Erin Hegarty

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.
APR 14, 2021

Lincoln Towing, based at 4882 N. Clark St. in the 47th Ward, has kept its business license despite attempts by state regulators to shut it down.

Aldermen are poised on Wednesday to consider an ordinance designed to rein in towing companies that have long been accused of predatory or duplicitous behavior against drivers.

The City Council’s Committee on License and Consumer Protection is scheduled during its 2 p.m. meeting on Wednesday to consider an ordinance (O2020-4817) introduced late last year by Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) that would require towing companies to apply for licenses with the city.

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Aldermen to consider licensing ordinance to crack down on ‘predatory’ towing companies

Lincoln Towing, based at 4882 N. Clark St. in the 47th Ward, has kept its business license despit...
APR 09, 2021

News in brief: Aldermen approve ordinance protecting Chicago’s 16 ‘traditional parades;’ Arwady: ‘Big drop’ in vaccine doses driven by ‘spoiled’ Johnson & Johnson batch   

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APR 08, 2021
Mayor Lori Lightfoot responds to results of the Chicago Index survey during a news conference on Wednesday

The city is headed in the wrong direction and its political leaders likely aren’t helping, according to the results of a new statistical survey of more than 2,000 Chicago-area residents published Wednesday.

With just 16 percent of respondents rating her “good or excellent,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot got the poorest marks of almost any public official included in the inaugural report of the Chicago Index, a quarterly sentiment index produced by The Daily Line, Crain’s and ABC7.

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Lightfoot ‘not surprised’ she and City Council scored poorly on inaugural Chicago Index survey

Mayor Lori Lightfoot responds to results of the Chicago Index survey during a news conference on ...
APR 08, 2021

News in brief: Dowell launches Secretary of State election campaign; Pritzker, Blackhawks make joint announcement 

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News in brief: Dowell launches Secretary of State election campaign; Pritzker, Blackhawks make joint announcement

News in brief: Dowell launches Secretary of State election campaign; Pritzker, Blackhawks make jo...
APR 08, 2021

News in brief: Dowell launches Secretary of State election campaign; aldermen to consider parade ordinance; Lightfoot announces 10 libraries with expanded Sunday hours 

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APR 05, 2021

News in brief: CTA tests electric buses; Pritzker signs CTU bargaining bill 

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News in brief: CTA tests electric buses; Pritzker signs CTU bargaining bill

News in brief: CTA tests electric buses; Pritzker signs CTU bargaining bill 
APR 02, 2021

News in brief: Emissions decline from large buildings, but schools lag; Chicago ‘probably will’ see delay in Johnson & Johnson vaccine: Arwady 

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News in brief: Emissions decline from large buildings, but schools lag; Chicago ‘probably will’ see delay in Johnson & Johnson vaccine: Arwady

News in brief: Emissions decline from large buildings, but schools lag; Chicago ‘probably will’ s...
APR 01, 2021

News in brief: City opens ‘state of the art’ West Pullman firehouse; Lightfoot says she wants casino ‘entertainment district; BACP fires warning shot at businesses 

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MAR 31, 2021

News in brief: Two new mass vaccination sites to open April 5; City launches human trafficking awareness campaign 

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News in brief: Two new mass vaccination sites to open April 5; City launches human trafficking awareness campaign

News in brief: Two new mass vaccination sites to open April 5; City launches human trafficking aw...
MAR 19, 2021

News in brief: snow shoveling restriction advances; Aldermen to consider increased penalties, fines for drag racing, drifting 

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News in brief: snow shoveling restriction advances; Aldermen to consider increased penalties, fines for drag racing, drifting

News in brief: snow shoveling restriction advances; Aldermen to consider increased penalties, fin...
SEP 27, 2022
Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during a news conference Monday.

Flanked by other city officials and downtown leaders, Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday unveiled a new plan to offer city funding to revitalize downtown’s LaSalle Street Corridor and add virtually nonexistent affordable housing to the city’s center.

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City will offer TIF dollars, other incentives to bring housing and businesses to LaSalle Street

Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during a news conference Monday. Flanked by other city officials and ...
SEP 26, 2022
Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during a news conference last week. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line]

Three aldermen last week proposed measures that would retool the salaries and pay raises for members of the City Council, but Ald. Greg Mitchell (7) sent two of the measures to the council’s rules committee, effectively placing the proposals in purgatory.

