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Policy & Finance

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  • Gov. Bruce Rauner
  • state budget
  • income taxes
  • economic development
  • African-American neighborhoods

Does Shakman Decree Hamper County Government Effectiveness?

By Tony Boylan | March 26, 2021

For more than a half century government offices in Chicago, Cook County and the State of Illinois have been required to follow anti-patronage hiring practices under federal court rulings known as Shakman Decrees. The rulings came after a lawsuit by Chicago activist attorney Michael Shakman. who wanted to end the political hiring and related corruption that was said to be the norm at all levels of government. While Illinois still ranks as one of the most corrupt and compromised states every year, few would argue the changes that have been made under Shakman have been a significant improvement. But disputes over exactly how to comply with Shakman continue to this day and along with some confusion and frustration comes another problem: A big compliance bill for taxpayers to foot.

Black and Latinx owners are barely a blip on the cannabis revenue radar

Chicago has been quietly intercepting millions from state tax refunds during the pandemic

Chicago City Council quietly begins push to decriminalize psychedelics

There’s some progress in Lightfoot’s Chicago budget plan, despite progressive backlash

Perspectives
Bill Blazina, 73, uses a high-potency marijuana oil as a medical marijuana patient, but he can’t afford it at a recreational marijuana store.

It’s high time someone studied marijuana taxes – so we did

By Muhammad Salar Khan | September 20, 2019

As marijuana taxes are imposed in more states, many recreational marijuana users might cross interstate borders to avoid them or even hoard stocks of weed in anticipation of them.

Policy & Finance
Currency exchange in Englewood

Currency exchange rate hike to hit the unbanked with more fees

By La Risa Lynch | February 6, 2018

The impending increase will disproportionately impact lower-income blacks and Latinos who have been driven out of mainstream banking in Illinois.

Perspectives
Harold Washington

Harold Washington’s legacy provided touchstones for progressive politics

By Curtis Black | November 22, 2017

Washington died not long after winning control of the City Council and re-election. Despite the political challenges he faced, his accomplishments pointed the way toward a more inclusive and fiscally sound Chicago.

Perspectives: The Powers That Be

Budget war ‘compromises’ don’t address underlying fiscal crisis

By Curtis Black | June 29, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner and House Speaker Michael Madigan’s proposals for a property tax freeze and workers’ comp cuts won’t solve the issues that got Illinois into its budget mess in the first place.

Settling for Misconduct

Police misconduct payouts continue to break the bank in Chicago

By Jonah Newman | June 8, 2017

Despite spending more than $370 million on police misconduct lawsuits in six years, the city has not heeded official calls to analyze the cases for trends.

Perspectives: The Powers That Be

Bill targets ‘carried interest’ loophole to make finance titans pay fair share

By Curtis Black | May 11, 2017

Proposed legislation in Illinois and states across the country requires hedge fund and private equity managers to pay income taxes like the rest of us do.

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Founded on the heels of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, The Chicago Reporter confronts racial and economic inequality, using the power of investigative journalism. Our mission is national but grounded in Chicago, one of the most segregated cities in the nation and a bellwether for urban policies.

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