Latest news with #Hedspeth
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago arts commissioner touts increased grants for artists, defends against criticism
As Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events gears up for another highlight-packed summer, its leader is laying out her vision for the city's arts community as she responds to criticism that has been simmering since she took office. A contentious exhibition, staff complaints and public flak from some arts leaders have tailed DCASE Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth since her March 2024 appointment by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Addressing the controversies in an interview with the Tribune for the first time, Hedspeth said she has reflected, but pushed back against much of it as unfounded. 'I think I did walk into a hostile situation,' she said. Meanwhile, Hedspeth is doubling down on a top focus to get artists more money. The department has earmarked an extra $500,000 for grants to artists, in addition to the $7 million allocated by the City Council last fall, she said. 'As much as we talk about water services, as much as we talk about infrastructure, this is the same. This is on par,' Hedspeth said of direct payments to artists and small arts organizations. 'This is vital. This is a service to be able to provide people with funding to create and capture who we are as a city.' Hedspeth is proud of having secured the extra money, given Chicago's thorny fiscal outlook. Johnson and the City Council budgeted $7 million for the grants, $1 million more than the year before, but less than the $10 million allocated in former Mayor Lori Lightfoot's 2023 budget, when the city's coffers were bolstered by a massive influx of federal COVID-19 funding. But she says the fund is far larger than pre-pandemic spending on such payments. Because it comes from the city, it is also now more stable, despite the fact federal support is becoming increasingly unreliable. Hedspeth pointed to the Great Depression-era Works Progress Administration as inspiration for her vision to increasingly pay artists directly and praised the federal government's pandemic stimulus spending on arts. 'It was not even enough then, but it was more than what we usually do,' she said, adding she believes the business community should 'absolutely be providing support too in a different way.' 'The goal is always to increase funding, sustainable funding, always.' To tack on the additional $500,000, Hedspeth found 'basic' cuts, such as using city services in place of outside contractors, but said she has not cut at what might be the department's crown gem: its always ambitious summer schedule, headlined by events, including Taste of Chicago, the Air and Water Show and, next week, the Chicago Blues Festival. As the new commissioner has zeroed in on a vision for her department, she has also faced a range of controversies and criticism in recent months. DCASE employees have submitted five formal complaints to the city's Inspector General's Office and Department of Human Resources accusing the commissioner of unfair treatment obtained by the Tribune via records request. Meanwhile, over 20 employees have left the department since Hedspeth's appointment, though the department's headcount has recently risen to levels near where it was when she took office. Hedspeth was summoned to the City Council for a tense hearing in January regarding a pro-Palestinian protest puppet displayed in a broader puppet exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center, where she defended free expression and the process for selecting art against some aldermen who called the piece offensive and wanted it removed. And some arts industry leaders have publicly criticized the commissioner, arguing she has left a void in Chicago's arts community by not meeting with them and effectively communicating her plans. In April, the group Artists for Chicago sent a letter to Johnson signed by more than 200 arts and culture workers further faulting Hedspeth's leadership. Johnson has defended Hedspeth, his longtime friend. In April, he said he would 'take the feedback seriously' when asked about the letter. 'You know, look, there's a lot more engagement in government these days, and I welcome that,' Johnson said. 'Arts are incredibly important to me.' Asked about the criticism, Hedspeth pinned the hostility she has encountered in part on miscommunication that arose as she took office. She defended herself against most of the pushback and said she has discussed it with others. 'I reflect on, 'Oh, is there something there?'' she said. 'I would say, almost 85% of it, I'm like, 'No.'' She declined to discuss specific allegations made in the several formal employee complaints. They include accusations she cursed out employees in public, sought a retaliatory 'witch hunt' against mayoral critics and micromanaged the office. Human Resources staff determined investigations into each complaint should not go forward because of the absence of violations in protected categories and speculative allegations. 'But I will say,' Hedspeth said. 'I do wear a lot of black, but I am not a witch.' 