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Aldermen block proposals to rethink aldermanic salary, Lightfoot cold on City Council choosing committee chairs

Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during a news conference last week. [Erin Hegarty/The Daily Line] Thr...
SEP 23, 2022
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) speaks during a committee hearing Thursday.

As a preview of budget discussions to come in the next few weeks, aldermen on Thursday prodded city officials on a potential new way to fill vacancies in the Chicago Police Department.

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Aldermen examine CPD leave of absence policy as another potential way to fill officer vacancies

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) speaks during a committee hearing Thursday. As a preview of budget discuss...
SEP 22, 2022
Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43) stands beside Mayor Lori Lightfoot after Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

The City Council in a split vote on Wednesday approved a controversial plan for a Chicago Fire soccer training facility to be built on land formerly occupied by public housing and delayed a vote on a proposal to allow banning of cars citywide.

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Plan for Chicago Fire soccer facility nets approval despite concerns from aldermen, Knudsen confirmed as alderman

Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43) stands beside Mayor Lori Lightfoot after Wednesday’s City Council meeting...
SEP 21, 2022
Timmy Knudsen speaks during a committee meeting Tuesday.

Timmy Knudsen is set to be confirmed as Chicago’s newest alderman during Wednesday’s City Council meeting when aldermen are also set to consider a slew of additional measures approved by committees in the past month including a proposal that would allow booting of cars citywide.

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City Council to vote on new 43rd Ward alderman, citywide booting proposal

Timmy Knudsen speaks during a committee meeting Tuesday. Timmy Knudsen is set to be confirmed as ...
SEP 21, 2022
Proposal for the Chicago Fire soccer facility [City of Chicago]

The City Council’s zoning committee on Tuesday blocked a controversial proposal for a Chicago Fire soccer facility on the former site of public housing, but the committee will reconvene Wednesday morning to “reconsider” the proposal, Ald. Tom Tunney (44), who chairs the committee, said Tuesday.

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Zoning committee will ‘reconsider’ Chicago Fire soccer facility proposal after aldermen initially block its passage

Proposal for the Chicago Fire soccer facility [City of Chicago] The City Council’s zoning committ...
SEP 20, 2022
Aldermen during a Monday committee meeting approved funding for Grace Manor in the 24th Ward. [City of Chicago]

Aldermen on Monday approved paying $25.9 million for four settlements including a $15 million payment to the family of a woman who was killed during a police chase in 2020.

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Aldermen send $25.9M in settlement payments, millions in funding for affordable housing to council for final approval

Aldermen during a Monday committee meeting approved funding for Grace Manor in the 24th Ward. [Ci...
SEP 20, 2022
The Chicago Plan Commission last week approved plans for the Chicago Fire soccer training facility [City of Chicago]

The City Council Committee on Zoning, Building and Landmark Standards on Tuesday will consider plans for a Chicago Fire soccer training facility to be built on land formerly occupied by public housing, marking the controversial proposal’s likely last stop before a final vote in City Council.

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Zoning committee will consider plans for Chicago Fire soccer facility, controversial Chatham car wash

The Chicago Plan Commission last week approved plans for the Chicago Fire soccer training facilit...
SEP 19, 2022
Timmy Knudsen [Friends of Timmy Knudsen]

Timmy Knudsen could become Chicago’s newest alderman if his potential new colleagues approve his appointment during a committee meeting Tuesday.

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Lightfoot picks zoning board’s Timmy Knudsen as new 43rd Ward alderman

Timmy Knudsen [Friends of Timmy Knudsen] Timmy Knudsen could become Chicago’s newest alderman if ...
SEP 19, 2022
Tobara Richardson speaks during a committee meeting.

Tobara Richardson is one step closer to becoming the city’s new deputy inspector general for public safety following approval from a key committee last week.

The City Council Committee on Public Safety approved Inspector General Deborah Witzburg’s nomination (A2022-127) of Richardson and discussed vacant civilian positions within the police department being filled with sworn officers.

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Committee sends deputy inspector general for public safety nomination to full City Council for approval

Tobara Richardson speaks during a committee meeting. Tobara Richardson is one step closer to beco...
SEP 19, 2022
Aldermen are set to consider payments to settle lawsuits against the police department.

