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The Latest Breaking News from Chicago City Council

Is City Council really ready to show its independence?

Chicago City Council members can select who they want on committees and who should lead them. State law and the city’s own rules clearly spell out they have that power. They just have always opted out and have given the mayor their blessing to do their bidding.

Chicago Sun-Times

Newly seated Ald. Knudsen touts youth, role in LGBTQ community: ‘Representation matters’

Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43rd) was confirmed, sworn in and started voting Wednesday, becoming Chicago’s youngest alderperson. His predecessor, Michele Smith, offered an impassioned defense of the role of council members.

Chicago Sun-Times

Private booting citywide hits roadblock

Innovative Parking already is authorized to boot vehicles on private lots in 34 of Chicago’s 50 wards. But the company’s efforts to expand its dreaded operations citywide stalled in the Chicago City Council on Wednesday.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Robot food delivery pilot program gets green light from City Council committee

If the full council endorses the plan, a year-old, pandemic-inspired test would expand to an area bounded by Halsted Street, Ogden Avenue, Roosevelt Road and the Eisenhower Expressway.

Chicago Sun-Times

Asian American candidates in Illinois aim to break state records — and ‘the bamboo ceiling’

At least 22 Asian American candidates are running for offices in the November election and next year’s city elections, not to mention others running in other local races across the state.

Chicago Sun-Times

Garcia inches closer to joining crowded race for mayor

In March, the Democratic congressman all but ruled out a mayoral campaign — despite calling Lightfoot more vulnerable than any Chicago mayor in 40 years. Now, he’s pegging the odds that he will run at 50-50.

Chicago Sun-Times

Calling it quits after 20 years on City Council, Brookins says he could write a book — about betrayal

“I never wanted to be one to overstay my welcome. I just believe, after 20 years, it’s the appropriate time to get out — especially with all that I accomplished the last 19 years.” said Ald. Howard Brookins, 58, wrapping up his fifth term on the Council.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Ald. Leslie Hairston to retire from the City Council after 24 years representing 5th Ward

Her retirement is part of a mass exodus that promises to change the face of the Chicago City Council. Hairston is the ninth Chicago alderperson to either resign or announce a decision not to seek reelection. Several others, including indicted Ald. Edward Burke (14th) and Zoning Chair Tom Tunney…

Chicago Sun-Times

Former Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson reports to prison in Wisconsin

The disgraced Bridgeport pol — a member of the city’s best-known political family — was found guilty in February of two counts of lying to regulators and five counts of filing false income tax returns.

Chicago Sun-Times

Ald. Sophia King joins race to unseat Lightfoot

King is chair of the Chicago City Council’s Progressive Caucus. Her husband, Alan, an attorney and house music DJ, is a close friend and basketball-playing buddy of former President Barack Obama.

Chicago Sun-Times

Seven months before smokestack’s botched implosion smothered Little Village in dust, Chicago city inspector issued dire warning

Of the steps that John Kryl urged his City Hall bosses be taken, “Not a single one of these things was done,” a community activist says.

Chicago Sun-Times

City Council ‘not a good place to work these days,’ Tunney says of mass exodus

Five-term Ald. Tom Tunney (44th), chairman of the Zoning Committee, told the Sun-Times he plans to take some time during the council’s August recess before deciding whether to call it quits — or even run for mayor.

Chicago Sun-Times

A ‘very scary moment’ — City Council member recalls her abortion at 19

“It was really hard for me as a very young person to figure out where to go ... or what was the guidance that I needed,” Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez said Wednesday, as she and others touted a proposed ordinance to strengthen abortion protections and and support in Chicago.

Chicago Sun-Times

O’Shea won’t reprise 2019 endorsement of Lightfoot: ‘I’d have a civil war on my hands’

Four years ago, candidate Lori Lightfoot got a huge boost from Ald. Matt O’Shea’s endorsement in the mayoral runoff election against Toni Preckwinkle. It won’t happen this year, O’Shea told the Sun-Times on Thursday.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times

Ald. Michele Smith to resign City Council seat Aug. 12

The decision by the Lincoln Park alderperson gives Mayor Lori Lightfoot the rare chance for a third appointment to the Council. Lightfoot already has replaced Patrick Daley Thompson, forced to resign after a federal conviction, and Michael Scott Jr., who left for a private sector job.

Chicago Sun-Times

Advocates for homeless pressure Council members Ervin, Waguespack to support ballot question to fund housing

Advocates with the Bring Chicago Home Coalition protested outside the offices of City Council members Jason Ervin (28th) and Scott Waguespack (32nd) this week to push for their support to add a question on the November ballot asking voters to create a dedicated revenue stream to house people…

Chicago Sun-Times

You can still get a speed-camera ticket for driving 6 mph over the limit after Lightfoot’s council victory

The mayor had hinted at a veto, but it wasn’t necessary, as a vote to raise the ticketing threshold to 10 mph over the speed limit was voted down, 26-16.

Chicago Tribune

Chicago moves to crack down on drag racing after viral video of drivers doing donuts at intersection: ‘An absolute recipe for disaster’

CHICAGO — A Chicago City Council committee unanimously passed an ordinance intended to crack down on drag racing Monday, on the heels of another video going viral of drivers doing donuts at a crowded Chicago intersection.

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Chicago Sun-Times

Drag racers take over West Loop intersection, teen charged with throwing fireworks at officers

The Chicago City Council this week will consider an ordinance meant to crack down on drag racing and drifting.

Chicago Sun-Times

Ald. James Cappleman to retire from the City Council

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she is not at all surprised that City Council turnover would follow the two-year pandemic. “I think we’ll see some others who may also say ... ‘It’s time for me to move in a different direction.’”

Chicago Sun-Times

Anna Valencia, once a rising political star, weighs city clerk re-election after losing badly in secretary of state race

Former state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias got 52.7% of the vote to Valencia’s 34.4% to succeed Jesse White as secretary of state.

Chicago Sun-Times

Son of former mayor joins growing field to unseat Lori Lightfoot

Ald. Roderick Sawyer’s father, Eugene Sawyer, was mayor in the late 1980s. Roderick Sawyer chairs the City Council’s Committee on Health and Human Relations and is a former chair of the council’s Black Caucus. He’s the fifth candidate seeking to deny Mayor Lori Lightfoot a second term.

Chicago Sun-Times

One of Lightfoot’s closest City Council allies abruptly resigns

The surprise departure of Ald. Michael Scott Jr., Education Committee chairman, gives Mayor Lori Lightfoot the ability to appoint her second alderperson. The first was 11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee, who replaced Patrick Daley Thompson.

Chicago Tribune

Chicago City Council passes new ward map after bitter fight, avoiding voter referendum

CHICAGO — The Chicago City Council adopted a new map of the city’s 50 wards Monday, forestalling a ballot referendum on competing designs by Black and Latino aldermen and their allies and ending a racially charged confrontation over the boundaries between the two groups.

Chicago Sun-Times

Compromise struck on new Chicago City Council ward map; could avoid referendum

Under the deal, which still needs to be cemented by a Chicago City Council vote next week, the map will create 16 Black majority wards and 14 Latino majority wards — one fewer than the Latino caucus had fought for.

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