Chicago’s Power Shift Meets Its Trust Problem — June 19, 2026

Chicago’s Power Shift Meets Its Trust Problem — June 19, 2026

Chicago Board of Education’s hybrid era puts CPS control, CEO power, and voter accountability in focus, while a corruption retrospective shows how aldermanic prerogative helped create the distrust reformers are trying to unwind. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Step Back — Chicago is getting its first hybrid school board, with some members elected and some appointed — so what will this board actually control at CPS, and what power does the mayor still keep? BACKGROUND SOURCES * Chicago’s School Board Election Is Coming This Fall — Here’s How It Will Work | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2026/04/14/chicago-s-school-board-election-coming-fall-here-s-how-it-will-work] — WTTW * Voters to select Chicago Public Schools board, including CPS board president, on Chicago Election Day 2026 - ABC7 Chicago [https://abc7chicago.com/post/voters-select-chicago-public-schools-board-including-cps-president-election-day-2026/18849215/] — Abc7chicago * Chicago school board renews charters after delaying vote over accountability questions - Chalkbeat [https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/06/10/chicago-school-board-renews-charters/] — Chalkbeat * Who gets to choose CPS’s next CEO? Chicago elected officials disagree. - Chalkbeat [https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/08/13/chicago-officials-disagree-on-who-chooses-next-ceo/] — Chalkbeat * Chicago’s new school board members on what it takes to lead CPS - Chalkbeat [https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/09/17/chicago-public-schools-board-of-education-talk-politics-and-governance/] — Chalkbeat * New poll finds low awareness of Chicago’s shift to elected school board - Chalkbeat [https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/12/12/elected-school-board-awareness-low-new-kids-first-poll-finds/] — Chalkbeat 2. City Council Corruption Arises From Unchecked Aldermanic Power - Center for Effective Government [https://effectivegov.uchicago.edu/news/power-begets-corruption-on-the-city-council] — Center for Effective Government # Power Begets Corruption on the City Council **Engagement** Published: Apr 03 2023 ##### Share *“One City, 50 Wards: Does the City That Works Really Work?“, a joint series from*[*Crain’s Chicago Business*](https://www.chicagobusiness.com/)*and the University of Chicago Center for Effective Government, explores the connections between how Chicago’s city government is designed, how it… Daily TopFive for Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chicago-daily-fix/id1895649620] or Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/70Xl3C6mvct6Wif5EAvxay]. Feedback? Email chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].

