Under the Bears’ proposal, the 2 percent city tax on hotel stays would be used to continue paying stadium-related debt for another 40 years. “That’s a very long time for an asset that typically doesn’t last 40 years. It’s one thing for Washington, D.C., to sell century-long bonds for their sewer system, because that’s going to last. But a stadium — to tie up taxpayer dollars for 40 years is a massive bet on this being a good idea,” said Matt Fabian of Municipal Market Analytics.

Demonstrators on both sides held their flags, chanted and even clashed, but remained mostly peaceful.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling added that police need the full support of the criminal justice system. Accountability is one of the pillars of the city’s plan to combat robberies, he said.

Downtown office vacancies exceeded 25 percent for the first time ever, while Loop retail vacancies have hit a record-high 30 percent, according to CBRE and Stone Real Estate’s respective studies.

“Because of the public benefit,” Johnson said when asked how he will make a progressive case for the proposal. “Look, these pictures are miraculous. We are talking about thousands of lives that will benefit. … Think about how long people have been waiting for investments like

The funding formula comes amid CPS facing a $391 million budget deficit and a dwindling COVID-relief fund.

“We are going to join hands, get signatures and make this happen, and I guarantee you we will have the 56,000-plus signatures and we will have enough for a challenge too,” said FOP President John Catanzara.

Ald. David Moore is fighting to strip Mayor Brandon Johnson of his unilateral authority to end the city’s contract with the ShotSpotter gunfire detection program.

Christopher Gonzalez, a Thornton Township Trustee, was also in attendance for Saturday’s “Take Back Our Township” rally. “I have a lot of the same questions people do, but even beyond that, we are all citizens just trying to get some answers,” Gonzalez said.

Multiple fights broke out at the carnival, but there were no reports of gunshots or injuries.

Last week, the FBI had served two subpoenas on the Village of Dolton, asking for the personnel and disciplinary files for 29 Dolton employees as well as any contracts or payments made to the mayor’s top assistant, Keith Freeman, who also serves in that role in Thornton Township.

Will Johnson, of The Harris Poll: “Less than 20 percent think the city is better off today than a year ago on fundamentals such as the local economy and health, and that percentage drops to 11 percent or lower on public safety, social inequities, the migrant situation and taxes, according to a new citywide survey by The Harris Poll.”

“To the Medill students and journalists within earshot, I say to you: Our work is not about objectivity,” he said. “Our work is about you putting your brilliant minds to work and opening your compassionate hearts.”

Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski said the SEIU and the Chicago Teachers Union are in a favorable position with Brandon Johnson as mayor. “The SEIU is not dumb. They’re going to ask for plenty and see if they can get it,” Dabrowski said.

In a 142-page leaked document, the Chicago Teachers Union outlines hundreds of new proposed demands for its next contract, including 41 percent raises, removing school resource officers from schools, and concealing information concerning student gender and sexuality from parents.