Justin Laurence
@jus10chi
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Politics and Government Reporter at Crain’s Chicago Business. Justin.Laurence @crain .com
Joined March 2010
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As the protest disperses from outside Union Park many are holding up their fingers, signifying the number of people they can give a ride home.
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New Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas calendar dropped:
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Can you say that again? Sorry I couldn’t hear you, there’s a handful of war planes flying around the office.
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It’s a celebration + an impromptu parade of honking cars up and down Michigan Ave.
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Mayor Brandon Johnson and his City Council allies are preparing legislation to phase out the city’s sub-minimum wage for tipped workers, currently set at 60% of the city’s $15.40 minimum wage.
@CrainsChicago
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Ald Andre Vasquez showing off his Halloween costume, the CTA ghost. He’s introducing an ordinance calling for quarterly hearings with CTA leadership.
@CrainsChicago
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Yesterday, Mayor Lightfoot said any suggestion her $12.5 million gas and transit card plan was tied to her looming reelection campaign was "nonsense."
Today, her political team is fundraising off the plan.
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I’m at Southport Lanes where the bartenders are set to give the final last call at the 98 year old tavern.
Longtime current and former employees are shutting it down in style, with one woman even flying in from Texas. Story tomorrow
@BlockClubCHI
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In 2035 the Chicago Not in Chicago posters are gonna be all the rage with the ironic kids re-gentrifying Wicker Park in the metaverse.
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This tweet from a April 2021 committee meeting focused on anti-Asian hate crimes has been found by Chelsea FC fans who don’t want the Cubs-owning Ricketts family to purchase their club.
Kang also says people need to call out Cubs owner Todd Ricketts for describing COVID-19 as "Kung Flu" on his Facebook page.
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Ald. Pat Dowell is endorsing Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson for mayor at an event in her ward set to begin soon.
Dowell has served for 4 years as Mayor Lightfoot’s hand picked chair of the Budget Committee.
@CrainsChicago
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I’m fine.
But it’s jarring to witness what I just witnessed and then bike home through a River North packed with drunk 20 somethings oblivious to not just tonight but also the damn pandemic.
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Welcome to Chicago!!!
My girlfriend’s cousin and wife are getting quite the unique riverboat architecture tour today on the Chicago River.
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Dear god, where has this Divvy been?
“You wake up in Chicago, pull back the curtain and you KNOW where you are. You could be nowhere else. You are in a big, brash, muscular, broad shouldered motherfuckin’ city,” Anthony Bourdain.
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The source of information for the Block Club reporter that evening was my own two eyes.
Officers indiscriminately hit protesters that evening when rushing into the crowd and indiscriminately sprayed chemical irritants into the crowd--my own two eyes also felt that.
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Dispatch from City Hall: concerned citizen George Blakemore was in the first floor lobby heckling alders who strolled in late for the 10am City Council meeting.
"Yooooooooouuu're late!"
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In a sign he’s considering a presidential bid, Gov. Pritzker will travel to New Hampshire this weekend to speak at the state’s annual Dem party event.
From
@GregHinz
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For the last ten minutes alders have asked for evidence that asset seizure is a deterrent to crime and city leaders have admitted they don't have evidence on hand, but that it must be true or otherwise the laws wouldn't exist.
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Got scooped on my own news, but I’m joining
@CrainsChicago
on June 6 to cover politics at City Hall and beyond.
Thanks for the well-wishes and help along the way, especially
@CHIdocumenters
and
@BlockClubCHI
.
Until then, it’s 🕺🌭🏌🏽♂️🏄♂️🍻 🏖😴 and trying to stay off
@Twitter
.
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Oops.
The “100% Woke Free American Beer” is also 100% unclear of beer distribution laws.
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This is also George Blakemore: standing behind a press conference on Chicago’s sanctuary city status he’s been screaming “shut the hell up,” “send them all back” and “go back to where you came from” for 10 minutes straight.
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Four years after Anjanette Young’s home was wrongly raided by Chicago Police officers, the social worker is endorsing Brandon Johnson for mayor.
She’s criticized Mayor Lightfoot for apologizing to her while city attorneys sought to throw out her lawsuit.
@CrainsChicago
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Chicago is planning to borrow $1.25 billion to fund affordable housing and other economic development projects in anticipation of a significant “wind-down” to the city’s TIF program, according to a confidential memo obtained by Crain’s.
@CrainsChicago
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From Jungle To Joints: Rainforest Cafe Could Become A Weed Dispensary
No, they will not be able to sell shrooms.
