Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily

CTA accountability crunch hits leadership, safety and access — May 22, 2026

CTA leadership and safety accountability are colliding with regional transit reforms, as advocates push Nora Leerhsen for permanent president, prosecutors launch a transit-crime task force, and Metra’s Millennium elevator outage exposes accessibility gaps; Cook County says delayed property-tax refunds are finally moving. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Commuter advocates: Make Nora Leerhsen the CTA’s permanent president [https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/21/opinion-nora-leerhsen-cta-president/] — Chicago Tribune # Commuter advocates: Make Nora Leerhsen the CTA’s permanent president Published: 2026-05-21T19:38:49+00:00 Source: chicagotribune.com (chicagotribune.com) Language: en ## Story Mayor Brandon Johnson has had more than a year to determine who should permanently lead the CTA. Yet now, just days before new regional transit governance reforms take effect and dilute mayoral control over the agency,… 2. Step Back — When officials announce a new CTA safety task force, who is actually in charge of safety on the trains and buses — the CTA, CPD, prosecutors, or someone else — and what numbers would tell us it’s working instead of just being another press conference? BACKGROUND SOURCES * Cook County State's Attorney launches new task force to fight crime on Chicago area's mass transit system - CBS Chicago [https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/cook-county-states-attorney-regional-transit-task-force-cta-crime/] — Cbsnews * New CTA security plan: sheriff's deputies on trains, high-barrier gates, farecard checks - WBEZ Chicago [https://www.wbez.org/transportation/2026/03/11/chicago-transit-authority-cta-crime-security-plan-fta-sheriff-deputies] — Wbez * Cook County State's Attorney's office spreads word about CTA anti-crime task force - CBS Chicago [https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/cook-county-states-attorneys-office-cta-anti-crime-task-force/] — Cbsnews * CTA ends contracts with unarmed security officers, will have armed police officers on trains instead - CBS Chicago [https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/cta-contracts-unarmed-patrols-funding-armed-officers/] — Cbsnews * Mayor Brandon Johnson says "more work to be done" to improve safety on the CTA - CBS Chicago [https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/mayor-brandon-johnson-cta-crime-reduction/] — Cbsnews * Today, CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen joined Cook County ... [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYfx51fFcYP/] — Instagram * State's Attorney Vows To Target 'Serious Crimes' On CTA With New Transit Task Force [https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/05/18/states-attorney-vows-to-target-serious-crimes-on-cta-with-new-transit-task-force/] — Jamie Nesbitt Golden * Cook County prosecutors launch task force to address violence on public transit - Chicago Sun-Times [https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/05/18/crime-transit-cta-cook-county-states-attorney-eileen-o-neill-burke] — Suntimes 3. Cook County Treasurer's Office sending out millions in property tax refunds after year-long delay thanks to AI experts - ABC7 Chicago [https://abc7chicago.com/post/cook-county-treasurers-office-sending-millions-property-tax-refunds-year-long-delay-thanks-ai-experts/19146165/] — ABC7 Chicago Cook County Treasurer's Office sending out millions in property tax refunds after year-long delay thanks to AI experts - ABC7 Chicago # Cook Co. sending out millions in property tax refunds after year-long delay Thursday, May 21, 2026 9:45PM CHICAGO (WLS) -- After a year of major delays to get Cook County property tax refund checks to residents, the ABC7 I-Team learned that the hold-ups are… 4. Chicago Rail Station Elevator Out of Service Until Winter 2027 - Elevator World [https://elevatorworld.com/news/daily-news/chicago-rail-station-elevator-out-of-service-until-winter-2027/] — Elevator World Chicago Rail Station Elevator Out of Service Until Winter 2027 - Elevator World News Chicago Rail Station Elevator Out of Service Until Winter 2027 # Chicago Rail Station Elevator Out of Service Until Winter 2027 By Kaija Wilkinson| Daily News| May 21, 2026 1 min to read Share Shares Concourse at Millennium Station; photo by Cards84664 for Wikipedia Disabled riders of Metra, the rail… 5. Illinois Releases New Report Aimed at Addressing Homelessness in the Latine Community [https://idhs.prezly.com/illinois-releases-new-report-aimed-at-addressing-homelessness-in-the-latine-community] — Illinois Department of Human Services Illinois Releases New Report Aimed at Addressing Homelessness in the Latine Community # Illinois Releases New Report Aimed at Addressing Homelessness in the Latine Community First-of-its-kind report outlines structural factors causing homelessness to inform future policies May 21, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT SPRINGFIELD — On Thursday, May 21, 2026, Governor JB Pritzker, other State… 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].

