Black Lives Matter organizer Kofi Ademola speaks at a press conference calling for immediate police reforms following the release of the DOJ investigation report on the Chicago Police Department on Friday, January 13, 2017. (Credit: Mike Fourcher)

African-American community activists presented a collective yawn Friday to the results of the Department of Justice’s report on patterns and practices of constitutional violations in the Chicago Police Department. The report, in their eyes, was only a repeat of many of the findings presented last spring by the Police Accountability Task Force (PATF), and lacked force of action.

City and federal officials stood before a packed room of press Friday morning to present the explosive findings of a 13-month Department of Justice investigation into the Chicago Police Department and its accountability structures. Rather than focusing on some of the more damning findings, the assembled officials called for increased police support and assured reporters that despite the new Trump administration’s leanings, the DOJ’s recommendations would stick.

Legal advocates for police reform uniformly applauded the Department of Justice’s report on Chicago policing, but generally expressed concern that without the force of a federal consent decree, the DOJ’s calls for change would be significantly weakened.

Only a few hours after the release of the Department of Justice’s investigation on Chicago policing, aldermen began to receive briefings on the content of the report from the mayor’s office. Of those willing to speak on the record about the report so soon after it’s release, there was broad acceptance that the report’s conclusions were true, but officials hedged on expectations that reform would be coming quickly to the Chicago Police Department.

In another installment of our hour-long podcast series, publisher Mike Fourcher sits down with Jesse Ruiz, attorney, President of the Chicago Park District Board, and advisor to Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Ruiz, the child of immigrants, talks about diversity and segregation in Chicago, his vote on school closings in 2013, the future of Jackson Park, and his hopes for Illinois’ new governor. 

Got suggestions for other political or policy experts we should interview? Send us your suggestions at [email protected] or on Twitter @thedailylinechi.

The city of Chicago is more than doubling a borrowing plan to cover the cost of legal settlements and judgments. The borrowing is part of a $1.2 billion general obligation (G.O.) bond offering expected to hit the market next week. According to a December summary from S&P and first reported by Bond Buyer, $225 million from the bond proceeds will be used to fund settlements and judgments–$125 million more than budget officials initially planned. Investors are also wrestling with whether or not Chicago’s debt should be priced at junk interest rates, as at least one rating agency contends.

As City Council prepares for the new year, and with it new legislative priorities, a lot of legislative loose ends remain. There are hundreds of ordinances and resolutions that have been languishing away in committee. Some, like plans to strengthen oversight of the Chicago Housing Authority, to create a public matching financing system for city elections, and to legalize video gambling in Chicago, have been stalled for more than a year.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has named Deputy City Clerk Carina Sanchez as the Public Building Commission’s new Executive Director, replacing Felicia Davis, who was appointed to the role in 2015.

Marilyn Katz

Marilyn Katz, founder of PR firm MK Communications, sat down with Daily Line publisher Mike Fourcher. Katz has a long history in Chicago starting with leading media efforts for Harold Washington's 1983 mayoral campaign to serving as an advisor to both Mayor Richard M. Daley and Mayor Rahm Emanuel. She talks with Mike about her relationship with Mayor Emanuel, President Barack Obama, rumors around a possible Valerie Jarrett run for mayor or governor, what it will take to defeat Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2018 and much more.

Got suggestions for other political or policy experts we should interview? Send us your suggestions at [email protected] or on Twitter @thedailylinechi.

Interim Fourth Ward Alderman Sophia King, appointed to the City Council less than a year ago to replace Will Burns, has 52 days to convince voters to officially elect her into office for the remainder of the term. With more than $100,000 on hand, a key endorsement from SEIU, and the backing of several influential South Side politicians, including the ward’s Democratic Committeeman, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, King appears to have a distinct advantage over her challengers. On February 28th, King will face four opponents, including:

Thursday afternoon, Democratic committeemen chose Justin Slaughter, a legislative aide for the Cook County Board, to replace retiring long-time State Rep. Monique Davis. Ald. Howard Brookins (21) and Ald. Carrie Austin (34), who together, held 54.2% of the weighted vote, approved Slaughter Thursday afternoon at the Oakdale Community Office on 95th Street, with extra proxy votes coming from Ald. Matt O’Shea (19), Worth Township Democratic Committeeman John O’Sullivan, and Bremen Township Committeeman Maggie Crotty, according to sources present. At least two Democratic committeemen with a stake in the vote say they weren’t notified of yesterday’s meeting, but Brookins said it was a fax mixup.

Finance Chairman Burke’s “Friends of Edward M Burke” committee cleaned up in the month of November, bringing in just under $250,000. 163 contributions were logged for the month. Most came in at $1,500 each, including checks from the White Sox's Howard Pizer, transport magnate J.B. Hunt, Clayco’s Robert Clark, Broadhaven Capital Partners' John Simpson and dozens of other local development, legal, and investment firms.   

State Rep. Monique Davis has filed the necessary paperwork to retire from the Illinois House of Representatives, DNAInfo first reported. Davis' replacement for the 27th District will be determined based on a weighted vote among the Democratic committeemen in the area, State Sen. Bill Cunningham told the publication. A meeting to appoint has not yet been scheduled, per Cook County Democratic Party spokesperson Jacob Kaplan.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will gain two new lead staffers in 2017 following the exits of her chief of staff, Brian Hamer, and her special assistant for governmental and legislative affairs, Vasyl Markus. Both served in those positions for less than nine months. The President’s Office announced Tuesday that Director of External Affairs John Keller will take Hamer’s spot.

Our publisher Mike Fourcher sits with City Treasurer Kurt Summers at his City Hall Office to talk about Summers' first two years on the job managing the city’s money, specifically Chicago’s $7 billion investment portfolio, and a new investment fund Summers designed to help connect struggling neighborhoods with some much needed capital.  Be sure to listen to the end, where he talks about his political ambitions.