The mayor’s top allies say beefing up the city’s direct mental health services will be a long-term project. That means new clinics won’t open overnight.
Alex Nitkin
Alex Nitkin is a solutions reporter conducting investigations on efforts to fix broken systems in Chicago, Cook County and Illinois government. Before joining Illinois Answers, he worked as a reporter and editor for The Daily Line covering Cook County and Chicago government. He previously worked at The Real Deal Chicago, where he covered local real estate news, and DNAinfo Chicago, where he worked as a breaking news reporter and then as a neighborhood reporter covering the city's Northwest Side. A New York City native who grew up in Connecticut, Alex graduated Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism with a bachelor’s degree.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
A Pension ‘Fix’ Could Blow a Hole in City Budgets. Here’s Why Supporters Say It’s Worth It.
A group of bills moving through the legislature would balloon Chicago’s and Cook County’s pension benefits at a time when taxpayers are already being pressed.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Tax Hikes to Ebb for Many North Suburban Businesses, Leaving Homeowners on the Hook
Thousands of homeowners in north and northwest Cook County are in for sticker shock this fall, data shows
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Brandon Johnson Wants To Raise $800M in New Revenue. Can He?
Johnson has surfaced at least a half-dozen ideas to find more money to close the city’s structural deficit. All will face high hurdles in the way of implementation.
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
South-Suburban Homeowners Next in Line for Property Tax Pain
3 years after home valuations were deflated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ‘we’re going to see the pendulum swing,’ one official says
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
Bill for New State-Backed Tax Credit Could Yield Thousands More Affordable Units per Year
The Build Illinois Homes tax credit proposal is building momentum in the Illinois General Assembly, but critics have flagged its $35 million annual cost.
Posted inSolutions
4 Ideas Being Floated for a More Effective City Council
More committees, better transparency and even Chicago-specific political parties have been proposed as the council looks to declare its independence.
Posted inFollow-Up
A new proposal would give cyclists more legal rights to Chicago’s streets. Here’s how.
A proposed ordinance is the latest step in Chicago’s lagging effort to make streets safer for bikers.
Posted inSolutions
3 Cities Chicago Could Emulate for Safer Buildings
Denver and New Orleans are all pushing to implement nationally recognized best practices on building inspections and fire safety while Chicago officials resist change.
Posted inInvestigations
Smoke Detectors Save Lives, But Chicago Slow to Toughen Rules
A joint investigation with Illinois Answers and the Chicago Tribune found that smoke alarms were absent, defective or missing batteries in 57 out of 87 fatal residential fires in Chicago from 2020 through 2022.
