Advocates for both asylum-seekers and homeless Chicagoans have supported the move toward a unified shelter network, saying it will boost resources for the unhoused population in the city. Others warn it will overwhelm an already overstretched system, as the groups have very distinct mental health, language, legal and other needs.

“Ald. Emma Mitts represents a large chunk of Johnson’s neighborhood of Austin. She was blunt. ‘I don’t even know why we’re discussing this,’ she said angrily. And, citing Johnson’s decision in February to extend ShotSpotter only long enough so that it would stay in effect through the Democratic National Convention in August, she said, ‘If it’s good enough for the DNC, then it’s good for us now.’ Johnson won 80% percent of the vote in Mitts’ ward.”

The creation of the new incentive comes on the heels of Illinois landing PsiQuantum. The state is already offering the company a bevy of other incentives through the Manufacturing Chips for Real Opportunity (MICRO) Act. That includes capital grants, workforce development help, a low interest loan and other incentives worth $200 million. In exchange, the company must invest at least $1.09 billion and create at least 154 full-time jobs.

Ald. Jessie Fuentes said many longtime residents of Humboldt Park are facing the “real threat of gentrification and displacement. … The No. 1 concern that I hear every day in my office: ‘I can’t afford to live here anymore. I just got my tax assessment,’ ‘I’m done. I have to sell because I’ve been priced out.’ [This happens] when you deconvert three-flats, two-flats, four-flats.”

While CTA President Dorval Carter said the CTA needs a big investment from state lawmakers, House Speaker Chris Welch said he does not expect transit funding to be brought up until next year’s legislative session.

The mayor’s claims of being a collaborator are now under question after he promised to veto an ordinance that could extend ShotSpotter that was supported by 33 council members. “I think he’s been more of a dictator when it comes to, this is what I want. This is what we’re going to do, and that’s it,” Ald. Ray Lopez said. “This will have repercussions, whether he believes it or not.”

When asked why he chose to impose a hiring freeze instead of a freeze on migrant spending, Mayor Brandon Johnson said he is not prioritizing migrants over public safety. “We spend $2 billion on community safety just for policing alone, so it is a priority. It’s the top priority that I have as mayor of the city of Chicago,” Johnson said.

A Cook County judge seeking retention to a fourth six-year term sided with a woman accused of stabbing her lover to death stay out of jail while she awaited trial, in part because the judge said the woman had already killed the man and was no longer a threat to public safety. In the ruling, Cook County Judge Ramon Ocasio III reasoned that defendant Starisha Snowden’s “animosity” was “specific” to victim Michael Roberts Jr. “who is now dead.”

The Cook County Board of Commissioners has followed through on a commitment to create a new property tax incentive that helped Chicago land the >massive quantum computing campus at the former U.S. Steel South Works site on Lake Michigan. The new Class 8 MICRO incentive provides property tax relief by reducing the tax rate at the site from 25% to 10% for 30 years.

Martinez declined to discuss her office’s methodology or explain how it reached some of the figures cited in the letter. For example, the total number of cases during the period Martinez cited was 30,000 higher than those released by Chief Judge Timothy Evans’ office.

Christopher Liakopoulos alleges that a sergeant and two prosecutors “conspired in preparation and presentation” of “misleading” testimony to the grand jury, which returned true bills against the officers. State’s Attorney Kim Foxx is named as a defendant because, Liakopoulos alleges, she personally approved the filing of charges in the case.

In 2000, six Chicago community areas had more than 50% Mexican population. That list has grown to 15, including a swath of Southwest Side neighborhoods covering Brighton Park, Archer Heights, McKinley Park and New City. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows nearly two-thirds of area Mexicans live beyond the city’s borders — more than 450,000 in suburban Cook County and about 514,000 in Will, McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Lake counties.

The program would be for all Cook County residents within 30 days of their birthday. No details were provided on how the county would pay for this free health service.

Mayor Brandon Johnson said he had no authority to hold Ald. Brenden Reilly accountable for the post on X that has since been removed. He said Reilly’s City Council colleagues could censure him, if they so choose.

“People are angry about the lack of resources in their community,” said Richard Wallace, who leads Equity and Transformation, an organization that advocates for Black workers in Chicago. “People are angry about joblessness. People are angry about the cost of living skyrocketing.” That anger has exacerbated long-standing tensions between Black and Latino residents over scarce city services and job opportunities.

Mary Richardson-Lowry, corporate counsel for the city, said the ordinance violates the Separation of Powers Act. ShotSpotter supporters on the City Council also said they were prepared to fight the mayor in court over the issue.

Wednesday’s City Council meeting saw the passage of two sets of ethics reforms: an ordinance giving the Board of Ethics enforcement authority for a longstanding executive order banning lobbyist contributions to the mayor’s campaign committee and a package of minor language changes and technical clarifications from the city’s Inspector General.

“Shockingly, the number of shell casings recovered at crime scenes has increased by 48 percent since 2020, and, on average, a machine gun is discharged seven times a day in Chicago. … Despite this grim reality, possession of a machine gun alone is not a detainable offense under Illinois’ SAFE-T Act, and the absence of pretrial incarceration for mere possession emboldens criminals.”