Council clears housing while parking-meter deal looms — May 21, 2026

Chicago City Council approved hundreds of new apartments in the West Loop and Northwest Side while weighing Stonepeak’s takeover of the infamous parking-meter lease, a reminder that zoning can still add homes but old privatization deals keep boxing in street policy. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Over 300 Apartments Approved For Booming West Loop After City Council Vote [https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/05/20/over-300-apartments-approved-for-booming-west-loop-after-city-council-vote/] — Block Club Chicago Over 300 Apartments Approved For Booming West Loop After City Council Vote ## Don't miss outthis Pączki Day! Sign up for Block Club Eats to get our annual pączki round-up when it drops. Sign up Weekly on Mondays. Unsubscribe anytime. A proposed 32-story apartment tower at 1338 W. Lake St. Credit: SCB ## Overview: A new park that will be open to the public is being built at Carroll and… 2. Step Back — When a private investor sells or buys the company that controls Chicago’s parking meters, what power does City Council actually have — can it renegotiate the infamous 75-year deal, or is it mostly rubber-stamping a change in landlord? BACKGROUND SOURCES * Chicago's parking meters could be sold again under deal requiring City Council approval - Chicago Sun-Times [https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/05/18/chicagos-parking-meters-could-be-sold-again-under-deal-requiring-city-council-approval] — Suntimes * Chicago City Council to review parking meter deal, 'one fair wage' ordinance - ABC7 Chicago [https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-city-council-review-parking-meter-deal-fair-wage-ordinance/19137482/] — Abc7chicago * Final Tally: Chicago Taxpayers to Pay $25.2M to Parking Meter Firm to Resolve Claim City Violated Deal During COVID-19 Pandemic | Chicago News | WTTW [https://news.wttw.com/2025/05/21/final-tally-chicago-taxpayers-pay-252m-parking-meter-firm-resolve-claim-city-violated] — WTTW * Chicago is not buying back its parking meters, but a change in ... [https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-is-not-buying-back-its-parking-meters-but-a-change-in-ownership-is-likely/3878768/] — Nbcchicago * How Chicago lost (and is still losing) a fortune privatizing its parking [https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5642708] — Npr 3. Chicago City Council to consider police settlements, parking meter sale, public safety at Wednesday meeting - CBS Chicago [https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-city-council-police-settlements-parking-meter-sale-public-safety/] — CBS Chicago Chicago City Council to consider police settlements, parking meter sale, public safety at Wednesday meeting - CBS Chicago - All Weather - Chicago School Closings - Flight Delays O'Hare - Flight Delays Midway The full Chicago City Council will take up a number of issues including police misconduct settlements, a potential parking meter sale and public safety concerns at their meeting… 4. Avondale, Humboldt Park Projects OK'd By Council Include Housing And Animal Rescue Expansion [https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/05/20/avondale-humboldt-park-projects-okd-by-council-include-housing-and-animal-rescue-expansion/] — Block Club Chicago # Avondale, Humboldt Park Projects OK'd By Council Include Housing And Animal Rescue Expansion Author: Ariel Parrella-Aureli Published: 2026-05-20T23:00:01+00:00 Source: blockclubchicago.org (blockclubchicago.org) Language: en ## Story Avondale, Humboldt Park Projects OK'd By Council Include Housing And Animal Rescue Expansion St Wenceslaus Catholic School, 3425 N. Lawndale Ave. is seen Aug.… 5. Stonepeak: Chicago Parking Meter System Acquisition Pending City Council Approval [https://pulse2.com/stonepeak-chicago-parking-meter-system-acquisition-pending-city-council-approval/] — Pulse 2.0 Stonepeak: Chicago Parking Meter System Acquisition Pending City Council Approval # Stonepeak: Chicago Parking Meter System Acquisition Pending City Council Approval By Amit Chowdhry • Today at 8:27 AM Stonepeak: Chicago Parking Meter System Acquisition Pending City Council Approval Stonepeak is set to acquire Chicago’s parking meter system from Chicago Parking Meters, LLC, according to… 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].

