Ald. Maria Hadden, attorney Ed Mullen and Bring Chicago Home advocates gather in front of the Illinois Appellate Court on March 1, 2024. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

The Illinois Appellate Court on Wednesday reversed a lower court’s ruling to suppress the outcome of the city’s referendum to change the real estate transfer tax structure from a flat rate to a graduated rate, allowing the results of the measure known as Bring Chicago Home to be counted. 

The appeals court reversed the previous ruling largely on the grounds that the lawsuit was “premature” and that the referendum is a protected part of the city’s legislative process, since the city must receive voter approval before it is allowed to raise the transfer tax.

“The holding of an election for the purpose of passing a referendum to empower a municipality to adopt an ordinance is a step in the legislative process of the enactment of that ordinance,” the appeals court said in a unanimous judgment and opinion delivered by Judge Raymond Mitchell. “Courts do not, and cannot, interfere with the legislative process.”

Mayor Brandon Johnson announced a new partnership Tuesday that will lead to the expansion of South Side healthcare programs and facilities to increase higher education opportunities, employment and clinic experience for South Siders interested in pursuing medicine and healthcare.

City Colleges of Chicago, the University of Chicago and the University of Chicago Medical Center will contribute to the expanded programming, which will provide additional healthcare capacity and experience-building opportunities on the South Side. 

Eileen O'Neill Burke and Clayton Harris III are competing for the Democratic nomination for Cook County State's Attorney. [Burke photo: Michael McDevitt, Harris photo from campaign social media]

Eileen O’Neill Burke and Clayton Harris III, both former prosecutors who worked at different times in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, are competing for the Democratic nomination to succeed outgoing State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. 

While Harris has Democratic Party backing in the primary race, O’Neill Burke has raised more money than Harris. Last week, fundraising caps were lifted after O’Neill Burke and her husband reported contributing a combined $106,000 to her campaign.

Ald. Maria Hadden, attorney Ed Mullen and Bring Chicago Home advocates gather in front of the Illinois Appellate Court Friday. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

Community, labor, faith organizations and Chicago and Cook County elected officials gathered in front of the Illinois Appellate Court downtown Friday to make their case for the Bring Chicago Home referendum after two amicus briefs were filed with the appeals court in support of the referendum, which is in danger of being defeated by a business-backed lawsuit.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle gives her 2024 budget address. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a digital security contract, an agreement with South Suburban College for a hazardous waste disposal facility and an agreement with the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association for brownfield remediation during its Thursday meeting.

Two commissioners also introduced a measure that would call for additional resources for male sex trafficking victims and a committee hearing on the subject.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is pictured during a press conference in January. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Three of the city’s largest civic groups sent a joint letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City Council calling for greater transparency and rule changes to facilitate increased public access and participation in government.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle gives her 2024 budget address at a special board meeting. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The Cook County Board of Commissioners will meet Thursday and consider final approval of a new contract for technology services that provide secure user access to the county’s digital systems.  

Legislation that would ban the sale and application of coal tar sealant across the county was deferred until next month. 

Two county commissioners are also expected to introduce a measure that would call for additional resources for male sex trafficking victims and a committee hearing on the subject. The board will meet at 10 a.m. in the County Board Room.

A CTA logo and train are pictured.

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) President Dorval Carter gave his first quarterly update to the Committee on Transportation and Public Way on Tuesday to address ongoing concerns about service levels, safety and staffing on the city’s train and bus system. 

Carter called 2023 a “productive year,” acknowledging that while challenges persist, the CTA showed strong improvements in 2023, hired 1,003 bus operators, 90 rail operators and 101 bus mechanics and hit its highest ridership numbers since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Going forward, the agency is aiming to hire an additional 200 rail operators and return train and bus service to pre-pandemic levels before the end of the year.

The Chicago Board of Elections is asking an appeals court to reverse a lower court ruling to suppress the results of the Bring Chicago Home referendum. And a proposal to raise the mandatory retirement age for cops and firefighters could receive approval by a City Council panel Wednesday.

City Hall is pictured in this file photo

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Burke did not elaborate on her reasoning for invalidating the Bring Chicago Home referendum in a Friday ruling. In a court order received Monday by the Chicago Board of Elections, the defendant in the lawsuit against the referendum, Burke wrote that she ruled against the legality of the ballot question to raise the transfer tax on high-end property sales “for the reasons stated in open court and on the record.” 

The court order confirms that the Bring Chicago Home referendum (R2023-0004166) will remain on the primary election ballot but will not be countable or reportable unless an appeals court reverses the decision. The city filed a notice of appeal on Monday. 

A county judge has allowed police board proceedings to continue following a second City Council vote against arbitration. Alderpeople will have a chance to grill the president of the CTA during a hearing Tuesday, and a hearing on the Treatment Not Trauma working group is scheduled for Wednesday.

A file photo of voting booths.

A Cook County judge on Friday sided with real estate and commercial groups that had sued the Chicago Board of Elections to keep the Bring Chicago Home referendum off the March 19 primary election ballot. While voters might still be able to vote on the ballot question, the results could be suppressed if a higher court does not reverse the decision on appeal.

The fight to raise the real estate transfer tax was supported by Mayor Brandon Johnson while he campaigned for office. In a statement Friday evening, the mayor’s office said the city was disappointed, believed in the referendum’s legality and was exploring “every legal option available” to ensure voters remain the final say on the question. 

Ald. Bennett Lawson (44) is pictured during a council meeting in November 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Ald. Bennett Lawson (44) has filed an ordinance that would require the city’s public health commissioner to receive City Council confirmation before their appointment was finalized.

While Lawson said the ordinance (O2024-0007880) would not apply retroactively to require the City Council hold a confirmation vote for Public Health Comm. Olusimbo Ige, he said the legislation was sparked by questions that arose during a recent committee discussion with the recently appointed health commissioner.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is pictured at a January 2024 news conference. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration released a detailed plan on Wednesday for how the city’s housing and planning departments intended to spend $1.25 billion in bond proceeds should the City Council approve the proposed borrowing plan. 

The bond proposal (O2024-0007838) for housing and economic development was referred to the City Council rules committee Wednesday, though the mayor told reporters that was simply democracy at work and that he wasn't worried about passing it out of that committee. He also said he was not planning any special meeting to get the proposal approved. 

Ald. Matt O'Shea (19) is pictured during a council meeting in October 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Following an impassioned speech by Ald. Matt O’Shea (19), the City Council voted overwhelmingly in favor of an ordinance (SO2023-0004978) that places limits on where new dollar stores may open citywide. 

The council voted 42-7 to pass the new law, which prohibits small box retailers, stores such as Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Family Dollar, from opening within one mile of an existing dollar store owned or managed by the same company.