Department of Buildings Comm. Marlene Hopkins answers questions from Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) about staffing cuts and vacancies on Nov. 7, 2024. [Livestream]

The mayor’s “Cut the Tape” initiative, which aims to speed up the time it takes to get residential and commercial developments completed by cutting unnecessary city bureaucratic processes, is paying off with shorter permit processing times, alderpeople were told during the Department of Buildings’ budget hearing Thursday evening.

Staff from the Chicago Department on Cultural Affairs and Special Events attend a budget hearing on Nov. 8, 2024. [Livestream]

Alderpeople questioned staff from the Department on Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) on Friday about how the department could work toward securing additional revenue for the city as most of the council searches for options to avoid a proposed property tax increase from the mayor.

The Chicago Department of Public Health presents its budget to alderpeople on Nov. 7, 2024. [Livestream]

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has a glut of pandemic-era grant dollars funding multiple programs and hundreds of positions but is still figuring out how to keep some of those programs and positions going once that funding runs out, alderpeople heard during a budget hearing Thursday.

The Committee on Budget and Government Operations holds the first round of budget hearings on Nov. 6, 2024. [Livestream]

City Council hearings on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed $17.3 billion 2025 budget began Wednesday with council members hearing from the leaders of Johnson’s budget and finance team on the budgets for the mayor’s office, budget office and finance department. 

During the hours-long hearing on Wednesday, some on the council budget committee questioned the Johnson administration’s proposal to hike property taxes to avoid layoffs and a reduction in services, saying he should have considered cuts instead.

MWRD Comms. Kari Steele, Marcelino Garcia and Precious Brady-Davis and commissioner-elect Sharon Waller. [MWRD website/Waller campaign site]

Three Democrats retained their seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago’s Board of Commissioners Tuesday night, and a fourth Democrat is set to replace an outgoing commissioner.

People United for Action Chairman Rod Wilson speaks alongside union-endorsed school board candidates at Chicago Teachers Union headquarters on Election Night. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

In the city’s first-ever Chicago Board of Education elections, candidates backed by the powerful Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) were leading or had won in just four of the 10 races on Tuesday night. Three races were seemingly on track to be won by candidates backed by groups in support of charter school and school choice, and three more were on track to be won by candidates that were not endorsed by the competing interests in the race.

An appointed Cook County commissioner won in an unopposed election Tuesday night. A Board of Review member won reelection, and the Circuit Court of Cook County will welcome a new clerk after Tuesday’s election. 

Cook County Comm. Tara Stamps (D-1) is pictured at a county board meeting in September 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Cook County Comm. Tara Stamps (D-1) was declared the victor Tuesday night in the special election to serve out the remainder of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s unexpired County Board of Commissioners term. The Associated Press called the race for Stamps just after 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Cook County Comm. Monica Gordon (D-5) is pictured at a September 2023 board meeting. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Cook County Comm. Monica Gordon (D-5) has won the race for Cook County Clerk, after the Associated Press called the race Tuesday evening.

Former Illinois Appellate Court Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke speaks to reporters before filing her nominating petitions in the state's attorney race last December. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

Former Illinois Appellate Court Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke has won the race to become the next Cook County State’s Attorney after being declared the winner Tuesday evening in the race to succeed outgoing State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. The Associated Press declared O’Neill Burke the victor Tuesday just before 9 p.m.

In a statement after declaring victory, O'Neill Burke said she was "honored" to take on the role.

Democrat Eileen O’Neill Burke and Republican Bob Fioretti are competing to become the next Cook County State’s Attorney. [O’Neill Burke photo by Michael McDevitt/Fioretti campaign photo]

Former Illinois Appellate Court Judge Eileen O’Neill Burke and former Chicago Ald. Bob Fioretti are facing off in Tuesday’s Cook County State’s Attorney race.

O’Neill Burke, a Democrat, is heavily favored to win in a county that regularly has voted for Democrats, but a Fioretti upset could happen if the GOP candidate’s appeal to law and order, compassion for crime victims and reducing Chicago violence resonates more with voters.

A vehicle parked in a Chicago bike lane. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday announced that the city’s pilot program for automated enforcement of parking violations in bus and bike lanes would finally begin this week.

From left, County Comms. Tara Stamps (D-1) and Michael Scott Jr. (D-2) are both running in special elections this cycle. Board of Review Comm. Larry Rogers Jr. (D-3) is up for reelection. [Cook County website]

Cook County and Chicago residents that haven’t already voted will head to the polls Tuesday and cast their ballots not only for president but in statewide and local races, including Chicago’s first-ever school board elections and the local State’s Attorney race. 

Related: O’Neill Burke, Fioretti discuss pre-trial detention, business confidence as early voting opens in race to replace Foxx as state’s attorney 

Two Cook County commissioners are on the ballot, though only one is in a competitive race, and one County Board of Review member is on the ballot.

One of the mayor’s appointments to the regional transportation system’s governing body was voted down by the City Council last week, and the county announced multiple manufacturers’ participation in a workforce development program.

Ald. Jason Ervin (28) speaks during a mayoral press conference about the proposed checkout bag tax changes on Oct. 30, 2024. [Livestream]

As part of his proposal to pass a balanced budget that closes a nearly $1 billion gap, Mayor Brandon Johnson is proposing to eliminate the portion of the city’s checkout bag tax that is retained by businesses. 

In doing so, the mayor and his budget team estimate the city would capture an additional $4.6 million annually for its Corporate Fund.