Ald. Daniel Solis (25th), chairman of the Latino caucus, said Thursday that his caucus would open up its membership to non-Latino aldermen. Solis said that the eight-member caucus would invite seven non-Latinos who represent wards with majority Latino populations. These include both the longest-serving members of city council -- Ald. Ed Burke (14th) and Ald. Richard Mell (33rd) -- as well as rookie Ald. Nicholas Sposato (36th).

The invitations come as the Latino Policy Forum, a civil rights group, contends that the new remap of ward boundaries shortchanges Latinos in the city council.