Brandon Johnson punished the aldermen behind the move for council independence and rewarded those who stood by him during the election.
David Greising
David Greising is the president and chief executive of the Better Government Association, joining the BGA in 2018. For nearly a century, the BGA has fought for honest and effective government through investigative journalism and policy advocacy.
Posted inOpinion
Greising: Kim Foxx and Lori Lightfoot Show the Reality of Governing With Progressive Ideals in Illinois
Much has been made of a new progressive era in Illinois politics, and a series of recent public remarks by elected Chicago officials formed a triptych of the promise and […]
Posted inOpinion
Greising: Will Chicago’s Next Mayor Be Beholden to the Union That Supported Him?
The key question for voters is how much the money and endorsements might matter after the new mayor is sworn in.
Posted inOpinion
Greising: Mayoral Runoff Candidates Are Overlooking a Major Public Safety Problem — Fatal Fires
Violent crime is an urgent problem in Chicago. But fires are killers, too, preying on people of color in poor neighborhoods.
Posted inOpinion
Greising: If Vallas and Johnson Can Stick With the Issues, Chicagoans Will Be Better Off
Chicago mayoral runoff candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson clearly are ready to play hardball, not beanbag.
Posted inOpinion
Greising: Annual Budget-Making Won’t Solve Illinois’ Pension Crisis. We Need a Far-Reaching Fix-It Plan.
Illinois structural budget imbalances call for something more strategic than can be accomplished through annual budget-making alone.
Posted inOpinion
Greising: With Laurence Msall’s Passing, Chicago Has Lost a Noble Fighter for Fiscal Responsibility
The Civic Federation under Laurence Msall argued that fiscal responsibility was a prerequisite for all the other goals in Chicago and Illinois.
Posted inOpinion
Greising: Are Chicago’s Mayoral Candidates Conjuring Up Useful Solutions for the City’s Challenges?
Are Chicago’s mayoral candidates conjuring up useful solutions for the city’s challenges?
Mayor Lori Lightfoot hasn’t come up with simple fixes to the city’s problems. That may be because she knows how tough the job can be.
Posted inOpinion
Greising: Pritzker’s Appearance at Davos Could Mark a Turning Point
The forum at Davos built its reputation as a place where unlikely partners could get results. Gov. J.B. Pritzker should consider going again.
Posted inOpinion
Greising: If State’s High Court Blocks It, Pritzker May Find Another Path To Carry Out Cash Bail Reform
It was a no-brainer that the Illinois Supreme Court needed to step in to avert chaos once a Kankakee County judge invalidated portions of a state law designed to end […]