Chicago Reporter (https://www.chicagoreporter.com/tag/chicago-city-council/)
The little-followed 16th Ward race highlights the shifting influence of ward committeemen, a position long known to drive patronage and corruption in Chicago politics.
The watershed mayoral election ushers in a new political landscape, setting the stage for a crop of young activists joining the City Council.
Longtime Ald. Patrick O’Connor, forced into a runoff for the first time, faces progressive challenger Andre Vasquez – and his record as a mayoral loyalist may not help him.
The outgoing mayor’s agenda to advance Lincoln Yards, the 78, and a new police academy shows no break with his record of ignoring community and ethical concerns to subsidize gentrification.
Emma Mitts is facing challengers who are seeing support in the West Side ward, slated to become the site of a controversial new police academy.
Rahm and J.B. are the leading donors; unions play an outsized role; your cable bill may be paying to support your alderman; and more.
Most transit-oriented development so far has been clustered on the North and Near West sides, the Metropolitan Planning Council found, reinforcing decades of underinvestment in segregated neighborhoods.
Despite widespread opposition and scandal with involved parties at City Hall, the project could still gain approval and cost taxpayers billions.
The Los Angeles-based company has paid more than $285 million in the past four years to settle allegations of wrongdoing.
The alderman stopped short of suggesting his colleagues — 35 of whom have also received money from embattled Ald. Ed Burke — do the same.