Aldermen Call for More Cops in City Budget
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s 2014 budget proposal makes “a significant investment in the education, health and safety” of its neighborhoods, but at least two aldermen argued Wednesday the refusal to hire more police officers is detrimental not only to Chicago’s safety but its economy as well. “Yes, we need a balanced budget, but safety […]
Proposal to expand gun offender registry earns inital approval
A Chicago City Council committee approved a mandatory gun offender registry yesterday that would require that all people convicted of a gun-related crime tell the city where they live. The legislation, sponsored by Ald. Edward Burke (14th), will create a gun registry for the city, which will act similarly to the mandatory registry used for […]
Zoning committee approves Wolf Point complex
A city council committee met last week and voted to approve a three-tower complex at Wolf Point along the Chicago River, taking the project one step closer to becoming a reality. Attorney John J. George representing the owners of Wolf Point LLC, presented the amended development plan for the 42nd ward. The project will add […]
City Council Votes to End 8 TIFs; $9 Million Diverted to City, CPS
On Thursday the Chicago City Council voted to recommend ending eight tax increment financing districts, sending almost $9 million to the city, the school district and other taxing bodies. Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th), an outspoken critic of TIFs called the elimination of these districts a positive step toward the necessary reform of the TIF program. […]
Join a Vigil Tonight For Young Girl in Englewood
Action Now community members, Englewood residents, religious leaders and Alderman Toni Foulkes are holding a candlelight vigil February 28th, 2012 at 6 p.m. for the 13 year old girl that was raped while walking to school in West Englewood. The vigil will be held on the corner of 59th and Wood St. Then there will be a march […]
Ald. Rick Munoz’ Free Speech and Protection of Press Ordinance
On Feb. 13, Ald. Rick Munoz of the 22nd Ward introduced the Free Speech and Protection of the Press ordinance at city council. It prohibits police from blocking access to social media and cell phone networks during the G8 and NATO summits in May. He is putting his ideas, and suggestions from voters and constituents into […]
What Ward Are You In?
UPDATE: The Chicago Tribune has posted side by side maps to allow you compare the old ward boundaries to the new ward boundaries. If voters learn to use these kinds of resources and to call for them, instead of waiting for diligent news organizations to post them, the whole approach to redistricting in the future […]
Crains Reports Unique Profit-Sharing TIF Proposal
Andrew L. Wang, reporting for Crain’s details a proposal in front of the Chicago City Council to approve a tax-increment financing grant to Experimur LLC, from the Emanuel administration. The novel idea is to use TIF money like venture capital. The city is making a bet on Experimur’s future with what city officials call a “unique […]
Northwest Mental Health Clinic Slated to Close
Northwest Mental Health Clinic will close next year along with five other city-run facilities across Chicago, leaving therapists worried about what will happen to their Spanish-speaking patients. “I think this is a big loss to the community,” said Ava Navarro, clinical therapist at the Logan Square clinic. “We’ve been here a long time.” The Latino population […]
Ravenswood One Step Closer to Mariano’s Grocery Store
A proposed retail development that includes a Mariano’s Fresh Market grocery store on a Sears parking lot in Ravenswood is inching closer toward approval.
Mayor Wants to Cut City Mental Health Clinics in Half
The Chicago Department of Public Health would consolidate its 12 city mental health clinics into six sites, under Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposed 2012 budget. The city is facing a $635 million shortfall in next year’s budget and Emanuel is proposing that staffing for the Department of Public Health be cut by $7.2 million dollars, […]
Mayor Emanuel’s First Budget Proposal
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Chicago People’s City Council Calls a Meeting, Invites YOU
Do you know where your tax dollars are going? There’s a new Mayor and Grassroots Collaborative and Allies don’t want Rahm Emanuel and the City Council to the be like the old mayor. According to Grassroots Collaborative, The Mercantile Exchange got $15 million in our tax dollars to remodel their bathrooms, despite making $457 million […]
New Mayor Means Mayoral Tutorial Re-Launch
With a new Mayor taking office , the Mayoral Tutorial website is being retooled. The site aims to educate the public on good public policy, critique the performance and policies of our Mayor and the City Council, maintain an investigative function on all of the Mayor’s campaign investors and their work with the city. From guest posters like comedian […]
Environmental Issues Heat Up 25th Ward Runoff
The future of two coal-burning power plants has become a hot issue in the 25th Ward with just a few weeks remaining in the City Council runoff. Combined with five other plants, the Fisk Generation station located in the ward’s Pilsen neighborhood has become one of Chicago’s largest sources of pollution. The ward’s incumbent Ald. […]
Some Aldermen Don’t Need Your Vote
Not every voter will have the opportunity to elect the candidate of his or her choice this election cycle—some simply won’t have a choice. Out of the city’s 50 wards, seven candidates will run unopposed, leaving hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans with only one ballot option when they go to the polls Tuesday. Some of […]
43rd Ward Candidate Would Be First Persian-American on Council
Nineteen years ago, a young and hopeful Iranian immigrant came to Chicago looking for the American dream. Now she is running for a major political position: 43rd ward alderman. Bita Buenrostro never intended to enter politics, but one afternoon while driving in her car with her husband, she had an epiphany. “We have to speak […]
Lakeview Residents See Little Need for Electrical Fences
How about a 7,000-volt jolt every 1.3 seconds to the would-be burglars of the Chicagoland area? It could happen for some Chicago businesses that would be allowed to install non-lethal electric security fences, so long as they don’t border residential or public areas and are at least 8 feet tall. This ordinance, which has been […]