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]
OCT 03, 2019
City officials celebrate the launch of the $2.1 billion effort to modernize the Red and Purple CTA train lines. [Alex Nitkin/The Daily Line]Decade-long push for Red-Purple funding shows rocky path ahead for south Red Line extension
City officials celebrate the launch of the $2.1 billion effort to modernize the Red and Purple ...
OCT 02, 2019
Daniel La Spata, Jay Ramirez and Lauren Young [Submitted]Ramirez whipped up votes and ran communications for Moreno’s failed re-election campaign earlier this year. He chaired the now-defunct 1st Ward First committee, which fundraised for Moreno’s bid.
And Ramirez spoke for Moreno one more time this week, telling The Daily Line that the former alderman and current 1st ward committeeperson — who did not respond to a request for comment for this story — declined to run for another term so that he could “focus on his family.”
Moreno’s shadow looms over 1st Ward committeeperson race
Daniel La Spata, Jay Ramirez and Lauren Young [Submitted]Jay Ramirez, the long-time Northwest S...
SEP 30, 2019
Cook County Jail [Flickr/Zol87]Bond fund groups praise county ordinance as ‘baby step’ toward bail reform
Cook County Jail [Flickr/Zol87]Judges will be discouraged from assessing fees or penalties to d...
SEP 27, 2019
Cook County Healthy Health CEO Jay Shannon told commissioners CountyCare is “in the black.” [Alex Nitkin/The Daily Line]Health officials say CountyCare is ‘in the black’ as watchdog stands by report
Cook County Healthy Health CEO Jay Shannon told commissioners CountyCare is “in the black.” [Al...
SEP 27, 2019
County Commissioners took the unusual step on Thursday of rejecting a contract requested by Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, taking a parting shot at the under investigation executive as she heads for retirement.
Commissioners swat down Dorothy Brown calendar purchase as ‘antiquated political advertisement’
County Commissioners took the unusual step on Thursday of rejecting a contract requested by Cook ...
SEP 26, 2019
The Metra Electric and South Shore lines. [Airbus777/Flickr]County leaders, advocates redouble support for South Side Metra pilot in face of Lightfoot’s opposition
The Metra Electric and South Shore lines. [Airbus777/Flickr]A diverse array of business, labor ...
SEP 26, 2019
Ahmadou Drame, of the Safer Foundation, addresses the Cook County Board. [Alex Nitkin/The Daily Line]
Implementation of 'Just Housing' ordinance advances as tenants notch wins
Ahmadou Drame, of the Safer Foundation, addresses the Cook County Board. [Alex Nitkin/The Daily...
SEP 25, 2019
The Board of Commissioners for the Cook County Forest Preserves is running out of time to ask voters for a property tax increase that advocates say is crucial for the district’s ability to manage and expand its 70,000 acres of protected wildlife.
Clock ticking on proposal to ask voters to approve tax hike for Forest Preserves
The Board of Commissioners for the Cook County Forest Preserves is running out of time to ask vot...
SEP 24, 2019
The Zoning Board of Appeals voted on Friday to approve a Wrigleyville medicinal dispensary’s move to a bigger location, but only on the condition that its operators return to the board to get permission to transition to recreational sales next year.
Zoning Board won’t green-light recreational dispensaries until zoning rules take shape: member
The Zoning Board of Appeals voted on Friday to approve a Wrigleyville medicinal dispensary’s move...
SEP 23, 2019
Existing medicinal cannabis dispensaries would not need a new city permit before selling cannabis for recreational use sales to their business, according to rules proposed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot this week.
Medicinal dispensaries could sell recreational pot without new city approvals under Lightfoot plan
Existing medicinal cannabis dispensaries would not need a new city permit before selling cannabis...
SEP 20, 2019
City leaders on Thursday hinted at some of the changes that could be in store after they take a fresh look at the city’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance later this year.
Plan Commissioners signal changes in store for city’s affordable housing rules
City leaders on Thursday hinted at some of the changes that could be in store after they take a f...
SEP 20, 2019
From left, Alds. Jeanette Taylor (20), Andre Vasquez (40) and Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25). [Submitted]
“I figured the amount of time you would have to dedicate” to becoming the ward’s Democratic committeeperson “would be a heavy load,” Taylor said, adding that “people have used [the position] politically for the wrong reasons.”
That was then.
Now, Taylor and a handful of other freshman aldermen who once shunned the Cook County Democratic establishment are gearing up for campaigns to win unpaid positions to lead the party’s fundraising and organizing arms in their respective wards.
