Chicago News
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An effort to raise the city’s real estate taxes to expand efforts to end homelessness in Chicago stalled again Monday, as allies of Mayor Rahm Emanuel blocked efforts to ask voters to approve the proposal.
The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless rallies before Tuesday's meeting of the Finance Committee in support of an effort to raise taxes for homeless services. [A.D. Quig/The Daily Line]
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Renderings of the proposed Public Safety Training Academy, courtesy of the City of Chicago.
Aldermen will consider whether to award an $85 million contract to design and build a training facility for Chicago police and fire departments that has drawn fierce protests — and calls for delay from both mayoral candidates.
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Students from the Horizon Science Academy and members of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby turned out to Monday’s Committee on Health and Environmental Protection meeting to a resolution calling for Congress to pass legislation creating national carbon fee and dividend system (R2017-915), a proposal gaining steam with growing national conversations about a Green New Deal and radical changes to fight climate change.
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Aldermen will consider five ethics reforms back-to-back in committees on Tuesday, including an introduction from failed aldermanic candidate Austin Baidas, who submitted his own term limit ordinance as he was running against Ald. Tom Tunney (44), and a package of reforms from Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
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A measure backed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to require new safeguards during construction in Streeterville or at the former Michael Reese Hospital site in Bronzeville, where radioactive elements have been found under the surface is set for a vote during the meeting of the Health and Environmental Protection Committee set for noon Monday.
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Elected officials marked International Women’s Day by releasing a plan designed to help achieve gender equity — while a fight over work-week scheduling geared up in the final weeks of the City Council’s term. A hearing will take place Tuesday on whether committee meetings will finally be streamed — if officials can show Clerk Anna Valencia the money.
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Mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot won the endorsement of Firefighters Local 2 and Northwest Side former firefighters Alds. Anthony Napolitano (41) and Nicholas Sposato (38) Thursday morning, potentially boosting her campaign on the vote-rich Northwest Side.
Lori Lightfoot accepts the endorsement of Local 2, the Chicago Firefighters Union. [Submitted]
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Nearly a year after Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) first demanded a hearing (Or2018-153) on eccentric billionaire Elon Musk’s plan to build an underground express train from downtown to O’Hare Airport, aldermen will get a chance to weigh in on the plan.
An artist's rendering shows the design of an "electric skate" vehicle that the Boring Co. says will whisk passengers to and from Chicago's O'Hare Airport in minutes. [The Boring Co.]
Waguespack informed City Clerk Anna Valencia that he would force the full City Council to vote on whether to schedule the hearing Wednesday. In response, Ald. Anthony Beale (9) agreed to hold a Transportation Committee hearing on Tuesday.
Waguespack has called the proposed O’Hare express from Musk’s Boring Co. “fanciful” and criticized Musk’s handling of labor disputes and worker safety issues. Both mayoral candidates Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle said they oppose the transit link.
In addition, Waguespack moved to force a vote on R2018-994, which calls for a hearing on the potential impact of Amazon selecting Chicago as its second headquarters. Chicago lost its bid to host another Amazon location – the company chose New York and Arlington, Virginia. Local politicians pushed back on Amazon’s New York plans and the company pulled out. No hearing has been scheduled on the Amazon issue.
Melissa Conyears-Ervin, left, and Ameya Pawar. [Submitted]
Kathleen Griffin via DNAinfo Chicago; Chicago Police
