Inside Chicago Government

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben evaluated May, 2022 meetings of the Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen showed their upset with a ward remap compromise--and with each other. In the premium version: pointed objections to Mayor Lightfoot's casino project; aldermen tussle over the mayor's proposed new curfew rules; and an effort to grill...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben evaluated April and May, 2022 meetings of the Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen oppose Mayor Lightfoot's $12.5 million proposal to distribute 100,000 prepaid transit cards and 50,000 prepaid gas-station cards. In the premium version: aldermen speak in favor of the transit and gas giveaway; a convoluted...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben evaluated March, 2022 meetings of the Chicago City Council. In the standard version, excitement and confusion over the council's first-ever use of electronic voting. In the premium version: dismay and righteousness at the mayor's proposed casino super-committee; the special council session to approve a new 11th Ward alderma...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben listened to and opined on parts of 2022's February meeting of the full Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen discussed the city's policy around a particular (but not unique) proposed purchase of a former Aldi grocery store in a TIF district on the West Side. In the premium version: aldermen heap honors upo...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben evaluated the Chicago City Council's "unfinished business" in evidence at its meetings that took place in January, 2022. In the standard version, 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale worked, again, at the Jan. 26 full council meeting to establish a legislative parliamentarian and legal staff. In the premium version: the full drama t...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben assessed the December 2021 meeting of the full Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen clashed over fiscal responsibility versus rewarding bad guys in settlements of police misconduct lawsuits. In the premium version: Mayor Lightfoot responds to criticism by her former chief lawyer; the continuing saga of Al...

In an audio interview, Ald. Anthony Beale of the Ninth Ward spoke of a proposed ordinance that would let Chicago's City Council hire its own legal department. In the standard version, Beale described the legal staff's proposed roles. In the premium version: the key role of council parliamentarian; why council members have stymied a vote; and Beale's "fiery exchange" with Mayor Lightfoot. Length 2....

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben evaluated November 2021 meetings of Chicago's City Council, the mayor, and Police Board. In the standard version, a controversy erupted over a mayoral appointment for the permanent head of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. In the premium version: Mayor Lightfoot's emotional reaction to Ald. Walter Burnett (27);...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben assessed October meetings of the Chicago City Council. In the standard version, outgoing Inspector General Joe Ferguson warned council members about things to come. In the premium version: a mayoral proposal for people to opt out of the Chicago Police "gang database"; the council prolongs a TIF district near Lincoln Yards;...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben probed a September meeting of the Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen debated a collective bargaining agreement with the Chicago Police patrolman's union. In the premium version: council members discussed a limit on the distribution of single-use foodware; Ald. Jim Gardiner (45) gave an apology to the fu...

In an audio piece, housing specialists and others talk about how the creation of low-income housing in Chicago is tied to higher-income apartments--pursuant to a new Illinois incentive for developers. The standard version gives previews of comments made in the premium version by these speakers: Gov. JB Pritzker; state Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-39); Chicago housing consultant John McDermott; author Dr...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben digested slices of July 2021 meetings of the Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen traded wildly different takes on the proposed Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. In the premium version: aldermen zealously argued for and against the elected public safety commission; council members...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben heard and critiqued parts of the June 2021 meeting of the full Chicago City Council. In the standard version, a parliamentary manuever on a mayoral appointment results in an unexpected, early adjournment. In the premium version: Mayor Lightfoot forces the approval of another appointment; the mayor brings the meeting to a cl...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben listened to and evaluated parts of the May 2021 meeting of the full Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen tried to delay environmentally challenged affordable housing in the 12th ward. In the premium version: racial equity talk fails to stop a cannabis dispensary expansion; a parliamentary move brakes a La...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben listened to audio from April 2021 meetings of the Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen wrangled over expansion of a North-Side cannabis dispensary. In the premium version: Mayor Lightfoot cuts off an alderman's mike, channelling Richard J. Daley; wildly differing cost estimates for a police complaint data...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben listened to audio from the March 2021 session of the full Chicago City Council. In the standard version, alderman argued over a proposed resolution calling for condemnation of violence in India. In the premium version: debates over a building demolition surcharge pilot in Pilsen and Logan Square; lining up for and against i...

In an audio interview, Alderman Andre Vasquez of Chicago's 40th Ward talked about a City Council resolution he co-sponsored that calls for a hearing on how Chicago will redraw ward boundaries. In the standard version, Vasquez defended his resolution from critiques by the council's Latino Caucus. In the premium version: questions about selecting an independent remap commission; how non-whites can r...

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben listened to audio from February 2021 sessions of the Chicago City Council. In the standard version, Ald. Ed Burke (14) blasted Mayor Lori Lightfoot's proposal to apply $281.5 million of federal COVID-19 relief (via the CARES Act) to the police budget. In the premium version: Lightfoot's infamous Feb. 24 expletive; dense par...

In this audio piece, members of the Chicago City Council Latino Caucus blast a proposed independent commission for redrawing ward boundaries--prompting a contrarian response by Mayor Lori Lightfoot. In the premium version, hear the entire Jan. 27 Latino Caucus press conference. (For the full-length version, subscribe at chigov.com.) Length 6.1 minutes.

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben listened to audio from several January 2021 sessions of the Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen voiced frustration with Metra pursuit of tax-increment financing for rail crossings. In the premium version: tension over Chicago's carjacking epidemic; another delay of a South Side community policing outpost...

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Dave and Ben analyzed audio from a December, 2020 City Council hearing about the botched police raid on the home of Anjanette Young, and from the council's full meeting. In the standard version, aldermen wondered why no staff from the Dept. of Law were present to answer questions. In the premium version: the cost and effi...

In this audio piece, we hear Chicago Inspector General (IG) Joseph Ferguson warn members of the City Council about departures of key officials--and the effect on reform of the Chicago Police Department (CPD). In the standard version, Ferguson explained the big turnover in the position of Deputy IG for Public Safety. In the premium version, Ferguson spoke of the "fiscal consequences" of departures...

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave comment on audio from November 2020's approval by the Chicago City Council of Mayor Lori Lightfoot's 2021 budget ordinances. The standard version features an audio collage of aldermen voicing their support for and objections to the mayor's budget proposals. In the premium version: incongruous votes by some; t...

In an audio interview with former Chicago budget director Paul Vallas, Dave Glowacz explored ideas for the city of Chicago's 2021 budget. Length 6 minutes. (For the full-length version, subscribe at chigov.com.)

In an audio interview with an inquisitive Chicago voter, Dave Glowacz explains one way to choose Cook County judges in a general election: by using the bar association recommendations found at voteforjudges.org. This episode is reprised from an October 29, 2016 interview. Length 16.1 minutes. (For the full-length video version, subscribe at chigov.com.)