Alex Nitkin is The Daily Line’s reporter covering Cook County and Chicago land use policy. He came to TDL from The Real Deal Chicago, where he covered Chicago real estate news. He previously worked at DNAinfo, first as a breaking news reporter, and then as a neighborhood reporter covering the city's Northwest Side. Nitkin graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism with a bachelor’s degree.
Bio
Solutions reporter, @IllinoisAnswers/@BetterGov. Formerly of @thedailylinechi, @trdchicago & @DNAinfoChi. Amateur baker. Tips: [email protected]
APR 29, 2020
Certain industrial businesses would be required to consult their local alderman, hold public meetings and face a City Council committee before opening facilities that emit air pollution under an ordinance introduced this month by Ald. George Cardenas (12).
The ordinance (O2020-2217) would crank up requirements for any business that is seeking both a special-use permit from the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals and an air pollution control permit, which is issued by the Chicago Department of Public Health in consultation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The new rule would only apply to proposals located inside designated Planned Manufacturing Districts.
The ordinance (O2020-2217) would crank up requirements for any business that is seeking both a special-use permit from the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals and an air pollution control permit, which is issued by the Chicago Department of Public Health in consultation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The new rule would only apply to proposals located inside designated Planned Manufacturing Districts.
Aldermen would gain influence over approving new polluters under proposed ordinance
Certain industrial businesses would be required to consult their local alderman, hold public meet...
APR 29, 2020
Mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled a new grant program Tuesday targeted at keeping “micro-businesses” afloat during the stay-at-home order. Meanwhile, Cook County leaders announced they will extend their grace period for tax and fee collection by another month. And Chicago planning officials delayed scheduled meetings of the Chicago Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals for the fourth time since March.
Morning briefing — City launches ‘micro-business’ support, Plan Commission delayed, county tax deadline extended
Mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled a new grant program Tuesday targeted at keeping “micro-businesses” ...
APR 28, 2020
A Cook County judge on Monday unleashed a barrage of arguments against suburban first responder agencies who sued the county’s public health officials for personal information they said could protect their emergency personnel from contracting the coronavirus.
Judge grills suburban first responders suing county for addresses of Covid-19 patients
A Cook County judge on Monday unleashed a barrage of arguments against suburban first responder a...
APR 28, 2020
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday announced the launch of Chi COVID Coach, a new resource to help people experiencing Covid-19 symptoms access testing and other forms of help. Meanwhile, a federal judge ordered Cook County officials to suspend multiple-person cells at the County Jail in most cases. And city health officials said dust from the planned demolition of the Crawford power station showed no signs of asbestos, but the site did test positive for traces of some toxic metals.
Morning Briefing: City rolls out Covid web resource, judge issues new orders for Cook County Jail, Little Village dust samples test negative for asbestos
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday announced the launch of Chi COVID Coach, a new resource to help pe...
APR 27, 2020
During a chaotic and free-wheeling virtual meeting Friday, the City Council approved a measure granting Mayor Lori Lightfoot temporary emergency spending powers and rebuffed an alderman’s proposal to meet more often, narrowly overriding more than 20 aldermen who fought the mayor on both fronts.
City Council passes emergency powers ordinance, narrowly rejects alderman’s plea for twice-monthly meetings
During a chaotic and free-wheeling virtual meeting Friday, the City Council approved a measure gr...
APR 27, 2020
Cook County is staring down a budget hole of at least $260 million this year — and that’s under the “best-case scenario” in which the economy returns mostly to normal in June, officials said Friday.
The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act passed by Congress last month is likely to ease the county’s financial burden by covering some $100 million in expenses for items directly related to fighting Covid-19 in Cook County, but that does nothing to address the steep drop-off in taxes and other revenue the county is already tallying.
The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act passed by Congress last month is likely to ease the county’s financial burden by covering some $100 million in expenses for items directly related to fighting Covid-19 in Cook County, but that does nothing to address the steep drop-off in taxes and other revenue the county is already tallying.
Cook County looks to future federal stimulus to bridge $260 million preliminary budget gap
Cook County is staring down a budget hole of at least $260 million this year — and that’s under t...
APR 24, 2020
photo courtesy of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
Cook County leaders on Thursday narrowly approved a measure to expand the county’s contract with an independent consultant hired to help boost participation in the U.S. Census, shaking off opposition from commissioners who lashed the company for its handling of the multimillion-dollar outreach effort.
County expands payment of census outreach coordinator despite stinging criticism from commissioners
photo courtesy of the Cook County Board of CommissionersCook County leaders on Thursday narrowly ...
APR 24, 2020
The Chicago City Council is preparing to reconvene Friday afternoon to finish the business they started on Wednesday. And Cook County financial leaders are taking stock of how badly the county’s budget has been impacted by the pandemic.
Morning briefing — City Council preps for return, Preckwinkle to detail economic damage
The Chicago City Council is preparing to reconvene Friday afternoon to finish the business they s...
APR 23, 2020
The Chicago City Council passed just two items from its 119-page agenda for their virtual meeting Wednesday before Mayor Lori Lightfoot moved to delay the meeting in light of what she called a “shameful” and “selfish” backlash to an ordinance that would have concentrated her administration’s power to approve coronavirus-related expenses.
Council confirms Brown as top cop then cuts meeting short amid war over Lightfoot’s emergency powers
The Chicago City Council passed just two items from its 119-page agenda for their virtual meeting...
