Chicago News

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    Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20), top right, addresses Michelle Woods of the Chicago Department of Assets, Information and Services during a Tuesday committee meeting. [Livestream]

    The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate approved a measure Tuesday to lease new space to help the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability and the reconstituted Department of Environment secure sufficient office space.

    While alderpeople approved the lease amendment, they also implored city officials to consider ways to use existing properties owned by the city in the future that could also provide investment to underserved neighborhoods.

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    The Chicago Police emblem is pictured at the Public Safety Headquarters in this file photo.

    Alderpeople on Thursday are set to vote on a new collective bargaining agreement between the city and Fraternal Order of Police, a controversial ordinance that would allow arbitration in certain police disciplinary cases and a resolution that calls for work authorization for undocumented immigrants.

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    Former Illinois Appellate Court Justice Eileen O’Neill Burke speaks to reporters before filing her nominating petitions Monday. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

    The race for Cook County State’s Attorney gained additional candidates on Monday, the last day of filing for the 2024 primary election. Candidates will now have until Dec. 11 to file challenges to other candidates’ nominating petitions.

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    File photo of a lead pipe

    A joint City Council committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday on the city’s programs to remove and replace lead service lines. 

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    A key City Council committee on Monday will consider a proposal to raise the maximum age for sworn members of the Chicago Police Department and uniformed members the Chicago Fire Department from 63 years old to 65.  

    The proposal could help the city keep more money flowing into the pension system and less flowing out as sworn and uniformed employees have the option to stay on the job longer, the proposal’s sponsor Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29), a former police officer, told The Daily Line on Friday. 

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    Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) is pictured during a May 2023 City Council meeting. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

    The City Council Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity will meet Tuesday to consider the re-referral of an ordinance concerning veteran hiring initiatives and requirements and to hold a subject matter hearing on Chicago casino compliance reporting.

    Additionally, the Committee on Housing and Real Estate will meet to vote on a proposal to lease additional space in a building near City Hall for the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability and the Department of Environment. A vote on that proposal was delayed last week. 

    Related: Committee delays vote on proposal to rent space for CCPSA, Department of Environment 

    Finally, the Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development will consider approving a property tax incentive in the 3rd Ward and a scope of services, budget, 2023 tax levy and management agreement for one of the city’s Special Service Areas.

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    Ald. Bennett Lawson (44) chaired Thursday’s meeting of the City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

    Despite a full agenda, Thursday’s meeting of the City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards finished in under two hours as alderpeople approved dozens of developments including a proposal for a new six-story, 43-unit affordable housing development in South Shore.  

    Ald. Bennett Lawson (44), the committee’s vice chair, helmed his first zoning committee meeting following Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa's (35) resignation earlier this month from his chair position. Ramirez-Rosa remains a member of the committee. 

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    MWRD President Kari Steele, top left, presides over a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Board of Commissioners meeting in November 2023. [Livestream]

    Four of the nine incumbent members of the Board of Commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) will run for reelection next year, with two other candidates having filed with the Cook County Clerk to run for spots on the board so far.

    MWRD commissioners are elected at-large, and the nine members serve staggered six-year terms. While three commissioners are typically up for election every two years, there is also a special election next year to serve out the remainder of former commissioner Kimberly du Buclet’s term. 

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    Amundsen Park in the 29th Ward will no longer be considered as a possible shelter for migrants. And the city’s transportation department and the CTA released a plan to bring faster and more reliable bus service to the city.

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    The housing and real estate committee met Wednesday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] 

    A City Council committee on Wednesday delayed a vote on a proposal to lease additional space in a building near City Hall for the city’s Community Commission on Public Safety and Accountability and the newly created Department of Environment.

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    A rendering of the affordable housing development proposed for South Shore. [City of Chicago presentation]

    The City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards during its 10 a.m. meeting Thursday is set to consider a variety of developments proposed across the city including a proposal for a 43-unit affordable housing development in South Shore.

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    Chicago’s Midway Airport marked completion of nearly decade-long modernization project Wednesday, and two county bodies will meet Thursday to hear reports on the county’s juvenile detention center and an ordinance that prohibits housing discrimination against convicted individuals.

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    The City Council Committee on Education and Child Development met Tuesday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

    Chicago Public Schools officials on Tuesday answered questions from alderpeople about the school district’s budget, enrollment and how the officials are handling the constant arrival of new migrant families and children to the city.

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    Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez speaks to reporters after giving her “State of the Clerk’s Office” address in 2021. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

    The local Democratic Party’s pick for the clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County on Monday officially filed her candidacy to take on incumbent Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez.  

    Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) Comm. Mariyana Spyropoulos filed nominating petitions with more than 27,000 signatures to launch her primary challenge against Martinez March 19. 

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    Work began Monday on the Brighton Park site that will soon be set up as a basecamp to house migrants. The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate is scheduled to meet at noon Wednesday.