A coalition of Chicago alderpeople and advocacy groups unveiled a sweeping "Senior Tenants Bill of Rights" on Wednesday, aiming to address widespread complaints of neglect in housing for residents aged 60 and older. The ordinance (O2025-0018701), spearheaded by Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20), would impose strict new requirements on landlords and revive a standalone Department on Aging, separating it from the Department of Family and Support Services for the first time since 2011.

A proposal to legalize accessory dwelling units (ADUs) citywide without requiring zoning changes was “deferred and published” during Wednesday’s City Council meeting, delaying a final vote until at least September.

A compromise ordinance (O2025-0016750) from Ald. Bennet Lawson (44) was scheduled for a vote after the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards approved the ordinance Tuesday, but opponents Ald. Marty Quinn (13) and Ald. Greg Mitchell (7) successfully moved to stall the measure.

As summer approaches, Chicago’s Public Safety Committee will meet Wednesday to discuss whether to grant the city expanded authority to impose emergency curfews in response to large-scale teen gatherings.

At a press conference, Governor JB Pritzker is comparing real nerds, with those containing THC (provided via X)

Governor JB Pritzker announced his support for House Bill 4293 at a press conference on Friday. The bill would regulate hemp derived THC in a method similar to cannabis. Back in May the Illinois Senate passed the bill 54-1 which would have limited hemp-derived intoxicating THC sales to state-licensed cannabis dispensaries. The accompanying House Bill 4293 didn’t find any traction and the session ended without a vote.  

“Over the past five years an unregulated and unsafe market has been developing fueled by companies circumventing legislation and exploiting loopholes.” said the Governor, he compared two products advertised as “nerds” one that contains THC and another that does not claiming that hemp derived THC companies are “using deceptive advertising tactics to market them directly to minors.”

“Public funding of healthcare coverage for the uninsured pays for itself in a panoply of benefits that reach well beyond the individuals who receive such assistance.” 

So says the “The Benefits of Health Coverage for Immigrants in Illinois” report conducted by the Great Cities Institute (CGI) at the University of Illinois Chicago, commissioned by the Healthy Illinois Campaign and released Friday at a symposium at the North Lawndale Employment Network offices. 

Lincoln Park may move a step closer to getting its first dispensary following a key committee vote this Tuesday. 

The City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards will consider the proposal during its 10 a.m. meeting in City Council chambers.

Fred Tsao of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights speaks during a Cook County Board of Commissioners Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee hearing on Wednesday.

A decade-old firewall designed to prevent the U.S. Office of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from getting ahold of Cook County data hasn’t stopped the federal agency from trying anyway, and county officials are straining to reinforce confidence that some data won’t slip through the cracks.

In Fiscal Year 2020, ICE issued more than 1,000 detainer requests to Cook County, which Cook County law enforcement agencies rejected due to the county’s sanctuary policies. The Cook County Board of Commissioners’ Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee met for a hearing Wednesday to investigate whether ICE is bypassing the county’s sanctuary protections through the use of data brokers.

The tent city at Belmont Avenue and the Kennedy Expressway in November 2019. [Mina Bloom/Block Club Chicago]

Chicago leaders are seizing on tens of millions of dollars in federal cash to expand the city’s homeless shelter network, but they acknowledged the endeavor will still only reach a fraction of Chicago’s population experiencing homelessness.

The city’s Department of Family and Support Services Comm. Brandie Knazze detailed the expansion of the city’s shelter system through the conversion of hotels and motels during Monday’s meeting of the City Council’s Subcommittee on the Chicago Recovery Plan. The meeting was the fourth of six meetings being held by aldermen to check in on the city’s spending of Chicago’s federal stimulus dollars as a part of the Chicago Recovery Plan.

Chicago Park District leaders also used the meeting to describe how they are using federal funds to expand the system’s infrastructure, and cycling advocates seized on the meeting to demand safer streets.

Amber Ritter of the Chicago Department of Aviation shows plans for the demolition of a telecommunications building that will be replaced with a new passenger concourse.

A key step in the $8.5 billion O’Hare 21 airport expansion plan was passed through a City Council committee on Wednesday. 

The City Council Committee on Aviation convened virtually to take up an ordinance that would advance one part of the airport redevelopment initiative. The ordinance (O2022-1703), proposed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, would grant a limited ground lease to AT&T so the company can replace the airport's copper wiring with fiber while gradually moving their office site out of the airport.