The Latest Breaking News from City Council

South, West side residents gear up for city sale of vacant lots

More than 2,000 city-owned lots will go on sale next year; the new incarnation of an old program is getting mixed reviews from residents.

Chicago Sun-Times · Dec 28, 2022

Mayor Adams was ardent defender of discretionary spending before pushing NYC Council cuts over migrant crisis

NEW YORK — In a move that provoked harsh backlash last week, New York Mayor Eric Adams called on City Council members to fork over half of their discretionary funds to help pay for the ongoing migrant crisis that has plagued his administration for months.

Tribune News Service · Dec 27, 2022

Editorial: Mayor Bass is moving fast to house encampments. She’s going to need help — and hotel rooms

On her first day in office, Dec. 12, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a state of emergency on homelessness. Several days after that, she signed an order to make it faster for homeless housing to be approved.

Los Angeles Times · Dec 27, 2022

Bass wants to bring homeless people indoors. Can she secure enough beds?

LOS ANGELES — Seated on the hard sidewalk along Cahuenga Boulevard, Rue Ryan arranged a batch of red roses she had plucked from the trash into a memorial for her "street mom," Hyper, who died two years ago.

Los Angeles Times · Dec 22, 2022

Why critics say Lightfoot’s NASCAR deal is a wreck

Interviews with Chicago City Council members, experts and a WBEZ analysis of the contract show minimal financial benefit to the city and few specifics about who pays for related costs, such as security and clean up.

Chicago Sun-Times · Dec 21, 2022

Widespread job vacancies create city service woes, stressed staff in Berkeley

BERKELEY, Calif. — Managers in city offices across Berkeley have spent the better part of the year trying to recruit staff and patch holes in work schedules as vacancies careened upward, leaving some departments operating with too few employees to provide the services residents need and expect.

Tribune News Service · Dec 20, 2022

Public consultation on Nottingham City Council's £29m of savings proposals begins

Councillors endorsed £29m of savings proposals, over £10m of which require public consultation. This includes raising Council Tax by the full 4.99 per cent permitted under Government proposals.

Nottingham Post · Dec 20, 2022

Denver’s emergency declaration extended as migrants housed in city shelters top 400

DENVER — Denver’s local emergency declaration responding to a surge of migrants arriving in the city is not set to expire Jan. 17 after the Denver City Council approved an extension Monday afternoon.

The Denver Post · Dec 20, 2022

Scandal-plagued LA City Council deeply unpopular; voters have faith in Bass, poll finds

LOS ANGELES — If the last week was any indication, Mayor Karen Bass starts her tenure with the wind at her back.

Los Angeles Times · Dec 19, 2022

Rikers Island correction officers contribute to flow of drugs and other contraband in NYC jails

NEW YORK — A packet of drugs in a McDonald’s salad. Vacuum-sealed marijuana in a lunch box. Hennessy cognac in AriZona Iced Tea bottles and Ciroc coconut-flavored vodka in Poland Spring water bottles.

Tribune News Service · Dec 19, 2022