Erin Hegarty has covered City Hall for The Daily Line since September 2020. She previously covered the City of Naperville for the Naperville Sun/Chicago Tribune for four years, and prior to that covered the northwest suburbs for the Daily Herald. Erin enjoys biking around the city and eating her way through different neighborhoods.
Contact Erin at [email protected]
Bio
Covering Chicago City Hall for @thedailylinechi. Send tips to [email protected]. More coffee, always.WBEZ, Crain’s Chicago Business and The Daily Line analyzed publicly available attendance records for 519 City Council meetings and committee meetings that occurred between May 2019 and December 2021 and found that Chicago aldermen attended an average of about 86% of the meetings required of them.
You can look up your alderman’s meeting attendance rate using our tool below.
We ranked City Council members by meeting attendance. Check your alderman’s score.
Nicole Lee will be nominated by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to be the next alderman for the 11th Ward. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]
Less than a day after Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she needed “more time” to settle on a pick to succeed convicted Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson (11) in the City Council, she announced she had settled on United Airlines executive and Chinatown native Nicole Lee as her pick.
Who is Nicole Lee? 11th Ward alderman pick has background in corporate giving, Chinese American organizing and oil consulting
Chicago leaders confirmed the city will loosen its COVID-19 mask and vaccination requirements on Monday. A 42-unit apartment proposal in West Lakeview was the largest development proposal to earn approval from an uncharacteristically light zoning committee meeting on Tuesday. And the City Council is set to vote on a measure approved by a key committee on Tuesday that would allow electronic voting during council meetings.
News in brief: Mask & vax mandate to end Monday; Lakeview apartment complex among zoning approvals; remote voting comes closer to reality
City Council rules committee chair Ald. Michelle Harris (8) and Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson (11) during a committee hearing on Friday
A chaotic and abortive meeting of the City Council Committee on Committees and Rules on Friday showed that aldermen remain as divided as ever over the city’s decennial remap as the drop-dead deadline to avoid a voter referendum draws nearer.
Remap stalemate hardens as inaugural 2022 hearing breaks down into process squabbles
Ald. Pat Dowell (3) during a Dec. 15, 2021 City Council meeting. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]
Ald. Pat Dowell (3) on Wednesday became the first candidate to throw in her hat to succeed Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) in Congress since Rush announced he will not seek a 16th term representing Chicago’s South Side and south suburbs.
Dowell announces run for Rush’s Congressional seat, leaving behind SoS bid
Starting this year, expired smoke detectors with detachable batteries must be replaced with more modern hard-wired devices.
The new year brings a panoply of fresh rules into effect for Chicago residents and businesses, including a litany of measures designed to help the city’s most vulnerable residents while simultaneously making life easier for entrepreneurs.
The following is a roundup of major city legislation that took effect when the clock struck midnight on Friday night, as well as subsequent city policies set to take place in the months to come.
New city rules for sign permits, wage theft, smoke detectors take hold after Jan. 1 implementation
Erin and Alex on Chicago government in 2021
Chicago’s top doctor is set to brief aldermen Thursday on the twin threat of a mounting winter surge in COVID-19 cases and the worrying new Omicron variant. And a popular outdoor dining program is set to remain on the books for at least one more year. A proposal related to towing storage lots was held in committee on Wednesday.
News in brief: Arwady to brief aldermen on Omicron, COVID surge; Outdoor dining program set for extension; Towing lot ordinance hits snag
The Chicago City Council’s months-in-the-making push to redraw the boundaries of its 50 wards ground to a crawl on Tuesday, throwing the process into confusion hours before a critical deadline that could soon put the issue in the hands of voters.
Aldermen head ‘back to the table’ on remap, drawing out talks as Lightfoot heads to D.C.
One provision of the budget Management Ordinance set for approval on Friday would extend the authority of the Department of Water Management commissioner to replace the city's lead service lines. [Pexels]
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s $16.7 billion budget plan is set to clear another major hurdle on Friday, as her administration’s more than 600-page budget appropriation ordinance (O2021-4238) comes up for a committee vote.
