The Latest Breaking News from Sam Toia

The mayor is making permanent an expanded outdoor dining program that helped restaurants and bars get through the pandemic, while he preserves input from the local alderperson.

They hope that by bringing a global spotlight to Chicago, the political event will show off the city’s best features and accelerate its post-pandemic resurgence.

CHICAGO — Nearly three years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many office workers still work from home, especially on Mondays and Fridays, depriving restaurants of the healthy lunch crowds they need to stay afloat and damaging prospects for recovery downtown.

The delivery services will refund $8.5 million to struggling Chicago restaurants — and pay $1.5 million more to the city — to settle claims that the companies ignored a 15% cap on delivery fees and listed restaurants without their consent.

River North restaurants have cut 20.2 hours per week, on average, since COVID hit. Restaurant owners cite reasons including inflation, lack of workers and changing consumer habits. But the biggest issue may be the sluggish return to workers downtown.

Higher costs are pummeling restaurants. Many have cut hours and portions and raised prices. Lou Malnati’s Pizza raised prices 8% across the board — more in a year “than ever in our history.”

Former Ald. Richard Mell “thinks I would be a good mayor. That’s all I can say,” retiring Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) told the Sun-Times Monday. “He’s worked with me for years.”

If the council approves the new program, the Chicago Department of Transportation will establish an “outdoor dining street permit” valid from May through October. It would allow restaurants to set up extra tables in curb lanes.

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 — Touting the city’s bona fides, Chicago politicians and business leaders last week said the city was prepared to host the Democratic National Convention in 2024 and that the major national event would provide a much-needed spark to Chicago’s pandemic-ravaged hospitality industries.