Chicago Sun-Times

Taming Chicago’s $1.7 billion TIF monster

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 15:20:28 -0500

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.

Negotiations suspended for mayor’s plans for Port Authority District

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 02:25:08 -0500

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s grand plan to privatize the Illinois Port Authority District to create hundreds of jobs and capitalize on its vast untapped potential hit a political barge Monday. The Broe Group, the Colorado company that had pledged to invest $500 million in port facilities over the next decade, “amicably suspended” negotiations on a master lease after being unable to reach agreement with the Port District. “The Broe Group presented a proposal that had significant economic benefits. We made excellent progress on many details. However, we were unable to come to full agreement in our negotiations with the Port District …

Officials: Inmate escapee shouldn’t have been working at animal facility

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 02:24:57 -0500

A Cook County jail inmate who got away from Chicago’s Animal Care and Control facility had a violent history that should have disqualified him from that work detail, the sheriff’s office acknowledged Monday. Cara Smith, chief of policy and communications for the sheriff’s office, said an investigation is under way to determine who is responsible for waiving the rules to benefit Vincent Tervel. On Saturday, Tervel was one of 16 inmates assigned to clean dog kennels and feed and water dogs when he walked away from the city pound at 2741 S. Western shortly before noon. He was re-captured four …

Twins follow in footsteps of their Chicago Police parents

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 02:14:52 -0500

As boys, twins Jim and Joseph Paoletti would put on their parents’ Chicago police hats and marvel at the black leather “gadget” belt their father strapped on before he ventured out into the city after dark — like Batman. Now 25, they’re getting their own taste of life on the city’s streets — after graduating together this month from the Chicago Police Academy.

Suit: CPD helped favorite officers cheat on sergeants’ test

Sat, 28 Sep 2013 02:25:22 -0500

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.

Taste of Chicago turned 1st profit in six years

Sun, 29 Sep 2013 02:32:01 -0500

Taste of Chicago turned a profit in 2013 for the first time in six years — thanks to a recipe that included perfect weather, a popular music lineup, celebrity chefs and food trucks — turning Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s revised, bumped and abbreviated format into a keeper.

Chicago Teamsters reject Rahm Emanuel’s bid for contract concessions on 461-11 vote

Sat, 28 Sep 2013 02:09:25 -0500

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.

Emanuel pension plan drawing fire from all sides

Fri, 27 Sep 2013 02:24:46 -0500

Chicago homeowners and businesses would face annual property tax increases to solve the city’s pension crisis — but a balloon payment to shore up police and fire pensions would be put off until 2022 — under legislation backed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel that is drawing fire from all sides.

Child-sex felon worked for City Hall, Chicago school system

Fri, 27 Sep 2013 10:56:00 -0500

A Chicago man who was sentenced this week to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a minor and videotaping the attacks had worked since 2008 as a City Hall aide and previously worked for former Chicago schools chief Arne Duncan, records show.

Illinois Appellate Court upholds Chicago landmark ordinance

Fri, 27 Sep 2013 11:17:26 -0500

The Illinois Appellate Court upheld Chicago’s landmarks ordinance Thursday, removing a legal cloud that it cast over the law three years ago.

Head of panel investigating police torture claims quits under fire

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 02:17:59 -0500

David Thomas, executive director of the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission, resigned Wednesday under pressure from the families of crime victims. They were upset that they weren’t notified about hearings on police torture cases.

Arbitrator: Chicago cops owed $1 million for NATO summit OT

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 02:17:37 -0500

Cash-strapped Chicago must pay $1 million in disputed overtime to 3,100 Chicago Police officers who protected the city during last year’s NATO Summit, an independent arbitrator has ruled.

City’s offer yanks retroactive pay hikes, union says

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 02:22:35 -0500

Rank-and-file Chicago Police officers are not the only ones at risk of losing their retroactive pay raise. Mayor Rahm Emanuel is trying to deny nearly two years’ worth of back pay to 3,000 civilian city employees, their union charged Tuesday. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 disclosed that portion of the city’s offer in an attempt to turn up the heat on Emanuel to negotiate a fair replacement for a contract that expired more than a year ago and last gave AFSMCE members a pay raise on Jan. 1, 2012.

Emanuel pays more to settle suits vs. city — hopes to save in long run

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 02:15:39 -0500

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has shelled out $169 million to settle lawsuits against the city — $77.4 million of it this year alone — nearly triple the amount paid by cash-strapped Chicago during the final two years of former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s administration. Corporation Counsel Stephen Patton attributed the spike at a time when the city can least afford it to two factors: Daley’s decision to “put the brakes” on settlements and Emanuel’s desire to cut the city’s losses and settle early cases taxpayers were destined to lose.

McPier picks architect for DePaul arena

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 02:15:53 -0500

The board that runs McCormick Place selected the firm Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects on Monday to design the planned 10,000-seat arena intended to host large-scale meetings and DePaul University basketball.

Jury awards $2.4M to man hit by drunken city truck driver

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 02:15:25 -0500

Stephen Dewart will soon be a 29-year-old millionaire, thanks to the jury in his personal injury case. But he would give all $2.4 million of it back just to turn back the clock and be whole again.