New contracting equity office, lead pipe replacement among grab-bag of budget changes up for committee vote
Aldermen will meet Tuesday to consider referendum questions proposed for the Feb. 28 ballot. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]
The outcome of a key City Council committee meeting Tuesday is likely to determine which referendum questions get placed on the Feb. 28 municipal election ballot.
Rules committee set to consider three referendum questions for Feb. 28 ballot
Aldermen will meet on Monday to discuss a proposed referendum to change the real estate transfer tax. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]
The City Council will convene for a special meeting Monday to discuss a measure that would give voters the choice this February to raise the real estate transfer tax to help fund affordable housing and homelessness services.
Aldermen to meet in special council meeting to discuss referendum proposing real estate transfer tax hike
Anjanette Young speaks during a meeting of the City Council Committee on Public Safety Thursday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]
An ordinance originally proposed by a group of Black alderwomen to establish new rules for residential search warrants in Chicago following the police department’s wrongful raid of Anjanette Young’s home in 2019 did not pass out of a key council committee Thursday.
Proposal to change search warrant policy fails to move out of key committee for full council approval
Chuy Garcia launched into the 2023 race for Chicago mayor Thursday. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]
U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia officially announced his bid for mayor Thursday after spending weeks mulling a run to lead the city.
Chuy Garcia officially jumps into race for mayor
Ald. Sophia King (4) speaks during Wednesday’s education committee meeting. [City of Chicago livestream]
Aldermen during a committee meeting Wednesday scuttled a colleague’s proposal to require the head of Chicago Public Schools to attend quarterly hearings in front of aldermen.
Tied vote in committee blocks proposal to require CPS leadership to attend quarterly hearings in front of aldermen
Aldermen are set to hold four committee meetings Thursday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]
Aldermen will convene for four committee meetings Thursday with a vote on proposed new rules for residential search warrants and a long-awaited hearing with CTA President Dorval Carter scheduled for morning meetings.
Packed City Council committee schedule Thursday includes vote on Anjanette Young ordinance, hearing with CTA President Dorval Carter
Ald. Sophia King (4) during Monday’s City Council meeting. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]
The City Council Committee on Education and Child Development is set to meet for the second time this year on Wednesday.
Education committee set to meet Wednesday for second time this year
Members of the City Council during Monday’s meeting. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]
Aldermen during a City Council meeting Monday voted 32-18 to approve Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s 2023 spending plan. The vote occurred less than four months before the February municipal election where at least three aldermen are planning to challenge Lightfoot and all 50 City Council seats are up for election.
City Council approves Lightfoot’s 2023 budget with few votes to spare
Mayor Lori Lightfoot during her budget proposal speech in October. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s fourth and final budget of her first term in office will face a vote from the City Council on Monday.
The mayor introduced her $16.4 billion spending proposal last month and aldermen have spent the weeks since then grilling commissioners on their departments’ budget proposals and making their own proposed tweaks to the budget.
Lightfoot’s 2023 budget proposal to face final council vote Monday
Members of the City Council will meet at City Hall Friday but a final vote on the budget is not expected until Monday. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]
The City Council will meet Friday for a meeting that is expected to be short as aldermen plan to delay a vote on budget-related ordinances until Monday.
City Council to meet Friday but budget vote not expected until Monday meeting
A new commission tasked with oversight of the Chicago Police Department issued its review of the department’s proposed budget Thursday.
The city’s new interim commission tasked with providing oversight of the Chicago Police Department on Thursday released a scathing review of the police department’s budget citing concerns that the department is not using its workforce to meet Chicago’s public safety needs.
The report also calls for more transparency in the budgeting process and raises concern over “untenable and unacceptable work conditions for Chicago police officers.”
Civilian oversight commission issues blistering review of CPD’s proposed budget questioning workforce allocation, ability to avoid legal judgements
Chief Sustainability Officer Angela Tovar (upper right) speaks during a committee meeting Wednesday. [City of Chicago livestream]
The spending portions of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposed 2023 budget gained key committee support on Wednesday, but some of the votes were close, potentially signaling a tight vote when the full City Council votes on the budget on Monday.
