by Amanda Griffin-Johnson The latest corruption scandal in Chicago, “Operation Crooked Code,” has resulted in the convictions of 21 people. Of the individuals convicted, 15 were city building and zoning inspectors. If you’ve never heard of the Crooked Code scandal, you are not alone. The Chicago Sun-Times explains: Despite those successful cases, Crooked Code hasn’t been as high-profile...

The Problem Although tax increment financing (TIF) has been around for over thirty years, many people do not understand how it works, how it affects their communities or their pocketbooks. Most people have no idea a significant portion of their property taxes are flowing into the hands of real-estate developers instead of their schools, public...

by Ashley Muchow Chicago mayor, Richard Daley has announced the Windy City will consider privatizing its recycling program and lakefront festivals to assist in closing the city’s budget deficit.  Though a nominal amount compared to the state’s $13 billion budget deficit, Daley is determined to close the city’s $655 million budget hole without raising taxes. Following well known moves...

by Kate Piercy Yesterday Mayor Daley announced updates and “improvements” to the City of Chicago’s website, saying these changes would make his administration more transparent. The site includes more data about Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests, vendors, contracts, and city employees. The site is getting mixed reviews from some media and members of the public, reacting...

In January 1979, a severe winter storm blasted Chicago. The city government failed to clear the roads of snow, which virtually shut down the metropolis for a week. The snow closed O’Hare International Airport for a record 42 hours. Drifts, many of them 12 feet high, blocked more than 1,400 of the city’s streets. An...