Finance Chair Pat Dowell (3) is pictured during a City Council meeting on June 12, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Finance on Thursday approved two legal settlements, including a more than $15 million wrongful conviction settlement, but deferred action on the creation of a class settlement. The committee also approved multiple tax increment financing (TIF) fund allocations for parks and schools projects.

Housing Chair Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) is pictured at a City Council meeting on June 12, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate last Wednesday approved a restructuring measure to bring the Chicago Housing Trust under formal city control and approved a land deal for a memorial to police torture victims.

Ald. Nicole Lee (11) speaks at a special City Council meeting on Feb. 26, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

A group of Chicago alderpeople are hoping to meet soon with the mayor’s finance team to deliberate the details of the council members’ alternative budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year that swaps out many of the mayor’s controversial solutions to a $1.189 billion gap, such as a corporate head tax, reduced advanced pension payment and hundreds of millions of dollars in new borrowing for firefighter backpay. 

The mayor and his budget team have not embraced the solutions, however, signaling the stalemate could continue.

The Committee on License and Consumer Protection meets on Dec. 3, 2025. [Livestream]

The City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection on Wednesday advanced a citywide ban on the sale of products containing hemp-derived cannabinoids, restricting the sale of the products — some of which mimic the effects of cannabis — to licensed cannabis retailers only. 

The license committee voted 10-6 to pass the legislation (O2025-0021018) over the objections of representatives from the hemp industry and the mayor’s administration.

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

The City Council Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety on Wednesday introduced a new version of a proposal to run a temporary program to let members of the public report vehicles blocking sidewalk, bus and bicycle access, allowing city parking enforcement aides to respond in real time to issue warnings or citations.

The areas proposed to be added to Chicago Enterprise Zone 2 are shown in orange with black slanted lines during a presentation to the finance committee on Dec. 2, 2025. [Livestream]

The City Council finance committee on Tuesday held a public hearing on the proposed expansion of one of the city’s Enterprise Zones ahead of a scheduled vote later this week.

The Committee on Finance will consider a proposed expansion (O2025-0021111) of Enterprise Zone 2 at its meeting Thursday, which begins at 10 a.m.

Ald. Marty Quinn (13) is pictured during a City Council meeting on January 15, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection on Wednesday will consider a measure that would ban the sale of hemp-derived intoxicants citywide except by licensed cannabis retailers, a proposal the mayor’s administration opposes.

The license and consumer protection committee, which is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. in Room 201A at City Hall, will also consider an ordinance to allow Wrigley Field a one-time exception to a city ordinance to reschedule a Chicago Cubs game from afternoon to night next summer.

Housing Chair Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) is pictured at a City Council meeting on June 12, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council’s housing committee on Wednesday will consider a proposal to restructure the city housing trust, several lease renewals and multiple proposed sales of city land. 

The Committee on Housing and Real Estate is scheduled to meet at 12:30 p.m. in council chambers.

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1), chair of the pedestrian and traffic safety committee, is pictured at a council meeting in March 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety on Wednesday will consider the creation of a pilot program to allow residents to report recorded instances of parking violations and a measure to regulate car-sharing businesses in residential areas near Midway airport.

The committee is set to meet at 10 a.m. in council chambers.

From top left, Wesam Shahed, Patricia Joan Murphy, Sylvester Fulcher, Antoine Bass and Veronica Bolling-Franklin are running as Democrats in Cook County Board District 6. [Provided]

Five Democrats have filed to fill Comm. Donna Miller’s (D-6) seat on the Cook County Board of Commissioners next year, as Miller is running for Congress to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), who is running for U.S. Senate.

The candidates that have filed for the primary in March include Sylvester Fulcher, Wesam Shahed and Worth Township Supervisor Patricia Joan “Trish” Murphy — the daughter of former 6th District Comm. Joan Murphy, who passed away from breast cancer in 2016. The candidates also include REALTOR Antoine Bass and Veronica Bolling-Franklin, a school board member for Elementary School District 159.

The Chicago Police Department emblem is pictured on the side of the city's Public Safety Headquarters. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

A joint committee meeting of the City Council Committee on Police and Fire and Committee on Public Safety will meet Monday morning to listen to a presentation about the Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) annual public safety report. 

The joint committee will meet at 10 a.m. in council chambers.

Interim Operating Chairman Matthew Brewer speaks during a Chicago Housing Authority Board of Commissioners meeting on Nov. 25, 2025. [Livestream]

The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) Board of Commissioners approved a $1.4 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year on Tuesday. It's about a 7.7 percent increase over the adopted 2025 budget of $1.3 billion. The board also authorized new housing assistance payment contracts. 

Cook County Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17) speaks during a finance committee meeting on Nov. 20, 2025. [Livestream]

Cook County Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17), the sole Republican on the Cook County Board of Commissioners, announced late last week that he had decided not to seek reelection next year, therefore eliminating a competitive primary with another Republican who also filed for the seat.

Morrison filed for reelection on Nov. 3, the final day of filing. He has yet to formally withdraw from the race.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle presides over a meeting to vote on the annual county budget on Nov. 20, 2025. [Livestream]

The Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $10.12 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year on Thursday that does not raise taxes or cut services or jobs.

From top left across, Cat Sharp, Jose "Che-Che" Wilson, Elizabeth Granato and Isaiah White are running for the Democratic nomination in District 12 on the Cook County board. [Provided photos]

Four Democrats have filed nominating petitions to run in the primary this spring for Cook County Board District 12, as Comm. Bridget Degnen (D-12) is not seeking reelection.

The 12th District includes the North and Northwest sides of Chicago, including River North, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Lincoln Park, Roscoe Village, Lincoln Square and Portage Park.