Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
đ¨ Evanston, this is the clip you cannot scroll past. If you care about fairness, leadership, and how decisions are made in this city, take 20 minutes and watch this. If you donât have 20 minutes right now, save this video and come back to it. Itâs too important.
This Rules Committee meeting from Monday night may seem procedural on the surface, but itâs not. Itâs about who will hold power next, and how easily that power can be shaped to serve a few instead of all of us.
The discussion focused on how an Acting Mayor will be chosen if Mayor Daniel Biss wins a seat in Congress and whatâs at stake is bigger than one vacancy. Itâs about the integrity of the rules that protect residents from inside deals and political maneuvering.
Back in June, the committee voted for a super-majority requirement.
Now a few on the council, led by Shawn Iles and closely aligned with Mayor Biss and Councilmember Jonathan Nieuwsma, are trying to rewrite that rule to a simple majority. That change would make it far easier to push through a preferred successor.
State law is silent on this issue, despite claims that a simple majority is required. This is a local choice, and how itâs handled will show what kind of leadership Evanston truly has.
Youâll see City Attorney Penrose appear VERY uneasy as questions arise, looking caught between pressure and process. Watch closely!
And residents should also recall earlier concerns during the Northwestern University stadium and land-use discussions, when Councilmember Jonathan Nieuwsma told residents the related federal-court motion was âfor clarification.â
Judge Maldonadoâs own comments showed the situation was more complicated, which is why this new rules debate deserves such close public scrutiny. Ask for the facts and insist on clear, complete answers.
đ Do we really want more of this if Nieuwsma becomes Acting Mayor?
Leadership is everything. Who sits in those seats dictates your property taxes, your safety, and your wallet.
If youâve ever said, âCity Hall doesnât affect me,â this clip will prove otherwise.
What youâll see in these 20 minutes:
Parielle Davis using her legal background to push back hard for fairness.
Matt Rodgers correcting misleading statements with facts.
Tom Suffredin calling out self-serving behavior for what it is.
Clare Kelly warning that this rule-change circus disrespects the community and the Councilâs own process.
And Mayor Biss speaking at length, sounding calm, practiced, and polished, yet offering little substance. Listen carefully.
As for Nieuwsma, Iles, Harris, and GeracarisâŚyouâll see the same familiar pattern of staying tightly on script.
đş Watch this clip. Save it. Share it.
If you want the full meeting, itâs on the City of Evanston YouTube channel under Rules Committee.
đ§ Then take action:
Email your councilmember, Mayor Daniel Biss, and City Manager Luke Stowe.
Tell them residents are watching and expect transparency - not shifting rules and closed-door coordination.
Evanston, this is your wake-up call. Donât sit quietly while the rules are being rewritten in real time.
#Evanston #EvanstonPolitics #WhereThePeopleMeet #TransparencyMatters #ForThePeopleNotTheFew #meleikagardner #DanielBiss #JonathanNieuwsma #ShawnIles #LukeStowe #clarekelly #ParielleDavis #MattRodgers #TomSuffredin #KrissieHarris
đ¨ Evanston, this is the clip you cannot scroll past. If you care about fairness, leadership, and how decisions are made in this city, take 20 minutes and watch this. If you donât have 20 minutes right now, save this video and come back to it. Itâs too important.
This Rules Committee meeting from Monday night may seem procedural on the surface, but itâs not. Itâs about who will hold power next, and how easily that power can be shaped to serve a few instead of all of us.
The discussion focused on how an Acting Mayor will be chosen if Mayor Daniel Biss wins a seat in Congress and whatâs at stake is bigger than one vacancy. Itâs about the integrity of the rules that protect residents from inside deals and political maneuvering.
Back in June, the committee voted for a super-majority requirement.
Now a few on the council, led by Shawn Iles and closely aligned with Mayor Biss and Councilmember Jonathan Nieuwsma, are trying to rewrite that rule to a simple majority. That change would make it far easier to push through a preferred successor.
State law is silent on this issue, despite claims that a simple majority is required. This is a local choice, and how itâs handled will show what kind of leadership Evanston truly has.
Youâll see City Attorney Penrose appear VERY uneasy as questions arise, looking caught between pressure and process. Watch closely!
And residents should also recall earlier concerns during the Northwestern University stadium and land-use discussions, when Councilmember Jonathan Nieuwsma told residents the related federal-court motion was âfor clarification.â
Judge Maldonadoâs own comments showed the situation was more complicated, which is why this new rules debate deserves such close public scrutiny. Ask for the facts and insist on clear, complete answers.
đ Do we really want more of this if Nieuwsma becomes Acting Mayor?
Leadership is everything. Who sits in those seats dictates your property taxes, your safety, and your wallet.
If youâve ever said, âCity Hall doesnât affect me,â this clip will prove otherwise.
What youâll see in these 20 minutes:
Parielle Davis using her legal background to push back hard for fairness.
Matt Rodgers correcting misleading statements with facts.
Tom Suffredin calling out self-serving behavior for what it is.
Clare Kelly warning that this rule-change circus disrespects the community and the Councilâs own process.
And Mayor Biss speaking at length, sounding calm, practiced, and polished, yet offering little substance. Listen carefully.
As for Nieuwsma, Iles, Harris, and GeracarisâŚyouâll see the same familiar pattern of staying tightly on script.
đş Watch this clip. Save it. Share it.
If you want the full meeting, itâs on the City of Evanston YouTube channel under Rules Committee.
đ§ Then take action:
Email your councilmember, Mayor Daniel Biss, and City Manager Luke Stowe.
Tell them residents are watching and expect transparency - not shifting rules and closed-door coordination.
Evanston, this is your wake-up call. Donât sit quietly while the rules are being rewritten in real time.
#Evanston #EvanstonPolitics #WhereThePeopleMeet #TransparencyMatters #ForThePeopleNotTheFew #meleikagardner #DanielBiss #JonathanNieuwsma #ShawnIles #LukeStowe #clarekelly #ParielleDavis #MattRodgers #TomSuffredin #KrissieHarris
