February council: TIF black box, Comm Ed shocks

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben heard and appraised parts of 2023's February meeting of the full Chicago City Council.

In the standard version of the episode, Dave played audio of a South Side alderman's objections to a lack of transparency around approval of tax-increment financing (TIF), spurred by TIF funding for a project along Lincoln Ave. on the North Side.

In the premium version of the episode, audio revealed the latest in the effort by Norfolk Southern Railway to expand its South Side rail yard in Englewood. In her City Council remarks, Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20) explained why she'd blocked part of that expansion—and how she eventually acted on it.

Also in the premium version, Dave and Ben reviewed the drama that erupted when Mayor Lori Lightfoot tried to move through the council a recently drafted franchise agreement with Commonwealth Edison. That spectacle included police ejecting from the council chamber, under questionable circumstances, a Chicago resident—whose story was recounted by Dave.

12.1 minutes standard, 57.2 minutes premium.

Music: "El Chucho (Hooko)" by J Hacha De Zola
Copyright 2019 (CC BY 4.0).

Standard audio:

Premium audio:

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