Stacy Davis Gates owes the city of Chicago $5,579 in unpaid water, sewer and trash bills as of Nov. 7, 2023, despite bringing home “at least” $289,000 a year. Documents show Davis Gates started a payment plan for the amount in July 2023, but quickly defaulted. It’s unclear where she currently stands on the payments.

More than 220 police officers resigned from the Chicago Police Department (CPD) from January to August. Some officers worked 11 days in a row between April 1 and May 31. “Fact: cops are burnt out, they are not getting that needed time off, and they absolutely don’t have enough support from this mayor or superintendent. Period,” Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara declared in June.

The report also calls for up to $1.5 billion in new public transit funding. Said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, “In the system we now have, there are 47 board members across four boards appointed by 21 elected officials. It means that everyone and no one — no one — is responsible.”

According to a release from Ald. Ruth Cruz’s office, the city plans to move between 300 and 350 migrants into the former St. Bartholomew Catholic School in January. People want to see the school used for children in the community or to help house some of Chicago’s homeless residents.

It’s not the first time a Chicago politician is operating in the dark. But the actions of Mayor Brandon Johnson are conspicuous for the progressive union organizer who ascended to office on bold promises of cogovernance with the pantheon of Chicago’s political left who coalesced around him. Since taking office, Johnson moved largely outside public view to erect a now-scrapped tent encampment for newly arriving migrants on contaminated land, he and his Rules Committee chair walled off parts of council chambers—and entire floors of

The policy was amended by a committee Thursday to add more protection for small businesses. The change also delayed its implementation by six months.

It’s rare that the City Council would make changes to an ordinance so soon after it was approved, but the amendments reflect the concerns expressed by moderate members of the Council and the Black Caucus’ efforts to not severely impact small businesses in their wards.

Councilmember Devon Reid said affordable housing is a priority for him so increasing other costs, such as parking, is a better alternative to increasing property taxes. “Parking is a service that is provided by the city and I cannot think of another service … that is more heavily subsidized by taxpayers. We say we want to make Evanston friendly for folks. The way we discuss making Evanston friendly is by giving free (overnight street) parking. To me, making Evanston friendly for families is to make sure folks have housing.”

“For months, I’ve been relentlessly trying to get the Mayor’s Office to see that this site was no longer a peaceful encampment but rather a magnet for violent crime and drugs,” Ald. Bill Conway said. A top mayoral aide said the city could do more but would only act if Conway agreed to vote in favor of two of the mayor’s pet projects.

The parking area south of Soldier Field includes a garage and a ground-level lot. The area is party central for tailgating fans. The area once was recommended by a mayoral task force as the site of the proposed Lucas Museum.

Local elementary school districts are preparing to raise their portion of the overall property tax bill mostly at a rate of 5% heading into next year, adhering to overall taxing guidelines. Local elementary school districts represent the largest portion of the property tax bill.

“Stacy Davis Gates’ tenure as CTU president has been filled with controversy, from taking a homestead exemption on an Indiana home she doesn’t live in to killing school choice for low-income kids while putting her own son in private school. CTU has also come under fire from its own members for potentially misappropriating members’ dues for politics…She spurns responsibility and accountability both in her role as CTU president and in her daily life, while pushing for ‘wealthy’ taxpayers to pay their ‘fair share.'”

According to The Magnificent Mile Association, a record $31.7 million in revenue was set in November on a single day, coinciding with the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. And though smash-and-grabs are spiking, thefts on the Mile are down overall. Through November, there have been 542 thefts; last year, there were 595. Pre-pandemic, there were 1,095 retail thefts on the Mag Mile in 2017, and 1,083 in 2018.

Liberal lawmakers in Chicago are furious with how Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson has responded to tens of thousands of immigrants who have descended on the city after illegally crossing the border and are calling for the resignations of more than half a dozen city officials.