Chicago Sun-Times

Emanuel, business leaders make pitch for McCormick arena — and it’s a tough sell

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:23:05 -0500

Aldermen, union leaders and local residents have questioned the mayor’s priorities at a time when Emanuel is closing 53 elementary schools, phasing out the city’s 55 percent subsidy for retiree health care and using millions in overtime to mask a shortage of police officers.

Teachers union vows to change political landscape after schools vote

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:17:58 -0500

Nine aldermen — most of whom largely support Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s agenda at City Hall — went to the Chicago Board of Education’s meeting Wednesday to criticize some or all of the mayor’s plan to close 50 schools.

Police lead school-closing opponents out of City Hall, 25 get tickets

Tue, 21 May 2013 02:16:13 -0500

Chicago Police led away protesters Monday who blocked elevators in the lobby of City Hall after they vowed to “cause chaos in this city” to stop a sweeping school-closing plan. Also Monday, Chicago Public Schools officials released reports providing additional details of how nine schools that are absorbing student bodies from shuttered schools plan to address student safety and the accommodations of special needs students.

Teamsters back away from representing O’Hare janitors

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:26:52 -0500

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s allies in the Teamsters union leadership have backed away from trying to represent airport janitors working for a company the mayor hired last year over objections from other labor leaders. The Service Employees International Union had complained that hundreds of its members lost their jobs because of a five-year, $99.4 million janitorial contract Emanuel signed with United Maintenance Cos. Inc. for O’Hare Airport.

Unions, retirees slam Emanuel plan to cut health-care subsidy

Thu, 16 May 2013 02:23:22 -0500

Union leaders and retired city workers on Wednesday blasted Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s decision to save $108.7 million-a-year by phasing out the city’s 55 percent subsidy for retiree health care, at the same time he’s using $125 million public funds to build a new basketball arena near McCormick Place.

Art imitating life: ‘Crime Scene’ to be staged at Chicago parks this summer

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:56:59 -0500

When Collaboraction Theatre Company takes the stage to perform its play “Crime Scene: Let Hope Rise” in select city parks this summer, actors will be telling a story that many of the people watching already know. Collaboraction and the Chicago Park District will put on the play, which explores the city’s history and prevalence of gun violence, in four South and West Side parks between July and August.

$750,000 in private funds to bring summer culture to parks

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:35:38 -0500

Chicagoans won’t have to come downtown this summer to enjoy music, dance, theater and movies in the parks. They’ll be available — in abundance — in their own neighborhoods.

Daley nephew trial expected next year, grand jury still working

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:07:26 -0500

The involuntary manslaughter trial of Richard J. “R.J.” Vanecko, the nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley accused in the death of 21-year-old David Koschman, won’t happen till next year, the judge in the case said Tuesday. Meanwhile, a grand jury investigation led by special prosecutor Dan K. Webb into the way the case was handled by the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County state’s attorney’s office continues longer than expected and is now expected to be completed in July.

Emanuel to announce $300 million DePaul stadium plan for McCormick Place

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:11:54 -0500

Mayor Rahm Emanuel is expected to announce this week plans for a $300 million 12,000-seat arena for DePaul University at McCormick Place — a proposal that will call for millions in taxpayer dollars, sources tell the Chicago Sun-Times. The mayor will also announce plans to build two mega hotels on McPier property in the hopes of aggressively growing convention and meeting business in Chicago.

Analysis: DePaul arena plan raises more questions than it answers

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:11:54 -0500

Mayor Rahm Emanuel apparently feels free to build a new basketball home for DePaul University after nailing down the “framework” agreement on signage and night games that will pave the way for the Cubs to renovate Wrigley Field and the land around it. But, that doesn’t settle the political debate about whether it’s wise to use $100 million in public money to build an arena for 18 games a year for a school now decades removed from its days as a college basketball powerhouse. Marc Ganis, a Chicago-based sports business consultant, said he’s “stunned” by the mayor’s decision. A domed stadium attached to a convention center makes sense, he said. A basketball arena attached to McCormick Place is financial folly, he said.

Black Caucus chair wants mayor to follow hearing officers’ recommendations

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:17:59 -0500

The chairman of the City Council’s Black Caucus is demanding that Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his handpicked school board follow hearing officers recommendations to keep open 13 of 54 Chicago Public Schools targeted for closing.

Alderman meets with bond experts on buying back parking meters

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:12:52 -0500

Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) said Monday he’s been meeting with municipal bond experts to try and identify ways to buy back Chicago’s 36,000 parking meters and he’s been told it’s “within the art of the possible.”

UNO charter-school scandal has Wall Street worried

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:32:40 -0500

THE WATCHDOGS: Now under investigation by two state agencies, the United Neighborhood Organization is also facing tough questions on Wall Street from the investors who lent tens of millions of dollars to help pay for the rapid expansion of UNO’s charter-school network. The questions were prompted by Chicago Sun-Times reports on state grant money paid to companies owned by two brothers of Miguel d’Escoto, a top executive of the politically well-connected group.

Chicago’s proposed casino: Tourist gem or drain on locals’ paychecks?

Sun, 12 May 2013 15:38:01 -0500

Backers of a Chicago casino envision a city-owned betting house as a bustling downtown gem, drawing out-of-towners to gamble in a space surrounded by restaurants and upscale shopping. Detractors have a dimmer view, saying they fear casino patrons would be predominantly locals. They point to casinos in downtown New Orleans and Detroit that have struggled, and also to existing casinos in Illinois that draw revenue heavily from not high-rollers but from penny and dime slot machines.

24 aldermen back mayor on parking meters — 2 short of passing plan

Fri, 10 May 2013 02:25:51 -0500

The aldermen say they support the plan to trade a longer paid parking day for free neighborhood parking on Sundays, two votes shy of the “silent majority” needed for City Council passage. But not everyone’s on board. Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) is concerned that extending the parking day by one hour would create a hardship for his River North constituents.

Emanuel’s parking meter fixes get frosty reception from aldermen

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:08:35 -0500

Some aldermen on city council would prefer to pay Chicago Parking Meters LLC $63.8 million in disputed claims and drop the mayor’s plan to trade a longer paid parking day for free neighborhood parking on Sundays. Aldermen vilified for their quickie-approval of the 75-year, $1.15 billion parking meter deal are afraid to do anything that might make a bad situation worse.