DeKalb, IL — The typical teen is figuring out how to balance home life and remote learning, but Catlyn Savado took to the Chicago City Council to make her voice heard.
The 13-year-old activist gave a speech Monday to Mayor Lori Lightfoot and aldermen denouncing the newly approved 2021 Chicago budget which includes a $94 million property tax increase.
During her speech, Savado said the budget was “regressive” and that it “hurts the citizens of the city.”
“Today I’m advocating for the folks in our communities – our Black and Brown communities,” Savado said during her speech. “It’s funny though because that is your job, to advocate and lead our communities. But instead, you’re pushing for a racist, classist, ableist, pro-capitalist budget because, big shocker, we have decided to put money and property over human life once again.”
The newly adopted $12.8 billion city budget has Chicago residents paying more money through its property tax increase. The budget passed 28 to 22 with only two votes to spare.
Savado said aldermen were pushing for the budget because it makes white people comfortable when the city should be investing more into the residents.
“I will watch as my brothers and sisters will grow up in conditions where they’re as smart as their white counterparts, but they receive less opportunities because of the segregation and racist institutions,” Savado said. “Now my question is how I, a 13-year-old Black girl, has come to this realization but you adults, grown folks who pay bills and taxes, haven’t even dared to open your eyes.”