Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35), one of the sponsors of the Northwest Side Housing Preservation Ordinance, is pictured at a City Council meeting in April 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council zoning committee on Monday approved changes to the Northwest Housing Preservation Ordinance, an anti-gentrification and affordable housing protection law that offers tenants the chance to buy their building before it’s sold to a third party.

Mayor Brandon Johnson presides over a City Council meeting on Oct. 9, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Alderpeople on Tuesday will consider the mayor’s revised 2025 budget proposal at two committee meetings, and during the council budget committee meeting alderpeople will consider an ordinance that would start the city budget process earlier in the year and add other transparency measures.

Mayor Brandon Johnson delivers his 2025 budget address on Oct. 30, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Among the Chicago mayor’s budget team’s revised budget proposal, which was presented to some members of the City Council on Friday, are a smaller property tax increase, repurposing of some federal pandemic funds, an expansion of downtown congestion pricing and increased taxes on streaming services, plastic bags and garages and valet parking.

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) is pictured during a council meeting Oct. 4, 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

More than half of the City Council has signed on to an ordinance to make the city’s budget process more public-facing and accessible to residents and alderpeople alike and start the budget process earlier. The legislation was proposed as Mayor Brandon Johnson and the council continue to negotiate a budget proposal that can be approved before the end of the year.

Ald. Matt O'Shea (19) questions Chief Procurement Officer Sharla Roberts during a budget hearing Dec. 4, 2024. [Livestream]

The city Department of Procurement Services (DPS) presented their budget on the last day of city budget hearings Wednesday.

The department’s budget is proposed to decrease by 4.3 percent – from $14.6 million this year to roughly $14 million next year under Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2025 budget plan. The number of budgeted positions also is set to decrease by five, or to 131 total positions, according to budget documents.

Ald. Bill Conway (34) asks questions of Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry during a budget hearing Dec. 4, 2024. [Livestream]

Chicago’s law department presented its proposed budget Wednesday on the final day of budget hearings. Discussion centered around the department’s new risk mitigation division and a new crackdown on problematic owners of numerous vacant lots. 

Human Resources Comm. Sandra Blakemore testifies at a budget hearing on Dec. 3, 2024. [Livestream]

The city’s Department of Human Resources presented its budget to the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations Tuesday, but allegations of harassment and inappropriate comments against the mayor’s former communications director hung over the hearing.

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) asks Environment Comm. Angela Tovar questions at a budget hearing on Dec. 3, 2024. [Livestream]

Department of Environment officials appeared before the city’s budget committee Tuesday to present the department’s proposed budget for the second year after being reestablished in the 2024 budget. However, the department’s powers remain an echo of what they had previously been.

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) talks with reporters about the request for Plow the Sidewalks pilot program funding in the 2025 budget on Dec. 2, 2024. [Provided by Better Streets Chicago]

Chicago alderpeople and disability rights, pedestrian and active transit advocates are calling on the mayor to include $1 million in funding in the city’s budget for a pilot program for municipal plowing of sidewalks.

Eileen O'Neill Burke addresses supporters at Moe's Cantina in River North after winning the state's attorney election on Nov. 5, 2024. [Provided]

Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke officially was sworn in Monday and immediately laid out the office’s approach to pre-trial detention under her leadership.

Eileen O'Neill Burke addresses supporters at Moe's Cantina in River North after winning the state's attorney election on Nov. 5, 2024. [Provided]

Eileen O’Neill Burke, the incoming Cook County State’s Attorney, filled out the rest of her transition team last week with the announcement of various policy subcommittees and their leaders.

The flag of Cook County hangs outside the county building in downtown Chicago. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Cook County’s Manufacturing Reinvented grant program notched the County Bureau of Economic Development its first-ever Chicago Innovation Award.

Aviation Comm. Jamie Rhee answers questions from Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) during a budget hearing on Nov. 22, 2024. [Livestream]

Leaders from the Chicago Department of Aviation presented their proposed 2025 budget Friday afternoon, which is proposed to drop slightly while adding more than a hundred new positions. 

Next year, the aviation department’s budget is set to decrease to $1.5 billion under Mayor Brandon Johnson’s spending plan, a 2 percent drop from the 2024 budget. The number of full-time positions is set to rise to 2,392 positions, 110 more compared to 2024.

Comm. Bridget Degnen (D-12) speaks at a news conference about a 2025 budget amendment funding wraparound services for reproductive health patients on Nov. 21, 2024. [Livestream]

The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved its 2025 budget during a special meeting Thursday. The $9.94 billion adopted budget – which includes $2 million for patients’ reproductive health services – represents a roughly 7.3 percent increase over last year’s $9.26 billion adopted budget.

Ald. Marty Quinn (13), top right, questions 2FM Comm. Julie Hernandez-Tomlin during a budget hearing Nov. 21, 2024. [Livestream]

The Department of Fleet and Facility Management (2FM) defended its proposed 2025 budget to alderpeople at a budget committee hearing on Thursday. Leaders for 2FM discussed vacant mechanic positions and progress on transitioning the city’s facilities to renewable energy and vehicles off fossil fuels.