Chicago slashes 2,103 public safety jobs as it adds 184 administrators

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

11/22/2024

Chicago’s 2025 budget has a nearly $1 billion hole. Mayor Brandon Johnson has only proposed tax hikes. But when personnel eats over two-thirds of the budget, the city must be smart about freezes and cuts without making public safety even worse.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department

$4.9B in pension, debt costs squeeze essentials from Chicago 2024 budget

By Bryce Hill

10/13/2023

Pension contributions and debt service now take up 40% of Chicago’s city’s budget.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Lightfoot vaccine deadline could trigger city worker firings

By Patrick Andriesen

02/03/2022

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot pledged unvaccinated city employees will soon be placed on “no-pay status” and face potential termination for failing to comply with her COVID-19 ultimatum. City lists 550 firefighters as unvaccinated.

TAGS: Lori Lightfoot, vaccine mandate

Illinois retirees file lawsuit over biased ballot language on progressive tax

By Austin Berg

10/05/2020

The lawsuit challenges the language that will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot asking whether voters want to scrap Illinois’ constitutional flat tax guarantee – opening the door to a retirement tax.

COVID-19 rules apply to all Illinoisans, with exceptions for some political figures

By Brad Weisenstein

05/07/2020

Some of those leading Illinois’ response to COVID-19, or those close to them, have not exactly been following the rules about staying home and social distancing.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, JB Pritzker, Lori Lightfoot

Illinois passes state law giving pension boost to one Chicago alderman

By Vincent Caruso

11/28/2018

State lawmakers overrode Gov. Rauner’s veto of a bill that allows one former firefighter serving as a Chicago alderman to credit his political salary toward a more lucrative fire pension. The pension boost will also apply to future aldermen with a history of fire department work.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, municipal pensions, Nicholas Sposato, pension guarantee, pensions, Robert Martwick

House passes pension boost bill for one Chicago alderman

By Vincent Caruso

11/27/2018

Illinois House members voted to override Gov. Rauner’s veto of a bill that would allow a former firefighter serving as a Chicago aldermen to credit his political salary toward a more lucrative fire pension. While just one alderman now qualifies, the bill could extend the perk to more in the future.

TAGS: 401(k), Anthony Napolitano, Bruce Rauner, municipal pensions, Nicholas Sposato, pension guarantee, pensions, Rahm Emanuel, Robert Martwick

House bill would boost pension payments for Chicago aldermen

By Vincent Caruso

11/10/2018

Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed a bill to allow former firefighters serving as Chicago aldermen to credit their political salary toward a more lucrative firefighter pension. It could come back during veto session.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Chicago, Chicago City Council, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, Robert Martwick

Corruption Watch

07/05/2016

Headlines in June show why Chicago is considered one of the most corrupt cities in the world.

TAGS: corruption, good government, transparency

Illinois corruption watch, August 2014

By Brian Costin

09/05/2014

At least 84 corruption-related stories have been reported from across the state of Illinois in August alone. Atop August headlines is the recent revelation that a federal grand jury subpoenaed the emails of Gov. Pat Quinn’s ex-chief of staff in relation to Quinn’s anti-violence grant program. The case, which has been referred to by some...

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, cronyism, transparency, waste

Chicago Fire Department

Chicago slashes 2,103 public safety jobs as it adds 184 administrators

$4.9B in pension, debt costs squeeze essentials from Chicago 2024 budget

Lightfoot vaccine deadline could trigger city worker firings

Illinois retirees file lawsuit over biased ballot language on progressive tax

COVID-19 rules apply to all Illinoisans, with exceptions for some political figures

Illinois passes state law giving pension boost to one Chicago alderman

House passes pension boost bill for one Chicago alderman

House bill would boost pension payments for Chicago aldermen

Corruption Watch

Illinois corruption watch, August 2014

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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