Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration has blown deadlines to disclose internal communications, violating state public records laws. City Hall’s decision-making process prior to the implosion remains shrouded.
Brett Chase
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
Attorney General Sues Hilco After Botched Little Village Smokestack Demolition
The state’s top prosecutor says the company did not take steps “to protect the community from air pollution and compromised air quality” after the implosion covered the neighborhood in dust.
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
Developer in Little Village Demolition Gone Wrong Cited By State EPA With Violating Pollution Laws
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office is reviewing the incident that covered the Chicago neighborhood in dust.
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
Contractor In Little Village Smokestack Fiasco Was Cited In March For Blowing Dust — But City OK’d Demolition Anyway
A Hilco affiliate, contractor MCM Management Corp. and partners were hit with $3.75 million in environmental violations in Maryland.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Coronavirus Scams Surging Across Illinois and Experts Predict More
Federal and local officials have gotten thousands of fraud complaints. Stimulus checks will create another tidal wave of fraud, authorities warn.
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
Coronavirus Crippling Chicago’s Census Outreach Effort
Mayor Lori Lightfoot, already worried about the city losing billions of dollars in the 2020 headcount, worked to boost participation in undercounted communities. Now COVID-19 is creating a major new hurdle.
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
Lightfoot Facing Off Against ComEd Over the Future
With agreement between City Hall and the power company expiring this year, the mayor is focusing on internal study and federal investigation as leverage.
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
Student Protesters Demand Lightfoot Live Up To Campaign Promises on Environmental Protection
Members of several youth groups protested outside the mayor’s City Hall offices to call for Lightfoot to reinstate a city department of environment to fight pollution and address climate change.
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
Lightfoot’s Actions on Environmental Campaign Promises Are Off to a Slow Start
Chicago mayor says budget constraints have cooled her ambitious plans. Her 2020 budget includes no new funding for additional pollution inspectors.
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
CDC To Review Air Pollution Near East St. Louis, Duckworth Says
Illinois senator asked for assessment of toxic releases from Veolia plant, a site profiled in a recent BGA story about President Trump’s diminished EPA.