All Articles

• Tribune editorial "If the mayor is going to keep adding more cameras, officials should at the very least give us some legitimate proof that it’s improving safety"

As previously reported by the Daily Herald's Marni Pike, it's come to light that Metra hired a team of outside lawyers to conduct an internal investigation of its Police Department that cost almost $1.57 million. The investigation took place due to anonymous complaints made to the commuter railroad about "disparate treatment" of employees at the force. According to a follow-up article by the Chicago Tribune's Sarah Freishtat, these allegations included "workplace sexual relationships, harassment of female officers, racism, special treatment of some officers and inconsistency in police policies."

Streetsblog Chicago is a sustainable transportation news and advocacy website, not a publication that typically covers finance. So it's not really my role to opine on whether it was a smart fiscal decision for the City Council to approve an $830 million bond deal to pay for transportation infrastructure. But let's look at how the narrow 26-23 vote went down last Wednesday; some arguments against and for the financing by alders; and reactions from walk/bike/transit boosters.

• FOIA around and find out? "Tribune files lawsuit against CTA for failing to turn over documents related to 2023 Yellow Line crash, among others"

• "Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa Tapped As Next Park District Boss. Now, Logan Square Needs A New Alderman" (Block Club)

• WTTW: "Chicago City Council Votes 26-23 to Borrow $830M to Repair Streets, Sidewalks, Bridges"

The day after the giant pierogi dropped in Whiting, Indiana, I wrapped up Streetsblog Chicago's Bike Lane Fest 2024, a quest to visit every new or upgraded bikeway the Chicago Department of Transportation completed last year.