Inside Chicago Government

Latest Episodes:

11/20/13: "The latest reminder of how Mayor Daley did business" Nov 21, 2013

Show notes

When an entity on public land must pay property taxes; why the city of Chicago is suing its own park district; and how future depositions of Richard M. Daley might go. Length 5.3 minutes.

11/6/13: "A look at the mayor's 2014 budget proposal" Nov 06, 2013

Show notes

An excerpt from Dave and Ben's interview from Nov. 10, 2011, which illuminates the city's budget process--including both visible and invisible aspects. Length 5.4 minutes.

10/18/13: "Can anyone defeat Emanuel in 2015?" Oct 18, 2013

Show notes

When Chicago's "strong city council" model of government has actually performed as such; Richard M. Daley's populist attitude toward neighborhoods; and the one thing that can mean Emanuel's defeat in 2015. Length 5.1 minutes.

9/26/13: "Alderman wants to know who benefited from charter school" Oct 01, 2013

Show notes

Charter schools' responses to FOIA requests; the potential scandal behind charter-school admissions; and whether charter schools have wait lists--or vacancies. Length 5 minutes.

9/12/13: "Rahm with less chess, more Cermak TIFs" Sep 23, 2013

Show notes

Why continue to beat the drum on the McCormick-arena development; raising a TIF district's "freeze" level after projects complete; and front-end vs. back-end TIF district reforms. Length 5.2 minutes.

9/5/13: "A tour of the McCormick arena development area" Sep 11, 2013

Show notes

The essence of TIF gerrymandering: accentuate the "blight;" city council okays the taking of private property but with no funding; and what it would take to move the landmark Rees House. Length 5.5 minutes.

8/29/13: "Mayor Emanuel: a tough leader for a tough city, or just an a-hole?" Sep 06, 2013

Show notes

The relative graciousness of Mayor Richard M. Daley; the successful promotion of brand Rahm; and Mayor Emanuel's payback to the Whittier protestors. Length 5.5 minutes.

8/15/13: "How I spent my summer break: firing teachers" Aug 29, 2013

Show notes

The three problems with Chicago public-school funding; how the new per-pupil funding scheme results in less-experienced teachers; and the mayor using school principals as propaganda show ponies. Length 4.5 minutes.

8/1/13: "There goes the Englewood neighborhood" Aug 05, 2013

Show notes

Where, exactly, the city might expand existing Englewood TIF districts; why Tea Party members should rush to Englewood; and whether and how the administration drives poor blacks from Chicago. Length 4.9 minutes.

7/25/13: "Tracking TIF's tall tales" Jul 31, 2013

Show notes

The collective amnesia of civic Chicago about past fiscal policy; how to uncover the actual amount of the city's TIF surplus; and county clerk Orr's TIF activism. Length 5.7 minutes.

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