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Matthew Blake

Alderman upset about felony wait period for horse-drawn carriage license

Tue, 11/26/2013 - 9:38am

New regulations on horse-drawn carriages trotted through a City Council committee Monday, but not before Alderman Walter Burnett (27th) slammed language that imposes a five-year waiting period before any convicted felon may operate a carriage.

“We have to give these people the opportunity to redeem themselves,” Burnett said of convicted felons. “Who wants to ride a horse in the freezing cold? If a guy who made a mistake can’t get that job, then we might as well put a gun in his hand and tell him to go out and rob people.”

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Emanuel, alderman strike last minute deal on cigarette tax

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 4:01pm

The City Council Finance Committee on Monday agreed to decrease Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposed cigarette tax increase from $0.75 per pack to $0.50 per pack. The move comes one day before aldermen vote on Emanuel’s proposed 2014 budget.

Under the budget amendment put forward by Emanuel’s office, the city makes up for the decrease in projected cigarette tax revenue by raising the fine for cars obstructing fire hydrants. Under Emanuel’s original budget proposal, such a fine increased from $100 to $110. With the revision, the penalty for a motorist obstructing a hydrant would be $150.

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With eye toward CountyCare, county hospitals head defends Affordable Care Act

Fri, 11/22/2013 - 1:08pm

The head of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System argued Friday that the media is “hyper-focused on the technical difficulties” of the Affordable Care Act and expressed concern that the coverage could discourage Cook County residents from ACA participation.

“The ACA is working and doing exactly what it’s supposed to do,” Dr. Ram Raju, executive director of CCHHS, said to the system’s board of directors at its monthly meeting Friday. “The technical issues will be resolved and the health care will be accessible to the people.”

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Talk of overcrowding dominates Board of Ed meeting

Wed, 11/20/2013 - 4:14pm

Just months after the district shut down 50 schools for being under-utilized, overcrowding is in the spotlight at the Chicago Public Schools. Discussion of overfilled schools dominated Wednesday’s Chicago Board of Education meeting, which included a debate on the future of an overcrowded elementary school in Lincoln Park.

After several parents aired overcrowding concerns during a pubic comment session, Chicago Public Schools Chief Transformation Officer Todd Babbitz said that the issue of schools operating beyond their capacity is a district-wide problem.

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Illinois Medical District Commission to solicit bids for ‘land-use’ plan

Wed, 11/20/2013 - 10:51am

Seven months after unveiling its first-ever “strategic plan,” the Illinois Medical District Commission has called for a redo of its “master plan” for land use.

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CHA Board holds quiet first meeting with Merchant in charge, does not dwell on Woodyard news

Tue, 11/19/2013 - 3:40pm

The Chicago Housing Authority Board’s first meeting with Michael Merchant as its chief executive officer included little mention of the circumstances surrounding the departure of former CEO Charles Woodyard.

WBEZ first reported on Monday that CHA settled for $99,000 with a former employee who accused Woodyard of sexual harassment.

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State teachers’ union president wants state money for ‘debt-free’ college education

Mon, 11/18/2013 - 4:02pm

Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, proposed on Monday a “debt free higher education access” plan for Illinois high school students to attend four-year or community colleges in the Land of Lincoln.

The union head said at a City Club of Chicago talk that he wants “a higher education funding mechanism that will allow for any Illinois high school grad with good grades to attend an Illinois public college or university and graduate without debt.”

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CCHHS Finance Committee OKs CountyCare contract costs increases

Fri, 11/15/2013 - 3:55pm

The Cook County Health and Hospitals System Finance Committee on Friday approved a significant increase in two contracts related to the CountyCare federal waiver program. If approved by the full board next week, CCHHS would pay out an additional $26 million to two CountyCare contractors by Dec. 31, which is when the waiver expires.

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Tunney defends major mixed-use project near Wrigley

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 4:00pm

Alderman Tom Tunney (44th) on Thursday energetically defended a proposed $140 million development project that would be located adjacent to Wrigley Field. Opponents of the project argued the plans include too many parking spaces.

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Aldermen reject Progressive Caucus parliamentary maneuver to force vote on TIF funds, school board elections

Wed, 11/13/2013 - 4:22pm

An attempt Wednesday by the City Council’s Progressive Reform Caucus to call for a floor vote two pieces of legislation that had not passed through committee resulted in a fiery debate on the City Council’s legislative process and the city’s tax increment financing economic development program.  

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