Latest news with #Quezada
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Local officials, protesters clash with ICE outside office over detentions in growing escalation over Trump's immigration tactics
In another sign of escalating tension over President Donald Trump's immigration policies, community organizers, protesters and several Chicago aldermen clashed with federal agents Wednesday as they detained immigrants outside a U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement office on the Near South Side. The office in the 2200 block of South Michigan Avenue operates the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, or ISAP, which is run by ICE. The program utilizes technology, such as ankle monitors, as an alternative to detention, providing enhanced supervision for individuals in immigration proceedings who haven't been detained. Organizers were first alerted of ICE activity when Yolanda Chavez, a member of Organized Communities Against Deportations, went into the office for a check-in Wednesday morning and didn't come out for hours. The organization quickly mobilized supporters outside, said Antonio Gutierrez, president of the nonprofit. Chavez is from Honduras and has been in the United States for 10 years, Gutierrez said. She has a child and was in asylum proceedings, he added. Gutierrez hasn't heard from her since she went in. 'This is only the beginning,' he said. By Wednesday afternoon, elected officials, including Aldermen Anthony Quezada, 35th, Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, and Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, 33rd, joined the growing number of people. Quezada and Rodriguez-Sanchez sat down in front of a white van as it attempted to enter the office parking lot. The vans drove away, and then federal immigration officers wearing sunglasses and face coverings suddenly arrived in a large group and began to jostle and push the approximately 30 people who were there. Sigcho-Lopez told the Tribune that he, Rodriguez-Sanchez and Quezada were attempting to form a human chain as federal agents entered the building and pushed Quezada to the ground. 'We were trying to hold arms,' Sigcho-Lopez said. 'These ICE agents came in with batons, and they came hard. They stomped into the building, they shoved Alderman Quezada to the ground, pushed the rest of us, stepped on everybody, threatened everybody. This is the Gestapo.' Sigcho-Lopez said he saw Quezada 'shaking' afterward, and Rodriguez-Sanchez texted the Tribune that she was 'bruised but okay' after being 'thrown around a lot.' 'This is a really sad day for the city. We will not allow this to happen again,' Sigcho-Lopez said. Police were notified of the growing protest and showed up at the scene to 'ensure the safety of all involved, including those exercising their First Amendment rights,' said Tom Ahern, a Chicago police spokesman. No arrests were made, police said. The clash between Chicago community members and federal immigration agents is representative of a growing wave of grassroots resistance and pro-immigrant groups that are challenging ICE operations across the country. Residents and advocates are mobilizing rapidly to report ICE sightings, disrupt arrests and show up in force at immigration court hearings. ICE did not say how many people were detained Wednesday. The city and organizations that work against federal deportation efforts estimated the number to be more than 10, with whom they have lost contact. 'Those arrested had executable final orders of removal by an immigration judge and had not complied with that order,' an ICE spokesman said in a statement. Clashes between ICE and protesters erupted in San Diego last week and in Minneapolis this week, when residents learned that ICE agents were conducting raids at local restaurants. In May, protests erupted outside immigration courts in San Francisco, New York and Arizona when advocates learned ICE would be detaining certain migrants after their hearings. On Michigan Avenue on Wednesday, after ICE officials got into shiny black SUVs and trucks and drove away, Gerardo Perez, 23, stood outside the office with his family. His mother was taken, he said. They live in Rogers Park, and he has six siblings. She had been here for close to 40 years. 'It's just an act of racism,' he said as he got into a car. 'This is nobody's land.' 'They are destroying families because they know they can,' said Rodriguez-Sanchez, 33rd, at a hastily organized news conference afterward. 