Official who oversaw Little Village implosion gets City Council OK to head buildings department

The Chicago City Council on Wednesday approved Mayor Brandon Johnson’s pick to run the city buildings department, Marlene Hopkins, who was found negligent for her role in overseeing the botched implosion of the former Crawford coal-fired power plant that covered Little Village in dust four years ago.

Hopkins, a 25-year City Hall veteran, was approved on a 42-0 vote after nearly two dozen council members lavished praise on her. All but two the avoided even mentioning the dust storm fiasco.

On Easter weekend 2020, developer Hilco Redevelopment imploded an almost 400-feet-tall smokestack at the former power plant as part of a larger demolition. As the stack crashed to the ground, it created a massive dust storm, covering homes and property.

Hopkins was singled out for her role overseeing the botched operation, and former City Hall Inspector General Joe Ferguson said she should have been disciplined.

On Wednesday, even Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22nd), who represents residents most affected by the 2020 debacle, showered Hopkins with praise. He said she “owned up” to her part in the city’s poor oversight of the smokestack implosion, for which he placed most of the blame on systemic problems and procedures. Rodriguez said he decided to support her after a “lot of thinking and soul searching.”

“We know she was the fall guy for the Hilco mess,” said Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th), the only other Council member to mention the Crawford implosion.

Saying Hopkins showed resolve by staying on with the buildings department after being implicated in Ferguson’s report, Taylor told her, “I’m glad you stayed.”

Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) called Hopkins “one of my most favorite appointments ever.”

Hilco bought the Crawford property to redevelop the area and build a warehouse of more than 1 million square feet that is leased to retailer Target, a project opposed by a number of residents who complain about pollution from increased truck traffic.

Hilco has agreed to a class-action settlement of more than $12 million with Little Village residents over the implosion. The company paid far less in fines to the city and state over the matter.

After the Ferguson watchdog report on the city’s role at Crawford, former Mayor Lori Lightfoot chose not to follow Ferguson’s recommendation to discipline Hopkins and another buildings department official.

Hopkins, who sat with her mother during the meeting Wednesday, has not spoken publicly about the Little Village failure.

New rules on demolitions were adopted under Lightfoot.

The inspector general’s report — revealed by the Chicago Sun-Times last year — has never been officially released.