Chicago’s Reform Fights Hit Schools, Streets and the L — May 19, 2026

Chicago’s Reform Fights: Parking Mandates and Ward Power — June 12, 2026

Chicago housing reform takes aim at parking mandates near transit, while a corruption analysis ties City Council scandals to unchecked aldermanic power — two reminders that process rules can decide who builds, who pays, and who gets heard. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Step Back — Chicago wants to loosen parking rules to make housing easier to build — but if people already feel like parking is scarce, how do parking mandates actually affect rents, construction costs, and who gets to live near transit? BACKGROUND SOURCES * New report: No such thing as free parking - UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies [https://its.ucla.edu/2026/02/19/no-such-thing-as-free-parking/] — UCLA ITS Staff * Right-Sizing Chicago Parking | Center for Neighborhood Technology [https://cnt.org/projects/right-sizing-chicago-parking] — Center for Neighborhood Technology * Chicago Eliminates Parking Requirements, Unlocks Certain Density Bonuses with New Ordinance | Thompson Coburn LLP [https://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/chicago-eliminates-parking-requirements-unlocks-certain-density-bonuses-with-new-ordinance/] — Devin Schwent * Ending Parking Mandates To Bend Development's Cost Curve [https://www.housingwire.com/articles/ending-parking-mandates-to-bend-developments-cost-curve/] — Richard Lawson * Denver study shows removing parking requirements results in more affordable housing being built [https://phys.org/news/2025-10-denver-requirements-results-housing-built.html] — Phys * Cutting parking for homes built near transit aims to ease housing crunch - Chicago Sun-Times [https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2025/08/15/parking-requirements-cta-metra-transit-affordable-housing-crisis] — Suntimes * Cutting parking for homes built near transit aims to ease housing crunch - WBEZ Chicago [https://www.wbez.org/housing/2025/08/15/parking-requirements-cta-metra-transit-affordable-housing-crisis] — Wbez * The Impacts of Minimum Parking Requirements: A Research Synthesis [https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/89289] — Bts 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].

Loretto fraud trial stalls as CTA reliability faces a reality check — June 11, 2026

Loretto Hospital’s former executive saw his $300 million fraud trial delayed as prosecutors seek a new indictment, while Chicago transit watchdogs keep pressing beyond CTA schedules toward delivered trips, cancellations and real wait times. IN THIS EPISODE 1. $300 Million Fraud Trial For Ex-Loretto Hospital Executive Delayed [https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/10/300-million-fraud-trial-for-ex-loretto-hospital-executive-delayed/] — Block Club Chicago $300 Million Fraud Trial For Ex-Loretto Hospital Executive Delayed Loretto Hospital in Austin on Aug. 18, 2021. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago CHICAGO — The trial for a former Loretto Hospital executive accused of defrauding the federal government of about $300 million has been delayed. Anosh Ahmed, who resigned as CFO and COO from Loretto Hospital after a series of Block Club… 2. Step Back — When the CTA says service is getting better, what should riders actually look at — scheduled trains and buses, delivered trips, wait times, or something else — to know whether the ‘ghost bus’ era is really ending? BACKGROUND SOURCES * Chicago ‘ghost buses’ may be a thing of the past as CTA shares new data with transit apps - WBEZ Chicago [https://www.wbez.org/transportation/2025/08/04/cta-canceled-bus-tracker-apps-ventra-transit] — Wbez * Chicago 'ghost buses' may be a thing of the past as CTA shares new data with transit apps - Chicago Sun-Times [https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2025/08/04/cta-canceled-bus-tracker-apps-ventra-transit] — Suntimes * Regional transit ridership continues to grow in 2025 with 12.3M more rides year-over-year | Regional Transportation Authority [https://www.rtachicago.org/about-rta/press-releases/regional-transit-ridership-continues-to-grow-in-2025-with-12-3m-more-rides-year-over-year] — Regional Transportation Authority * CTA Leaders Tout Ridership Gains, Lower Crime Rates on System | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2026/06/10/cta-leaders-tout-ridership-gains-lower-crime-rates-system] — WTTW * What transit riders are telling us: 2025 Customer Satisfaction Survey Results | Regional Transportation Authority [https://www.rtachicago.org/blog/2025/09/18/what-transit-riders-are-telling-us-2025-customer-satisfaction-survey-results] — Regional Transportation Authority 3. [PDF] sixty-day report - on implementation of executive order no. 2019-2 [https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/mayor/Press%20Room/Press%20Releases/2019/August/MLEL_SixtyDay_Rprt_FINAL.pdf] — City of Chicago CITY OF CHICAGO SIXTY-DAY REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2019-2 LORI E. LIGHTFOOT MAYOR OF CHICAGO 2 C I T Y O F C H I C A G O • S I X T Y D AY R E P O R T To the residents of the City of Chicago: On my first day as Mayor, I signed Executive Order No. 2019-2, which prohibited any City department from deferring to aldermanic prerogative. What this change means as a practical… 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].