'There's going to be complaints in any kind of organization,' she said. 'I value all of the staff. I think we are all human, we are all going to make mistakes. I also think there should be some accountability when we are not being responsible.' The commissioner said that she is 'happy to meet' with arts leaders and others in response to criticism that she is unresponsive, but added that some have been unwilling to meet with her, especially when she started the job. The cold reception she said she got may well have been a sign of the popularity of her predecessor, Erin Harkey, now CEO of the D.C. nonprofit Americans for the Arts, who was fired by Johnson. Hedspeth described her treatment since taking office as 'very political,' and in part a product of pre-existing employee frustrations in addition to miscommunication. 'I walked in without even a transition document,' she said. 'I've reached out to people, and they weren't interested in talking to me.' She also said a 'number of people' who signed the Artists for Chicago letter told her the published version appeared different than what they signed and cast doubt on the connections of some signees to the arts industry. A spokesperson for the group, who asked to remain anonymous, denied the letter changed as people signed it and criticized Hedspeth for discrediting the critical letter instead of addressing the issues it raised. Claims the department has not made payments to artists and organizations in a timely manner or that she is unresponsive are 'just not true,' Hedspeth said, adding that the arts community is understandably angry and anxious about funding amid federal pullback. Some arts leaders have called for Hedspeth to share how she will fight President Donald Trump's budget cuts. Her department has appealed the National Endowment for the Arts' decision to terminate grants awarded to the city. One lesson learned from the recent controversies is that she must be 'a little bit more forceful in getting support' from connections in the arts and government spaces she has worked in, Hedspeth said. 'I've learned to bring in my network more. I've learned to continue to talk directly with people, regardless of others saying maybe that might not be a good idea. Being OK with that I won't be perfect at everything, I've learned that, and managing expectations with interest groups,' she said. 'And I think bringing people in, just critics in general, to have a direct conversation and say, 'OK, this is the problem that you see, what are your some of your thoughts?'' In the last decade, Hedspeth led curation at the DuSable Black History Museum, then worked as Johnson's legislative director at the Cook County Board of Commissioners before becoming a Phillips Auctioneers specialist. At the city, she has found government can be frustratingly slow, but the gig is a 'deep honor' that allows her to combine experiences in policy, museums and commercial art, she said. 'I get to build off of work that was already done, good work, and serve the city and serve artists that I know have not been at the table or been in the room and aren't part of the larger conversation,' said Hedspeth, who was raised by art collector parents in Seattle and collects rare books herself. While Hedspeth said she wants to build upon long-running and beloved DCASE efforts such as summer programming, she also wants to build new efforts in the department. 'There's a lot more ideas on the table,' she said. The increased grants for artists and small organization should come with greater 'giveback,' including longer-term relationships and more support from the city to connect artists with everything from collectors to lawyers to bolster their careers, she said. And she hopes to make sure that funding goes to a greater variety of artists and groups. That includes 'ensuring the large organizations understand, this partnership looks good, but it can look even better. And maybe you need to not take funding and utilize it for operational purposes, maybe it should actually go out directly to the artist,' she said. Speeding up the department's processes is another top goal, the commissioner said. She touted a push to quickly install art at Midway International Airport and efforts to waive fees for smaller organizations at the Chicago Cultural Center as bids to cut 'red tape' and bring the arts to more Chicagoans. Hedspeth also highlighted a new effort to have staff visit places such as ward offices and parks to help Chicagoans speed through paperwork, including grant applications. She similarly wants to streamline the film permit process to help foster the city's revenue-winning filming economy, echoing long-heralded hopes also aired by Gov. JB Pritzker. The goal on film is 'making sure we are not competing with Toronto, we should be the place,' she said. Hedspeth's film office appears to have been leaderless since December, when its head, Jonah Zeiger, left the job. He was in part tasked with recruiting films, shows and commercials to work in the city. She is also leading an effort to digitize the city's art collection and is 'leaning in on' sister agencies, such as Choose Chicago, to make sure taxpayers are getting more 'robust' offerings, she said.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Afternoon Briefing: Cultural commissioner faces bullying allegations
