Ald. Tom Tunney (44) (left) and Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41) during a zoning committee meeting on Tuesday

A City Council committee moved on Tuesday to effectively quash a controversial apartment complex proposed next to the Cumberland CTA Blue Line station, overriding the advice of city attorneys who said the move may invite a legal challenge.

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) speaks during a Right to Recovery news conference in Daley Plaza Tuesday morning [Facebook/Chicago Democratic Socialists of America]

A dozen progressive aldermen rolled out a pitch on Tuesday to spend $1.9 billion in incoming federal aid on childcare supports, housing assistance, non-police violence prevention and a host of other city resources designed to help the city’s most vulnerable.

Aldermen agreed to spring two-dozen measures out of the City Council Committee on Committees and Rules, putting them back on track. And Cook County commissioners signaled they’re moving full-steam on a plan to ask county voters to raise their own property taxes to fund the Cook County Forest Preserve District.

Ald. Jason Ervin (28) (left) and city attorney Renai Rodney on Monday before aldermen approved a $1.83 million payment to settle a lawsuit brought by five female paramedics alleging sexual harassment in the Chicago Fire Department.

Aldermen on Monday gave initial approval for the city to spend $1.83 million to settle a lawsuit brought by five female paramedics alleging patterns of sexual harassment, and in some cases retaliation, in the Chicago Fire Department.

LG Development's plan to build a 665-unit apartment complex near the intersection of Lake Street and Racine Avenue is set for zoning approval on Tuesday. [Department of Planning and Development]

Updated 8:21 a.m. Tuesday: A nearly $4 billion plan to build a 48-acre housing, office and life sciences campus on the former site of the Michael Reese Hospital was set to take another step forward on Tuesday as aldermen were scheduled to consider a zoning change for the project — until Ald. Sophia King (4) asked for a delay.

A proposal to set an upper limit on surge pricing could come up for a vote next month after being reassigned to a new committee on Tuesday. [Uber] 

A proposal designed to rein in price-gouging by ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft is among two dozen ordinances set to be put back on course Tuesday, a month after they were diverted to a committee where legislation can languish indefinitely.

Hilco. General Iron. MAT Asphalt. You've likely heard about high profile clashes between industry and the health and well-being of the people who live nearby their facilities. These incidents have ignited another spark in the fight for environmental justice across Chicago. Daily Line reporter Caroline Kubzansky spoke with Ald. George Cardenas (12) and Alfredo Romo of Neighbors for Environmental Justice about recent development decisions, the work that remains for lawmakers in ensuring clean air and water for Chicagoans and the challenges the city faces as it starts to adapt to climate change. 

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From left: Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29), Ald. Harry Osterman (48) and Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38) during a public safety committee hearing on Friday.

Aldermen on Friday blocked discussion on a new version of the grassroots-led proposal for civilian oversight of the police department, further stalling the establishment of a long-promised community oversight commission.

Second-installment 2020 tax bills are on track to be sent to property owners in early August.

Second-installment property taxes are on pace to be sent to Cook County property owners about a month behind schedule this year, county officials confirmed. And county Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s late start on reassessments this year could be putting the county on pace for an even later tax collection next year, prompting fears that the county’s tax offices could skid back into an old cycle of temporary budget holes for municipalities and school districts that rely on prompt tax revenues.

Chicago firefighters at the scene of a fire in Chicago in 2014. [Colin Boyle/Block Club]

A City Council committee is scheduled on Monday to consider approving a $1.83 million payment to settle a 2018 lawsuit brought by five female paramedics who alleged patterns of sexual harassment in the Chicago Fire Department. In multiple cases, the plaintiffs alleged they faced retaliation from superiors over their complaints while their abusers were promoted.

Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Comm. Rosa Escareño [left] and Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) during a committee meeting on Thursday

A City Council committee voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to advance a sweeping business deregulation package (O2021-2183) designed to speed the city’s pandemic recovery, setting up a major policy win for Mayor Lori Lightfoot over the objections of aldermen who fear one provision will usurp their ward-level authority.

Aldermen on the council’s Committee on License and Consumer Protection voted 15-3 to advance the 93-page “Chi Biz Strong” business relief package, teeing it up for final approval by the City Council next Wednesday. The ordinance’s 10 sections and dozens of subsections unspool or re-tool city rules around a wide range of businesses, including restaurants, taxis, and hotels. Also attached is a resolution supporting a future $10 million direct aid initiative and debt relief program for businesses.

Plan Commissioners were split on a proposal to add a 34-unit residential building to an industrial area near Lincoln Yards.

Members of the Chicago Plan Commission on Thursday gave unanimous approval to two proposals from LG Development expected to bring more than 1,000 new residential units to Fulton Market. But commissioners were split on a proposal for a new 34-unit residential building proposed across the street from the Lincoln Yards mega-development. 

Aldermen are scheduled to vote on a pair of police oversight ordinances Friday. [Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago]

After months of delay, aldermen are set to vote Friday to pick a plan for civilian oversight of the Chicago Police Department, potentially teeing up a full City Council vote on the issue next week. 

Aldermen during an April 2021 City Council meeting. [Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times/pool]

This article was published in collaboration with Block Club Chicago.

CHICAGO — Chicago no longer has aldermen — at least according to a bill signed by Gov. JB Pritzker Thursday.

The bill, which was primarily introduced to expand voting options and move the state’s 2022 primary from March 15 to June 28, also called for the elimination of the term used to describe Chicago City Council members for 184 years. Now, the gender neutral “alderperson” will be used to describe city elected officials in state legislative materials.

Aldermen grilled Celia Meza on Wednesday before approving her appointment as Corporation Counsel.

Wednesday’s meeting of the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations opened the door for aldermen to question a wide range of topics, including why aldermen don’t have their own separate legal counsel, the status of replacing lead service lines and why the city should contract out work on its own five-year capital plan.