Chicago News
-
JAN 19, 2018
- Aldermanic Black Caucus Chair Roderick Sawyer (6) endorsed Assessor Joe Berrios for re-election, per a release sent Thursday afternoon. At an event at Captain’s Hard Times in Chatham, Sawyer said “Berrios has worked with our community and made the assessment process easier for seniors and homeowners. As chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, Joe Berrios has ensured that our party slate reflects the diversity in the Cook County. I’m glad to be supporting him.” Sawyer parted with his Progressive Caucus colleague Scott Waguespack, who endorsed Frederick “Fritz” Kaegi in the Assessor’s race two weeks ago.
-
-
-
Clarification: This post was updated on January 18 to reflect the endorsement noted in the dispute was from the Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL), not the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations.
In a Wednesday letter, Cook County Comm. Richard Boykin (D-1), who is in the middle of a contested primary, demanded the county’s lobbyist be fired immediately because the lobbyist “liked” a Facebook post about Boykin’s failure to secure a coveted Chicago Federation of Labor endorsement.
-
Fireworks scheduled to fly between Cook County commissioners and Assessor Joe Berrios were deferred to another day, while the board danced around details of a highly-publicized contract with the union representing Sheriff’s employees. The contract with department of corrections employees ultimately won unanimous approval from the board and praise from Republican commissioners.
-
-
Correction: This post was updated on January 17, 2018 to reflect that the Teamsters' contract with correctional employees was considered by the full board, not referred to committee.
Cook County committees convene at 9 a.m. and again at noon to hear the latest from Assessor Joe Berrios’ office on efforts to examine whether there is bias in the assessment system. The long-awaited Teamsters contract with correctional employees at the county jail will be heard at the full board. New prevailing wage requirements for construction jobs at properties that get county property tax breaks will be referred to committee.
-
The first full City Council meeting of 2018 promises to showcase a truly rare occurrence: a knock-down, drag-out floor fight with no clear projected winner.
At stake is $5.5 million in tax increment financing district funds Mayor Rahm Emanuel has earmarked for Presence Health, the state’s largest Catholic health system.
-
-
A sharply divided Finance Committee approved $5.5 million in tax increment financing for Presence, the state’s largest Catholic health system, to renovate the system’s downtown headquarters and a group of neighborhood clinics. Local Ald. Brendan Reilly (42), one of seven who voted no on Friday, said he did not believe the city should provide tax dollars to fund a hospital system that does not provide basic reproductive health services.
-
JAN 16, 2018
Aldermen meet for a packed schedule beginning at 10 a.m. to consider a direct introduction of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s new five-year deal with the 31 unions representing 7,700 city workers, and John Tully’s appointment as commissioner of the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation.
-
Scorched by the spotlight of a City Hall hearing, Chicago Public Schools officials agreed Friday to hire 56 more special education aides and specialists. Officials promised more changes to come in the wake of allegations that changes designed to save money also denied special education students services they were entitled to under federal law.
