Recapping May's City Council Meeting
Dueling plans for civilian police oversight. A new name for Lake Shore Drive. Tougher rules for towing companies. A new mega-development coming to the Near North Side. The Chicago City Council is coming out of an extraordinarily busy month of May, and their June agenda could be even more packed as aldermen grapple with how to spend more than $1.8 billion coming from the American Rescue Plan. Join The Daily Line editor Alex Nitkin and reporter Erin Hegarty as they break down the policy details of the latest City Council action and chart out the political battle lines that will guide the next month of legislation.
Recapping June's Special Session
With The Illinois General Assembly's spring 2021 legislative business set to officially wrap up June 16th, after a two-day special session to tackle energy and Chicago school board legislation, Sun-Times chief political reporter Rachel Hinton joins The Daily Line editor Alex Nitkin, legislative reporter Joel Ebert and reporter Caroline Kubzansky to break down a host of issues, including redistricting, ethics reform, election changes and the budget.
Recapping June's City Council Meeting June 28 2021
Curious how Chicago may spend the $1.9 billion infusion it expects from the federal government? How allies of Mayor Lori Lightfoot used parliamentary maneuvers to stymie a vote on a police oversight ordinance? What's in the 93-page business relief legislation set for passage this week? Whether Lake Shore Drive will get a new name?
Watch now as The Daily Line editor Alex Nitkin, reporter Erin Hegarty and special guest Becky Vevea of WBEZ break down City Council action from the last month and look ahead to the issues that will consume aldermen in July.
Recapping July's City Council
A scramble to enact oversight of the Chicago Police Department. A war over ward superintendents. A cacophony of voices arguing over how to spend $1.9 billion. It's been a volatile month for the Chicago City Council, all culminating at Wednesday's City Council meeting — if the meeting runs to completion this time. No matter what happens, The Daily Line editor Alex Nitkin, reporter Erin Hegarty and special guest Heather Cherone of WTTW walk through the most important legislation tackled by the Council this month — and what will be left on the table headed into the August recess.
A deep dive into the mayors 2022 budget proposal 09.21.21
Mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled her long-awaited budget proposal for the 2022 Fiscal Year, and Chicagoans have plenty of questions. How will she propose to spend the $1.9 billion the city is receiving from the federal American Rescue Plan? How will she try to close the city's $733 million budget gap? Will city residents see any hikes in taxes, fees or fines? The Daily Line reporter Erin Hegarty, editor Alex Nitkin and special guest A.D. Quig of Crain's Chicago Business answer those questions and more about the mayor's budget proposal on this Episode of The Press Box.
Chicagos 2022 budget, Ward Remap and more
The Daily Line editor Alex Nitkin, City Hall reporter Erin Hegarty and special guest Gregory Pratt of the Tribune open up their notebooks and share what they've learned covering mayor Lori Lightfoot and the City Council during this year's unprecedented and fast-moving budget season. Discussion topics such as the $16.7 billion budget plan versus 50 competing interests and a once-in-decade ward remap unfolding behind closed doors.
