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5 steps Chicago’s next mayor can take to fix city finances
Here’s how to tell if a candidate is serious about putting the city on more stable ground.
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One year later: What the gift room scandal reveals about Chicago
The city's governance structure actively works against accountability.
Jan 25
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Austin Berg
88
1
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Exclusive: Chicago Teachers Union audits show potential criminal conduct
New audit records reveal inconsistencies in union reporting that may have led to misstatements to members and the federal government.
Jan 19
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Austin Berg
57
3
Chicago is investigating how residents learned of a meeting to hike their property taxes
It's story that reads like The Onion. But there’s a deeper issue here.
Jan 11
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Austin Berg
45
6
Why you can’t start a Chicago-style hot dog cart in Chicago
An unworkable licensing regime is hurting the city's culinary culture.
Jan 4
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Austin Berg
38
2
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Chicago’s new budget kills head tax, but lacks brains
City Council was not designed for independence. It's time to change that.
Dec 21, 2025
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Austin Berg
35
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3
The truth about TIFs: Chicago’s secret property tax hikes
How financial shell games and a loophole in state law denies Chicagoans the power to vote on their property tax bills.
Dec 14, 2025
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Austin Berg
51
3
How to hate Chicago’s parking meter deal for the right reasons
Last week marked the 17th anniversary of the parking meter deal, but Chicagoans haven't learned the proper lessons from the city's most infamous…
Dec 7, 2025
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Austin Berg
70
6
Remembering Chicago’s greatest Thanksgiving
Lessons from a manmade catastrophe.
Nov 30, 2025
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Austin Berg
20
3
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