Good afternoon, Chicago. After canceling a quarterly meeting with some of Chicago's top cultural minds for a second time, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth is facing criticism from appointees of past administrations who say she is leaving a 'void' in the struggling arts industry. Hedspeth postponed until late February the Cultural Advisory Council's meeting just days before it was set to occur last week. The decision 'continues a pattern' of noncommunication with arts leaders left in the dark about her vision for Chicago culture, advisory council member Amina Dickerson said. Hedspeth also faces bullying allegations from several staffers, records obtained by the Tribune show. Around a quarter of the department's staff has resigned or been fired since Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed Hedspeth in March. Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History Chicago Public Schools officials had a calm, seemingly friendly conversation with two Secret Service agents outside Hamline School hours before the district sparked a nationwide panic when it falsely proclaimed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had tried to enter the building, according to recently released security footage. Read more here. More top news stories: Trump administration sues Illinois, Cook County and Chicago over sanctuary immigration laws Judge asked to allow Highland Park parade shooting victims who testify to watch trial of alleged shooter Fidelity Brokerage Services will be allowed to use the ground floor of the former Barnes & Noble store downtown for its new location, but the Naperville City Council wants safeguards to prevent other banking institutions from doing the same in the future. Read more here. More top business stories: USW president moves to dismiss U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel lawsuit Honeywell, one of the few remaining US industrial conglomerates, will split into three companies Virginia McCaskey, principal owner of the Chicago Bears and the only daughter of team founder George Halas, died Thursday, the team announced. She was 102. Read more here. More top sports stories: Jason Dickinson injures his leg in the Chicago Blackhawks' OT loss: 'That's a guy you can't just replace' How honing his cutter could help new Chicago Cubs reliever Ryan Brasier return to dominant 2023 form Nominations have been announced for the 51st annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards, with Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre and Kokandy Productions earning the most nominations for their off-Loop musicals. Read more here. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: Column: Scott Turow's Rusty Sabich returns for more courtroom drama in 'Presumed Guilty' Gene Barge, renowned sax man and producer known as 'Daddy G,' dies at 98 Over the past year, President Donald Trump's threatened 25% tariffs against Mexico and Canada have plunged manufacturing hubs all along the northern Mexican border into limbo, a state that persists despite a one-month reprieve to which Trump agreed on Monday. Read more here. More top stories from around the world: Judge temporarily blocks Trump plan offering incentives for federal workers to resign President Donald Trump blames 'obsolete' US air traffic control system for the plane and chopper collision near DC
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cultural commissioner criticized for leaving ‘void,' faces bullying allegations
After canceling a quarterly meeting with some of Chicago's top cultural minds for a second time, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth is facing criticism from appointees of past administrations who say she is leaving a 'void' in the struggling arts industry. Hedspeth postponed until late February the Cultural Advisory Council's meeting just days before it was set to occur last week. The decision 'continues a pattern' of noncommunication with arts leaders left in the dark about her vision for Chicago culture, advisory council member Amina Dickerson said. 'I think a city is defined by its cultural vibrancy,' said Dickerson, an arts activist long involved in leading local cultural institutions. 'That needs support, that needs counsel, that needs careful tending for that to be maintained. And I'm just not sure that is a priority.' Hedspeth also faces bullying allegations from several staffers, records obtained by the Tribune show. Around a quarter of the department's staff has resigned or been fired since Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed Hedspeth in March. The commissioner testified Tuesday at the City Council, where a majority of aldermen signed a letter condemning a 'protest puppet' on public display at the Chicago Cultural Center. Some aldermen called for the puppet — a bloodied caricature of Uncle Sam and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intended to criticize Israeli military action in Gaza and the U.S. support of it — to be taken down. Throughout the chaotic