'This is a moment of solidarity. Este es un momento de solidaridad.' The more recent aggressive tactics from ICE have had a chilling effect across Chicago, with people opting out of work, church services, doctor appointments and school. Now, immigration attorneys and advocates are reporting that people aren't showing up for court hearings. Lawyers said the Trump administration appears to be coordinating efforts to dismiss cases of individuals in the U.S. who have been in the country for less than two years, so that federal agents can immediately detain them, potentially for an expedited removal order. Immigration officials confirmed to the Tribune that Chicago's courtrooms will also be an epicenter for the detentions. 'Most aliens who illegally entered the United States within the past two years are subject to expedited removals,' a statement from Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Kristi Noem said. 'ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been.' That means that, as attorneys and advocates suspected, ICE agents will be targeting migrants who have been in the country less than two years by dismissing their case during the hearing and arresting them afterward. Unless migrants have 'a valid credible fear claim, they will continue in immigration proceedings,' the DHS statement says. 'But if no valid claim is found, aliens will be subject to a swift deportation.' According to immigration experts and lawyers in the Chicago area, the move is another strategy to limit the migrants' ability to present their case before a judge, forcing them to leave the country instead. Reports of arrests in Chicago's immigration court surfaced in mid-May when several attorneys reported seeing ICE agents roaming the courtrooms with a list in hand, followed by a series of arrests. Advocates demand release of Milwaukee father still facing deportation after being falsely accused of threatening Trump 'For many families trying to 'do it the legal way' and dutifully attending their court dates, they expect a normal check-in that brings them closer to stability. Instead, Trump and Noem are weaponizing a moment of hopeful anticipation to terrorize our communities further. Their vile actions show just how little they respect our courts, due process, our rights, and laws,' said U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez, who sent a letter to ICE demanding answers about the arrest made at Chicago's immigration courts. Ramirez also urged other members of Congress to to demand answers from the administration. Because of the lack of transparency from DHS and other immigration agencies, attorneys can offer limited help, depending on people's cases, said Azadeh Erfani, policy director of the National Immigrant Justice Center. 'They are boxing them in: you will get deported if you show up to your hearing as mandated by law, but you will also get deported if you don't show up to your hearing,' said Erendira Rendon, vice president of immigrant justice at the Resurrection Project, a nonprofit organization that provides legal services to immigrants in need. Over the last week, reports of ICE agents in some of Chicago's predominantly Latino neighborhoods spread rapidly. When neighbors noticed unfamiliar cars on the corner of Troy and 27th streets, in Little Village at around 8 a.m. Tuesday, they quickly contacted their local rapid response team and their aldermen, who confirmed they were ICE agents. Members of the rapid response team, including members of La Villita Se Defiende, which is made up of area residents, approached the agents and patrolled the area until the agents left without making any arrests, according to officials. '(The terrorizing of ICE in our communities) needs to stop, but I fear it won't,' said Ald. Mike Rodriguez, 23rd Ward. 'We need to work like hell to protect people and to resist until we get this person (Trump) out of office.' Though the sighting of ICE were just outside his ward, Rodriguez said his office is vigilant and ready to respond when they are notified of immigration officials in the neighborhood 'to make sure people's rights are preserved.' In a Wednesday evening statement, Mayor Brandon Johnson said his office is 'reviewing' the clash, which he described as an 'assault' by federal authorities. 'Mayor Johnson condemns the reckless and dangerous escalation by ICE agents this afternoon in the South Loop,' he wrote. 'Chicagoans have the right to protest the separation of family members by federal immigration enforcement. Federal agents should never be allowed to come into our city and assault elected officials or any Chicagoan.' In Pilsen, however, the community remains alert after ICE, in conjunction with the FBI, arrested two residents who work at a local business near the 1800 block of South Carpenter Street. In both instances, the agents failed to properly identify themselves or present arrest warrants, according to Sigcho Lopez and local rapid response teams. The Pilsen Migra Watch team reported that one of the arrests took place in the private residential area above the local business, which federal agents are not allowed to enter without a warrant signed by a judge. Chicago Tribune's Alice Yin contributed.
