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City Bureau is revamping Newswire to be your weekly guide to Chicago government, civic action and what we can do to make our city great. This also means we’ll be posting our coverage weekly at citybureau.org/news. You can sign up for the weekly newsletter here.

Have thoughts on what you'd like to see in this feature? Email Editorial Director Ariel Cheung at ariel@citybureau.org. 

Now in Chicago

City Bureau’s Documenters cover public meetings in Chicago to highlight how government work affects your day-to-day life. Want to learn more? Search our database of meeting records, or sign up to be a Documenter. 

Much ADU about nothing

Public commenters called on the city to build on the success of its Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs) Ordinance. Passed in December 2020, the ordinance has encouraged the creation of “naturally occurring” affordable housing in under-utilized spaces like basements, attics and coach houses.

The update would expand the types of zoning that allow ADUs. Daniel Kay Hertz, policy director for the city’s Department of Housing who worked on the initiative, announced in an April 23 Twitter thread that he would be leaving the role after 4½ years.

Stacked up

In spite of findings that she was among city officials at fault for the Hilco smokestack implosion that cloaked Little Village in dust four years ago, Marlene Hopkins received aldermanic approval as the next commissioner of the city's buildings department. 

Meanwhile, neighbors impacted by the botched demolition can file a claim to receive a few hundred dollars, thanks to a $12 million class action lawsuit settlement announced Monday.

Notes from our Documenters:

  • April 16: City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards by Parker Garlough

Getting schooled

As the Chicago Board of Education begins to move away from its student-based funding model (which allocates money to schools based on enrollment), the Local School Council (LSC) Advisory Board members want to know more about the Chicago Public Schools budget for the 2025 fiscal year.

With the new funding formula, schools will receive a set number of staff and additional funding based on need — determined by factors such as the percentage of students with disabilities, teacher retention and how the school has been funded historically. The shift comes as CPS faces a $391 million deficit with the end of federal COVID relief funding. Advisory Board members had lingering questions regarding how the discretionary funds will be distributed across the district.

Notes from our Documenters:


Reparations in Illinois

A state commission tasked with exploring reparations for descendants of enslaved Africans is planning a public hearing for July 13. The event will raise awareness about the commission’s work and the impact of enslavement, racial terror and political disenfranchisement. The commission is also planning to produce a newsletter and host future hearings on relevant legislation.

Notes from our Documenters:

  • April 19: Illinois African-Descent Citizens Reparations Commission by Reema Saleh

The Issue

Don't get in a TIF

On Friday, City Council approved Mayor Brandon Johnson's plan to phase out Chicago's reliance of tax-increment financing (TIF) districts and channel those tax dollars into citywide affordable housing and economic development initiatives. 

Johnson wants to use government bonds to borrow $1.25 billion for such projects, and repay that debt with the taxes that would be newly unrestricted when one-third of the city's 121 TIF districts expire by the end of 2027.

The details:

  • When TIF districts are established, it freezes the amount of property taxes collected within its boundaries for schools, libraries, roads and other public services. Over the years, the additional tax dollars generated as property values increase are then diverted into the TIF fund, which is used for infrastructure and economic development projects in the district.

  • Critics say TIF districts siphon off tax dollars for affluent areas of the city, taking away money that would benefit those who need it most for schools and other public services.

  • Ald. Bill Conway (34th Ward) tried to shrink the amount of money the city would borrow, but was shot down repeatedly during an hourslong special City Council meeting Friday. Other alders said they wanted more oversight in how the money would be spent.

Notes from our Documenters:

Also on Friday, alders green-lit another $70 million to address the needs of migrant arrivals, an amount Johnson sought to include in this year’s budget last fall before he walked the total back to $150 million at the time. Illinois and Cook County have also made another $250 million commitment, as well.