City Council Backs Greyhound, New Housing and Airbag Crackdown — June 18, 2026

Chicago City Council approved a $19.2 million Greyhound station purchase, major West Loop and Avondale housing projects, and an airbag-resale crackdown, putting transit preservation, housing supply, and practical public-safety enforcement at the center of City Hall’s reform agenda. IN THIS EPISODE 1. City Gives Final OK To Buy Greyhound Bus Station [https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/17/city-gives-final-ok-to-buy-greyhound-bus-station/] — Block Club Chicago City Gives Final OK To Buy Greyhound Bus Station The Greyhound bus station, 630 W. Harrison St., on the Near West Side. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago CITY HALL — Chicago will officially be allowed to purchase the city’s Greyhound bus station, a major step toward preserving the station and intercity bus transportation. The City Council on Wednesday approved a purchasing agreement to… 2. 29-Story High-Rise With Public Park Coming To West Loop [https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/17/29-story-high-rise-with-public-park-coming-to-west-loop/] — Block Club Chicago 29-Story High-Rise With Public Park Coming To West Loop Proposed residential tower at 215 W Racine. Credit: Archeo WEST LOOP — A 29-story apartment high-rise is slated for the West Loop after receiving approval from the City Council on Wednesday. The project being developed by Domus Real Estate Group at 215 N. Racine Ave. was approved for a DX-16 zoning designation, typically reserved for… 3. Avondale Rental Townhomes To Replace Vacant Lot After Getting City Council Approval [https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/17/avondale-rental-townhomes-to-replace-vacant-lot-after-getting-city-council-approval/] — Block Club Chicago # Avondale Rental Townhomes To Replace Vacant Lot After Getting City Council Approval Author: Ariel Parrella-Aureli Published: 2026-06-17T19:57:25+00:00 Source: blockclubchicago.org (blockclubchicago.org) Language: en ## Story Avondale Rental Townhomes To Replace Vacant Lot After Getting City Council Approval The Northeast corner of California Avenue and Melrose Street with the updated… 4. Crackdown On Airbag Resellers Passes Council As Thefts Surge [https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/17/crackdown-on-airbag-resellers-passes-council-as-thefts-surge/] — Block Club Chicago Crackdown On Airbag Resellers Passes Council As Thefts Surge Cars sit backed up on California Avenue during rush hour traffic near the Kennedy Expressway in Avondale on July 10, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago CITY HALL — A measure aimed at curbing the resale of stolen airbags amid a massive surge in thefts of the devices — mostly from Hondas — passed the City Council unanimously… 5. Step Back — When a vacant-lot townhouse project or a West Loop high-rise gets City Council approval, why does it still feel like one alderperson can make or break what gets built — what is “aldermanic prerogative,” and how does it shape both housing supply and corruption risk? BACKGROUND SOURCES * Aldermanic Prerogative Showdown on Tap as City Council Confronts Affordable Housing Shortfall | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2025/07/15/aldermanic-prerogative-showdown-tap-city-council-confronts-affordable-housing-shortfall] — WTTW * Lincoln Park Apartment Complex Set for OK After Aldermanic Prerogative Fight | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2025/07/15/lincoln-park-apartment-complex-set-ok-after-aldermanic-prerogative-fight] — WTTW * City Council Lifts Ban on Coach Houses and Granny Flats, But Gives Alderpeople Final Say | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2025/09/25/city-council-lifts-ban-coach-houses-and-granny-flats-gives-alderpeople-final-say] — WTTW * Federal investigation into affordable housing, aldermanic prerogative in Chicago fizzles - Chicago Sun-Times [https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2025/07/08/hud-affordable-housing-aldermanic-prerogative-discrimination-brandon-johnson] — Suntimes * Debate grows over Pritzker’s proposed BUILD housing plan | FOX 32 Chicago [https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/debate-grows-over-pritzkers-proposed-build-housing-plan] — Kasey Chronis Daily TopFive for Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chicago-daily-fix/id1895649620] or Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/70Xl3C6mvct6Wif5EAvxay]. Feedback? Email chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].