Freshman aldermen prep runs for Democratic Committeeperson to ‘work within the party to push it forward’
From left, Alds. Jeanette Taylor (20), Andre Vasquez (40) and Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25). [Submitt...
SEP 19, 2019
The Chicago Plan Commission will consider a proposal by developer Sterling Bay on Thursday to build a pair of mid-rise office buildings in Fulton Market, potentially extending the mega-firm’s grip over the booming commercial district.
Plan Commission set to advance Sterling Bay office proposal in Fulton Market
The Chicago Plan Commission will consider a proposal by developer Sterling Bay on Thursday to bui...
SEP 19, 2019
Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans’ 2017 bond reform order may have helped winnow the population of the county’s jail, but about 2,000 defendants remain behind bars simply because they can’t afford to pay bail, according to a report released Wednesday by the Coalition to End Money Bond.
Activists praise bond reform 2 years later, but says changes don’t go far enough
Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans’ 2017 bond reform order may have helped winnow the populati...
SEP 17, 2019
The Illinois Gaming Board declined to make any suggestions on how to change the law permitting a Chicago casino. [Alex Nitkin/The Daily Line]
Gaming Board punts, urges lawmakers to modify Chicago casino rules
The Illinois Gaming Board declined to make any suggestions on how to change the law permitting ...
SEP 16, 2019
A rendering of the proposed Lincoln Yards. [Department of Planning and Development]
A judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit aiming to block the $1.4 billion subsidy the city approved for the massive Lincoln Yards development, dealing a setback to groups looking to prevent the controversial 23-year financing agreement from taking effect.
The groups Grassroots Collaborative and Raise Your Hand had alleged in their April complaint that the city approved the Cortland/Chicago River tax increment financing district in a “racially and ethnically discriminatory manner” because it dedicated public resources to an already-wealthy part of the city.
Judge dismisses lawsuit to block Lincoln Yards TIF, says groups lack standing
A rendering of the proposed Lincoln Yards. [Department of Planning and Development]
A judge on M...
SEP 16, 2019
A simmering feud between State Sen. Robert Martwick, top, and 41st Ward Democratic Commiteeperson Tim Heneghan has boiled over into an all-out war. [Submitted]
Tim Heneghan, who is the 41st Ward Democratic committeeperson, tweeted his support on Thursday for Chicago Police Sgt. Danny O’Toole, who is mounting a primary challenge against newly-minted State Sen. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago).
Heneghan unloads on ‘career politician’ Martwick, endorses primary challenger
A simmering feud between State Sen. Robert Martwick, top, and 41st Ward Democratic Commiteepers...
SEP 13, 2019
Newly re-elected Chief Judge Tim Evans addresses reporters. [Alex Nitkin/The Daily Line]Evans elected to 7th term as chief judge, extending record-setting career
Newly re-elected Chief Judge Tim Evans addresses reporters. [Alex Nitkin/The Daily Line]Cook Co...
SEP 13, 2019
Mariyana Spyropoulos [Submitted]
Spyropoulos drops out of circuit court clerk race, wishes remaining 4 candidates ‘good luck’
Mariyana Spyropoulos [Submitted]
The best-funded candidate in the race for Cook County clerk of...
SEP 12, 2019
Organizers who oppose the city's April 10 decision to give $1.3 billion in tax subsidies to Lincoln Yards developer Sterling Bay gather outside Judge Neil Cohen's courtroom on Wednesday. [Hannah Alani/Block Club Chicago]
A Cook County judge on Wednesday indicated he didn’t like the city’s deal to give $1.3 billion in tax increment financing dollars for the Lincoln Yards project, but also said a lawsuit trying to block the deal might not pass legal muster.
Circuit Court Judge Neil Cohen spent nearly two hours on Tuesday grilling attorneys for a grassroots coalition that’s suing the city over the taxpayer-funded subsidy, setting up a decision over whether the group’s lawsuit may go to trial.
Despite city’s ‘rush to judgment’ on Lincoln Yards, judge says lawsuit to block tax subsidy might not fly
Organizers who oppose the city's April 10 decision to give $1.3 billion in tax subsidies to Linco...
Bio
Solutions reporter, @IllinoisAnswers/@BetterGov. Formerly of @thedailylinechi, @trdchicago & @DNAinfoChi. Amateur baker. Tips: [email protected]