The City Council Committee on Finance is scheduled to consider paying $25.9 million for four settlements, three of which are related to the Chicago Police Department including a $15 million payment to the family of a woman who was killed during a police chase in 2020.

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Finance committee to consider $25.9M in payments to settle lawsuits against CPD, the city

Aldermen are set to consider payments to settle lawsuits against the police department. The City ...
SEP 15, 2022

A key City Council committee on Wednesday approved more than $9.5 million in new grant allocations, the biggest of which will help fund a Department of Family Support Services’ program that helps aging Chicagoans.

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Aldermen approve $9.5M+ in new grant funding, local organizations concerned about federal grant dollars running dry

A key City Council committee on Wednesday approved more than $9.5 million in new grant allocation...
SEP 15, 2022
A rendering for the Chicago Fire soccer training facility [City of Chicago]

The Chicago Plan Commission during its monthly meeting Thursday will consider plans for a controversial Chicago Fire soccer training facility proposed for a vacant site of a former public housing development.

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Plan Commission to consider controversial proposal for Chicago Fire soccer facility on site of former ABLA Homes

A rendering for the Chicago Fire soccer training facility [City of Chicago] The Chicago Plan Comm...
SEP 14, 2022
Aldermen approved the sale of the former Northtown branch of the Chicago Public Library.

A key committee on Tuesday approved the sale of the former home of Chicago Public Library’s Northtown Branch for a price more than $300,000 above the property’s appraised value.

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Aldermen give initial OK to sale of former Northtown library branch for more than $960K

Aldermen approved the sale of the former Northtown branch of the Chicago Public Library. A key co...
SEP 14, 2022
CTA President Dorval Carter speaks during a City Club event in August.

CTA officials are set on Wednesday to undergo questioning from aldermen about “inconsistent” bus and train service and delays on public transit.

The City Council Committee on Transportation and Public Way will hold the subject matter hearing during its 1 p.m. meeting. Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) called for the hearing in a resolution (R2022-688) he filed in June with the support of more than 30 other aldermen. 

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Aldermen to grill CTA leadership on ‘unreliable service’ and ‘inconsistent train schedules’ during committee hearing

CTA President Dorval Carter speaks during a City Club event in August. CTA officials are set on W...
SEP 14, 2022

A City Council committee on Tuesday approved the reappointment of a Chicago Park District commissioner. The budget committee is set to accept a grant for the city’s Department of Housing and hold a hearing on the city’s spending of American Rescue Plan dollars. And the aviation committee will consider a ground lease with AT&T.

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SEP 13, 2022
Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30) during a City Council meeting. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30) is hanging up his hat as alderman at the end of his term and won’t seek reelection next year.

Reboyras announced his retirement in an emailed statement Tuesday morning saying “now is the time for me to regain my position as your neighbor and community activist.”

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Ald. Ariel Reboyras won’t seek reelection next year, ending 20 years as 30th Ward alderman

Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30) during a City Council meeting. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line] Ald. Ariel R...
SEP 13, 2022
Chicago Public Library’s former Northtown branch [Joe Ward/Block Club]

The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate will meet Tuesday to consider the sale of four city-owned properties totaling just under $1 million.

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Housing committee to vote on sale of 4 city-owned properties including former Northtown library branch

Chicago Public Library’s former Northtown branch [Joe Ward/Block Club] The City Council Committee...
SEP 13, 2022

A City Council committee is scheduled on Tuesday to vote on appointments and reappointments to Special Service Area districts throughout the city. And another committee will vote on a park district board reappointment.

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SEP 12, 2022
Jessica Gutierrez launched her campaign outside her home on Saturday.

Jessica Gutierrez, daughter of former U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, stood outside her home on Saturday to announce that she plans to challenge Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30) for his seat on City Council for a second time.

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Jessica Gutierrez announces another challenge to Reboyras in 30th Ward, plus a look at 6th Ward candidates

Jessica Gutierrez launched her campaign outside her home on Saturday. Jessica Gutierrez, daughter...

Bio

Covering Chicago City Hall for @thedailylinechi. Send tips to [email protected]. More coffee, always.