Small business owner fears Amendment 1 tax hikes

10/28/2022

Linda Ekendahl hoped buying property for her business would be the best move – until her $30,000 property tax bill came. Another tax hike under Amendment 1 would further damage her business.

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

Amendment 1 could lock in $1.8B commercial property tax hike

By Bryce Hill

10/07/2022

Statewide commercial property tax extensions are on pace to total $11.3 billion by 2026. Amendment 1’s expansion of government union power would likely accelerate that $1.8 billion increase.

TAGS: Amendment 1, property taxes

Cook County ends $80 ‘wheel tax’ for 50,000 drivers

By Patrick Andriesen

09/23/2022

The Cook County Board voted unanimously to repeal the sticker mandate on drivers living in unincorporated Cook County starting in 2023. Drivers will save at least $80 a year.

TAGS: Cook County, wheel tax

State senator faces federal bribery charges in red-light camera scheme

By Dylan Sharkey

09/20/2022

Illinois state Sen. Emil Jones III is the latest politician charged with bribery as well as lying to the FBI in a corruption probe involving red-light cameras.

TAGS: red light cameras

Chicago pension funds still among nation’s worst funded

08/16/2022

Over-promised benefits continue to sink Chicago’s finances as the recent bear market eats into 2021 stock market gains. Investments gaining 25% last year plus federal aid didn’t offer much help to city pension systems, which have more debt than 45 states.

TAGS: Chicago, pensions

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

Chicago City Council committee votes to repeal tickets for going 6 mph over speed limit

By Dylan Sharkey

06/22/2022

The Chicago City Council Finance Committee voted 16-15 to repeal Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s policy issuing $35 tickets to motorists going 6 mph over the speed limit. The decision now heads to the full council for a vote June 22.

Speed cameras issue more tickets in 2021 than Chicago has residents

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

04/03/2022

Chicago drivers were issued more speed tickets in 2021 than there are city residents. Annual ticket revenues doubled, but fatal crashes still increased.

TAGS: Chicago, red light cameras, traffic safety

Lightfoot considers ending Chicago gas tax amid record prices

By Patrick Andriesen

03/14/2022

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is considering a repeal of Chicago’s 8-cent-per-gallon gas tax to alleviate record-breaking prices. State gas taxes doubled in 2019 and state leaders are also considering a repeal.

TAGS: Chicago, gas tax

South Side

Small business owner fears Amendment 1 tax hikes

Chicago issues over 1M parking tickets in 6 months

Amendment 1 could lock in $1.8B commercial property tax hike

Cook County ends $80 ‘wheel tax’ for 50,000 drivers

State senator faces federal bribery charges in red-light camera scheme

Chicago pension funds still among nation’s worst funded

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

Chicago City Council committee votes to repeal tickets for going 6 mph over speed limit

Speed cameras issue more tickets in 2021 than Chicago has residents

Lightfoot considers ending Chicago gas tax amid record prices

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