meeting, several City Council members aggressively questioned Hedspeth, who defended her department's decision to so far leave up the installment. The Cultural Advisory Council currently includes only members first appointed by other mayors, according to city records. Johnson is set to add some of his own members at the group's next meeting. Hedspeth — who served as Johnson's legislative director for over two years when he was a Cook County commissioner — said the meeting was postponed to include them and make the gathering 'more substantive.' But some on the council argue the cancellations are both a cause and a sign of the 'void' Hedspeth's tenure has left in the city's struggling arts industry. As the city's theaters, museums and venues struggle through a painful post-pandemic recovery, the people tasked with advising City Hall on how to support the arts 'don't understand or know what Hedspeth is thinking, what plans are being made,' said Dickerson, an appointee of Mayor Lori Lightfoot who previously served as its chair. As a result, Dickerson said, arts organizations are increasingly looking elsewhere for guidance. 'Aside from getting a grant, there's not a sense of vision, there's not a sense of leadership that helps us understand how to navigate what is a very difficult terrain,' she said. 'What I'm distressed about is: Will we be able to build back and what it will take to restore some of the faith of the arts community?' The advisory council is a key link for department leaders to publicly hear from powerful civic philanthropist groups, theaters, artists, museums, festivals, arts funders and more. DCASE's many functions include working with the high-dollar film and TV industries, sharing grants with artists and arts organizations, organizing public art and permitting special events like Lollapalooza or the NASCAR Chicago Street Race. The advisory council's chair, Coya Paz, said she believes the group is 'underutilized.' But she added that Hedspeth came into a difficult situation where many industry leaders had close relationships with former Commissioner Erin Harkey, whom Johnson fired. Harkey told the Tribune on Wednesday she was recently hired as CEO of the D.C. nonprofit Americans for the Arts. 'I think there is a vision,' said Paz, strategic director at the Free Street Theater. 'I think all of us are very curious about how we can learn more about it and support that moving forward.' Paz said she doesn't think the department's priorities have changed under Hedspeth and that she believes the new commissioner's focus has been landing funding — an effort in which Paz believes Hedspeth has been 'quite successful.' Hedspeth helped secure a $1 million increase in the amount of money the city will spend on grants to artists this year, despite Johnson and the City Council's struggles to pass a 2025 budget. The city will spend $7 million on the grants, an increase compared with the $6 million in Johnson's 2024 budget, but a decrease from the $10 million in Lightfoot's 2023 budget, which received more federal support. Hedspeth told ABC-7 in December that her vision for the department was 'data-driven,' including 'more activations in communities, more support for artists.' Asked shortly after her March appointment what her goals were, Hedspeth had little to say to the Tribune. 'I think it would be foolish to share some of those,' she said. 'I have them and I plan on sharing them soon.' Hedspeth said in a statement that she is welcomes more dialogue with council members. 'I've worked collaboratively with those members of the CAC that have expressed interest in having regular dialogue with me and will continue to partner with them for the betterment of the arts community,' she wrote. But advisory council member Tonika Johnson Lewis, another Lightfoot appointee, echoed Dickerson's concerns over Hedspeth's noncommunication with the group. Johnson Lewis, a social justice artist, praised the DCASE grant programs that have enabled some of her own public art projects. But she said there has been 'absolutely no effort' to engage the council and an 'absolute lack of effort to really learn.' Hedspeth has faced at least four formal complaints primarily alleging staff mistreatment since Johnson appointed her in March. The staff departures are 'due to the leadership of Hedspeth,' reported one complainant, who alleged Hedspeth shouted at them across the office and cursed them out in front of strangers. In each complaint obtained by the Tribune, the Human Resources staff determined investigations should not move forward, though in one case they decided the allegations warranted escalation to Johnson's chief of staff, Cristina Pacione-Zayas. Asked about the complaints and the department's high turnover, Hedspeth said in a statement that the city does not comment on 'personnel matters,' but said staffing changes are 'common and expected.' The department is filing vacancies and has 'successfully brought in new talent as positions are posted,' she added. The department's full-time head count stood at 61 employees on Dec. 31, a drop from the 71 employees Harkey oversaw before Johnson fired her, according to a September report by WBEZ calling