The City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations met Wednesday to give initial approval to the annual appropriation ordinance (O2022-3025) which sets spending for the next year, and the 2023 management ordinance (O2022-3580). And aldermen continued pressing city officials to reestablish the Department of Environment.
Aldermen give initial approval to Lightfoot’s 2023 spending proposals but mixed support could signal a close vote on Monday
Ald. George Cardenas (12) on the City Council floor. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]
Ald. George Cardenas (12) officially submitted his letter of resignation to Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday, teeing up the fourth aldermanic appointment Lightfoot will get to make during her first term as mayor.
Cardenas to leave council Nov. 30, opening the door for Lightfoot’s 4th aldermanic appointment
Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) oversees a meeting of the finance committee on Tuesday. [City of Chicago livestream]
A vote on the ordinance that sets how the city will collect revenue as part of the 2023 budget was delayed Tuesday after confusion over certain fines that need to be chopped in half due to a recent court ruling.
Key vote on revenue ordinance delayed amid questions about required cut in fines for blocking bikes lanes, covered license plates
Aldermen on the City Council floor. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]
After approving only a portion of the funding-related ordinances for Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposed 2023 budget on Tuesday, aldermen on Wednesday are set to vote on the spending plan proposed in the mayor’s budget.
Members of the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations on Wednesday will consider Lightfoot’s proposed budget recommendations, the approval of which would tee up a final vote on the 2023 spending plan for Monday.
Aldermen set to vote on 2023 spending measures including annual CPI increases for mayor, treasurer, clerk
Mayor Lori Lightfoot during her budget proposal speech in October. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]
The City Council Committee on Finance is scheduled to meet Tuesday to take an initial vote on the funding portions of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s $16.4 billion budget proposal for 2023.
The finance committee will meet in person in council chambers at 10 a.m. to consider the three budget-related revenue ordinances, and city budget and finance officials will be on hand to answer aldermen’s questions.
Funding proposals including new administrative hearings debt relief program, hiked fines for parking in vacant lots set for initial vote
Aldermen on Wednesday introduced two proposals aimed at stopping the use of gunshot detection technology. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]
Aldermen during Wednesday’s City Council meeting introduced new legislation ranging from two proposals to scrap any current or future contract with gunshot detection services, a proposal that would make central vote centers permanent and another that again seeks to change the way legislation is introduced directly into council committees.
Aldermen introduce legislation to end gunshot detection contracts, make central vote centers permanent
Ald. Sophia King (4) (upper right) speaks the Wednesday City Council meeting [City of Chicago livestream]
Aldermen on Wednesday scuttled a last-minute proposal from a close ally of the mayor to name a new chair of the City Council Committee on Education and Child Development — a position that has been vacant since the beginning of June.
City Council rejects proposal for new education committee chair blaming mayor’s last-minute process
Aldermen on the City Council floor. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]
Multiple aldermen during Wednesday’s City Council meeting were planning to call a vote on proposed legislation that has faced delays over the past months and years, but backers of two of the four measures had withdrawn their calls by Tuesday evening.
Wednesday’s City Council meeting will also include a public hearing on Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposed 2023 spending plan.
Related: Lightfoot details $16.4B spending plan that closes projected budget gap without property tax hike
Public hearing on 2023 budget proposal set for Wednesday, no votes on Anjanette Young ordinance or car booting after all
Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) speaks during a rules committee meeting Tuesday. [City of Chicago livestream]
Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) defended his proposal to change how proposed legislation can be introduced directly into committee at the last minute as a way to bring transparency to the legislative process and ensure that aldermen and the mayor’s office are held to the same standard.
But after about two hours of contentious discussion, aldermen in the City Council Committee on Committees and Rules voted 24-17 against Reilly’s proposal, citing concerns about potential lawsuits and ensuring that the measure will not be reported with a favorable recommendation during Wednesday’s City Council meeting.
Aldermen shoot down proposal Reilly says would bring a ‘transparency checkpoint’ to legislative process
Bio
Covering Chicago City Hall for @thedailylinechi. Send tips to [email protected]. More coffee, always.
