News in brief: House set to delay return; Peters to chair new permanent Sente committee Via @joelebert29

Madigan raised more than $1M after string of ComEd indictments, records show 

In the weeks after four former Commonwealth Edison executives and lobbyists were charged in an alleged bribery conspiracy and before former House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) halted his bid for a 19th term, the powerful South Side Democrat continued to rake in money, campaign finance records show.  

Last month, Madigan’s personal campaign committee, known as Friends of Michael J. Madigan, received more than $1 million, according to his most recent financial disclosure.  

News in brief: Aldermen pass ‘COP House’ proposal over Lightfoot’s objection; aldermen eligible for vaccinations 

Approved anti-displacement ordinances set floor on housing density in Pilsen, 606 area 

Aldermen on Tuesday overwhelmingly advanced a pair of measures aimed at stemming displacement in gentrifying neighborhoods despite reservations from some council members who said the new rules could bump into legal challenges.  

Under the companion ordinances (O2020-6206, O2020-6207) introduced by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, developers would need to apply for zoning changes in order to create single-family homes in parts of the Pilsen and the Near Northwest Side that are zoned for multi-family housing. Long advocated by the Logan Square Neighborhood Association and other housing organizers, the measures are designed to slow the conversion of small, naturally-affordable apartment buildings into million-dollar single-family homes. 

Cook county tenant protections on fast-track to approval after unanimous committee vote 

Cook County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously endorsed a sweeping proposal to iron out legal protections for renters across the county’s suburbs, signaling its near-certain final approval this week after more than six months of grinding negotiations. 

Commissioners voted 15-0 to advance the Cook County Residential Tenant and Landlord Ordinance (20-3562) out of the county board’s Zoning and Building Committee after incorporating the latest of a half-dozen revisions aimed at softening the blow on landlords. If approved again by the full Board of Commissioners on Thursday, the ordinance will go into full effect on June 1. 

‘Welcoming City’ ordinance, hiked pollution fees set for final approval in first City Council meeting of 2021 

The City Council is poised to solidify legal protections for undocumented immigrants, raise fines on scofflaw industrial polluters and try to slow displacement in gentrifying neighborhoods among dozens of measures set for approval during their first regular meeting of the new year on Wednesday. 

The “Welcoming City” proposal, proposed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and a handful of aldermen, would eliminate carve-outs in existing sanctuary city rules that allowed police to cooperate with federal immigration agents in some cases. The newer ordinance strikes language that has allowed such cooperation in cases that involve any suspect who has an “outstanding criminal warrant,” has been charged or convicted of a felony or “has been identified as a known gang member.” 

News in brief: Turner appointed to Senate; Durkin announces House GOP leadership team; State launches vaccination website  

Pritzker defends state’s vaccine distribution efforts as Illinois falls behind other states 

Marking the start of Illinois’ next phase of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday celebrated the opening of a new mass vaccination site in a southwest suburb of Chicago while defending the state’s approach to coordinating immunizations. 

Appearing at the new vaccination site at the Tinley Park Convention Center, Pritzker heralded the state’s early vaccination efforts. “Nearly three-quarters of a million doses of vaccine have been administered in Illinois already,” he said, calling the start of Phase 1B, which began Monday, “an exciting development.” 

Pilsen, 606 ‘deconversion’ ordinances set for approval as potential demolition fee follow-up looms 

A pair of hard-fought ordinances aimed at preventing the loss of affordable apartments in gentrifying parts of the city is set to clear a crucial hurdle on Tuesday, as advocates say they are closing in on a follow-up proposal that would take their campaign even further. 

Under the companion ordinances (O2020-6206, O2020-6207) introduced by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, developers would need to apply for zoning changes in order to create single-family homes in parts of the Pilsen and the Near Northwest Side that are zoned for multi-family housing. Long advocated by the Logan Square Neighborhood Association and other housing organizers, the measures are designed to slow the conversion of small, naturally-affordable apartment buildings into million-dollar single-family homes. 

Cook County tenant protection ordinance primed for vote after fresh round of tweaks 

A proposal to extend a version of Chicago’s tenant protection rules across Cook County is on track for preliminary approval on Tuesday, capping off more than six months of intense back-and-forth lobbying between housing organizers and real estate groups. 

