Aldermen and the mayor introduced new legislation during Wednesday’s City Council meeting. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

Aldermen on Wednesday introduced proposals to begin discussing the possibility of ranked choice voting in Chicago municipal elections, a resolution urging the Illinois General Assembly to pass legislation to allow the city to establish safe consumption sites to prevent overdose deaths and a measure to change what tax-increment financing (TIF) dollars can be spent on. 

The county this week announced a multimillion-dollar program to assist suburban Cook County communities in fleshing out their climate change responses and gave residents an update on how money spent from the county Equity Fund has been used, as well as a preview of how it will be used in the coming year. 

From top left, Kim Walz, Angela Clay, Marianne Lalonde, and from bottom left, Patrick Nagle, Roushaunda Williams and Michael Cortez. All are running for 46th Ward alderman.

In the six-way election battle to succeed retiring Ald. James Cappleman (46) on Feb. 28, most of the candidates started the year with tens of thousands of dollars in campaign cash as candidates rack up large donations from labor groups, other elected officials and a third-party delivery app. The 46th Ward covers Uptown and portions of Lakeview.

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) speaks during the City Council meeting Wednesday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

Aldermen on Wednesday laid a roadblock to the ordinance Mayor Lori Lightfoot introduced during this month’s City Council meeting setting out the city’s proposed new franchise agreement with ComEd. 

Members of the City Council Committee on Finance met in council chambers Tuesday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

The City Council will meet Wednesday for its final regularly scheduled meeting before the Feb. 28 municipal election when Chicagoans will vote for mayor, aldermen and the newly created police district councils. 

While Wednesday’s agenda is light, aldermen are set to consider proposals that would add a new city offense for assaulting paramedics and another that would grant an $800,000 payment to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of a man who was fatally struck by a city tow truck driver at O’Hare International Airport. Aldermen are also expected to vote on a controversial expansion by Norfolk Southern Railway. 

The Logan Boulevard bike lane between Rockwell Street and Diversey Parkway. [Erin Hegarty] 

Bike, pedestrian and transit advocacy groups say the conversation is shifting on transportation-related issues facing Chicago after all eight candidates challenging Mayor Lori Lightfoot in the Feb. 28 election gathered at the University of Illinois at Chicago last weekend to answer questions about bike and pedestrian safety and the CTA.

Lightfoot, who is seeking a second term as mayor, did not attend the forum.

The municipal election is Feb. 28. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line] 

With the Feb. 28 election less than one month away, incumbent Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) has the most cash on hand, according to campaign finance records, in the four-way race to represent the 1st Ward on the City Council. 

Joe Senorski, director of political action for Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2, speaking during a committee meeting Monday. [City of Chicago livestream] 

A proposal to add a new offense to Chicago’s municipal code for assaulting emergency workers, particularly ambulance drivers and emergency medical services personnel, will go to City Council for final approval Wednesday.