Resident alleges Housing Authority board member rents building while ICE activity worries community

A North Chicago resident raised two concerns during public comment at the Oct. 6 City Council meeting: an allegation that a member of the North Chicago Housing Authority is renting a private building without reporting the income, and ongoing immigration-enforcement activity in the community that residents say is causing fear.

The resident, identified in the meeting transcript as Rayon Edwards, told the council he has “proof” that a Housing Authority board member — whom he named as “Mr. Hodge” — owns and rents a building on 14th Street and is not reporting that rental income to the housing authority. Edwards said he has submitted information to the state in Springfield and plans to bring the matter to the North Chicago Housing Authority board meeting.

The allegation was presented as a concern from a resident and not as a finding by the council or staff. Mayor Leon Rockingham did not confirm the claim and made no formal statement that the city had investigated the ownership or reporting status of the building. The transcript shows Edwards saying, “I have proof that that’s his building because he brags about it on Facebook,” and that he has taken the matter to state authorities.

Edwards also raised alarm about immigration-enforcement activity he described as ICE operations in North Chicago and nearby communities. He said, “They’re wearing masks. These are — they look like villains,” and urged the council and mayor to take action. He recounted seeing people taken from vehicles and described witnessing rough treatment, saying in part that officers were “physically hurting them.”

Mayor Leon Rockingham responded that he does not condone aggressive enforcement tactics and discussed limits on municipal authority to intervene in federal immigration enforcement. Rockingham told the meeting that he instructs the police department not to assist ICE operations unless there is an active warrant by the state’s attorney or other proper legal authorization. He said, “I tell my police, do not get involved with ICE. They are not used,” and urged people to be aware of their rights and to avoid opening doors to people in uniform unless identity and papers are verified.

Council members and staff did not make or record any formal findings about the Housing Authority allegation during the meeting. Several follow-ups Edwards said he had taken — to the state and to the North Chicago Housing Authority — were described in his remarks, and he told the council he would speak at the next Housing Authority board meeting.

The mayor and several aldermen recommended informal next steps for residents, including sharing information with law enforcement when appropriate and knowing residents’ legal rights, but no staff was recorded as being directed to open a city investigation during the meeting.

Ending

The city did not announce any formal action in response to the allegations during the Oct. 6 meeting. The transcript records Edwards’ statement that he filed information with state authorities; any further inquiries or formal investigations by the Housing Authority, the city or state are not recorded in the meeting minutes.