Housing Moves Ahead While City Hall Watchdogs Hit Walls — June 17, 2026

Chicago housing leads with Avondale and McKinley Park projects advancing, plus a West Garfield Park affordable complex breaking ground. The episode also maps why ethics enforcement can stall when watchdogs, the Board of Ethics and City Hall lawyers collide. IN THIS EPISODE 1. New Housing OK'd For Avondale, McKinley Park, Streeterville And Across From Johnny's Icehouse [https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/16/new-housing-okd-for-avondale-mckinley-park-streeterville-and-across-from-johnnys-ice-house/] — Block Club Chicago # New Housing OK'd For Avondale, McKinley Park, Streeterville And Across From Johnny's Icehouse Author: Quinn Myers Published: 2026-06-16T21:16:34+00:00 Source: blockclubchicago.org (blockclubchicago.org) Language: en ## Story New Housing OK'd For Avondale, McKinley Park, Streeterville And Across From Johnny's Icehouse The apartment portion of a large development at 3231-65 N. California… 2. Church-Backed Affordable Apartment Complex Breaks Ground In Garfield Park [https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/16/church-backed-affordable-apartment-complex-breaks-ground-in-garfield-park/] — Block Club Chicago WEST GARFIELD PARK — A housing project aiming to offer affordable apartments and wraparound social services to West Side families broke ground this week. C.A.R.E. Manor, a development by Garfield Park nonprofit United For Better Living, will be a 44-unit apartment complex at 4531 W. Washington Blvd. The $32 million development will include primarily family-sized units and offer social services to… 3. Step Back — Chicago has a Board of Ethics, an inspector general, and a City Council ethics committee — so when an alderperson or city official is accused of corruption, who actually has the power to investigate and punish them, and where are the loopholes big enough to drive a ward office through? BACKGROUND SOURCES * OIG Urges City Council to Regulate Conduct of Members - Chicago Office of Inspector General [https://igchicago.org/2025/08/20/oig-urges-city-council-to-regulate-conduct-of-members/] — Amir Nijem * Ald. Jim Gardiner Won’t Have to Pay $20K Fine After He Is Cleared of Violating Ethics Ordinance | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2025/06/16/ald-jim-gardiner-won-t-have-pay-20k-fine-after-he-cleared-violating-ethics-ordinance] — WTTW * Ald. Jim Gardiner Sues City After He Was Accused by Inspector General of Slapping Critic With Unfounded Tickets | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2026/05/13/ald-jim-gardiner-sues-city-after-he-was-accused-inspector-general-slapping-critic] — WTTW * Chicago’s Watchdog Says City Lawyers Withheld Records About ‘High-Profile’ Hires | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2026/03/04/chicago-s-watchdog-says-city-lawyers-withheld-records-about-high-profile-hires] — WTTW * Measure Designed to Tighten Ethics Rules to Stop Mayor’s Office From Obstructing Probes Advances | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2025/07/14/measure-designed-tighten-ethics-rules-stop-mayor-s-office-obstructing-probes-advances] — WTTW * After Burke and Madigan Convictions, Push for Ethics Reform at Inflection Point: Analysis | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2025/07/14/after-burke-and-madigan-convictions-push-ethics-reform-inflection-point-analysis] — WTTW * Chicago’s Top Lawyer on Ethics Reform, the Cost of Police Misconduct Lawsuits | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2025/07/17/chicago-s-top-lawyer-ethics-reform-cost-police-misconduct-lawsuits] — WTTW 4. Elected School Board - Chicago Board of Education [https://www.cpsboe.org/elected-school-board] — Chicago Board of Education * [Home](/home) * [Meetings](/meetings) * [Committees](/committees) * [Policies & Rules](/board-policies) * [About](/about) * [How can we help?](/contact) * [Supt-CEO Search](/supt-ceo-search) Meeting registration opens Jun 8 # Elected School Board **NEW! Informational Meeting on Elected School Board** We hosted a webinar on June 17 at 6 p.m. to share information around CPS’ upcoming… Daily TopFive for Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chicago-daily-fix/id1895649620] or Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/70Xl3C6mvct6Wif5EAvxay]. Feedback? Email chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].

