City Club of Chicago: Marlene Hopkins, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Buildings

I've always felt like a major nerd reading the code and hearing it read aloud somehow makes it even nerdier.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Thank you, Al, for the introduction.

And thank you to the City Club for bringing together so many of the people who keep our city moving, the labor partners, civic and business leaders, my colleagues, and every partner who shows up for Chicago every day.

Before I begin, I want to recognize my team.

I am honored to serve alongside the dedicated members of my department on both the permitting and inspection sides of the house who makes everything we do possible.

Please join me in a round of applause to thank them.

When I was growing up, I never imagined I would become building commissioner.

I always wanted a career in public service.

And at that time, I was sure that would be with the Chicago Police Department.

And since obviously I'm not here in uniform today, it's safe to say my path led me somewhere else.

I made it as far as the power test and missed the qualifying time by 12 seconds.

But I never lost the reason I wanted to serve, which is to help people.

My path began at the Department of Aviation, then took me to the Chicago Housing Authority, and finally to the Department of Buildings.

There are so many, so many people in the room today that remember me as the executive assistant to the commissioner.

They saw me grow into the boots on the ground commissioner I am today.

who is in the field with all of our inspectors.

I have seen the city at its most promising and served through some of our hardest, from a fire in the middle of the night to watching the Obama Presidential Center take shape.

Becoming building commissioner was not my childhood dream, but I could not imagine doing something else that means more to me.

Each day, I drive the neighborhoods on my way to and from work because it reminds me that buildings, a building is never just a building.

It is where families put down roots, where children first learn what community feels like, and where a senior ages with dignity.

So when I talk about the Department of Buildings, I want you to understand both what we do and why we do it.

Our purpose is people.

Every permit we issue, every inspection we conduct, every emergency we respond to, and every enforcement action we take is to protect people and make it possible for Chicago to grow.

That responsibility is especially important in neighborhoods on the south and west sides that have experienced decades of disinvestment and deserve safe blocks and the opportunity to see investment return to their blocks.

I've always felt like a major nerd reading the code and hearing it read aloud somehow makes it even nerdier.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Thank you, Al, for the introduction.

And thank you to the City Club for bringing together so many of the people who keep our city moving, the labor partners, civic and business leaders, my colleagues, and every partner who shows up for Chicago every day.

Before I begin, I want to recognize my team.

I am honored to serve alongside the dedicated members of my department on both the permitting and inspection sides of the house who makes everything we do possible.

Please join me in a round of applause to thank them.

When I was growing up, I never imagined I would become building commissioner.

I always wanted a career in public service.

And at that time, I was sure that would be with the Chicago Police Department.

And since obviously I'm not here in uniform today, it's safe to say my path led me somewhere else.

I made it as far as the power test and missed the qualifying time by 12 seconds.

But I never lost the reason I wanted to serve, which is to help people.

My path began at the Department of Aviation, then took me to the Chicago Housing Authority, and finally to the Department of Buildings.

There are so many, so many people in the room today that remember me as the executive assistant to the commissioner.

They saw me grow into the boots on the ground commissioner I am today.

who is in the field with all of our inspectors.

I have seen the city at its most promising and served through some of our hardest, from a fire in the middle of the night to watching the Obama Presidential Center take shape.

Becoming building commissioner was not my childhood dream, but I could not imagine doing something else that means more to me.

Each day, I drive the neighborhoods on my way to and from work because it reminds me that buildings, a building is never just a building.

It is where families put down roots, where children first learn what community feels like, and where a senior ages with dignity.

So when I talk about the Department of Buildings, I want you to understand both what we do and why we do it.

Our purpose is people.

Every permit we issue, every inspection we conduct, every emergency we respond to, and every enforcement action we take is to protect people and make it possible for Chicago to grow.

That responsibility is especially important in neighborhoods on the south and west sides that have experienced decades of disinvestment and deserve safe blocks and the opportunity to see investment return to their blocks.