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Local officials, protesters clash with ICE outside office over detentions in growing escalation over Trump's immigration tactics
In another sign of escalating tension over President Donald Trump's immigration policies, community organizers, protesters and several Chicago aldermen clashed with federal agents Wednesday as they detained immigrants outside a U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement office on the Near South Side. The office in the 2200 block of South Michigan Avenue operates the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, or ISAP, which is run by ICE. The program utilizes technology, such as ankle monitors, as an alternative to detention, providing enhanced supervision for individuals in immigration proceedings who haven't been detained. Organizers were first alerted of ICE activity when Yolanda Chavez, a member of Organized Communities Against Deportations, went into the office for a check-in Wednesday morning and didn't come out for hours. The organization quickly mobilized supporters outside, said Antonio Gutierrez, president of the is from Honduras and has been in the United States for 10 years, Gutierrez said. She has a child and was in asylum proceedings, he added. Gutierrez hasn't heard from her since she went in.'This is only the beginning,' he Wednesday afternoon, elected officials, including Aldermen Anthony Quezada, 35th, Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, and Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, 33rd, joined the growing number of people. Quezada and Rodriguez-Sanchez sat down in front of a white van as it attempted to enter the office parking lot. The vans drove away, and then federal immigration officers wearing sunglasses and face coverings suddenly arrived in a large group and began to jostle and push the approximately 30 people who were there. Sigcho-Lopez told the Tribune that he, Rodriguez-Sanchez and Quezada were attempting to form a human chain as federal agents entered the building and pushed Quezada to the ground. 'We were trying to hold arms,' Sigcho-Lopez said. 'These ICE agents came in with batons, and they came hard. They stomped into the building, they shoved Alderman Quezada to the ground, pushed the rest of us, stepped on everybody, threatened everybody. This is the Gestapo.' Sigcho-Lopez said he saw Quezada 'shaking' afterward, and Rodriguez-Sanchez texted the Tribune that she was 'bruised but okay' after being 'thrown around a lot.' 'This is a really sad day for the city. We will not allow this to happen again,' Sigcho-Lopez said. Police were notified of the growing protest and showed up at the scene to 'ensure the safety of all involved, including those exercising their First Amendment rights,' said Tom Ahern, a Chicago police spokesman. No arrests were made, police clash between Chicago community members and federal immigration agents is representative of a growing wave of grassroots resistance and pro-immigrant groups that are challenging ICE operations across the country. Residents and advocates are mobilizing rapidly to report ICE sightings, disrupt arrests and show up in force at immigration court did not say how many people were detained Wednesday. The city and organizations that work against federal deportation efforts estimated the number to be more than 10, with whom they have lost contact. 'Those arrested had executable final orders of removal by an immigration judge and had not complied with that order,' an ICE spokesman said in a statement. Clashes between ICE and protesters erupted in San Diego last week and in Minneapolis this week, when residents learned that ICE agents were conducting raids at local restaurants. In May, protests erupted outside immigration courts in San Francisco, New York and Arizona when advocates learned ICE would be detaining certain migrants after their hearings. On Michigan Avenue on Wednesday, after ICE officials got into shiny black SUVs and trucks and drove away, Gerardo Perez, 23, stood outside the office with his family. His mother was taken, he said. They live in Rogers Park, and he has six siblings. She had been here for close to 40 years.'It's just an act of racism,' he said as he got into a car. 'This is nobody's land.' 'They are destroying families because they know they can,' said Rodriguez-Sanchez, 33rd, at a hastily organized news conference afterward. 'This is a moment of solidarity. ' The more recent aggressive tactics from ICE have had a chilling effect across Chicago, with people opting out of work, church services, doctor appointments and school. Now, immigration attorneys and advocates are reporting that people aren't showing up for court hearings. Lawyers said the Trump administration appears to be coordinating efforts to dismiss cases of individuals in the U.S. who have been in the country for less than two years, so that federal agents can immediately detain them, potentially for an expedited removal order. Immigration officials confirmed to the Tribune that Chicago's courtrooms will also be an epicenter for the detentions. 