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.
DEC 08, 2020
The proposal to create a new Special Service Area on Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and Oak Street was held in committee on Monday but could be considered again next week.A controversial proposal to create a new short-term Special Service Area (SSA) along the Magnificent Mile retail strip was held in committee Monday after facing scrutiny, but the proposal could be considered again next week.
Proposed Michigan Avenue SSA faces time crunch after committee deferral
The proposal to create a new Special Service Area on Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River ...
DEC 07, 2020
Many details of mental health response pilot programs included in the city’s 2021 budget are still being worked out, and proponents of a non-law enforcement model want to be involved in the process.The Chicago Department of Public Health next year will launch pilot programs for two different models for responding to people experiencing a mental health crisis. While money has been allocated for the programs, the city is still figuring out what shape they will take and exactly which sections of the city will be served.
Don’t plan non-law enforcement mental health crisis pilot ‘behind closed doors,’ proponents say
Many details of mental health response pilot programs included in the city’s 2021 budget are st...
DEC 02, 2020
News in brief: Ald. Lopez calls for movement on proposals held up in committee; City could give first COVID-19 vaccines by end of year.
TDL Chicago Morning Briefs: Wednesday, December 2nd
News in brief: Ald. Lopez calls for movement on proposals held up in committee; City could give f...
DEC 02, 2020
The City Council Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity on Wednesday will consider extending the minority- and women-owned business contracting program. Ald. Carrie Austin (34) is chair of the committee and Ald. David Moore (17) is vice chair of the committee.Aldermen on Wednesday will consider extending the city’s diverse hiring rules for construction programs through September 2021 while a consultant completes a “disparity study” on the program.
City’s minority- and women-owned business contracting program set for extension amid ongoing disparity study
The City Council Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity on Wednesday will consider exten...
NOV 30, 2020
Alds. Andre Vasquez (40) and Daniel La Spata (1) are among aldermen who plan to continue pitching alternative revenue plans.The City Council approved a $94 million property tax increase as part of the $12.8 billion budget last week, but some aldermen are already planning to find alternate revenue for the 2022 budget now that the holiday weekend is over.
Chicago has a 2021 spending plan, but some aldermen plan to keep pitching alternate revenue plans
Alds. Andre Vasquez (40) and Daniel La Spata (1) are among aldermen who plan to continue pitchi...
NOV 25, 2020
Mayor Lori Lightfoot oversee the City Council meeting on Tuesday during which aldermen approved her pandemic budget.The $12.8 billion plan that has been referred to as the city’s pandemic budget, including Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposed $94 million property tax increase, was approved Tuesday after a divided City Council voted to pass the plan in a narrow margin not seen on a budget in decades.
‘Pandemic budget’ with $94M property tax increase narrowly approved by City Council
Mayor Lori Lightfoot oversee the City Council meeting on Tuesday during which aldermen approved...
NOV 24, 2020
News in brief: Alderman, police sued over ‘baseless arrest’; Cook County launches legal aid service; Business relief measures to be extended into 2021
TDL Chicago Morning Briefs: Tuesday November 24th
News in brief: Alderman, police sued over ‘baseless arrest’; Cook County launches legal aid servi...
NOV 24, 2020
Mayor Lori Lightfoot oversees Monday’s City Council meeting.A cap on delivery fees for takeout orders is now effective indefinitely in Chicago following a 49-0 City Council vote to approve the legislation as a way to help restaurants struggling financially due to the pandemic.
Cap on restaurant delivery fees approved unanimously; final budget vote expected Tuesday
Mayor Lori Lightfoot oversees Monday’s City Council meeting.A cap on delivery fees for takeout ...
NOV 23, 2020
Aldermen are expected to vote on the proposed 2021 budget on Tuesday, and Alds. Andre Vasquez (40) and Maria Hadden (49) last week explained why they plan to vote “yes.”While the proposed 2021 city budget is on the Monday City Council agenda, aldermen are poised to call for a procedure that would delay discussion and a vote until the next City Council meeting on Tuesday.
The parliamentary procedure to “defer and publish,” which aldermen have called “routine,” requires the support of at least two aldermen and would delay a vote on the proposed budget until the next City Council meeting, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, less than 24 hours after the Monday meeting.
Vote on 2021 budget expected Tuesday as some aldermen voice early defenses of their votes
Aldermen are expected to vote on the proposed 2021 budget on Tuesday, and Alds. Andre Vasquez (...
NOV 20, 2020
Ald. Pat Dowell (3) got a standing ovation from aldermen on Thursday at the conclusion of the budget committee meeting in which aldermen gave an OK to the city’s proposed 2021 spending plan.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposed $12.8 billion spending plan for 2021 on Thursday cleared the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations on a 26-8 vote, drawing support from the minimum number of aldermen the ordinance would need for approval in the whole City Council.
And despite a brief skirmish, the proposed management ordinance, which among other measures, creates a controversial new City Council Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, also passed with near-unanimous support.
2021 spending plan, management ordinance clear committee, teeing up final City Council vote
Ald. Pat Dowell (3) got a standing ovation from aldermen on Thursday at the conclusion of the bu...
