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.
JAN 07, 2021
News in brief: Lightfoot, Preckwinkle, Foxx condemn D.C. ‘insurrection;’ Aldermanic hearing on CPS’ reopening plan scheduled for Monday; Lightfoot statement on Georgia elections
TDL Chicago Morning Briefs: Thursday, January 7th
News in brief: Lightfoot, Preckwinkle, Foxx condemn D.C. ‘insurrection;’ Aldermanic hearing on CP...
DEC 22, 2020
Lightfoot addresses the press on Monday.Aldermen are expected on Tuesday to grill representatives of city departments including the police department and Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) during a hearing on search warrants and search warrant procedures.
Lightfoot won’t appear at Tuesday hearing on search warrants; police involved in Young raid placed on desk duty
Lightfoot addresses the press on Monday.Aldermen are expected on Tuesday to grill representativ...
DEC 21, 2020
Corporation Counsel Mark Flessner during a virtual budget hearing in November. Flessner resigned on Sunday.The city’s top lawyer resigned Sunday amid ongoing turmoil over the botched 2019 police raid on social worker Anjanette Young’s home and city leaders’ subsequent attempts to keep a video of the incident under wraps.
Corporation Counsel Mark Flessner tweeted on Sunday afternoon that he “offered my letter of resignation as Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago. It has been an honor to work alongside my friend [Mayor Lori Lightfoot] for the last two years.”
City’s top lawyer resigns amid growing pile-on over city’s handling of Anjanette Young raid
Corporation Counsel Mark Flessner during a virtual budget hearing in November. Flessner resigne...
DEC 21, 2020
An ordinance introduced by Mayor Lori Lightfoot would more than double fines for companies that violate the city’s air pollution rules.Proposals aimed at cracking down on polluters and adding protections for undocumented immigrants were among the dozens of new measures set to fall on the City Council’s plate once aldermen return for the new year.
Fines would be increased for large industrial air polluters under a proposal (O2020-6200) introduced by Mayor Lori Lightfoot last week. If approved, the measure would allow the Department of Public Health to lodge larger fines on “industrial facilities and demolition contractors that create dust and risk the health and quality-of-life of residents.”
Fine hikes for polluters, expanded ‘welcoming city’ ordinance among new legislation introduced to City Council
An ordinance introduced by Mayor Lori Lightfoot would more than double fines for companies that...
DEC 18, 2020
The Plan Commission on Thursday approved all five items on its agenda including a $250 million development on the Near North Side.The Chicago Plan Commission on Thursday approved all five development proposals on its agenda, including a $250 million project on the Near North Side and another to rehabilitate the Wilson Avenue Theater and build an adjacent residential building.
Plan Commissioners praise $250M Near North Side development proposal for including ‘family sized’ affordable housing units
The Plan Commission on Thursday approved all five items on its agenda including a $250 million ...
DEC 18, 2020
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Police Supt. David Brown address reporters in a press conference Thursday
The city will change its policies to make it easier for people to seek information on police incidents that involved them, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday, adding that she will also work to more quickly release videos of potential police misconduct.
Lightfoot commits to policy changes amid raid fallout; committee to question police Tuesday
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Police Supt. David Brown address reporters in a press conferen...
DEC 17, 2020
Mayor Lori Lightfoot oversees the City Council meeting Wednesday.Aldermen on Wednesday approved ordinances that legalize accessory dwelling units in five pilot areas, abolish the Pilsen Historic District and allow for a $300,000 settlement to be paid to a resident who alleged she was shoved down two flights of stairs by a police officer stationed at a high school.
Aldermen approve coach house ordinance; skirmish breaks out over police settlements
Mayor Lori Lightfoot oversees the City Council meeting Wednesday.Aldermen on Wednesday approved...
DEC 16, 2020
Aldermen on Tuesday passed a proposal for a 5-story mixed-use development in the 46th Ward.Aldermen on Tuesday unanimously approved a proposal to build a new mixed-use building in Uptown despite neighbors’ opposition and advanced an ordinance that would increase fines for homeowners who skirt city rules in historic preservation districts.
Aldermen approve Uptown development despite neighbor opposition, support increasing fines for breaking historic preservation rules
Aldermen on Tuesday passed a proposal for a 5-story mixed-use development in the 46th Ward.Alde...
DEC 15, 2020
The proposed Michigan Avenue SSA did not gain support from Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) or Ald. Brian Hopkins (2).A proposal to create a Michigan Avenue Special Service Area (SSA) will have to wait until next year after aldermen whose wards it would fall in opposed the ordinance and urged colleagues to do the same.
Proposed Michigan Avenue SSA dies in committee after failing to gain support from aldermen
The proposed Michigan Avenue SSA did not gain support from Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) or Ald. Bri...
DEC 15, 2020
Ald. Leslie Hairston says the administration has rejected a proposal arrestees have access to a phone within an hour of being detained.Ald. Leslie Hairston (5) on Monday said Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration has “rejected” her proposal to require police to provide arrestees with access to a phone and a list of free legal counsel options within an hour of being taken into custody, but the alderman is not backing down.