Foundry Park’s $202M TIF Test Hits City Hall — June 10, 2026

Foundry Park could get $202 million in TIF reimbursements for roads, parks and a 606 extension, putting Chicago’s megadevelopment subsidy math back under the microscope as City Council also moves to clear barriers to inspector general probes. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Foundry Park In Line For $200 Million In Public Funding At Former Lincoln Yards Site [https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/09/foundry-park-in-line-for-200-million-in-public-funding-at-former-lincoln-yards-site/] — Block Club Chicago Foundry Park In Line For $200 Million In Public Funding At Former Lincoln Yards Site Renderings of the Foundry Park development, to be located on the northern section of the former Lincoln Yards site in Lincoln Park and Bucktown. Credit: Provided LINCOLN PARK — Foundry Park, the megadevelopment set to bring more than 3,000 housing units plus office space, retail and other amenities to the… 2. City Council OKs ordinance to remove hurdles to inspector general probes - Chicago Sun-Times [https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2025/07/14/city-council-ethics-ordinance-ig-investigations] — Chicago Sun-Times    ![Chicago Sun Times… 3. Step Back — Chicago has been burned before by mega-development promises, so when a project like Foundry Park is “in line” for $200 million in public funding, what is the city actually buying — new tax revenue, infrastructure, affordable housing, jobs — and how can residents tell whether the subsidy is a good deal or just a bailout of a stalled private project? BACKGROUND SOURCES * Foundry Park slated for $202M in TIF funds for roads, parks - Crain's Chicago Business [https://www.chicagobusiness.com/real-estate/commercial/ccb-foundry-park-infrastructure-money-20260605/] — Chicagobusiness * JDL nears deal with Chicago for Foundry Park infrastructure - Crain's Chicago Business [https://www.chicagobusiness.com/real-estate/commercial/ccb-lincoln-yards-tif-foundry-park-20260508/] — Chicagobusiness * Foundry Park plan approved as infrastructure question lingers - Crain's Chicago Business [https://www.chicagobusiness.com/commercial-real-estate/foundry-park-plan-approved-infrastructure-question-lingers/] — Chicagobusiness * City Council approves $3 billion Foundry Park development | Urbanize Chicago [https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/city-council-approves-3-billion-foundry-park-development] — Lukas Kugler * Plan Commission approves $3 billion Foundry Park development | Urbanize Chicago [https://chicago.stage.urbanize.city/post/plan-commission-approves-3-billion-foundry-park-development] — Lukas Kugler * Foundry Park In Line For $200 Million In Public Funding At Former Lincoln Yards Site [https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/06/09/foundry-park-in-line-for-200-million-in-public-funding-at-former-lincoln-yards-site/] — Quinn Myers * Scaled Down Chicago Development Harks to Industrial Past [https://news.constructconnect.com/scaled-down-chicago-development-harks-to-industrial-past] — Ron Stang 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: Ward Power, CPS, and CTA Reliability — June 09, 2026