NOV 19, 2020
Ald. Scott Waguespack (32), who chairs the City Council Committee on Finance, led the committee meeting on Wednesday and voted in favor of the proposed property tax increase.Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposed $94 million property tax increase, a critical component of her 2021 budget plan, gained enough support on Wednesday to pass out of committee, putting it on course for a vote by the full City Council on Monday. Support for the property tax hike (O2020-5747) came just one day after aldermen took turns telling city budget officials to find other ideas to raise revenue.
Property tax increase clears finance committee despite continued critiques from aldermen
Ald. Scott Waguespack (32), who chairs the City Council Committee on Finance, led the committee...
NOV 18, 2020
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Alds. Scott Waguespack (32) and Tom Tunney (44) on Monday announced the proposal to cap delivery fees on takeout ordersA proposal to cap delivery fees on takeout food orders in an attempt to help financially struggling restaurants could be in place before Thanksgiving, but delivery companies are not keen on the proposal.
Aldermen hopeful proposed cap on delivery fees for takeout orders could be in place by Thanksgiving
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Alds. Scott Waguespack (32) and Tom Tunney (44) on Monday announced th...
NOV 18, 2020
The city’s Chief Financial Officer Jennie Huang Bennett and Budget Director Susie Park on Tuesday answered questions on the proposed property tax increase.Aldermen on Tuesday rallied against Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposal to raise property taxes by $93.9 million and tie future increases to the consumer price index, measures the mayor has said are necessary to close the historic budget gap the city faces headed into 2021.
Aldermen call on city to keep looking for alternatives to proposed $94M property tax increase
The city’s Chief Financial Officer Jennie Huang Bennett and Budget Director Susie Park on Tuesd...
NOV 12, 2020
Corporation Counsel Mark Flessner on Tuesday addressed aldermen during a hearing on the department’s budget.A letter that Corporation Counsel Mark Flessner sent aldermen in September warning against demanding companies do more to meet the city’s minority hiring rules was back in the limelight Tuesday during the Department of Law budget hearing.
Aldermen press city’s top lawyer on September letter warning against pushing for minority hiring beyond city goals
Corporation Counsel Mark Flessner on Tuesday addressed aldermen during a hearing on the departm...
NOV 12, 2020
It’s been three weeks since Mayor Lori Lightfoot introduced her 2021 budget proposal, and now aldermen say negotiations on funding and spending begin.As the ordinance for Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposed 2021 budget will be presented next week, aldermen say now is when the grinding out of what will eventually become the city’s 2021 budget occurs.
With City Council departmental budget proposal hearings complete, ‘now the negotiations will begin in earnest’
It’s been three weeks since Mayor Lori Lightfoot introduced her 2021 budget proposal, and now a...
NOV 11, 2020
News in Brief: CFL pitches budget savings to prevent layoffs; Public health department introduces tiered risk level travel order map
TDL Chicago Morning Briefs: Wednesday, November 11th
News in Brief: CFL pitches budget savings to prevent layoffs; Public health department introduces...
NOV 11, 2020
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, including Chief Administrator Sydney Roberts answered budget questions on Tuesday.Despite a drop early in the pandemic, the office that investigates police misconduct complaints is on track to receive about 5,500 complaints this year, in line what it saw in 2019, due to a "spike in complaints" over the summer "as a result of civil unrest," the office’s Chief Administrator Sydney Roberts told aldermen on Tuesday.
Aldermen press COPA and Chicago Police Board on volume of complaints, cases
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, including Chief Administrator Sydney Roberts answ...
NOV 10, 2020
Mamadou Diakhate, acting executive director of the Commission on Animal Care and Control, addressed aldermen during a budget hearing on Monday.
Coyotes and other wildlife roaming Chicago neighborhoods proved a topic of concern among aldermen during a City Council hearing on the Commission on Animal Care and Control on Monday.
The city’s animal care and control department has responded to 2,001 calls for coyotes and 1,039 calls related to raccoons, possums and skunks, acting Executive Director Mamadou Diakhate told aldermen on Monday.
Coyotes, raccoons and ‘barnyard animals’ a major complaint of aldermen during animal control budget hearing
Mamadou Diakhate, acting executive director of the Commission on Animal Care and Control, addres...
NOV 10, 2020
News in brief: Lightfoot congratulates Morita on Biden Coronavirus Task Force position; Brookins legal defense of former colleague triggers ethics review
TDL Chicago Morning Briefs: Tuesday, November 10th
News in brief: Lightfoot congratulates Morita on Biden Coronavirus Task Force position; Brookins ...
NOV 09, 2020
Department of Streets and Sanitation Comm. John Tully, along with the department’s deputy commissioners, addressed aldermen on Friday.City officials on Friday suggested implementing a city composting program as a potential solution to address the city’s paltry recycling rate, which continues to hover near 9 percent.
Composting could help improve Chicago low-performing recycling program, officials say
Department of Streets and Sanitation Comm. John Tully, along with the department’s deputy commi...
Bio
Covering Chicago City Hall for @thedailylinechi. Send tips to [email protected]. More coffee, always.