@BlockClubCHI
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Just watched a car narrowly avoid killing a cyclist only bc the cyclist slammed his brakes and slid out of the way. Cyclist slapped the side of the car and the driver got out screaming about possible damage.
Getting behind the wheel of a car is a mind altering drug.
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The gulf between how Mayor Lightfoot explained her views on the Freedom of Information Act today and how her administration handles FOIA requests is wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide.
Lightfoot: "We have always invoked whatever appropriate exemptions there are. Everyone now hopefully knows and understands I stand for transparency. We are gonna continue to do everything we can to affirmatively put more information out across a variety of departments, and ...
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Kang also says people need to call out Cubs owner Todd Ricketts for describing COVID-19 as "Kung Flu" on his Facebook page.
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There’s a squirrel on our deck eating a whole-ass avocado.
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Expecting Chicago’s next outbreak to be among weird looking men in their 40s-50s and beautiful women in their 20s.
RISING TEMPS means Chicago’s Playpen is bustling w/ boats.⛵️🚤
Mayor Lightfoot said it’s off limits all Summer. Problem is a city worker told me it’s federally regulated.
And the U.S. Coast Guard has no plans of closing it.
@cbschicago
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"Reports surfaced"
"looking into reports"
"the reports say"
"now the fourth reported..."
Where are these mysterious reports coming from?
🙃🙃🙃🙃
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On the first day of the city’s new vaccine mandate for restaurants, bars and other indoor spaces, Mayor Lightfoot will be interviewed by CNBC, but will not take questions from local reporters at her only public event in Chicago.
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Ope. The Chicago FOP is encouraging their members and supporters to vote for “Don Bailey” for governor.
It’s
#ElectionDay
in Chicago.
We encourage every
@FOP7Chicago
member, their families and all who support Law Enforcement to get out and vote for the candidates who support the men and women of the
@Chicago_Police
Department.
#twill
#Election2022
#GOTV
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This high-ranking CPD officer pointed someone out in the crowd and made a beeline for her. It sparked off shoving and pepper spray.
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A woman came to grab a bike and was told to leave. A high ranking officer says they were confiscated bc they were abandoned property.
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A sewer pipe broke, workers dug a trench between sunscreen and White Claw and y’all had jokes.
I spent some time at an Old Town Walgreens last night digging for details for
@BlockClubCHI
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Never seen this move before, but I absolutely loved it. And it worked!
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15 cyclists, including 1 banging a drum, are biking around City Hall to advocate for a safe bike lane grid ahead of today’s City Council mtg.
They’ll travel to Jonquil Park this afternoon to do the same.
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Honestly, Scabby in the wind is the stuff of nightmares.
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Here at the shiny thing for an action denouncing CPD in CPS, ICE and universities that work with ICE. Organized by
@ChiFreeSchool
@GKMC18
and others.
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.
@GKMC18
and aldermanic supporters are introducing the Peace Book ordinance into City Council today.
@RossanaFor33
says it’s time to let the “youth lead the way” on addressing systemic violence in the city.
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A company owned by a Vallas campaign advisor was paid for ad work by an independent political spending group in support of the Vallas campaign.
State law prohibits coordination between campaigns and such independent expenditure groups.
@CrainsChicago
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Story updated: while resigning his leadership posts. Ald. Carlos Ramirez Rosa also apologized to 3 colleagues who on Monday told reporters Ramirez Rosa threatened to stall zoning changes in their wards.
@CrainsChicago
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An officer, I believe the same that took a knee, just raced a protester down Belmont.
Others in the crowd are voicing their opposition to any interaction with CPD.
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Happy Tuesday! As a Thanksgiving treat, we get a public hearing on ward remapping this Saturday at 3 p.m.! Surely lots of members of the public will be available and eager to watch this virtual meeting. Gobble gobble!
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Mayor Lightfoot and Dr. Arwady will provide an update on the city’s COVID-19 response tomorrow at 10am—a rarity for a Sunday.
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A proposed meeting between Anjanette Young and Mayor Lightfoot has been scrapped after Lightfoot wouldn't agree to Young's terms for a public forum following a private conversation, via
@BlockClubCHI
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Breaking: In a 36-13 vote, City Council approves the creation of a "transformative" civilian commission to oversee the Chicago Police Department.
Hopkins, Beale, Daley Thompson, Quinn, Burke, O'Shea, Tabares, Reboyras, Sposato, Nugent, Napolitano, Reilly and Gardiner vote no.
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Dr. Emily Landon's speech should be on the landing page of every news outlet right now.
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Let each candidate for mayor preside over a one hour mock City Council meeting.