Chicago aldermanic prerogative faces a federal civil-rights finding as HUD says ward-by-ward veto power fuels segregation; meanwhile, CPS’ hybrid school board is complete and CTA bus reliability data shows how far service standards still lag. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Aldermanic Prerogative Fuels Segregation and Violates Black, Latino Chicagoans’ Civil Rights: Federal Officials | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2023/11/28/aldermanic-prerogative-fuels-segregation-and-violates-black-latino-chicagoans-civil] — WTTW   #### [Politics](/politics) ## Aldermanic Prerogative Fuels Segregation and Violates Black, Latino Chicagoans’ Civil Rights: Federal Officials ***Video:*** *The WTTW News Spotlight Politics team discusses the U.S. Department of… 2. [PDF] Evidence from Aldermanic Privilege in Chicago - Economics at Illinois [https://economics.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/assoc-files/285/AKhan-JMP-compressed.pdf] — Economics at Illinois Decentralized Zoning with Agglomeration Spillovers: Evidence from Aldermanic Privilege in Chicago∗ Asad R. Khan† University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign This Version: November, 2019 JOB MARKET PAPER: Please find the latest version here Abstract With the rising cost of living in urban areas, local control of land-use regulation has come under increasing scrutiny. This paper uses novel data on… 3. Open Gov Report Card: ‘D’ for Chicago City Council Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight [https://projects.citybureau.org/open-gov-report-card/chicago-city-council-committee-on-ethics-and-government-oversight] — City Bureau # [Open Gov Report Card](/open-gov-report-card/) [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… 4. City of Chicago :: Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces Full Composition Of Chicago’s First Hybrid School Board [https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room/press_releases/2025/february/hybrid-school-board.html] — City of Chicago      # Office of the Mayor # Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces Full Composition Of Chicago’s First Hybrid School Board ## New… 5. 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… 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 Reform Fight Hits Housing, Schools and CTA Reliability — June 08, 2026

Chicago aldermanic prerogative faces a federal civil-rights rebuke over affordable housing and segregation, as City Hall also completes the hybrid CPS board and CTA bus reliability data shows only 9% of routes meeting standards. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Aldermanic Prerogative Fuels Segregation and Violates Black, Latino Chicagoans’ Civil Rights: Federal Officials | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2023/11/28/aldermanic-prerogative-fuels-segregation-and-violates-black-latino-chicagoans-civil] — WTTW   #### [Politics](/politics) ## Aldermanic Prerogative Fuels Segregation and Violates Black, Latino Chicagoans’ Civil Rights: Federal Officials ***Video:*** *The WTTW News Spotlight Politics team discusses the U.S. Department of… 2. Step Back — If aldermanic prerogative is technically just an informal City Council custom, how does it actually let one alderman block housing or services in a way that can deepen segregation — and what changes when federal officials call that a civil-rights problem instead of just Chicago politics as usual? BACKGROUND SOURCES * Fair Housing Month: Chicago and Its History of Segregation and Demand for Fair Housing | Chicago Housing Authority [https://www.thecha.org/news/fair-housing-month-chicago-and-its-history-segregation-and-demand-fair-housing] — Chicago Housing Authority * 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 * Trump Administration Drops Civil Rights Cases On Environmental Justice, Affordable Housing [https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/08/08/trump-administration-drops-civil-rights-cases-on-environmental-justice-affordable-housing/] — Maxwell Evans * Trump dismisses civil rights, fair housing cases in Chicago to focus on ‘real concerns’ - WBEZ Chicago [https://www.wbez.org/environment/2025/08/06/trump-general-iron-housing-environmental-racism] — Wbez * 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 * Trump Dismisses Civil Rights, Fair Housing Cases in Chicago To Focus on ‘Real Concerns’ - Inside Climate News [https://insideclimatenews.org/news/07082025/trump-chicago-housing-environmental-racism/] — Insideclimatenews 3. City Council Ethics Chair Forces Procedural Vote on Stalled Protections for Inspector General Investigations - Better Government Association [https://www.bettergov.org/2025/06/17/city-council-ethics-chair-forces-procedural-vote-on-stalled-protections-for-inspector-general-investigations] — Better Government Association [Skip to content](#main) [](https://www.bettergov.org/) [Better Government Association](https://www.bettergov.org/) Illinois' Non-Partisan Full-Service Watchdog [Donate](https://www.bettergov.org/better-government-association/donate/) Posted… 4. City of Chicago :: Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces Full Composition Of Chicago’s First Hybrid School Board [https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room/press_releases/2025/february/hybrid-school-board.html] — City of Chicago      # Office of the Mayor # Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces Full Composition Of Chicago’s First Hybrid School Board ## New… 5. 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… 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].