APR 23, 2020
The Cook County Board of Commissioners is set to take stock of the devastation that the coronavirus crisis has wreaked on the county’s finances when it reconvenes for the first time in more than a month on Thursday.
Board members are scheduled to accept a report (20-1114) on the first-quarter operations of the Cook County Health and Hospital system when they gather for a virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams at 10 a.m. Thursday. Commissioners are scheduled to get back together at 1 p.m. Thursday for a meeting of the Cook County Forest Preserve District board.
County commissioners to weigh pandemic’s financial toll during virtual board meeting
The Cook County Board of Commissioners is set to take stock of the devastation that the coronavir...
APR 22, 2020
City buildings department officials are temporarily letting the developer behind the botched Little Village smokestack demolition get back to work. Event planners announced a wave of festival cancelations for May and June. And Mayor Lori Lightfoot rolled out $7.5 million in funding for community groups for “violence interruption” efforts.
Morning briefing: Hilco to resume clean-up work, early summer festivals canceled, violence interrupters funded
City buildings department officials are temporarily letting the developer behind the botched Litt...
APR 22, 2020
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is set to introduce a $3 million grant program on Wednesday aimed at propping up owners of affordable housing properties as she continues to spar with the City Council over the best way to help both tenants and landlords who are struggling to hold onto their homes.
Housing relief plans come under the microscope ahead of jam-packed virtual City Council meeting
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is set to introduce a $3 million grant program on Wednesday aimed at proppin...
APR 21, 2020
Acting Chicago Police Supt. David Brown during a virtual meeting of the City Council's Committee on Public Safety on Monday. [screencapture via Zoom]
Brown vows to exceed consent decree and stay out of politics: ‘I do not want to be the 51st alderman’
Acting Chicago Police Supt. David Brown during a virtual meeting of the City Council's Committe...
APR 21, 2020
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot during a press conference Monday. [Screencapture]
Morning briefing — Budget Committee to consider Lightfoot emergency powers, racial equity task force charts out goals
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot during a press conference Monday. [Screencapture]
The City Council...
APR 20, 2020
Mayor Lori Lightfoot declared on Friday that the developer overseeing demolition of the Crawford coal plant is solely responsible for the dust cloud created by the implosion, but some aldermen believe the mayor deserves at least some of the blame. Meanwhile, the City Council is gearing up for its first full week of virtual meetings, starting with a committee meeting to advance the nomination of Chicago’s next police superintendent.
Morning briefing: City slaps Hilco with citations, David Brown to be virtually confirmed as city’s next top cop
Mayor Lori Lightfoot declared on Friday that the developer overseeing demolition of the Crawford ...
APR 20, 2020
Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough and attorney Michael Shakman [Heather Cherone / The Daily Line; provided]
In one of his last court opinions before he retires at the end of April, U.S. Magistrate Judge Sidney Schenkier wrote that anti-patronage attorney Michael Shakman found evidence to “suggest the improper use of political considerations” in Yarbrough’s office, violating the terms of a 1972 consent decree and subsequent 1991 court order that stemmed from Shakman’s long-running lawsuit against Cook County government.
Judge orders oversight of county clerk’s office as Shakman urges Yarbrough to ‘get on board’ with reform
Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough and attorney Michael Shakman [Heather Cherone / The Daily Lin...
APR 17, 2020
Frank Aguilar, community affairs & special projects director for the Town of Cicero, was selected to fill an open seat on the Cook County Board of Commissioners.Democratic party officials this week tapped longtime Cicero political operative and former State Rep. Frank Aguilar (R-Cicero) to fill the Cook County Board of Commissioners seat formerly held by Comm. Jeffrey Tobolski (D-16), angering west-suburban progressives who will be represented by the former Republican until at least December 2022.
Aguilar vows to move county’s 16th district to ‘next level’ but opponents decry appointment as ‘a slap in the face’
Frank Aguilar, community affairs & special projects director for the Town of Cicero, was se...
APR 17, 2020
Retail tax collection at the city level will be delayed until June 1, allowing businesses to keep the tax revenue to stay afloat until then, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Thursday. Meanwhile, Cook County has launched an online portal to track the coronavirus pandemic’s disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities and the city’s Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals have delayed meetings for a third time.
Morning briefing — City delays tax payments; County launches Covid-19 impact dashboard; Plan Commission delayed
Retail tax collection at the city level will be delayed until June 1, allowing businesses to keep...
APR 16, 2020
Cook County leaders on Wednesday announced a new program to provide hotel rooms for first responders, people experiencing homelessness and other patients who are recovering from the coronavirus, mirroring similar efforts already underway at the city and state level.
County enlists suburban hotels as ‘alternative housing’ for mild COVID-19 cases
Cook County leaders on Wednesday announced a new program to provide hotel rooms for first respond...
APR 16, 2020
Mayor Lori Lightfoot presides over the first all-virtual City Council meeting Wednesday. [Screenshot via Zoom]
City Council lays groundwork for virtual meetings in quick public videoconference
Mayor Lori Lightfoot presides over the first all-virtual City Council meeting Wednesday. [Scree...
Bio
Solutions reporter, @IllinoisAnswers/@BetterGov. Formerly of @thedailylinechi, @trdchicago & @DNAinfoChi. Amateur baker. Tips: [email protected]
