Inside Chicago Government

Latest Episodes:

3/15/12: "What's Really Going On in the Primary Elections" Mar 19, 2012

Show notes

A state legislative district primer; the drama behind the mayor's endorsement in the 39th state rep district; and Ben's picks in the state Supreme Court primary. Length 10 minutes.

3/1/12: "My Property Tax Bill Is Defective--I Want a Refund" Mar 07, 2012

Show notes

How local government has already lost money on the NATO summit; a look at an older, and maybe better, form of Chicago school board; and a way to decrease reliance on property taxes. Length 8.1 minutes.

2/23/12: "The Reader Goes to Charter School" Feb 29, 2012

Show notes

How Ben and Mick ended up at a UNO school; why charters don't pay their teachers more; and why charters might reject the "public school" label. Length 5.2 minutes.

2/16/12: "Your NATO/G8 Primer" Feb 27, 2012

Show notes

The appropriateness of World Business Chicago controlling a major city event; distinguishing WBC from a chamber of commerce; and whether the city council's revocation of its contract-approval power goes beyond the NATO/G8 summit. Length 6.2 minutes.

2/2/12: "With Library Cuts, Emanuel Turns the Page Backward" Feb 07, 2012

Show notes

Why librarians have to work six days per week; whether library cuts really have to do with finance; and why Mary Dempsey has no peer in the Emanuel administration. Length 9.5 minutes.

1/19/12: "State Tax Break for the Merc Is More Laughable with Each Passing Day" Jan 24, 2012

Show notes

Origin of the mythology around CME Group's tax-burden claim; the possible fairness of CME Group's existing income taxes; and trying to calculate the economic benefit per job. Length 9.5 minutes.

12/29/11: "And the Reward for Achievement in Local Politics Goes To . . ." Jan 09, 2012

Show notes

The awards that didn't make the cut; how politics differs from government; and the benefits of having a backbone vis a vis Ald. Sposato's approval of a zoning change for a planned charter school. Length 9.9 minutes.

12/15/11: "All I Want for Christmas Is a City Council with a Backbone" Dec 19, 2011

Show notes

Veteran aldermen who might not have voted for the mayor's budget proposal; what influenced the "turned" aldermen; and whether term limits' time has come. Length 9.6 minutes.

12/8/11: "How Clout Raised an Uptown TIF Deal From the Dead" Dec 12, 2011

Show notes

A list of "blighted" suburbs that have TIF districts; defining the model TIF subsidy; and when letting property run down has more value than keeping it up. Length 10.6 minutes.

12/1/11: "The Politics of Pot" Dec 09, 2011

Show notes

Comparing Mayor Emanuel's control of the marijuana issue with Mayor Daley's control of a smoking ban; Ben predicts the future of marijuana laws; and problems with the Sun-Times' recent series on marijuana. Length 8.3 minutes.

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