislation" in their wards from passing out of the Zoning Committee.

Lee and Cardona both said they have filed reports with the city's inspector general over Ramirez-Rosa's behavior.

"I was, unfortunately, on the receiving end of a verbal threat to zoning in my ward, should I not do what he was asking, which was to leave the room," Lee said. "It was, 'If we're going to work together for stuff in your ward, then you need to take a walk.'"

"He's threatening me that he's not gonna do anything in my ward, or have development, because I don't agree with the policies, or for me to be doing my job here," Cardona said. 

Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) has told CBS 2 that Ramirez-Rosa similarly threatened to block zoning matters in his ward if he didn't leave the meeting. 

"Such threats made by Alderperson Ramirez-Rosa were not mere legislative 'horse trading,' but rather are a clear abuse of power reminiscent of the worst aspects of our City's political history," Waguespack's draft censure letter states.

The draft censure letter also indicates aldermen plan to file complaints with the Chicago Inspector General and the Chicago Board of Ethics to formally investigate Ramirez-Rosa. The draft censure letter stops short of calling for Ramirez-Rosa to be expelled from City Council, which would require a vote by two-thirds of the Council, or 34 alderpersons.

However, it was not immediately clear if Waguespack or others would move forward with a vote to censure Ramirez-Rosa during Tuesday's regular City Council meeting. Waguespack said the mayor seems to be trying to avoid having a censure motion discussed or voted on Tuesday.