Justin Laurence

Bio

Politics and Government Reporter at Crain’s Chicago Business. [email protected]
SEP 09, 2021
A rendering of plans for the old Sears site at 4730 W. Irving Park Road. [Novak Construction/MG2 Architects]

This article was first published in Block Club Chicago.

The massive Six Corners Sears development cleared a major hurdle Wednesday, overcoming disagreement about the lack of affordable units which led to one alderman pushing to halt the project.

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Six Corners Sears project nears City Council approval after surviving affordable housing debate

A rendering of plans for the old Sears site at 4730 W. Irving Park Road. [Novak Construction/MG2 ...
JUN 18, 2021
Aldermen during an April 2021 City Council meeting. [Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times/pool]

This article was published in collaboration with Block Club Chicago.

CHICAGO — Chicago no longer has aldermen — at least according to a bill signed by Gov. JB Pritzker Thursday.

The bill, which was primarily introduced to expand voting options and move the state’s 2022 primary from March 15 to June 28, also called for the elimination of the term used to describe Chicago City Council members for 184 years. Now, the gender neutral “alderperson” will be used to describe city elected officials in state legislative materials.

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State Adopts ‘Alderperson’ To Describe Chicago City Council Members — But Some Alderpeople Aren’t Thrilled

Aldermen during an April 2021 City Council meeting. [Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times/pool] This art...
JAN 18, 2021
Logan Square dispensary, Blue Line power station approved by Zoning Board

A second Logan Square weed dispensary could soon open in a former bank building after a key city permit was approved Friday. 

The Zoning Board of Appeals approved a special-use permit for Chicago-based PharmaCann to open a dispensary under its Verilife brand in the Logan Square Trust & Savings Bank building, 2551 N. Milwaukee Ave. 

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Logan Square dispensary, Blue Line power station approved by Zoning Board

Logan Square dispensary, Blue Line power station approved by Zoning Board A second Logan Square w...
FEB 18, 2022
Chicago Department of Planning and Development Comm. Maurice Cox presents an update on the “We Will” planning initiative on Thursday.

The Chicago Plan Commission received an update on Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s  “We Will Chicago” citywide planning initiative on Thursday, which marked the last meeting for the commission’s chair and vice chair. 

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‘We Will’ planning initiative needed for Lightfoot’s vision to be ‘embedded into public policy:’ planning commissioner

Chicago Department of Planning and Development Comm. Maurice Cox presents an update on the “We Wi...
DEC 16, 2021
Emails show Mayor Lori Lightfoot learning about the wrongful police raid of Anjanette Young's home in November of 2019. The emails also show efforts by the Chicago Police Department to block the release of body camera footage.

This article originally published in Block Club Chicago.

An outside investigation of the city’s response to the Anjanette Young raid found “failures in oversight and accountability” by the four city departments responsible for responding to the aftermath of the search.

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Anjanette Young raid investigation finds city failed in oversight — but Lightfoot didn’t ‘purposefully’ conceal evidence

Emails show Mayor Lori Lightfoot learning about the wrongful police raid of Anjanette Young's hom...
DEC 03, 2021
The Latino Caucus and its supporters signed paperwork Thursday to put their ward map proposal up for a referendum vote next year. [Justin Laurence/Block Club Chicago]

Saying “it’s time for the voters” to decide, City Council’s Latino Caucus and its supporters signed paperwork Thursday to put their ward map proposal up for a referendum vote next year.

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Latino Caucus puts its ward map proposal up for referendum: ‘It’s time for the voters to decide’

The Latino Caucus and its supporters signed paperwork Thursday to put their ward map proposal up ...
NOV 16, 2021
The Chicago skyline part of the North Side seen at sunrise over Welles Park on Oct. 23, 2021. [Colin Boyle/Block Club]

This article was originally published by Block Club Chicago.

Facing criticism over a lack of transparency, a City Council committee will hold at least one more public hearing for residents to give input on a new ward map that will shape the city’s politics for the next decade.

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Chicagoans will get another chance to weigh in on city ward remap this week

The Chicago skyline part of the North Side seen at sunrise over Welles Park on Oct. 23, 2021. [Co...

Bio

Politics and Government Reporter at Crain’s Chicago Business. [email protected]