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Robert Fioretti
PI Original
by Matthew Blake
6:20pm
Tue Apr 24
11 comments

Emanuel's Infrastructure Trust Passes Council Vote Despite Continued Concerns (VIDEO)

Chicago City Council

The Chicago City Council passed 41-7 today Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s controversial “Infrastructure Trust” public-private partnership, arguably Emanuel’s most significant proposal in his one year as mayor.

Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
7:12pm
Mon Apr 23
4 comments

Chicago Aldermen Propose Infrastructure Trust Changes

Six Chicago City Council aldermen will suggest a number of changes to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposed Infrastructure Trust public-private partnership at tomorrow’s city council meeting, where city lawmakers are expected to vote on the controversial Trust.

Driving the changes is the notion that Emanuel’s Infrastructure Trust – where the city uses private investors to fund public infrastructure projects – concentrates too much unchecked power in the hands of the mayor and a five-member Infrastructure Trust board.

“We are not opposed to the Trust in principle,” says Ald. John Arena (45th), one of the amendment authors. “We want clear, enforceable oversight built into the ordinance.” Read more »

PI Original
by Steven Ross Johnson
3:04pm
Mon Mar 12

Election 2012: A Look At The 5th District State Senate Race

Election 2012

This year’s race for state senate in the 5th District has received much more attention than is usually given to a legislative seat on Chicago’s near West Side – due in no small part to the contentious tone the campaigns have taken in recent weeks, which included a much-publicized war of words between the incumbent and the Illinois Secretary of State.

Quick Hit
by Brandon Campbell
10:33am
Wed Feb 15

Aldermen Continue Push For Child Safety Near Vacant Homes

On Sunday, Aldermen Deborah Graham (29th), Robert Fioretti (2nd), and Toni Foulkes (15th) joined members of the Chicago Teachers Union, Action Now, and a group of parents and community safety advocates for a press conference urging Mayor Rahm Emanuel to make the Vacant Property Safe Passages Ordinance a priority.

If approved, the ordinance, which has sat in legislative limbo since it was introduced by Graham on October 5, 2011, would require daylight watchmen to guard schoolchildren as they pass by vacant properties near public schools.

"Recently, the mayor said he cares so much about student safety on the way to school that he's installing speed cameras," said Aileen Kelleher, Action Now communications director, during a phone interview Tuesday. "We're saying if you care so much about safety this ordinance should be your number one priority."

Read more »

Quick Hit
by
4:04pm
Tue Aug 9, 2011

What CPS' 2012 Budget Means For Rahm

The proposed budget plan by Chicago Public Schools is facing backlash from educators and city aldermen -- all while leaving Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a difficult position.

The ambitious proposal for 2012, which was unveiled Friday, seeks to close the district's $712 million gap by raising property taxes and calling for millions in cuts.

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