The six-month fight with the city for the spending records wasn't just a struggle for CBS 2.
CBS 2 finallyThe six-month fight for the records wasn't just a struggle for CBS 2. City leaders are asking CBS 2 reporters to share the findings. CBS 2's Lauren Victory had the story. "We actually did not get that kind of line item, which is what we're looking for," said Ald.
Andre Vasquez . He was referring to the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, described on the city's website as having"jurisdiction over all matters relating to …refugees living in Chicago." The city leaders are tasked with keeping tabs on how asylum seekers are cared for, and yet the committee chair is asking a news reporter about city spending.CBS 2 did pass along the information reported last week, including vendor names, invoice numbers, and paid amounts for $83 million out of $110 million spent so far on migrant care. There was also information on the dozens of companies contracted to provide laundry for $159,000, table and chair rentals for about $70,000, portable toilets and sinks, and more.:"You've been asking for this information for months and to have to reach out to a reporter to ask.":"Yeah, I mean, I think what it appears to me that there's been a challenge in like, capacity with some of the departments, right? That the teams that are implementing the solutions are also the ones that have to report out and also the ones that have to communicate publicly." Migrants have come to Chicago by the busload for almost a year. Vasquez said the city finally sent him some detailed numbers this week."The prior administration really didn't communicate it at all," Vasquez said. He added the transition between former Mayor Lori Lightfoot and her successor Brandon Johnson may have slowed things down, but he's ready to ramp up now that more and more migrants are coming to the city. Between the information he received and CBS 2's records, one of the biggest questions is about the biggest expenditure: more than $55 million spent on staffing alone. "The staffing was something that was decided by the prior administration," Vasquez said."We think that those dollars may have been misspent in going, that much of it, going to staffing."
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