Mayor Brandon Johnson delivers his 2025 budget address on Oct. 30, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Mayor Brandon Johnson unveiled a $17.3 billion budget proposal for 2025 Wednesday that closes a nearly $1 billion budget gap through some across-the-board cuts and elimination of hundreds of vacant positions but largely relies on a $300 million property tax increase and the city declaring a record tax increment financing (TIF) surplus.

In an address to the City Council, the mayor said he didn’t make the decision to break a key campaign promise and suggest a property tax increase easily. 

“It is something that I grappled with for weeks and weeks,” Johnson said. “I directed my budget team to look at all the options at closing this budget gap, and when it came down to either mass layoffs, curbing vital city services, or an increase in property taxes, I would certainly much rather tax the rich.” 

From left, Robert Jones, Karin Norington-Reaves, Rosita Chatonda, Adam Parrott-Sheffer and Che "Rhymefest" Smith. [Campaign social media]

The race to represent District 10 on the Chicago Board of Education next year pits Adam Parrott-Sheffer, Che "Rhymefest" Smith, Karin Norington-Reaves, Rev. Robert Jones and Rosita Chatonda in a five-way contest. Four candidates are officially on the ballot, and Chatonda is running as a write-in.

A new report released by Groundwork Data on behalf of the Illinois Citizens Utility Board (CUB) concluded that a continuation of Peoples Gas’s paused pipeline replacement and modernization program would lead gas customers to experience frequent rate hikes over the next 15 years and would leave Peoples Gas customers to foot the costs associated with the program for 75 years following the program’s completion.

From left to right, Therese Boyle, Lanetta Thomas, La'Mont Raymond Williams and Miquel Lewis. [Campaign social media and websites]

Therese Boyle, Lanetta Thomas, La'Mont Raymond Williams and Miquel Lewis are seeking a two-year term on the partially elected Chicago School Board next year in District 9, which includes Auburn Gresham, Beverly, Washington Heights, Mount Greenwood, Roseland, West Pullman, Canaryville, West Englewood, and parts of Ashburn, Chatham, Greater Grand Crossing and Chicago Lawn.

The City Council’s transportation committee approved a slate of new regional public transit board members, and the mayor announced millions of dollars in funding for O’Hare’s ongoing improvements effort.

Felix Ponce and Angel Gutierrez are pictured. [Ponce campaign social media/provided by Gutierrez campaign]

Angel Gutierrez and Felix Ponce are competing for a two-year term on the 8th District seat on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education next year. The district includes Clearing and West Lawn, parts of the South Loop, McKinley Park, Gage Park and Bridgeport, and it includes much of Back of the Yards, Chicago Lawn, Garfield Ridge, Ashburn.

The Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation hears from Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners appointee Sharon Bush on Oct. 25, 2024. [Livestream]

The City Council Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation voted Friday to confirm Sharon Bush to the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners. 

Her appointment now moves to the City Council for final consideration. If confirmed, Bush would serve out the unexpired term of former commissioner Myetie H. Hamilton, who resigned.

Ciera Whitaker is pictured. [Provided photo]

The City Council Committee on Police and Fire on Friday approved an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Police District Council in District 6. Chicago Police District 6 includes Auburn Gresham, Brainerd, Beverly View and parts of Beverly.

Yesenia Lopez, Eva Villalobos and Raquel Don are all running in the District 7 Chicago school board race. [Photos provided]

The race to represent District 7 on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education next year is a three-way bout between Yesenia Lopez, Eva Villalobos and Raquel Don, but the local teachers union and charter school interest groups are spending significantly on Lopez and Villalobos, respectively.

District 7 includes Pilsen, Chinatown, the Near West Side, parts of Armour Square, Bridgeport and McKinley Park and most of Little Village, Archer Heights, Gage Park and Brighton Park.

Alderpeople on various City Council committees will hear about a statewide ballot referendum aimed at doling out property tax relief and consider appointments to the park district board and a police district council on Friday.

From left to right, Anusha Thotakura, Jessica Biggs, Andre Smith and Danielle Wallace. [Photos either provided by campaign or taken from campaign materials. Wallace picture taken from Kingdom Avenue Inc. website]

Jessica Biggs, Anusha Thotakura and Andre Smith are all on the ballot in the race to represent District 6 on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education next year.

A fourth candidate, Danielle Wallace, is also running as a write-in candidate in the district, which includes the Near North Side and Near South Side, encompassing Streeterville, River North, Cabrini Green, parts of the Loop, parts of West Town and some of Wicker Park as well as Englewood, Grand Boulevard, Washington Park, much of Greater Grand Crossing and parts of Woodlawn, Hyde Park and Bronzeville.

Mayor Brandon Johnson presides over a City Council meeting on Oct. 9, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council voted 35-12 to approve a $1.5 billion bond refinancing plan at a special meeting Tuesday after the item was delayed by opponents earlier this month.

Jitu Brown and Jousef Shkoukani are pictured. A photo of Kernetha Jones was unable to be obtained. [Photos from campaign social media]

Just one candidate is officially on the ballot in the Chicago Board of Education race in District 5 — Aaron "Jitu" Brown, an activist for education and national director for the Journey for Justice Alliance. Brown was part of the hunger strikes in 2015 that helped thwart plans to close Walter Dyett High School in Bronzeville.

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1), chair of the pedestrian and traffic safety committee, is pictured. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety on Monday approved three measures that are part of a legislative package to reduce fatalities from traffic accidents and address illegal parking. The package’s main ordinance reduces Chicago’s default speed limit.

The proposals are in support of “Vision Zero,” the city’s commitment to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2026.

From left to right on each row: Karen Zaccor, Ellen Rosenfeld, Kimberly Brown, Thomas Day, Carmen Gioiosa and Andrew Davis. [Photos from campaign websites/social media]

A six-way race to represent District 4 on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education features Karen Zaccor, Ellen Rosenfeld, Kimberly Brown, Thomas Day, Carmen Gioiosa and Andrew Davis, but two candidates are far out-fundraising the other four.

The district includes Lincoln Park, Lake View, North Center and the majority of Uptown.