attention to the department's high turnover. Johnson ordered a hiring freeze in September to help balance the city's budget, though the department hired several employees in the fall. Between Hedspeth's March appointment and August, at least 18 employees have left the department, according to records obtained by the Tribune. As they handled the four complaints made to the city's Inspector General and Department of Human Resources, City Hall's Equal Employment Opportunity office cited a lack of cooperation from complainants, 'speculative' allegations and the absence of violations in 'protected categories' as they determined investigations should not move forward. The complaint that sparked the warning to Pacione-Zayas included an allegation that Hedspeth cursed at an employee in front of a couple attending a DCASE event after the employee took too long to give the duo a business card at Hedspeth's request. 'What the f—,' Hedspeth told the employee, according to the records. 'Get your f—— s— together.' The couple was 'taken aback' and never reached out afterward, the complainant told investigators. Hedspeth also allegedly screamed at children making noise to be quiet at a subsequent event, 'one of the worst things' the complainant 'had ever seen.' The complaint sent to Pacione-Zayas also alleged Hedspeth threatened employees, telling one staffer 'you're on thin ice' and 'watch your back' as office tensions escalated. A complaint accused Hedspeth of almost never meeting with high-level department staffers. Hedspeth is 'particularly fixated on tickets to events,' controlling tickets while blocking senior staffers from attending events typically in their purview, the complainant said. Hedspeth's leadership made the complainant 'concerned about the public stakeholders DCASE serves,' they told investigators. In another complaint made in May, a staffer alleges Hedspeth tried to wage a 'witchhunt' against a group partnering with the city after the group's leader made comments critical of the mayor. Hedspeth directed four department staff members to 'look into' the partner group after the comments, according to the complaint. A staffer alleged in another complaint that Hedspeth ordered them to carry her purse, phone and jacket at an event. The complainant recalled feeling 'embarrassed and demoralized' after being 'treated like a personal assistant' by the then-new commissioner. Days later, the employee was given a new assignment before they were told they would need to resign or be fired, the complaint says. The complainant also alleged Hedspeth treated Black employees better than others.
Chicago Tribune
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Cultural commissioner criticized for leaving ‘void,' faces bullying allegations
After canceling a quarterly meeting with some of Chicago's top cultural minds for a second time, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth is facing criticism from appointees of past administrations who say she is leaving a 'void' in the struggling arts industry. Hedspeth postponed until late February the Cultural Advisory Council's meeting just days before it was set to occur last week. The decision 'continues a pattern' of noncommunication with arts leaders left in the dark about her vision for Chicago culture, advisory council member Amina Dickerson said. 'I think a city is defined by its cultural vibrancy,' said Dickerson, an arts activist long involved in leading local cultural institutions. 'That needs support, that needs counsel, that needs careful tending for that to be maintained. And I'm just not sure that is a priority.' Hedspeth also faces bullying allegations from several staffers, records obtained by the Tribune show. Around a quarter of the department's staff has resigned or been fired since Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed Hedspeth in March. The commissioner testified Tuesday at the City Council, where a majority of aldermen signed a letter condemning a 'protest puppet' on public display at the Chicago Cultural Center. Some aldermen called for the puppet — a bloodied caricature of Uncle Sam and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intended to criticize Israeli military action in Gaza and the U.S. support of it — to be taken down. Throughout the chaotic meeting, several City Council members aggressively questioned Hedspeth, who defended her department's decision to so far leave up the installment. The Cultural Advisory Council currently includes only members first appointed by other mayors, according to city records. Johnson is set to add some of his own members at the group's next meeting. Hedspeth — who served as Johnson's legislative director for over two years when he was a Cook County commissioner — said the meeting was postponed to include them and make the gathering 'more substantive.' But some on the council argue the cancellations are both a cause and a sign of the 'void' Hedspeth's tenure has left in the city's struggling arts industry. As the city's theaters, museums and venues struggle through a painful post-pandemic recovery, the people tasked with advising City Hall on how to support the arts 'don't understand or know what Hedspeth is thinking, what plans are being made,' said Dickerson, an appointee of Mayor Lori Lightfoot who previously served as its chair. As a result, Dickerson said, arts organizations are increasingly looking elsewhere for guidance. 