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Who else is making appetizers for 12 but feeding 2?
"He died doing what he loved; eating buffalo chicken dip."
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As an empty lot outside Cabrini Green fills up a speaker is reminding the crowd of the sites history. Public housing is now making way for luxury apartments.
An organizer said he just spoke with a community police officer: 30k people and 0 arrests.
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Chicago going all out on the biggest fireworks display EVER in a heavy Blakemore of fog. 2022 coming in like 2021 left.
(Phone changed “blanket” to “Blakemore,” not changing it.)
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot hasn’t held public event since the video showing a CPD officer shooting and killing Adam Toledo was released, but tonight sent an email to her campaign supporters.
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New: State leaders have told the Bears and White Sox to prepare one financial proposal for their respective stadium plans rather than competing deals.
The two teams met in the last week to begin the discussions.
@CrainsChicago
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UPDATE: Before the
#HumboldtGator
moved into the lagoon, he donated $ 1,000 to the local alderman according to
@ilsunshine
. A month later the lagoon’s zoning was changed to include non-native reptiles.
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Screengrab from
@MaryAnnAhernNBC
report tonight.
Sometimes you break some news, sometimes you don't. Tell you audience who did and keep digging into the story.
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At the celebration after the budget was approved, Mayor Lightfoot lit into a Newsmax provocateur for being the only one in the room sans mask. Wonder if that happened in a room of 500+ power players, none of whom seem to be wearing a mask in this photo.
Last night
@WorldBizChicago
celebrated the Chicago International 2021 Gala with
@chicagosmayor
,
@MellodyHobson
and some impressive awardees, including Mary Dillon, Discover Financial Services and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Over 500 attendees came together to celebrate!
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Once I saw a familiar face at a meeting for a potential dispensary I knew I'd be reworking the top of the story.
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Mayor Lightfoot was highly critical of those getting on the CTA unmasked.
Why wasn't that stern message given ahead of Lolla, or on Thursday when what was 100% predictable - unmasked festival goers flooding the CTA - was clearly happening?
Lightfoot: "Do not get on public transportation in this city without a mask. Do not. And we are looking at conversations with the CTA to look at enforcement. I do not want people getting on public transportation ... without wearing a mask. It's not wise. ...
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Chicago employers will be required to provide at least 10 days off to their full-time employees beginning next year under the city’s new paid leave law approved Thursday by the City Council.
@CrainsChicago
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Chicago's City Council limits public comment to 30 minutes, with individuals limited to 3 minutes--a ticking timer counting down the seconds as they speak.
The City Council then spends ~ 2 hours allowing alders to speak on honorary resolutions.
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We brought this little girl home yesterday from
@AntiCruelty
. She loves chasing her ball, chewing on her gator (and our fingers) and peeing every hour. 500/10.
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Never actually spend time along the River, but it is beautiful.
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Moments after the presiding officer tried to adjourn the meeting, and after the lights had already been shut off, Ald Ray Lopez walked up to an empty dais and made a motion to recess a hectic City Council meeting using his hand in the absence of a gavel.
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Just in: Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson and his City Council allies are confident they have the votes to overhaul the Council’s recently adopted committee structure, including installing Johnson allies as chairs of key committees.
@CrainsChicago
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Have also been told by the leader of a youth organization that an undocumented minor was detained.
I watched members of the NLG be chased by CPD.
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With help from the Mellon Foundation, the city of Chicago is finally making good on a 2015 commitment to build a public memorial to the torture victims of notorious CPD Commander Jon Burge and officers under his command.
@CrainsChicago
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Huge crowd marching up Milwaukee Ave in Logan Square and eventually shutting down the Diversey/MIL/Kimball intersection.
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On a vote of 29-18, aldermen rejected Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s appointment of Ald. James Cappleman, 46th, as chair of the Education Committee.
Alders were upset to just learn of the appointment today.
Big win for those who want a more independent City Council
@CrainsChicago
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There’s a “No Bullying Allowed” sign affixed to the front door of the City Council Chamber. Don’t recall seeing it before today.
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Everyone made it safely off the tornado tour boat.
If you come to Chicago and take a boat tour during a tornado warning, you should at least be given a beef and shot of Malort as you leave.
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Anjanette Young and her attorney Keenan Saulter are addressing the “lack of development” on her lawsuit against the city and 12 officers involved in the wrong raid on her home
She says she should be focused on her healing instead of being her today as both a victim and activist
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At a meeting with Gov. Pritzker and CC Board President Preckwinkle last week, Mayor Johnson agreed to try to find $71 million to care for migrants, but later backed out and the mayor’s office now says he never “made that commitment.”
