Chicago issues over 1M parking tickets in 6 months

By Patrick Andriesen

10/11/2022

Three years after Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot campaigned on a pledge to reduce fines and fees, the city issued over 1 million parking tickets in the first half of 2022 – a 25% bump from the same period a year earlier.

TAGS: Chicago, speed cameras

Lightfoot’s limos get 5 speed camera tickets, pay none

By Patrick Andriesen

07/28/2022

Mayor Lori Lightfoot just cried ‘safety’ in fending off an effort to curb the speed cameras that issued more tickets than Chicago has residents. But her travel detail has its own need for speed: 3 speed cam tickets and 2 warnings.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, mayor, speed cameras, speed limit

Chicago aldermen fail to repeal Lightfoot’s $80-million speed camera policy

By Patrick Andriesen

07/20/2022

Chicago aldermen lacked the votes to repeal Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s lower speed camera ticketing threshold responsible for nearly $80 million in fines.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

Chicago speed cameras ticket 3.8 million drivers since Lightfoot cut limits

By Patrick Andriesen

07/19/2022

Chicago’s speed cameras issued 3.8 million tickets since Mayor Lori Lightfoot lowered the threshold before a citation is written. That is like everyone in Chicago getting 1.4 tickets in 16 months.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

1M Chicago speed camera tickets fail to stop record traffic deaths

By Patrick Andriesen

07/18/2022

Chicago reported more traffic deaths in the first six months of 2022 than in any year since 2017, despite speed cameras issuing over 1 million tickets – as many tickets as Chicago has households. Two-thirds of the fines were for speeding 6-10 mph.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras, ticketing

Lightfoot allies delay speed camera vote

By Dylan Sharkey

06/24/2022

The Chicago City Council blocked a vote to repeal the lower speed camera ticket threshold, responsible for $59 million in tickets last year. Mayor Lori Lightfoot now has until July 20 to save a policy that issued more tickets than Chicago has residents.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, red light cameras, speed cameras

Lightfoot fights city council effort to limit $59M speed cameras

By Patrick Andriesen

06/17/2022

Chicago aldermen were ready to repeal the lower speed camera tolerance that generated $59 million in fines last year, but the finance committee chairman called off the meeting. Mayor Lori Lightfoot will use the delay to ‘twist peoples’ arms’ and keep the threshold low and lucrative.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

Experts: highway camera bills on Pritzker’s desk ripe for abuse

By Patrick Andriesen

04/27/2022

Two bills on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk would spend $20 million to add license plate monitoring cameras to 6,600 miles of highways in 22 counties. Civil rights groups fret about abuse. Illinois State Police can’t say they increase safety.

TAGS: Illinois, interstate highway, speed cameras

Lightfoot reacts to record Chicago speed camera tickets with limited relief

By Patrick Andriesen

04/25/2022

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced relief for low-income residents just weeks after an Illinois Policy Institute investigation found her lower threshold for speed camera tickets created more fines in 2021 than Chicago has residents.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

Lightfoot admits speed cameras hurt low-income Chicagoans more

By Patrick Andriesen

01/12/2022

A university study of Chicago automated traffic cameras commissioned by the city found minority and low-income residents are hurt more. Researchers recommended the city reform the regressive system of fines.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

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Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

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Cathy Stuehmeier

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students