HUNTER CLAUSS
Recent Contributions
Rahm’s New Fire Chief | Burke’s Tepid Defense | State’s Medicaid Mess
by HUNTER CLAUSS and DAN MIHALOPOULOS | Feb 17, 2012
FIRE ALARM Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed Jose Santiago as his new fire commissioner, a move that could be the precursor to major changes as contracts for firefighters are set to expire this summer. While retiring commish Robert Hoff was staunchly opposed to altering the city’s contractual obligation to staff each crew with five firefighters, Santiago
Burke Expects “Lively Discussion” of Protest Limits
by HUNTER CLAUSS and DAN MIHALOPOULOS | Feb 16, 2012
In his first public comments on the matter, Ald. Edward Burke (14th Ward) declined to make a case Thursday for his new proposal aimed at regulating crowd behavior at City Council meetings. At Wednesday’s council meeting, Burke and three other influential aldermen had quietly introduced a measure that would ban spectators from displaying signs or engaging in any
Proposal Would Limit Protests in Council Chambers
by HUNTER CLAUSS and DAN MIHALOPOULOS | Feb 16, 2012
Ahead of this spring’s NATO and G8 summits, four influential aldermen on Wednesday proposed prohibiting audience members from waving signs or engaging in any “demonstration of approval or disapproval” during City Council meetings. Under the proposal, the banned conduct in the council chambers would include — but would not be limited to — “cheering, yelling,
Council’s Quiet Riot | Hoff’s Sudden Goodbye | America’s Corruption Capitol
by HUNTER CLAUSS | Feb 16, 2012
SETTLE DOWN In the latest clash of First Amendment rights with concerns about the NATO and G8 summit protests, four influential aldermen quietly introduced a measure to restrict audience members from waving signs and expressing their “approval or disapproval” during City Council meetings. http://bit.ly/vYVW8r - Another new council proposal would prevent the Chicago Police Department from
Cullerton’s Pension Reform Push | Blago’s Rocky-Mountain Low | Rahm’s Scofflaw Stand
by HUNTER CLAUSS | Feb 15, 2012
PASSING THE BUCKS Leading Democrats are moving closer toward a plan that would shift teacher retirement costs from the state to schools, with Senate President John Cullerton now leading the charge. But critics say that would likely bring cuts in education spending, hikes in property taxes or some of both. http://bit.ly/wDL2K4 RAHM TO SCOFFLAWS: PAY UP
Charter Crimes And Punishments | Rahm’s School Score Shuffle | Aldermanic Menu Suggestions
by HUNTER CLAUSS | Feb 14, 2012
PRICEY BREAKFAST CLUB A group of students and parents criticized one of the city’s highest performing charter school networks for collecting almost $400,000 in the last two years by fining students for disciplinary infractions like “bringing chips to school” and “not looking a teacher in the eye.” The chief executive of the Noble Street Charter
Sticky Residue | Rahm’s Surge Report | Quinn’s ‘Cat’ Fight
by HUNTER CLAUSS | Feb 13, 2012
NO WINNERS HERE The high school senior who won the city’s vehicle sticker contest by default withdrew her design. City Clerk Susana Mendoza had pulled the original winning design last week over concerns it contained gang symbols. ”We are performing a review of the sticker design contest process and will learn from this experience,” Mendoza said. http://bit.ly/z7jhGj -
Spanish Services Shortfall | Rahm’s Gun Plan | Quinn’s Poor Poll Numbers
by HUNTER CLAUSS | Feb 10, 2012
DEMAND > SUPPLY None of the 58 districts visited by state monitors in the last three years met all of the state’s education requirements for students learning English, Catalyst Chicago found. More than half of Latinos in the Chicago area now live in the suburbs, but the demand for bilingual ed is outstripping the abilities
McCarthy’s New Career | Mendoza’s Tearful Decision | CTU’s Racism Charge
by HUNTER CLAUSS | Feb 9, 2012
RETIREMENT GIFT Former state. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (D-Orland Park) sponsored two controversial measures backed separately by ComEd and AT&T in the years before his retirement in December. Last month, McCarthy created a new lobbying firm and listed two clients: AT&T Illinois and its affiliates, and ComEd. http://bit.ly/ySMsMh - From the CNC Vault: McCarthy is one of
Mendoza’s Sticky Situation | City-County Lovefest | State’s ‘Sacred Cows’
by HUNTER CLAUSS | Feb 8, 2012
SPLITTING THE TAB Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced the city and county saved a combined $20.5 million since they began working together in June to combine resources and eliminate redundancies. “The next set of $20 million is going to be harder,” Emanuel said. http://bit.ly/xdtwHI FOOD OASES With few major grocers