Inside Chicago Government

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave react to audio from October 2020 meetings of the Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen want more say in approving TIF-funded projects. In the premium version: how minority-owned businesses get city contracts; how a proposed affordable housing ordinance got sidelined; and a proposed end to fu...

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave react to audio from the August and September 2020 meetings of the full Chicago City Council, including: whether an emergency resolution attacks the mayor; demands for hearings around the police budget; a start on combatting South Side gentrification; and a surprise TIF sunshine proposal. Length 11 minutes.

In an audio interview with veteran Alderman Anthony Beale of Chicago's 9th Ward, Dave Glowacz explored the Lightfoot administration's relationship with some of the more independent-thinking members of the City Council. Length 4.3 minutes. (For the full-length version, subscribe at chigov.com.)

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave listen to audio from the July 2020 meeting of the full Chicago City Council, including: why council members fear tenant protections; how (and whether) the mayor blindsided an alderman around a landmark district; the city gropes toward a police complaint database; and a lengthy tribute to a mayoral staffer. Le...

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave listen to audio from the June 2020 meeting of the full Chicago City Council, including: more votes against the mayor; a reparations commission vote prompts pleas and scolds from black aldermen; cops in schools and out of some wards; and more leaks from a "confidential" mayoral conference. Length 7.4 minutes.

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave listen to audio from the May 2020 meeting of the full Chicago City Council, including: aldermen not "brought in" on TIF funding of parks; grousing about minority contracting at the new Trib Tower development; one aldermen chides colleagues for asking too many questions (a "slippery slope"); a mayoral speech o...

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave listen to audio from the first-ever videoconference meeting of the full Chicago City Council. We hear pushback on a COVID-19 emergency powers ordinance proposed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot--from Alds. Jason Ervin (28), Ray Lopez (15), Emma Mitts (37), Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35), Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25), and Michele...

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave listen to audio clips from the last meeting of Chicago aldermen before the city's "shelter in place" edict. We hear an administration critic choke on an attempted attack; a South Side alderman wins a dramatic TIF concession; and, in the face of a dire pandemic, Dave and Ben embrace the aldermanic routine. Len...

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave listen to audio clips from notable moments of the Chicago City Council's February meeting: animal rights activists get a lesson in how and when to protest; the fast-moving approval train puts on the brakes; and aldermen debate whether they should "roll the dice" in settling a police misconduct lawsuit. Length...

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave discuss the City Council's first 2020 meeting: Mayor Lori Lightfoot rebukes aldermanic concerns about LGBT business support; aldermen's selective concern about divvying up "the pie;" and, after 1.5 hours of honors, aldermen blow through key diktats in seconds. Length 6.6 minutes.

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave discuss the City Council's divided approval of Mayor Lori Lightfoot's 2020 budget: Irving Park/Elston TIF district dust-up implies planning dept.'s executive order uncertainty; some aldermen voted against higher property taxes--but voted for big TIF deals that could raise those taxes; the "debate" over ambula...

Budget analyst Jonathan Silverstein, of the Council Office of Financial Analysis, lays out a 2020 "city budget for dummies," including: how COFA has come unleashed--and how it's still "hamstrung;" how the City Council's finance, budget, and analysis staffs differ in function; which 2020 budget changes came from outside forces vs. the mayor's choices; how pension law and past debt indulgences led t...

This episode presents an audio collage of comments by Chicagoans who spoke at Mayor Lori Lightfoot's budget town halls in September and October of 2019. Lightfoot asked residents to "give public testimony on Chicago's 2020 budget"--and they offered plenty of ideas on public pensions, mental health services, affordable housing, loafing city workers, tax-increment financing, and why Chicagoans are b...

In an audio interview with freshman Alderman Daniel La Spata of Chicago's 1st Ward, Dave Glowacz explores how new City Council members get the training and orientation needed to do their jobs. "We want our aldermen to be the strongest civil servants they can possibly be," La Spata said--which takes "a much more robust orientation" than the city provides. La Spata detailed what's missing, and how h...

Dave Glowacz talks with the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky about how live radio differs from podcasting; the health of the Reader; whether news reporters should express partisan opinions and positions; biases embedded in news reporting; and Dave and Ben's role reversal. Length 5.8 minutes.

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave discuss aldermen's shock and outrage of Mayor Lightfoot's elevation of Ald. Waguespack; the new mayor vs. the "Beale-Burke axis" in a City Council shake-up; former planning dept. Commissioner David Reifman: real estate cheerleader or public servant; how developer Sterling Bay ended up with ownership of the Ch...

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave discuss the city's defense of the Cortland/Chicago River tax-increment financing (TIF) district and the Lincoln Yards development. Length 6.8 minutes.

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave chew on this: Ald. Hopkins' belief that 'the right side should prevail;' the contrast of Amazon's NYC snub and a Cortland TIF denial; rules and duels that delayed the Cortland TIF vote; Ald. Hairston cites 'blight' sleight used to justify TIF; Ald. Reilly calls a developer's bluff on a TIF subsidy need; and A...

Debunking--or validating--Bob Fioretti's claim that TIF saps revenue from governmental bodies; Daley, Enyia, and Fioretti's population-growth goal maybe stymied by TIF; and how ripple effects from developments like Lincoln Yards make Chicago less affordable. Length 7 minutes.

In an interview by Ben Joravsky with Dave Glowacz on WCPT-AM's Ben Joravsky Show, Mr Bike reveals how local planners have challenged mayoral candidates to adopt a bold Chicago transportation vision. Ben and Dave discuss sources of revenue to fund better transit; why bike lanes don't go far enough to encourage cycling; and state legislators' strategy to legalize marijuana. Length 5.9 minutes.

Did WCPT owner Fred Eychaner fire Joravsky from his radio show due to Ben's rigorous examination of mainstream Chicago Democrats? Also: how the Reader sheltered Ben from the repeated turnover of wealthy owners; whether radio bosses duped Ben with a glowing performance review; how not to ambush radio guests; and Ben says he'll return. Length 6.5 minutes.

In an interview by Ben Joravsky with Dave Glowacz on WCPT-AM's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave recap residents' objections to the Lincoln Yards development; how the Hideout became a focus of the Lincoln Yards challenges; and aldermanic power of TIF district approval. Also: Mr Bike's cold-weather biking tips, and city treasurer Kurt Summers' rebuke of Mayor Emanuel. Length 5.2 minutes.

The many candidates, issues, and referenda currently facing Chicago voters; the state income-tax lesson of Illinois Gov. Ogilvie; and the ethicality of a candidate running for two offices at once. Length 6 minutes.

Tax-increment financing's central flaw around inequity; how mayoral candidates' voter calculus might craft their reactions to TIF; and comparing the approaches to developer subsidy of Ald. Proco Joe Moreno and Ald. John Arena. Length 6.9 minutes.

In an interview by Ben Joravsky with Dave Glowacz on WCPT-AM's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave discuss how Chicagoans in black areas have gotten bicycling tickets in far greater numbers than those in white areas. Also: what laws bikers must obey; Senate votes for a Supreme Court nominee; and Barack Obama's announced support of Illinois statewide candidates. Length 5.2 minutes.