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]
JAN 21, 2020
Three candidates filed to run for the position of Democratic Committeeperson in Chicago’s 1st Ward this year, and two candidates declared for the position in the 9th Ward. A free-for-all of mutual petition challenges may prevent any of their names from being printed on the March 17 primary ballot, pending a hearing by the Chicago Board of Elections on Tuesday.
Dem committeeperson ballot slots could be empty in 1st, 9th Wards as candidates scramble
Three candidates filed to run for the position of Democratic Committeeperson in Chicago’s 1st War...
JAN 20, 2020
Ten Democratic candidates vying for seats on the Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s Board of Commissioners have emerged from a frenzy of petition challenges and will appear on the March 17 primary ballot, elections officials ruled.
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District ballot finalized after four candidates drop from contention
Ten Democratic candidates vying for seats on the Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s ...
JAN 17, 2020
A draft proposal aimed at preventing displacement in Woodlawn announced by the city’s Housing Department Thursday would leave out key elements of a community benefits agreement ordinance already endorsed by 29 aldermen.
The new proposal would apply only to census tracts within three-fifths of a mile of the Obama Presidential Center, as opposed to the proposed community benefits agreement which would apply to all properties within a two-mile radius of the center. While Woodlawn would be included in the plan, most of South Shore and Washington Park would not.
City unveils scaled-back plan for preserving affordable housing near Obama Center
A draft proposal aimed at preventing displacement in Woodlawn announced by the city’s Housing Dep...
JAN 17, 2020
An employee of the Cook County Forest Preserves District should be punished for using his government job to sell two district vehicles to himself, a county watchdog wrote in a report issued Thursday.
Forest Preserves employee sold county-owned car to himself and his wife, watchdog says
An employee of the Cook County Forest Preserves District should be punished for using his governm...
JAN 17, 2020
Recreational weed got even more expensive after the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a measure on Thursday to impose its own tax on the drug, even as some commissioners raised questions about how the revenue would be spent.
County officials tout 3% ‘reasonable’ cannabis tax as some commissioners remain unconvinced
Recreational weed got even more expensive after the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a...
JAN 16, 2020
Cook County Board of Commissioners and county board President Toni Preckwinkle would expand their power over the independent board that runs the county’s $2.9 billion Health and Hospital System under a measure set to be introduced on Thursday, as commissioners continue to demand answers over the health system’s shaky financial future.
Preckwinkle moves to rein in Cook County Hospital board as financial pressures mount
Cook County Board of Commissioners and county board President Toni Preckwinkle would expand their...
JAN 15, 2020
The four candidates for the Cook County Circuit Court clerk debate Tuesday. [Alex Nitkin/The Daily Line]
Court Clerk candidates tout plans to overhaul hiring, technology in beleaguered office
The four candidates for the Cook County Circuit Court clerk debate Tuesday. [Alex Nitkin/The Da...
JAN 15, 2020
Any city resident could impose a three-month delay on the approval of any new cannabis dispensary in their own precinct simply by circulating a petition, according to new rules advanced by aldermen on Tuesday.
Residents can delay dispensary approvals in their precinct by ‘picking up a form’ under approved zoning tweak
Any city resident could impose a three-month delay on the approval of any new cannabis dispensary...
JAN 14, 2020
The city's Plan Commission approved a 43-story apartment tower at 906 W. Randolph St. Thursday. [Chicago Department of Planning and Development]
43-story Fulton Market apartment tower set for zoning approval Tuesday
The city's Plan Commission approved a 43-story apartment tower at 906 W. Randolph St. Thursday....
JAN 14, 2020
Officials responsible for doling out millions of dollars in grants to boost responses to the 2020 U.S. Census want to make it easier for Cook County taxpayers to see how their money is being spent.
Census outreach ‘transparency portal’ to show how grantees are using public funds: county contractor
Officials responsible for doling out millions of dollars in grants to boost responses to the 2020...
JAN 13, 2020
Leaders of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds’ office must do better at implementing a series of hiring reforms if they want to get a court monitor off their backs in time for their scheduled merger with the Cook County Clerk’s office at the end of this year, a federal judge told county officials on Friday.
Shakman judge criticizes county recorder’s office for ‘inactivity’ as clock ticks on merger
Leaders of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds’ office must do better at implementing a series of h...
