Waguespack denies trading his support for Lightfoot for Finance Committee chair
Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) said Wednesday he “didn’t make any deals” with Lori Lightfoot in exchange for endorsing her mayoral campaign, even as he acknowledged the obvious: He would love to chair...
View ArticlePreckwinkle, Lightfoot differ in approach to City Council
Lori Lightfoot wants to give the City Council its own attorney, televise committee meetings, impose term limits for committee chairmen and end aldermanic prerogative, the unwritten rule giving local...
View ArticleEmanuel’s last stab at ethics reform stalls
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s last stab at ethics reform ran into a legislative roadblock on Tuesday, but not for the “Chicago ain’t ready for reform” reasons that have stalled previous proposals. This time,...
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Ald. Danny Solis confirms role as FBI mole, pleads for privacy
Disgraced Ald. Danny Solis (25th) was a no-show at Wednesday’s City Council meeting as the law firm representing him confirmed his role as an FBI mole and pleaded for privacy for the alderman who wore...
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With Obamas on sidelines, can Preckwinkle find another Hail Mary pass?
After pulling one rabbit out of the hat — from Chance the Rapper — Toni Preckwinkle was trying desperately to secure two more endorsements that could have been game-changers: Barack and Michelle Obama....
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Lightfoot to Preckwinkle: Put donors’ money where your mouth is
Mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot, who last year made a $1,000 campaign contribution to her opponent, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, would like a refund. For the second night in a row,...
View ArticlePreckwinkle stands behind Bobby Rush — even after racially inflammatory remarks
In 1987, legendary Chicago judge R. Eugene Pincham was roundly condemned for warning that “anybody south of Madison Street” who didn’t support re-electing Mayor Harold Washington “should be hung.” Now,...
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Mayoral debate: Lightfoot, Preckwinkle hash out their pasts — and future
When asked what sort of relationship she would have with Lori Lightfoot if her rival wins the April 2 election, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle laughed at first. “You know, it’s in the...
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Mayoral debate: Lightfoot, Preckwinkle disagree who has been more disagreeable
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and former federal prosecutor Lori Lightfoot met for their final TV debate of the mayoral campaign Wednesday night, giving viewers a last glimpse of them...
View ArticleIs Chicago headed for Council Wars II?
The last time Chicago elected a reform-minded mayor, all political hell broke loose. Will the April 2 mayoral and aldermanic elections usher in Council Wars II? Chicago’s city charter calls for a...
View ArticleTo the new mayor: Congratulations — now, get to work
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot has said the very first thing she plans to do is summon Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson to hammer out details of his plan to combat the traditional surge in summer...
View ArticleLightfoot advised to tread softly with new, emboldened City Council
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot was advised Wednesday to tread softly with the new, emboldened and more progressive City Council or risk derailing her ambitious legislative agenda. Weigh in, but let the...
View ArticleAldermen take baby steps toward reform
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has vowed to salvage his stalled ethics plan before leaving office. On Monday, the City Council’s Rules Committee met the retiring mayor at least part of the way by taking, what you...
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City Council tightrope: How to mark the departure of Emanuel and (some) aldermen
Saying goodbye to a retiring mayor and City Council colleagues isn’t supposed to be a complicated endeavor. But it will be when aldermen bid farewell Wednesday to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the handful of...
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Ald. Ed Burke tied to bribery case involving developer who needed city favors
A developer had a $750,000 problem with a city project, and he knew exactly the alderman to help him — Edward M. Burke. The redevelopment project was on the Northwest Side — nowhere near Burke’s 14th...
View ArticleLightfoot purges herself of $500 contribution from developer tied to Burke
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot is purging herself of a $500 campaign contribution from a now-indicted developer with ties to Ald. Edward Burke (14th) — by donating the money to a political reform group....
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Three rings to kiss now that Burke benched from role backing judge candidates?
For the first time in decades, Cook County Democrats are heading into an election cycle without Ald. Ed Burke running the party’s judge-picking process. That would be no small matter in any election,...
View ArticleRahm Emanuel’s legacy on ethics: The storm cloud lifted — except at CPS
The Hired Truck, city hiring and minority contracting scandals cast a giant shadow over former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s administration. The storm cloud lifted under Rahm Emanuel. The only major bribery...
View ArticleTunney stakes claim to Finance Committee chairmanship
Calling himself the business community’s voice in an anti-business climate, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) on Tuesday staked his claim to the Finance Committee chairmanship that has long been the primary power...
View ArticleLightfoot refines signature promise to end aldermanic prerogative
Facing pushback from some of the City Council’s most senior aldermen, Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot tried Wednesday to refine the signature promise of her campaign: ending aldermanic prerogative....
View ArticleFeds ask for more time to indict Ald. Edward Burke in corruption case
Federal prosecutors want more time to seek an indictment against Ald. Ed Burke (14th) in the corruption case that earlier this year rocked City Hall in the middle of campaign season. Facing a May 3...
View ArticleJustice Anne Burke cleared in Toni Preckwinkle fundraiser complaint
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke has been cleared of wrongdoing by a state oversight board that looked into her alleged role in a fundraiser for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle....
View ArticleEmanuel has no regrets over not ousting Burke from power 8 years ago
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Friday he has no regrets over his decision to back off a threat to dump Ald. Edward Burke (14th) as Finance Committee chairman in favor of a political accommodation that allowed...
View ArticleLightfoot says ‘no muscling of anybody’ to fund inauguration, transition
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot said Thursday there is “no muscling of anybody” involved in her request for corporate donations to help bankroll her abbreviated transition and May 20 inauguration, calling...
View ArticleBurke slapped with $2,000 fine for ethics violation
A $2,000 fine levied by the Chicago Board of Ethics is a small-time problem compared to the attempted extortion charge against Ald. Edward Burke (14th) and the June 7 deadline federal prosecutors face...
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