'Most aliens who illegally entered the United States within the past two years are subject to expedited removals,' a statement from Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Kristi Noem said. 'ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been.' That means that, as attorneys and advocates suspected, ICE agents will be targeting migrants who have been in the country less than two years by dismissing their case during the hearing and arresting them afterward. Unless migrants have 'a valid credible fear claim, they will continue in immigration proceedings,' the DHS statement says. 'But if no valid claim is found, aliens will be subject to a swift deportation.' According to immigration experts and lawyers in the Chicago area, the move is another strategy to limit the migrants' ability to present their case before a judge, forcing them to leave the country instead. Reports of arrests in Chicago's immigration court surfaced in mid-May when several attorneys reported seeing ICE agents roaming the courtrooms with a list in hand, followed by a series of arrests. 'For many families trying to 'do it the legal way' and dutifully attending their court dates, they expect a normal check-in that brings them closer to stability. Instead, Trump and Noem are weaponizing a moment of hopeful anticipation to terrorize our communities further. Their vile actions show just how little they respect our courts, due process, our rights, and laws,' said U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez, who sent a letter to ICE demanding answers about the arrest made at Chicago's immigration courts. Ramirez also urged other members of Congress to to demand answers from the administration. Because of the lack of transparency from DHS and other immigration agencies, attorneys can offer limited help, depending on people's cases, said Azadeh Erfani, policy director of the National Immigrant Justice Center. 'They are boxing them in: you will get deported if you show up to your hearing as mandated by law, but you will also get deported if you don't show up to your hearing,' said Erendira Rendon, vice president of immigrant justice at the Resurrection Project, a nonprofit organization that provides legal services to immigrants in need. Over the last week, reports of ICE agents in some of Chicago's predominantly Latino neighborhoods spread rapidly. When neighbors noticed unfamiliar cars on the corner of Troy and 27th streets, in Little Village at around 8 a.m. Tuesday, they quickly contacted their local rapid response team and their aldermen, who confirmed they were ICE agents. Members of the rapid response team, including members of La Villita Se Defiende, which is made up of area residents, approached the agents and patrolled the area until the agents left without making any arrests, according to officials. '(The terrorizing of ICE in our communities) needs to stop, but I fear it won't,' said Ald. Mike Rodriguez, 25th Ward. 'We need to work like hell to protect people and to resist until we get this person (Trump) out of office.' Though the sighting of ICE were just outside his ward, Rodriguez said his office is vigilant and ready to respond when they are notified of immigration officials in the neighborhood 'to make sure people's rights are preserved.' In a Wednesday evening statement, Mayor Brandon Johnson said his office is 'reviewing' the clash, which he described as an 'assault' by federal authorities. 'Mayor Johnson condemns the reckless and dangerous escalation by ICE agents this afternoon in the South Loop,' he wrote. 'Chicagoans have the right to protest the separation of family members by federal immigration enforcement. Federal agents should never be allowed to come into our city and assault elected officials or any Chicagoan.' In Pilsen, however, the community remains alert after ICE, in conjunction with the FBI, arrested two residents who work at a local business near the 1800 block of South Carpenter Street. In both instances, the agents failed to properly identify themselves or present arrest warrants, according to Sigcho Lopez and local rapid response teams. The Pilsen Migra Watch team reported that one of the arrests took place in the private residential area above the local business, which federal agents are not allowed to enter without a warrant signed by a judge.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CSV Q1 Earnings Call: Volume Growth, Operational Investments, and Cautious Full-Year Outlook
Funeral services company Carriage Services (NYSE:CSV) reported revenue ahead of Wall Street's expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales up 3.5% year on year to $107.1 million. On the other hand, the company's full-year revenue guidance of $405 million at the midpoint came in 0.9% below analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.96 per share was 14.3% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy CSV? