Illinois is finally issuing new dispensary licenses. But after legislation failed last month, advocates say the state’s cannabis industry has a long way to go to achieve true social equity.
Equity & Economic Opportunity
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
Illinois Gender-Neutral Bathroom Bill Was Tip of the Iceberg for Trans-Inclusive Legislation Passed This Session
As anti-trans legislation piles up in red states, Springfield is looking to raise a ‘beacon’ for inclusiveness in the Midwest
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
Explained: Chicago’s Migrant Crisis
Chicago has been staring down a manufactured migrant crisis for months that has entered a boiling point — leaving vulnerable asylum seekers in despair and struggling to find safe shelter.
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
Here are 4 ways the Bears could score public funding for a move — and why they’d all be controversial
The Bears say they aren’t looking for a handout, but they want ‘property tax certainty’ and public infrastructure spending in Arlington Heights. Here’s what that could look like.
Posted inSolutions
Is Lightfoot’s Signature Housing Policy Working? Depends on Who You Ask
One visible metric shows a big slowdown in housing construction since the 2021 Affordable Requirements Ordinance took hold. But a deeper look shows a more complex picture.
Posted inInvestigations
Invited in Only to be Shut Out
The city’s development initiative, Invest South/West has brought hope to areas long ignored by developers and the promise of hundreds of millions of dollars. But some residents say they’ve been left out of real decision-making on the major projects coming to their areas.
Posted inEquity & Economic Opportunity
North-Suburban Tax Assessments Point To Trouble for Homeowners, Potential Relief for Businesses
Assessor Fritz Kaegi says a new round of tax assessments shows his policies are working. But the picture for north-suburban homeowners is more complicated.
Posted inInvestigations
Program to Help Formerly Incarcerated Chicago Residents in Jeopardy after FTX Implosion
The cryptocurrency giant pledged at least a million dollars to a local non-profit to provide universal basic income to help people get back on their feet after spending time behind bars. But now, the company has filed for bankruptcy, without delivering on most of the grant.
