Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi has blamed the Cook County Board of Review for creating higher residential tax bills this year due to its appeal decisions that reduced assessment valuations of some large downtown commercial properties, leaving many homeowners to unexpectedly bear more of the tax burden.

Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin violated the city’s ethics code by firing two top aides who alleged she repeatedly misused taxpayer resources and pressured public employees to help her political allies, according to a finding of probable cause by the city’s Board of Ethics.

Ald. Bill Conway is crying foul after Johnson’s administration said they would have the city remove the tents in which people are sleeping downtown only if Conway voted in favor of two pillars of the mayor’s progressive policy agenda: an increased real estate transfer tax and an end to the tipped wage for restaurant workers. And an official in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is taking the unusual step of acknowledging the would-be quid pro quo took place, calling it a typical example of “how political will is created.”

In 2023, there have been at least 256 reported hate crimes as of Oct. 31, compared to 206 for the full year of 2022. Alleged anti-Jewish crimes are headed toward last year’s total number of crimes, while anti-Muslim hate crimes are already more than three times the number reported in all of 2022.

Ted Dabrowski of Wirepoints said that crime is increasing due to a lack of support for the men and women in uniform. “I think the issue continues to be police morale and police support,” he said. “I still believe they are not confident that their backs are being taken care of, and I mean that because prosecutors continue to focus more on letting criminals go.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says he continues his push for democracy on the Chicago School board, even though lawmakers didn’t pass legislation during their most recent session.

“We are hovering over 50%…51 to 55%, which is higher than the average across the country which is more like in the high 40s,” said Michael Edwards, of the Chicago Loop Alliance. Edwards said how people get downtown is also important, and he said that’s why the Chicago Transit Authority needs to be safer with more consistent service.

The operating budget is 4.9% higher than the 2023 budget, excluding $65 million in added costs that will be reimbursed by Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. The increase is largely driven by expected inflationary and contractual increases.

“Central to the perniciously high number of shootings in Chicago is the reluctance of people to report to the Chicago Police Department the identities of shooters and their associates. We can see this in action: in 2022, just 12% of all reported crimes resulted in an arrest, the lowest in the past decade. In murder cases, arrests were made in just 57% of cases.”

“Council has faced proposals that were not adequately vetted by our local businesses, and as result serious mistakes were made (resulting in) both time and money being wasted deliberating without their input,” Councilmember Clare Kelly said.

A vertical shopping mall in the center of Chicago’s Loop business district is for sale, a move that puts a high-profile retail property on the market during a slowdown in sales throughout the country.

New rules ban profane, vulgar, threatening, abusive or disruptive language. Also out: banners, signs, large bags, sharp objects and beverages.

“We are a village of 54,000 and we have hoped that Cook County would step up and lead an effort that we could participate in, that Chicago could lead an effort that we could participate in,” Trustee Brian Straw said. He said “it’s time” for Oak Park to be a leader, and “work on stepping out in front so we can bring along our neighboring communities.” Village Manager Kevin Jackson said money could come from the American Rescue Plan Act fund.

The new law alters the existing city sick leave requirement creating two separate categories for required paid time off– five general paid leave days and five paid sick leave days. Adding complications for employers, the varying types of leave will have different rules for initial eligibility, minimum usage, rollover and payout upon termination.

“On more than one issue, Johnson and his City Council allies thus far have made a show of hearing business out and then plowing ahead with initiatives that either raise taxes or impose new requirements on companies which essentially have the same effect. Of course, what Johnson and his progressive supporters are beginning to realize is that business owners don’t simply sit pat and pull out their wallets when the taxman gets this aggressive. They pivot. They respond. In some cases, they just close down.”

The pension bill — approved last week during the Legislature’s veto session — will grant 3% cost-of-living increases for all retired Chicago police officers, regardless of whether they were born before or after Jan. 1, 1966. Pritzker in 2021 signed into law a similar measure that boosted pensions for retired firefighters.