Mandating unaffordability: How Chicago’s housing affordability requirements decrease supply and increase costs

By Josh Bandoch, LyLena Estabine

10/01/2025

As housing prices continue to soar out of reach for more Americans, an impulse from policy makers across the country has been to attempt to mandate “affordable” prices through legislation. One common idea is rent control, which limits how much landlords can increase rents on residents. A related one is inclusionary zoning, which forces developers...

Illinois property tax rate tops U.S., but pain worse in some areas

By LyLena Estabine

09/08/2025

Illinois' high property taxes hurt the economy, particularly in communities already struggling. When government overtaxes, residents and businesses flee – leaving those remaining with a bigger tax bill.

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families  

By Josh Bandoch, Joe Tabor

07/09/2024

Published July 9, 2024 America is facing a housing affordability crisis. According to a 2022 survey, 73% of Americans said the average person could not afford a home in their area, and 69% were worried about their children and grandchildren being able to afford a home. That’s unfair. Everyone deserves a good roof over their...

Testimony begins in former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke corruption trial

By Patrick Andriesen

11/20/2023

After serving more than half a century as a “fixture” on the Chicago City Council, former Ald. Edward Burke now faces 14 counts of federal corruption charges for allegedly abusing his finance chair position and aldermanic powers for personal gain.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, Ed Burke

Pritzker ‘fair tax’ group pays over $10,000 to push fake tweet

10/14/2020

Vote Yes for Fairness misled Illinois voters by running ads based on a fake Twitter account. Gov. J.B. Pritzker almost single-handedly is funding the group.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, Twitter

Plea deal drops felony against former Lake Forest city manager who pushed for Amtrak stop

By Vincent Caruso

02/27/2020

Hiding lobbyist payments led to a felony indictment in October against Lake Forest’s longtime former city manager. His plea bargain drops the felony and could eventually leave his record clean.

TAGS: Amtrak, Bob Kiely, felony, investigation, Lake County, Lake Forest, laundering, lobbying, misconduct

Local government spending could soon be easier for Illinois taxpayers to track

02/24/2020

A bill to make more public records readily available would better show taxpayers how local governments spend money.

TAGS: Anna Moeller, government spending, House Rules Committee, Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal, Open Meetings Act, public records, Steve Stadelman, transparency

Where you can and can’t buy recreational marijuana in Illinois

11/15/2019

Many Illinois municipalities have voted to ban or restrict marijuana sales when it becomes legal for sale. Here’s a list of where pot will, won’t and might be legally bought.

TAGS: Arlington Heights, Bolingbrook, Buffalo Grove, cannabis, Carbondale, Carol Stream, Chicago, City of Springfield, collar counties, Collinsville, Danville, Decatur, Downers Grove, DuPage County, Edwardsville, Elmhurst, Grayslake, Highland Park, Joliet, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich, legalization, Libertyville, Lombard, marijuana, Mundelein, municipal government, Naperville, Northbrook, Oak Park, Plainfield, prohibition, Schaumburg, Urbana, Waukegan, Wheaton, Winnetka

Former Lake Forest city manager indicted following Amtrak lobbying scandal

By Vincent Caruso

10/27/2019

A grand jury indicted Lake Forest’s longtime city manager for making $200,000 in unauthorized payments to a lobbying firm in an effort to attract funding for an unpopular proposed Amtrak stop.

TAGS: corruption, Lake Forest, lobbying

Nearly half of joint filers in Lake Forest would see income tax hike if voters approve Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’

By Bryce Hill, Chena Underhill

10/07/2019

Voters statewide will decide whether 2,610 Lake Forest taxpayers should send $92 million in additional income taxes to Springfield.

TAGS: fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, Lake Forest, progressive income tax, taxes

Lake Forest

Mandating unaffordability: How Chicago’s housing affordability requirements decrease supply and increase costs

Illinois property tax rate tops U.S., but pain worse in some areas

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families

Testimony begins in former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke corruption trial

Pritzker ‘fair tax’ group pays over $10,000 to push fake tweet

Plea deal drops felony against former Lake Forest city manager who pushed for Amtrak stop

Local government spending could soon be easier for Illinois taxpayers to track

Where you can and can’t buy recreational marijuana in Illinois

Former Lake Forest city manager indicted following Amtrak lobbying scandal

Nearly half of joint filers in Lake Forest would see income tax hike if voters approve Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’

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