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The Latest Breaking News from Scott Waguespack

Democratic ward committeeperson’s job has lost its luster for City Council members

A growing number of sitting alderpersons are either not running at all or have been forced to withdraw and perhaps run as write-in candidates after failing to gather the number of signatures needed to get on the ballot.

Chicago Sun-Times

Mayor Johnson’s next floor leader has to get along with colleagues — and let democracy work

With Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa departing as zoning chairman and floor leader, Mayor Brandon Johnson has to select a replacement who can help the City Council function effectively and solve the city’s many challenges.

Chicago Sun-Times

Surge of brutal robberies has Bucktown neighbors demanding action: ‘It feels like we are under attack’

Robberies in the Shakespeare District, which includes the Bucktown, Wicker Park and parts of Logan Square neighborhoods, are 93% higher than in 2019.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Remembering ‘The Coconut,’ a real Chicago character

Frank Coconate was an authentic anti-Daley gadfly who talked to reporters and refused to be just another ‘yes-man’ from the precincts. He died recently at age 65.

Chicago Sun-Times

In abrupt about-face, Finance Committee signs off on $1 million settlement tied to controversial police shooting

In January, opposition from police union allies on the City Council allies forced then-Finance Committee Chair Scott Waguespack to yank the $1 million settlement to the mother of Sharrell Brown off the agenda. But Wednesday, it passed with little or no debate.

Chicago Sun-Times

More respite centers in Hispanic neighborhoods key to reducing migrant crisis tensions in Chicago, mayor’s floor leader says

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa wouldn’t say where the new centers could be, only that the administration was “very close to moving on a number of locations, some big and some small, primarily in Spanish-speaking communities.”

Chicago Sun-Times

Will Ramirez-Rosa’s new Council leadership roles be ‘big step forward’ for progressives — or kick in the pants to developers?

If the new zoning chair and Council floor leader is more pragmatic than some of his critics expect, it could be a positive step for progressive politics in Chicago and developers.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Mayor-elect warned: don’t mess with City Council reorganization

Finance Committee Chair Scott Waguespack is among the committee chairs who could be pushed out in favor of more chairs loyal to Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson.

Chicago Sun-Times

Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson tries to influence City Council reorganization

Jason Lee, a senior adviser to Johnson’s transition team, refused to pinpoint specific changes amid reports that several committee chairs could lose those posts.

Chicago Sun-Times

Lightfoot allies hatch plan to expand power on City Council before she heads out the door

Former Inspector General Joe Ferguson had pushed for a more independent Council, but slammed this approach as a “pre-emptive power move of the status quo wrapped in a package that includes meaningful reforms.”

Chicago Sun-Times

With Lightfoot a lame duck, City Council looks to declare independence

Three committee chairs are working behind the scenes to reorganize and empower the City Council before a new mayor and Council are seated.

Chicago Sun-Times

$1M settlement in fatal police shooting stalls in committee

Some City Council members were furious over plans to settle the lawsuit by the mother of Sharell Brown, noting the Civilian Office of Police Accountability concluded Brown was armed and posed a threat to Chicago police officers.

Chicago Sun-Times

Mayoral allies move to put 3 advisory referendums on Feb. 28 ballot

Chicago mayors and their City Council allies routinely put innocuous referendums on the ballot to keep off more controversial questions.

Chicago Sun-Times

Planning commissioner gets an earful about Lightfoot’s plan to create second transit TIF to bankroll Red Line South extension

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is pushing for a final City Council vote on her financing plan before Dec. 31 to meet the requirement for federal matching funds. But it could be a rough ride, judging from the earful Planning and Development Commissioner Maurice Cox got about the project while testifying at…

Chicago Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times

City Council urged to declare its independence from Lightfoot by choosing its own committee chairs

The Better Government Association published a policy statement Friday renewing its call for the City Council to shed its reputation as a rubber stamp for Chicago mayors.

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 Tribune

Chicago aldermen back higher minimum for speed camera tickets. Mayor Lori Lightfoot calls that ‘unconscionable’

CHICAGO — Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is making a public appeal to save one of her signature policies: ticketing drivers caught by automated speed cameras going as little as 6 mph over the limit.

Chicago Sun-Times

Lightfoot suffers embarrassing defeat — at the expense of speeding motorists

The Finance Committee vote was 16 to 15 to raise the 6 mph threshold that has generated an avalanche of tickets and $59 million in additional revenue since Lightfoot lowered the bar in March 2021.

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Chicago Sun-Times

Lightfoot spared almost certain defeat on vote to raise speed camera ticket threshold

The City Council’s Finance Committee was poised to force the mayor to stop issuing $35 tickets to motorists caught going 6 to 9 mph over the speed limit when Chairman Scott Waguespack abruptly recessed the meeting.

Chicago Sun-Times

Mayoral allies oppose suspending rules to allow vote on revised City Council map proposal

Finance Committee Chairman Scott Waguespack and Ethics Committee Chair Michele Smith launched a pre-emptive strike, hoping to head off a vote on a new ward map Wednesday — a vote that could aid an eleventh-hour switch by the Latino Caucus and CHANGE Illinois.

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