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. 

A key committee on Tuesday will consider $1.8 million in payments to settle lawsuits filed against the city. And aldermen will discuss a proposal that would codify the right of workers at health and social service organizations that receive city grant funding to unionize. 

The City Council Committee on Public Safety is scheduled to meet Monday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

A proposal from Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) would create a new offense under the city code for anyone who assaults emergency workers, particularly ambulance drivers and emergency medical services personnel, who O’Shea says have seen an increase in attacks.

Gov. JB Pritzker made endorsements in 22 City Council elections on Thursday. And a City Council committee re-referred a proposal to create a “Chicago Fatal Crash Legacy Report” to a new council committee.

Cook County Board Pres. Toni Preckwinkle presides over the county board of commissioners meeting Thursday. [Livestream]

The Cook County Board of Commissioners on Thursday approved $25 million in funding for violence reduction and prevention-oriented initiatives. The money will be distributed to scores of organizations participating in more than three dozen initiatives over the current and following fiscal years. 

Chicagoans this year will elect members of 22 police district councils. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

In-person early voting at two locations in Chicago begins Thursday and in addition to selecting their pick for mayor and local aldermen, voters will be asked to choose three members of the 22 newly created police district councils based on the police district in which they live. 

But with four of the 22 police district councils having less than three official candidates listed on the ballot for the three open seats in each district, at least three write-in candidates are all but guaranteed to win elected office — a rarity in Chicago. The civilian oversight body and the mayor will be tasked with appointing at least one candidate to fill an open seat on one of the district councils. 

Cook County Human Resources Bureau Chief Velisha Haddox speaks during the county Finance Committee meeting Wednesday. [Cook County Government livestream] 

The Cook County Finance Committee on Wednesday voted to approve a one-year extension of a contract with Deloitte, the firm that has been performing employee recruitment and hiring services for the county for the past 14 months. The approval sends the final decision to the county board of commissioners. 

Some commissioners, while still voting to approve the $5.47 million contract (Item 23-0253), stressed they would hold Deloitte accountable and refuse to renew the contract again if it fails to deliver on its stated goals and if the county Bureau of Human Resources fails to provide information commissioners have asked for, such as the average length of time it takes between the opening of a job vacancy and the end of a replacement’s onboarding. 

A City Council Committee approved a measure authorizing the Public Building Commission to assess city buildings for ADA compliance. And the Transportation Committee during its Thursday meeting will consider a proposal to create a new crash report for crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists. 

The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate met in Council Chambers Tuesday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

Aldermen and members of the public used a committee hearing with the Chicago Housing Authority on Tuesday to voice their concerns and displeasure with the city’s sister agency that serves 64,000 households.

The city’s housing commissioner addressed the City Club of Chicago Tuesday and discussed the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program. And the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations will consider two proposals including one that would authorize the Public Building Commission to assess city buildings for ADA compliance. 

Cook County Human Resources Bureau Chief Velisha Haddox, left, speaks about Deloitte’s work recruiting new county employees during a board of commissioners meeting Oct. 20, 2022. [Cook County Board of Commissioners Livestream]

The Cook County Finance Committee will discuss the proposed extension of the contract between the county government and Deloitte for employee recruitment services during a meeting Wednesday.

Alisa Kaplan, executive director of Reform for Illinois, speaks during a committee meeting Monday. [City of Chicago livestream]

Offering an optional program to publicly finance Chicago’s municipal elections would lower barriers to running for elected office and help remove “moneyed” interests from election campaigns, aldermen and reform advocates said during a City Council committee meeting Monday. 
 

Aldermen are set to meet Tuesday to hear from CHA leadership. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate is scheduled to meet Tuesday to hear from leadership of the Chicago Housing Authority on a variety of topics. 
 

The Chicago Electoral Board during a meeting Friday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

Ald. Jason Ervin (28) is the latest and final alderman to be absolved of having to face a challenger as he runs for a fourth full term. 

The Chicago Electoral Board on Friday rejected the recommendation of a hearing officer and removed 28th Ward candidate Shawn Walker from the Feb. 28 ballot on the basis that he did not have enough valid petition signatures. Two other candidates — Beverly Miles and Timothy Gladney — who had hoped to challenge Ervin were removed or withdrew from the ballot earlier this election season. 

The City Council Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. Monday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

Aldermen are scheduled Monday to hear a report from the city’s top watchdog on cases her office investigated during the last half of 2022 and discuss a proposal for publicly funded elections during a meeting of the City Council Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight.