-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
Buoyed by higher than expected marijuana revenues, Mayor Lori Lightfoot Saturday canceled plans to lay off 350 city employees to help secure the 26 City Council votes she needs to pass her “pandemic budget.” Revenues generated by the sale of recreational and medical marijuana have “gone through the roof”— topping $100 million statewide for the first time in October and $800 million in the first 10 months.
SIGN UP HERE FOR FREE WIREPOINTS DAILY NEWSLETTER
FOLLOW US
WIREPOINTS ORIGINAL STORIES
Audio and summary Illinois bill would override local law to allow homeless living in all public parks – Wirepoints
April 14, 2026
27 Comments
If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
Mark Glennon on AM560’s Morning Answer: Chicago Fiscal Crisis Worse Than Pre-Bankruptcy Detroit, HIV Surge and Public Health Threat From Open Borders Goes Unreported
April 10, 2026
2 Comments
Summary and audio linked here.
Mark Glennon on AM560’s Morning Answer: Chicago pension buyout plan mostly shifts debt rather than eliminating it, property tax surge doubles inflation over three decades
April 3, 2026
9 Comments
Chicago’s political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city’s thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension. Audio here.
WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times falsely blame Texas Gov. Abbott for 2020 to 2024 surge in Chicago Latino HIV, AIDS infections – Wirepoints Quickpoint
March 31, 2026
11 Comments
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
She has refused to lay off her patronage workers who are predominantly south and west side blacks. Lori can’t afford to lose their votes. There is no secret the state and city workers have been on paid vacation since March while others were furloughed in the private sector. The toad and fat boy Pritzker have to go.
Over 40% of our city workers heros are maken $100k+ (per suntimes) and god only knows what in rediculous benifits….but make no mistake your taxes are going up, up, up (while my wifes layedoff and I’m cut to 1/2 time). Zero shared sacrifice the chicago way!!!
the layoff was a scare tactic all along how was Beetle Juice gonna layoff 350 people but hold off till March 1st to do it either the cities broke { which its not } or its not which is it Mr Mayor