City Hall is pictured in this file photo.

Alderpeople on the City Council’s immigration committee approved an ordinance Thursday that compels the city’s Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) to publish regular tallies of migrant evictions from the city’s temporary shelters under the 60-day shelter stay policy.

A group of elected officials are asking the governor to donate a state-owned site to house a new police district, and the mayor waded into the current controversy surrounding Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez's (25) presence at a left-wing rally where a U.S. flag was burned.

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) attends a council meeting in November 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Fifteen alderpeople are calling for Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) to lose his position as chair of the housing committee as a consequence of speaking at a pro-Palestine protest last week where a protester burned an American flag.

The alderpeople have called for a special City Council meeting on April 1 to vote on a resolution to amend the City Council Rules of Order and Procedure to rescind his chairpersonship if the 25th Ward alderperson doesn't resign first.

Bring Chicago Home Advocates gather in front of the Illinois Appellate Court in March 2024. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

Following the defeat of the Bring Chicago Home referendum, which would have allowed the City Council to retool the real estate transfer tax structure, the City Council Progressive Caucus said they understood and heard the message voters sent through their votes and will commit to improving trust in city government.

The ballot question, which would have raised the transfer tax on property sales above $1 million and decreased it on sales lower than $1 million, was defeated last week with 52 percent voting against the proposal.

As the Democratic Party primary for Cook County State’s Attorney comes down to the wire, a recount appears possible. The City Council’s immigration committee will consider legislation to make data on migrant shelter evictions public, and Chicago Park District workers authorized a strike amid contract negotiations.

Mayor Brandon Johnson holds a news conference on the 60-day migrant shelter stay limit policy in January. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Five Chicago Park District facilities currently serving as temporary shelters for migrants will be closed and returned to their intended use beginning March 30, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Monday.

The Committee on Finance holds a hearing on March 22, 2024. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

Alderpeople got their first chance to ask questions about a proposal for the city to issue $1.25 billion in general obligation and Sales Tax Securitization Corporation bonds and use the proceeds to fund myriad investments in housing, cultural and economic growth citywide, but in a way that addresses historic disinvestment.

The county assessor released the first data from the reassessment of Chicago properties on Friday, and the City Council’s public safety committee chairperson is calling for city laws to crack down on the sale of unregulated Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products.

Ald. Pat Dowell (3), pictured in March 2023, chairs the finance committee. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Finance will hold a hearing Friday afternoon on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $1.25 billion bond proposal, giving alderpeople the first chance to ask the administration questions about the mayor’s plan to broadly invest in housing and economic development.

The mayor’s chief of staff announced he’s leaving the administration at the end of the month, and a county judge delivered a partial win for both the city and police union in a months-long court battle.

Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks to reporters during a news conference March 20, 2024. [Chicago Mayor's Office livestream]

Thousands of mailed ballots have yet to be counted, but results have not looked promising for the signature policy proposal for Mayor Brandon Johnson and progressive allies on the City Council — the Bring Chicago Home referendum.

Although the question survived a legal challenge from a coalition of real estate and business groups, about 53.6 percent of voters opposed the real estate transfer tax changes as of the latest results Wednesday, which would increase the tax on sales over $1 million and decrease the tax for sales under $1 million. Proceeds from the additional tax would be used to combat homelessness, and advocates estimated the changes could give the city $100 million annually for that cause. 

The City Council meets on Wednesday. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

The City Council approved millions of dollars in police-related settlements and multiple mayoral appointments on Wednesday.

Among the items approved included a landmark $45 million settlement to the victim of a car crash related to a police pursuit, the appointment of a new transportation commissioner and an ordinance mandating City Council confirmation votes for public health commissioners.

Bring Chicago Home supporters gather outside the Illinois Appellate Court on March 1. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

The future of a proposal to raise Chicago’s real estate transfer tax on property sales over $1 million, decrease it for sales under $1 million and use the new tax revenue to fund services and housing to reduce homelessness did not look promising Tuesday night as favorable votes for the ballot question known as Bring Chicago Home trailed opposition votes.

With 97 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday night, 53.8 percent of voters had voted against the ballot question.

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]

The Democratic primary race for Cook County State’s Attorney remained too close to call Tuesday night, though Eileen O’Neill Burke led party-backed candidate Clayton Harris III with roughly 51 percent of the vote to Harris’ more than 48.9 percent as of 11 p.m.

If her lead continues as remaining mail-in votes in Chicago and the suburbs are counted, then O’Neill Burke will compete this fall to succeed outgoing State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, whose leadership O’Neill Burke has criticized.

The incumbent circuit court clerk lost her primary, and an incumbent Cook County commissioner is headed to the general election to defend her appointed seat. Finally, most of the Democrats’ water reclamation district board slate won its primary.