Chicago’s Reform Test: Zoning, Cops, Buses and CPS — June 16, 2026

Chicago zoning reform, CPD deployment, CTA reliability and CPS governance all point to the same question: whether City Hall can turn reform slogans into measurable housing, safety, transit and education outcomes. IN THIS EPISODE 1. [PDF] Upzoning Chicago: Impacts of a Zoning Reform on Property Values and Housing Construction | Semantic Scholar [https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Upzoning-Chicago%3A-Impacts-of-a-Zoning-Reform-on-and-Freemark/1b545b4d8aaf1533c3203f1f46187202d33711d6] — Urban Affairs Review * DOI:[10.1177/1078087418824672](https://doi.org/10.1177/1078087418824672) * Corpus ID: 159317550 # Upzoning Chicago: Impacts of a Zoning Reform on Property Values and Housing Construction ``` @article{Freemark2020UpzoningCI, title={Upzoning Chicago: Impacts of a Zoning Reform on Property Values and Housing Construction}, author={Yonah Slifkin Freemark}, journal={Urban Affairs Review}, … 2. Step Back — When city leaders say Chicago needs more cops, what do we actually know about how many sworn officers are assigned to neighborhood patrol versus desks, special units, or citywide teams — and who has the power to move them? BACKGROUND SOURCES * Long-sought Chicago police staffing study recommends adding more cops, hiring civilians - Chicago Sun-Times [https://chicago.suntimes.com/police-reform/2026/02/12/chicago-police-staffing-hiring-superintendent-larry-snelling-study-matrix-consulting] — Suntimes * Top cop bullish on study calling for hundreds of more officers — but unions, lack of money could stand in way - Chicago Sun-Times [https://chicago.suntimes.com/police-reform/2026/04/01/chicago-police-staffing-study-larry-snelling] — Suntimes * Chicago crime: CPD staffing study finds too many desk jobs - Crain's Chicago Business [https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics-policy/ccb-chicago-crime-fighting-requires-reallocating-resources-study-says-20260401/] — Chicagobusiness * Chicago Police Department - BGA Policy 2026 Budget Snapshot - Better Government Association [https://www.bettergov.org/2025/11/04/chicago-police-department-bga-policy-2026-budget-snapshot/] — Geoffrey Cubbage * Chicago Police Leaders Must Change How Officers Are Deployed in ‘High-Demand’ Areas: Study | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2026/02/13/chicago-police-leaders-must-change-how-officers-are-deployed-high-demand-areas-study] — WTTW * The CPD Study on How Officers Are Deployed Required by the Consent Decree is Nearly Complete, Officials Say | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2025/10/27/cpd-study-how-officers-are-deployed-required-consent-decree-nearly-complete-officials] — WTTW * Sworn CPD Member Overtime Summary - Chicago Office of Inspector General [https://igchicago.org/information-portal/data-dashboards/sworn-cpd-member-overtime/] — Igchicago * Chicago Police Department Expands Unity of Command and Span of Control Pilot Program Focused on More Efficient Supervision and Stronger Community Trust – Chicago Police Department [https://www.chicagopolice.org/stories/uoc-soc-expansion/] — Chicagopolice 3. Frequency and Reliability [https://equity82.digital.uic.edu/freq_rel.php]  Route 82 in the Context of CTA Standards ## Methods Route 82’s quality of service can be broken down into two parts: (1) the scheduled frequency of service and (2) the actual reliability of service. Standards and definitions vary by agency and are located in the Appendix. Here, the term “frequency” will refer to the scheduled frequency of bus service. Route… 4. Chicago Board of Education | Chicago Public Schools [https://www.cps.edu/about/chicago-board-of-education] — Chicago Public Schools Top of Page [Skip to Content](#main) Main 1. [Home](/) / 2. [About CPS](/about/) 3. Chicago Board of Education # Chicago Board of Education The Chicago Board of Education ("Board") is a hybrid governing body with 11 members appointed by the mayor and 10 elected members. The Board is responsible for the oversight of Chicago Public Schools (CPS). CPS is committed to transparency, and working… Daily TopFive for Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chicago-daily-fix/id1895649620] or Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/70Xl3C6mvct6Wif5EAvxay]. Feedback? Email chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].

School Board Ballot Crunch, Ethics Board Stall — June 15, 2026

Chicago school board races could shrink to one-candidate contests as petition challenges target more than half the field, while City Hall’s ethics machinery is also stalled by a vacant board chair. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Candidacy challenges in Chicago’s school board elections could leave many voters with one choice - Chalkbeat [https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/06/12/petition-challenges-could-leave-many-school-board-races-with-one-candidate/] — Chalkbeat # Candidacy challenges in Chicago’s school board elections could leave many voters with one choice - Chalkbeat Author: By  Reema Amin and Maureen Kelleher  |  June 12, 2026, 10:05pm UTC Published: 2026-06-12T22:05:12.061000+00:00 Source: chalkbeat.org (chalkbeat.org) Language: en ## Story Candidacy challenges in Chicago’s school board elections could leave many voters with one choice -… 2. As Chicago Ethics Board Surpasses 6 Months Without a Leader, Enforcement Actions Stall | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2026/01/26/chicago-ethics-board-surpasses-6-months-without-leader-enforcement-actions-stall] — WTTW News   #### [Politics](/politics) ## As Chicago Ethics Board Surpasses 6 Months Without a Leader, Enforcement Actions Stall  [About](/open-gov-report-card/about) [Back to List](/open-gov-report-card/) This agency passes7 of the 11 categories for a score of 64%. ## Chicago City Council Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight The Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight shall have jurisdiction over matters concerning the ethical operation of City government… Daily TopFive for Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Follow and rate Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chicago-daily-fix/id1895649620] or Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/70Xl3C6mvct6Wif5EAvxay]. Feedback? Email chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].