W/
@LeighGiangreco
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Alderman-Elect
@Andrefor40th
just broke the news that the Lincoln Yards vote will not be happening today at the press conference asking for just that.
The crowd responds..
#LincolnYards
#DelayTheTIF
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Jason Isbell paused his show
@saltshedchicago
bc he thought someone was in need of a stretcher.
When he realized that wasn’t the case he started back up saying “we’ve come along way from The Hideout when it was me that needed the stretcher.”
Responsible, with Chicago flair.
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Scoop: Mayor Brandon Johnson and the FOP Lodge 7 have reached a deal that will double salary raises for rank and file officers in 2024 and 2025 to 5% and all union members will receive a one-time $2,500 bonus.
@CrainsChicago
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Mayor Brandon Johnson will announce tomorrow that four LaSalle St office to residential conversions are moving forward with significant city subsidies.
@CrainsChicago
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The Vallas campaign says Vallas earned no money working to establish a Little Rock charter school so it didn’t need to be disclosed. But there is an interesting connection with the Walton family, which has spent heavily on school reform. W/
@brandon_dupre_
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I’m on the Red Line after the Sox game.
I’m on the Red Line after Lolla.
I’m on the combo Red Line after the Sox game and Lolla.
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Last week, the city of Chicago awarded an up to $29 million contract to a security company to erect tent “base camps” to serve as temporary shelter for migrants.
The company also had a contract to transport migrants out of Florida.
@CrainsChicago
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Family and friends of Kevin Clark are gathering with cycling advocates today in Logan Square to remember Clark and call for renewed investments in cycling infrastructure.
Full story tk
@BlockClubCHI
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Ald. Sigcho Lopez is at a CPD station following the arrest of a man at tonight’s protest in Logan Square.
Alderman
@ByronSigcho
has arrived to the station and CPD has completely disrespected him trying to advocate for our people.
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In her post City Council press conference, Mayor Lightfoot wrongly stated the resolution appointing Cappleman as Education Comm. chair was approved in committee yesterday, and not brought to City Council just today.
When told that’s inaccurate, she doubled down.
@CrainsChicago
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The Mayor and CPD Supt. have both described the federal consent decree as a "floor, not a ceiling" which is such a strange catchphrase since CPD lags so far behind on meeting the requirements of the consent decree.
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Save for Ald George Cardenas, who is off to the Cook County Board of Review, Tuesday was a rough night for anyone associated with Chicago’s City Council.
Alds Dowell, Moore, Brookins, Taliaferro and Villegas all lost their respective races, as well as City Clerk Anna Valencia.
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Just In: Ald. Andre Vasquez has put a temporary block on Mayor Lightfoot’s proposed 15 year franchise agreement with ComEd. The ordinance willneed to be rescued from the Rules Committee before it can move through the legislative process.
@CrainsChicago
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Mayor Lightfoot and Supt. Brown put on the onus of transparency into the police killing of a 13 year old on COPA, asking the agency to expeditiously release the body camera footage.
COPAs spokesman, Ephraim Eaddy says they are “researching all legal avenues” to do so.
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s deputy City Council floor leader, Ald George Cardenas, says “public safety is a joke. Why bother calling police.”
@CrainsChicago
Public safety in Chicago is a joke. Why bother calling Police.
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The Vallas campaign is suing Chima Enyia for allegedly defrauding the campaign of $680,000.
Beyond the alleged fraud, the lawsuit reveals a campaign desperate for votes in the final month and pouring money out the door.
@CrainsChicago
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Oops. Census now says Illinois gained a couple hundred thousand people in the last decade rather than losing population.
From
@GregHinz
Census blunder: Illinois' population didn't shrink after all
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I’m in Chatham for
@BlockClubCHI
, where a peace walk is about to begin, organized by
@mbmhmc
. Eventually we’ll be at 7801 S State St where they’ll be distributing food along with other community groups, including
@GKMC18
.
Nitchka A. Gravely and her sister hold their signs.
Our motto at My Block My Hood My City is “Helping People, No Matter What”
From 11:30 until food runs out we will be distributing meals to anyone that needs one at 7801 S. State St
We need everyone in their M3 gear, mask, & a heart full of love
Start of walk 10 a.m 79th&Cottage
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Vicko Alvarez, chief of staff to Ald Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, announces her candidacy for 15th Ward alder.
Incumbent Ald. Ray Lopez said previously he’ll give up his seat to run for Mayor.
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