The Cook County Board of Commissioners Zoning and Building Committee is scheduled at 2 p.m. Tuesday to vote on an updated draft the Residential Tenant and Landlord Ordinance (20-3562) that would give landlords slightly more leeway than a version that narrowly missed a vote last month. 

$56M O’Hare project sails through committee after contractor elevates Black-owned construction firm 

Aldermen pushed forward a $56 million proposal on Monday to boost O’Hare Airport’s cargo freight capacity, signaling a fresh vote of confidence in the city’s chosen contractor months after council members blasted the firm over its record on hiring workers of color. 

Members of the City Council Committee on Aviation voted unanimously to approve a 35-year lease agreement (O2020-3997) with Aeroterm so it can build and operate the final phase of its Northeast Cargo Campus expansion on the airport grounds. Separately on Monday, aldermen on the council’s Committee on Finance voted unanimously to authorize the city to issue bonds (O2020-3996) to cover the cost of the project. 

Aldermen blast Metra over minority hiring, station maintenance before approving Fulton Market TIF agreement 

Aldermen on Monday nearly scuttled a deal allowing Metra to use tax-increment financing (TIF) for a study on railroad crossings in Fulton Market after they tore into the transit agency over its record on hiring minority-owned firms and the deteriorating condition of some of its stations.  

The City Council Committee on Finance during its meeting on Monday eventually approved the intergovernmental agreement (O2020-6213) with Metra among several other ordinances, but aldermen shelved an ordinance (O2020-5785) waiving permit fees for construction, demolition and renovations of public buildings undertaken by Chicago Public Schools and its contractors. 

Pritzker urges caution as regions loosen restrictions, vaccine distribution remains slow

Even as new strains of COVID-19 have entered Illinois in recent weeks and vaccine distribution  remains sluggish, the state is moving forward with easing restrictions on businesses and gatherings. 

But state leaders are warning the increased mitigation measures could be back if residents aren’t cautious.  

Aldermen to take 2nd pass at $56M O’Hare Airport contract hobbled over lack of diverse hiring  

Aldermen are poised on Monday to revisit a $56 million agreement to expand O’Hare Airport’s cargo capacity four months after the measure hit a wall amid backlash from aldermen who cried foul over the contractor’s poor record on hiring Black-owned firms.  

The City Council Committee on Aviation is scheduled during a 2 p.m. meeting on Monday to take up a 35-year lease agreement (O2020-3997) with Aeroterm so it can build and operate the final phase of its Northeast Cargo Campus expansion on the airport grounds. City aviation officials have credited two earlier phases of the project, completed in 2016, with expanding the airport’s cargo freight capacity by 20 percent. 

Aldermen demand answers on spike in carjackings: like ‘something out of a video game’ 

Aldermen on Friday took turns demanding answers from police on all aspects of carjackings and suggested strategies to combat the sharp uptick in the crime that has bedeviled Chicago and other cities across the country in the past year. 

The City Council Committee on Public Safety held a five-and-a-half hour subject matter hearing on the issue after Chicago was beset by carjackings, some violent, in 2020 with the trend continuing this year.  

News in brief: Senate delays return to session; Welch announces House Democrats’ leadership team 

News in brief: Hearing on increased carjackings will include range of law enforcement officials; Lightfoot wants Biden to prioritize more COVID vaccines 

News in brief: Steans to resign from Senate; Cook County vaccination sites launched 

‘Final step’ to converting Jefferson Park firehouse to brewery, apartments to be considered by aldermen  

Work to convert a Jefferson Park firehouse into a brewery and tasting room with apartments on the top floors could finally kick into gear this year if aldermen approve the sale of the property to the developer this month. 

The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate during its Wednesday meeting will consider the “negotiated as-is sale of City-owned property at 4841 N. Lipps Ave.” to Ambrosia Homes. According to the ordinance (O2020-5755), the sale is contingent on the developer removing environmental hazards, including lead paint and asbestos, from the property. 

Aldermen press health officials on vaccines, other grant funding as loose timeline emerges for citywide shots 

Chicago health officials will soon release information on how city workers can sign up for COVID-19 vaccine doses, they told anxious aldermen during a committee meeting Tuesday. 

The city is “getting very close” to widening its pool of residents eligible for vaccines beyond health care workers and nursing home residents and will then “make announcements about how people can sign up” for shots through an online platform, Chicago Department of Public Health Deputy Comm. Christina Anderson told members of the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations.