Paul Vallas: The Chicago City Council must empower itself for better budget oversight – Illinois Policy

"In (Mayor Brandon) Johnson’s mind a progressive council aligns with a progressive mayor and that’s how government should function. He is continuing the tradition of giving the council and public too little time and too little information. Major decisions — from asset sales to pension holidays to tax-increment financing and the casino deal — have been shaped behind closed doors, with the council largely rubber-stamping them."