Ed Burke

Vote On Rahm's Infrastructure Plan Delayed Amid Scrutiny

Posted 04.19.2012

A City Council vote on Mayor Rahm Emanuel's much-publicized Chicago Infrastructure Trust was, in what was somewhat of a surprise twist, deferred Wedne...

Influential Aldermen Aim To Squelch City Council Protests

Posted 02.16.2012

Four of Chicago's most influential aldermen on Wednesday introduced a resolution that, if approved, could dramatically impact the ability of the publi...

Should Chicago Library Workers Skip Raises To Keep Branches Open On Mondays?

Posted 01.12.2012

The labor union representing city librarians balked at a suggestion made by two powerful Chicago aldermen this week that they should forego their cont...

Reforming Chicago's City Government

Keith Koeneman | Posted 03.12.2012

Keith Koeneman

The Chicago City Council has tended to suffer from a rather poor reputation. With that in mind, it seems appropriate for Chicagoans to put forth a modest proposal for reforming our city government.

UPDATED - Coming Soon: A New 1st (And All the Others) Ward

Joe Moreno | Posted 02.05.2012

Joe Moreno

Every decade Chicago's 50 aldermen redraw the fifty wards that make up our city. For the last two weeks, this remap process has been extremely time-consuming, divisive and painful for a few of my colleagues.

Teachers Union Sues School Board, Says Rahm Declared 'War'

Posted 11.09.2011

The Chicago Teachers Union on Friday filed a unfair labor lawsuit against Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Board of Education, claiming that the board has coerced...

Yearly Tab For Ald. Burke's Bodyguards Nearly $600,000

Better Government Association | Posted 10.04.2011

The tab to Chicago taxpayers for providing a Chicago Police Department bodyguard detail to Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th)? Almost $600,000 per year. T...

Quinn Appoints Burkes' Daughter To Six-Figure Post

Posted 09.27.2011

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn on Wednesday appointed attorney Jennifer Burke, daughter of influential 14th Ward Alderman Ed Burke and state Supreme Cour...

WATCH: Nanny Run Over By Drunk City Worker Speaks Out

Posted 09.19.2011

A 25-year-old nanny who was critically injured when a city Department of Streets and Sanitation pickup truck operated by a reportedly drunk driver str...

Burke, Neely, Others Get Security Details Cut

Posted 09.10.2011

Just weeks after police superintendent Garry McCarthy said that he couldn't touch Alderman Ed Burke's city-financed security detail, his office announ...

Ed Burke Offers Up Ideas For Chicago's 175th Birthday Party Next Year

Posted 09.05.2011

With only about nine months to go until Chicago's 175th birthday — March 4, 2012 — the City Council has begun conversations of how the city should...

Ald. Burke Might Have To Give Up Bodyguards

Chicago Sun-Times | Posted 09.01.2011

The bodyguard saga of Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th) appears to be coming to an end -- one way or another. Either Mayor Rahm Emanuel will follow throu...

CHA Drops Plan To Drug Test All Public Housing Residents

Posted 08.22.2011

Following several weeks of protests, criticisms and a separate mini-scandal of their own, the Chicago Housing Authority announced Tuesday afternoon th...

While Police Are Scrounging For Cops, Alderman Keeps His Security Detail

Posted 08.22.2011

As the Chicago Police Department struggles to meet Mayor Rahm Emanuel's promise of 1,000 new police on the beat, there's one group of cops they won't ...

Aldermen Want Random Drug Tests For City Employees

Posted 08.09.2011

In the midst of Wednesday's City Council meeting, two members, powerful 14th Ward Alderman Edward Burke and 40th Ward Ald. Patrick O'Connor, introduce...

Aldermen Say Rahm Wants To Cut Chicago's City Council In Half, Emanuel Denies It

Posted 05.25.2011

Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel has repeatedly said that when he takes over, nothing is off limits when it comes to budget and ethics reform in Chicago. But ...

Man Accused Of Threatening To Kill Powerful Alderman

Posted 05.25.2011

A powerful Chicago alderman known for his ample police protection reportedly received voicemails threatening his life this week. Alderman Ed Burke, ...

Del Valle Camp Claims Intimidation By Chico Workers

Posted 05.25.2011

The uglier side of Chicago politics appears to be rearing its head, as the mayoral campaign of candidate Miguel del Valle is reporting that its volunt...

Judges Who Ruled Against Rahm Have Ties To His Opponent

Posted 05.25.2011

The ruling that (at least temporarily) kicked Rahm Emanuel off the Chicago mayoral ballot was decided by two judges on an Illinois appellate court ben...

Affordable Housing Ordinance Stalled By Political Maneuvering

Posted 05.25.2011

An ordinance that would mandate city spending on affordable housing stumbled yesterday on a point of protocol designed to make government more transpa...

Fix The Budget By Hiking Cab Fares?

Chicago Sun-Times | Grits for Breakfast | Posted 05.25.2011

Chicago taxicab riders would pay a $1-a-ride surcharge, but the $70 million raised by the fee would go to the city budget -- not struggling cabbies --...

Inspector General Takes Flak Over Budget Report

WBEZ | Posted 05.25.2011

28th ward alderman Ed Smith had harsher words for the Inspector General, saying he should "do his job and let the alderman focus on the budget." Ove...

UPDATE: Aldermen Order CPS To Turn Heat Back On For Pilsen Sit-In

Posted 05.25.2011

The Chicago City Council is intervening in a long-running standoff between schools and parents at Pilsen's Whittier Elementary. An order unanimously ...

Running for Mayor in "Post-Racial" Chicago

Matt Farmer | Posted 05.25.2011

Matt Farmer

With the stakes high during the mayoral race, there's absolutely no reason to think that Chicago's professional class of surrogate race-baiters (white, black, and Hispanic) will sit on the sidelines.

Aldermen Call Daley Tax Relief Plan A Gimmick

Fox Chicago | Posted 05.25.2011

Mayor Richard Daley was hoping for a quick approval of the plan, but obviously that's not going to happen. ...