Nearly 70% of Chicago voters support property tax freeze
Nearly 70% of Chicago voters support property tax freeze
In an Illinois Policy Institute poll, 69% of surveyed Chicago voters supported freezing property taxes.
Chicago Teachers Union politics devours members’ dues
Chicago Teachers Union politics devours members’ dues
Poll: Just 1 in 3 Chicago voters happy with Chicago Public Schools
Poll: Just 1 in 3 Chicago voters happy with Chicago Public Schools
A new survey shows most Chicago voters polled were not satisfied with Chicago Public Schools. A majority supported school choice.
The Policy Shop: The Chicago Teachers Union’s political empire
The Policy Shop: The Chicago Teachers Union’s political empire
This week’s The Policy Shop is by Mailee Smith, staff attorney and senior director of labor policy at the Illinois Policy Institute How to build a political machine: If our students can learn anything from the Chicago Teachers Union, it is how to use money and influence over time to amass power. The upcoming Chicago mayoral...
Chicago crime spikes in 2022, but first drop in murder since pandemic
Chicago crime spikes in 2022, but first drop in murder since pandemic
Crime tops the list of concerns for Chicago voters in the mayoral election after 2022 brought the most crime in five years and after 2021 was the deadliest year in the past quarter-century.
Chicago vote-by-mail applications close Feb. 23
Chicago vote-by-mail applications close Feb. 23
Chicagoans only have a few days left to register to vote by mail. If you apply by Feb. 23, you can vote from the privacy and comfort of your own home and take your time researching candidates.
Chicago Teachers Union leadership takes a sh*t
Chicago Teachers Union leadership takes a sh*t
What you need to know about who’s running for Chicago mayor
What you need to know about who’s running for Chicago mayor
Nine candidates are asking to be Chicago’s next mayor. The election is outside the normal election cycle, meaning voter turnout is low despite the mayor’s impact on crime, education, the economy and Chicagoans’ taxes. Here’s what to know about the nine candidates.
Steven Blake
Steven Blake
Steven Blake was homeless for years until another man showed him how selling fruit in downtown Chicago could rebuild his life. Now Blake employs other homeless people who are working their ways off the streets. “I do not hire people who already ‘have.’ I want to train the ones and teach the ones to be...
Bears buy Arlington Park, but Chicago still owes $640M for Soldier Field
Bears buy Arlington Park, but Chicago still owes $640M for Soldier Field
The Chicago Bears have purchased the former Arlington Park Racetrack for $197.2 million. Chicagoans are still on the hook for $640 million for Soldier Field renovations from 2002.
Pritzker proposes $440 million for young child initiatives
Pritzker proposes $440 million for young child initiatives
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants to spend $440 million for universal preschool and other initiatives for low-income young children. But shouldn’t Illinois pay its old bills before taking on new expenses?
Full text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State speech
Full text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State speech
Here’s what Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had to say about how Illinois is faring and what his priorities will be in the fiscal year 2024 budget.
The Policy Shop: Chicago’s pension crisis is a ticking time bob
The Policy Shop: Chicago’s pension crisis is a ticking time bob
This week’s The Policy Shop is by Bryce Hill, director of fiscal and economic research at the Illinois Policy Institute. Whether Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot wins re-election or one of her eight challengers unseats her, the next mayor has a lot of work to do. What do Chicagoans want from the next mayor? Crime is...
Illinois Forward 2024: A sustainable state budget plan
Illinois Forward 2024: A sustainable state budget plan
After years of enhanced revenue from federal aid, a return to the basic principles of budgeting can put Illinois on the path to long-term financial stability