Chicago City Council

Aldermen Threaten To Reject Big Pay Raises For Cops

Chicago Sun-Times | Fran Spielman | Posted 10.28.2009 | Chicago


If an independent arbitrator awards double-digit pay hikes to Chicago Police officers, there's a good chance the City Council will reject it, some ald...

Prisoner's Dilemma: Should a Chicago Alderman Relish His Opposition to Felony Franks?

Marilia Duffles | Posted 10.15.2009 | Chicago


Marilia Duffles

Leave it to a Wall Street Journal story this week about a Chicago alderman's opposition to Jimmy Andrews' Felony Franks -- a hot dog joint that hires ...

Daley Will Sign Abortion Protest Buffer Zone Law

Chicago Sun-Times | FRAN SPIELMAN | Posted 10.09.2009 | Chicago


In a political about-face, Mayor Daley said Friday he would sign legislation creating a protective zone around Chicago hospitals and clinics to keep p...

Council Approves Fines For Barking Dogs

Chicago Sun-Times | FRAN SPIELMAN | Posted 10.07.2009 | Chicago


Owners of loudmouth dogs that keep their Chicago neighbors awake at night could pay through the nose if they don't find a way to muzzle their pets....

Anti-Abortion Activists Required To Keep Distance From Clinics, People Under New Ordinance

Chicago Breaking News | Posted 10.07.2009 | Chicago


The Chicago City Council today voted 27-11 to pass an ordinance creating a so-called bubble zone requiring anti-abortion activists to keep their dista...

City Council Votes To Put Taxpayers On Hook For Olympics Cost Overruns

AP | DEANNA BELLANDI | Posted 11.09.2009 | Chicago


CHICAGO (AP) -- Bring on Da Games. The City Council unanimously agreed Wednesday to take full financial responsibility if Chicago is awarded the 2016...

City Council Panel Approves Mandatory Jail Time For Gun Law Violators

Chicago Tribune | Hal Dardick | Posted 10.19.2009 | Chicago


A City Council committee today approved an ordinance to require at least a few days behind bars for anyone convicted of illegally carrying a gun under...

Aldermen Spend $73,280 Taxypayer-Funded Expense Accounts On Cars, Friends And Family

Chicago Tribune | Hal Dardick | Posted 09.16.2009 | Chicago


Chicago aldermen have used their newly expanded, taxpayer-funded expense accounts to hire relatives, lease expensive vehicles and pay for downtown par...

What Happened To The Independent Aldermen?

NBC Chicago | Steve Rhodes | Posted 09.14.2009 | Chicago


t seemed like the City Council might be growing a pair in the wake of Mayor Daley's parking meter mess and his exposed Olympic financial guarantees. ...

Alderman's Retirement Party Cum Personal Fundraiser Canceled

Chicago Tribune | Dan Mihalopoulos | Posted 09.12.2009 | Chicago


A retirement party for powerful Ald. William J.P. Banks (36th) has been canceled, just days after the Tribune reported that invitees were asked to mak...

Alderman's Retirement Party Turned Into Personal Fundraiser

Chicago Tribune | Dan Mihalopoulos | Posted 09.10.2009 | Chicago


The heir apparent to powerful Ald. William J.P. Banks (36th) is throwing a $200-a-ticket retirement party for the outgoing City Council zoning boss an...

Should City Set Contract Quotas For Gay-Owned Businesses?

Chicago Sun-Times | Fran Spielman | Posted 08.29.2009 | Chicago


Chicago's first openly gay alderman today re-opened the volatile debate about whether City Hall should establish contract set-asides for businesses ow...

Roberto Maldonado Named 26th Ward Alderman As Daley Bucks Former Alderman

Chicago Sun-Times | Fran Spielman | Posted 08.27.2009 | Chicago


Mayor Daley today appointed Cook County Commissioner Roberto Maldonado to replace Billy Ocasio as 26th Ward alderman....

Chicago's Green Food Resolution Advances

Wesley Epplin | Posted 08.27.2009 | Chicago


Wesley Epplin

Chicago is even closer to beating out the likes of New York and San Francisco in officially resolving to help both the the planet and their citizens by encouraging more sustainable, healthier food options.

Alderman Drops Anti-Gay Minister As Successor Pick, Wants Wife Instead

Chicago Tribune | Posted 08.17.2009 | Chicago


Former Ald. Billy Ocasio said today he wants his wife to succeed him as 26th Ward alderman, and he has withdrawn his recommendation of a controversial...

Rev. Wilfredo De Jesus, Ald. Ocasio's Hand-Picked Successor, Blasted For Anti-Gay Views

Chicago Tribune | Oscar Avila | Posted 08.07.2009 | Chicago


[I]n a complicated blending of morality and politics, the pastor's possible appointment has drawn protests from gay activists who object to other rhet...

Indicted Developer Calvin Boender Took Care Of Aldermen

Chicago Sun-Times | TIM NOVAK AND CHRIS FUSCO | Posted 08.06.2009 | Chicago


Three years ago, City Hall approved giving $5.3 million in taxpayer funding to a labor organization so it could buy land from a client of Ald. Edward ...

City Council Holding Parking Meter Deal Hearings

Chicago Tribune | Dan Mihalopoulos | Posted 08.02.2009 | Chicago


Aldermen who rushed to approve Mayor Richard Daley's controversial lease of the city's parking meter system today will hold a hearing to examine the d...

Help! I'm Being Nibbled to Death by Ducks

Dan Rosenthal | Posted 07.30.2009 | Chicago


Dan Rosenthal

Our esteemed legislators in Springfield are getting their ducks in a row this week and when they're done, we'll be in for a nibbling like we never imagined.

Alderman Burke Helped Clients Get City Zoning Changes For Business Deals

Chicago Sun-Times | CHRIS FUSCO, TIM NOVAK AND FRAN SPIELMAN | Posted 07.30.2009 | Chicago


Ald. Edward M. Burke wrote a letter in his official capacity that helped a client of his law firm win City Council approval to develop a blighted stre...

Olympics Leaders Hold Closed-Door Briefings With Aldermen Following Uproar

Chicago Tribune | Hal Dardick | Posted 07.25.2009 | Chicago


On Monday, the Chicago 2016 Olympics committee leaders balked at the idea of publicly briefing the City Council about a wrinkle that could put taxpaye...

Ald. Joe Moore Reportedly Blew Up When Barred From Governor's Reception

Lake Effect News | LORRAINE SWANSON | Posted 07.23.2009 | Chicago


A little birdie called us from Saturday night's IVI-IPO fundraiser at the Metropolitan Club. Seems like Ald. Joe Moore (49th Ward) tried to crash a pr...

City Test-Driving Recycling Bins With Advertising

Chicago Sun-Times | FRAN SPIELMAN | Posted 07.20.2009 | Chicago


Chicago already has more than 2,000 bus shelters and sidewalk billboards that carry advertising and generate sorely needed revenue. How about ad-bear...

With Daley Away, Aldermen Question Nephew's City Deal

Chicago Sun-Times | FRAN SPIELMAN | Posted 07.18.2009 | Chicago


Chicago aldermen on Tuesday demanded to know why the city has paid nearly $500,000 to lease space at a South Side industrial site co-owned by Mayor Da...

Parking Meter Debacle Stirring Complacent City Council

Chicago Sun-Times | Fran Spielman | Posted 07.08.2009 | Chicago


Chicago's parking meter mess could be the tipping point that awakens the sleeping giant otherwise known as the City Council....