Day: April 25, 2024

Mayor Brandon Johnson defends his progressive credentials after supporting the Bears’ new stadium – WBEZ (Chicago)

“Having the opportunity to stand with billionaires, you could not have convinced me a decade ago that I would have the opportunity to do that,” Johnson said. “The fact that a middle child, 10 siblings, from a working class family is in a position to speak to the interests of everyday Chicagoans and challenge billionaires to put skin in the game — that’s what I promised that I would make sure happen.”

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Ald. Debra Silverstein: Hate crimes keep increasing. Here’s what Chicago is doing about it. – Chicago Sun-Times

“Since 2020, documented hate crimes in Chicago have increased by 275 percent. The Anti-Defamation League reported a 74 percent increase in antisemitic incidents in 2023, the worst numbers since they started tracking them in 1979. If that doesn’t demonstrate the urgency, remember that later this summer, amid this supercharged climate, Chicago will be center stage in the political world.”

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Pritzker wants $50 million for new action plan to combat homelessness and address racial disparity – Chicago Sun-Times

Of that new money, $35 million would go toward court-based rental assistance, $2 million would be used for legal aid assistance and $13 million to reduce racial disparities in homelessness. State Homlessness Chief Christine Haley said that the state was “moving away from false narratives that homelessness is caused by hanging out with the wrong crowd and making bad decisions.”

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ACLU raises red flags about security zones during DNC – Center Square

ACLU of Illinois spokesman Ed Yohnka also noted of the way the city has thus far denied every permit applied for by those looking to stage marches during the convention. “I think there’s reason to wonder who is making the plan, where is that plan being made and when will it be made public. There ought to be a larger discussion on the part of the city as to where and what places are going to be off limits.”

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Civic Federation Urges Linking Transit Governance Reform With Funding, Calls for Consolidation of Transit Services in Northeastern Illinois – Civic Federation

Doing so would allow for more efficient, effective, integrated and equitable service delivery as well as more financially prudent use of taxpayer dollars as the agencies and State approach a once-in-a-generation transit funding shortfall due to decreased ridership and fare revenue and increased transit operating costs, the Civic Federation said.

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April Perry’s bid to be city’s first female top federal prosecutor to end, Biden will tap her to be federal judge – Chicago Sun-Times

That means the search must begin all over again for a successor to former Chicago U.S. Attorney John Lausch, who left office in March 2023. Given the upcoming presidential election in November — and that U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president — a new nominee for one of Illinois’ most powerful posts might not be named until 2025 by the election’s winner.

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Bears reveal plans for $4.6 billion domed lakefront stadium development – Chicago Sun-Times

A rendering of a proposed domed stadium on the lakefront unveiled at Wednesday's news conference. Among the remaining questions is how the team plans to fill a $1.5 billion construction funding gap. They also need to explain how they would deconstruct much of Soldier Field, which was dedicated as a war memorial. Gov. JB Pritzker remains skeptical of any forthcoming funding plan: “There are a lot of priorities that the state has and I’m not sure that this is among the highest priorities for taxpayers.”

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