politics
Taming Chicago’s $1.7 billion TIF monster
Tax increment financing is an off-putting name for an explosive political topic. After coming to Chicago three decades ago as an obscure funding tool for North Loop development, TIF districts have multiplied across the city, raising enough cash to become a stealth government.
Rev. Jackson to mediate for U.S. captive in Colombia
The Rev. Jesse Jackson accepted an invitation Saturday from Colombia’s largest guerrilla army to mediate the release of an American man the rebels have held since June.
Illiana toll road would be ‘misplaced investment,’ planners say
A new report by a government agency questions the need for the proposed Illiana Expressway and says using public money to build the toll road to link Interstates 55 and 57 in Illinois with Interstate 65 in Indiana would be a “misplaced investment.”
Durbin: Chicago to get more than $1M for 15 new police officers
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced Friday the federal government will give the city nearly $1.9 million to hire 15 police officers. Chicago is one of 263 cities that will be given money through the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services program, according …
Chicago Teamsters reject Rahm Emanuel’s bid for contract concessions on 461-11 vote
Already feuding with police, firefighters, teachers and other public employees, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration sought but failed to win concessions this week from the only major labor group that had supported Emanuel’s election. Teamsters union members overwhelmingly rejected a proposal from the mayor’s office, which went down by a 461-11 margin at a meeting Thursday, sources told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Suit: CPD helped favorite officers cheat on sergeants’ test
Five former or current Chicago Police officers passed over for promotion are suing the city, accusing department officials of helping their favorite candidates cheat on the sergeants’ test. The five, who took the test in 2005 under former police Supt. Phil Cline, claim a supervisor coached a fellow officer before he took the essay portion of the test, according to the suit filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court.
Jackson auction canceled — some celebrity items might be fake
Some of the celebrity items former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty to buying with campaign funds might be fakes, the U.S. Marshals Service said, canceling the auction of the items.
Rahm Emanuel reins in city comptroller’s power after scandal
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration is changing the way it awards insurance brokerage contracts in the wake of former city Comptroller Amer Ahmad’s indictment and a Chicago Sun-Times report about the awarding of insurance business to a company whose lobbyist has ties to a top deputy in the comptroller’s office.
