Inside Chicago Government

Latest Episodes:

12/11/19: "City budget for dummies with Council Office of Financial Analysis" Dec 01, 2019

Show notes

Budget analyst Jonathan Silverstein, of the Council Office of Financial Analysis, lays out a 2020 "city budget for dummies," including: how COFA has come unleashed--and how it's still "hamstrung;" how the City Council's finance, budget, and analysis staffs differ in function; which 2020 budget changes came from outside forces vs. the mayor's choices; how pension law and past debt indulgences led to a projected 2020 deficit; the lasting effect of past lawsuit settlement underestimates; how the mayor touted "zero based budgeting," but we have "no way of verifying that;" "inefficient" hiring slow-downs as a legacy method of cost savings; and how the Law Dept. should "lawyer up," while it chafes at the Shakman bit. Length 6.2 minutes.

10/13/19: "Chicagoans advise and chastise Lightfoot at budget town halls" Oct 13, 2019

Show notes

This episode presents an audio collage of comments by Chicagoans who spoke at Mayor Lori Lightfoot's budget town halls in September and October of 2019. Lightfoot asked residents to "give public testimony on Chicago's 2020 budget"--and they offered plenty of ideas on public pensions, mental health services, affordable housing, loafing city workers, tax-increment financing, and why Chicagoans are being priced out of the city. Length 6.9 minutes.

8/11/19: "Secrets learned by--and kept from--newbie aldermen: La Spata's gotta grasp" Aug 11, 2019

Show notes

In an audio interview with freshman Alderman Daniel La Spata of Chicago's 1st Ward, Dave Glowacz explores how new City Council members get the training and orientation needed to do their jobs. "We want our aldermen to be the strongest civil servants they can possibly be," La Spata said--which takes "a much more robust orientation" than the city provides. La Spata detailed what's missing, and how he'd fix it. Length 35 minutes.

6/13/19: "Good-bye to Ben Joravsky interviews, but more to come" Jun 13, 2019

Show notes

Dave Glowacz talks with the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky about how live radio differs from podcasting; the health of the Reader; whether news reporters should express partisan opinions and positions; biases embedded in news reporting; and Dave and Ben's role reversal. Length 5.8 minutes.

8/16/19: "Lightfoot administration defends Lincoln Yards TIF . . . why?" May 29, 2019

Show notes

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave discuss the city's defense of the Cortland/Chicago River tax-increment financing (TIF) district and the Lincoln Yards development. Length 6.8 minutes.

5/29/19: "Megadevelopments like Lincoln Yards could face light footing" May 29, 2019

Show notes

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave discuss aldermen's shock and outrage of Mayor Lightfoot's elevation of Ald. Waguespack; the new mayor vs. the "Beale-Burke axis" in a City Council shake-up; former planning dept. Commissioner David Reifman: real estate cheerleader or public servant; how developer Sterling Bay ended up with ownership of the Chicago River's banks; what prompted Friends of the Chicago River to support Lincoln Yards. Length 6.7 minutes.

4/11/19: "Cortland/Chicago River and Lincoln Yards TIF: final rules, duels, and reveals" Apr 12, 2019

Show notes

In an interview with Dave Glowacz on the Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave chew on this: Ald. Hopkins' belief that 'the right side should prevail;' the contrast of Amazon's NYC snub and a Cortland TIF denial; rules and duels that delayed the Cortland TIF vote; Ald. Hairston cites 'blight' sleight used to justify TIF; Ald. Reilly calls a developer's bluff on a TIF subsidy need; and Ald. Smith uncovers TIF financing costs. Length 6.4 minutes.

2/23/19: "Flipping TIF myths with mayoral candidates" Feb 23, 2019

Show notes

Debunking--or validating--Bob Fioretti's claim that TIF saps revenue from governmental bodies; Daley, Enyia, and Fioretti's population-growth goal maybe stymied by TIF; and how ripple effects from developments like Lincoln Yards make Chicago less affordable. Length 7 minutes.

1/21/19: "Why and how wealthy Dem donor fired Joravsky from WCPT radio" Jan 21, 2019

Show notes

Did WCPT owner Fred Eychaner fire Joravsky from his radio show due to Ben's rigorous examination of mainstream Chicago Democrats? Also: how the Reader sheltered Ben from the repeated turnover of wealthy owners; whether radio bosses duped Ben with a glowing performance review; how not to ambush radio guests; and Ben says he'll return. Length 6.5 minutes.

12/18/18: "A reporter's view of the Cortland TIF and Lincoln Yards" Dec 18, 2018

Show notes

In an interview by Ben Joravsky with Dave Glowacz on WCPT-AM's Ben Joravsky Show, Ben and Dave recap residents' objections to the Lincoln Yards development; how the Hideout became a focus of the Lincoln Yards challenges; and aldermanic power of TIF district approval. Also: Mr Bike's cold-weather biking tips, and city treasurer Kurt Summers' rebuke of Mayor Emanuel. Length 5.2 minutes.

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