County Bureau of Economic Development Deputy Chief Dom Tocci and Misuzu Schexnider, Program Director at the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab, speak during a Finance Committee meeting Wednesday. [Livestream] 

Cook County commissioners grilled project leaders from the county’s guaranteed basic income program on preventing fraud and questioned apparent disparities between which districts participants hailed from during a Finance Committee meeting Wednesday.

Additionally, for the first time the public got its deepest look at multiple demographic metrics for the 3,250 participants selected to receive $500 monthly checks for two years under the program. 

The Illinois Gaming Board on Thursday gave unanimous initial approval to Bally’s temporary casino it plans to open this summer at Medinah Temple at 600 N. Wabash Ave. in Chicago’s downtown, the Tribune reported on Thursday. 

Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, who is running unopposed in the Feb. 28 election, touted work her office has done in the past year ranging from divesting from fossil fuels and ending 2022 in a “strong” position during her annual State of the City Treasurer’s Office address Thursday. 

The Cook County Board of Commissioners on Thursday swiftly and unanimously approved a resolution related to property tax administration software that sparked debate and passed with several detractors at Wednesday’s Technology and Innovation Committee meeting.

A measure that would allow the Chicago Zoological Society to raise ticket prices and parking rates at the Brookfield Zoo to support the zoo’s budget was referred to committee during Tuesday’s Cook County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners meeting.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a measure Thursday that will compare the costs involved in maintaining or merging two software systems used for property tax administration. Meanwhile, a measure that would allow ticket prices and parking rates to increase at Brookfield Zoo will be heard in a Forest Preserve District committee. Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin gave her annual State of the City Treasurer’s Office address Thursday. And state officials gave an initial OK to the temporary Chicago casino. 

City officials on Wednesday announced a new pilot program that will deliver food to Chicagoans living with disabilities. A report from the Cook County Treasurer’s office ties low property tax collection rates to harm caused to south suburbs. 

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle presides over a special meeting of the board of commissioners Dec. 5, 2022. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The Cook County Technology and Innovation Committee passed a resolution Wednesday calling for a cost-comparison analysis on the software systems used for property tax administration with some dissent, following concerns about the deadline imposed by the measure. 

The committee’s approval sends the resolution to the full county board for a vote Thursday. The board will also consider an environmental justice resolution and a zoning change to allow for a truck depot in Stickney. 

A DoorDash delivery bag sits on a scooter [Courtesy photo]

The company behind one of the country’s largest food delivery apps has poured tens of thousands of dollars into Chicago’s municipal races to back incumbents and challengers alike at the same time as city lawmakers mull reforms which could give more power to drivers. 

Most of the company’s large donations, ranging between $2,500 and $10,000 contributions, have been made in City Council races that are or were contested before successful petition challenges kicked candidates off the ballot, though some candidates running unopposed also received large donations. 

Chuck Brady speaks during a committee meeting. [City of Chicago livestream] 

A City Council committee on Tuesday approved a resolution encouraging participation in the U.S. Census Bureau’s Economic Census.

From left, Cook County commissioners John P. Daley and Bill Lowry, chair and vice chair of the county Finance Committee respectively, are pictured during a board meeting Dec. 5, 2022. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The Cook County Environment and Sustainability Committee will consider a resolution in support of environmental justice during a Wednesday meeting, while the county’s zoning committee is set to consider a map amendment to make way for a trucking depot in Stickney.

County committees will also get a status update on the county’s guaranteed basic income program and could approve a resolution to compare the cost between merging or maintaining two separate software systems for property tax administration. 

The City Council Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday to consider a resolution encouraging participation in the U.S. Census Bureau’s Economic Census. 

Guests are pictured at the Brookfield Zoo. [Jim Schulz/CZS-Brookfield Zoo]

The Board of Commissioners for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County during a 10 a.m. meeting Tuesday will consider a measure hiking the cost of entry and parking at the Brookfield Zoo.

Board members will vote on a proposed amendment (23-0183) to an agreement between the forest preserve district and the Chicago Zoological Society, the private nonprofit that operates and maintains the Brookfield Zoo, which would allow admission and parking rates to be raised over the next year to support the zoo’s 2023 spending plan. 

Five candidates are vying to become the new 10th Ward alderman in a race that is wide open with Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) set to retire at the end of this term.  

The race to represent the Southeast Side ward promises to be one to watch with various labor groups, elected officials from multiple levels of government and mayoral candidates making endorsements in the race and helping to fund candidates’ campaigns. 

Aldermen and the mayor introduced new legislation during Wednesday’s City Council meeting. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

Aldermen on Wednesday introduced proposals to begin discussing the possibility of ranked choice voting in Chicago municipal elections, a resolution urging the Illinois General Assembly to pass legislation to allow the city to establish safe consumption sites to prevent overdose deaths and a measure to change what tax-increment financing (TIF) dollars can be spent on.