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The Latest Breaking News from City Council

Democratic ward committeeperson’s job has lost its luster for City Council members

A growing number of sitting alderpersons are either not running at all or have been forced to withdraw and perhaps run as write-in candidates after failing to gather the number of signatures needed to get on the ballot.

Chicago Sun-Times

City preparing to ‘right-size’ migrant shelters due to budget constraints

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th), chair of the City Council’s Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said Deputy Chief of Staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas told him late last month of the city’s plan to, as she put it, “right-size” the migrant shelter system without offering details.

Chicago Sun-Times

Record number of Divvy rides, more bike lanes made 2023 an ‘incredible year’ for cycling in Chicago, city official says

Last year, the city transportation department released its “Cycling Strategy,” billed as a “community-driven approach” to creating a “more connected, healthy and sustainable” city, with the goal of “designing and implementing 150 miles of bikeways in the coming years.”

Chicago Sun-Times

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Southwest Side needs a new police district, alderpersons say

Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel balanced his first budget in part by closing three district police stations. Now, Ald. Marty Quinn (13th) and six City Council colleagues want to build a new one at a cost of $30 million or more.

Chicago Sun-Times

Petition calls for recall of Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson after party switch

Johnson, formerly a Democrat, joined the Republican Party last year.

The Texas Tribune

Chicago’s acting planning commissioner vows to “get more shovels in the ground and more ribbons cut”

Ciere Boatright says she will use tax increment financing, the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund and what she called the “entire financial toolbox” to remove roadblocks she encountered as a real estate executive known for her work on community revival.

Chicago Sun-Times

Real estate interests seek to block ‘Bring Chicago Home’ referendum

A coalition of real estate and development groups filed suit Friday seeking to knock the binding referendum off the ballot, calling it an example of “log-rolling,” a legislative tactic of combining a politically unpopular proposal with popular one so voters will swallow the bitter pill.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Ed Burke still in line for hefty payouts from pension, campaign funds after corruption conviction

The Chicago City Council icon turned felon is entitled to more than $540,000 he paid into a city pension fund and a nearly $2.5 million payout from his campaign fund.

Chicago Sun-Times

Arbitrator reaffirms police disciplinary ruling, urges City Council to rethink rejection

Arbitrator Edwin Benn said state law guarantees Chicago police officers accused of the most serious wrongdoing the right to bypass the Police Board in favor of arbitration. Benn also criticized Mayor Brandon Johnson and the 33 City Council members who rejected his earlier ruling.

Chicago Sun-Times

This West Texas town has a lot of money in the bank. Why can't it pick up its trash?

Like local leaders in many other towns in West Texas, the Kermit City Council spent years saving its tax revenue fearing the energy economy would crash. Now it is struggling to keep up with essential services like trash and road repair.

The Texas Tribune

Here are the top stories that made the news in Chicago in 2023

New arrivals and a new mayor grabbed city headlines while old political figureheads went down and long-standing conflicts flared up. The Sun-Times was there for it all.

Chicago Sun-Times

Ed Burke and City Council members who call his conviction ‘a tragedy’ suck the life out of Chicago

What’s sad is that corruption continues to be so normalized in this town, an Irving Park resident writes.

Chicago Sun-Times

City Council resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza is deeply flawed

The Committee on Health and Human Relations voted on a one-sided resolution, Ald. Debra Silverstein writes. The council must also advocate for the release of hostages and condemn the violence against Israeli citizens.

Chicago Sun-Times

Mayor Brandon Johnson, city leaders react to Ed Burke guilty verdict in corruption case

Former and current elected officials comment on the conviction of the longest-serving, once-powerful dean of the Chicago City Council. ‘The tyranny of Ed Burke is over,’ former Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times

Current, former City Council colleagues call Burke conviction ‘sad’ and ‘a tragedy’

There’s affection and respect for the man who mentored far more colleagues than he bullied during his record 54-year reign. Ald. Ray Lopez said Burke’s ‘fingerprints are on so much of what is Chicago. To have this as the final act of a remarkable career is a tragedy.’

Chicago Sun-Times

Ed Burke ‘had his hand out for money.’ Powerful politician convicted of extortion, bribery in historic verdict

A jury of nine women and three men heard from 38 witnesses over 16 days of testimony as prosecutors made their case that Burke was “a bribe taker” and “an extortionist.”

Chicago Sun-Times

City Council resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza advances

The Committee on Health and Human Relations voted Monday to recommend the resolution to the full City Council in January — drawing a roar of applause.

Chicago Sun-Times

Feds close corruption case against Ed Burke by telling jurors his words on secret recordings are ‘absolutely devastating’

“What’s the best evidence of defendant Burke’s intent?” asked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker. “The words that came out of his mouth.”

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Chicago Sun-Times

Brandon Johnson’s campaign fund has taken millions from unions with City Hall contracts

The campaign contributions are legal, but failed mayoral candidate Willie Wilson wants them banned in mayoral races. Ald. Gilbert Villegas wants to limit contributions to city officials from unions with city contracts.

Chicago Sun-Times

Drivers for ride-hailing apps demand city ordinance improving safety, pay

If passed, the Chicago Rideshare Living Wage and Safety Ordinance would raise drivers’ wages, improve their safety and create a transparent system to handle driver deactivations.

Chicago Sun-Times

Voters won’t get chance to weigh in on Chicago’s sanctuary city status, City Council decides

Ald. Anthony Beale’s proposed referendum would have asked voters in the March 19 primary: “Should the city of Chicago limit its designation as a sanctuary city by placing spending limits on its public funding?”

Chicago Sun-Times

Beale to try again Thursday to push through advisory referendum on sanctuary city status

Beale tried briefly to suspend the rules Wednesday for immediate consideration of a new version stating: “Should the city of Chicago limit its designation as a sanctuary city by placing spending limits on its public funding?”

Chicago Sun-Times

Afternoon Edition: New police union contract approved at tense City Council meeting

Plus: Plans for Thompson Center makeover, how the Chinatown Gateway became a Chicago icon and more.

Chicago Sun-Times

Police contract approved, arbitrator’s disciplinary ruling rejected at another stormy City Council meeting

Mayor Brandon Johnson was forced to call for a recess after public observers gathered in the third-floor gallery overlooking the City Council chambers banged on the glass and shouted from their seats.

Chicago Sun-Times

After backlash, Chicago City Council drops restrictive new rules to public seating at its meetings

The new rules were prompted after a number of intense and chaotic City Council meetings.

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