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $107.1 million vs analyst estimates of $104.2 million (3.5% year-on-year growth, 2.8% beat) Adjusted EPS: $0.96 vs analyst estimates of $0.84 (14.3% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $32.9 million vs analyst estimates of $32.86 million (30.7% margin, in line) The company reconfirmed its revenue guidance for the full year of $405 million at the midpoint Management reiterated its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance of $3.20 at the midpoint EBITDA guidance for the full year is $130.5 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $131.4 million Operating Margin: 24.1%, up from 20.3% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow Margin: 12.5%, down from 20.2% in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $664.3 million Carriage Services' first quarter results were shaped by higher funeral and cemetery volumes, with management attributing growth to both a seasonal shift in flu-related deaths and continued execution on strategic initiatives. CEO Carlos Quezada highlighted increases in average revenue per contract and preneed insurance sales, underscoring improvements in both sales strategy and operational execution. The company also invested in its Trinity system and leadership development, which impacted margins but is intended to drive long-term efficiency gains. Looking ahead, Carriage Services reaffirmed its full-year guidance despite positive first-quarter momentum, with management noting ongoing economic uncertainty. Quezada emphasized, 'While April trends have remained strong, we continue to closely monitor our performance,' and suggested that guidance could be raised if these trends persist into the next quarter. The company remains focused on operational discipline and strategic investments, while cautioning that factors such as market volatility and consumer sentiment could influence results. Carriage Services' first quarter was marked by operational initiatives and segment-specific trends that shaped both revenue and margin performance, as well as forward-looking priorities around technology and supply chain. Funeral Volume Increase: Management reported a notable rise in funeral home at-need volumes, citing a seasonal shift in the flu season that moved expected deaths from the fourth quarter into the first quarter. This, combined with higher average revenue per contract, underpinned revenue growth in the funeral segment. Cemetery Project Timing: The company's cemetery revenue grew, but management cited delays in inventory availability at key cemeteries—particularly in California—due to permitting and development timing. This affected preneed property sales in Q1, but the completion of these projects is expected to restore typical growth rates from Q2 onward. Preneed Insurance Strategy: Growth in preneed insurance contracts contributed to financial revenue gains, with management pointing to a 15% year-over-year increase in contracts. This was attributed to targeted sales initiatives and a focus on generating leads and training in the sales force. Operational Investments: Investments in the Trinity back-office system and leadership development increased costs and temporarily reduced EBITDA margins. However, these are intended to streamline operations and support long-term margin improvement as the implementation progresses. Supply Chain and Cost Initiatives: New procurement strategies—including a refreshed core product line and fleet management efforts—are expected to drive cost savings and improve service delivery. Management noted early-stage benefits from these initiatives, with more savings anticipated in coming quarters. Management's outlook for the rest of the year centers on maintaining organic growth while navigating macroeconomic uncertainty and completing operational initiatives. Cemetery Growth Recovery: Completion of development projects at major cemeteries is expected to return preneed sales growth to the targeted 10%–20% annual range, supporting overall revenue expansion. Operational Efficiency Gains: Ongoing rollout of the Trinity system and supply chain initiatives are intended to deliver cost savings and streamline processes, which management believes will gradually improve margins throughout the year. Acquisition and Divestiture Activity: The company plans to reinvest proceeds from recent divestitures into acquiring higher-quality businesses, aiming to accelerate growth in the second half of the year. Management indicated that additional non-core asset sales and new acquisitions could impact the growth trajectory. Alex Paris (Barrington Research): Asked about the sustainability of volume growth and the impact of the flu season shift. Management replied that momentum continued through April and that COVID-related volume distortions are expected to level out this year. Alex Paris (Barrington Research): Inquired about the decline in preneed cemetery sales. Management explained this was due to delayed inventory at key cemeteries rather than reduced discretionary consumer spending, and expects growth rates to normalize in Q2. John Franzreb (Sidoti & Company): Questioned the impact of vaccine fatigue and cost-saving measures. Management attributed performance to strategy execution rather than pandemic factors, and described ongoing cost initiatives in procurement and fleet management. George Kelly (ROTH Capital Partners): Sought details on upcoming asset sales and their impact on guidance. Management confirmed a pending property sale is included in current guidance and expects further divestiture opportunities. George Kelly (ROTH Capital Partners): Asked about tariff exposure. CFO John Enwright stated tariffs are expected to have an immaterial impact on merchandise costs for the year. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) the ramp-up of preneed cemetery sales as inventory and development projects finalize, (2) the realized cost savings and operational efficiencies from the new Trinity system and supply chain initiatives, and (3) the timing and scope of acquisitions supported by recent divestiture proceeds. Additionally, we will track how macroeconomic trends influence consumer behavior and the company's ability to maintain volume and pricing momentum. Carriage Services currently trades at a forward EV-to-EBITDA ratio of 6.5×. At this valuation, is it a buy or sell post earnings? Find out in our free research report. Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