'Aside from getting a grant, there's not a sense of vision, there's not a sense of leadership that helps us understand how to navigate what is a very difficult terrain,' she said. 'What I'm distressed about is: Will we be able to build back and what it will take to restore some of the faith of the arts community?' The advisory council is a key link for department leaders to publicly hear from powerful civic philanthropist groups, theaters, artists, museums, festivals, arts funders and more. DCASE's many functions include working with the high-dollar film and TV industries, sharing grants with artists and arts organizations, organizing public art and permitting special events like Lollapalooza or the NASCAR Chicago Street Race. The advisory council's chair, Coya Paz, said she believes the group is 'underutilized.' But she added that Hedspeth came into a difficult situation where many industry leaders had close relationships with former Commissioner Erin Harkey, whom Johnson fired. Harkey told the Tribune on Wednesday she was recently hired as CEO of the D.C. nonprofit Americans for the Arts. 'I think there is a vision,' said Paz, strategic director at the Free Street Theater. 'I think all of us are very curious about how we can learn more about it and support that moving forward.' Paz said she doesn't think the department's priorities have changed under Hedspeth and that she believes the new commissioner's focus has been landing funding — an effort in which Paz believes Hedspeth has been 'quite successful.' Hedspeth helped secure a $1 million increase in the amount of money the city will spend on grants to artists this year, despite Johnson and the City Council's struggles to pass a 2025 budget. The city will spend $7 million on the grants, an increase compared with the $6 million in Johnson's 2024 budget, but a decrease from the $10 million in Lightfoot's 2023 budget, which received more federal support. Hedspeth told ABC-7 in December that her vision for the department was 'data-driven,' including 'more activations in communities, more support for artists.' Asked shortly after her March appointment what her goals were, Hedspeth had little to say to the Tribune. 'I think it would be foolish to share some of those,' she said. 'I have them and I plan on sharing them soon.' Hedspeth said in a statement that she is welcomes more dialogue with council members. 'I've worked collaboratively with those members of the CAC that have expressed interest in having regular dialogue with me and will continue to partner with them for the betterment of the arts community,' she wrote. But advisory council member Tonika Johnson Lewis, another Lightfoot appointee, echoed Dickerson's concerns over Hedspeth's noncommunication with the group. Johnson Lewis, a social justice artist, praised the DCASE grant programs that have enabled some of her own public art projects. But she said there has been 'absolutely no effort' to engage the council and an 'absolute lack of effort to really learn.' Staff complaints alleging mistreatment Hedspeth has faced at least four formal complaints primarily alleging staff mistreatment since Johnson appointed her in March. The staff departures are 'due to the leadership of Hedspeth,' reported one complainant, who alleged Hedspeth shouted at them across the office and cursed them out in front of strangers. In each complaint obtained by the Tribune, the Human Resources staff determined investigations should not move forward, though in one case they decided the allegations warranted escalation to Johnson's chief of staff, Cristina Pacione-Zayas. Asked about the complaints and the department's high turnover, Hedspeth said in a statement that the city does not comment on 'personnel matters,' but said staffing changes are 'common and expected.' The department is filing vacancies and has 'successfully brought in new talent as positions are posted,' she added. The department's full-time head count stood at 61 employees on Dec. 31, a drop from the 71 employees Harkey oversaw before Johnson fired her, according to a September report by WBEZ calling attention to the department's high turnover. Johnson ordered a hiring freeze in September to help balance the city's budget, though the department hired several employees in the fall. Between Hedspeth's March appointment and August, at least 18 employees have left the department, according to records obtained by the Tribune. As they handled the four complaints made to the city's Inspector General and Department of Human Resources, City Hall's Equal Employment Opportunity office cited a lack of cooperation from complainants, 'speculative' allegations and the absence of violations in 'protected categories' as they determined investigations should not move forward. The complaint that sparked the warning to Pacione-Zayas included an allegation that Hedspeth cursed at an employee in front of a couple attending a DCASE event after the employee took too long to give the duo a business card at Hedspeth's request. 