Inside Chicago Government

In an audio interview, transit professional Britton Budd gives insights into challenges with CTA's Red Line Extension, and creation of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority. Length 27.3 minutes.

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben probed Ben probed Dave's ongoing investigation into police workforce allocation. In the standard and premium versions, Dave and Ben discussed typical budget tactics used in Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed 2025 budget; the past and future challenges of police workforce data; and the "clots of clout" that could frustrate eff...

In an audio excerpt, Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi revealed the impact of tax-increment financing on the sinking property assessments of Loop office buildings. Length 4.5 minutes.

Fifteen City Council members called a special April 1 meeting to oust Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez as housing committee chair. In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben analyzed the raucous gathering. (Subscribers can find the full-length version at chigov.com.) Length 52.1 minutes.

In this audio from a public meeting of the Chicago Police Board on Feb 22 2024, a clash took place between the heads of the Chicago Police Dept. and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Length 31.2 minutes.

In this audio piece, Chicago Police Dept. Superintendent Larry Snelling lent support to the controversial Shotspotter system--which Mayor Brandon Johnson has opposed. The top cop's remarks came at a January 13, 2024 public meeting of Chicago's Community Commission on Public Safety and Accountability. Length 17.5 minutes.

In this audio piece, a Chicago Police Dept. sergeant revealed unsafe and unhealthy conditions at the 11th District police station on the West Side. Length 9.1 minutes.

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben evaluated meetings of the Chicago City Council that took place in November of 2023. In the standard version, council members reacted to 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack's move to censure 35th Ward Ald. Carlos Ramirez Rosa. In the premium version: One alderman claims, explicitly, what Rosa did to intimidate her; Rosa's act of...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben probed audio from several meetings of the Chicago City Council in September, 2023. In the standard version, Mayor Brandon Johnson and aldermen introduced a measure to use real estate transfer taxes for housing the unhoused. In the premium version: aldermen discussed tax-increment financing to buy a building intended as a mi...

In audio from a June 2, 2023 public meeting, lawyers from the city of Chicago and the American Civil Liberties Union clashed on the pace of police reforms mandated by the 2019 Consent Decree. Length 23.2 minutes.

In this audio piece, a public safety commission member questioned police workforce allocation--a matter also highlighted in a report by Mayor Brandon Johnson's transition team. Length 6.8 minutes.

In this audio piece, members of Chicago’s Use of Force Community Working Group criticized use-of-force training by the Chicago Police Department. Length 8.5 minutes.

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben probed audio from 2023's May 24 and May 31 meetings of the full Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen reacted on May 24 to Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed slate of 20 council committees and their associated chairs. In the premium version: finance committee chair Ald. Scott Waguespack's May 24 concession s...

In an audio interview, former Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson described an effort to formalize the training of new aldermen, and gave insights into why it failed. In the standard version, Ferguson described how the idea of an aldermanic handbook came to him. In the premium version, Ferguson explained how the handbook came together, why it fell apart, and how some of the fundamental challeng...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben listened to and evaluated audio from a special March 30 meeting of the full Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen spoke against expanding the number of council committees from 19 to 28. In the premium version: aldermen spoke in favor of the new committees and related rules; how claims of independence smack...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben heard and weighed parts of the March 2023 meeting of the full Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen passionately debated whether to accept state funding for the city's migrant efforts. In the premium version: the state-funding debate continued, including a suprise parliamentary move; aldermen and Mayor Lig...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben heard and appraised parts of 2023's February meeting of the full Chicago City Council. In the standard version, approval of tax-increment financing for a Lincoln Ave. project bespeaks a lack of transparency. In the premium version: an alderman's blockage of Norfolk Southern Railway's South Side expansion; and multiple drama...

In an audio interview, Dave Glowacz spoke with First Ward Ald. Daniel La Spata about the training of new City Council members. In the standard version, La Spata spoke of plans to have newbies shadow their experienced peers. In the premium version: how the city's "formal" training lacked key info and had outright falsehoods; the disappearing contact info for residents; the crucial skill of lobbying...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben listened to and evaluated meetings of the Chicago City Council that took place in December of 2022. In the standard version, aldermen spoke in favor of Red Line Extension (RLE) tax-increment financing (TIF). In the premium version: opposition to the RLE TIF, and what that says about TIF in Chicago generally; an overwhelming...

Jonathan Silverstein, a budget analyst fired by the city's Council Office of Financial Analysis, explained his recent report: "The Real Cost of the Chicago Police Department." In the standard version, Silverstein revealed the city of Chicago’s unusual budgeting practice: Many costs attributable to police are left out of CPD’s budget allocation. In the premium version: how other major cities handle...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben listened to and evaluated meetings of the Chicago City Council that took place in October and November of 2022. In the standard version, aldermen challenged Mayor Lightfoot's administration about how and whether the proposed 2023 budget resurrects the Dept. of Environment. In the premium version: the education committee's a...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben assessed the September, 2022 meeting of the full Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen argued over a proposed rezoning of Chicago Housing Authority land for a soccer facility. In the premium version: zoning committee chair Ald. Tom Tunney maneuvered to further the soccer facility scheme; an aldermanic appo...

In an audio interview with Ill. government veteran Kevin Lamm, Dave Glowacz explored a 1980 state constitution amendment that fundamentally changed the state House. In the standard version, Lamm explained the big switch in 1980 from cumulative voting in House districts. In the premium version: Pat Quinn's citizen referendum; a more polarized House of Representatives; Tom Quinn argues for the switc...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben analyzed the July, 2022 meeting of the full Chicago City Council. In the standard version, members of the public remain cut off from aldermen. In the premium version: Ninth Ward Ald. Anthony Beale's speed camera curb goes down; boosted enforcement against illegal drag racing; and the mayor defends her NASCAR race scheme. (F...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben dissected June, 2022 meetings of the Chicago City Council. In the standard version, the ethicality of a non-election aldermanic turnover in the 24th Ward. In the premium version: more legislative twists and turns for Ninth Ward Ald. Anthony Beale's attempt to raise the speed at which Chicago's speed limit cameras are trigge...