Hairston vows to ‘resist’ changes to proposal that arrestees be given phone calls within an hour of being detained
Ald. Leslie Hairston says the administration has rejected a proposal arrestees have access to a...
DEC 15, 2020
The Westhaven Park apartments on the city’s Near West Side will see an expansion under a proposal up for zoning approval on Tuesday. [Chicago Housing Authority]CHA Westhaven Park apartments addition, coach house ordinance set for consideration Tuesday
The Westhaven Park apartments on the city’s Near West Side will see an expansion under a propos...
DEC 14, 2020
Ald. David Moore (17) on Friday told alderman ‘the time is now’ to rename Lake Shore Drive.A proposal to rename Lake Shore Drive after Chicago’s first permanent resident would not apply to the road’s inner drive and its residential properties, and the measure’s sponsor alderman said conversations suggesting otherwise are “fear mongering.”
‘The time is now, the time is right’ to rename Lake Shore Drive after Du Sable, alderman says
Ald. David Moore (17) on Friday told alderman ‘the time is now’ to rename Lake Shore Drive.A pr...
DEC 14, 2020
News in brief: Police, domestic violence measures released from rules committee; E-scooter rides down but sidewalk clutter and accessibility improved, report says
TDL Chicago Morning Briefs: Monday December 14th
News in brief: Police, domestic violence measures released from rules committee; E-scooter rides ...
DEC 12, 2020
The Plan Commission will hear a proposal for the Wilson Avenue Theater and an adjacent residential building.Proposals for the site identified to be the new home of the Double Door theater in Uptown, a $250 million multi-building development on the Near North Side and an expansion of Misericordia’s West Ridge development are scheduled to go before the city’s Plan Commission on Thursday.
Plan Commission to hear proposals for Uptown Double Door site, $250M Near North Side plan
The Plan Commission will hear a proposal for the Wilson Avenue Theater and an adjacent resident...
DEC 11, 2020
Ald. Howard Brookins (21) is chair of the City Council Committee on Transportation and Public Way.Aldermen on Thursday delayed a subject matter hearing on the proposal to rename Lake Shore Drive to Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable Drive until Friday.
Ald. Howard Brookins (21), chair of the City Council Committee on Transportation and Public Way, told The Daily Line on Thursday the proposal’s addition to the agenda late on Wednesday did not allow enough time for the subject matter hearing to be held on Thursday.
Hearing on renaming Lake Shore Drive after Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable delayed; 10-day ‘grace period’ for parking permits approved
Ald. Howard Brookins (21) is chair of the City Council Committee on Transportation and Public W...
DEC 10, 2020
News in brief: Aldermen to consider renaming Lake Shore Drive; Cook County launches opioid outreach program; Lightfoot ‘deeply disappointed’ in Tunney allowing indoor dining at Ann Sather
TDL Chicago Morning Briefs: Thursday, December 10th
News in brief: Aldermen to consider renaming Lake Shore Drive; Cook County launches opioid outrea...
DEC 10, 2020
Some aldermen on Wednesday questioned how projects to update firehouses are chosen.Aldermen in the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations on Wednesday questioned the equity of some firehouse renovations and approved extending a flood reduction pilot program.
Some aldermen question firehouse upgrades, approve extension for flood reduction pilot study in Chatham
Some aldermen on Wednesday questioned how projects to update firehouses are chosen.Aldermen in ...
DEC 09, 2020
Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29) is chair of the City Council Committee on Public Safety.Aldermen will modify language of a proposal designed to protect arrestees but will return with an updated version next week, they said Monday.
The measure (O2019-3873), which would require Chicago Police to give arrestees a list of free legal service providers and access to a phone within an hour of being taken into custody, had been scheduled to be taken up on Tuesday by the City Council Committee on Public Safety. However, committee chair Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29) recessed the meeting almost as quickly as it began.
Ordinance requiring legal resources for arrestees delayed for language tweaks
Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29) is chair of the City Council Committee on Public Safety.Aldermen wil...
DEC 09, 2020
News in brief: Budget committee expected to approve extended flood protection runoff study in Chatham; Cook County RTLO supporters attempt to break through real estate opposition
TDL Chicago Morning Briefs: Wednesday, December 9th
News in brief: Budget committee expected to approve extended flood protection runoff study in Cha...
DEC 08, 2020
Cook County Public Defender Amy Campanelli has advocated for ensuring arresstees have a understand they have a right to a lawyer.Aldermen on Tuesday will consider a proposal requiring the Chicago Police Department to provide arrestees with a list of legal service providers and another laying the groundwork for the department to establish a new gang database.
Aldermen to consider requiring list of free legal services be available to arrestees, creation of new gang database
Cook County Public Defender Amy Campanelli has advocated for ensuring arresstees have a underst...
Bio
Covering Chicago City Hall for @thedailylinechi. Send tips to [email protected]. More coffee, always.