Lubbock boxing coach charged with online solicitation of a minor requests lower bond
A 33-year-old boxing coach accused of sending sexually explicit messages to a 13-year-old girl he taught has requested his $150,000 bond be reduced after he was indicted last week by a Lubbock County grand jury. Robert Quezada is charged with a second-degree felony count of online solicitation of a minor younger than 14, a second-degree felony that carries a punishmet of two to 20 years in prison. Quezada has been held at the Lubbock County Detention Center since his March 20 arrest. His bond is set at $150,000. His charge stems from a Lubbock police investigation that began on Nov. 16, when the girl's mother called police to report inappropriate messages Quezada, a coach at the Lubbock Boxing Club, sent her daughter through Facebook. The responding officer who read the messages said he saw "multiple inappropriate conversations of a sexual nature between (Quezada) and (the girl)," according to a police report. The girl also sent Quezada an intimate picture of herself, the report states. Quezada reportedly responded with more explicit sexual messages including graphic descriptions of sexual acts he wanted to do to her, the report states. A warrant for Quezada's arrest was issued on March 20 and he was arrested the same day near the intersection of 19th street and Slide Road. On Friday, Quezada appeared in the 140th District Court for a hearing on his motion for a reduced bond. His attorney, Alex Nunez, told the court that the $150,000 bond on Quezada's case was excessive based on the level of the offense. He said a bond of $50,000 and any conditions the court imposes would ensure appearance in court and the safety of the community. Quezada's mother told the court that her family did not have the resources to pay for the bond amount set for her son, who also worked at Dollar General before his arrest. She told the court that if Quezada were released on bond, he would comply with any order of the court, including prohibitions from being around children. She said her son had been arrested in the past for misdemeanor charges and made every court appearance in his cases. Nunez also submitted to the court letters of support from family friends. Meanwhile, prosecutor Laura Beth Fossett aruged that the $150,000 bond was an "adequate and necessary" bond amount to ensure the safety of the community. She said no condition the court could set could completely prevent Quezada from going online to contact children. She told the court that Quezada's family would be unable to guarantee that he wouldn't contact children online. Fosssett said one of the character letters Quezada's defense attorney gave the court included one from a teacher who said she'd never known Quezada to be in an inappropriate relationship or seek out young girls. However, Fossett presented the court with a flash drive that contained Quezada's messages with the girl that she said disproved that statement. "This is a real teenager who was taking boxing classes from this coach," she said. "He friended her on Facebook and had an entire conversation of a very sexual nature online with a 13-year-old girl." 140th District Judge Douglas Freitag said he would issue a ruling on Quezada's request at a later date. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock boxing coach charged with online solicitation of a minor
CBS News
07-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Chicago City Council approves Anthony Quezada as 35th Ward alderman in special meeting
The Chicago City Council approved Mayor Brandon Johnson's pick to be the next 35th Ward alderman at a special meeting Monday. Alderman Anthony Quezada was all smiles after being confirmed in the special council meeting Monday afternoon. He replaces Carols Ramirez-Rosa as the representative for the Northwest Side ward. Quezada was one of two candidates interviewed by the mayor's search committee, which included several 35th Ward community leaders. Five people applied for the job, but only two submitted complete applications – Quezada and Daniel Tobon, an entrepreneur and Army veteran. The hearing was surprisingly contentious. Eleven councilmembers voted against Quezada's confirmation, objecting to the plum assignments on the budget and finance committee he will inhering from his predecessor. Ramirez-Rosa stepped down as alderman last month after Johnson chose him as the new head of the Chicago Park District . Before he was elected as a Cook County Commissioner in 2022, Quezada served for six years as Ramirez-Rosa's constituent service director. He was also the 35th Ward Democratic Committeeman from 2020 to 2022. Quezada was the youngest and first openly gay Latino to be elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners when he was elected in 2022.