'What the f—,' Hedspeth told the employee, according to the records. 'Get your f—— s— together.' The couple was 'taken aback' and never reached out afterward, the complainant told investigators. Hedspeth also allegedly screamed at children making noise to be quiet at a subsequent event, 'one of the worst things' the complainant 'had ever seen.' The complaint sent to Pacione-Zayas also alleged Hedspeth threatened employees, telling one staffer 'you're on thin ice' and 'watch your back' as office tensions escalated. A complaint accused Hedspeth of almost never meeting with high-level department staffers. Hedspeth is 'particularly fixated on tickets to events,' controlling tickets while blocking senior staffers from attending events typically in their purview, the complainant said. Hedspeth's leadership made the complainant 'concerned about the public stakeholders DCASE serves,' they told investigators. In another complaint made in May, a staffer alleges Hedspeth tried to wage a 'witchhunt' against a group partnering with the city after the group's leader made comments critical of the mayor. Hedspeth directed four department staff members to 'look into' the partner group after the comments, according to the complaint. A staffer alleged in another complaint that Hedspeth ordered them to carry her purse, phone and jacket at an event. The complainant recalled feeling 'embarrassed and demoralized' after being 'treated like a personal assistant' by the then-new commissioner. Days later, the employee was given a new assignment before they were told they would need to resign or be fired, the complaint says. The complainant also alleged Hedspeth treated Black employees better than others.
CBS News
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Chicago City Council hearing on art display some call antisemitic gets heated
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A piece of art at the Chicago Cultural Center set off a heated discussion in City Council Chambers Tuesday. The display, titled "U.S-Israel War Machine," is part of an exhibit on puppets. A group of alderpeople want it removed. One puppet in the exhibit depicts "Uncle Sam" with a bloody face, and a t-shirt with the image of a tank, the word "money," and the words "thank you" and a smiley face. Another puppet depicts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holding a bomb, with blood on his hands. The wooden bases supporting the puppets include the words "child killers." The City Council did not vote on anything with regard to the artwork Tuesday, but they did go on for hours discussing how art pieces are selected and go into city-owned spaces. It turned into a debate about the freedom of expression, possible antisemitism, and the use of taxpayer dollars. The City Council Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation has sometimes been called the "fun committee." But at a meeting of just that committee on Tuesday, speakers used the words "obnoxious." Some called the demands to remove the artwork "an attack on free speech," while others described the art in question as part of a "pattern of disrespect and disregard by the Mayor's office." Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th) spearheaded efforts to remove the display at the Cultural Center. The artwork is part of the exhibit "Potential Energy: Chicago Puppets Up Close"—which is described as a display that "challenges expectations about puppetry and inspires the public to tell their own stories." Silverstein and her supporters feel the "U.S.-Israel War Machine" is antisemitic. The hearing Tuesday was meant to help alders understand how the piece was chosen for display. "When art is deemed controversial, there is a process," said Clinée Hedspeth, commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. "That process did not happen." Hedspeth explained the complainant is supposed to meet with the curator and the artist to find common ground. In this case, a wall plaque, along with a "death count," was removed and replaced for possibly displaying sensitive content that could by perceived as opinion. Ald. Bill Conway (34th) questioned why the puppets were not also removed. Conway:"What made you go ahead and remove that wall panel?" Hedspeth:"It didn't identify who the creator was, and it was an opinion piece." Another exchange had alders calling for Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) to be removed. "Talk about the process!" Sigcho-Lopez said. "White supremacist!" Committee Chairman Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38th) called for the dramatic back-and-forth to stop. It was extinguished. Conway later said Sigcho-Lopez said the "white supremacist" remark was not directed personally at him. "We talked about it behind closed doors. He apologized and said that those remarks were not directed towards me," Conway said. "I have no desire to escalate. I appreciate him doing that, and I have no desire to escalate this." In the meeting, alders also discussed how to make outdoor festivals safer by using barriers to block cars from pedestrians. One big question is the expense.
