Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily

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

9 min · 19 de may de 2026
Portada del episodio Chicago’s Reform Fights Hit Schools, Streets and the L — May 19, 2026

Descripción

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].

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

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] ![](images/01_Frequency_Banner.svg) 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].

16 de jun de 20269 min
Portada del episodio School Board Ballot Crunch, Ethics Board Stall — June 15, 2026

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 ![WTTW](https://www.wttw.com/global/wttw-header-full/img/wttw-logo-svg.svg) ![search icon](https://www.wttw.com/global/wttw-header-compact/img/thin-search-icon.svg) #### [Politics](/politics) ## As Chicago Ethics Board Surpasses 6 Months Without a Leader, Enforcement Actions Stall ![(WTTW News)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero/public/field/image/ChicagoFlag_C2N_2.jpg?itok=x-YNI3kB… 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… 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].

Ayer8 min
Portada del episodio Chicago’s Reform Fights: Parking Mandates and Ward Power — June 12, 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].

12 de jun de 20267 min
Portada del episodio Loretto fraud trial stalls as CTA reliability faces a reality check — June 11, 2026

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].

11 de jun de 20267 min
Portada del episodio Foundry Park’s $202M TIF Test Hits City Hall — June 10, 2026

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 ![cpm_global_header.svg](https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/2a/98/f071f53548639088edca14d9a392/cpm-global-header.svg) ![cst_global_header.svg](https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/d9/fb/5be4f3974c0f810df3518b0761fe/cst-global-header.svg) ![wbez_global_header.svg](https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/17/76/713cf3374560a94bd5ecb506a671/wbez-global-header.svg) ![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].

10 de jun de 20268 min