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

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

10/13/2025

Chicago’s $1.15 billion projected budget gap is the latest in a decades-long string of structural deficits. Making Chicago’s high taxes worse is not the solution.

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...

Where Chicago school board candidates stand on school choice

By Dylan Sharkey

10/04/2024

Chicago Public Schools Board of Education candidates have varying positions on school choice, according to a Chicago Sun-Times and Chalkbeat Chicago questionnaire.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Chicago mayor challenges aldermanic privilege to fix housing

By Benjamin O'Donnell

07/17/2024

Chicago doesn’t have enough housing, in part because restrictive regulations and zoning drive up costs and headaches for developers. Mayor Brandon Johnson has recommended solid fixes, but the city must restrict aldermanic power.

Chicago Teachers Union kills excelling schools to force students into dysfunction

By Hannah Schmid

12/15/2023

The Chicago Board of Education approved a resolution on Dec. 14 which will eliminate selective enrollment schools in the Chicago Public Schools district. It is yet another attempt by the Chicago Teachers Union and its allies to limit parents’ choices in their children’s educations.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Vallas: A real strategy for containing out-of-control violence in Chicago

By Paul Vallas

07/17/2023

Chicago can’t afford to wait on immediate crime reduction efforts – the city needs a plan. Unfortunately, no concrete details have emerged on how the new administration plans to address public safety, the No. 1 issue on Chicagoans’ minds. Here are nine steps Chicago officials could take to begin curbing crime today.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

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

By Bryce Hill, Chena Underhill

10/06/2019

Voters statewide will decide whether 4,757 Lincoln Park taxpayers should send $138 million in additional income taxes to Springfield.

TAGS: Chicago, fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, Lincoln Park, progressive income tax, taxes

Illinois lawmakers set to throw more money at failing Chicago convention center

By Austin Berg

05/30/2019

Chicago’s McCormick Place convention center has been a political money pit for nearly 60 years. And now state lawmakers are considering whether to keep subsidizing failure with more tax dollars.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, McCormick Place, McPier, Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, taxes

Nearly a third of property tax revenue in Chicago is diverted into 143 TIF districts

By Chris Lentino

07/26/2018

Nearly a third of property tax revenue in Chicago is diverted into 143 TIF districts controlled by the mayor, nearly half of which are located in affluent neighborhoods.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, Cook County, John F. Curran, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, William Davis

Tax Increment Financing: Christmas year-round for local politicians, developers

By Chris Lentino

12/19/2017

Statewide use of slush funds ensures it’s Christmas every day for political leaders and their chosen developers.

TAGS: Chicago, pensions, real estate, taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Lincoln Park

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

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

Where Chicago school board candidates stand on school choice

Chicago mayor challenges aldermanic privilege to fix housing

Chicago Teachers Union kills excelling schools to force students into dysfunction

Vallas: A real strategy for containing out-of-control violence in Chicago

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

Illinois lawmakers set to throw more money at failing Chicago convention center

Nearly a third of property tax revenue in Chicago is diverted into 143 TIF districts

Tax Increment Financing: Christmas year-round for local politicians, developers

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

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