Johnson races the clock on CTA control — May 20, 2026

Chicago CTA leadership is suddenly a clock fight: Mayor Brandon Johnson is pushing a permanent president before the new Northern Illinois Transit Authority gets veto power, with rider-facing fixes still boxed in by funding, staffing, and governance limits. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Mayor Brandon Johnson makes last-minute push to name permanent CTA leader [https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/19/mayor-brandon-johnson-permanent-cta-leader/] — Chicago Tribune Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson asked the Chicago Transit Authority board to select a permanent leader just weeks before a new state law limits his control over the executive appointment process at the mass transit agency. In a May 7 letter addressed to CTA board chair Lester Barclay, Johnson directed the agency’s board to “move expeditiously to finalize the selection of a permanent President for… 2. Step Back — If Mayor Johnson succeeds in rushing through a permanent CTA chief, what can that person actually change for riders — service levels, ghost buses, staffing, safety — and what is still controlled by the CTA board, City Hall, or Springfield? BACKGROUND SOURCES * Dorval Carter Jr. broke the CTA. Nora Leerhsen’s on track to fix it – if we fund her work. - Streetsblog Chicago [https://chi.streetsblog.org/2025/08/19/dorval-carter-jr-broke-the-cta-nora-leerhsens-on-track-to-fix-it-if-we-fund-her-work] — Streetsblog * CTA Faces 'Drastic Service Cuts' If State Funding Doesn’t Come Through, Agency Head Says [https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/07/30/cta-faces-drastic-service-cuts-if-state-funding-doesnt-come-through-agency-head-says/] — Quinn Myers * Transit reform measure shifts CTA control from Chicago mayor [https://develop.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/05/transit-reform-measure-cta-control-chicago-mayor/] — Alice Yin * Lawmakers Unveil Plan to Overhaul Chicago-Area Transit With New ... [https://news.wttw.com/2025/05/28/lawmakers-unveil-plan-overhaul-chicago-area-transit-new-oversight-agency-no-solution] — Wttw * Mayor Brandon Johnson makes last-minute push to name permanent CTA leader [https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/19/mayor-brandon-johnson-permanent-cta-leader/] — Chicagotribune 3. Industrial History: CTA Red-Purple Modernization (RPM) Program, Phase 1 [http://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/2022/09/cta-red-purple-modernization-program.html] — Industrial History Industrial History: CTA Red-Purple Modernization (RPM) Program, Phase 1 Phase 1 is part of a $1.7b Red+Purple Modernization Program. The Red-Purple Bypass is also part of this project. Phase 1 will replace the existing track and stations between the Lawrence and Bryn Mawr stations. See About for an overview. During construction, Argyle and Bryn Mawr will have temporary stations and Lawrence and… Daily TopFive for Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Feedback? Email chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].

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

Chicago’s first fully elected school board is becoming real just as CPS faces budget pain, forcing voters to decide who controls the district’s toughest choices. Elsewhere, accountability fights over federal agents, hit-and-run deaths, and CTA slow zones put reform back in concrete terms. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Race is on for Chicago’s first fully elected school board [https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/05/18/race-is-on-for-chicagos-first-fully-elected-school-board] — Chicago Sun-Times Race is on for Chicago’s first fully elected school board - Chicago Sun-Times Hedge funds have gutted local news across America. Chicago is fighting back. The Hardest-Working Paper in America | Monday, May 18, 2026 My Account Manage Account Log out Log In Why are we asking for donations? ### Why are we asking for donations? This site is free thanks to our community of supporters. Voluntary… 2. Step Back — With Chicago heading into its first fully elected school board while CPS is staring down budget cuts, what will these new board members actually have the power to change — taxes, spending, school closures, the CEO — and what still stays with the mayor or the state? BACKGROUND SOURCES * Chicago Public Schools and its CEO can part ways more quickly under her new contract - Chalkbeat [https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/04/22/chicago-public-schools-new-ceo-contract/] — Chalkbeat * Can a resolution pushing lawmakers to embrace progressive revenue help with Chicago Public Schools’ budget woes? - Chalkbeat [https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/05/13/chicago-public-schools-board-members-debate-state-funding-resolution/] — Chalkbeat * Chicago Board of Education names interim CPS CEO Macquline King as permanent schools chief - Chalkbeat [https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/03/30/chicago-board-of-education-hires-macquline-king/] — Chalkbeat * Mayor Johnson rules out school closings, mum on possible bid for reelection - WBEZ Chicago [https://www.wbez.org/city-hall/2026/05/14/mayor-brandon-johnson-no-cps-school-closings-re-election-bid-united-center-tax-break-sun-times-wbez-interview] — Wbez * Chicago Public Schools is poised for belt-tightening at schools as campus budgets are released - Chalkbeat [https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/05/12/chicago-public-schools-releases-school-budgets/] — Chalkbeat * Chicago’s new school board members on what it takes to lead CPS - Chalkbeat [http://chicago.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/09/17/chicago-public-schools-board-of-education-talk-politics-and-governance/] — Chalkbeat 3. Ald. Jessie Fuentes Sues Feds, Demands $100,000 In Damages After ICE Agent Handcuffed Her [https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/05/18/ald-jessie-fuentes-sues-feds-demands-100000-in-damages-after-ice-agent-handcuffed-her/] — Block Club Chicago HUMBOLDT PARK — An alderperson who was handcuffed by agents and threatened with arrest last year is suing the federal government, saying she wants to hold the agents accountable and show she wasn’t intimidated by violence. Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th) filed a federal lawsuit Monday stemming from an October incident captured on video of a federal agent grabbing and handcuffing Fuentes in a Humboldt… 4. Hit-and-run drivers fatally struck two people, and critically injured a third, on Chicago streets last week - Streetsblog Chicago [https://chi.streetsblog.org/2026/05/18/hit-and-run-drivers-fatally-struck-two-people-and-critically-injured-a-third-on-chicago-streets-last-week] — Streetsblog Chicago localStorage.setItem('darkMode', val)); } }" x-bind:class="{ 'dark': darkMode }"> Hit-and-run drivers fatally struck two people, and critically injured a third, on Chicago streets last week - Streetsblog Chicago Sponsored Today's stories are presented by # Hit-and-run drivers fatally struck two people, and critically injured a third, on Chicago streets last week 9:41 PM CDT on May 18, 2026 The… 5. Slow zones on the Chicago L [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_zones_on_the_Chicago_L] — Wikipedia Slow zones on the Chicago L Slow zones on the Chicago L are a recurrent problem. Slow zones are places of track where trains have to run at reduced speeds due to one or more reasons, such as bad track quality, structural issues (e.g. fouling of the ballast, damage to and failure of concrete retaining walls, rotting of wooden ties), signal issues, insufficient power, and construction occurring on… Daily TopFive for Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Feedback? Email chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].

