“This is not a “What about Chicago?” argument in the face of police violence. It’s a challenge to apply the same assumptions about cultural influence that propel social media activism about police violence to another form of violence that kills black men.”

Chicago’s population has shrunk by about 33,000 over the last five years—nearly three times more than Detroit’s. What a sad irony that the Chicago politicians who disdained Walmart for so long now beg the company to stay even as bad governance and crime drive more people away.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and first lady Amy Eshleman: “Our youth need mentors, as well as peers, to expand their social networks, to help guide their growth, help inspire the development of their talents and provide critical supports as they plot a path forward to futures that they define.That is especially important during the summer.”

Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya said she began researching the tax breaks about a year ago after becoming concerned that developers weren’t living up to their commitments. “Developers should be held accountable.” These incentives “should not be used to harm communities, to violate their trust, to violate their right to breathe.”

But in some neighborhoods like Little Village, where sidewalk space is tight, owners say al fresco dining isn’t possible, or the costs associated with the permit aren’t worth it because of the limited space.

Most South Side neighborhoods don’t have outdoor cafes — often because the sidewalk isn’t wide enough. That chokes economic development during normal times, but during the pandemic it cuts off many South Side restaurants from one of their few available sources of income.

Lightfoot’s office said late Friday the mayor favored a subcommittee over a commission because it could be created “quickly” while serving the same purpose as a commission.

The tandem hit of a COVID-19 recession and recent civil unrest has the potential to stall the central area’s growth trajectory.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said Friday it had cut ties with a University of Chicago economics professor who was a scholar at the bank, following his criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Harald Uhlig has drawn condemnation for his comments about the Black Lives Matter movement and calls to defund U.S. police departments. The Chicago Fed said it terminated Mr. Uhlig’s contract effective Friday.

The city is still waiting to see what impact, if any, recent protests over the police killing of George Floyd will have on coronavirus cases in Chicago… But Arwady noted many protesters have worn masks — and people have gathered in other ways amid the warming weather, which also increases the risk of spreading coronavirus.

Chicago Deputy Mayor of Economic Development Samir Mayekar told FOX Business, “Cities, unlike the federal government, we have to balance our books. [Mayor Lightfoot] has two principles in mind … making sure that the most vulnerable populations of the city aren’t impacted. … She’s focused on making sure we’re not driving business out of the city.”

“The first round of federal stimulus funding was pretty favorable to transit,” said Chicago transportation expert Joe Schwieterman. “But we just don’t know how long this downturn is going to last. And our system is quite dependent on farebox revenue.”

The suit filed in Cook County Circuit Court asks a judge to order the City Council to follow the Open Meetings Act by holding such meetings in public and providing advance notice, agendas and an opportunity for public comment. It also seeks the release of minutes and/or recordings of all such meetings.

Truth in Accounting Founder and CEO Sheila Weinberg said Chicago’s pension plans are the worst in the country due to one key reason. “Unlike most cities, who are trying to properly fund their systems, Chicago contributions were less than half of the amount their actuaries said should have been paid into the systems.”

Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41st) drafted a City Council resolution calling for a pilot program that would ask pro-defunding aldermen to agree to remove at least half the police personnel and other resources within their wards, so they can be “evenly redistributed” to aldermen who want more cops in their areas.

Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer says the agency pays for itself with money from selling the homes it buys. In effect, Gainer says, that means taxpayers aren’t paying the salary or bonuses given to Rose to run the agency and oversee its staff of county employees, who work in the county building at 69 W. Washington St. in the Loop.

“I wish Lightfoot had thoroughly investigated this one before she torched the cops at a news conference. But under pressure she needed to focus attention away from City Hall. And she trusted Bobby Rush.”