JAN 10, 2020
Northwest Side political operative David Feller dropped his dual candidacy on Thursday for 36th Ward Democratic committeeperson and the 3rd Illinois House district, which had been held by Luis Arroyo before he was arrested on bribery charges.
Feller drops out of Northwest Side races, endorses Carranza in state rep primary
Northwest Side political operative David Feller dropped his dual candidacy on Thursday for 36th W...
JAN 09, 2020
Cook County voters’ March primary ballots got shorter Wednesday, as election officials determined multiple candidates for ward committeeperson — including three Republicans — did not turn in enough signatures.
Republicans knocked out of committeeman races as ballot continues to shrink
Cook County voters’ March primary ballots got shorter Wednesday, as election officials determined...
JAN 08, 2020
A proposed ordinance aimed at curbing gentrification along The 606's Bloomingdale Trail was reintroduced at City Council this week. [Alisa Hauser/DNAinfo Chicago]
Two aldermen said Wednesday they are on track to resuscitate a measure next week that would freeze construction near the 606 Bloomingdale Trail as a way of blunting rapid gentrification on the Near Northwest Side.
Alds. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) and Roberto Maldonado (26) told The Daily Line Wednesday they are working on a series of “tweaks” that would narrow the scope of their sweeping ordinance (O2019-9439) to ban building permits, demolition permits and zoning changes near the popular elevated trail for 14 months. Proposed changes include carve-outs for affordable housing developments, as well as for minor construction work.
Freeze on development near 606 set for vote next week despite Lightfoot's ‘concerns,’ aldermen say
A proposed ordinance aimed at curbing gentrification along The 606's Bloomingdale Trail was rein...
JAN 08, 2020
Election officials tossed a challenge against the Cook County Democratic Party’s chosen candidates for three contested seats on the board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, ensuring that Eira Corral Sepúlveda, Cam Davis and Kim Du Buclet will appear on the March 17 primary ballot.
Democratic Party-endorsed MWRD candidates survive petition challenges, advance to primary ballot
Election officials tossed a challenge against the Cook County Democratic Party’s chosen candidate...
JAN 08, 2020
A measure on Tuesday giving the city control of seven vacant lots in Woodlawn in an effort to stem the tide of gentrification near the planned site of the Obama Presidential Center cleared a City Council committee Tuesday.
City to acquire seven Woodlawn properties under measure advanced Tuesday
A measure on Tuesday giving the city control of seven vacant lots in Woodlawn in an effort to ste...
JAN 08, 2020
Gia Biagi, Mayor Lori Lightfoot's pick to lead the Chicago Department of Transportation, fields questions from reporters. [Alex Nitkin/The Daily Line]Biagi talks up open space, vows to ‘proceed cautiously’ with red light cameras during CDOT confirmation hearing
Gia Biagi, Mayor Lori Lightfoot's pick to lead the Chicago Department of Transportation, fields...
JAN 07, 2020
Aldermen are set on Tuesday take a second pass at selling hundreds of vacant city-owned lots, after an earlier attempt stalled amid a debate over aldermanic privilege.
Hundreds of city-owned lot sales set to be approved after aldermen brought on board
Aldermen are set on Tuesday take a second pass at selling hundreds of vacant city-owned lots, aft...
JAN 07, 2020
Attorneys Bob Fioretti urge elections officials to kick State's Attorney Kim Foxx off the ballot. [Alex Nitkin/The Daily Line]
Lawyers for former Ald. Bob Fioretti (2) said on Monday that petitions to re-elect Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx showed a “pattern of fraud” in a longshot challenge to get the incumbent thrown off the ballot before she faces Fioretti and two other Democratic challengers in the March 17 primary.
Fioretti attorneys allege ‘pattern of fraud’ in attempt to knock Foxx off March ballot
Attorneys Bob Fioretti urge elections officials to kick State's Attorney Kim Foxx off the ballo...
JAN 03, 2020
Jacob Meister, right, consults with his attorney during a Thursday hearing on his challenge of the petitions filed by Michael Cabonargi in the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk race. [Alex Nitkin/The Daily Line]Primary ballot begins to take shape as elections officials sort through challenges
Jacob Meister, right, consults with his attorney during a Thursday hearing on his challenge of ...
Bio
Solutions reporter, @IllinoisAnswers/@BetterGov. Formerly of @thedailylinechi, @trdchicago & @DNAinfoChi. Amateur baker. Tips: [email protected]