Chicago Reform Fights Hit Housing, Schools and Ford City — May 18, 2026

Illinois’ housing push is moving from shortage math to state legislation, while Chicago advances a centralized affordable-housing portal. Meanwhile, CPS budget cuts and Ford City’s safety-driven closure show the cost of letting big civic problems pile up. IN THIS EPISODE 1. Illinois's BUILD plan: what it could mean for Chicagoland housing - Chicago Cityscape - Blog [https://www.chicagocityscape.com/blog/illinois-build-plan-chicago-housing] — Chicago Cityscape  # Illinois's BUILD plan: what it could mean for Chicagoland housing Published on Apr. 22, 2026 by Steven Vance *Updated on Apr. 28, 2026* Illinois is closer than it has ever been to passing a serious statewide housing reform package. Governor JB Pritzker's **BUILD Plan** — short for *Building Up Illinois Development* — was the centerpiece of… 2. Online affordable housing pilot advances to City Council for a vote [https://chicagoreader.com/news/online-affordable-housing-pilot/] — Chicago Reader Online affordable housing pilot advances to City Council for a vote - Chicago Reader Credit: Amber Huff A tool to make finding affordable housing easier to locate may soon be a reality after the Committee on Housing and Real Estate advanced an ordinance to pilot a centralized online affordable housing portal.“We’ve all heard the issues with how difficult it is to find affordable housing in… 3. Ford City Mall To Close In June [https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/05/15/ford-city-mall-to-close-in-june-judge-rules/] — Block Club Chicago WEST LAWN — Ford City Mall, a Southwest Side fixture recently labeled a “death trap” by local officials, will close June 22, officials said Friday. The decision comes one month after city officials filed an emergency motion asking a Cook County judge to force all tenants and occupants to evacuate the mall, 7601 S. Cicero Ave., citing a defective fire suppression system that posed an “imminent… 4. Mayor Brandon Johnson decries further cuts to Chicago Public Schools in district’s budget plan [https://www.dailygazette.com/tribune/mayor-brandon-johnson-decries-further-cuts-to-chicago-public-schools-in-district-s-budget-plan/article_155905a5-67f4-5721-b4b2-c94bdf9118ce.html] — Chicago Tribune Mayor Brandon Johnson decries further cuts to Chicago Public Schools in district’s budget plan | Tribune | dailygazette.com You have permission to edit this article. #### Nascar Contest #### . #### Bite Sized Share This CHIACAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson on Thursday condemned further cuts to Chicago Public Schools following the district’s latest proposal to address a yawning budget deficit by… Daily TopFive for Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily. Links above go to the original articles. Feedback? Email chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com [chicago-daily-fix@lanternpodcasts.com].